Page 61

ASA

“Fuck.” I walk through the door to my house after a long-ass day.

It being a Monday and having safety meetings as well as progress meetings for the jobs we’re on didn’t help either.

Some are behind, some are ahead of schedule, then there’s one that would take Hart Construction to a whole other level.

It’s exciting, but the heaviness clung in the air in our main office hub between all five of us.

It didn’t seem like we were on the same page, except Deke; he was ready to jump in with both feet.

Tanner and Keller basically said they’re out when it comes to traveling on the weekdays.

That was a given with them being married and having a family.

Leena didn’t pipe in with any ideas, which told me all I needed to know.

She wasn’t ready for the next step. I hung back, arms crossed over my chest, legs crossed at my ankles, and looked around the room.

Damn Deke and his need for change. Swear to God, if he persuades the other siblings to take this lead, I’ll knock his teeth in.

There’s no way I want to be on the road five days a week.

My house is here, Montana is here, and it’s not like I’m getting any younger either.

Plus, does the dumbass not realize the strain it’ll put on everyone else if two of us are gone at the same time?

That’s why I piped up before leaving the office, letting them know if we take the deal, I don’t want any part of it.

Since I didn’t crack my usual jokes or quick-witted remarks, it must have slid home.

Leena’s shoulders dropped from her ears, Tanner’s eyebrows rose to his hairline, and Keller’s head tilted to the side in what I guess was wonderment.

It was Deke who said, “Fuck, man, why would you want to miss out on taking Hart to the next level?”

“Sometimes, money and notoriety aren’t all there is, baby brother,” was my response before I walked out the door.

That probably shocked the shit out of all of them.

The thing is, we’ve all been chasing something since Tanner started Hart Construction.

I’m thirty now; it’s not the time to be out there looking at expanding into a different state.

Sure, Alabama isn’t that far away from our central location, but it’s not what I want either.

I walk towards the fridge, needing a beer after this long-ass day, really wanting something stronger.

The only reason I’m not reaching for the Jameson is because of work tomorrow.

I grab my beer, noticing that Montana’s favorite drinks are sitting beside it, and I’m sure she’ll have one tonight, too, judging from her phone call this morning and the couple of texts we squeezed in today.

The one telling me she’s about to walk out without notice if Jim doesn’t pull his head out of his ass.

Jim, who is her boss, an arrogant prick who fucks up nine times out of ten and openly blames it on his associates.

I’d have encouraged her to do it, hell, I have in the past. After she shut me down a few times after explaining her dreams, wanting a nest egg in case the next thing doesn’t work out, I got it.

I’m just about to make my way to the bathroom when I hear the humming of the garage door opening. Shortly after, a car door shuts, and I know Montana is home.

“Honey, I’m home!” I smile. She’s a fucking nut.

“Hi, sweetheart. How was your day at the office?” I play into her skit.

“It was great. Jim Bob yelled for three hours about an angle that wasn’t right after he was the one who made the change. Three hours, Asa. Who can even argue that long? Anyways, who did you piss off today?” That guy is a piece of work.

“One day, you’ll come over to the Hart side,” I tease her.

“You going to come kiss your man or stand all the way over there?” Montana has her hair up in some kind of twist and is wearing long-sleeve silk blouse, a black pencil skirt, and heels.

She’s smoking hot in this getup. Gotta say I like her naked a fuck ton more, but my favorite is when she wakes up, hair out to there because she can’t contain the wildness that my hands create, wearing one of those flimsy pajamas sets she wears, and knowing we have our Saturday to ourselves if there are no plans.

“You could just as easily walk over to me,” she throws out yet struts her gorgeous self to me.

Our lips meet, and my hands move to the back of her head, holding it in place as my fingers work through the pins she has in it to hold the updo in place.

My tongue traces her lips, and when she sighs, allowing the weight of the world to fall off her shoulders, that’s when our tongues tangle, each of us tasting the other, only stopping when we’re both breathless.

“I like it better when you come.”

“Me too. On me, in me, anyway I can have you, Asa.” She took my joke and used it against me. Fuck, this woman, she gets me, all of me.

“Good, because I’m about to make that happen.” I grip her ass, dip my legs, and lift her so she’s forced to wrap her legs around my hips.

“Shower?” she asks once I have her settled in my arms.

“Do you even have to ask?” She dips her head, seeking my lips again as I walk us towards the master bathroom.