“We’re headed into town. Can’t wait for dinner.” Both partners wore a knowing grin.
He nodded, confused at first and then realizing he’d forgotten.
The couple smiled politely as they passed, but Donavan heard them giggle once they thought they were out of earshot.
“Sheesh,” Avery shook her head. “You forgot about dinner. I mean, a second ago, I was about to jump into your arms, and I had forgot dinner—and the fact that we have guests—I didn’t notice them step outside. But really, you forgot, forgot.”
“I’m sorry.” His knuckle rubbed softly at her cheek. “Avery, Franny knew I wasn’t going to run around greeting everyone. She knew that whatever vision you had for this place that I’d be right at your side, seeing it through as a team. You don’t need me standing here, grinning at folks all day. I’m doing the best I can. You say something needs to be fixed—”
“You’d have to be here to fix it.” She placed a hand on her hip and then touched his bicep. “I’m sorry. Sorry, that was a low blow.”
“I had it coming,” he replied.
Avery stepped forward. He stepped forward. “Let’s keep meeting each other in the middle, Donavan.”
“Damn, little bird, you haven’t done that in ages.”
Her grin broke through the chill of the day. “We’re a team, Donnie. We just have to keep reminding each other when one of us has fallen off the wagon.”
Their foreheads kissed, and they breathed in for a few moments.
26
Hunter
Donavan was never home so early. The air had been sucked out of Hunter’s lungs when he’d heard the Kawasaki pull up. Silently, by its side came Hawk! He’d wondered why it took so long for his brother to find him, since Hawk was off on leave. It had been luck that his brother hadn’t figured it out when Hunter left their parents’ home last month. But Hawk must have finally put two and two together due to Hunter snatching the homemaker magazine from their mom.
He needed to keep a low profile. Though he hadn’t anticipated attending the stupid dinner that Donavan and Avery were having tonight, now Hawk was tossing a wrench into his plan.
The plan had been so simple: Keep Carly busy all evening. Get her drunk. Send text to Donavan. Murder Carly before his eyes. Then murder Donavan. Done.
He’d need to improvise again.
* * *
The blonde swayed to the music. He’d gotten her to meet at the bar. Hunter had kept a low profile, waiting for Donavan and Avery to settle in before he’d left.
“Um, I’ve never been to a bar so early,” she said, her dreamy, bright blue eyes on him as they swayed to a slow country tune.
“Well, I plan on getting you good and drunk, Carly, because that means tonight can start earlier.”
He held her close as they swayed to the music. “Hmmm, I love the sound of that. But can we raincheck the full-blown wasted and jump straight to where I do anything that you’d like.” She licked her lips for emphasis. “Avery picked up my son from the summer school program today. Oh, and we have the dinner to attend. Then we can pick up right where we left off. How’s that? I should go home and dress up.”
Hunter’s fingers trailed over her shoulder and danced down her arm as she began to pull away. When she got too far, he clasped her wrist and yanked, until she spun back into his arms. He’d just recited a poem from when he was seventeen and a misunderstood loaner. She ate up every word. His hands gripped tightly at her ass, and he kissed at the pulse of her neck—the exact place where his knife would go first when he slit her throat later tonight. “But I don’t want to let you go, Carly.” He pressed his groin into her. “Do you feel this.”
She moaned. “Definitely.”
“I don’t know how much longer I can wait for you . . .” He murmured the truth with a renewed fervor, imagining Avery in his arms. “I can’t wait for us to be together. No interference. Just the two of us. My heart is about to explode from my chest. I never imagined that I’d be so lucky to meet you.” Damn, he was a bit rusty, but Avery made the perfect muse.
Carly sighed. He could literally hear her heart melting in her chest. His skin crawled. So much for closing his eyes and seeing the woman who in all of her flaws was the most beautiful sight to behold.
“Oh, hell. I’m not waiting another second to have you.” She stopped dancing, grabbed his arm and headed toward the one stall unisex bathroom. “Hunter, I’ve never done anything like this before.”
* * *
They’d screwed like animals with him pounding his animosity inside of her. She had screamed, loving every moment of it. Carly cleaned up and did a once over in the mirror. Hunter tossed the condom and washed his hands. As her fingers forked through her hair, Hunter placed himself right behind her. She grinned.
He held up her cell phone. “Tell Avery you won’t be home until late, sweetheart.”
“Did you grab that from my purse?” Her eyebrows zipped together in confusion.
Shit. So many years spent virtually solo, not to mention being a recluse while going through puberty, Hunter hadn’t thought that this type of move might be considered weird.
“Hunter, I really, really like you.” She smiled, taking the phone and picking up her purse from the counter, slipping it back inside. “But we have to go to dinner. I have always . . .” She bit her lip, and Hunter could tell she was lying. “Well, just about always, had dinner with my son. At least, since he can remember.”
She winked, her back against the door as she began to open it. “You can eye fuck me from afar because, unfortunately, I won’t be introducing you as someone important to him. Not yet.”
The thin line of his lips curved upward. “I respect that. Let’s just make an appearance. Then we can write our own Kama Sutra, okay?”
He stared at her for a moment. There was no way in hell he’d be able to pull off murdering just Carly and Donavan at the dinner. Not without Donavan knowing who he was, and everyone else becoming aware. Things were so much less complicated when he hadn’t fallen for Avery.
With a salute, Carly backed out of the bathroom and strutted down the hall toward the main room of the bar.
“Let’s have another drink first,” he said.
“But I don’t wanna be sloshed at dinner.”
Grinding his teeth, he reached for her, just as Carly hit the center of the scuffed-up dance floor. He started kissing her again. Kissing and telling her words that were reserved for Avery. It was just that easy— drink and a dance—a drink and a dance. The process repeated itself. When she was couldn’t stand, couldn’t think drunk, he laid her in a booth. He placed her thumb on the iPhone, and it unlocked. Then he sent a text of apology to everyone.
27
Avery
Standing before the mirror in her bedroom, Avery placed a hand over the soft pudge of her belly. She sucked in her stomach until it was pre-childrearing flat. She derided herself, recalling how she hadn’t weighed much after giving birth to Junior. She’d endured depression during her pregnancy, due to Donavan leaving. And then there was her mom’s deception and believing she’d given birth to a stillborn. The doctor at Sunnymead had implemented an intravenous drip into her diet first to keep her hydrated, then liquids, like soups and smoothies, and then soft foods.
“Happy people eat,” she told herself.
Donavan came up behind her. She watched his reflection through the mirror. “Happy chicks have all this fat ass, and a man who loves it.”
She pressed her butt against him with a giggle. “Stop it.”
“Stop saying my woman is beautiful? Curves, stretch marks, girl you fought for that beauty.” Donavan’s kisses danced along her bare shoulder, neck and collarbone.
Slowly, she turned around and gave him a hug. “I’m going to write a book about falling in love with your best friend. I think I’ll market it toward drug addicts and every lonely single woman in the world.”
“I understand the “every lonely single woman in the world” id
ea. I’m no PR rep, but I’d say you’re on to something there. But drug addicts?”
“Well, because you are worse than crack, Donnie. You really are, and I can’t help but love you.”
He stepped away from her and signed, “Nah, too cheesy, I refuse to laugh.” She pushed at him until he fell back onto the bed with her on top of him, laughing.
“Donnie, you laugh, or I will beat the laughter into you,” she said, fingers poised above him and ready to tickle.
“I’m not strong enough to—” He pulled her down on top of him, and she didn’t read his lips to gather the rest of the foolishness he had to say.
After a few minutes of being unable to take their hands and lips off each other, they got up and got dressed for the night.
“Thanks for that,” Avery said with Anya on her breast.
He turned around. “For offering to place the super long table for tonight?”
“That too. I think that can be something you can do without having to cheese at everyone.” She gave a hideous grin. “But for earlier. I initially decided that dinner with the entire guest list would be nice, especially with us having The Carlsons over. This is a B&B, but I still feel awkward cooking such big meals and not extending the table. And I know we are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to feeding ourselves, let alone paying Carly, and reclaiming the money we put into all the options we chose to make this place a success . . .”
“AC, you’re rambling.”
“I am.” Her eyes closed momentarily. “Sorry, I’m nervous. Oh, so, I just needed to thank you for making me smile, which I’ll keep in mind when Jess and I chat after dinner. We want the same thing. I just have to keep remembering that for the rest of the evening.”
“Dinner will go well. And later tonight, once the two of you have made up, the four of us have something very serious to consider.”
Her head tilted. “What?”
“You’re nervous, AC. Shake out those jitters. I’m going to use that Google.” He held up his phone. “I saw your text after I showered as to how you want me to do the place settings and everything. Babe, I got this.”
“You do.” She adjusted Anya to her other breast.
He glanced at his phone and cursed under his breath.
“What?”
“Carly.”
“I think she sent a message that was for you to me.”
“What does it say?”
“ ‘AC, I’m hooking up with Hayden!’ Oh, and the remainder is in all caps, ‘best fucking lay. Can you watch Josh tonight,’ followed by an entire line of question marks.”
Avery laughed. “I’m sorry. I know, I know.”
“I don’t like my sister hooking up, and as big as her mouth is, I need to fucking know the guy first. So this must be some random.”
Avery’s gaze flitted away. He stepped in front of her. “Hey, tell me something I don’t know.”
“I know something ya don’t wanna know?” She offered with a wry smile.
His fingers were stiff as he signed, “Tell me, AC. I recall you telling Antonio to not sniff around my sis when he was going through puberty. She’s never had the best track record when it came to guys. Young ones, old ones.”
Avery nodded, understanding that Carly had been awful promiscuous since she’d come to foster care due to being sexually abused.
“So, I don’t need to be rushing around throwing haymakers at every dude that leaves her hot and fucking bothered, and you know just what the fuck I mean about bothered.”
“Okay, ixnay on the cuss words.” Avery licked her lips. Carly used to come home with STDs. She put lots of the girls on Jerry Springer to shame, and Josh didn’t have a dad. But she wasn’t that girl anymore. Avery verbalized that. “Our Carly has been making us proud recently. Hayden is one of the guys staying here. So, it’s not just some random hookup in her defense.”
“Oh, so are you going to send her expensive chocolates for keeping our customers satisfied?” He paused, probably grimacing at how awful that sounded.
“Duly noted. And on day one, I told her that this behavior wouldn’t fly. I honestly believe they have a connection. Mr. Flint’s a very nice guy.”
“So, this is day ten I presume? That Hayden has stayed here every night since we’ve opened.”
Voice hushed, Avery said, “It’s day two.”
He walked back toward the door.
“Donavan.”
He turned around, arms folded. “No, it’s okay, AC. This isn’t your fight. And I would rather you feed my baby with happy thoughts swarming through your head. I’m just a little disappointed in that girl.”
“Listen, I am happy as can be. Do you remember the fact that The Hardys asked to stop fostering and to adopt you for ages? You stayed foster, and I’d like to believe that it wasn’t just because you had this chip on your shoulder and a need to be isolated. Especially, with a friend like me who was going to hold you hostage regardless of your need to run solo.”
“I remember.”
“I like to always think that you stayed foster, so that you could help Carly when she was running around, looking for a father in every horny toad that glanced her way. And because you stayed foster, you vouched for her to your social worker to place her in your home—when she should’ve been in an all-girls group home. So, what happened next?”
Donavan folded his beefy arms and countered, “Besides her giving our parents a heart attack!”
“Yes, aside from Agnes splashing holy water on her while she slept—because you can’t technically persuade a foster child to your religion.” Avery giggled.
“This shit isn’t funny.”
“Precisely. And this is not a fifteen—fifteen-year old, pregnant girl. She’s grown up. Although, she did put Girls Gone Wild to shame. It was a fact that Carly wasn’t a mom to Joshua in the beginning. I learned to change a diaper; you did too. We helped Agnes and Greg. Then they shocked the shit outta all of us by asking her to be their adoptive daughter, right? Then what happened?”
“You sure are asking a lot of questions and—”
“Not at all, Donavan. I’m just jogging your memory.”
“Alright, detective, it was her sixteenth birthday when they asked. She pulled the same move she did today. Not asking anyone to watch Josh, running off for almost two weeks.”
Avery stared at him expectantly. Since he didn’t conclude the story, she did it for him. “Then the prodigal daughter returned and became the dependable, frizzy haired Carly we know and love, Donavan. Got that?”
He shrugged, offering a reluctant, “Yes.”
“Carly isn’t that girl anymore. So, we will watch Josh tonight. Matter-of-fact, check on the boys now before you set the table. Please and thank you.”
He did an about face. Avery giggled and kissed Anya’s forehead who had fallen asleep on her breast. “You are my heart,” she murmured. Her baby cooed in her sleep, showing all gums in a flash of a smile. For a few chosen moments, a deep seeded sadness surrounded Avery. God, I want to hear her just for a second, please.
* * *
Wine glasses clanked together as people around the table started saying what they were thankful for. Donavan interpreted each person’s response by signing to Avery and Junior.
“I’m happy to be home” was Jessica’s response. Followed by Ted’s appreciation of being amongst family and new-found friends as he chatted with the B&B guests.
Maggie who had opted to sit between Donavan Junior and Avery, since she claimed to have missed them since returning home, said, “I’m happy for that home run I scored on Saturday morning!”
“Here, here!” Avery held up her wine.
“Grab your wine kids.” Maggie giggled, followed by Junior, and Josh who sat on the opposite side of him. They had gotten a riot out of Avery pouring their apple cider and making like she was a sommelier, mentioning that it was made in the same as year her son was born.
While the entire mansion was bustling with activity and the guest
s interacted with each other after dinner, Avery and Jessica went into the library. Jess sat on a bank of pillows at the window where Avery imagined her ancestors went to read a choice book. Albeit, Jessica didn’t have a look of contentment but a frown on her face, holding her tea.
Avery bit her lip, sitting on the antique lounger about ten yards away. “Jess, we used to be able to laugh in each other’s presence and enjoy our son,” Avery said.
Though Jess didn’t offer her the curtesy of looking at her while she talked, Avery could tell that the statement had made an impact. Jessica’s lips released a fraction of tension.
“We both want the same thing, Jess.” Avery continued in a tone she’d assumed her therapist team used on her at Sunnymead. It almost made her wince, believing that the tension had reached such a level.
Jess stopped gazing out of the window and sat forward. “Of course, we do.”
It didn’t take being able to hear to know that Jessica had laced a great dose of sarcasm in her voice.
“Donavan Junior hasn’t wanted to come over to our home on the weekends for ages. In fact, he begs and begs for Maggie to spend the night every single weekend.”
Avery leaned forward, working on her body language. “I believe my pregnancy had something to do with it, Jess. He was excited to have a new sister. Baseball season had just begun. I think that things will settle down a bit since the kids are known to whine about the early Saturday morning practices, and you all live closer to the park. I know Junior hasn’t mentioned it recently due to your hospital visit.” Avery gave a sympathetic smile. “And once baseball season is over, and Anya is no longer some new, fun baby for them to watch, DJ and Maggie will take turns begging to have the other over for the weekend.”
“You never ask for our help anymore, Avery. You just had a baby, you’ve got weight to get off you, and obviously a house full of guests to deal with. How about Donavan Junior spend a few weeks with us?”
Make Me Stay II: A Second Chance Romance Page 15
