Page 20 of Close to My Heart

Ashton was more of what Wes would call a paper pusher. A white-collar guy, one who worked for his daddy’s firm. He’d never be able to fix anything around the house or be willing to get his hands dirty.

Why was I comparing every man to Wes? When had he become the gold standard?

“If you use a bit more pressure,” Wes suggested.

“For god’s sake,” Ashton mumbled.

Ashton stood abruptly and brushed off his slacks and his coat, but it was no use, pine needles stuck in the wool, and there was a spot of sap on his sleeve. Ashton thrust the saw in Wes’s direction. “I’ll wait for you at the car.”

“We drove separately.”

Ashton turned on his heel without another word. I felt bad that he was upset, so I said to Wes, “I’ll be right back.”

His lips quirked into an amused smile. “Take your time.”

Then I rushed after Ashton. “Wait up.”

When he slowed, I said, “You didn’t have to try and cut it down yourself.”

Ashton gestured around us. “This is not my idea of a fun date.”

“You don’t want to be cutting down a tree, or you don’t want to be with me?” I asked carefully.

“This wasn’t worth the money your mother promised.”

My stomach dropped. “Wait. Are you only going out with me for the payday?”

Ashton rounded on me. “Your mother promised me money if we dated, I proposed, and then we stayed married for six months.”

My stomach dropped. Even if I knew the truth, I hadn’t heard anyone say it out loud so callously before. “I was hoping we could be friends at least.”

Ashton huffed out a laugh. “You can’t be that naive. It’s always about the money and what you have to offer.”

My face burned with shame. Did everyone think I was desperate to get married? How could they not? I wanted to save the estate, and my grandmother had put me in this untenable position.

Ashton shook his head. “I’m not saying I’m backing out, but I don’t see the point in these dates. What does it matter if I can cut down a tree?”

Except it did matter. I wanted someone who could take care of me and not just financially. I wanted someone who could support me physically and emotionally. Wes had always been there for me. Why was it too much to ask that a husband would be too, even if it was only temporary? I’d hoped for a mutual understanding, friendship, and the possibility of something more.

When I couldn’t answer, Ashton resumed his trek down the lane. “Call me if you want to go to the club later.”

My shoulders lowered. I didn’t want to hang out at the club. I never got into the socialite scene like my mother had. I avoided the golf course, the pool, and the club. “What about the carriage ride we planned to go on?”

“That’s not my thing either.”

At least he was being honest. He wasn’t trying to pretend to be someone he wasn’t. I made my way back to Wes, who’d already sawed through the trunk and was standing next to it, holding it upright.

“We didn’t bring a cart or anything to get it back down the hill.”

“I got it,” Wes said as he lowered it to the ground so he could drag it behind us.

Of course he could. He could handle anything that life threw at him.

Wes shot me a concerned look. “Are things with Ashton okay?”

“He doesn’t want to do any more outdoorsy things or hands-on activities. In fact, I think he’d be willing to get married as long as we didn’t go on any more dates like this. He prefers to hang out at the club and get drinks.”

“Is that what you want?” Wes asked as we walked side by side.

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