Asher: A Second Chance Novel (20 page)

She nodded but seemed reluctant to let go of him. He continued to stand there and hold her until she was ready. As they left, she was telling her staff what to do about closing up. One man who had been sitting at the bar approached Asher. “I wanted to apologize to you for all of us. I don’t know if you remember me? We went to school together. My name is Brian Folger. These men, the Proctor’s and their thugs, have terrorized this community. For one thing, they own most of our homes and businesses. If we so much as say a word against them, we’re on the streets. The other thing that happens is people disappear or end up in the hospital after experiencing ‘accidents’ at their hands. None of this is an excuse for cowardice, especially to a man like you, I’m sure. But I hope that you will at least realize we were paralyzed by our own fear. I like to believe that if he would have touched her, I would have at least tried to do something.”

Asher could see the embarrassment mixed with terror in the man’s eyes. He put his hand on Brian’s shoulder and said, “I remember you, and I believe you. This has gone on far too long. I don’t plan on letting these men continue to terrorize our town. I’d appreciate whatever help I can get, but the truth is I’m not afraid of taking them on myself if I have to.”

“I think your attitude about them will help motivate the rest of us,” Brian said. Asher smiled at him and then Mia and Axel were back at his side and he took his family home.

On the way there Asher finally asked, “What was that about today? What did James want?”

“He was telling me that I needed to convince you to sell him the ranches and the other properties your Dad left you. He told me that…” she stopped and looked at Axel like she didn’t want to say it in front of him. Axel rolled his eyes.

“I’m not a kid, Mom. I wanted to kill that guy when I saw him on you like that too. I despise that man and his entire family. Nothing you say is going to ever make me think less of you and it couldn’t possibly make me think less of him, he’s already pond scum to me.”

She took a deep, shaky breath and said, “James said that since I was spreading my legs for you like a whore I shouldn’t have trouble using my…” she hesitated again and Asher had the feeling she was searching for a word she felt comfortable saying in front of her son. “My body,” she went on, “To convince you to do what I want you to do. He told me it would ‘keep you alive’ if I convinced you to sell and go away.”

Asher and Axel were both silent. Asher felt a deadly rage flowing hotly through his body. He glanced over at his son and from the look on his face he could see that Axel was a lot more like him than he thought. The boy looked like James was lucky he wasn’t there in front of him right now. Taking several deep breaths to calm himself down, he slid his arm over Mia’s shoulders and drove with the other hand. He kissed her head and inhaled the sweet fragrance of her hair as he said,

“I’m so sorry baby. I’m so sorry they put you through that and I’m so sorry for all of the times I wasn’t here to protect you. Just know that there is no way I am selling to those people, nor am I going anywhere, ever. I promised you and my son that I’m never leaving again, and I meant it more than anything I have ever said. James Proctor and his family are the ones who will be leaving, if they know what’s good for them, and I guarantee you that he won’t get close enough to hurt you again.”

Mia woke up a few mornings later wrapped up in her Asher’s arms. It was a feeling that she wouldn’t be able to describe in words if her life depended on it. She loved the way he felt against her. She loved being able to feel his heart beat against hers when they laid chest to chest. She loved the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he slept. Mia loved everything about him. He pulled open his green eyes as she watched him wake up and a slow, sexy smile spread across his face.

“Good morning beautiful.”

“Good morning, gorgeous. How did you sleep?”

His smile broadened. “I slept great. I’d actually forgotten how amazing sleep can be when you’re comfortable.” He kissed her forehead and said, “God baby, I’m so glad I’m back. It feels so good to be home, and even better to wake up at home with you in my arms.”

“Me too. Nothing feels like waking up in your arms, Asher.”

“I agree,” he said, dipping his head down and capturing her lips with his. As he kissed her he flexed his hips against her. They were both naked after making love last night and falling asleep in each other’s arms. She felt his erection press against her and then she felt one of his hands give her breast a gentle squeeze. His fingers encircled her nipple and it grew and swelled immediately with his touch.

Mia squirmed and pressed herself harder into him and as she did she felt him suck in a deep breath and squeeze down a little bit harder on her nipple. Moisture formed between her thighs as much from still being tangled up in his long limbs as from what he was doing. He broke their kiss and rolled her so that her back was facing him. Then, he rested his face against the nape of her neck and nuzzled her there, sending goosebumps running down her spine. He put his hand over her other breast now as he began kissing across her neck, shoulders and upper back. Mia’s insides turned to jelly under his touch, and at times like this, she could almost feel her brain turn to mush. She felt him rock his erection into her again and she raised her leg slightly so that he could rest it in the moisture between her legs. She felt him groan against her flesh and bite down on the piece of her neck he was sucking. He nibbled his way up to her ear lobe and bit down on that too before whispering, “I love you,” into her ear.

Mia shivered. “I love you too.” She straightened her legs and that caused him to straighten his too and press his throbbing erection into her with more force. They both moaned. Mia took his hand off her breast and slid it down her body to the top of her mound. Asher didn’t hesitate to let his fingers find her swollen clit and begin to massage it. At the same time he thrust forward, letting his hard cock glide against the outside of her lips. It felt so good, Mia was in heaven. She enjoyed the sensations of his touch for as long as she could before finally moving his hand again and rolling onto her back. She needed him inside of her.

He pulled her into a tight embrace and their mouths met again. They exchanged a gentle, intimate kiss and Asher rolled back onto his back, pulling Mia up on top of him as they did. Her breasts were crushed up against his hard chest as the kiss deepened and became more passionate. He cupped her bottom with one hand and the other rested on her waist. She slowly drew her knees up and positioned herself so that he could enter her. He entered her slowly at first, gently stretching her, filling her up, possessing her completely. She sighed and rested her head against his neck as he pushed himself all the way in.

She kissed his neck as they both began moving together slowly, without haste. She loved the way his hard muscles rippled against her and the heat of his breath on her face. The blatant masculinity of him was the biggest-turn on and each time they made love she felt like he was taking her to a new, completely different level that she had never reached before. Heat spread throughout her body from her groin and up into her belly as their movements began to increase in tempo.

Mia began concentrating on pleasing Asher, squeezing with her internal muscles and rising up to almost release him before moving back down and taking him completely in again. They continued this until neither of them could contain it any longer and they melted together in a simultaneous release. Their hearts raced together, their breaths quickened and time slowed down as Mia rested her head on his chest and the world around them slowly returned.

**

It took them a while to finally pull themselves apart and get in the shower. Asher tried using his charms to convince Mia to get into the shower with him, but by that time they were running late and she knew getting in the shower with him would put them back another hour. After they were both dressed and ready, they headed for the Bar and Grill for a meeting Asher had arranged with Mia’s father and Mr. Kentworth. Frank and Lyle were there when they arrived. Mia had one of the waiters bring them back coffee and pastries and Asher got the meeting started by asking Mia to tell them what had happened with James a few days before. Asher watched Frank’s face as she talked about being terrified and not knowing what James was going to do. He could see the same rage in her father’s eyes that he had felt himself, and still felt each time that he let himself think about it.

When she finished, Frank slapped the table in front of him and said, “We have to do something about these people, sooner rather than later.”

“I agree,” Lyle said.

“That’s why I wanted us to put our heads together today. Mia tells me that you’ve tried going through the law already?”

“Yeah,” Frank said, “They’re as intimidated by these bastards as everyone else around here is.”

“Either intimidated, or paid off,” Lyle said, “I have a lot of respect for the Sheriff. He tries to do right by the people in this community, but he doesn’t get any support from his superiors and I strongly believe that some of his deputies are working for the enemy. I think he believes it too, but he hasn’t been able to prove it.”

“So he’s got his own issues he’s dealing with it sounds like,” Asher said, “That leaves us to come up with a solution on our own. I personally think we need to start by tracing the money. They seem to have a lot more of it than they should have. If nothing else we might be able to get the IRS interested in them. If the money is coming from the drugs maybe we can get the DEA interested or ATF if they’re dealing in weapons. What we need is information about these guys, as much as we can get. That will have to be our starting point.”

“I’ve known Randall Proctor my entire life,” Frank said, “He’s always had money, just not the kind they’re throwing around these days. Their family got rich during the gold rush and bought up a lot of land. They own probably fifty-percent of the land in the county now, but a lot more has come to Proctor and his sons over the past ten years strictly because of their dirty tactics.”

“The transportation department that Proctor heads up has received more than a million dollars over the past ten years in federal grants and funds from the Department of Education. At first, it seemed like the money was going for new buses for the schools and new scholarship programs and other things that the community really needed. He made himself look like a saviour to the department, and then suddenly when people weren’t watching as closely any longer, it was like the school was broke again, yet the money was still coming in.” Lyle told Asher.

“How does Proctor explain that?”

“He doesn’t,” Frank said, “He doesn’t have to. He’s slowly saturated the city and county government positions with his family. When people start asking questions, they get shuffled from one department to the next until they either give up, or the Proctors get tired of them and they disappear. It’s how they operate. They give you one chance to get on board with them and then they turn to their intimidation tactics. They don’t intend to stop until they’re in control of this entire area.”

“I don’t intend to let them do that,” Asher said.

“That’s what we’ve all been saying,” Frank said, “Your dad included. So far nothing we’ve tried has worked. We’re sure that our local contractors have lost most of their business because they refuse to ‘buy’ contracts from the Proctors. Outsiders come in and the contract is given to the highest bidder, and that’s not a bid for the job, it’s a bid to line Proctor’s pockets. Lyle, your father and I drafted a letter to the Justice Department about all of it, but they said without a witness who was willing to testify or direct proof, their hands were tied. They did promise to hand the information off to the FBI, but that was five years ago and we haven’t heard anything from them.”

“Then we’ll get them the proof they need,” Asher said.

“I don’t doubt that if anyone can bring these men to their knees, it’s you Asher,” Frank said, “But can you let us in on how you plan to do that?”

“Like I said, we need to trace the money. They have to be laundering it somehow if they’re bringing in the kind of cash we’re suspecting they are. I have friends who can help us out with this. These are men who can come in and out of town like ghosts and no one will ever know that they were here. That’s where we’re going to start.”

Frank and Lyle agreed that plan sounded solid. Lyle had to rush out to get to a meeting with a client after that and Mia went out to help with something in the kitchen. Asher and Frank were left alone and suddenly both men seemed uncomfortable. Asher had known Frank his entire life, but he never really knew him.

Because of the silly feud between his and Mia’s parents, he had barely ever spoken to the man before he came back.

Asher finally gave Frank an uncomfortable smile and pushed up from his chair. “Asher, can I talk to you for a few minutes, man to man?” Frank asked him looking up at him. Asher couldn’t very well say no to Mia’s father and his son’s grandfather. Besides that, he was curious about what Frank might have to say. He sat back down and said, “Sure, Frank.”

“I’m not sure how much Mia has told you about her mother and my relationship. I fell in love with Norma when I was about thirteen. I was seventeen before I worked up the nerve to talk to her.” He laughed and said, “She was every bit as beautiful as Mia is and you can probably see how that might be intimidating for a guy like me.”