The Magnolia Sisters

by Michelle Major

  She wound her legs around his hips, reveling in the heat and strength of him. He walked them through the dark house and up the stairs, anticipation and need pooling in Avery’s belly.

  It wasn’t as if she were an inexperienced girl, but like everything with this man, the sensations he made her feel were new. She felt special in his arms, and the sensation of it both thrilled and terrified her.

  “I can hear you thinking.” The words rumbled low against her ear.

  “I’m thinking about you naked,” she replied, gratified when he paused for the briefest instant.

  “I like the sound of that.” He turned into a bedroom at the end of the upstairs hallway and released her.

  She started to stumble a step, her knees already weak, but he drew her close, kissing her like he could spend all night with his arms around her.

  His hands grazed under her shirt, the touch sparking a wildfire of need along her skin.

  “More.” She wasn’t certain whether the word was a plea or a command, but Gray was quick to respond.

  He drew her shirt over her head and tossed it to the side, then did the same with his own.

  From the way his muscles bunched under his clothes, she knew he had a great body. But a whimper escaped her throat seeing him like this.

  “You’re beautiful,” he told her and she laughed softly.

  “Ditto.”

  “Also quite the wordsmith.”

  “You kind of leave me speechless.”

  He flashed a wide grin. “Ditto.”

  They came together again, the short hair of his chest tickling her skin. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and she sucked it into her mouth, eliciting a soft groan from him that shocked and delighted her. Then he trailed kisses along her jaw, down her neck and across her collarbone. He cupped her breasts, thumbs flicking over her puckered nipples through the fabric of her satin bra.

  And when his mouth covered one stiff peak, she moaned, running her fingers through his hair. He undid her jeans with one hand and she quickly pushed them down over her hips. Need built inside her, and as much as she wanted to savor the feelings, she was also impatient for all of him.

  She backed up until her legs hit the bed, then reached behind her to pull down the sheets and comforter. Gray watched her, his chest rising and falling in sharp breaths, eyes dark and dilated with need.

  The way he looked at her gave Avery the confidence to reach behind her and unclasp her bra. The straps fell away from her shoulders and then the strip of fabric dropped to the floor. She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her panties and discarded those as well, smiling at the muttered curse that greeted her when she straightened.

  “You make me wish I were a poet,” he said. “I’d write sonnets in praise of your body.”

  She crooked a finger at him. “I’m sure you can find another way to express your admiration.”

  “Admiration doesn’t begin to cover it,” he said, shucking off his shorts and boxers in one quick motion. The sight of him took her breath away but she forced herself to keep her gaze level. “Reverence. Worship. Praise.”

  “Let’s go with worship,” she said with a laugh. The sound died in her throat as he reached for her again.

  “Let me worship you, Avery.” He spoke the words against her mouth, and she nodded her assent, suddenly unable to speak because all she could do was focus on drawing breath in and out of her lungs.

  With the kind of care that made tears spring to her eyes, he lowered her to the bed. His big body covered hers, fitting to her in just the right way. She could spend all night with him exploring her curves, and he seemed just as willing to make the most of their time together. As he claimed her mouth again, his hand pressed lower, and she instinctively opened for him. His fingers traced along her thigh, finding her hot center and she heard his moan of pleasure at finding her ready for him.

  It only took minutes for him to bring her to the edge and then suddenly she was falling over, her body splintering into a million shards of light. How was it possible to feel both energized and boneless at the same time? All Avery knew as she ran her palms over the planes of his hard chest was that she’d never experienced anything like it. And she wanted more.

  As if reading her mind, he reached over and pulled a condom from the nightstand drawer.

  “Let me.” She took the packet, opened it and rolled it over his length, his low groan making her feel powerful beyond measure.

  He positioned himself between her legs but didn’t move. Instead he studied her face like he was memorizing her features.

  The scrutiny was almost too much, and she let out a nervous laugh. “Are you waiting for an invitation?”

  One corner of his mouth kicked up. “As a matter of fact...” He dropped a soft kiss on the tip of her nose. “No second thoughts?”

  Second, third and fourth, she thought, but none that she was going to mention right now. She’d deal with the doubts and fears on her own time. Right now was about them. Together.

  “I want you,” she said, placing her palm against his rough cheek. “Please, Gray.”

  She couldn’t name the emotions that darkened his gaze at her words, or maybe she was too afraid that naming them would overwhelm her.

  But it didn’t matter, because he entered her and coherent thought drained from her as pleasure took over. She lifted her head so she could kiss him again, afraid at what her own eyes might reveal at the moment.

  The rhythm he set started slow but built in speed like he could sense the need pouring through her. It was as if she couldn’t tell where she left off and Gray began. The feeling was heady and, just as she’d hoped, the outside world fell away. All she knew was blissful pleasure and the man who shared it with her.

  He whispered sweet words against her skin but it barely mattered what he said because he managed to communicate everything with his body. Every touch...every kiss. She would have never believed any man could make her feel so much, but she did with Gray. And when the release washed over her once again, he was right there with her. Joined in a way that went deeper than this physical connection.

  It was as if he’d written himself on her soul.

  In that moment, everything changed.

  * * *

  GRAY LAY IN his bed hours later, Avery’s perfect body curved against him like a missing piece. Nothing had changed, he told himself over and over, as if repeating the lie would somehow make it more believable.

  He’d only gone on one or two dates after his divorce and they never amounted to more than a casual diversion. Hell, most of the time he was too exhausted to think about anything but catching up on sleep if he had a night to himself.

  Tonight with Avery had...changed nothing.

  Damn.

  If only he could convince his body and heart of that.

  His heart.

  The thought of giving his heart away to a woman like Avery, or at least the woman she’d been before she came to Magnolia, felt like a bucket of cold water splashed over his head.

  Why the hell couldn’t he fall for an uncomplicated woman, someone who’d appreciate his simple world and the things that made him happy? He ignored the fact that he’d had the best time with Avery doing ordinary activities—from the hours at Summer Fair to an unfussy dinner to falling asleep in front of the television. Although Avery had at first reminded him of Stacy with her tailored clothes and polished good looks, his ex-wife wouldn’t have dreamed of going to bed without her intricate beauty routine. And there was no way she would have shared a hot dog and grilled corn with him the way Avery had in town today.

  All in all, it had been perfect.

  Maybe that was what scared him the most—the thought that the whole experience had really just been a perfect illusion.

  Avery was leaving town once they settled Niall’s estate. Sooner if she could manage it. She�
�d made no secret of her unwillingness to stay, even though as far as he could tell she had no life to return to in California. That should be a red flag, as well. Despite their time together, he still knew very little about the details of her life before she’d appeared in Magnolia.

  He could google her, of course. He didn’t depend on technology or social media, but he still understood how to use it. But that wasn’t how he wanted to learn about her. There was something in her past she was unwilling to share, and he wanted her to trust him enough to confide in him without him snooping.

  Or maybe he could stop acting like such an idiot and find a way to enjoy a night of mind-blowing sex. She was staying in town for at least a few more weeks, so nothing said they couldn’t continue to enjoy each other, no strings attached.

  Any man would consider himself lucky to have a woman like Avery warming his bed. The trouble for Gray was he didn’t know how to turn off the part of himself that wanted more.

  He sighed and she shifted closer. For a woman who was maddeningly prickly when awake, she was a Velcro sleeper. Another aspect to the riddle of Avery Keller, and another part of her he found hard to resist.

  “I can hear you thinking.” She repeated his words from earlier, spreading her fingers across his chest.

  His heartbeat stuttered at the feel of her smooth fingertips.

  “Then you should distract me,” he suggested, curling his hand over her hip.

  She lifted onto her elbow, studying him for a weighted moment. He wondered if she’d question him and how he’d answer. Then she kissed him, and he let the worries disappear, burned off like morning fog under the heat from the sun’s rays.

  This time they took it slow, a tangle of limbs and murmured promises. He could spend hours discovering how Avery liked to be touched, giving her the same kind of pleasure he felt when they were together. When they were both panting with need, he sheathed himself and entered her in one long thrust. She groaned and pressed closer, like she wanted more. He wanted everything, greedy for her in a way that should have scared him. But with her body quivering underneath his, all he could concentrate on was this moment.

  Then there was the moment they both came apart, utter bliss with Avery crying out his name as he let himself go. Nothing had ever felt so damn good and he had a suspicion nothing would again. Arms wrapped tight around her, he drifted off to sleep, mind blissfully empty while his heart was unexpectedly full.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY MORNING, Avery waited until Gray’s truck was gone from the driveway before walking out into the bright September sunshine. It was the third day in a row she’d avoided him, and shame at her cowardice once again overrode her desire to talk to him and explain her behavior.

  How could she explain something she didn’t understand?

  After the amazing night they’d spent together on Saturday, she’d awoke Sunday morning with terror pounding in her chest. She had no business starting something with a single father, even if they’d agreed to keep it casual. Especially when nothing about her time in Magnolia felt casual.

  She’d left his bed quietly, retrieving her clothes from around the room while he slept. Early-morning light filtered through the curtains, and she hadn’t been able to stop herself from admiring him for a few heady seconds. He slept on his stomach, the sheet covering him from the waist down. His skin appeared almost golden, like he was some kind of bronzed warrior, which didn’t feel too far from the truth.

  Grayson Atwell was a good man. Far better than she deserved.

  She hadn’t bothered with a note. For heaven’s sake, he was her landlord, only a backyard separating them.

  Another reason she shouldn’t have let things go so far. It was one thing to say that sex wouldn’t change anything between them. Quite another to accept the outright lie.

  She’d spent the rest of the morning holed up in the carriage house, surreptitiously peeking out the windows trying to glimpse signs of life from the rambling Victorian. Had she expected him to come after her? To beg her to return to his arms or tell her how much she suddenly meant to him.

  Of course not.

  Then a sleek Mercedes had pulled into the driveway, Violet bouncing from the back seat and skipping toward the house. Gray had met his daughter on the back porch. He’d swung her into his arms and hugged her tight. Maybe his gaze had tracked to the carriage house, but only for an instant. Avery hadn’t been able to read the expression in his green eyes, and she could only imagine what he thought of her when she’d basically run away.

  His ex-wife had emerged from the black sedan, all long limbs and glossy hair. Avery’s stomach plummeted to her toes. The ex looked like someone she would have called a friend back in California. She was way too overdressed for a lazy weekend morning. Her slim-fitting dress grazed her knees and the understated heels she wore accentuated her toned legs. In so many ways, Stacy reminded Avery of herself.

  She didn’t like what that said about her.

  Huddled at the corner of the window, spying on the three of them, the sharp ache that speared through Avery’s gut almost had her doubled over in pain. She’d been a shy kid and a socially awkward teen, never sure how to engage in the easy camaraderie or even the manipulative backstabbing that seemed to come so easy to most girls. She’d looked the part of a confident, refined woman, but it had been an act. She’d managed to convince herself she was happier alone, content with superficial connections to coworkers and social acquaintances. Her relationship with Tony started as an office friendship.

  Both of them were driven, spending long evenings dedicated to projects when most of the staff left to enjoy their lives. Slowly, they’d grown close and Avery had forgotten to be uneasy. They had so much in common. She’d also believed him when he said his marriage was on the rocks. He’d gone so far as to claim that they’d legally separated and explained his move into his own apartment downtown, which was where he’d taken Avery after one particularly late night of work.

  All of it had been a lie, and her gullibility had ruined her life.

  So she watched the body language between Gray and his ex-wife with the intensity of a detective, looking for any clue that they weren’t as finished as he’d led her to believe. Of course his story was plausible. He’d given her no reason to doubt him, but she couldn’t help it.

  Stacy had crossed her arms over her chest as she stood at the bottom of the stairs leading to the kitchen door. One hip jutted out in obvious impatience. Gray lowered his daughter to the ground, and she disappeared into the house. Once they were alone, it was clear an argument ensued. Gray ran a hand through his hair. His full mouth—the mouth that had done all manner of wicked things to Avery the night before—had thinned in obvious irritation. His ex shook her head, then spun on her heel, throwing up her hands as she stalked to her car and backed out the driveway.

  He’d stood there a few seconds longer, then lifted his head to stare at the carriage house. Although Avery knew she was hidden behind the curtain, she swore he could see her. Or at least sense her there. It made her feel like a voyeur, witnessing a private interchange that hadn’t been meant for anyone else.

  She’d at least gotten clarity that there was, indeed, nothing more between Gray and his ex. But that didn’t inspire her to return to Summer Fair, even after both Carrie and Meredith texted her. She knew Malcolm wanted her at the fireworks. Her sisters expected her to show. Gray would be there with Violet, and Avery couldn’t force herself to join any of them.

  Violet had knocked on her door Monday morning, and she’d braided the girl’s hair. She’d taken more time than she needed, a secret part of her hoping Gray might stop by, even though she couldn’t bring herself to seek him out.

  The kindergartner hadn’t come over before school today, and Avery wondered if Gray had purposely kept her away.

  “You don’t need to hide out. I’ll leave you alone if that’s wh
at you want.”

  Avery whirled, dropping her keys on the ground.

  Gray moved forward and then bent to retrieve them. He handed them to her, and she couldn’t help but notice that he was careful not to touch her.

  Disappointment filled her, followed closely by irritation at herself. She didn’t get to have it both ways, and she’d made up her mind that being with Gray was a mistake.

  Anything that felt so good had to be bad for her.

  “I’m not hiding,” she lied. “I’ve been busy.”

  He breathed out a laugh. “Your nose is growing.”

  Without thinking, she touched a finger to the tip of it, then shook her head. “That’s silly.”

  “Did I do something wrong?” he asked. The flash of vulnerability in his eyes made her heart clench. It had never been her intention to hurt him.

  “I think we both know you did everything right. Several times.”

  “And yet...”

  She sighed. “I’m not good at casual, Gray. I’m tightly strung and too intense for it.”

  He arched a brow. “Does that mean you want more?”

  Yes, she wanted to answer. Even now the thought of being with him again made her weak in the knees. She could imagine pressing against him or better yet—taking his hand and leading him to her bed in the small cottage.

  That would be a far more enjoyable use of her time than what she had planned for the morning.

  “We’ve already agreed there can’t be more.”

  “You also said we were friends.” He glanced over his shoulder toward his house, then back to her. “Friends don’t spend days ghosting each other.”

  “I didn’t ghost you,” she argued. “You could have reached out to me.”

  “Avery.” He took a step closer and she caught the scent of laundry soap and mint. Heat pooled low in her belly. Spearmint gum was an aphrodisiac. A testament to how much this man affected her. He was dangerous to her control, but she wasn’t about to admit that. “Don’t play games.”