“Hello, people,” Marshal said, stepping into the room.“It is another glorious day, and I have checked the weather forecast, and it is going to be a scorcher.”He let out a little blow of wind.“I already feel how hot it is.So, I was thinking we could have a little barbeque later and a campout at the pool.What do you say?”
Ava looked toward Knox.She didn’t know what he was going to say.
“I’m enjoying my breakfast.”
“I know.Ava makes some mean pancakes, doesn’t she?Are you going to eat those?”Marshal asked, stepping closer.
He reached for one of the pancakes, and Knox hit him with the flat of the butter knife.“They’re not your pancakes.They’re mine.”
“Wow, you and Ava sound exactly alike.Only she hit me with her pancake flipper thing, and then glared at me because she had to wash it.”Marshal sighed.“Anyway, I figured us three best friends could hang out with each other.I know you probably won’t be staying long, but we can dream, can’t we?”
Marshal was lonely.Ava got that.He surrounded himself with people who didn’t know a thing about him.It was sad.
He had inherited money, but he had also been good at investing, and he’d made a fortune.Ava knew Marshal also worked, it was one of the few things he was competent at, but he never needed to go into the office.She’d seen him walking around his office, or his dining room, or even his pool, with a little headset at his ear, as he gave orders.He was an expert in getting what he wanted on a business front.Privately, the man was a mess, and all she wanted to do was take care of him.
“How about we join you at the pool?”Knox asked.
“A pool party.I will get the sangria going.”
“No alcohol,” Knox said.
“No alcohol, not even a smidge?”Marshal asked.
“Not even a drop.”
He scrunched up his face, and Ava tried not to laugh.She tried not to, but it was so cute.
“Fine, fine, iced, nonalcoholic drinks it is.I’ll see you guys down there.”
Marshal left them alone.
“I think we’re going to have to hold off on the sex until after we’ve spent a little time with Marshal,” Ava said.
“We will.”Knox moved his tray of food out of the way, and then reached over, grabbing her by the neck and pulling her in close.Within seconds his lips were on hers, and she lost all thought.Not that there were any relevant thoughts to have.
The feel of him was everything—the way he held her, pulling her in, she felt her body respond, and there was no way she could stop.
“Tonight, you will be mine,” he said.
It sounded like a promise, and it was one she hoped he would keep.
****
“Iam sorry about mywife being a pain in the ass,” Marshal said.
“Ex-wife.”
“Shit, yeah, ex-wife.I’m going to have to get used to that.”He let out a laugh.“You would think seeing as she tried to kill me, it would be easy for me to rectify.”Another laugh came out of him.
Ava had gone into the house to prepare them some lunch.They had spent most of the morning hanging out at the pool.Ava had done some swimming, and Knox had done everything he could to control himself and not dive straight in after her, although that was exactly what he wanted to do.
He didn’t want to swim with her.No, he wanted to remove that swimsuit, wrap her legs around his waist, and take her right there, thrusting balls-deep inside her.
Instead, he’d stayed enjoying the rays of the sunlight, waiting for his guy to get back in touch.He was not a man known for sitting in the sun and relaxing.Not when there was a threat close to home and he needed to remove it.
Ava was too much of a call.
“She’s in love with you,” Marshal said.
