Well, fudge. That wasn’t what he’d expected at all. And she was right to caution him not to get mad, because it did piss him off. “What the hell? I told you I’m not father material. Gracie is a sweet little one, but that’s it. You and me? We don’t truly have anything to do with her.”
She took a step closer to him. The scent of her floral perfume teased him and he turned his face away. He didn’t want to like her or be turned on by her right now. She’d ticked him off bringing this up.
“But we do. I think you avoid caring about people and keep everyone at arm’s length. I’d want more than that if I got involved with you.”
He got his back up. Putting his hands on his hips, he glared at her, but she just raised her eyebrows at him. “I’m not even sure we’ll like kissing each other. This is a bit much, don’t you think?”
She came closer to him, not stopping until there was barely an inch of space between them. Then she reached up and cupped his jaw. “No. I really like you, Chay. There is a spark between us. I think about you when you’re not around. I miss you. So if I kiss you, I know myself well enough to realize I’m going to want more. I’m not sure you can deliver.”
Well, hell.
That rocked him back on his ass. He could barely think with her hand on his face, her breath teasing his neck and her gazing into his eyes. God damn, she was so sincere as she looked up at him. He’d have to be a stronger man than he was to resist her.
“I’m good with you and me. I can give you what you want. I’m not going to agree to anything with Gracie to get you.”
“I’m not asking that,” she said. “I’m just trying to figure out if you are cautious or completely closed off. That’s my dilemma.”
He took a deep breath. She wasn’t the first woman to ask him that. Usually it was after a few dates and they’d slept together. But Ava was cautious. He didn’t know why…maybe he should be asking a few questions.
But who wanted to delve into baggage when there were sparks between them? “I’m cautious.”
She nodded and then went up on her tiptoes. Her hand on his face slid to his shoulder to balance herself as she brushed her lips against his. He almost groaned at how good she tasted as he put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him. Opening his mouth, her tongue tangled with his and he knew that this woman was going to change him.
The way she talked and tasted. The way she felt in his arms, setting fire to his blood. The way her honesty made him want to be a different man than he’d been before.
Chay. He was stirring her in a way no one had in a very long time. That feminine part of herself she’d thought had died with Greg. Shoving that thought away, she concentrated on his kiss. It was bold and strong, like the man himself, but tempered, also like him.
He let her set the pace, which suited her. He tasted of coffee and man. He smelled of the outdoors and the smoke from the fire he had going in the fireplace. His hands on her hips were strong, but he made no move to pull her closer. Just kissing her and exploring this spark between them.
She’d overtalked it, so in a way she felt very lucky that he’d still kissed her. But that was the way she was. No two ways about it. She overthought everything and needed to sort stuff out in her head before she acted.
His tongue rubbed over hers, and a shiver raced down her spine, making her lean forward slightly until her breasts were nestled against his chest. He groaned, lifting her off her feet. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, deepening the kiss.
The doorbell rang, startling her. Chay lifted his head, his skin flushed and his expression tense as he set her on her feet, turning away. He took a moment, breathing deeply before he walked to the door. She hurried back to the sofa where she’d been sitting to check on Gracie.
The baby was sleeping, and Ava got her blanket from the diaper bag and covered her with it. A cold draft seeped into the room as Chay opened the door.
“Grandmother.”
“Grandson. Didn’t realize you had company,” she said as she kissed his cheek and then walked into the house.
His grandmother was shorter than Chay and had gray hair that she wore in two braids. Her smile was friendly as she noticed Ava and she nodded at her.
Ava waved back and then felt totally lame. “Hi there.”
“Hello. I’m Aponi Benally. But you can call me Grandmother.”
“I’m Ava Colton,” she said, going over to shake the older woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Ava…you’re the one fostering the baby?”
So Chay must have told her about Gracie. “I am. She’s sleeping over there, if you want to see her.”
“I definitely do,” Grandmother said. “Chay, take this to the kitchen.”
She handed Chay a Tupperware not unlike the one he’d brought to her house. “Are those more blue corn cookies?”
“Yes, and some winterberry muffins,” Grandmother said.
