Chapter 45

I went back to inspecting the paint selection, and when I found what I wanted, I walked to the checkout area. The kid that rang up my purchase—and really, he couldn’t have been more than nineteen—kept gawking at me like I was…well, I don’t really know what. Was I that much of an oddity? I suppose I should be used to it by now. Whatever. I took my receipt and purchase before heading out of the store, only to find Asher leaning against my truck on the driver’s side, of course, like he had the right.

Okay, this was getting old. “Get lost, fucktard,” I snarled and shoved him aside. I unlocked the door, but before I could actually open it, Asher put his hand over mine.

“You and I need to talk,” he said. The heat from his body as he stood behind me, and his voice in my ear, made me want to do unwise, incendiary things.

“No, we don’t.” I shoved him and my wandering thoughts aside, but then he shoved me back, surprising me.