Love, Riley: Redemption Highway: Briarwood

by Leaona Luxx

  Now, will she tell me?

  When her car door opens, I freak the fuck out, jumping into action. I try to make myself look busy, so I run to grab some plates. She walks through the door, and I smile like I know nothing. “Hey, babe. Food’s ready whenever you want to eat.”

  “Riley.” She wraps her arms around her chest, shaking.

  “Okay, I was gonna play this whole thing off, but with the look on your face, I think you need to tell me.” I stand there, trying my damnedest not to panic.

  She swallows hard as her hand raises to her mouth. She’s trembling. “Steve. He…”

  I’m across the room with her in my arms before she utters another word. Her body shudders with what I can only assume is fear judging by her pale face. “Shhh, I’ve got you.” Scooping her up, I walk over to the couch, sitting with her in my lap. I hold her, waiting until she can talk.

  “I got my gas and went in to pay for it. I shoved my keys in when I pulled my wallet out. When I left, I couldn’t find my keys. Somehow, Steve had them. My car was locked, so I couldn’t even get in it, let alone leave. He’s been watching me, and he knows you’re here.” Her face twists with disgust as she grimaces.

  “Did he touch you? Threaten you?” My chest heaves as my heart pounds from my chest. Anger doesn’t come close to describing my feelings.

  “No. I held my own, I promise I did.” Ava shivers, still pale, and I grab a throw from the back of the couch to wrap around her. “I-I don’t know if it was a threat, but he said he was going to give me more than just my keys when I told him to give them to me.”

  “Ava, I need to ask you something, so please don’t get upset.” I hesitate, hoping she doesn’t take this wrong. “Have you slept with Steve or refuse him in some way? I’m just trying to figure out his obsession, baby.”

  She begins to blink rapidly as she tenses. “I dated him for a few weeks right after Brannon and Torrie got married.” She scowls, her lids hanging low. “I did not sleep with him. And, Ry, that day at the motel, I shouldn’t have been there, but Steve had followed me. It was stupid.”

  This beautiful, maddening girl. I pull her against my chest, rubbing her arm. “I don’t care. Our pasts are just that, I’m not a virgin. I was hoping to figure out his obsession, but I know now—it’s just you. He wants you. The motherfucker can forget it.”

  “I love you, Ry. I’m awestruck with how much I want this, you. I promise, I’d promise you anything.” She kisses me softly, and I can’t let this pass.

  “Good to know.” My eyes hood into slits. “Promise to marry me?” I grin.

  She narrows her eyes, a sneaky grin on her face. “I promise.”

  “Promise me we’ll have a hundred kids.” I stare wide eyed at her, waiting for her to respond, but she casts me a knowing glare. “Too much? Ten? Two? Any?”

  She shakes her head at me as she bites her lip. “I promise we’ll discuss it.”

  Lowering my eyes, I decide not to push it. “Deal.” Leaning her back, I press my lips to hers in sweet devotion. “Now, Steve. We need to handle this, yesterday.”

  “I understand, but he scares me. I have no fucking clue why either,” she huffs. “What are you thinking?”

  “Just gonna have a talk with him.” I tweak her nose.

  She pinches her face up. “Why does that sound more ominous than it should?”

  I chuckle at her. “I’m not sure, probably because it is.”

  “Please be careful, he’s creepy as hell.” She shudders all over.

  “You be careful. Do you have any mace?” She shakes her head. “I’ll get you some, goes on your keyring.

  “Sounds good. Can we eat, I’m starving?” She jumps up, dragging me from the couch.

  “I’ll take better care of you from now on, baby. If I had filled up your car, you wouldn’t have stopped.”

  “By the way, there were three extra twenties in my wallet. Any idea where they came from?”

  I look at the ceiling, tapping my finger against my chin. “House fairies.” I stare at her blankly, no facial expressions at all.

  “House fairies?” She tilts her head and scrunches her face in disbelief.

  “Yep, seen a few the other day doing the laundry.” Her eyes grow round as baseballs. “I even run one outta your panty drawer. Told the motherfucker, I’m the only one allowed in your panties from now on. Damn bastards.”

  She bursts into laughter, falling into my arms. “For the love of all that’s holy, you’re bat shit crazy.” She pulls me into an earth-shattering kiss. “I love it.”

  After dinner, Ava settles in with her homework. She’s doing amazing, and I’m utterly in amazement at her. I clean the kitchen to her disliking; she thinks she should be doing it, but I don’t mind. She goes to school, I’ll cook and clean. Big deal, doesn’t make me less of a man.

  We’re in bed early, snuggled closer than normal. I think she’s still feeling off from her run in with dick head. I’m gonna have to handle him, but first, I need to make sure Ava’s safe. She’s up and out the door by eight the next morning, so I get busy on my plans.

  My phone begins to ring, it’s my mom. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Are you ever coming home or is that a crazy question?” Mom says jokingly.

  “Unless she makes me, I’ll be there when she comes.” I chuckle.

  “You have a letter.” Her voice is no more than a murmur.

  “I’ll be over today.” I pause. “It could be nothing, you know that, right?” I try to reassure her, but I know what it means. And I still haven’t told Ava about the possibility.

  “Thank you. I love you, Riley,” she mutters.

  “Love you, Mom. See ya in a bit.” I end the call.

  Walking in the front door, One waves me through to his office. “Hey, Riley. How are you?”

  I shake his outreached hand before sitting. “Good. I brought you some money and hopefully will have a plan by week’s end.” I reach him a check.

  “Perfect timing. We’ll get right on it. Starting with some excavating as soon as we know the plans.” One nods as he writes the check information down.

  “I have a small problem I need help with since I need to be careful,” I explain.

  One picks up his phone, types a message and within two minutes, we’re joined by his son, Aksel, Hardy, and Brannon. I’ll be damned if Brannon takes care of Ava on my watch. “How can we help you?”

  “I can’t let Walker know, in case I end up needing him. It’s Ava...” I hesitate.

  “What about Ava?” Brannon jumps straight in. I do my best to remember he’s Andi’s dad, but I can’t stand how he acts over Ava.

  “It’s not her, she’s amazing; it’s about her safety.” I clear my throat. “Her former boss, Steve. He has a real problem.”

  “Yeah, I think she’s talked to all the girls about it,” Hardy says.

  “Torrie said she didn’t like him, he scares Ava. And no one scares her,” Brannon adds.

  “Just keep a look out, find anything you can on Steve. I want her protected, especially if I end up not being here.” I shake my head at the timing of life and just how much it can truly suck. “I love her, and there’s no way in hell I’m gonna lose her.”

  “We’ll keep watch.” Hardy nods.

  “Thank you. I’m gonna grab a few plans and get moving. I need to pick up dinner.” I stand with a little stretch.

  “Riley, can I have a word?” Brannon crosses his arms over his chest.

  “Sure.” I clench my jaw to keep from biting my tongue. One offers me a tight smile, and I nod, assuring him all is swell.

  Brannon walks from the room with me following, and we continue into his office where he shuts the door. “Have a seat,” he offers.

  “Sure,” I answer in a short, clipped tone, cracking my neck from the tension building.

  “I hope you don’t mind, my only concern is for Ava.” He leans against his desk, arms crossed.

  “I’m taking care of Ava. Is there anything
else I can help you with?” What the fuck is up? I try to take in consideration they have a bond like no other. Not only are they parents to Andi, but they were the best of friends growing up. Some things go beyond understanding and are just what they are.

  “Man, it’s not like that.” He comes to sit beside me. “Ava had a rough childhood, you remember. She still hasn’t dealt with some things, and I worry. She’s family. We have a daughter, and I want the best for her.”

  “I know, but how are we ever supposed to build a life if you’re always there? She’s always thinking of how you’ll look at it. She loves me, Brannon. She needs your understanding but not your approval.” My jaw begins to tick.

  He nods his understanding. “I’ve been hard on Ava for good reason.”

  “That reason is null. She continues to prove herself, and she’s working nonstop.” I sit forward, staring at him. “Brannon, I’m gonna marry her. Maybe not tomorrow or next year, but we will marry. We’ll have a family, and I want Andi to be a part of that, for her and her mother. But you damn well need to hear me, she’s mine. You’ve run your course, you’re a great guy and as Andi’s father, you have my respect.” I pause, weighing my words. Brannon’s face draws, pursing his mouth.

  “I’ve got Ava. If anything were to happen, I’ve got it. I love her more than anyone ever has, and I’ll lose my life before any harm comes to her. Be her friend, not her dad. It’s time you both construct a relationship with your daughter, not on a dependency from years ago.” Brannon rubs his lips together but I sit forward and push on.

  “I appreciate your concern, I do. We’ll make mistakes, we’re gonna argue and you better damn well know, she’ll not win them all. She harbors some deep shit, I know. I’ve seen it, but I can handle it. Maybe not like you, probably not like Ava would want, but I love her like no other. I’ll always love her and no matter what we go through, we’ll make it.”

  He stares for a full minute. “Aren’t you too young to know all this shit? Seriously. You’re right, I’m sorry. I can see she’ll be well taken care of.” He stands, crossing the room.

  “Thank you, Brannon. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate. Please know, I’ll do for Andi like I will her mom.” I offer my hand, and he takes it with a firm shake.

  “I believe that, thank you.” I give him my best polite smile.

  Walking out front, One waits on me with some house plans in hand. “Let’s talk.” One opens the door as we continue to the parking lot.

  “What’s up?” I’m about as nice as fuck right now.

  “I’m sure you’ve had enough advice to last a lifetime.” He motions toward the building where Brannon is.

  “Yeah, he means well.” I rest against my truck. “I’m not a fool, I know who the fuck Ava is. We’ve been friends for eighteen years, I know Ava.”

  He joins me, leaning against my truck. “So, what’s going on?”

  “I have no fucking clue.” I drop my head to my chest.

  “How about starting with what you do know,” he suggests.

  “Ava’s guarded, always has been.” My chest begins to tighten. “I’m sure a lot of it has to do with losing her parents’.”

  “A word of caution, if I may.” He waits for my okay, I nod. “Hadlea came to me broken. She’d been through some kind of hell we can only see in movies. She was strong but fragile. Badass but needed protection. She had no clue what her worth was or how to be loved. The hardest thing I had to do,” pain fills his eyes as a memory washes over him, “was letting her find me. Hadlea was an incredible woman with no self-worth, letting her go just about killed me. But when she found herself, she found our love. It was rooted so deep in her, she couldn’t deny it another minute. She broke herself open to glue it all back together. She tells me our love was her glue.”

  “That scares the hell outta me.” The tightness in my chest gets unbearable. “I get it.”

  “I know you do, just wanted you to know it’s always worth it.” He pats my back and hands me the plans. “I’ll be here.” Damn good man, right there.

  The day flies by and before I know it, she’s back home to me. I didn’t make it to my parents’ today; I know what’s waiting. I also know how much time I have, and there’s so much left to do. After talking to Brannon and One today, I decided I need to ramp up some future plans.

  Ava walks through the door looking exhausted as she falls into the couch. “Hey, handsome.”

  “Hey, beautiful. Bad day?” I join her, putting her feet in my lap. I take her shoes off and immediately start rubbing her feet.

  “Oh my God. That. Feels. Amazing. But they probably stink.” She wrinkles her nose. So freakin’ cute.

  “They’re fine. You have a lot of homework?” I twist my mouth.

  “Nope. I had a small break after a class was canceled, so I went to the library and did it. I was hoping to snuggle tonight,” she waggles her brows, “naked.”

  “We can do that.” I wink at her, and I’m rewarded with a huge smile. “Food first?”

  “Sounds great. You’re spoiling me too much, Ry.” She sits up on her elbows, and her eyes dart to the table. “What’s this?” Reaching over, she picks up the house plans.

  “Tired of living in the guest house, it’s time to put my inheritance to good use.” I shrug as she sits up further, scanning the selections.

  “You have an inheritance?” she asks, but she’s not interested.

  “You’ve known my family for going on twenty years, you never suspected we had money?” I cock my brow.

  “Fuck you. Yes, I knew but I don’t know, it wasn’t you.” She scrunches her face up. “I didn’t see you as the rich kid. So, which is your favorite?”

  She’s never seen me as the rich kid, if she only knew. We work because of our upbringing. “I like the southern farm house. Big, two story with a wrap-around porch.”

  “A big white kitchen, like your mom’s. Four bedrooms, not three.” She studies the plans carefully. My palms start to sweat as she stares at my favorite. “This is perfect.”

  “I was thinking,” I take a corner to show her my wish. “instead of the apartment over the garage, making that the master bedroom. And I do like mom’s kitchen, it’s big.”

  “Yeah, I love the barstools around the island. You know for homework and breakfast?” Her eyes dart to mine and back. “Big families need them.”

  “They do.” I agree but don’t push. “I think this is it, I’m gonna let One know. I have no clue how I’m gonna decorate it, maybe some movie posters in the family room?” Please take the bait. She turns her head at me, her mouth hanging open. I place my finger under her chin, pushing it closed. “Not yet, babe. After dinner, though.” I wink, and her face goes red.

  “Asshole.” She play slaps my hand away. “You are not going to decorate this house with movie posters. Blues and grays, like your eyes when you're angry or horny.” She smiles smugly. “Maybe a few sea greens? Yeah, that would be gorgeous.”

  I pause, pretending to think. Honestly, I’m thinking how perfect we fit. Those were my exact thoughts. “Yeah, I could see that. Thanks.”

  “I’d be happy to help if you don’t mind?” Her eyes flicker from the plans to me and back.

  “Well, to be honest, I’m hoping you’ll be there with me one day.” I hold my breath as I send up a silent prayer.

  “Yeah, I can see that.” She bumps my shoulder. “Definitely four bedrooms. C-can I plan one for Andi? I mean, if I ever get overnight visitations again, it’d be nice to have her a bedroom. I’d pay for it to be decorated.” Her last words take me off guard.

  “Ava, you’re a package deal. I don’t just see you, I see you as a mother. You and Andi. If we’re together, it’s as a family. All of us. She’ll have whatever she needs, just like at Brannon’s.” I kiss her as a tear rolls down her face. “You’ll get visitation back, and we’ll pay to have it decorated. I ain’t havin’ any of this, ‘I’ll buy this, you pay for that’. We’re together, one. You’re not alone anymo
re.”

  “You know, just when I think I have all of my feelings sorted, you do something else and I think, ‘oh, so this is love.’ Well, what was that before? You have my heart everywhere, and I don’t know which way is up but I do know I love you.” She leans in, waiting on my lips to meet hers.

  All thoughts of house plans drop immediately when his lips touch mine. Swinging my legs around, I’m on my knees straddling him in a few quick moves. His hands find purchase on my ass; not many places I like his hands other than there.

  I work his mouth as my hips work his cock between my thighs. Slipping and sliding as I grind on his zipper, I suck on his tongue. I’m rewarded with a guttural groan and squeeze of my cheeks. Riley’s broad shoulders make me feel small in his arms.

  His wide hands on my heart-shaped ass push me over the edge of passion. His hands roaming my body makes me feel wanton, sexy. I’ve rarely felt sexy with a man, I guess because we were having sex. No deep connection required.

  Riley’s a different type of man altogether. His hands knead my ass before working their way up my back. Spread wide, the warmth that comes with them makes every hair on my body stand to attention. Chills without the cold.

  He works his way from my mouth to my neck, nipping every other supple kiss. A quick flick of his tongue in the hollow of my neck makes me tremble. His power over me is unmistakable—I’d follow him anywhere. Two fingers are all he needs to unclasp my bra, freeing my breasts heaving with perspiration as the desire builds between us like a bonfire.

  I moan when he takes me into his mouth, swirling around my hardened nipple. I fist his hair to keep from screaming when he rolls it between his teeth. Pursing his lips in the perfect pout, he encases it and flicks his tongue over the tip.

  His cock, rigid in his jeans, provides the sweetest friction to my now soaked panties. His thumb runs over my wet nipple, and I buck from the contact. My hips ride him with abandon, back and forth, as his mouth works my other breast. His fingers roll the other, pinching and kneading it like a pro.