“Right,” he blurted, looking caught suddenly. “Back to my idea. We grab my laptop, break out the candy, and have ourselves a little movie time right here and now.”
The dance was happening again, like ring-around-the-rosies encircling her heart. “I love that idea.”
But then she pictured Richard and all the stretching he’d done in the last few hours. And the stretching he’d have to do tomorrow after more hours of discomfort.
“Good.” Richard pushed the table away. “I’ll get my laptop.”
“Wait,” she said. “We’re going to be stuck in here all day tomorrow. And if my magnificent idea has any chance of offering you the slightest relief, you need to refresh and sit someplace comfortable for the rest of the night.”
“Oh.” He nodded, and she could see the disappointment on his face. “I guess you’re right.”
“All I’m saying is that we should watch it in my room. It’s got a big old couch in front of the TV. We can really lounge out and get cozy.” An image of curling into his strong arms came to mind. She gulped as her face turned hot. What if he felt the invitation was inappropriate somehow?
“I’d say…” He dragged out the word, seeming to consider before letting the final words slip out. “That sounds good.” The tenor of his voice had tightened and brought up his pitch half an octave.
“Yeah?” she asked, testing him since he didn’t sound so sure.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, of course. I’ll grab a few food items from the kitchen too since we sort of missed dinner, it looks like.” He glanced at his watch. “What room number are you in? I’ll meet you there in, say, twenty minutes?”
“Perfect.”
She was quick to gather the divided stacks and place them into the big folder they’d come from. Richard piled their treats into the paper grocery sack and gave her a nod as they parted ways.
“Oh,” he blurted out in a whisper once they reached the foyer. He looked to either side of him before speaking up once more. “What number are you in?”
“Oh, sorry. Number two-oh-seven.”
He grinned. “You got one with seven, did you?”
“Guess I’m lucky,” she said with a shrug.
“Guess so.”
That word stuck with Ava as she hurried upstairs to tidy up her place. She’d declined the offered room service beyond changing out the trash and kitchenette supplies so as not to take away from the guests or cause extra work. She was fortunate enough to have the place to stay until she found a permanent residence.
Lucky. Ava really had been fortunate to land where she had. But if luck wasreallyon her side, she might cozy up to Richard a little tonight. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be kissed by a man like him. Richard wasn’t like other men she’d fallen for. Sure, he was educated, and successful in his own right, according to the twins, with his keen eye for investment properties. Plus, he didn’t have a womanizing bone in his body.
She couldn’t say the same about his brother, Emmitt. He’d been kind enough, all right, the few times she’d encountered him. In fact, even as she’d taken the candy to Maverick’s cabin earlier, Emmitt had been there, sitting back in a nearby chair strumming a guitar. He was sweet to keep his younger brother company, and it was plain to see his intentions were good. But the guy knew how to flirt in the sneakiest of ways, right in front of Maverick no less.
Emmitt had started strumming a new tune as she prepared to leave and, just as she approached him, he locked eyes with her and sang out a line. “…brown-eyed girl…”
He’d given her a grin that would cause most hearts to stop beating for at least three seconds. The man was handsome and charming and he knew it. Of course, Maverick was more obvious in his flirting, asking her to come give him a kiss for good healing. He tapped his cheek to indicate where she could do so, but she had planted one on his hand instead.
Ava felt safe to assume that their charm worked on most women out there, but she was immune; it reminded her too much of Wren. Confident, assumptive, and bold. In her ex-boyfriend’s case, she’d add brazen to that list. It was a miracle he hadn’t been sued by several establishments for smacking waitresses on the rear end, or for making chauvinistic comments at work since he considered himself to be beyond reproach.
She stopped herself then and shivered.You’re free, Ava. He’s out of your life, and you’re safe.
And that was the unique thing about Richard. She felt very safe with him. It was plain to see, even in the twins’ dismissive descriptions of their oldest brother, that he took on the burden of the family’s father. He was responsible, dependable, and concerned for their welfare and safety. Even hers.
There went that warmth in her chest once more. She liked the way he’d been protective of her while they were in town. And she’dlovedthe way he’d unwound and had a nice time with her at the Pub and Grill. They were compatible, and Ava couldn’t deny the urge she had to explore the possibilities. Once she had the kitchenette tidied up, Ava grabbed her cardigan off the armchair of the couch and hurried into the bathroom to freshen up. A quick glance at the alarm clock by her bed said she had less than ten minutes left.
A fresh streak of adrenaline zipped through her at the thought—Richard was coming over. They’d be watching a show together and enjoying their favorite treats. It was like a date.
She tested the word as a vision of Wren flashed to her mind.No,there was no guilt there, if that was her inner concern. She’d had a full month to work through her mixed feelings for the man she’d left behind. The man who might have ended her life had she not escaped him. Wren was a thing of the past, and now, someone else could be part of her future. She was not only free to live a life away from his control and abuse, but she was free to date whomever she chose.
Her shoulders lifted at the truth of it. The corners of her lips did too. She felt glad to have sorted through such thoughts before Richard got there; she’d had this nagging idea that there was something threatening to keep her from getting close to Richard. Some sort of roadblock that she couldn’t get past, but perhaps that wasn’t the case.
Maverick,a voice sounded in her head.
