When Ava appears by my side, I have no willpower. I hug her like I don’t want to ever let her go, which is why I followed her into the house. Kissing her was the only option, and her body relaxed in my arms, while my breathing was heavy, thick with need.
When I leave her in the kitchen, I walk straight to the buffet table, pick up a plate, and move down the buffet. All this food looks delicious, and my mouth is watering as the aroma wafts to my nose.
Logan comes up behind me and squeezes my shoulder. He says, “Hey, thanks for coming out. I’m sure you’d rather be working on the office space today. We appreciate you being here.”
I pile up the food on my plate as Logan and I talk. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No, but now that I’m smelling all this.” He gestures to the food. “I think I will.”
We finish moving along the buffet and decide to take seats under the tent. Shooting the shit with him over barbecue brisket is a great way to spend the afternoon. I love my brother, Blake, but it’s great to have another friend in my corner. Logan’s like my brother now, and Dane—well, he’s like the brother you didn’t know you needed.
Logan clears his throat and leans back in his chair. “Have you talked to her?’
I swallow and take a sip of my water, stalling. “Ah…yes.”
With a brow raised, he stares me down. “It’s been a couple of months. So…”
“We had a few minutes to chat, but then she went to find Theresa.” The smile I can’t keep hidden anymore lights up my face with the taste of her still on my lips, a mix of lip gloss and barbecue.
He chuckles and leans in. “I know that smile.”
Heat rises up my neck. Admitting it out loud definitely won't happen. He’ll razz me the rest of the day,hell,the rest of the summer. Nah, I’m good. “You’re imagining it.”
“Oh, we’re going with denial. Okay. Okay, man.” He shakes his head and chuckles some more. I notice he is staring slightly over my shoulder, and that smirk of his is plastered all over his face. Not sure what he’s smiling about, I slowly turn my head, and there she is…feet away from me.
“Hey, Kai.” I watch her walk to the table, pull out the chair next to me, and sit down. Apparently, my words are stuck in my throat as I’m trying to say hi back to her, but with Logan here, I stumble.
“Logan, the food is perfection,” she says, tapping her belly.
“Did you find your sister?” I ask her and take another bite, my eyes stuck on her.
Her head turns slightly with her hand on her face, gazing at me. “I did. She’ll be out soon, just really tired.”
“She’s crazy to have a party this big so close to her due date.” Logan pipes in and shovels a few bites into his mouth. “The food is better than the last time I had it.”
“Do you have any plans later?” she asks, playing with the fabric of her dress, and her eyes glance to the swing set and back to me.
When her eyes meet mine again, I say, “My usual nighttime routine.”
Logan coughs—a fake one. He’s not a good actor. “I’m going to check on your sister. I’ll leave you two to it.” He stands up, walks around the table, and waves as he strolls by.
Ava says over her shoulder, “She’s on the couch.”
“One day soon, I’ll be back to enjoy that hot tub. But how’s the office coming along? Last, you told me it was in the works.” She leans forward.
The last time she was in my hot tub, it was like a hurricane came ripping through my life. The way she lights up the space she’s in. Her energy spreads to the people around her. When she’s near me, my chestexpands with warmth, and all I want is to be near her with my arms wrapping her up.
Rubbing my chin with my finger and thumb, I lean into her. “It’s going. I’ll be heading back to the office after this,” I say in a hushed tone, glancing around. I don’t want to offend Theresa.
“Always keeping busy.” Her eyes are bright, leaning her face on her hand.
She melted in my arms and on my lips not that long ago. With the baby around the corner, I wonder if she’ll consider staying longer to help Theresa and Logan with the kids. I’m being a little selfish to think she would want to stay for me,but would she?Would she consider changing her entire life to be here in Saxville?
I shake my head. “Sure am…”
She reaches over and places her hand on my forearm, and I stare at her hand. I watch her thumb move back and forth, sparks flickering on my skin. “Are you okay?” she asks.
I’m trying like hell to avoid thinking, only having these small pieces of her when all I want is all of her here with me. I shove all this down; I don’t want reality to ruin today or the time we have together.
