by E. H. Lyon
My eyes follow the only line of direction I need, and there she is, next to Max’s fiancée, Harper.
And she is gorgeous.
Avery is in a black cotton V-neck dress that clings to her skin at every curve, and my tongue and cock remember them all. I’m positive the dress shows a glimpse of a blue bra, and I already zone in to where I can unzip her. Maybe even with my teeth.
She is laughing with Harper as Nate passes her a drink, and he whispers something into her ear that makes her laugh, and it makes my muscles clench like a man possessed.
Harper, who seems like she may have had a few drinks, drapes an arm around Avery, who plays along with whatever she is saying. Doesn’t matter what Harper is doing, my focus is on Avery.
Snapping into action mode, I decide to take the plunge.
“Shall I get a round for us?” I ask the guys, and they nod.
When I reach the bar, Avery has still not turned around. Harper sees me, however, and seems to be up to trouble.
I overhear the conversation and lift a finger over my lips to let Harper know not to reveal my location.
She grins at me as she says, “Come on, Avery, you’re single. I’m sure there must be someone who can rock your world.”
Maybe it’s the alcohol or maybe it’s her sarcasm, but Avery cracks out, “Rock my world? You mean like have some guy take me against the wall in the corner?”
Harper sheepishly grins. “Exactly. I even bet there is someone here who could fit that criteria.” Her eyes flutter, and she looks at me, entertained. I am certain Avery looks at Harper with inquisition and connects the pieces.
“Jake is behind me, isn’t he?” Avery lets out.
Harper gently nods and waves her fingers at me. As she walks away, she whispers into Avery’s ear and pats her shoulder, but I hear enough. Make-up sex, Ave, it’s very therapeutic. Avery slowly turns to me and I am waiting with my best innocent smile.
I order a round for the guys while she takes in the fact that I am in front of her.
“Ooh, looks like they have you on the train to mishaps too,” she notes when she hears me place the order for the guys. A lot of whiskeys.
I turn to her. “If we’re all on that train, then by all means, why don’t you get up on that bar like the other day,” I encourage her.
She bites her lip, and it’s like she can’t help but try and hide the thoughts floating through her head. “I think I have given you a lap dance before.” She squints an eye and her mouth oozes pure seduction.
I lick my lips in entertainment. “You did, and I think you have yourself an excellent back-up career.”
She shakes her head at my flattery. “Right. My life goals, clearly.”
“Want to get some air? Or go straight to a wall for that therapeutic make-up sex?” I ask with an equally entertained and encouraging look.
Avery’s cheeks tighten as she blushes lightly, and she lets out a chortle. “Harper’s advice is always related to sex, by the way. Let’s get some air.”
I tell Nate to send a round over to the guys and put it all on my card.
I grab our drinks and lead the way outside to the ledge of the deck and stand admiring the view. An outside heater is on nearby, and fairy lights add to the ambience. We also managed to find a quiet spot away from people.
She grabs her whiskey from my hand and takes a drink and then brings the same glass to my mouth. Taking a sip, I do not let my eyes leave her.
The moment the glass parts from my lips, I speak confidently. “Go to dinner with me.”
“What are we doing?” she blurts out. It’s a curious, sincere question, and there is a smile she is trying to hide as she sinks her head into her hand.
“Nothing since you won’t go to dinner with me,” I reply.
She draws in a breath. “I don’t know where we left off or where we begin. How do we do this with our history? Be around each other or—I don’t know…” She’s flustered and adjusts her posture against the railing.
“Come to dinner with me. We can talk or fuck, but we will figure it out,” I urge with a cunning look.
She shakes her head. “I do want to see you again, and I don’t know what we’re doing. Or, I mean, presume that we are…”
Now I have to give her my persuasive grin. “Presume,” I instruct boldly, gently touching both of her arms.
She draws her cheeks, trying to keep her satisfaction with my response hidden, but she’s failing miserably.
Leaning back on the railing, I look at her and cross my arms in amusement. “No expectations. No time limits. We reconnect.”
It’s going to be different this time.
“Agreed. And if I need your strong arms to help me off bar tops, then so be it.” She shrugs with her lips pursed in entertainment.
“Okay. My arms could be of service. But is that my only body part that can help? I am certain I have some other parts that you thoroughly enjoy.” Because I hope she is insinuating what I want.
I want her.
She nearly chokes on some whiskey and looks around to make sure nobody is watching us. “I’m not sure we should go down that route yet. Which is a challenge, by the way, especially as I already got a preview of our chapter two, and that was… wow, and, well, just being around you my body doesn’t listen.” She lets out a deep breath and tries to collect her thoughts. “I’m just not sure heading straight into bed together in that way would be a good idea yet. We still have a lot to talk about.”
“It will be different,” I assure her.
Because we can go slow or fast. But letting her walk away again is not an option in my book.
Her face changes to trouble. “In what, bed or—?” She dares me now with her head tilted, tapping her glass in her hand. Because I know she couldn’t resist that remark.
“You are still something, you know that, right?” I grin.
Her eyes explore me. Her mouth slightly opens as she licks the corner of her lip. She looks away. “Let’s see where this goes. We have five years to catch up on. Both of us have had a lot of changes in our lives. While I now know your hands and lips are still as equally talented as before—”
Encircling my arms around her middle, I pull her to me. “I promise I have other talents you need to re-assess.”
She gives me a hopeless look and playfully hits my arm. “I’m sure. But maybe we’re different people, I don’t know.”
As much as I want to make it my mission to break her resolve, I respect her too much. It has to be done right if we are in this for the long-term. I think we are.
“Okay. I respect that. You’re right, maybe we have both changed. And I also don’t know how we do this. But I want to do this. I wanted you then, and already I know I want you now,” I let out softly, yet my gaze is hopefully piercing her with intensity.
Her face stays neutral. “You forgot to mention what I want now.”
“You want me, I know.” I sound a little cocky, yet it makes her struggle not to let a grin form.
“I’m not denying it. In fact, this is a challenge, and I don’t know why I’m putting myself through it. Because the other day when I said I wanted you and I needed you to fuck me, I really meant it,” she admits with defeat. “But slow. We owe it to ourselves after everything,” she reaffirms.
Drawing in a breath, I know she has some logic to her point. “Okay. But I think we should try and find our way back to each other, it’s all I want.”
“Jake I—I can’t deny that I enjoy being with you and we definitely still have that chemistry factor, but I just don’t know… are we finding our way back to each other? Is it even possible?” she replies with a gentle look on her face, almost somber.
“It’s possible.”
Taking her hand, I bring it to my lips for a gentle kiss that I hold a few extra seconds as my eyes look down to hers. Her face softens as she slowly nods at my words.
“I believe you owe me a chaste kiss from last night. That is a perfect start to slow,” I remind h
er, and it makes her grin.
“I do.” She smiles now.
My hands quickly clutch her face and my mouth dives onto hers. There is no hesitation from her side. Our mouths meet for a slow and soft kiss. We can’t help it, and throw the criteria for chaste out the window. Our kiss deepens and my arms wrap around her. I even throw in a little dip, tilting her back as our tongues meet. Bringing her back up, we find a new angle and I can hear her growl in the back of her throat.
Reluctantly pulling away, we look at each other with a knowing look.
“Jake.”
“Yes, Avery,” I respond like any good future husband of hers would do.
She indicates her head to the door. “Get out of here before your charm persuades me and I decide that you may need to take me against the wall.” She straightens her posture and shakes her head with a grimace of enjoyment, which is a good start for our road forward.
Chapter Fourteen
Avery
“Really? You perfected a dog cookie recipe? A-mazing!” Abby gushes, way too overly excited, as she investigates the white box on the table in front of us in Smokey Java’s.
My cousin leans back in her chair, holding her mug. “You know, Jake is donating to the shelter,” she says, flashing her eyes.
I roll my head as I know where she is going with this. “Lucas already mentioned that to me the other day when he grabbed a coffee here. And?”
“Lucas says that Jake became very interested in puppies when he learned you donate to the cause.” Abby is trying to stir the pot, and she is succeeding, because Jake doesn’t do house pets, house plants, or anything that requires water to survive. I am already flirting with the gates of Hell for giving him a goldfish he needs to keep alive.
“Good for the puppies,” I fake a smile.
There is a pause.
“Come on, cousin. What’s going on?” Abby has a serious tone as she nudges my leg under the table.
Taking a deep breath, I decide I could use an ear.
“Jake, well… he was more than a fling, Abby. Well, we started out as one. We were both working so much that we didn’t have time for more. It was fun. Plus, I was only in Chicago for a short time. But it just clicked, we clicked. Sex turned to talking, to dinners, and more. Before we could think about where we were heading, I found out I was pregnant. Totally not planned and not great timing.” I look to see Abby’s eyes widening and her face confused. “We lost the baby, a little boy.” It still pinches my heart slightly when I say the words.
“Wow...” Abby inhales a deep breath and gives me a reassuring touch on the arm, taking a few moments to let it sink in. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” Her voice is full of empathy.
“Miscarriages sometimes happen… We kept it between us. But now that Jake and I finally spoke about it, I feel a little bit of peace, as if I can talk about it.”
She gives me a comforting half-smile. “I’m happy you have that, Ave. I mean the closure, the peace.” Abby leans across the table to give me a hug. “I honestly had no idea.”
Abby pulls away and returns to sitting in her seat.
“Nobody had an idea. But here I am still and I’m okay.” I tap my nails on the table. “I can’t believe he’s in my life again and he wants to move on together. I want that too, but I’m scared he’ll realize that I don’t deserve him. He is so understanding about why I pushed him away. I walked away and let five years go between us.”
“But your head must not have been in a good place then. It’s understandable.”
“Still, you don’t run away from each other when it gets tough, but that’s what I did,” I admit and let my hand go to my mouth to fight back my emotions, which makes Abby rub my arm for comfort.
“You have to trust what he says, and if he says he wants to try again, then believe him. Be kind to yourself. Didn’t you mention it was also a casual relationship at that time?”
“Something like that.” We never said I love you. We cared for each other deeply, we made plans about the baby, but we never said we loved each other. Maybe it was an unspoken connection, or we both suspected. I wanted to say it because I felt it. Finally, when I felt like we had our future ahead of us, I wanted to tell him, but life had other plans for me, for us. Having an unplanned pregnancy when you’ve only been with the person a few weeks does something to your train of thought, and for some reason it became my focus.
“Well then. Your second act can be different. Maybe here is your chance for that relationship you could have had if you didn’t run away.”
My ears perk up because she’s right.
“Maybe.” I crack a smile, because inside me, a chance is floating around. “I hope so.” But that doubt runs strong in my head. At any moment, he could change his mind and decide that I hurt him too much by walking away, or he is too afraid I would only do it again. I don’t understand how he couldn’t let those thoughts cross his mind.
“Now that I know more about you and Jake, I feel so bad for ruining your night the other night. I really owe you,” Abby apologizes, full of guilt.
“Don’t worry about it.”
After a moment, she kicks my foot and gets a mischievous grin.
“Tell me, what is he really like? Because I’ve heard stories from Lucas, yet I’ve only seen Jake ready to assassinate in the courtroom.” Abby winks at me.
I let out a laugh. “I shouldn’t have given him a goldfish, that’s for sure. And underneath that suit is every fantasy imaginable,” I admit, getting lost in thought. Bad thoughts.
“Ah, so you are thinking about that,” she enjoys teasing me.
Leaning into the table, Abby meets me in the middle. Looking around to ensure nobody is listening, I tell her, “His spare key is in my pocket, and I have been thinking of a thousand ways that I can use it. So yes, every fantasy imaginable is going through my head.”
She gives me a giddy look.
After talking some more, I head behind the counter and grab another box for Abby. Closing the large white box of peanut butter treats, I hand it to her across the counter.
“Okay, so that is 150 dog treats and 50 human treats.” I smile.
“Thanks so much, it’ll really be a nice surprise for my visit to the shelter later today.” Abby puts her phone on top of the boxes so she can carry all of it to her car.
I should offer her help, but my face is frozen and probably glowing as I see who just came through the door of the bakery. Immediately, his grin tells me he is on a mission and slows his pace towards me.
Abby does a double-take and looks between us. “Right. Obviously, something is brewing here,” Abby mumbles so only I can hear. Abby turns her attention to Jake. “Hey, Jake. I was just leaving. I guess I should apologize for stealing this one away the other night. I’m sure you two had big plans.” Abby indicates her head towards me, and raises an eyebrow.
Jake looks at her, amused. “Right, dying dog and all.”
Abby nods in entertainment. “Exactly. And Romeo is making strides in getting the reunion he wants.”
Jake looks at Abby, confused, and I have to laugh. Clearing my throat to clarify, “Romeo is Abby’s Labrador, remember?” I remind him, as I know he has been to their house a lot. I wait for him to catch on. “He ate a tennis ball and apparently missed Lucas a lot while he was at his conference,” I clarify, and I give Abby a warning look.
“Right. That is exactly what I meant. Bye, guys.” Abby grins then heads off.
In truth, her dog’s name is Romeo, but something tells me Abby wasn’t referencing her dog.
I shake my head and grab a cup to put under the coffee machine. “Want a coffee?” I ask with full intention of making a coffee.
“Come to lunch with me?” he invites me smoothly, and my eyes shoot up to his, joy hops up from my core to appear on my face.
I smile. “Found a loophole, huh?”
“You never answered my question about dinner, so thought I would take my chance on lunch.” He’s coy and tilts his head
to the side.
“Okay,” I answer. “To be honest, I’ve been waiting for you to slip that question in like you always used to.”
He licks his lips and smirks. “Were you hoping I would?”
My mouth slants to the side. “Yeah… I was.”
We head to a little Italian place off Main Street, nabbing a small circular booth. The candles in the dimly lit room make the ambience the reason travel blogs call this place romantic. Even at lunch, no table goes without a glass of wine to accompany the eggplant parmesan and ravioli.
My eyes search the room after freshening up in the ladies’ room, and I see Jake sitting at our corner table looking mighty fine in his gray suit that has a slight sheen. It seems I am not the only one who noticed, as there is a blonde with legs for days, standing over the table talking to him. Giggling.
It makes me feel slightly thrown, and I have no right to feel that way. Do I?
Slowly I walk to the table, and when the corner of his eye catches sight of me, his attention turns to me with a smile forming as he stands up quickly. His arm reaches out to wrap around my waist and he gives me a kiss on the cheek. The blonde looks on with interest.
“Hey there, I’m back,” I say as I look at the blonde with unease. Letting my fingers play with his tie in a possessive move.
“Ave. I was just catching up with Olivia. We worked together on a case once,” he comments, and Olivia seems to be eyeing me as competition. As she should.
“Sure. If that’s what you want to call it,” Olivia quips with her eyes not leaving me. Jake clears his throat as he must pick up on the claws about to come out.
“Nice to meet you.” I manage to make it sound convincing… enough.
Olivia gives Jake a flirtatious smile. “You should give me a call again, Jake. Anytime.”
“Actually, I am quite busy these days with Avery.” He kisses me again on the cheek, letting his lips linger to make a statement, and I give Olivia a death stare.
