“All the more reason to use it,” Lucas replied, a rare grin on his face.
A door opened, and Ava's footsteps echoed down the wooden staircase. He'd sent her a text to wear comfortable shoes, but that was the only hint he gave her about their plans tonight.
“I'm in a good mood, so I'll let that slide,” Ava said as she came down the stairs. She walked past Lucas and came to stand in front of Owen at the table. “Ready?” she asked him. Her red-painted lips quirked in a smile.
Owen's fingers twitched with the urge to haul her closer. She’d dressed for the holiday, a red sundress with little straps and a blue gingham bandana tied around her hair, holding back her golden curls. She finished the look with the same white sneakers she'd worn last night.
She was a summer treat he couldn't wait to enjoy.
“Ready,” he said, settling for grabbing her hand and leading her to the door.
“Have fun,” Noah said with a wave.
“Keep the details of this date to yourself, Dodo,” Lucas said, walking them to the door and shutting it behind them as Owen tugged Ava outside.
Once out of view of her brothers, Owen turned around and pinned Ava to the side of the cabin. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss he hoped would smudge her lipstick. She fisted his shirt and tugged him closer, leaving no space between their bodies.
“You look incredible, Birdie.” He brushed her bottom lip with his thumb. Her lipstick hadn't budged.
“And you look edible.” She rose on her toes to press another quick kiss to his lips.
He relished the ease between them. How naturally they fit together, like no time had passed. His playful, sexy Birdie was back in his arms, and it felt damn good. He led them to the truck, opening the passenger side door and helping Ava inside. The red sundress swished around her thighs as she settled in the seat.
Owen walked around the truck and climbed inside, pleased to see Ava had shifted to the middle of the bench seat so their thighs pressed together. Once he backed out of the steep driveway, he slid a hand up her leg and under the skirt of her dress, squeezing her thigh. She let out a happy sigh at the contact.
“So, where are you taking me tonight?”
“It's a surprise.” In his peripheral view, he saw her pout.
“How far away is this surprise?”
“Not far.”
She wrapped her hand around his wrist and urged it higher up her thigh. “Is it far enough for us to fool around on the way?”
Owen laughed, tugging his hand free of her grasp and smoothing her dress down. “Definitely not. Still as impatient as ever.”
“I'm not impatient. Just curious. And horny. You've unleashed my hidden sex drive, and now I want more.”
Owen groaned as his cock stirred to attention at the mention of sex. “Ava, baby, you can't say stuff like that when I'm driving. Let me take you on a proper date and then you'll get what you need.”
“Really?” She straightened in the seat.
“Have I ever left you wanting, Birdie?”
Ava pretended to think next to him. He knew the answer. It was a resounding no.
“Okay, I guess not. I can wait.”
He pulled off the side of the road just outside of downtown. Recognition lit up Ava's face when she saw the manmade trail.
“Owen Fowler, are you taking me to the old watermill to have your way with me?”
He got out of the truck and held out a hand to help her cross the bench seat and exit the door behind him. Then he grabbed the blanket and basket he'd set in the truck bed. “While I wouldn't say no to that, making out like teenagers is not why we're here. This is the best spot to see the fireworks over Cedar Lake.”
“I hadn't thought about that before but makes sense. We only ever came up here to make out when we were younger.”
“Like I could forget,” Owen muttered.
