Perfect Match Enemies to lovers romance - Leia Stone Page 0,40
looked lost for words.
“Millie is a widow,” I said, feeling that word burn a hole in my tongue. How awful to name a grieving woman after a spider.
“Oh.” Gran nodded. “I’m sorry to hear that.” But there was something else in Gran’s eyes. I saw the moment she began to plot Millie’s and my future together, kids and the whole bit. Just because Millie had seen loss, Gran thought we were a match made in heaven. I could see it in her eyes.
I cleared my throat. “I’ll take Millie to get settled in the guest house now.”
“Thank you.” Millie stood, looking relieved she didn’t have to go into her story. It was the one thing I hated, the one thing I never did. Tell people my story.
“Good night, honey,” Gran called after her as I led her to the back door. “See you in the morning for breakfast!”
Millie nodded. “Happy birthday.”
We walked across the yard, sun setting in the distance, and I gazed out at the farm I’d grown up on. Sometimes things were easier out here than they were in the city. Life was simpler and I missed that. Feed the chickens, get eggs in the morning. Worked every time.
We reached the one-bedroom guest house and I pulled the key from under the mat. It was a simple setup and where I usually stayed when I visited, which meant I’d be sleeping in my old room in the main house tonight. I didn’t like it in there because it reminded me of Jenna and our childhood growing up.
I showed Millie around, turned on the TV for her, and then pulled a clean shirt and a pair of my boxers out from the drawers that I kept in the room.
“If you wanna shower and change…” I laid the clothes on the counter and she shifted nervously. I had some of Jenna’s clothes in the house, but that would be way too weird. Wearing my clothes might be weirder now that I thought of it. “Or … whatever.” I went to take the clothes back and she reached out and touched my hand.
“No, I’d like them. Thanks.”
The thought of her wearing my boxers made my mind go right into the gutter. I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss in the river, how she’d kissed me back … before the snake of doom broke us up.
“Alright well … goodnight, Millie.”
She chewed on her lip, using one hand to pull her long hair over her shoulder. “Night, Ashton.”
Fuck me.
I needed to get out of here. Stumbling out into the cool night air, I walked across the farm, intending to go right up to my old room and take a cold shower, when my phone rang.
Without looking, I answered, thinking it might be the mechanic about my truck.
“You’ve been avoiding my calls, you rascal.” Darcy’s voice filtered through the phone and I cursed myself for picking up without looking. I was supposed to give her my answer on selling, but Millie had me all confused, thinking we could save the place. I didn’t know what to do.
“Hey, Darcy. I’ve been crazy busy.” Kissing my fry cook and losing my damn mind.
“Well, you played hardball and it paid off. The laundromat came back with a new offer.”
My ears perked up at that. “Oh yeah?”
“Ashton, it’s nearly asking, and you still get to keep the apartments above! I’ve emailed it over to you. Take a look and text me back. Offer expires in twenty-four hours.”
Nearly asking.
My heart hammered in my chest as I thanked her and hung up. Opening the email, I scanned the contract until my gaze rested on the offer.
Holy shit.
This would get me out of debt, pay back Gran, and I’d be left with about fifty grand to start a new business. I’d be a stupid man not to accept this offer. Millie had confused me with her talk of avocado toast and brunch, but in reality this was my father’s dream, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to save anything for him.
Slipping into the backdoor of the house, I went in search of Gran, hoping to convince her to sell.
Chapter 13
Millie
After Ashton left me some of his clothes to wear, I opened the bedroom window to let in some of the fresh night air. The temperature had finally dropped and I just wanted to take a shower and try to sleep, not thinking about Ashton or the fact that I was royally confused about where I stood with him.