by Amy Star
“I’m sure she is, but she’s your best friend, and you’re about to have a baby. I would be a moron to miss the importance of having your best friend near when you’re going through all that. I’ll be there, changing diapers and spending hours in the rocking chair, but I know that I’m no replacement for her.”
“Thank you for understanding. I’ll wait to talk to her about it when we leave Dallas. I don’t want to jump the gun and have her on the first flight out here.”
“And why is that?” he asked wryly.
“I want to see how this goes. Not just some wonderful nights spent on the mountain, but, you know, how it goes with both of us working and doing what we do, then meeting in the middle so to speak.”
“You’re really going to give us a shot at working out, aren’t you?”
“I promised I would,” she said, kissing him passionately, then resting her head on his chest when she released him. “I think we all deserve that much.”
“You say that, but I don’t know what I ever did in this life to deserve you.”
They stood there like that for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts. Then Eli let out a huge sigh and kissed the top of her head. “It’s been a really long day,” he said. “Any chance I can convince you to call it an early night?”
“You must be reading my mind,” she said with a sultry smile. “I hope you’re not too tired.”
“I’m never too tired for you,” he said, kissing her roughly.
“That’s good, because I’m not sure how much longer I can control myself. It’s not just my energy that has suddenly increased.”
She slid her hand down his stomach, pulling the button-down shirt out of his trousers so she could reach under the fabric and feel the heat of his bare skin. She inhaled his familiar scent, hands on his chest. She looked around the now clean kitchen and bit her lip. “I don’t know if I can make it to the bedroom,” she laughed. “These hormones are no joke.”
Eli’s hearty laugh filled the room, his dark brown eyes shining bright. Her heart skipped a beat when he looked at her then nuzzled her neck and trailed his large hands down her back. When he slipped his hand under her dress, he stopped, pulling back to look at her.
“I was hoping you’d notice before dinner,” she said.
“If I had, we would’ve skipped dinner altogether.”
He almost growled the words, his voice heavy with need, eyes smoldering. Ava unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants, her eyes locked with his and never wavering.
“Right here?” he asked with a crooked grin.
She shrugged. “Why not? I’m too horny for all that romance. Sometimes, I just want you to take me like you can’t wait for it.” Her expression challenged him in ways she never had before.
She didn’t have to tell him twice.
She giggled when he bent her over the counter and pulled up the hem of her dress to revel her smooth backside. He braced his hands on the either side of hers, entering her from behind. He kissed her neck, his thrusts wild and fast, the heat building in her with more force than she’d ever experienced. She started climaxing by the fourth thrust, and by the time Eli emptied himself in her, being locked between his body and the counter was the only thing keeping her contained.
When they both could breathe again, Ava leaned into his chest and let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t think I can make it to the bedroom,” she said, only half joking.
Before she knew what he was going to do, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest and walking down the hallway to his bedroom. When he walked past the second room that was meant to be her own, she giggled. “I didn’t even bother setting up the bed,” she said. “There’s no way I can go back to sleeping alone after I’ve slept in your arms all night.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
He laid her down on the bed and slid in beside her. She nuzzled against him until her body fit his like a puzzle piece. She inhaled his scent and by the time she exhaled, she was fast asleep.
Eli woke up around three, the full moon flooding in through the skylight in the master bedroom. He tried in vain to go back to sleep, but he’d gotten too much rest to convince his body that he could use a little more.
Ava was sound asleep beside him, one hand under her cheek, breath slow and even. He watched her for a long time before he finally rolled out of bed. He didn’t bother to get dressed, stepping out through the sliding glass door in the bedroom that led right onto the porch that wrapped around the entire house.
The dew-covered grass felt good on his bare feet, connecting his soul to the earth with each step. He looked back once, but Ava hadn’t budged, and he knew she wouldn’t wake up for a few more hours. He had time, and the urge was strongest when the moon was full.
He took off, running as fast as he could toward the creek at the far end of the property, stride long and powerful. With every step, he changed. The hair on his body started to grow and thicken, his hands and feet spreading into powerful paws as the man melted away and the bear inside him emerged. He was halfway across the first pasture when he took his last upright stride, then hit the ground on all fours. The last of Eli was gone, and he was replaced with a dark bear, massive body floating elegantly across the plains as he ran.
He ran until he reached the creek then slowed to a walk. The steady trickle of the water was a balm to his soul, soothing the savage beast that had been dying to get out. He’d meant to spend his entire week on the mountain roaming the forest, but Ava had come, and he’d been forced to remain a man. Without that much needed release, he’d spent the week feeling antsy, and irritable. Ava hadn’t noticed, but she would start to see his mood changed when he didn’t make time to roam the mountain now and then. He paced along the banks, brooding about when to tell her and how he was going to broach the subject. But he knew that he had to tell her and soon. Not just because the babe she carried would be like him, but because she’d been honest and vulnerable with him, and she deserved the same in return. She’d committed herself to making their relationship work and things were going well. Better than he’d hoped. But he knew that the longer he waited, the harder it would be for her to accept the news.
Movement caught his attention across the creek. A small herd of deer emerged, freezing as one when they caught sight of him. He stared at them, then took a step, sending them fleeing for cover. He could feel their panic and confusion, but he was in no mood to care about confusing the prairie dwelling deer that had never laid eyes on a bear before. No matter where they were from, they knew a predator when they saw one.
He continued walking, circling back around and lingering as long as he could. The prairie winds swept over him, rippling his thick coat. He sniffed the wind, but there was nothing out where they were. The little farm was surrounded by wooded land that had long been abandoned. There were no neighbors to catch him in the rough, and now livestock to terrify with his presence. It was just him and Ava. On a clear night, they could see the skyline in the distance, too far away to obscure the breathtakingly star filled sky. Dallas was right there, but they were a world away, insulated from it all. This farm wasn’t his ranch in New Mexico, but as long as he was free to be who he was, he could live anywhere.
As long as Ava was there.
He sighed when the house came into sight, his wild run coming to an end. Not quite ready to tell Ava and still struggling to imagine how he would even bring it up, he stood upright. Within five steps, he was a man once more. The wind caressed his bare skin, sending a chill through his body as he stepped onto the porch and went straight to the shower to wash the wild away. Then he dried off and stood beside the bed, finally tired enough to go back to sleep.
Ava sighed, smiling in her sleep when he pulled her close. Even asleep, she was the sweetest. He felt horrible for keeping this secret from her for so long, but deep down, he knew she would understand. At least, he hoped she would. But no matter what the outcome, it was time to tell her. He just had to figure out h
ow.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ava had just started cooking breakfast when her phone rang across the room.
“It’s Zoey,” Eli said, handing the phone to her and stepping in to finish cooking the eggs.
“I can do this,” she insisted.
“It’s almost done. I can finish making breakfast burritos without your help.” He kissed her on the lips and motioned to the phone. You’d better answer that before she sends out a search party. I’ll make you a burrito and leave it on the counter. See you when I get back from work.”
Ava nodded, answering the phone at the penultimate moment. “Hey Zoey, what’s up?”
“I thought it was going to go to voicemail, and I was going to have to send out search and rescue.”
Ava laughed. “That’s exactly what Eli just said. How’s everything?”
“It’s good. I’ve been stuck on this one chapter, and I finally finished it.”
“That’s great.”
“Thanks. But I realized that I hadn’t heard from you since you went off to Texas. Sorry about that. You know how I get when I’m sucked in.”
“I know,” Ava teased. “That’s why I didn’t panic when you left my calls unanswered for a week.”
“You know me. Phone’s off when I’m in the thick of it.”
“I do.”
Eli waved as he walked out the door, and Ava waved back. Then he was gone, and the house felt much too quiet.
“How is Texas? Has it really been a week?”
“Almost a month,” she laughed. “I guess time has been flying for both of us.”
“Guess so,” Zoey laughed.
“We still have two weeks left here, then we’ll be going back to the ranch.”
“Are you coming back to Omaha?” Zoey’s voice was light and peppy, but Ava could hear the sadness in her voice.
“I don’t know, Zoey. It’s really beautiful there, and I can work from anywhere. To be honest, the only thing I miss about home is you.”
Zoey sighed. “This place isn’t the same without you. I know I said I couldn’t just pick up and leave, but I think I can.”
“For a visit?”
“For now,” Zoey said. “I’m not sure for how long, but I can work from anywhere, right? There’s nothing here for me, and my family is scattered all over the place, so it doesn’t matter where I live.”
“You don’t have to decide now,” Ava said, treading carefully but too excited to keep it to herself. “But Eli said if you wanted to move to the ranch, he would build you a guesthouse.”
“No joke? Really?”
“He said it was important for me to have my support system nearby, and if you were willing, he would be more than happy to have something built.”
There was stunned silence on the other end of the phone. For a moment, Ava thought Zoey had hung the phone up. But then Zoey finally spoke, her tone more serious than moments before. “I can’t ask him to do that. That’s a huge expense for a stranger. Maybe I’ll find something nearby to rent.”
“There isn’t anything to rent or even buy,” Ava explained. “The people that live in the community have been there for generations. There are a couple campgrounds you can stay at, but that’s about it. And there are bears.”
“Oh, hell naw,” she said. “Do you think it would be okay if I stay for a while before I decided?”
“I’m sure it would. The house has five bedrooms so it’s not like there isn’t room for you until then. Plus, he said the first snow is around Halloween, so there’s not time to build you anything now, anyway.”
“Are you sure you want to stay with him? It’s only been a few weeks.”
“Yes,” she said. “I know it hasn’t been long, but Zoey, I missed him so much. I can’t describe the ache I felt when he left. And I got to know him well enough before we slept together. I know this seems fast, but I’m sure he’s the one. I just feel something so visceral I can’t describe it.”
“Have you told him?”
“That I love him or that I’m sure I want to stay?”
“Both.”
“No. I’m not ready to tell him.”
“But you’ve made up your mind?”
Ava thought about it for a moment. “I have. I know that the honeymoon phase will pass, and this won’t be so exciting, but you’d have to see how he is to really get it. He’s so giving, but he doesn’t flaunt his money. He dropped thousands on a new wardrobe for me, but he also took the time to get me a simple locket with ‘Mom’ inscribed on it.” Ava touched the locket. “I haven’t taken it off since he gave it to me. There aren’t any pictures in it yet, but it’s so special.”
“There’s something special about a man that knows when to be extra and when a simple gesture is the perfect amount.”
“Exactly. And he treats me like a goddess.”
“Do you love him?”
“More than I’ve ever loved any man in my life.”
“That’s heavy,” Zoey said.
“I know. It’s not what I thought would happen when I got on that plane, but I’m glad I did.”
Zoey laughed. “I guess it’s a good thing that he made it sound like he was just going to sign the papers and be done with it all.”
“I know,” Ava said, clearing her dishes and going toward the front porch through the living room. She stopped at the table by the door, her eye caught by something between the wall and the table leg. “Oh crap. Eli must’ve dropped his wallet. Zoey, I have to go. I’ll call you back in a little bit.”
“Alright. I guess I’ll pack my bags for a long visit.”
Ava smiled. “I’ll let him know when I call him about the wallet. He said he’d send his plane for you when you were ready to visit, so be prepared to leave at any time.”
“Gotcha. I’ll see you soon.”
Ava hung up, kneeling down to grab the wallet where it had fallen. She pulled, but the little leather wallet was jammed in the small space. She pushed the table with her hip until there was enough give to pull the wallet out. It toppled out of her hand, falling open and onto the floor. Ava laughed, shaking her head as she went to retrieve it, then stopping in her tracks.
“Logan Jones?” she said out loud, looking at the first card that caught her eye. “He must have found this wallet.”
Curious, she located the driver’s license so she could find the address of the proper owner. If it was nearby, maybe she could drive it to him. But when she pulled out the license, the face staring back at her wasn’t that of a stranger. It was Eli, without a doubt.
She pulled out every card, shocked to see that Logan Jones had all manner of credit cards, video store membership and even a gym card. If it had a picture on it, the picture belonged to Eli. “What the hell is going on?” she said out loud, her hair standing up on the back of her neck. Who was Logan Jones? Or better yet, who was Eli Hudson?
Her hands were shaking when she opened her phone, searching for Logan Jones in all her social media apps. She found him on every one. There were mostly pictures of just him, but she came across a few taken at places like that Grand Canyon, standing with a woman, arm in arm, too far from the camera for her to get a good look at the woman’s face. She checked his status, and when she saw the familiar icon that said he was married, her stomach dropped.
“This can’t be happening,” she said, holding the wallet in her hand, her mind reeling. She almost called Zoey, but then she stopped herself. She’d just spent more than an hour gushing about how perfect he was. How would she explain this to Zoey?
How did she explain it to herself?
The shock faded and was replaced with anger. Was this even a work trip, or was there a woman somewhere in Dallas that believed that “Logan” was on a work trip when he’d been in the mountains with her? Did he have other children?
Ava sat down, overcome with emotions. She set the wallet on the table beside her and stared at it without really seeing it. She felt numb. She knew she had to do something, but in that mo
ment, the only thing she wanted to do was scream.
She had no idea how much time had passed when she could finally breathe again. When she could finally think through the haze of anger, fear, and despair, she jumped up and retrieved her own purse, digging out her wallet. She took the card out that he’d given her, calling the number on the back to speak with customer service.
They asked her to verify her name, then the friendly woman on the other end of the phone asked her what she could help with.
“I just need to know how much credit is available,” Ava said.
“It’s a limitless card.”
“What?” Ava asked, sure she’d misheard.
“This card has no limit. You can spend fifty dollars or fifty million.”
Ava’s mouth dropped open, but she recovered quickly. She laughed as if she’d made a silly mistake, then put on her best act. “What about cash advances?”
“Same thing, no limit, but you will need to go inside whatever bank you use to withdraw the money and there will be a small fee for using the service. I see you haven’t set up a pin for yourself. As an authorized user, you can use the main pin, or you can create a unique one that’s easier to remember. Would you like to do that now?”
“I would,” Ava said.
“Perfect. I’m going to send you over to our automated system. It’s a simple process. You have a great day.”
“You do the same,” Ava said.
She followed the prompts then hung up, not sure what she was going to do with the pin. Ava didn’t want to see Eli ever again, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t ensure that he paid his fair share raising their child. Then she would shred the card and move. Whatever it took to keep a man like that out of their lives. He already had a family; he didn’t need her too.
But first, she had to get back to Nebraska.
She used her phone to get online while she packed a bag and her laptop. She took one last look at the computer that he’d just bought her, then decided she would buy an identical one when she got home. It was a gift, after all. If he didn’t like it, he could return this one. Then she would pack up her house in Omaha and sell it. Where she would go after that was anyone’s guess, but she wanted to make sure that he never found them.