Was it possible she’d told them about what was going on between her and Richard? The odd thing was, they hadn’t even discussed it with each other. When something phenomenal starts to unfold before your very eyes, you don’t pause to speak up or interrupt the glory of it; you simply take it in and enjoy the splendor.
That’s what this was—a true and utter phenomenon. They couldn’t talk about the unfathomable desire they felt in each other’s presence. There was no explaining the crazy strong urge that consumed him—he needed to be close to her. And once they were close—even closer. He couldn’t get enough. She was magnetic and all consuming. She was everything.
Oh, boy.Richard was in deep.
“Wow, I can’t believe how much you guys got done while we were gone,” Ava said as she stepped into the room.
“It was all me,” Memphis said with a chest puff. His phone rang out in a hard rock song. “Crap, that’s Maverick. Gotta take this.” He pointed a thumb toward the doorway and then dashed out. Lucy followed him, her tail wagging about.
“Tell him hi for me,” Ava called over her shoulder.
And then they were alone. Sure, the door was wide open and the rest of the group was nearby, but Richard’s insides didn’t seem to notice. At once, that familiar longing flared hot within him.
“Did you see your closet?” he asked, pointing toward the hidden space in the far corner.
Ava held his gaze for a hot second before rushing over to it, shopping bags gripped in each fist. She backed herself into the closet, and Richard followed her inside. “Hi,” he said, brushing the back of his hand along her face.
A layer of pink spread over her cheeks. “Hi.”
“Have I told you that you look beautiful today?”
She bit her lip. “Maybe.”
“You do.”
“So do you.” She held his gaze, that look of longing and desire heavy in her gorgeous eyes.
“Would you like me to throw your bedding into the wash with Andie’s?” came Betty’s voice.
In a frantic rush, Richard dropped to his knees and faced the dresser he’d just put together. “Hope this thing isn’t going to wobble,” he said under his breath while testing it out with a little weight.
Ava was facing the closet rod and pulling a shirt out of one of the shopping bags. “What was that, Betty?” She secured a hanger and poked one corner through the neck of the blouse.
“Your bedding, darlin’,” Betty said. “The sheets in particular. If you’d like, I can toss yours into the wash with Andie’s and get them smelling Downy fresh in no time.”
“That would be great,” Ava said. “Why don’t I come with you so I can get acquainted with your washing machine.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Richard glanced over his shoulder to see Ava follow Betty toward the hall with one of the shopping bags in her hand. Yet just before she cleared the doorway, she spun and shot a longing look in his direction. He’d expected it to be playful, like the ones she usually gave him. Or perhaps a playfully shocked expression that might saythat was a close one.But as she spun back around and headed down the hall, Richard mused that the expression almost looked…sad. Regretful. It’d only been going on for a week, but already the game of hiding what they felt was getting old.
He groaned inwardly. Did he hear himself? A week? In the real world a week with someone was meager beginnings. It meant a date or two, if you were lucky. But that’s just it. This wasn’t anything like the real world. Richard had been spending nearly every waking moment with Ava since they drove into town last week. If they weren’t working on taxes they were watching a movie at her place afterward. Or hanging out at a family BBQ or the Homestead’s bonfire party. Plus, it wasn’t as if he’d only known her that long.
His mind drifted back to Betty’s easy manner upon stepping into the room. It was possible she’d witnessed them scrambling at the sound of her voice. If she had, she was good at hiding it. Or, he mused, Ava had confided in the women while they were out.
This time the idea wasn’t accompanied by a landslide of fear. It had the opposite effect. His shoulders lifted. His chest swelled. How wonderful would it be if the others knew they were interested in one another? He pictured openly flirting with her while she piled food onto her plate at a family picnic. Or calling her something besides Ava, likebabeorlove.
His heart knocked against his chest as the longing for that life swelled.
Stop it,he grumbled inwardly. It wouldn’t look good for them to be cuddling up to each other while Maverick was stuck lying in recovery. Dumb Maverick. Not that he had any claim on her to begin with. And so came the cycle of guilt once more. A nagging ache in his chest. He needed to go to the twin’s cabin, walk up to Maverick’s bedside, and tell him that his suspicion was spot on. Richard had liked Ava from the start. And guess what? She liked him back. And if all went well, one day he’d be asking for her father’s blessing, just like Trenton had done today.
Except that that wouldn’t be possible. Not only was Ava disconnected from her former life, she hadn’t been close to her father in years, from what she’d said. It was the one aspect that caused flickers of doubt when Ava came to mind. Or hesitation might be a better word. With as open as she’d been with him, sharing her likes and dislikes, her passions and interests, Ava was guarding a big portion of her life from him. And the thing was, she didn’thaveto do that. Sure, the program had trained them to do that very thing to a degree, because most people wouldn’t know who you really were or where you’re from.
But this was different, and Richard couldn’t help but think she was hiding something significant from him.
He brushed off the worried thought and hoisted the scrap-filled box off the floor. Now where would they have their movie nights? He could kick himself for moving in with Emmitt. Sure, the need for vacancies nearly demanded it, but just what were they supposed to—
And then it came back to him. The idea he’d had and wanted to pursue. He’d nearly forgotten all about it. Betty said that once her dream cottage was built, they could purchase the home and do with it what they liked. What Richard would like to do, and he was certain the others would see a need for it, was to build a place for the staff. A massive lodge where they could board as part of the deal. Employees wouldn’t have to live nearby or travel in and out of town each day.
Then, on the remaining property she was looking to sell, they could build a few more cabins for the close family to dwell.
His chest swelled as he let that thought grow in his mind. Each sibling was to make a contribution to the Homestead Inn as they saw fit. This one would be just right. They’d finally each have some space of their own with room to grow.
Now, just where could he and Ava go until then?
