Page 30 of Why Not Now?

She grins at the use of her old nickname and backs up to allow me into the living room. It looks a lot like the last time I was here. Ava hasn’t purchased any new furniture. She hasn’t painted the walls or changed the carpet. She hasn’t made the place hers at all.

“Ava’s downstairs. She said she wasn’t sure if she was still going tonight. She’s probably also lost all track of time.” Lacey rolls her eyes. “She’s editing.”

“Shall we interrupt her?”

Lacey’s eyes light up with mischief and she leads me to the basement. I look around the rec room, whichhaschanged since the last time I was here. No longer a cozy spot for two teenagers to spend hours making out, it’s now pretty much empty. The room in the back corner, that used to be Ava and Lacey’s parents’ bedroom, has the door closed.

“It’s her office now,” Lacey explains. “She spends most of her time in there when she’s not working.”

“Which she does a lot.”

Lacey nods, her expression troubled. I want to ask her what’s wrong, but I just go to the door and turn the knob, inching it open. Ava’s back is to me, and she’s completely focused on her computer, so she doesn’t notice I’m here. I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the frame to wait.

After about a minute, I clear my throat and Ava spins, her hand over her heart.

“Mother trucker!” she says.

“Seriously?” I ask.

Behind me, Lacey bursts out laughing.

Ava glares at me, then at Lacey. “What are you doing?”

“Six o’clock,” I say. “I’m here to remind you why you love Christmas. I didn’t miss the distinct lack of decorations on this house, by the way.”

“It’s still November. And you.” She focuses on her sister. “Shouldn’t you be studying?”

Lacey scowls but spins and stomps up the stairs.

When Lacey is gone, Ava turns to me. “Sorry. I, um, lost track of time.”

“That’s what Ace said might have happened. She also said you weren’t sure we were still going out.”

Ava won’t meet my eyes. She’s standing close enough that I can smell her shampoo. The lavender scent causes memories to swamp me and my dick swells in my pants, reminding me that it would love a second round.

“Yeah,” she says. “After last night, I just thought it might be… awkward.”

“Why would it be awkward? It’s not like that was the first time we slept together.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I call myself an idiot. Because now I’m thinking of the first time we were together. She’d been so confident then, knowing exactly what she wanted from me. I’d been more than ready to give it to her. I’d also been incredibly nervous, my hands shaking as I removed her clothes, then laid back so she could be on top, in control.

“I could hurt you,” I said.

She shook her head. “You could never hurt me.”

Her fingers trailed over my cheek as her body slid down onto mine.

I blink to try to dispel the memory, focusing again on the Ava of today, a combination of caution and desire in her eyes as she looks up at me. Interestingly, it’s the caution that reinforces my resolve from last night. I’m more certain than ever that I want this woman in my life.

Chapter 11

Ava

“Right.Ofcourse.”Iclear my throat. “I just need to save my work and get changed.”

“Can I see it?” Derek gestures to the computer where I’d been editing the pictures I’d taken last week. I’d already finished with the ones I’d taken at Blue Vista on Monday and had been finishing up on a few more images that would form part of my portfolio.

“I guess so.” I lead him over to my desk and sit down, taking a quick breath for courage before clicking on the first image. “I took a bunch of pictures last week at this cute little restaurant downtown.”

I show him the plates and the tables. It’s an Italian place with a cozy ambiance and I’m happy with how well the pictures turned out. There are a couple of the candles they have on the tables and one of a waitress writing something on her notepad.

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