PART OF HER WORLD

CHAPTER 3

Tossing and turning Asher couldn’t get comfortable. Anger kept flaring up in his chest. Even though Dave gave him a reprieve because of why he was late getting back, he still hated not keeping curfew. The three idiots had returned without breaking that house rule, even though they were a bit nervous when he walked in. They relaxed greatly after nothing happened when Dave had his little chat with Asher.

Thoughts of the woman he had helped didn’t make getting to sleep any easier. Sophia kept floating through his mind. Something about her caused a stirring in him. A smile tugged at his lips at doing the right thing. Getting up, he went to the bathroom and let the shower wash over him. He hoped that the hot spray would help but it didn’t. Standing there as the water rained down over him, his mind painted a picture of Sophia standing in his shirt. Her angelic face gazing at him with those enchanting eyes, she seemed so fragile and delicate.

Fighting the image proved futile and the thoughts drifted to her standing before him naked instead of clad in only his shirt. His body began to react to the images. He wondered how soft her lips were, how she would taste and if she preferred to be on top or under a man. His hand grasped himself, as he stroked slowly he thought of her mouth taking him in between those plump rosy lips.

Never before had the thoughts of a woman made him so aroused. What a waste to have to do this all alone, he thought. Imagines of sinking himself into her velvety folds, taking her with long slow strokes sent his erection twitching in his grasp. His balls tightened and he stroked harder, faster, his mind creating images of her face and what she would look like in the throes of ecstasy. How she would probably flush red and tremble as she climaxed. The image of her lip's parting and her crying out his name was all he needed. His release exploded violently from him as he whispered her.

* * *~~~* * *

It was early Friday morning as Sophia neatly folded her laundry while Bentley yakked away on the phone. Having him on speaker allowed her to continue her chores as they talked. They had an appointment later that afternoon to assess how her medications were working and to go for coffee. For a little while now she got the impression Bentley liked her a little more than as a patient. The man was a bit older than her and had taken a special interest in her case.

Her interests had been growing and now that he finally asked her out for coffee she’d mixed feelings about it. Pulling a shirt from her basket, she could tell by the size that this was Asher’s. He told her he worked at the park and she’d full intentions of going there to return it to him. She wondered at what he looked like, she knew he had big hands and a deep voice. His hands were gentle and warm to the touch, a warm fuzziness spread over her as she thought of how he had saved her. A real hero.

She told Bentley that she would meet him at the cafe' in an hour and she hung up the phone. She’d planned on going to the park and returning the shirt after her coffee date with Bentley that evening, she could catch a cab home afterward. Normally she didn’t wear makeup, but she figured she might put a little on as well as some of her expensive perfume. She knew exactly which dress she was going to wear after she climbed out of the shower. As she got gussied up, she had to wonder which man she was dolling herself up for.

The cafe that they sat at was quiet and as she played with her coffee, she grew impatient. Bentley was telling her all about the new addition to the center. The work finally received approval by the City’s building commission. Some of the work would be starting as early as Monday. There was to be a big fundraising gala to begin the money-raising campaign. He was so excited about the upcoming event that he hadn’t stopped talking for almost thirty minutes straight. He even gave her a quick run down of his speech he planned to give at the event.

“So would you be my date?" he asked her.

“Oh ... I ... Well ... Yes, I would love to,” she said a little taken aback.

“Great I can’t wait, now about your dosage of medication. I think I need to up the levels to 15 mg three times a day. You seemed more tense today then you have all week, is there something going on you want to talk about?" he asked. Bentley seemed to snap right back into his role as her doctor. He appeared to have noticed her edginess.

Not wanting to tell him about the narrow escape she had last night, she chalked her unease all up to Jason being released in a couple of weeks.

“Did you get that security system installed yet?”

“No they are booked up, so I have to wait for next week," she told him. Bentley had suggested the added security.

“Well Charlie will be living with you soon enough.”

“That’s true.”

Even if Charlie were already at her home, it wouldn’t make much difference. He was a Seeing Eye dog not a guard dog and he would only afford a bit of protection. His real job was to help her reintegrate into the workforce. Not that she needed to, her parents had left her with a considerable fortune. Yet, she missed having a regular routine, going to a job helped her feel self-reliant.

The folks at the seeing impairment center had told her she was doing remarkably well. She had mastered the clock as well as the Braille system in only two years. Her home was carefully laid out so she could maneuver around without effort and she found getting around had become much easier.

“Now, what do you think of my speech for the gala?” Bentley asked. He snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Oh, yes it’s quite lovely.” She hadn’t the heart to tell him she had only been half listening to him the entire time.

After saying goodbye to Bentley, she headed the two blocks to the park. After getting directions, to the maintenance shed in the park, she slowed her pace. The terrain here was rough. Her cane bumped along the trail, in several spot she nearly stumbled. She took smaller steps in an effort not to sprain an ankle.

Soft music drifted in the light breeze of some easy listening oldies. The tunes were the same as the ones she listened to last night. As she ventured forward, they grew louder. They seemed to be coming from the building her cane had just revealed in front of her. A soft masculine grumbled muttering mixed in with the song playing. The voice was not the same as her hero’s however, and she hoped he would be there. Sophia made the step and her hand searched for the door.

“Can I help you miss?” a man asked her.

“Yes I’m looking for Asher Lincoln, is he here?”

“Yeah just a second, I’ll get him for you.”

Sophia’s heart began to race, maybe she should have just mailed the shirt or gotten Bentley to run the errand for her, she thought.

* * *~~~* * *

He stood there slack-jawed. The pretty redhead was vision of beauty in her form-fitting green sundress. The material flattered her curvy outline and the cleavage showed a teasingly small portion of her breasts. Her hair was in a loose braid and he could see a splash of freckles on her shoulders. Her plump lips were lightly glossed a pink color and her eyes shimmered in the light of the room. Asher had a new image in his mind of what she may look like naked. As he stepped toward her, the stiffness in his jean grew with the fantasy he was now playing in his mind.

His work shirt was neatly folded in her hands and he took another tentative step toward her. They were alone in the shed; Albert had told him he had company on his way out the back as he left. The other man was finished work for the day and no one else, but the two of them were here. He knew that wouldn't be for long; however, as he was expecting another employee to show up soon. Suddenly, he wished they would be alone for longer, he wanted to talk to her and learn more about her.

“Miss Williams what a pleasant surprise," Asher told her, and he became self-conscious of his appearance even though he knew she couldn't see him.

“Please call me Sophia," she spoke so shyly.

“Alright Sophia, how can I help you?”

“Oh I was just returning your shirt; I washed and pressed it for you."

“You didn’t have to do that," he told her, glad that she did though.

“Yes I did, after all, it’s the least I could do," she explained.

“Well thank you."

The crunching of tires on the gravel of the shed's small parking lot caught Asher’s attention. Another member of the halfway house was supposed to start work here tonight and Dave was dropping him off. Asher had no idea who was showing up until now, and his temper flared as they walked. Rick eyed him and the girl, his gaze casting over her as if she were a piece of meat he wanted to devour and Asher’s blood began to boil.

Dave gave Asher an odd look of surprise. He walked over and took the young woman by the arm protectively.

“Hey Sophia,” Dave said, and Asher froze. Somehow, Dave and Sophia knew each other. Asher wasn’t comfortable with that at all. He didn’t want Sophia to know he lived in a halfway house. Nor did he want her to discover he was an ex-con, or that he’d been part of a job that got a cop killed. This was why he gave her only part of his name, as he had been doing with everyone else here since his release. Asher was actually Harrison Asher Lincoln MacLeod, and he had an idea that was a fact Sophia was soon going to learn.

“Dave, oh my god! It’s been too long. What on earth are you doing here?" she asked and Asher looked at him with almost pleading eyes.

“I’m here on a sponsorship for the Milford House I was just dropping off a new park attendee. Sophia this is Richard Cassie. Richard, Sophia Jac—"

“Williams  ...  I go by Williams now,” Sophia interrupted him. Rick took her by the hand and let his touch linger.

“Miss Williams," he mumbled as he shot Asher a grin.

“So what on earth are you doing here?” Dave asked Sophia.

“Oh I was just returning Asher’s shirt,” she blushed as she spoke and smiled at the same time. The smile reached her eyes and Asher’s heart fluttered.

Tension began to get thick in the air as he caught Rick eye the situation over. The smugness on his face made Asher’s jaw clenched tightly. He shot the other man a glare of warning.

“Well, I really should be going. Pleasure to meet you Mr. Cassie and Dave, you need to drop by sometime for coffee."

“Oh I most definitely will but you should let me drive you home. It’s getting late out, besides I think it might be safer if I take you,” Dave offered, and Asher was relieved.

“Asher thanks again and if you ever need anything, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call me. I put my number in your shirt pocket," she told him.

“I will, it was nice to see you again, Sophia," he said and then the two of them left.

Quickly, he pulled out his phone and texted Dave begging him not to tell Sophia who he actually was. Dave had told him he wouldn’t lie, but if she didn’t ask, he wouldn't volunteer. Dave seemed to believe in Asher and that had meant a lot to him. Looking up from his cell, he spotted Rick leaning against the wall with an arrogant grin on his face.

“So you play the hero and get laid for it!”

“f**k off Rick,” Asher seethed.

“Come on tell me the details, after all, it was my piece of ass you took, at least have the decency to fill me in on if she was any good or ... Ack!”

Taking just two steps, Asher now held Rick by the throat with one hand. He pulled his fist back and his knuckles connect with the other man’s face with a resounding crunch.

“You stay away from her or so help me, there will be a new fertilizer mix for the park lawns," Asher warned and squeezed until Rick had to fight for his breath. Finally releasing him, Rick slid to the floor gasping for air, his right eye was already beginning to seal shut from the punch and Asher wanted to hit him again.

“For f**k sake's man!” Rick wheezed out.

Leaning down, Asher pulled Rick's head back by the hair, he glared down at him, his teeth gritted together and he fought the rage that threatened to erupt toward the coward. Rick stood all of five-six and was maybe a hundred and sixty pounds, Asher was six-four and tipped the scales at two-fifty. He took full advantage of his size when he needed too, and he was going to make sure Rick stayed away from Sophia.

“You so much as even say her name, and I will break your f*****g jaw.” Asher told him and shoved him back. He towered over him, the other man’s face turned ashen with the threat.

With all his might he quelled his anger. This would be his last weekend in the halfway house, first thing Monday, he started work at a construction company and was moving into his apartment. Both of these things Dave helped him to achieve. Now, as he contemplated beating Rick half to death, he reminded himself of how hard he had worked to stay on the right path. Second chances were not something Asher was used to getting, and he didn't want to mess this one up.

* * *~~~* * *

The Center was busy as Sophia made her way around with Charlie on his harness. The yellow Lab had been doing good but now there seemed to be a bit of a problem with his concentration.  Their trainer was worried now that he wouldn’t be able to go home with Sophia for at least another two weeks. As they made their way around Charlie kept stopping when he shouldn’t and was ignoring several basic commands.

Maria, the instructor had stopped her before she walked into some scaffolding outside where the workers were getting ready to start removing part of the old section. The facility was going to remain open but to a limited area.

“Ok, I think it’s time for a vet checkup on Charlie," Maria said as they walked back to the main entrance.

“Oh no, you think there something medically wrong," Sophia asked. Her heart dropped and her stomach caught in her throat at the idea Charlie may be ill.

“Well, I don’t think it’s anything major, but something has him unable to focus on his job, so it's better to check everything,”

Walking inside Sophia could hear Bentley talking to someone about the plans for the dance. As she walked up, he touched her arm.

“How are you today?" he asked her "better I hope.”

“Yes, I'm much better, thank you."

“Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, I’d like you to meet Nancy Smith from the newspaper. She's here to cover our exciting new renovation and expansion of the center,” Bentley said excitedly. No one she knew on a personal level ever called her Elizabeth, only Bentley when he was being professional. It was her grandmother’s name, and Sophia was her middle name. It was the one she had always used. She hated it when he used her legal name, everyone who lived in this city knew that name. The incident had been headline news for weeks. After all, a police officer charged with beating his wife half to death wasn’t something folks around here were used to hearing about.

A breeze of air swept across her hand before a soft warm touch told her the woman had reached out to shake her hand.

“Nice to meet you," she said as she took her hand as well.

“Yes likewise."

“So can I ask how you're copi--“

“I’m sorry but I’m late. It was a pleasure to meet you,” Sophia broke in, not wanting to discuss herself with a reporter.

“Oh yes, of course, it was nice to meet you too," she told her and quickly began asking Bentley more questions concerning the things they do at the center.

Sophia was going to go take her lunch and sit outside in the shade under some of the massive trees in the small park-like area beside the center. Sophia preferred to be outside in the warmth of the sun’s rays. As she ate, her mind was on Charlie and she was a bit upset that their session today had been a complete failure. It could take a long time before she could get another dog as the list was long here for them.

Sitting there she listened to the things going on around her as she nibbled away at her sandwich. A pigeon was cooing somewhere on the top of the center; people were walking and talking as they passed by on the sidewalk. Several cars drove by; one had an engine knock. The construction crew had just finished working, and she could hear them walking past. The reek of sweat and cigarettes assailed her nose.

For a little while after Jason nearly killed her, she’d not been able to hear right; everything had sounded as if her head was underwater trying to listen. Now as she listened to one of the centers little members laughing as he played a game, she was thankful that her hearing had eventually returned.

Someone stood across from her blocking the heat from the sun. “Sophia, how are you.”

“Asher, what are you doing here?" she asked as her heart began to race a little in her chest.

“I just started working for the construction company here. You don’t mind if I eat my lunch with you?" he asked her as she caught the strong aroma of smoked meat and mustard.

“No please, by all means, sit down, your lunch smells better than mine," she said with a smile.

The table shifted as he sat across from her. The soft crumple of paper from him opening his lunch made her remember her high school days. Lunch was always the highlight before the last bell.

“So do you work here?" he asked.

“No, I’m here training with my guide dog Charlie and taking some rehab as well," she explained.

“So where is your dog?”

“He’s been taken in for a check-up. so you don’t work at the park at all now?”

“No this job is going to be a full time one, and the money is a lot better so I quit the park. I liked working there, for the most part, but after a while picking up garbage kind of gets to you."

Sophia wanted to jump for joy at the thought that Asher would be here every day. Maybe they could have lunch together every day she thought and her heart raced again at that idea.

“Sophia there you are I’ve been looking all over for you,” Bentley said from somewhere opposite of Asher.

“Bentley ... this is Asher Lincoln ... Asher, Doctor Bentley Davenport," she said and sensed an instant tension around her.

* * *~~~* * *

Asher’s attention was drawn to the man who was sitting down right beside Sophia. He was in his late thirties to early forties and looked to keep himself in shape. He gave Asher the once over and didn’t seem to care for what he saw. The other man's expression had stiffened, and he put his hand on Sophia’s arm just before he had sat down.

“Sophia you have a session this afternoon that I needed to cancel. Can we reschedule?" he asked her.

“Yes that's fine, does this have to do with Nancy?”

“Well actually yes the reporter wanted to discuss the fundraising Gala I’m taking you to," he said and looked at Asher as he said it.

“If you’re done your lunch perhaps we can go in and look up a good time for us to have our session," he said, and she agreed.

“Well I hope to see you around Asher, have a good afternoon," she told him as the Doctor took her by the arm.

Now he was not in a good mood as he started back to work after his brief lunch with Sophia. She had a date with this bonehead. Asher had been trying to work up the nerve to ask her to go to the tavern for a beer, how did that compare to a ‘Gala’ he thought. She was out of his league, he knew that the night he met her in the park. She seemed to be well educated, had a good upbringing, lived in a beautiful upper-class home in the country and had a date with some doctor to go to a ‘Gala'. Asher knew he didn’t stand a chance.