I jolt at Sadie’s voice. “What? Oh, whatever’s fine with me.”
I look at Avery again, who, after only being seated for less than a minute, stands and makes her way to the exit.
I follow with my eyes and seconds later I pop to my feet, cutting off people in the pathway. I ignore my newfound family and go after Avery.
I saw her once. For minutes. I have to know. I have to confront her. Because not seeing her but knowing she’s in town is fucking killing me.
She’s in the parking lot, walking down a row of cars. People are coming and going, but it’s a lot less busy than inside.
“Avery!” I call.
She turns, crosses her arms over her chest.
“Hey, Chance.” Her tone is indifferent, bordering on dismissive.
“Leaving again?”
She narrows her eyes. Does she get my double meaning? Probably.
“I haven’t heard a word from you since I’ve been in town. Not surprising.”
Her comeback is well aimed. I cross my arms so my stance matches hers.
“I thought you forgot about me.” Again, double meaning.
“Are we talking about now or fifteen years ago?” she asks.
“You tell me.”
She looks gorgeous, from her wedge-heeled sandals to her dress that looks like a long T-shirt to those gorgeous blond locks.
“You used to wear a shirt like that.” My groin tightens. “Remember? It was mine.”
She looks down at her blue dress. It’s not revealing, but it showcases the curves of her breasts and hips. My dick stirs. Again. I remember the feel of her skin, the scent of her. The way her pussy was so fucking tight around me.
“I remember a lot of things.”
“Like how we kissed?” I take a step closer.
Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t retreat.
“Like how you used to climb in my lap and let me touch you? How you spread your legs for me at the spring?”
She jolts as if she stuck her finger in an outlet and takes off.
I follow, keeping up with her easily due to my long legs. I catch her, touch her upper arm, and spin her around.
I hate her for leaving. For leaving without any explanation. I love her though. I always have. Never have I better understood the thin line between love and hate.
The need in me to taste and remember what it was like between us is too strong to resist.
My father, the investigation, the murder—all of it disappears when my lips meet hers.
Fuck, she’s just as I remember.
A gasp escapes her and I take the advantage and plunge my tongue into her mouth. She’s sweet as I remember, lush and soft in my hold. And that scent… Some flower that is solely hers.
She’s so much smaller than I am. I lift her, one hand banded low about her back, the other capturing the back of her head.