“I’m almost done, and we’ll go inside. It’s freezing.”
“Okay, and by all means, continue singing to Dolly. Don’t let me stop you.”
“I will,” I lift my brows.
I finish quickly and bring Dash back into his stall, Averly petting him as he settles inside.
“He’s gorgeous,” she comments.
“Yeah,” I nod, proud of my horse. “Let’s get you inside.” I hold her hand and turn off the lights in the barn on the way out.
“How was dinner with your family?” I ask Averly as we sit on the couch.
“Good, same as every week,” she shrugs. “My mom asked why I wasn’t at church again on Sunday, which was a little harder to evade.” Her eyebrows lift on her forehead as she stares at me with a knowing grin.
“Did you tell them about us?” I run my thumb across her hand.
“No, it didn’t come up,” she shakes her head and brushes it off.
“So, you didn’t offer it up as news on what’s going on with your life?” I narrow my eyes.
“Well, I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t know if I should say something yet or wait, and I didn’t want a ton of questions. You’re well-liked in the Cooper house.” She points at me, shifting on the couch to sit with her legs crossed.
“Am I?” My eyes widen as I ask.
“Yeah. A couple weeks ago it was all, ‘Eli is great, he’s going to do a fabulous job with the bed and breakfast, he was at church on Sunday and you were not.’ Well, guess what, you weren’t at church this Sunday either.” Her head sways as she talks.
I chuckle and say, “I sure wasn’t. I was worshiping something else last Sunday.” I lean in and kiss her, holding her face in place with my hands as my tongue invades her mouth.
Averly moans and breaks the kiss, murmuring, “I remember.”
“I bought you ice cream for the movie.” I drop my hands from her face and hold her hands, squeezing them gently.
“You did?” Her eyes light up like a small child.
“Yup.” I drop a kiss on her lips and stand from the couch.
I return with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and two spoons. “Who is the second spoon for?” Averly eyes it before looking at me.
“Me,” I state.
“I don’t share my ice cream,” she teases with a smile.
“Technically, it’s mine,” I quip.
“It’s a gift for me, and you don’t take back gifts after they’ve been given.”
“We share, or you get none.”
Averly pouts, crossing her arms. Without the coat, she’s wearing a sweater that fits every curve, and my eyes move to her chest on their own.
Averly snaps her fingers. “Eyes up here, buddy. You’re not going to distract me and steal my ice cream.”
“You’re distracting me, darlin’. We share. There’s plenty for the two of us, and if you want more, I’ll buy you more.”
“The store will be closed,” she’s quick to respond.
“I’ll break in,” I lean in and smile.
“Fine,” she sighs, dropping her head back dramatically. “If I have to,” Averly rolls her eyes playfully, and I drink in this side of her. She returns her gaze to mine with a smile. “Thank you.” Her voice drops to that sexy timbre that turns me on.
“You’re welcome, beautiful.”
I cradle her jaw, angling her face so I can kiss her. She runs her tongue across my lips, and I open for her, giving her everything she wants. I let her control the kiss, taking it as far as she wants and at the pace she wants.
Averly breaks away with a smile. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I really like you, Eli Hastings.”
I chuckle and pull her to my lap. “I like you, too.” I move the stubborn strands from her face.
“Movie time?” She tilts her head and smiles as her arms loop lazily around my neck.
“Actually, I wanted to ask you something first.”
“Yeah?” She turns to get a better look at me.
“Knox asked me today if you were coming with me to the wedding. I told him I’d talk to you. So what do you say? Do you want to go with me?” I give her my best smile, but it quickly slips away when I see her frown.
“Oh, no, I mean… Ugh.” Averly holds her hands out and takes a deep breath. “I totally didn’t expect to go with you. I know this was planned before anything happened between us, and I don’t want to put them out. It’s a wedding, not a party where they can buy an additional bag of chips if more people come.”
I nod.
“Are you okay?” Her eyes crinkle as her frown deepens.
“I’m oh for two tonight. What’s going on?” I hold her waist.
“Nothing,” she shakes her head. “I didn’t tell my family about us because it’s still new, not even a week old, and I wasn’t exactly sure what to tell them,” she shrugs. “I’m in no rush to label this,” her hand waves between us, “but they’d have questions, and I didn’t want to deal with their confusion.”
“Okay.” I narrow my eyes the slightest as I watch her talk.
“As for the wedding, honestly, it’s no big deal. Knox is your best friend, and you’ll be there celebrating him and Ainsley. I’ll see you the next day. If you want,” she quickly adds.
I nod and hold a finger up. “First, we’re dating. Neither of us is seeing other people, so that’s what you can tell your family. We’re getting to know each other and see where this goes. We’re not ten years old where we have to send notes asking, Do you want to be my girlfriend? Check yes or no. If you want a note like that, I’ll leave one for you. Maybe have Poppy deliver it like back in the day.” One side of my lip tilts.
“You wouldn’t be a bother if you went to the wedding. Knox was asking honestly, and if he wasn’t okay with it, he wouldn’t have brought it up. Despite what the tabloids say about him, he’s one of the best people I know. No bullshit with him. But I want you to feel comfortable.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes soften, and her frown turns into a small smile. “I’m too practical for my own good sometimes.” Her nose scrunches up.
I kiss the tip of it and say, “Yeah, but it comes in handy sometimes.”
“Yeah? Like when?”
“Like right now, when I tell you that it’ll be too late for you to drive home tonight after the movie seeing as we haven’t started watching it yet, and the roads will be slick with ice, so the practical thing would be for you to stay the night.”
I squeeze her ribs, and she yelps, stiffening on my lap. “You know I’m ticklish there,” she warns.
“I know.” I kiss her. “Stay the night,” I say against her soft lips.
“As if I have a choice,” she teases.
“You do, but you’ll choose to stay with me.” I take her lips in mine, kissing her desperately.
Averly puts her hands on my shoulders and pulls away just as I’m getting ready to take this to the next base.
“The ice cream is going to melt, and I really want to watch this movie.” She moves away from my lap, but I catch a mischievous smile before she can cover it up.
“Temptress, leaving me high and dry,” I joke.
Averly eyes my lap and then looks at me. Her voice drops, filling with hoarseness. “I left you high, but trust me, there’s nothing dry.”
My head falls back, and I groan as my dick twitches, dropping a hand over my eyes and counting to ten, five times.
“Ice cream?” she asks around a spoonful in her mouth.
“You started without me?”
“It looked like you needed a minute,” she shrugs, her lips pinched together. When her tongue peeks out to lick those same lips, I don’t bother hiding my fascination.
“Stare all you want, that means I won’t have to share,” she giggles, and I grab the spoon from the coffee table and dig into the ice cream.
After a few minutes of playful banter, I turn on the television and start Netflix.
“What movie did you want to see again?” I look ov
er at Averly, trying not to laugh at the smear of ice cream on the corner of her lip.
“Isn’t It Romantic.”
“A chick flick?” I look at her with a confused expression, reaching out to wipe the bit of ice cream.
“It’s supposed to be funny,” she defends, but her eyes are trained on my thumb as I lick it.
“You’re lucky, I like you. I thought you were going to choose some action film.”
“Me?” Averly points to herself with the spoon. “Clearly, you have a lot to learn about me still.”
“Noted.” I nod once and settle back on the couch, pressing play when I find the movie.
Averly leans her head on my shoulder, both of us eating the ice cream as we watch the film. When the ice cream is finished, I place the carton and spoons on the table and wrap Averly in my arms. I look at her peaceful face as she stares at the television, the lights from the screen dancing around as she giggles during some of the scenes.
As weird as my mind wants to make it seem that Averly and I are dating, everything about it feels damn right.
When her eyes begin to close, I whisper, “Let’s go to sleep.”
“Sorry I’m so tired.” She covers her mouth as she yawns, and I grab the remote to stop the movie.
“We’ll finish the movie tomorrow.” I lean in and kiss her cheek.
Averly nods, grabbing the ice cream container and walking into the kitchen. She’s back out and holding my hand in no time, dragging her feet to my room.
Once we’re ready for bed, Averly rests her head on my chest, and I run my fingers up and down her arm.
“Where did Averly come from?”
“Do you want a story of how I came out of my mother…” her voice drags out in question.
“No, smarty, I meant your name. It’s not common, and I’ve always been curious.”
“Ah, so not a lesson in childbirth?” she giggles when she catches my glare from the corner of her eye. “It’s a combination of both of my grandmothers’ names. My maternal grandma was named Emily, and my dad’s mom is Avery. My parents put it together and bam, Averly.” The sound of a clap sounds around us as her hands slap together.
“That’s cool.”
“Yeah.” She nods against my chest.
“Go to sleep,” I tell her, kissing the top of her head.
“Thanks,” she mumbles.
Averly’s breathing evens out as I continue to watch her. There’s something about her that makes me want things I haven’t cared for with anyone else. The possibility of where this relationship can go makes me happy. I’ve been an active participant in the dating scene for long enough to know that when something feels right, I should hold on to it, especially in a small town.
The person I least expected to open up to me is lying in my bed, after watching a movie. We didn’t even have sex, and I don’t care. I want her here regardless of that. I’ll be an idiot to screw this up.
Averly
I refill my coffee mug and plop on the couch, grabbing my opened laptop from the coffee table. I’ve been awake for hours, doing work on my website and sorting through some things Ainsley and I spoke about earlier this week, so my morning has consisted of lots of coffee refills and little work. It’s overwhelming, and I’ve spent a greater part of this week with Eli, not that I’m complaining about that. I just need to find a balance between a relationship and my business.
I sigh, smiling as I recall our date last night. We had dinner at a restaurant in Sycamore, a nearby town, and then Eli took us to an ice bar that is open during the winter months. It was exciting to wear these thick robes and order from an ice-sculpted bar. Such a cool experience.
I focus on my laptop and research the most searched words and phrases on Google in the past year, so I can start forming an idea of what people are looking for when they open their browser and how I can somehow fit into it as a vacation destination.
I pause when I read one of the searches and throw me head back laughing. Wiping under my eyes, I grab my phone and shoot Poppy a message.
Averly: Hahaha! Clone a willy has been searched on google thousands of times in the last year
I giggle as I type it out, wondering what the heck people are hoping to find with that search and too afraid to test it out myself.
Poppy: What?! Are people looking for 3d printers that will make their own willy? Because that already exists and it’s called a vibrator
Averly: I have no idea and I’m too scared to search myself but it was too funny not to share
Poppy: Def gave me a laugh. Are you sure you’re not coming to the wedding?
I sigh and read her message again. When Eli asked me about attending Knox’s wedding, it sounded nice, but we’d only been dating a week, and I didn’t expect to go with him. This was planned well before anything happened between us. I’m sure it will be a blast, though.
Averly: Positive. have fun, take pics, and if you see Eli dressed in a handsome suit make sure you send me that in a pic
Poppy: Your wish is my command
Averly: Thanks!
I chuckle and continue working, finding more absurd searches amongst some helpful ones. This is becoming more fun than I imagined. My phone buzzes on the sofa next to me, and I answer with a smile.
“Well, hello, there.”
“I hear someone requested a picture of me?” Eli’s deep voice rings through the phone and washes over me.
“Guilty as charged.”
“If you were here, you wouldn’t need a picture,” his voice drops.
“I know, I know. It just felt awkward. It’s starting soon, right?” I check the time on my phone.
“In about twenty minutes. Have you gotten a lot of work done?”
I shift on the sofa and grab my mug to take a sip and grimace when the lukewarm coffee swishes across my tongue.
“Yeah. I’ve been researching popular searches on Google,” I explain. “Wanna laugh? One of the most searched phrases this year on Google has been ‘clone a willy’,” I giggle, not giving him a chance to even tell me if he cares to listen.
“Clone a willy, you say? That’s called a vibrator, which I wouldn’t mind trying with you,” his voice shifts to a teasing tone.
“That’s what Poppy said, too. Oh, well, minus the last part. Just that cloning a willy would be like a vibrator,” I babble.
“Phew, for a second there, I thought I had competition,” I hear a smile in his voice.
“No competition,” I whisper. “And if you want to try that with me, I won’t argue,” I add huskily.
“Damn,” Eli hisses. “I think this might be a first that we’re both on the same page. I’m about to walk down the aisle with a hard willy if you keep this up.”
I laugh. “Sorry? Actually, I’m not.”
“Tease,” Eli grunts.
“Only for you,” I retort.
“Better be.” I hear someone calling for him. “Hey, I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”
“Don’t worry about me. Have fun and tell Ainsley and Knox I’m really happy for them.”
“You know…”
“Yes, I know, but I’m not there. Now, don’t miss me too much.” I can’t help the smile that’s taken over my face. “And remember that picture,” I demand.
“You know I’ll send it. Bye.”
We hang up, and I look at my screen. I lean my head back on the headrest of the couch and turn it from side to side, catching a glimpse of sun out the window. Finn and I are going for a ride today, but maybe we can move it up to a little earlier. I can use some time outdoors. If he’s busy with work, I’ll see my mom before we head out.
Shutting off my laptop, I rinse my mug and place it in the dishwasher before getting ready to head to my parents’ house.
…
“Rumor is you and Eli are dating?” Finn looks at me from his seat on Midnight, his horse, his eyebrows raised so far up, they’re hiding under his cowboy hat.
“It’s true. I was just telling mom about it w
hile you finished up on the ranch.” I smile, hoping to seem confident. I know he and Eli are friends, though Finn is a year younger, so I’m not sure what his reaction will be.
“I think that’s great. I figured there might be something with how you were so… How would I call it?” He looks up at the sky.
“Bitchy?” I offer up.
Finn chuckles and shakes his head. “Not quite what I was going for, but you said it, not me.”
“Don’t get me wrong, he drove me crazy, but I see his charm now.”
“Good. He’s a great guy.” Finn smiles at me as mischief dances in his eyes. Changing subjects, he calls out, “Race ya.” He presses his heels into Midnight and takes off in a run.
“Cheater,” I yell behind him, but I don’t waste time getting Ginger to join in on the race. Her hooves slap the snowy ground as we navigate through the trees, the cool wind scraping my face as we fly through the land.
I see Finn a few feet away, standing by Midnight, and start slowing Ginger down as we approach them.
“This is still here?” I ask, dismounting when I see the rundown barn my grandfather used before he built the bigger one my brother and dad use today.
Regardless of the newer barn, Grandpa loved keeping his horse in this one. He used to say that this was his horse’s home, and ask if we’d want to just be moved to a new place without being asked. He really taught us that horses were more than animals for humans to control.
“Yeah, I’m thinking of fixing it up and turning it into a small cottage. What do you think?”
I eye the beat-up wood and broken ceiling. “Would you be able to use any of the structure?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m going to get Eli to come out and take a look. That is when you stop hogging him up.”
My eyes widen, and heat trickles up my neck and cheeks.
“Not like that, perv. I meant for business. He has his entire crew working on your bed and breakfast, but this could be a good summer project when he’s done.”
“I like the idea. It’s better than it ruining out here. Grandpa loved this barn, so he’d be happy to see it turned into something useful once again.”
“I think so, too,” Finn smiles. “And now that you’ve got an in with our contractor, I’m sure he’ll work on it quickly.”
Make You Mine Page 12
