Page 23 of We Never Kissed

“Right…”

Ava came around the table then, but before she could say anything, I beat her to it. “You two have fun. I think I’ll join the poker game so team play can be even.” We’d had an odd number at the table, but the next game would be two groups battling it out in Pictionary.

My ego received a timely boost when I caught the disappointment on Ava’s face before I walked away.

The poker game should have been more fun, especially since I came out ahead and Sammy was down—the perfect opportunity for me to rub it in his face. But thoughts of Ava had me off my shit-talking game.

At the end of the night Ava, Gunnar, and I stayed to help Sammy and Cass clean up. Working side-by-side, all I could do was fight the urge to take her into my arms and finish that kiss from the plane. Why was there always some issue between us? When she brushed by me,carrying glasses to the kitchen, I almost said something, but I couldn’t bring myself to start that conversation with people listening.

Gunnar came out of the kitchen, carrying a bag of trash busting at the seams. “Here you go, big man. Cass says you know where this goes.” He smirked, and it was all I could to tell that guy off. I was done with his bullshit. Then he winked at me, and I stepped right up in his face, ready to blow, when Ava appeared at his side, also holding a bag and giving me a pointed look.

Damn. I’d totally misread the situation. I took the bag from him, let out a breath, and stepped back, an apology in my expression.

“I’m on your side,” he whispered before nudging Ava against her back.

We both headed out the front door and to the side of the house, wordlessly. And when I turned and opened the bin, we both threw our trash in and then spoke at the same time. I said, “I can explain,” while Ava said, “You don’t have to explain.”

Reaching out, I hooked my finger into the belt loop of her low-rise jeans and pulled her snuggly against my body. “Please, let me say this, Ava.” I stared into those big dark eyes, that stubborn expression I’ve seen so many times on her face, but now it made me want to crush my mouth to hers. I needed to make this rightfirst, though.

“Jessica is nothing to me but a business associate. Actually, she is barely tolerable.” Her face changed slightly, but it still said,I’m not buying it. “Her father is the one I’ve always worked with, but she is trying to prove something to him, and apparently that involves me.” I bent my head until my lips were next to her ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner.” Then, I pressed a soft kiss on her cheek. I felt her grin, but when I pulled back, she quickly reined it in.

“So, you’re saying nothing happened between you two? Even though you took her back to your place?” She laughed. “And, yes, I do realize I have no right to ask you that, but I’m doing it anyway.”

Unwilling to release my grip on her, I used my freehand to brush my thumb over her parted mouth. “I’m glad you are. I don’t want us to have secrets between each other, and I know this isn’t the first time I’ve screwed up, and it probably won’t be the last…but I promise you I want this to work.”

Softly, she pressed her lips together over my thumb, her eyes still locked on mine.Fuck, what I wanted to do with that mouth. And when she bared down with her teeth—“Ow!”—I realized I still hadn’t answered the question I said I would answer.

“The whole time, we talked business—”

“With wine…at your apartment,” she cut in.

“Yes, at my apartment. There was some paperwork we needed to sign, and I didn’t want to deal with security at the office, so we went to my place. And, yes, she was making herself way too at home. I should’ve done a better job at setting boundaries…” With both hands, I grabbed her by the waist and yanked her hard against me. “But my kitchen cupboard was the only thing she got her hands into, and I definitely wasn’t in anything of hers.”

That made Ava laugh, and I leaned forward and captured a quick kiss of her lips. But when I pulled away, she stood on her tiptoes to go back in for more, and I was happy to oblige, running one hand around to her lower back and then over her ass.Damn… I already knew I would never be able to get enough of Ava just by kissing her. I never wanted to stop, and I probably wouldn’t have. But when she pulled back slightly, and her dark eyes found mine, a flash of light to my right caught my attention. “Shit, the porch light is flickering.”

“That must be Gunnar. We better go.” She started to move toward the walkway, but I grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.

“Wait. We need to talk about this. Another minute, please.”

“I’m not mad. I promise.”

She gleamed that beautiful smile, and I ached for more of it.

“I’m not talking about that. Look, Ava, I know how you see me, or at least how you used to see me.” I ran a hand over my jaw. “And I get it, but I don’t want to be that man anymore. I know this whole thing is strange, and you probably don’t trust it, but to me it feels right.”

She stared up at me, and when she didn’t say anything, I added, “Uh, this is the part where you’re supposed to agree with me.”

My heart hung in the balance as she tried to back away, but I still had hold of her wrist so I laced our fingers together and gave her a half grin.

“Okay, I agree. I want to make this work too.” She glanced down at the ground, and I wasn’t sure if it was adorable or concerning.

My solution was to bend down and kiss her once again.

Quickly, she pulled back, saying, “But…”

“I had a feeling that was coming.”

“Not that I want to be another one of your deals, but how exactly are we going to do this, especially if you don’t want anyone to know yet?” She lifted her brows.

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