Landlady: A New Adult Romance (Northbridge Nights Book 1) (16 page)

“It's okay Dad, I can just sleep on the couch. Don't need to-”

“
—
Nonsense, Sisi. You're not going
to sleep on that lumpy piece of crap for the next month!”

I sighed and caved. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I was
only planning on staying for a week, max, two. Even though the
orthopedist said I probably wouldn't be able to take off the cast for
at least six weeks, I fully intended on going back to work after two.
I'd be clumsier, but I could still sew things together and file
paperwork if need be. Most importantly, I needed the money.

Mom brought in a pitcher of iced tea, the ice cubes clinking gently
against the glass. She'd added her signature sprig of mint to it. She
poured me a cup, and I downed it in three swallows. I hadn't realized
I was so thirsty until my hands were outstretched, and Mom was giving
me a refill. Most of my favorite childhood memories revolved around
guzzling down Mom's homemade iced tea in the summertime.

“It's important to stay hydrated,” Mom reminded me. “The last
thing we need is to have you dehydrated from this heat.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Ernest. Let me help. Watch your back!” Mom rushed over to help
Dad as he dragged my old single mattress down the stairs. It clunked
on each step, and I was terrified that the stair treads wouldn't be
able to handle the abuse. They were ancient and in dire need of
replacement.

The two of them managed to successfully navigate the mattress around
the banister, and they slid it into place in front of me. It was
still covered in the same frilly pink fitted sheet I'd used most of
my childhood. The fabric was worn in many spots, and its color had
long since faded.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I put your bedsheets and covers in the wash. They'll be nice and
clean by the time you go to bed,” Mom said “I'll bring in the fan
and get some air circulating.”

They were being too nice. I felt awful, especially since before the
accident, I hadn't spoken to them in almost six months. I'd only come
back to the farm to visit
once
in the three years since I
moved out. And that had been when Roxy had gotten sick. Even though
the farm wasn't that far away (about two hours by public transit), I
avoided seeing my parents. Whenever Mom called, I always had an
excuse ready: it was midterms or finals season; I was busy at work;
Callista was having a meltdown; I was sick with the flu. Sometimes
the excuses were true, others were downright lies.

Why? Mostly because I wanted to avoid confrontation. Didn't want to
face their criticism and unfounded concerns. They always painted the
city as a hell where people sold their souls and surrendered their
youth for the corporate ladder and financial greed. That wasn't true
though. They never saw Northbridge the way I saw it: a place where
dreams came true. A city of opportunity and unlimited potential.

But now, despite how terrible I've been the past few years, my
parents were taking me back under their wing without hesitation.
Because family was family. I was touched but also wracked with guilt.

“What would you like for dinner, Sierra?” Mom asked. “I'm
running out to buy some groceries.”

“Anything,” I replied. “I'm not picky.”

“Okay, I'll make you something special then. Your first night home
in a long time, sweetheart. It's a cause for celebration.”

After Mom had left, Dad sat in his worn leather armchair and flicked
on the TV. He settled on a soccer game. Still staring at the screen,
he said, “She missed you so much, you know.”

I felt as if I'd been punched in the gut. He didn't need to remind
me; I could see for myself. I knew Mom had taken a huge hit when both
her children flew the coop around the same time. She must've gotten
Empty Nest Syndrome to some extent.

“I know,” I said.

“I missed you too,” Dad said. “House is awfully lonely without
you and Jordan running around terrorizing us.”

I chuckled. “Dad, we're too old to terrorize you.”

“You living in the city terrifies me,” Dad said. “Not knowing
if you're eating well, sleeping well, if you're making the right
choices for yourself
—
I worry about
you, Sierra.”

“I'm twenty-five Dad. Old enough to make my own mistakes and live
with the consequences. You can't protect me forever.”

“I know,” he finally sighed, “I wish I could, though. Seems
like just yesterday you were learning how to walk and talk.”

“Change is a good thing, Dad. Even if it doesn't seem that way
right now,” I said.

I was glad when Dad settled into his show and didn't try to persuade
me to move back permanently. I wanted my sojourn here to pass as
peacefully as possible. Preferably without any nasty arguments or
bickering.

Mom made my favorite for dinner: Chicken Alfredo Lasagna with a side
of crispy bacon. From scratch. Mom was a fantastic cook, and one of
the things I missed most was eating her home-cooked meals. Yes, they
made me put on pounds like crazy, but they were sinfully delicious.
Comfort food at its finest. If I could choose to inherit anything
from Mom, it'd be her amazing cooking skills. Why couldn't I cook
like her?

After dinner, I offered to wash the dishes, but Mom wouldn't have any
of it. So I decided to read a book before calling it an early night.
After changing into my PJs and turning off the lights, Mom snuck up
to me and knelt down beside the mattress. “Good night, sweetheart.
And welcome home,” she murmured. She kissed my forehead and headed
upstairs.

She sounded so happy I felt my heart break a little. How could I
possibly explain to them this was just a short, temporary visit? They
were already acting like I was back for good.

CHAPTER 16

ASHER

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING me?” Dad cried, throwing a sheaf of
papers in my face. “This is fucking garbage!”

I bent down to pick up the contracts, which were now scattered all
over Dad's office floor.

“I stayed up all night working on these,” I said. They were the
revised contracts for the Holdom merger. I thought I'd done a
spectacular job but...

“First, you reschedule the meeting with the Holdom sisters, now you
fuck up their contracts? They'll be here tomorrow and what will you
have to show them? This crock of shit?”

“I can draw up another one,” I said, straightening out the files
and slipping them back into the folder.

“In three hours? Impossible. I'm handing this case over to
Klassen,” Dad said.

Lars Klassen was the other junior associate with his own office. He
and I were both competing for a promotion to senior partner. Our
skill levels were evenly matched, but I had a bit of a disadvantage
these days: I was finding it difficult to focus.

It was all Sierra Maywood's goddamn fault.

I was spending way too much time wondering how she was doing back
home with her parents. She'd left yesterday while I was at work and
I'd asked if I could visit her tonight. And in all the time since her
last text, I'd been wondering a million different things.

Trivial things.

Like what to wear? What to bring? What to say to her and her parents?

Jesus, I felt like I was in high school again, asking Jessica Raines
to the prom.

“What the hell are you still doing here? Get out!” Dad yelled.

I hadn't seen him so pissed off in a long time. He was disappointed,
I could tell. He'd be angrier still if he knew the real reason I'd
fudged the contracts. I had to stay up all night because I'd spent
most of my days visiting Sierra in the hospital and playing hooky
from work. I'd told her my workload was light, that was why I could
visit her so much. But the truth was I just couldn't bear spending a
single day without seeing her.

I was...obsessed with her.

Never even been on a date with her yet and I was already doomed.
Fucking hell. I hadn't had a good night's sleep in over a week and I
was soul-crushing drained.

I left Dad's office, tail tucked between my legs. His lecture had
been loud enough that no doubt everyone in the office had heard him.
Shame boiled inside me.

“Guess you really dropped the ball on the Holdom contracts huh?”
Klassen asked, a roguish smile on his face. He was leaning against
the wall just outside his office, which was beside my Dad's.

“Piss off, Klassen,” I warned, before storming back to my office
to lick my wounds.

Luckily, my mood improved when I received a text from Sierra.

SIERRA:
Mom wants to know what you'd like for dinner.

I grinned. I couldn't wait to see her. Hear her voice. That voice...
I swear it did something to me.

ASHER:
Hmm...Can I eat you?

SIERRA:
Definitely not.

ASHER:
In that case, I'll have whatever she wants to make.

SIERRA:
She says is roadkill okay?

I let out a belly laugh.

ASHER:
As long as it's boiled for safety.

SIERRA:
Roadkill Stew it is then. See you later.

ASHER:
Wait, should I bring something? Wine?

SIERRA:
Just bring your sexy ass and a big smile. It's been really
boring today. You were right. I watched Gilmore Girls reruns all day.
ALL DAY.

ASHER:
I'll bring you something fun.

SIERRA:
Will it be something appropriate? ;)

ASHER:
What do you take me for? See you at eight.

Sierra always had her mind in the gutter. Though I didn't blame her.
Lately, I found myself entertaining way too many fantasies of her
(most of which were R-rated). But intermixed with those fantasies was
something else: a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time. A
protectiveness I couldn't explain, and a soft spot I wish didn't
leave me so exposed and vulnerable.

I pulled up to Maywood Farm at a quarter to eight. I’d had to leave
work early (if Dad knew, he'd be angry) but on the plus side, there
wasn't much traffic.

I'd changed into a more casual outfit after work. After all,
strolling onto a farm wearing a $3000 suit didn't seem appropriate. I
opted for a black t-shirt and dark jeans. I made sure to take a
shower after work so I'd smell good for her parents. And I also
brought Sierra two special gifts. (Neither of which were
inappropriate!)

I felt terrible that the first time they saw me, I looked like
something the cat had dragged in. I'd been muddy, stinky, and
disheveled. A horrible first impression, to be sure.

The front door opened before my feet even hit the first porch step.
They must've heard me in the driveway.

“Asher, come on in,” Ernest said. His smile was open and genuine,
and I felt relief flood through me. Dinner with the Maywoods would be
okay.

“Hi, Mr. Maywood.” I nodded to Lillian. “Mrs. Maywood.”

“Please, call me Lil and my husband, Ernie,” Lillian said.

“Okay.” I stepped inside and shrugged off my sneakers. “Where's
Sierra?”

“She's in the dining room,” Lillian said.

I nodded. I handed her a bottle of red wine but kept my other gifts
tucked under my arm.

“Thank you, Asher, you shouldn't have,” Lillian beamed.

“It was the least I could do,” I said. “If you don't mind, I'm
dying to see Sierra.”

“Please, go ahead. Dinner will be in five minutes.”

I walked past the living room and saw Sierra sitting at the table,
reading a book. In the dim light, her eyes seemed to glisten like
pearls. Her face looked smooth and her cheeks, rosy. She looked
gorgeous; not at all like someone who'd just spent the week in the
hospital. I was glad she seemed back to her old self again.

“Mind if I join you?” I asked.

My voice made her startle. “Jeez, Asher. Ever heard of knocking?”

“That must be some book,” I said. “You didn't even hear me come
in.”

“What's that?” she asked, nodding at the two wrapped gifts in my
hand.

“I promised I'd bring you some entertainment,” I said, grinning.

“Is it going to be something
—
”

“
—We can play with it after dinner.”

Sierra arched her eyebrows. “With my parents?”

“Of course. If they want to.”

Sierra let out a sigh. “Good. For a second I thought it was going
to be, you know... something
—
”

“
—
Get your head out of the gutter,
Sierra Maywood,” I said, feigning offense.

“You don't exactly have a track record
—
”

“
—
How do you know what my track
record is?”

Sierra narrowed her eyes and shut her book. “The first day we met,
you thought my 'Bedroom Box' was hiding a big black dildo,” she
hissed.

“It's not unusual for a lady of your age to have a toy or two,” I
winked.

She didn't look impressed. “Need I remind you we're in my parent's
house?”

“You brought it up,” I shrugged. I handed her one of the
presents. It was lumpy and very poorly wrapped. “Open this one
first. I didn't want your parents to see it.”

“I thought you said your gifts were family-friendly.”

I shrugged. “Okay. I don't mind if Lil and Ernie see this, but you
might not want them to,” I said.

Sierra unwrapped the gift and burst out laughing. “You brought my
teddy bear?”

“Figured it'd help you sleep a little better. And maybe remind you
of home.” I paused. “Your real home, in Northbridge. With me.”

Sierra struggled to stand up. Her eyes were misty. I pulled her
against me and kissed her gently. I'd been dreaming about her soft,
sweet lips for more than a week, and they were every bit as delicious
as I knew they'd be. Sierra melted in my arms and let out a tiny
moan. God almighty, her moan made me want to rip her clothes off and
have my way with her. And her scent; that understated perfume that
was uniquely hers. It drove me insane. I couldn't believe that I
wasn't jumping on top of her right now.