“Don’t lie, Saylor,” he said, laughing. “They want to see Ava more than they want to see me.”
“You’re right. Sorry, Bro.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather see Avarie over anyone else too.”
“Thanks a bunch, Raze.”
“Whatever. Come over here.”
—:—
Monk offered to find another place to stay, but Razor told him he wanted him at the house.
“Until the risk has been neutralized, I want Ava protected at all times,” Razor told him.
“Roger that.”
He went downstairs and threw his bag on the office’s pullout sofa, where he’d slept before they went to Washington.
He looked up and saw Razor standing in the doorway. “First of all,” he said, “you can’t sleep in here. There’s a bedroom upstairs at the end of the hall. Secondly, my sister is on her way over with my nieces.”
Monk nodded and picked up his bag. “Anything else?”
“We have a new system being delivered soon,” Razor told him, motioning to the equipment in the office.
“Yeah?”
“Something Burns has been working on.”
“Anything you need me to do?”
“Touch base with him and ask.”
“Roger that.” Burns Butler, Doc Butler’s father was a technological wizard. Monk couldn’t wait to see what the man had come up with this time.
Monk reached the top of the stairs at the same time there was a knock on the front door. He walked over and opened it when he saw it was Saylor.
“Where’s Aunt Ava?” her two girls shrieked as they ran past him.
“Hi,” said Saylor. “They couldn’t wait.”
“Hi,” said Monk, stepping aside so she could come in.
“Going somewhere?” she asked, looking down at the bag he was carrying.
“Bedroom down the hall.”
“Okay, well, nice to see you.”
Saylor walked by, not making eye contact.
“See you later, Saylor,” he murmured. She didn’t turn around, but from where he stood, he could see the flush that pinkened her cheeks. He’d seen it before and knew he’d see it again.
He carried his bag down the hall, tossed it into the bedroom, and walked back out and into the kitchen.
“Is that Monk?” Ava asked, looking up from where she sat braiding Sierra’s hair like she’d done to Savannah’s.
“What would you like, Ava?”
“Whatever you’re making. I’m starving. If you don’t mind, that is. I know you’re not here to cook for us.”
He looked through the contents of the refrigerator and then the pantry. There wasn’t a lot of fresh food in the house, but he could probably whip something together without it. He pulled out a box of linguine, a few cans of clams, and a bottle of white wine. There was minced garlic in the refrigerator and some lemon juice.
“Razor wasn’t kidding when he said you were a chef.”
Monk turned around and found Saylor sitting at the kitchen bar.
“I enjoy cooking.”
“It looks that way. Do you need anything? My house is two doors down.”
He knew where it was. In fact, he knew a lot more about Saylor Sharp-Davis than either she or her brother would probably like.
“I can make do.”
She shrugged and walked back over to where Ava sat with the two girls.
He heard one of them ask if they could have a sleepover with Ava, but Saylor quickly shot the idea down. “Maybe another time when Uncle Razor is feeling a bit better.”
He didn’t hear either argue. He liked that.
He shook his head as a sudden urge to take her in his arms and feel her soft lips on his came over him.
“Do you have any fresh herbs?” he asked from the kitchen doorway.
“I have an herb garden.”
He’d known that before he asked.
“What do you need?”
“Mind if I take a look?”
“Will you be okay with the girls for a few minutes?” he heard Saylor ask Ava. He didn’t catch the answer, but she stood and walked over to him. “I’ll go with you.”
Monk held the door for her, and she waited for him on the porch while he closed it.
“I live in that—”
Monk grabbed her around the waist and pushed her up against the outside wall. He brought his hand to her neck and held her in place while he captured her mouth with his. Her arms went around his neck, and she kissed him back. With their tongues tangling together, Monk leaned his body into hers. Just kissing her made him hard enough to pound nails. Feeling her breasts against his chest made his desire painful.
He ended the kiss, backed away, and took her hand, leading her off the porch. He held her hand all the way to her house.
“Can I come in?” he asked when she muttered something about being right back.
“Uh…sure.”
He followed her into the kitchen where she opened a drawer and handed him a pair of heavy-duty kitchen shears.
“I use these in the garden,” she told him.
Monk took the scissors from her hand and set them on the kitchen counter. He rested his ass against it and pulled Saylor’s body flush with his. He reached down and pulled his shirt up and then hers, not over her head, but enough that he could feel her bare skin next to his. He put both hands on her cheeks and kissed her deeper than before. He could kiss this woman for hours and still crave more.
Saylor pulled away, her skin flushed, breathing accelerated, and her pupils dilated. “We should get back.”
Monk picked up the scissors and followed her out of the house and into the garden.
“Would you mind?” he asked, pointing to the lettuce and spinach.
“Not at all.”
She went back inside while he snipped the greens, and came out with a basket made of wood and mesh. She set it on the ground near him. “I have a cucumber too, and red and yellow grape tomatoes.”
“And snap peas,” he added, pulling two from the vine and eating the first in one bite. “So sweet. Taste.” He brought the one still in his hand to her mouth. When she took it, she nipped his fingers, which made him laugh.
“I’m on security detail,” Monk told her on the walk back to Razor’s house. “I’ll be here for a while.”
Saylor had been looking out at the ocean, seeming as though she wanted to say something.
“I want your body next to mine, Saylor.”
She looked back at him, directly in the eye. “The girls,” she murmured. “Their lives…I know they don’t remember, but I need to protect them.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“We’ll talk, but some other time.” She dropped his hand and ran up the steps of Razor’s porch and into the house.
“Sorry to cut our visit short, but we have lots to do, girls. I’m sure Uncle Razor and Aunt Ava are getting hungry. We don’t want to keep them from having dinner, right?”
Monk stood in the kitchen, watching as the little girls hugged Ava and blew kisses to their uncle. He went back to the sink to wash the vegetables he’d gotten from Saylor’s garden.
“Bye, Mr. Monk,” he heard a small voice say from the doorway.
He dried his hands, walked over, and bent down. “Goodbye, Miss Savannah. I hope to see you again soon.”
“Bye,” said Sierra, holding onto Saylor with one hand while she waved at him with the other.
“Bye, Miss Sierra.”
He stood up and looked into their mother’s eyes. “I’ll see you soon, Saylor.”
She nodded. “Bye, Monk.”
9
“Ava is beginning to think you don’t like her,” said Razor, who showed up at her garden gate several days later, scaring the crap out of her.
“That’s silly.”
“She wants Sierra and Savannah to be flower girls.”
“Okay. What does that have to do with me?”
Razor crouched do
wn next to where she was pulling weeds and rested his hand on her arm. “Saylor, look at me.”
She tossed the garden tool on the ground, wiped her hands on her shorts, and sat on her butt in the grass. “What?”
“We’ve been home two weeks, and we’ve hardly seen you.”
“What the eff, Raze? I’ve gone months without seeing you.”
“I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about Ava.”
“It’s awkward, okay? I’m sorry if I’ve hurt Ava’s feelings, but I’d rather not run into Monk.”
“Why not?”
Saylor got back on her knees and continued her assault on the plants that didn’t belong in her garden.
“It isn’t like you to let a man keep you away from your family.”
Saylor stood up and threw her trowel on the ground. “Don’t pull that shit with me, Tabon. I don’t want to see him, and I don’t fucking care what you think. How dare you throw anything about Cliff in my face?”
Razor stood too. “This isn’t about Cliff.”
“Isn’t it? If I remember right, you said almost those exact same words to me a few months after I started dating him.”
“This is different. Monk isn’t keeping you from us. You’re keeping yourself away because you don’t want to see him.”
She went into the house, but he followed.
“I’ll reassign him if that’s what it takes.”
“I just needed a little time,” she sighed. “Things were moving too fast, getting too serious.”
Her brother raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, so maybe it wasn’t getting too serious, but he wanted more from me than I could give.”
“Like I said, I’ll reassign him. Done deal,” he opened the door to leave.
“Don’t do that. It isn’t fair to him.”
“No, it’ll be easier if he just works out of another office.”
“Razor, please don’t do that.”
“Right,” he said, looking at the vase on the kitchen bar. “Nice flowers.”
They’d come the week after everyone got back from Washington, which was also a week since she’d seen Monk. Even though they came from a florist, they looked more like he’d gone out and picked a bouquet of wildflowers himself.
“I’ll be over later,” she called after him.
“Come for dinner.”
“Don’t push it, Raze.”
He laughed and walked over to the trail.
AN HOUR LATER, Saylor, her mother, and the girls walked into her brother’s house when Ava opened the door.
“Where’s Razor?” Saylor asked an hour later when she still hadn’t seen her brother.
“He and Monk are downstairs. A truckload of new equipment arrived, and they’ve been setting it all up. I guess it’s taken over most of the basement.”
The girls had their noses buried in bridal magazines and didn’t seem to be paying attention, so Saylor took the opportunity to apologize to Ava.
“One, you’re forgiven, and two, it wasn’t me who was upset; it was your brother.”
“That jerk.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said when he told me what he said to you. Don’t get me wrong, I love your company, but it isn’t like I expect you to be over here all the time. You have a life of your own.”
“Thank you,” huffed Saylor, ready to go downstairs and slug her brother.
Instead, when she looked over, he and Monk were coming up the stairs.
“How’s flower-girl-dress buying going?” Razor asked, walking over and kissing Ava’s forehead.
“They want every one they see,” Saylor answered. “Ava, you really just need to choose for them, or they’ll drive you mad.”
“We don’t drive yet,” said Savannah, looking over her shoulder at her mother and sticking a playful tongue out at her.
“What do you think, Mr. Monk,” said Sierra, walking over to him with magazine in hand. He crouched down like he had when he said goodbye to Savannah a few days ago.
“You would look beautiful in any of these,” he said, pointing at something on the page. “But I think this one would look the very best.”
“That’s my favorite too,” Sierra said, flouncing back over to her sister.
“Let me see which one,” Savannah demanded. “That was my favorite,” she said when Sierra pointed. “I picked that one first.”
“You did not.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Girls,” Saylor scolded. “That’s enough.”
“Sorry, Mama,” they both said, hanging their heads. They took the magazine over to Ava.
“You should pick,” said Sierra.
“Show me the one Mr. Monk likes best.”
Ava clapped her hands when they showed her. “That was my favorite too. It seems like it was all of our favorite.” She winked at Saylor.
“Avarie,” said Razor. “We need to leave now if we’re going to meet your sister.”
“That’s right,” she said, jumping up. “Sorry we have to leave so abruptly.” She kissed Saylor’s cheek and then each one of the girls. “I’ll see you tomorrow so the dressmaker can get your measurements, right?”
Both Savannah and Sierra nodded.
“I’m in a rush too,” said Sally. “I was supposed to be at Mahjong fifteen minutes ago.”
“We’ll drop you off,” Razor offered, ushering his mother into the car.
“Thank you,” Saylor said to Monk after everyone else drove off. “You were very sweet with them.”
“They’re nice girls.” Monk brushed his fingertips against hers as they stood side by side. “I’ve missed seeing you.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just—”
“No apology is necessary.”
“Thank you for the flowers.”
“They reminded me of you.”
Saylor knew she was blushing. In fact, she felt like she was fourteen again, having an awkward conversation with her first boyfriend.
“Mama,” said Savannah, tugging on her arm.
“What is it, doodlebug?” she asked, bending down.
“Invite Mr. Monk over for dinner.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s too busy, but it’s sweet of you to think of it.”
“I have the night off.”
“Ple-e-e-ase,” begged her daughter.
“What should we make for Mr. Monk?” Saylor asked. “Do you know what he likes to eat?”
Savannah looked up at him. “What’s your favorite food?”
“Hmm,” he said, scratching his beard that had grown much longer since the last time Saylor saw him. “I’d have to say pizza.”
“Pizza? That’s my favorite.”
“No, it isn’t,” said Sierra, stalking over to them. “My favorite is pizza. Yours is Chinese.”
“Not it isn’t.”
“Yes—”
“Girls,” said Saylor, giving them a stern look.
“My mama makes the best pizza in the world,” Sierra told Monk.
“I’m sure whatever she makes is the best in the world.” He turned to Saylor. “I can help.”
“No helping necessary,” she said. “You’ll be our guest. How’s six?” she asked. “The girls are in bed by eight.”
“Why don’t I just walk with you now?”
—:—
“We could order out,” Monk suggested as they walked two houses over.
“I really do make good pizza.”
“You were blindsided.”
“I know how to say no, Monk.”
He smiled. “Based on how well-behaved your girls are, you must be very good at it.”
Saylor smiled too. “Thank you. I think.”
“It was a compliment.”
“It isn’t easy, I can tell you that. Yachats is a very small place, and there aren’t many divorced families in it. I think sometimes having only one parent is harder on them than they’d ever admit to me.”
He put his hand on her shoulder, unable to resist touching her. “You�
��re a good mom.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around much.”
“Don’t,” he said, stopping to turn her body toward him. “I told you before not to apologize.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “I like you, Saylor, and I like your girls. I’d consider it an honor to get to know all three of you better.”
“I can’t promise anything.”
“Neither can I.”
SIERRA AND SAVANNAH had been right about how good their mother’s pizza was. She made the dough and the sauce from scratch and then let each of them pick their toppings, most of which were fresh vegetables.
When they finished dinner, Saylor refused to let him help clean up, which left him available to be the third player in Pigmania.
“You have to say it,” pressed Savannah when he rolled all his pigs upside down. “Listen, it goes like this. ‘Soooooie.’ Now you try it.”
Every time he tried, he laughed too hard to get it out. He looked into the kitchen, and Saylor was laughing as hard as he was.
“Oh…my…gosh,” said Sierra, hand on hip as she did so often. “He can’t say it, Savannah, just give him a pass.”
“That means it’s the end of the game and I won,” said Savannah.
“She cheats,” whispered Sierra as she put the game away.
“Bath time, girls,” Saylor said from the kitchen.
“Yes, Mama,” they answered in unison before heading down the hallway.
“They would do well in the south.”
“What do you mean?” asked Saylor, coming to sit on the sofa next to him.
“Their manners.”
“Are you from the south, Monk?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, exaggerating the accent he’d lost years ago.
“I was thinking the other day, I don’t even know your first name.”
“Rhys, but spelled differently than the peanut butter cup. I’ve been called Monk since I was a kid, though.”
“I guess you didn’t talk much then either.”
“I didn’t.” Monk found himself wanting to tell Saylor about his sister and how her murder had resulted in his difficulty communicating, but it was too soon for a conversation like that. “Thank you for dinner,” he said instead.
“Thank you for joining us.”
Monk turned his body so he was facing her. “Tell me how I can spend time with you.”
Monk (K19 Security Solutions Book 7) Page 6
