by A. C. Arthur
Mature trees ushered her along the road, standing thick and tall on both sides. The sky was a perfect blue, accompanied by the fluffiest white clouds and shimmers of golden sunlight. She’d cut off the air-conditioning and rolled down the front windows, inhaling deeply the warm, fresh air. In the rearview mirror, looking as if they were somehow following her, were the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ava figured they were just as majestic and beautiful up close as they were from this distance.
She wished this excursion would allow time for a hiking trip along some of the famous trails she’d read about during her research of the town. But she was on a tight schedule. Jenner wanted a thirteen-episode outline by Halloween—six weeks from now—and final consent contracts signed by each of the Taylor sextuplets no later than Thanksgiving. This would keep them on schedule for shooting to begin in January. Ava tightened her grip on the steering wheel and focused her mind once more on the plan she’d come up with.
Grayson Taylor was the CEO of Taylor Electronics and had recently returned to Temptation, found a wife with twins and renovated the old Victorian house where the original Taylor family had lived thirty years ago. Just three weeks ago, Grayson and his wife, Morgan, had welcomed a second set of twins, giving them a total of four children. Ava couldn’t imagine taking care of anyone but herself—four kids would definitely be out of her league. Grayson and his family would be the key to getting all the siblings on board. She’d concluded that because, as the oldest, he also seemed to be the spokesperson for the Taylor sextuplets.
She made a right turn that landed her on a dirt road and was just about to check her GPS when her phone rang. It was on the console, connected to the charger, and she pressed the button to answer without looking at the screen. She was more concerned with whether or not she’d taken a wrong turn.
“You said you were going to call me back. You didn’t. I despise lies, Ava. You know that.”
Ava rolled her eyes and silently chastised herself for not checking her caller ID before answering.
“Hi, Mom. I’m in the car,” Ava replied because she knew her mother hated her talking on the phone while driving—even if Ava used a Bluetooth.
“Then why are you answering the phone?” Eleanor immediately asked.
Ava smiled.
“I didn’t want to ignore your call. Listen, I should be at the bed-and-breakfast in about twenty minutes. I’ll give you a call as soon as I get settled in.”
“Bed-and-breakfast? Where are you? And who stays in a bed-and-breakfast when there are perfectly acceptable hotels throughout the world?”
Not Eleanor Cannon, that was for sure. Her mother would only stay in the best hotels, drive the fanciest cars, pay a small fortune for the most stylish clothes, and buy whatever else her inherited fortune would allow. Everything her mother did was done with style and grace, while Ava had adopted a more frugal lifestyle that drove Eleanor insane.
“I’m on a research assignment. I’ll give you a call with more details once I’m settled.”
Her mother would want the name of the bed-and-breakfast and a landline number to reach Ava in case cell service suddenly went down worldwide. Being an only child hadn’t been easy for Ava. In the past six years since Ava’s father’s unexpected death Eleanor had become even more overbearing.
“That will be fine. I’ll wait for your call. Drive safely,” Eleanor said before disconnecting.
Ava took that to mean she’d better call her mother back, or Eleanor might send out the cavalry to look for her.
Tossing the headset onto the seat, Ava returned her attention to the GPS. The directions took her down a long cobblestoned street. Hearty mums stuffed in big black pots circled each lamppost. Cute little storefronts had twinkle lights or harvest baskets, pumpkins and gourds decorating their slice of the sidewalk. People moved about, walking slowly and staring at the decorations or what the store had advertised in their front windows, Ava couldn’t tell which. What she saw on their faces, however, was, without a doubt, contentment.
She drove the remaining ten minutes until making the final turn to her destination. The Sunnydale Bed-and-Breakfast was a stately white colonial house with black shutters, nestled in the center of a cul-de-sac and surrounded by a number of beautifully mature trees. It looked like something straight out of Leave It to Beaver or one of those other old black-and-white family shows. Ava favored nostalgic television over today’s modern reality. But while recognizing the need to grow and accept change, she still tried to bring a sense of those old-time family values and simplicity into her writing. A fact, she hated to admit, that would come in handy for this project.
She parked the car and reached over to grab her phone and purse before stepping out. She traveled light, with only one huge duffel bag and her laptop, which she retrieved from the back seat before locking the car and heading up the brick walkway toward the house.
The bed-and-breakfast looked exactly as it had in the brochure, including the chubby shrubs lined up along the perimeter with picture-perfect precision. Ava smiled at the pair of stone bulldog statues guarding the premises as she stepped up onto the porch. Opening the door, she walked inside and was further warmed by the historic charm that continued. Scuffed wood-planked floors, and emerald-green-and-white textured wallpaper stretched throughout the front foyer and along the wall next to a winding glossy cherrywood railing.
She liked it here. Liked the ambience and was glad she’d selected this brochure from the three Saraya, her assistant, had given her. The research trip had been quickly planned once she’d decided to go through with the project. And once that decision was made, Ava had known exactly how she wanted to approach it—straight through the heart.
The Taylors had loved this town and the people who lived here. If Ava were going to write this show, she had to get to know the people here. What they liked, how they lived, what they feared, all of it. Then she’d tackle the Taylor sextuplets.
“Well, hello, ma’am. Welcome to Sunnydale,” an older gentleman said.
He stood behind the front desk—a continuation of the cherrywood, with a black marble top. There was a large fresh flower arrangement toward the end of the desk, closest to the wall, along with a shiny gold bell and a placard on the other end that explained all the forms of payment accepted.
“Hello,” Ava replied. “I have a reservation. My name is Ava Cannon.”
The man never even looked at the computer sitting on the part of the desk that faced a bay window. Instead he stood and came around until he was directly in front of her. He extended his hand and gave a toothy grin.
“I’m Otis,” he said. “Welcome to Sunnydale and to Temptation.”
“Ah, thank you,” Ava said and shook his hand.
He was still holding her hand seconds later when a younger man entered the lobby area.
“The paint’s still wet, but the job’s done, Mr. Otis. I have to head back out to Harper’s place, but just let Nana Lou know we’ll be sending her an invoice in the mail,” the second man said.
There was a big contrast between the two men, and Ava, always one to pay attention to the details, picked up on it immediately. The first man, the older one who had just been called Mr. Otis, wore dark gray pants that were baggy on his slim frame. Black suspenders helped to keep the pants from falling down, and his short-sleeved light blue dress shirt was wrinkled, with a floral trimmed handkerchief in his breast pocket. His skin was a very weathered almond complexion, and his hair—what was left of it—was short, gray and curled close to his scalp.
The second man was much younger, probably in his early to mid-twenties. He was at least six feet tall with a short bush of brown hair, and he wore faded jeans and a plaid shirt with drops of paint all over it.
“Pardon me,” the younger guy said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your check-in.”
They would know instantly that she wasn’t from Temptation,
and it had nothing to do with the cream-colored pantsuit she was wearing. Ava had left the jacket to the suit on the back seat of the rental car so that her arms were bare in the peach tank top she wore. Her shoes were comfortable leather flats, and the flashiest piece of jewelry she wore was the diamond tennis bracelet her father had given her as an eighteenth birthday present.
No, they knew she wasn’t from here because they knew everybody in this town. She could see it by the way they were assessing her.
“Hi. I’m Ava Cannon,” she said and was finally able to ease her hand away from Mr. Otis’s grip. She extended it to the young man, who smiled as he shook it.
“I’m Craig Presley,” he said. “Welcome to Temptation.”
“Thank you,” Ava said. Both of them were actually very welcoming and genuine.
“No thanks necessary. In fact, since you’re new to town, I would like to personally offer my services to show you around,” he said.
Craig Presley had a nice smile and warm, happy eyes. He was cute and friendly, but he wasn’t her type. Nor was hooking up with a guy in this town on her agenda.
“Presley? Are you any relation to a Harper Presley?”
“Yes,” Craig replied. “Harper’s my cousin. Are you looking to have a house renovated or built? Presley Construction can definitely take care of that for you. We’re the best in town. Here, let me get you a card.”
He was digging into his back pocket now, pulling out his wallet as he hunted for a card.
Mr. Otis scratched the side of his head. “If you’re thinking about planting roots here in Temptation, you should talk to Fred Randall about purchasing some land or a house. Then you get in contact with Harper. She’s a wisp of a pretty gal, and she’s mighty talented, too,” Mr. Otis stated.
“I’m just visiting,” Ava said and then thought quickly of something else. “But I like what I’ve seen of this town so far.” She shrugged. “Would be nice to maybe have a vacation home here.”
Craig handed her a card. “Then Presley Construction is definitely here to work with you. Phone numbers, email and address are on the card. Harper does all the intake for new clients. I can introduce you to her. I just need to make a quick trip back to the warehouse and clean up a bit. Then I would love to take you to dinner to tell you more about Temptation.”
Ava looked down at the card and nodded. Harper may be the head of Presley Construction, but she was also the fiancée of Garrek Taylor, the navy pilot. How lucky was she to have made this connection to the Taylor family so quickly?
“Or she can just take a little walk down Sycamore Lane. Three blocks past the traffic light and to the left—you’ll probably bump right into Harper at Gray Taylor’s house. They’re having a barbecue tonight.”
And the luck just continued to flow, Ava thought with a smile.
“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to intrude on a family gathering. I can just call tomorrow to schedule an appointment.”
“Nonsense,” Mr. Otis said. “Nana Lou baked some cookies for Jack and Lily. I told her I’d run them over there, but you can deliver them in my place. Gives you the perfect opportunity to meet up with Harper.”
It certainly did. Almost too perfect, but Ava decided she would take it. This wasn’t LA or New York; people here were just friendly, she reminded herself. Nobody was going to be suspicious if a stranger just showed up with a plate of cookies. At least she hoped not.
“Tell Harper I sent you to her,” Craig added. “I’ll take a rain check for dinner.”
Ava found herself liking Craig Presley because she could definitely relate to his tenacity.
“I sure will,” she said. “Thanks, Craig, and you, too, Mr. Otis.”
Craig headed out, leaving Ava and Otis alone.
“Like Craig said before, no thanks necessary, ma’am,” Otis replied with a shake of his head. “I’ll just run out to the kitchen to get those cookies for you. Then I’ll take your bags up to your room.”
“That would be great,” Ava told him. “Oh, wait, don’t you need to swipe my credit card, get my ID or have me sign something?”
Otis chuckled. “I can get all that when you come back. If you’re thinking of getting a place here, we definitely don’t want to put that off.”
No, Ava did not want to put off the beginning of her second phase of research. She smiled and thanked Otis once more. She hadn’t been in Temptation for more than an hour, and already she was on her way to getting this story done.
* * *
Gage had been in Temptation for two days and he was already dressed down in basketball shorts, a T-shirt and tennis shoes. Garrek’s fiancée, Harper, hit the volleyball with a force Gage wasn’t expecting, and he ran backward in order to save the shot. He tripped over something and fell back instead.
And then she was there.
“Hello, Dr. Taylor,” she said with that smile that never failed to take his breath away.
She stared down at him, dark hair framing her pretty face, a light pink gloss on her soft lips. And Gage thought he must be dreaming.
“Ava?”
He moved quickly, coming to stand in front of her.
“I think you were trying to catch this,” she said and gave a light kick to the ball he’d been after.
Gage put his foot on the ball to stop it from rolling, but did not take his eyes off her. She looked amazing, her long legs clad in cream-colored pants, the formfitting peach blouse and all that thick hair hanging past her shoulders. He’d forgotten how sexy she was.
“Yeah, thanks,” he said and then asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Delivering cookies,” she replied and held up a plate covered in foil.
“All the way from New York or LA or wherever you live?” he asked.
It may have seemed like an odd statement since this was the last woman he’d had sex with. In a perfect world, he would have known more about her besides her last name and professional occupation. But in Gage’s world, it was the norm. He didn’t need to know much about the women he slept with, because he never intended there to be anything beyond the physical. It was easier that way.
“I’m ah...on a kind of retreat,” she replied. “A writing retreat.”
He nodded, noting the plausibility of her response, but still wondering how, of all the places in the world, Ava Cannon would turn up in Temptation.
“And a cookie delivery service?”
She looked down at the plate and then up to him again.
“They’re from someone named Nana Lou. Mr. Otis at the B and B said she promised to make them for Jack and Lily.”
Gage frowned. “Who?”
He’d come to Temptation to be with his family and so hadn’t met many people living in the town.
“Nana Lou is like our grandmother, but not really. She bakes the best double chocolate chip cookies ever,” Lily said.
The precocious seven-year-old girl appeared, leaning against Gage’s leg.
“You’re hogging the ball, Uncle Gage,” she continued before bending down to take the ball he still had under his foot.
“You must be Lily,” Ava said, her attention shifting to the little girl Gage had been thoroughly enchanted by in the last couple of days.
He’d come back to Temptation to meet Gray’s new family and had been amazed at how much he adored the children. Sure, he delivered babies for a living, and he studied ways to help every woman wishing to have a baby fulfill her dream. But Gage didn’t think of becoming a father himself. Still, not even the smiling faces of youth, or the pure sweetness of babies, had been able to erase the thoughts of his one night with Ava. In fact, it had been all those things combined that kept Gage from thinking about his career situation.
“I am Lily, and this is my Uncle Gage. I have another uncle—his name’s Garrek—but he’s away flying planes right now.”
“Oh, t
hat sounds cool. These cookies smell amazing, Lily. Do you think I could try one?” Ava asked.
“Sure. Mommy won’t let me and Jack have more than one for dessert. But Jack doesn’t like to share, so you should take yours now.”
“Hey, guys, Morgan is calling us in for dinner,” Harper said as she joined them. “Oh. Hi,” she added to Ava.
“Hello,” Ava replied. “I’m Ava Cannon. I’m in town for a writing retreat and was told to deliver these cookies.”
“And she’s Uncle Gage’s friend,” Lily added.
Gage didn’t know what to say. Hence the reason he’d been standing there watching the exchange between his niece and his ex-boss-slash-one-night-stand.
“Hi, Ava. I’m Harper Presley.”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Harper. I met your cousin Craig when I was checking in to the B and B. He gave me your card.”
“Really?” Harper asked. “Do you have a house that needs to be renovated?”
“No,” Gage replied quickly. “She’s just here to write.”
Harper, with her sandy-brown hair pulled back from her face, arched a brow as she looked at him.
“You two know each other?” she asked.
Before Gage could answer, his legs almost buckled once more as a laughing seven-year-old ran into him.
“Come on, Uncle Gage, you’re gonna make us lose,” Jack said.
“You already lost. He fell, and the lady got the ball. That means the girls win. Right, Aunt Harper?” Lily asked.
“I’m calling interference,” Gage told Jack. “We’ll need a rematch.”
Lily pouted, and to Gage’s chagrin, Ava knelt down until she was face-to-face with his niece.
“Boys always try to cheat. I think he fell on purpose so he could ask for a rematch,” she said.
A mutinous Lily nodded her agreement. “I think so, too.”
