Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
ANABELLE
Inever would have thought that a nightmare would bring Asher and me closer together, but ever since that night, he’s been impossible to resist.
We’ve been fooling around in his room, in mine, in the library—wherever the mood strikes us—but we never spend the night together. Not since the night I found him in the throes of a nightmare and woke him. When he confessed the hell he’d been through as a child.
I tell myself it’s fine for us to sleep apart, that I knew what I was getting into, but my heart doesn’t seem to get the message.
There’s so much more to the man than the front he puts on for the world.
I hear him on the phone when he’s doing business, and he’s every bit the hardened billionaire encased in a fortress of steel.
But there’s so much pain underneath, a drive to protect those he cares for, a thoughtful and considerate man.
Just last night, he took me around the library and showed me where some of the books he thought I might really enjoy are.
When he fucked me up against one of the bookshelves, it was just an added bonus.
Today he had to take his private plane to Voss Enterprises’s head office. I guess something was going down that he needed to be present for. No big deal. Except that it feels like it is.
I miss him, and I feel miserable and alone here without him. Which is not good. Because I cannot get attached to this man. He’s become the only thing that brings me happiness here at Midnight Manor, and when I’m apart from him, the minutes feel like hours.
I need to get my head right because I’ll either be leaving here when my contract is up or when he tires of fucking me and sends me packing back to the staff quarters. Either of those outcomes will be unbearable if I allow myself to develop feelings for him.
Perhaps a little distance is a good thing. I’d considered not leaving the manor on Saturday night to visit my family because Asher is due back around dinner time, but I think maybe now it’s better if I do.
Friday evening, I venture to the kitchen where the homemade fertilizer I found in Asher’s mother’s book has been sitting for a day as her handwritten note in the margins instructed.
Mrs. Potter thought I was mad when I asked for all the ingredients to concoct it, including apple cider vinegar and a copper penny.
But I’ll try anything. I really want to bring this rose back to life for Asher.
Once I’ve borrowed a watering can from the grounds crew, I venture into the maze. I don’t know the way to the center by heart, but I can find my way there—eventually. The same with the way out.
It takes me the longest it ever has tonight, though, because I’m carrying this heavy watering can.
When I reach the center, I set down the can to catch my breath.
The sticky summer heat clings to my exposed skin, and I take the elastic band from around my wrist and pull my hair back into a ponytail.
Then I walk over to the bush to water the plant using what I hope will act like a magic potion. While I do, I talk to the plant because that’s another thing that was written in the book.
The first time I talked to it, I felt silly. But I swear the rose bush has new buds forming, and the existing roses aren’t as weary as they were.
“I’m worried I’m setting myself up for heartbreak.
Not because Asher’s done anything wrong, but because he does everything right.
To everyone else, he’s an enigma, but the more I learn about him, the more I know what he’s been through and how strong he is because he survived it, the more I want to wrap him in my arms and try to convince him to just let me love him. ”
I sigh. The bush doesn’t answer of course, but I’d be lying if I said that, in some weird way, it doesn’t feel good to say the words out loud.
“I’ve decided I’m going to go see my family tomorrow night rather than stay here and wait for him to return. It’s not healthy to base my entire life around him when a year from now, I won’t even be here anymore.”
That thought gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Anyway, hopefully this little concoction will help you grow strong again. I think it would make him really happy.”
The last drips come out of the watering can, and I take a step back from the plant, studying it. Usually, I would’ve brought my book so that I can read on one of the benches, but I didn’t bother tonight, knowing I wasn’t in the mood.
While I find my way out of the maze, I think of all the things Asher confessed to me about his father. What a horrible man he was. My father had his faults, but I cannot imagine him ever doing anything like what Asher’s father did to his family. Good riddance.
I feel guilty for thinking it, but not that guilty.
I’m so wrapped up in my thoughts that when I pop out of the maze, I don’t see Jack Potter until he calls my name.
I turn and face him. “Hi, Jack. Headed back to the staff quarters?”
“Yep, just finished up for the day. What are you up to?” He nods at the empty watering can in my hand.
“Oh.” My cheeks heat in embarrassment though I don’t know why. Mrs. Potter already knows what I’m up to, and she’s probably told her husband. “I’m trying to bring that rose bush in the maze back to life.”
He nods knowingly. “How’s it going?”
I frown. “Not bad. Not great.”
Jack chuckles. “Well, stick with it. It would mean a lot to Mr. Voss.” There’s a twinkle in his eye that makes me think he may believe there’s more between Asher and me than there is.
“Thanks, I will.” The caw of some kind of bird sounds from overhead. “Jack, can I ask you something?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Sure, what’s up?”
“You’ve worked here for a long time, right?”
His eyebrows creep up, and he nods.
“How did Asher’s parents die?”
It’s a chicken-shit question to ask Jack. I could just as easily ask Asher the same thing, but I can’t be sure he’d tell me. Lots of rumors claim that they were killed but offer little to no concrete details. I’ve heard everything from witchcraft gone wrong to suicide.
Jack gives me a sympathetic look. I get the feeling he’s trying to soften the blow. “You’re gonna need to ask Mr. Voss about that, Anabelle.”
I nod. “I figured as much.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. It’s just Mr. Voss’s story to tell, not mine.”
“I respect that. Sorry to put you in an uncomfortable spot by asking.” I move past him.
“Want me to return that watering can for you? I’m going right by there,” he says.
“That would be great, thanks.” I hold out the can.
He takes it but settles his hand on my shoulder. “Just ask him.”
I nod in affirmation, but when I walk away, I’m not sure I will. Asher’s answer might make me fall harder for him than I already have.
Saturday night when I swing by the house is a bust. My mother is much the same as she has been over the past weeks. Her doctor says there’s not much more we can do unless we want to move her into a facility for more extensive treatment.
I don’t know if that’s the right call, and even if I did, it’s not as though we have the money for it. According to Luke, he’s keeping the business afloat but just barely. Our father drained the coffers, and Luke is trying to rebuild them at the moment, though I have no doubt he will.
He was headed out on a date shortly after I arrived, so I wasn’t able to visit with him. My grandmother retired early for the evening, saying she was tired.
I could go back to Midnight Manor and see if Asher has returned yet, but that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid doing. I want to prove to myself that I don’t need him, that I haven’t fallen for him, so instead, I head to Black Magic.
I’m surprised I don’t find Sawyer behind the bar when I take a seat on one of the bar stools. Instead, there’s a well-endowed woman with a tight T-shirt, daisy dukes, and long blonde hair.
“Hey, what can I get you?” she asks with a smile.
“I’ll just have a beer. Whatever’s on special.” I have to drive back to the manor, so I don’t plan on getting shit-faced. I just plan on staying here long enough to prove to myself that I’m not racing back to Midnight Manor because I’m desperate to see Asher.
“Coming right up.” She opens the beer fridge and pulls out a bottle, then grabs the bottle opener from the waist of her jean shorts.
“I was surprised not to see Sawyer when I walked in.”
“He’s moving to days. I guess the owner doesn’t want to work as much anymore, so she was looking for someone to work some nights. So here I am.” She tosses the beer cap in the garbage behind her and slides the bottle over to me.
“Thanks.” I tip the nose at her before I take a sip. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before, and with a town as small as ours, I’m sure I would have. She’s stunning, and I don’t think I’d forget her. “Are you from around here?”
But when I ask, she seems to get a little uncomfortable. She shifts in place, and the corners of her mouth tighten.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. Sorry, I wasn’t trying to pry.”
She waves me off. “Sorry, no, it’s fine. I live about fifteen minutes from here, but I don’t get out much. I’m Cinder.” She stretches her hand across the bar, and I take it.
“Anabelle, nice to meet you.”
“Boudreaux?”
My forehead wrinkles. “Do we know each other?”
Again, she looks uncomfortable. “Oh no, your brother has been in here a couple of times, that’s all, and he mentioned he had a sister named Anabelle.”
I nod and smile again. No doubt Luke would be chatting up this beautiful woman when he comes in here.
Cinder and I chat periodically when she isn’t busy helping customers. When she is, I just read the book I brought with me.
It’s busier than normal in here tonight, and I recognize most of the people, though I’m not really friendly with any of them. They’re all older than I am. All my high school friends booked it out of town as soon as graduation was done.