“Yes.”
Chapter 8
Hunter
I followed Ava outside to her SUV, waiting as she opened the door. She looked at me, her hesitancy winning out.
“Don’t change your mind,” I pleaded quietly. “This has been brewing between us since we met. You know it has.”
“Just one night,” she whispered.
I had a feeling one night wasn’t going to suffice when it came to her. I didn’t think I could get enough of her, but I nodded in agreement. “Just tonight. Neither of us wants to be alone.”
She still looked torn, and I covered her hand with mine, slowly leaning down, giving her a chance to say no. She edged closer, running her hand up my chest and gripping the material of my T-shirt in her fist. Our lips touched and released. Touched again longer. Harder. I slid my arm around her waist, pulling her close, settling my mouth on hers. I stroked along her bottom lip, groaning as she opened for me. I only meant to kiss her softly, to assure her. But that idea went out the window as soon as our lips melded. I angled my head, kissing her passionately. I stroked my tongue along hers, tasting the sweetness of the cookie and the tartness of the orange. The lingering tang of the wine. The sweetness blending them all together that was Ava. In seconds, I had her pressed against the back passenger door, desire and need overwhelming any common sense I might have used. I wanted closer. I wanted more of her. I wanted fewer clothes and more skin. I wanted to taste her all over and know how different parts of her felt on my tongue.
A car pulling into the lot broke through my lust-filled brain, and I eased back, protecting her from being seen. I dropped a fast kiss to her mouth.
“The door is open to the house. Go there and wait for me. I’ll be right behind you.”
She gazed up at me, her lovely eyes dazed and fogged—this time with the same desire I was feeling.
“Okay.”
She slipped into the SUV as I headed to the truck, determined to find the closest drugstore and get to the house not long after her. I didn’t want to give her enough time to change her mind—just the thought of her walking away made my chest ache. I reversed out of the spot and followed Ava, trying not to laugh when she slowed down, putting on her blinker, indicating a small drugstore as we approached the center of town. I flashed my lights at her so she knew I understood and hurried inside to buy what I needed as she drove away.
I was almost giddy over the fact that she now seemed as certain as I was.
It promised to be a good night.
I pulled up next to her small SUV. She was in the yard, throwing a stick for Cash. He bounded over, his tail wagging back and forth like a pendulum on a clock—fast and steady. I knelt down, stroking his head, running my hands over his thick coat.
“Hey, boy. Relax, just relax.”
He woofed and headed back to Ava. I followed him, stopping in front of her.
“Did you, ah, get it?”
I held up the bag. “Some old lady was behind the counter. I felt like I was fifteen, buying condoms to fool around with my girl in the back seat. She said an awful lot without saying a word.” I smirked.
“That would be old lady Beechmore. She’ll be talking about you in her coffee group tomorrow.”
I stepped closer, easing my arm around her waist. “Oh yeah? And what will she be saying, Ava?”
“She’ll talk all about the sexy stranger dropping in for love gloves. How hot he was with his newly cut hair and his tight jeans.”
I dropped my head to her neck, laughing. “Love gloves?”
“That’s what my dad always called them. Told the boys to always glove up.”
I chuckled, running my lips up her neck, enjoying the shivers. “What else, Little Dragon?” I nipped her ear.
“She’ll tell all the ladies you winked at her. Said if you didn’t have plans already, you’d take her for a turn or two on your drill.”
The amusement she always seemed to bring out in me slipped free, and I laughed, yanking her to my chest. She giggled, and I wrapped her in my arms. She felt right settled against me, her head the perfect fit under my chin. For a moment, I held her, and I felt her loosen and relax.
“Want a drink?” I murmured.
“Sure.”
I drew back and cupped her face between my palms. I kissed her slowly. Sweetly. I traced her lips with my tongue and kissed her again. I held my mouth to hers, my lips not moving until I felt the trembling in her lips stop and she sighed, her breath fanning over my skin.
“Stay there,” I instructed, bending over and picking up the bag I had dropped when I embraced her.
In the house, I turned on a lamp beside the bed. The room was empty aside from the night table, a small dresser in the corner, and the bed. I was grateful for the new mattress and sheets. I would break them both in right.
I stopped and grabbed a couple of beers and my old boom box and headed outside. I handed Ava the beers and fiddled with the buttons until the sound of soft music began to play. I followed Ava to the edge of the bluff, looking over the water.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” she whispered.
I wasn’t looking at the view when I replied, “It is.”
“It’s my favorite. I find peace with the vast expanse. The separation.”
Her words made me frown. I turned to face her, tucking a long strand of hair behind her ear. “You don’t find your life peaceful?”
“Does anyone these days?” she replied. “Cell phones, laptops, watches that record your moves, all have the ability to reach you anywhere. Sometimes I just like to get lost, forget about the crazy world of ABC.” She smiled at me, but her eyes were sad. “That’s what drew my dad here. The peacefulness. The break away from Toronto. He spent more and more time here. He says it is what saved him.” She laughed quietly. “Well, this place and my mom.” Her eyes stared over the vista in front of us. “I love it here. I was so glad when we decided to move our headquarters here.”
“But you go into Toronto a lot?”
“Just finishing up some projects. I’ll be here all the time soon.”
One of my favorite songs began, and my foot started to tap. She glanced toward me.
“Joe Cocker?” she guessed.
“Yep,” I replied, oddly pleased that she recognized the song so quickly.
“You love 80’s music.”
“My mom was hooked on it. It was all I heard growing up. No matter where we were, what we were doing, or our circumstances, that boom box and her mixtapes came with us.” I swallowed then spoke again. “I don’t have a lot of good memories of the past, but this music is one of them.”
“Your mom—?” she asked, opening her mouth to keep talking. I cut her off, taking the beer bottle from her hand and spinning her toward me.
“Dance with me, Little Dragon.”
I held her close, and we moved under the dark sky. One 80’s love song bled into another, the tape showing its age at times, but we ignored it and kept dancing. I liked having her in my arms, twirling her away and pulling her back. We moved together well, and I knew that would work the same in the bedroom.
Cash lay on the porch, regarding us. Eventually, he nosed open the screen door and went inside, bored and out of sorts that he was being ignored.