He almost smiled.
“Well then, we will leave as soon as you finish your coffee. I think you’ll like meeting my grandmother,” he said.
“Why?”
“She’s sassy like you. Also likes to boss everyone around. I’m interested to see what she makes of you.”
Ava wasn’t sure how to take that at first but decided it must be a compliment. They chatted about the weather. It had been a pretty erratic winter so far. But mostly she found herself watching Chay as he watched Gracie…and being aware of his eyes on her when she turned to gaze at the baby…
Chapter 6
He’d never had a woman at the cabin other than his grandmother. He was a solitary man and liked his peace, but there was something about Ava and Gracie that felt right. Something he was adamant he wasn’t going to delve too deeply into.
Ava had something on her mind. It wasn’t what she was saying, it was just that he’d started pick up on her little tells. Like the way she looked intensely at him and then just sort of glanced away without mentioning a thing. What was that about?
He wanted to talk to her as well…well, ask her out. See if she’d be open to exploring that moment when they’d almost kissed. He was particular about the women he slept with. Guess it all came down to him not being a casual person. His mom…she had been too casual. Making connections with everyone, expecting it to last, and then when it hadn’t, crashing hard and losing herself in drugs. The truth was he was careful. He didn’t need a therapist like Ava to explain his behavior to him.
He finished his coffee, aware that these two women were stirring feelings he wasn’t ready to unpack. It was time to show her around the Navajo Nation here in Dark Canyon and then send her on her way.
Except he’d just been toying with asking her for a date. Those dual desires warred inside of him. He wanted to be safe. Wanted to protect himself from being hurt. Wanted to stay ignorant as to whether he was just like his mom or not.
Ava gave him a sweet smile as she got to her feet and took her mug into the kitchen. She moved with a fluid grace that he’d have to be dead not to notice. All long limbs and swinging hair.
Turning, she caught him watching her and tipped her head to the side, studying him again. But it was different this time. More female speculation. Interest and curiosity.
The same as his?
Was she wondering what he tasted like? If he had coffee breath at this moment? He was willing to risk it to find out whatshetasted like. She’d probably be willing to risk it as well.
“Chay…”
“Ava…” he teased back.
“You’re watching me.”
“I am. You’re watching me back.”
“I definitely am…”
She trailed off. There was abutor anexceptimplicit at the end of that phrase. “What’s stopping you?”
“You.”
“Me? Ava, I’m not saying no.” He held his arms out to his side. Glancing back at Gracie to make sure the baby was safe, he noticed her eyes were closed and she was sleeping with the giraffe in her hands.
“It’s not that.”
“Then what?” He took a step closer to her.
She chewed her lower lip and then shook her head. “Promise you won’t get mad.”
That didn’t sound very promising. He put his arms down, crossing them over his chest. “I’ll have to hear it first.”
“Oh…it’s not…I was just going to say that I like you and I wouldn’t mind kissing you, but I’m not sure what you have in mind.”
“Well, let’s kiss and see where it goes,” he said. “Not sure why I’d be mad at that.”
Her mouth quirked in a half grin. “That’s not the thing…before we start anything I have to tell you that I really think you should be Gracie’s adopted father.”
