by Marie Harte
“Well, well. You sure took your sweet time, Doc. Not that you don’t look like you put the time to excellent use”—a direct once-over that set her blood ablaze—“but man. You took an extra twenty minutes.” Landon ribbed her.
“I’m so sorry. I was speaking with Claudia about something.” She took great satisfaction in his shocked expression. “Let’s discuss it over dinner, shall we?”
* * *
Shit, shit, shit. Man, try to give a woman compassion, let her down easy, and she craps all over your dinner plans. Damn Claudia, anyway.
Landon kept watching Ava for any hint she meant to dump him during dinner. It was killing him, all this polite conversation about his work, his day, his fine fucking job teaching the self-defense class.
They sat in Toulouse Petite, his favorite restaurant for Cajun cuisine in Seattle. As usual on a Friday night, the place was packed. So looking on the bright side, if she just walked out on him, no one would notice.
“Do you like managing people?” she asked and munched on her salad. She had a healthy appetite, which he appreciated. Nothing worse than going out with a woman who picked at her food.
“Yeah. It’s like being in the Corps, except here people cry when you yell at them.” He shrugged. “But once I let Kyle know I wasn’t serious about ripping his throat out, he calmed right down. Set a good tone for the office though.”
She just looked at him, and he could totally imagine her in a pair of sexy glasses, peering down her nose at him. He mentally added a super prim skirt suit with garters and crotchless panties underneath. Then she’d ask him to lie back on her couch and confess his fantasies while she slowly stripped down…
“I’m kidding,” he confessed, and she looked relieved. He actually had made Kyle cry, but not from threatening the guy bodily harm. More like, if the idiot didn’t improve his efficiency, stop taking two-hour lunch breaks, and get his head out of his ass, Landon would openly fire the dumb shit in front of his fiancée and the entire office. Kyle had been a model employee since.
“You said you were a business major in college, and you’re used to managing people. Sounds like you’re a perfect fit for your job. So what’s your office environment like?”
He responded, trying to sound interested. But good Christ. This polite chitchat was driving him insane. What the hell had Claudia said to her in the locker room? He kept waiting for Ava to bring it up. But for some reason she wasn’t.
“Do you think it might snow this weekend?”
He couldn’t take any more. “Are you going to tell me what Claudia said or what?”
She paused in the act of sipping her water, then set it down. The waiter chose that moment to bring them more water and to inquire about refills on their drinks. So Landon waited through excessive inquiries from an overly smiley guy about to get a fist in his face if he didn’t hurry the hell up. Once Smiley finally left, Ava took a few bites of her salad, prolonging the agony.
In a calm voice, she mused, “You seem a little bothered, Landon.”
“You think?” he snapped. He’d lost control of the situation, and it aggravated him. He couldn’t do damage control if he had no idea what needed to be fixed. She hid a smile, but not fast enough.
He scowled. “You think this is funny?”
“Actually, I do.” She laughed and finished the wine he planned on paying for, even though she’d lost their earlier bet. Delayed by his ex. Talk about a bad way to start the night.
He tried to hold onto his irritation when the waiter returned—friggin’ guy—and dropped off their drinks and entrées. Ava wore a devilish grin, her full lips utterly kissable. Her hair looked silky under the soft light overhead, and he wondered what it would feel like brushing his belly while she kissed her way down his body.
He was dying to get his hands on her. She made it worse, because every time she smiled, his heart threatened to race out of his chest. Snarky, intelligent, sexy. She had it all, the trifecta of just-his-type, and he wanted a real kiss this time. So badly he could taste it.
With a loud sigh, he rested his elbow on the table and sank his head into his hand. “Okay, I give up. What the hell did she tell you? It’s eating me alive not to know.”
Ava’s laugh warmed him. “Relax, Landon. She had nothing but lovely things to say about you.”
He straightened in his seat and waited for the ax to fall.
Her compassion, and mirth, unnerved him. “In fact, I think she’s in—”
“Don’t say it.”
“—love with you. Or maybe she just thinks she is. Because even after two months, she still misses you. Oh, and according to her, you don’t emotionally share like you should. But then, your relationship with her was just physical, so maybe that’s all you were invested in to begin with.”
He groaned. “She told you that?”
“Yes. You should also know she’s waiting with her arms wide open whenever you decide to go back to her.”
Did Ava have to take such joy in the telling? Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks looked so pink and pretty. Her lips were a glossy red, a deep, rich color that invited him to lean closer and take a sip. Would she taste like her wine? Or like the spicy dish she’d ordered, a saucy gumbo that smelled like heaven?
At that moment, his stomach rumbled. “You can keep talking, but I’ve got to eat. My stomach’s about to collapse on itself.” He swallowed a moan along with a healthy bite of his sandwich while she dug into her food. He finally relaxed, realizing she had no intention of ditching him. At least, not until after dinner. “I’m, uh, glad you’re enjoying tonight.”
“Oh, I am. It’s not every night I see the great Landon Donnigan out of sorts with a woman.” Ava’s smile widened. “And being that woman, why, I never want the experience to end.”
Neither did he, oddly enough. Wanting to sex her up made sense. Wanting to sit and talk and make her laugh? That went deeper than the physical. It was something to think about.
They ate in silence for a few bites, and he felt it safe to change the subject. “Ah, so all that talk about the self-defense class. Did you like it?”
“I did.”
“Don’t sound so surprised. We know what we’re doing.”
“What surprised me most was that you two never talked down to us. You never tried to act tough and manly, as if you know better. You explained, you broke things down, and you put the power to act in our hands.” She considered him, and her intensity stripped him bare. “You’re doing the class for your sister.”
“I mentioned that.” Not in so many words, but Ava was smart. She’d put the clues together.
“Not in so many words.”
Like she read my mind. He cleared his throat and pushed his po’boy aside. “Hope is my little sister. Lately she’s been dating some real bozos. I don’t want to see her get hurt, so we’re teaching her how to physically stand up for herself. I mean, hell, she’s smaller than you.”
“I’m not small.”
Ava was perfectly proportioned, to his way of thinking. “You’re about average in height, right? Five-six? Five-five?”
She frowned. “Five-six and three quarters. I like to round up to an even five-seven.”
“You’re so cute pretending to be taller.” He laughed at her, pleased at her blush. “Yeah, so, Gavin and I talked Hope into taking the class. And I realized it would help a lot of people, not just her.” He gave her long look. “Like you. I mean, who knows what the next yahoo you date will be like?”
“There is that.” She gave him a disdainful once-over. “Who knows what I’ll be dealing with?”
He chuckled. “That’s what I like about you.” Besides that mouthwatering body. “Your sense of humor.”
“And wit.”
“Yeah, brainy babes do it for me.” He deliberately laid on the macho attitude. The thicker the better.
Except she smiled at him again. “I know you’re putting me on. I can tell when you try to get a rise out of me.”
“Are you shrinking me, Doc?”
“Shrinking is not a verb, Landon.”
He liked her saying his name with that combination of vexation and amusement.
“Technically it is.”
She frowned, then sighed. “So it is. My point is I don’t ‘shrink’ people. I talk to them. I observe. I offer therapeutic advice and counsel to my patients.” She drank more wine. Moderate but consistent. Ava remained fully in control of herself. He liked that about her too. “I try not to beleaguer my dates with armchair diagnoses.”
“Tell me about your dates.” Finally a place he felt on even keel. “You told me you’re looking for a baby-maker and future husband.”
“I knew you’d bring that up again.” Her eyes narrowed. Hot topic, apparently. “Why? Are you auditioning for the role?” she snapped.
“For baby-maker? I’m sure game to try.” He smiled. “Though I’m surprised you’re so casual about your future baby-daddy.”
“I am so sorry I mentioned that to you.” She finished what remained of her merlot. “To be honest, I only added the baby part to throw you. I’m dating because I’d like to find someone to share myself with. To be intimate with, yes, but for much more than mere sex.”
Mere? “Sex is an important part of any relationship. Anyone can have friends. But sex is something you only have with someone special.”
“Like Claudia?”
He saw her flush the moment the words left her lips. “Jealous?”
“I’m as jealous of her as you are of Charles.” Her smug retort made his erection return full force, and just when he’d relaxed enough to be able to stand up without embarrassing himself.
He took a long drag of his beer. “Well then. I’d say you’re pretty green, Doc.”
She blinked. “What?”
“’Cause I didn’t like the dickhead sitting anywhere near you. He’s not in your league, and we both know it.”
“But you are?”
“Hell yeah. I’m starting quarterback. You’re easily a wide receiver.” He pursed his lips and gave her a deliberate once-over. “Well, not wide so much as built. Sexy. Hmm, what’s a complimentary word for ‘killer rack’?”
Her pretty pink cheeks made it impossible not to reach for her. He stroked the back of her hand on the table, taken with her softness. So delicate, and so tense. He needed to do something about that.
They finished eating and waited for the bill.
“I’ll pay my own way.” Ava pulled her purse in front of her.
“I asked you out. I pay. Besides, you had to deal with Claudia.” Her name felt bitter on his tongue.
Ava gave him a straight look and said, “You do realize buying my dinner does not entitle you to my body,” just as the waiter arrived with the check.
Landon grabbed it from him, ignored the guy’s wide eyes, and grinned at her. “Well then. How about if I let you leave the tip? My generosity should get me a kiss at least.” He looked up at their waiter. “What do you think? Your service was stellar. I’m thinking a big tip for you, my man.”
The guy turned on his heel and left. Landon glanced at Ava and saw her fighting not to laugh. “Something I said?”
She burst into laughter, and the sound of her amusement filled the empty spots inside him. Who knew making her feel good would make him feel twenty feet tall? Granted, he liked taking care of his dates, but seeing to Ava’s—what she’d call—emotional needs felt as vital as breathing.
“He was fine. Twenty percent. What do I owe?”
“I was kidding.” He tried to move the bill but she dragged it from him too fast.
She stuffed some cash in the card folder. “So our date…I have to tell you I wasn’t bored. Not at all.”
“Gee, Ava. Stroke my ego, why don’t you?” he muttered and handed off the bill to their waiter, who darted off with it like a deer chased by hungry hounds. “So.”
“So.” She sipped her water, looking completely composed.
He didn’t like that. He wanted her flustered, impassioned, her lips parted and begging for more. “What’s the verdict?”
“I’m sorry?”
“You should be. You said you weren’t bored. So did I charm you into another date or what?”
“I don’t know that I’d use the word charming. At all.” She snickered. “But you’re interesting to talk to.”
Interesting. Right up there with nice. The dating Kiss of Death. Might as well go for broke. “Well, let’s make this plain. I want to go out with you again. You intrigue me. Don’t think I didn’t see how you deflected most of my questions, either. Every time I asked you about you, you turned it around and made the question about me. You’d make a hell of an interrogator.”
“Thanks.” She seemed genuinely pleased.
And that. There. She was so damn adorable. How many women liked being praised for their devious inquisitive skills?
“Shall we go?” he asked after the waiter slipped the card folder back on the table. He’d pester her outside for their next date, which they would have.
“Yes, let’s.” They stood, and he rounded the table to help her with her coat. She looked startled, then gave him a warm smile and accepted his help.
“I’m not completely hopeless.”
“Not completely.”
“You’re a real smart-ass, you know that?”
She beamed.
Again, that attitude. He buttoned up his coat, glad it and his dark jeans masked his erection. They went outside, in the cold wind, and hurried to her car. She slipped on a patch of ice and would have fallen to the ground, like her purse, had he not grabbed her.
“Thanks,” she gasped. “Fast reflexes.”
He grunted, straightened her on her feet, and knelt to grab the stuff that had fallen out of her handbag. When he handed it to her, still on one knee, she put a hand on his cheek.
“My hero.” She leaned down to give him a kiss, and he froze.
The warmth of her mouth, the sweet taste of woman and wine, made it difficult to swallow a moan, but he did, not wanting to come off as easy. A simple kiss and he was ready to beg.
Fuck.
She lifted her head, and he saw she’d closed her eyes. Her dark lashes looked thick, a forest of intrigue hiding the light green eyes of a temptress. Good thing they were in public, or he for sure would have tried to get her naked. Stat.
She blinked her eyes open and stared into his, and he swore he felt something snap between them. Then she hurriedly pulled back and clutched her purse to her chest. “Uh, th-thank you.”
He rose and stared down at her. “You’re welcome.” He cupped her chin and returned the gentle kiss, still not sure how something so benign could make him feel as if he’d been hit by a two-by-four. He lifted his head and saw her looking starry-eyed. “So I’ll see you again. Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Tomorrow. Right.” She didn’t blink, her gaze honed in on his. “What’s tomorrow?”
He smiled. Good. The woman was scattered. It wasn’t just him. “Tomorrow’s Saturday, Doc. How do you feel about college basketball?”
“Watching it?”
“As opposed to…?”
“For all I know, your family gets together to play. And I never played.”
“Washington is playing Oregon tomorrow. Want to come to my place and hang out? Take in the game on a big-screen TV? It’ll be some casual fun, so you can continue screening me, see if some of my other qualities make your list.” He smiled. “Besides, you know you want to see where I live. Consider it research, checking me out in my natural habitat.”
“You make it sound like I’m heading into the jungle to study gorillas. Though the comparison seems apt.”
He chuckled
, not at all offended. “Yeah, sometimes my sister calls me a big ape.”
“Not surprised. And I could have guessed you’d have a big-screen TV. You seem the type.”
“Not that tough to figure out.” He helped her into her car, then leaned down to confess, “I’m not compensating either, in case you were wondering.”
“Compensating?” She started her tiny car. He doubted he’d be able to fit his arms in the thing, let alone his whole body.
“You know. A big-screen TV to make up for my small banana.”
Her face paled.
“For the record, I rock a really big hammock.” He winked. “See you tomorrow, three o’clock. I’ll text you directions.” He stood back, once more in control of this fledgling relationship, and watched her try to regain her composure before she drove off.
Laughing, he texted her directions to his place. Near him, something beeped. He glanced around and saw a pale blue phone on the sidewalk. “Hell.” It must have fallen out of her purse.
He’d panic if he lost his phone. Despite not liking to talk to people in general, his cell was a necessity. With his family and work associates, people needed to get a hold of him. And Ava was a psychologist. She’d definitely need her phone.
He scrolled through it with a sigh, adding to his to-do list—Remind Ava to password protect her cell phone. Tech Security 101. Damn. He found her contact information easily, scoring her home address.
Landon whistled and walked to his car. His night had gotten even better. Now he had an excuse to see the doc at home. With any luck, she’d be wearing a negligee as she got ready for bed.
“Oo-fucking-rah.” He grinned the whole way there.
Chapter 8
Ava had already put on her favorite flannel sleep shirt, her purple fuzzy socks, and washed up for bed when she realized she had yet to charge her phone. But when she rooted through her purse, she couldn’t find it.
“What the heck?” She looked everywhere before she remembered she’d dropped her purse. “Oh no.”
Beside herself because her life was on that thing, she hurried to find her tablet and had just rattled off a message to Landon, asking if he’d seen it after leaving her, when she heard a knock at the door.