Passionate Kisses

by Various

  Lucas could at least attempt to help her get those answers. It wasn’t enough to make amends for his past, but it was a damn good start to a new beginning.

  A waitress brought him a hot plate of food. There was steak, sautéed mushrooms, and a baked potato. He nodded in a thank you as his mouth watered. Tonight he’d decided not to eat at the inn. Lucas wanted a break. He didn’t want to run into Avery, Rodney, or anyone else. He needed that time to clear his head and think about things. Now, if only he could pull this plan together and then get Avery to hear him out.

  His phone beeped. Another text message. Lucas sighed, putting down the knife and fork. He could ignore it.

  No, better to just get it over with. With a few clicks and swipes, Lucas pulled up the message.

  “Despite what you think, how I act, I care about you and about her well being.”

  Lucas pounded the tiny keyboard furiously typing a response.

  “You have an odd way of showing it. In both aspects. You want to keep her safe, then tell me why. Better yet, let me bring her there.”

  He held his breath.

  “I can’t.”

  Of course that would be the response. Lucas grunted, typing back.

  “Why not? Don’t want anyone to know? You’re that ashamed?”

  “It’s not that. It’s complicated.”

  Lucas snorted. Complicated. Right. Isn’t that what they all said? Disgusted, he stuffed his phone in his pocket. Forget about wasting time trying to get through to a brick wall. Dinner was getting cold, and for once, Lucas wanted to enjoy something instead of dealing with consequence.

  The phone dinged again, but this time, Lucas took a bite of food instead.

  After he’d taken the time to savor his dinner and paid the bill, Lucas peeked at the message on the phone. Surprised, he nearly dropped it.

  He wasn’t reading the response correct.

  No way.

  “Fine. Make the arrangements. But she has to abide by my privacy requests. No one else can know. No one. You hear me? I have my reasons.”

  Well, that was a good start. Lucas pocketed the phone, walking briskly to the inn. His ankle throbbed, but he ignored it. At least it wasn’t broken, or even sprained. Just a little bruised. The pain would fade in time. He wanted to go right over to Avery’s and talk to her now, but he hesitated. Should he go, or wait? Find out for sure if this would actually happen. The last thing he wanted to go was get her hopes up.

  A river of headlights streamed across the highway. The little strip with the inn, restaurants and a gas station lined up in a row, with a backdrop of trees made for a peaceful walk. This time, Lucas kept an eye out for anything strange. Maybe the person in the car didn’t even have a personal agenda with him. They could have been drunk, high, or just stupid. He would probably never know. Who really knew him here in the town anyway except for Avery, her parents, and Rodney?

  Rodney. Lucas snapped his fingers.

  No. Why would he do that? Sure, Lucas didn’t trust the guy, and he knew it went both ways, but why would the man try to run him over?

  “Fuck, I’m putting way too much thought into this,” Lucas said aloud.

  Lightning flashed in the distance. Maybe a storm would roll in tonight.

  Lack of trust had a good way of sending a mind into overdrive, Lucas mused as he strolled through the entrance of his temporary place of residence.

  Then he saw a sight that bothered him.

  Paula, talking, no, not even talking, trying to persuade Rodney for something. Rodney appeared to be uncomfortable, actually backing away from her. For a moment, Lucas actually felt bad for the guy. Paula responded by getting closer. As Lucas neared, he smelled the whiskey. Sure enough, in her hand, was a bottle of the stuff. Lucas glanced at the front desk. Where was Alice? Any of the staff? Surely someone had to be around.

  “Oh, I bet you swing the other way, right? That’s why you don’t want company in your room,” Paula slurred. “I’m lonely. I bet you’re lonely. So what’s the excuse?”

  Disgusting. Lucas wondered what the woman would think if she knew who Rodney was. Or could be.

  “I’m not interested, Miss. It sounds like what you need is to lay off the bottle,” Rodney said, pushing her advances away again. He turned his head slightly, and that’s when he caught on that Lucas was there. Rodney mouthed ‘help’ and gestured toward her. Paula stopped short and turned her attention on Lucas.

  “Well, if it isn’t my adopted sister’s boy toy. I could go a little younger and show you a good time.” Paula swayed. Her eyes glazed. The woman was drunk off her rocker.

  “You’ve got a lot of nerve, showing up here like that. If you’re here for your parents, then why are you getting drunk and accosting guests at this inn? Do you know how bad it will look for your mom and dad if this were to be reported?” Lucas kept Paula at arm’s length as she tried to push her way into his arms, making smooch sounds. God, her breath reeked! She couldn’t even stand up straight.

  “They don’t seem to care about me, so why should I care?” Paula hissed.

  Lucas thought Rodney had walked off, but instead, he aided Lucas in keeping her off of him. “We should get her to her parents’ house. This is Avery’s sister, I guess you’d say.”

  Rodney frowned, and he held his grip on Paula’s arm. She didn’t fight them off. Lucas grabbed the whiskey bottle from her strong grip and tossed it into the trash can.

  “Hey asshole, that wasn’t empty!” Paula protested, making a swipe at Lucas. She growled, missed, and almost fell forward on her face. Had either of the men not been holding her, she would have. “Let go of me!”

  “You’ve had enough of it. You’re causing a ruckus. Now come on. Let’s get you out of here, back to your parents and hopefully sobered up,” Lucas snapped.

  “I don’t want to go back there. They hate me. I hate me. They’ve got a new daughter, one they like better,” Paula whined.

  “Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself. No one hates you and they don’t have a ‘new’ daughter. Avery isn’t here to take your place, and she never was. Your mom and dad gave a child a home when she didn’t have anywhere else to go.” Lucas dared to look at Rodney, but the man didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, he continued to try and help keep Paula on her feet.

  “What is going on?” There was Alice, behind them with her hands on her hips. But she caught sight of Paula and her expression changed. “Is she drunk? Damn, I can smell it! Gross!”

  “Yeah, I came back a few minutes ago to her trying to get all over another guest here.” Lucas jerked his head in Rodney’s direction.

  “Oh, I’m terribly sorry! This isn’t a normal thing here. Would you like me to call the police to press charges?” Her tone turned fearful.

  “That won’t be necessary. I think I’ll just aid Lucas here in getting her back home. No harm done.”

  Rodney could have easily made a big fuss, and Lucas could guess with one reason why he chose not to.

  “I’ll call Avery, to at least warn them you’re coming. I’m sure with her mom so stressed and tired, they might want an advance notice,” Alice said promptly, heading to the desk and picking up the phone. As Lucas and Rodney led a ranting Paula out the door, Alice spoke rapidly into the phone.

  Fifteen minutes and a few punches and kicks later, they finally arrived at the house. Avery and her father were already on the front porch, waiting for them. Avery’s eyes were puffy and red, like she’d been crying, and her father, even for his age, looked extremely pissed and a little intimidating.

  “Uh oh ... here’s the parent police,” Paula muttered. She sagged, forcing Lucas and Rodney to practically drag her to the porch.

  “Paula, you need to get up, sober up, and if this behavior continues, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Your mother doesn’t need this, I don’t need this, and I certainly don’t want that kind of behavior around the inn. Accosting a guest? What is wrong with you? If you’re upset, and I know you are, then take it to the righ
t place. Don’t bring the drama outside of our home into the workplace we’ve built for years.” Icicles dripped from the man’s voice. “And thank you both for bringing her back. I’m sorry for your troubles. And I’m terribly sorry she made unwanted advances on you.” The elder man looked at Rodney.

  “You lecture me like a child. I’m nearly fifty years old,” Paula snapped.

  “Then you may want to act like it,” her father snapped right back. “We’re glad to see you, but not like this, Paula. You run off to your room in a fit earlier, then slip right past us to get drunk? I did not expect to get a call from one of our employees warning us that two of our guests were bringing our drunk daughter back.”

  Avery stood further back with her mouth open just slightly. Lucas could tell she was uncomfortable. He didn’t blame her. Maybe, if she’d let him, after they got Paula settled, he could convince her to go for a walk with him or something.

  “You’re not better than me.” Paula seethed at Avery, then stumbled up the stairs and in the house, leaving everyone in stunned silence in the aftermath.

  “I apologize for all the drama tonight,” Avery’s dad said, looking at each of them, including Avery. “Maybe I’d better get in and see to it that she doesn’t disturb your mom.” He planted a kiss on Avery’s head and hurried inside.

  “What a night. What a day,” Avery said quietly, sinking into the swing behind her. “Thank you both. Neither of you needed to do that. Would you care for something to drink? Non alcoholic, of course.” She winked.

  “I’m good, thank you,” Rodney said at the same time Lucas said “No thanks.”

  “Avery, I’m supposed to get the results tomorrow, or at least, that’s what I’ve been told. Do you want to come by tomorrow late afternoon so we can talk about that?” Rodney asked.

  Avery nodded. “That sounds good.”

  “Okay, well, I think I’ll get on back now. I was on my way up to my room when she cornered me.” Rodney shuddered. “I had no idea that is your sister.”

  “Yeah she’s been a bit of a handful.” Avery shook her head with a sigh.

  Understatement, Lucas thought, but said nothing.

  Rodney gave her a quick hug and waved to Lucas. “Thanks for your help, man.”

  “No problem. Thank you for yours. Good night.” As Rodney left, Lucas turned his attention to Avery. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked gently. All he wanted was to sit beside her and hold her. Instead, he stayed where he was, leaning up against the front porch post.

  Avery’s gaze connected with his. “Yeah. I’ll be okay.” Something in her tone called to him. He was torn. Move next to her, or back off? Which one?

  Moving to sit beside her won. Whatever Avery did next, Lucas would deal with it. He perched beside her on the swing. The old wood creaked under his weight. Avery watched him with those big, beautiful greenish gray eyes. “Do you want me to go? I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you want.” Lucas hoped she would want him to stay, but wouldn’t blame her one bit if she chose the latter.

  Why did he care so much? Why did it have to be the one time that he started to feel again, it was for a woman that complicated things? Ah, but life was so cruel, of course there were no answers to these things. He should have never gotten so involved, so invested. Avery wanted a life filled with traveling, because that’s what a singer did. Lucas needed to stay in one place, find some roots and actually plant them. Alone, or not alone. What mattered was that those things needed to happen. No more life as a shadow. No, he was ready to find his own way. How could he have lived, but yet not lived, for all of his adult life?

  “You can stay,” Avery whispered. She looked so stricken and sad, her eyes filled with confusion and a sadness Lucas had never seen. She huddled by the arm of the swing, rocking back and forth, occasionally darting her gaze to look at him. All Lucas wanted to do was gather her in his arms, hold her and make her problems fade into the background.

  For what seemed like ages, they sat in silence again. The swing squeaked while the rocking motion put Lucas in a daze. This was nice. Just sitting back and enjoying a breeze, not having to do anything. Lucas flexed his wrists and when he moved his right one to rest on the seat, he found Avery’s hand there. Sparks of awareness flowed through him like hot lava. When his hand lingered over hers, he expected her to snatch it away, but was surprised when she didn’t. Lucas took that as a sign. He entwined his fingers with hers and shifted his body so he could face her.

  “Avery, I want you to know that I like you. A lot. When I came here, I never expected things to progress like they did, and I’m not sorry for anything except for not coming to you with the truth earlier. I wish I could make you understand.” Lucas rushed the words. He squeezed her hand, loving the way her fingers fit so perfectly with his own.

  When had he started thinking like that? Geez. His mind was all over the place when it came to Avery Callimer. Lucas had to admit he kind of liked it, though it terrified him at the same time. What was this effect Avery had on him? He could never give her the life she so desired.

  Okay, what the fuck? It’s not like she’s even asked for anything from you, other than the truth, so why in the world would you even think like that?

  Yep. There, once again, went those strange feelings. He needed to think straight. Not like that happened anytime he was in close range of this tantalizing woman.

  He’d never connected with anyone the way he had with Avery.

  “I’ll be honest, I’m mad as hell,” Avery replied, grazing those eyes over his face one more. “I’ve had too many strangers come in here lately and it’s scary, cool and possibly heartbreaking at the same time. I trusted you Lucas, and you let me down, but you owe me nothing, really. We did the things we did last night knowing that. It’s not like there’s a long term for us, so we’ll just call it crazy feelings and move on. What’s keeping you here anymore?”

  Her words stung. They shouldn’t sting. They shouldn’t make his heart sink. That would mean he had hope in the first place, which he didn’t realize he had.

  What was keeping him here? He’d said he was done. He could go.

  But those words about keeping her safe echoed in the back of his mind, and something told him this is where he should be.

  “You, Avery.” Lucas lifted her hand to his lips, just like the first night they met. When they grazed her skin, he flicked his gaze to read her expression. No struggle, no moving her hand away from him, she just watched him with her mouth slightly open, like she had something to say. “I can’t seem to stay away from you.”

  *****

  Lucas said all the right things. Avery didn’t trust herself around him. Hell, right now, she didn’t trust him. Did that stop her from longing for his comfort? She wanted to feel those strong arms around her again like she had all last night, before things got sticky complicated. Before the encounters with Paula, and the hurtful things she said.

  Avery needed to gain control over her thoughts. Find some perspective.

  When it came to Lucas, control flew out the window, and perspective, well, there wasn’t much of that either. Not the way it should be. Turn around and run. Don’t let him into her mind. That’s what should happen.

  Avery didn’t move, didn’t say a word. Lucas had her hand to his lips and all she could do was melt. Melt the ice around her confused heart. As she watched that sexy face, those dark, secretive eyes. The way they bored into her soul last night. The way that he looked when he’d given her pleasure and had been pleasured himself. The way that he took care of her, talked to her. He’d held her all night, touching her gently, keeping her close. And then reality happened. Lucas probably had so many secrets and things he hadn’t told her. Why should he? What would ever become of the two of them? She was just a person he had to watch? Protect? What? And at the same time, Avery wasn’t sure what would happen if Lucas wasn’t around. He had a helpful and kind way about him. He seemed to be there lately when life spiraled into one weird situation after another. Lu
cas Bennett was a damn contradiction.

  He drove her crazy. Some of it good. Some of it, not so much.

  Confusing! Ugh!

  She’d known the man for just a little while, and somehow he managed to send her emotions into overdrive. Everywhere she turned, every time she moved, Lucas was right there.

  Avery couldn’t keep him out of her head. No matter how hard she tried.

  And yes, damn it, she had tried!

  Maybe not very hard, but hard enough.

  “Lucas...” Avery jumped when a lightning bolt cracked through the sky, followed by a long rumble of thunder.

  Lucas laughed. The sound of his laughter made Avery smile and then laugh herself.

  “I don’t know what to say to you Lucas. I don’t know what to do around you.”

  “You could let me hold you, for starters.” The corners of his lips curved up in a grin.

  Damn him again. That sexy smile, his easy responses. If she caved in, what next? Lucas was a drifter. Why get attached? Why keep allowing herself to want him, to need to be held, touched by him when she would only get hurt in the end?

  When he looked at her the way he did right now though, how could she refuse?

  “If I let you hold me, I-” I lose control. I want you all over again. I abandon all of my senses and have so many dangerous thoughts when it comes to you.

  “Talk to me, Avery.” Lucas prodded gently, pulling her to him. Avery gave in, resting her head against his chest. His arms closed around her, providing a cocoon. How is it she felt so good right then, when just before she couldn’t decide how she felt? He ran his hand up and down her back in soft, tender motions. Avery shuddered, and a snake of chills traveled down her spine.

  “Avery, what you said awhile ago. You’re right. Why should you trust me? I’m a jerk, okay? I admit that. But you make me want to make everything right. Before you, if I lost someone’s trust, I wouldn’t care. People lose my trust all the time, and I’ve leaned not to trust in return. So I can’t expect you to. But you’re different. I care way too much what you think, what you feel.”