I called out to let them know I was leaving for my break and then headed out the door, making sure I flipped the sign on the door before I locked it up. This was the only salon in Malroy and it always closed for lunch. Customers expected it. But we still turned that sign around in case anyone forgot.
For the first time in three years, I had opened my eyes that morning and a smile had spread across my face. A real one. It was so big, it had hurt my cheeks and I’d loved every second of it. That feeling of joy, excitement, hope were all new to me now. It was a wonder I’d even gone to sleep last night. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better night if I’d tried. When I’d been younger, I had imagined something like that daily. But over time it began to hurt too much to even think about it, so I’d forced myself to think of other things just to stop the pain and tears as I closed my eyes at night.
Those tears were a part of the person I’d become now, but I wouldn’t miss them or the hollowness inside my chest. Asher hadn’t promised me anything, but what he’d said was all I needed to hear for now. He loved me. He wanted to meet me there again tonight. And then again the next night.
I hurried down the street. Denver’s Feed and Seed was only half a mile from the salon and walking there was faster than driving because there were three stop lights between the two stores.
The wooden furniture that I was sure everyone in this town owned in some shape or form in their backyard and on their porches, was displayed out front. Bright yellow sunflowers decorated the space and I had to admit even I wanted to go sit down and enjoy some lemonade. It was very welcoming. I wondered if Asher had unloaded all that. Probably had. That just made me smile even more. I didn’t care at all about how goofy I must’ve looked grinning all alone while walking down the sidewalk.
Turning onto the gravel parking lot, I scanned the flowers on display for something affordable since I was buying these out of my own pocket. As I looked, my eyes also searched around for any signs of Asher. I didn’t want to be obvious, but I knew he’d know immediately why I was here.
I made my way to the side of the building where the store’s entrance was. Just as I stepped into the shade of the overhang, I heard a female voice that made me stop in my tracks.
“Time to eat, Asher. I got you the roast beef with that dark sauce you like to dip it in. I ate a few of your fries, though.” The voice belonged to Hannah and it was flirty. It also appeared to be very familiar with what Asher liked. I didn’t know if I should continue walking in their direction.
“Did you get me a sweet tea?” he asked and I saw him then walking in from the back. His sleeveless undershirt was dirty and clung to his sweaty skin. He was wearing his cowboy hat and it shaded his eyes. I couldn’t see his face, but his tone was friendly. And he seemed pleased.
“Of course. Oh, hi, Dixie, can I help you with something?” Hannah asked and I shifted my focus to her. She was giving me a fake smile. It was too bright and it didn’t meet her eyes.
“I, uh, no, I’m just, I,” I stopped stuttering and pointed to a wall of hoes and shovels, then hurried toward them.
“Dixie,” Asher’s voice called after me. I was not turning around. She’d caught me off guard. I hadn’t been prepared to speak yet. Not as I was still processing what I had witnessed.
Maybe they were just friends. He said before they were friends and I believed him. But the way she had talked to him, the tone in her voice . . . it said something else.
“Dixie, wait,” he was closing in on me. I could start running, but then I’d look ridiculous and draw even more attention to myself. That would, of course, make Asher and I the topic of everyone’s dinner conversation tonight. Including my own family’s. Wincing, I stopped walking and just waited on him to reach me.
His fingers wrapped around my upper arm and I let him turn me around. “Why did you walk off?” He looked completely confused.
“I don’t know,” I lied. I knew I was overreacting.
He frowned and looked around. “Come out back to my truck.”
I felt eyes on me. I was almost positive they belonged to Hannah, but I didn’t check. I didn’t care. I only cared about being alone with Asher.
“Okay,” I acquiesced and let him lead me to the back. Once we were around the storage bins, his truck came into view. When we were on the far side of the truck, hidden from view, he backed me up against it and placed his hands on either side of me. His palms sat flat on the door behind me. “Tell me what just happened.”
Sighing, I closed my eyes because this was embarrassing. “I came to get flowers for the salon in hopes of seeing you. Then I heard you and Hannah talking. Y’all were friendly. She was being flirty with you.”
Asher put a finger under my chin and tilted my head back. “Open your eyes, Dix,” he sounded amused. I slowly opened them and then blinked against the sun.
“Hannah is my friend. We work together.”
I nodded.
He just smirked and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I like you jealous. I have to admit it.”
“I don’t,” I pouted.
He laughed, but then dropped his hands from the truck behind me and stood back up straight. “I’ve got to eat lunch, you’ve got to get flowers, and if I stay back here with you any longer, I’ll start kissing you the way I want to. We can’t do that just yet. Not in public.”
Because of Steel.
“Okay,” I replied, wishing things were different. But I understood.
“Come on,” he said with a gentle tug of my hand, walking us back around the truck. I wasn’t embarrassed anymore, so when my eyes found Hannah looking at us, I smiled. I didn’t care what she thought of me. I had acted silly and if she wanted to think I was nuts, I couldn’t blame her.
“I’d share half my sandwich with you if it wouldn’t make people talk,” he said.
“I’ll eat back at the salon.”
“I won’t enjoy my lunch company. I promise.”
I laughed at that. He quickly squeezed my hand, then moved away.
It wasn’t until I lifted my eyes to start looking for flowers that I saw him. Steel. He was standing just outside his truck watching us. His angry glare caused my breath to hitch, making Asher follow my gaze. He tensed and immediately put distance between us.
“Come on, you. Time to eat. Thanks for helping Dixie with that. I had no idea where to find it,” Hannah said brightly as she walked in between us and wrapped her arms around Asher’s arm.
“Wha—” Asher started to say, but then nodded. “Yeah. No problem.”