by Shannyn Leah
Pushing off the counter, she walked to Dax’s side to see what was of such importance that he’d called Stone here so early. Scanning the gazillion pages open in his browser only reminded her she’d just awoke and would need the entire pot to keep up with him. However, it didn’t take a completely wide awake person to see Kevin was the hot topic this morning.
She felt Dax’s arm wrap around her hip and he pulled her close against his side. “We got this, Ava.”
She glanced between him and Stone, wondering just how much he’d shared. “Got what exactly?”
Stone’s finger loudly tapped the papers in the center of the table, drawing her attention. He said, “This bastard. We’re going to bury him so deep he’ll never see light again.” He looked up suddenly. “We’re not going to kill him or anything.” She certainly hoped not…or did she?
His head dipped back to his work.
Ava nudged Dax’s side, and she set her mug next to his on the table. “Can I talk to you?”
“Sure.” He slid the chair back and led her to his office.
Inside, he pulled her into his arms, his mouth covering hers, devouring her in a good morning kiss that she could get used to. It was a future she wanted. However, pressing questions plagued her.
She pushed her hands against his chest, pulling away from his adamant lips. “What’s Stone doing here?”
“Helping,” he said, between kissing a path of heat down her neck.
“Helping with what exactly?” She scolded her body for arching for his mouth, but damn he felt so good.
Dax paused to send her a serious look. “He has police connections. I assume you can’t prove Kevin burned your family’s house down and doubt after all these years you want to accuse him of doing so….” He paused as if hoping she’d disagree. She remained silent. “We need to find something, anything on this prick to put his ass in jail.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. That’s why we have Stone.” He winked, but she felt anything but appeased. “I spent the night next to you, holding you, wanting you.” His tone lowered, desire pulsing through each word. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, but right now, less talking and more of this.” He kissed her hard and she yelped when he lifted her suddenly. “Dax!”
He chuckled against her. “God, I love you woman.”
She dug her fingers in his hair and pulled, forcing him to look at her. “What did you say?”
He grinned, lips moist and luscious from her mouth. She could feel every place he’d pressed his lips on her, fueling the desire inside her.
“I said I love you.”
She knew it was silly, embarrassing even, because he’d said it before, but tears slipped down her cheeks.
He lifted her, sat her on the edge of his desk and kissed her tears. “Even more, because you give me your all.”
She rolled her eyes, inhaling a quick breath. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
He cupped the side of her face and gently kissed her mouth. “I’m being serious.”
“I love you, too. I think I always have.”
“I know.”
She playfully slapped him. “You’re so cocky.”
“I think you knew that, too.” He grinned. “And love it.”
Ava laughed, surprised he could bring the sound out of her when she felt so scared inside. It felt amazing to laugh now, even if it didn’t last. She sobered, letting the current situation sweep over their moment. “I don’t want to involve other people in my dangerous mess.”
“Stone’s not people, he’s family. I’d do it for him and he knows you would, too. We stick together. Family is not always about blood. I think my dad proved that over and over to you.”
“It’s hard to let people into this part of my life. At the beginning, I only let Rowdy in because I was alone and pregnant.” She took a deep breath. “My skepticism had held me back for months until I trusted your dad was sincere. I think part of me stays in a place where I fear help, think the worst, and feel safe there alone. And then when he died, I wasn’t sure about everyone at the station. I guess I felt like I never fit in and I was always alone.”
“You’re not alone. Not now, not ever.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I feel safe with you. I’ve never known I wanted—or could feel—this way without feeling weak at the same time. Thank you for showing me differently.”
“I should be the one thanking you. Before you I was destined to be alone.”
She tilted him a look. “Dax, you came after me, remember? Decided we were destined to be together and you wouldn’t give up on us.”
He grinned. “I’m glad you finally came around.” He nuzzled her neck, nibbling on her skin. “How about we agree my dad is somehow here with us, sticking his nose into business that’s not his?”
She gripped the sides of his face this time, forcing him to look at her. “Rowdy did good with you.”
Dax grinned. “I don’t know Miss Anderson, I’ve been known to be bad…very, very bad.”
She leaned back and gave him a questioning look. “What are you doing?”
“I was sent to detention for misbehaving. Are you going to punish me for being bad, Miss Anderson?”
She laughed. “Shhh…. Stone will hear you.”
He shrugged. “Don’t think Stone hasn’t had a teacher/student fantasy. But not with you. I’d have to kill him.”
Ava took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. As they landed back on him, she gave him her best stern look. “Dax, I heard you’ve been having inappropriate outbursts in the classroom regarding innocent comments. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“I’m guilty. Punish me.”
She laughed again. “You’re such a pig.”
His hand slid up her back and gripped her neck, drawing her head closer to his until the tender kneading of his lips assisted her in forgetting about the rest of the world. Even if only for a short moment.
~
DAX WAS GOING to find that son of a bitch and send him away for a long time. He had a long record already and it was only a matter of digging that would give them the leverage they needed. Dax did what he did best, using his connections in town to get his hands on the best private investigator.
Quinn Barker came highly recommended from Colt Patterson, who had connections to Marc Caliendo, owner of the Caliendo Resort. Highly recommended and private. Quinn would keep his detailing on the down-low to prevent suspicion.
Dax felt relaxed for the first time in two days. Through the windows enclosing the indoor pool, he saw Ava, fully clothed, sitting on the edge watching as Olivia splashed around. She still carried the burden of the situation and no amount of promises would ease her mind. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, her laughter didn’t resound as loudly and her constant scanning of their surroundings worried him.
Hearing Stone’s car rip down the driveway, Dax closed his laptop and walked into the pool room, pulling his shirt over his head. He decided his current duty was to get a smile on this woman’s face.
Olivia moved around the pool, pulling toys out of the deck box and playing in and out of the pool. Ava trailed behind her, a little too close, and a lot too protective. Damn if he didn’t love her for it, but it was his job to make her feel safe.
She spotted him before he’d stepped onto the cold tile floor, but her worried eyes didn’t linger on him as they glanced back out the windows to search the trees around the house. When he scooped her up and over his shoulder, she screamed. “Dax, put me down!”
Olivia laughed hysterically behind them.
Out of the young girl’s view, Dax slapped Ava’s derrière and got another scolding.
He turned to Olivia. “Are you coming, sweetheart?”
She tossed the noodle she’d been dragging on the ground. “Yes!” She ran straight to Dax and hopped into the arm he held out. He lifted her against his free side.
“Dax Colyn you put us down this instant.” Ava wiggled, which in turn,
made their skin to skin contact even more reason not to put her down. For a mother, this woman had a rocking hot body. His father would say it’s because he saw her soul and not her body, and maybe the old man was right.
“Not a chance. You had your chance to get your clothes off and have some fun, but since you didn’t, here we go.” He walked to the edge of the deep end and Ava whacked him harder.
“Dax, no! I am not in the mood.”
“Tough.” He looked at Olivia. “Hold your breath.”
She nodded, taking a deep breath and Dax jumped. Their screams were swallowed by the water. Dax surfaced to find Olivia cheering and swimming to the edge to jump in again.
Ava, on the other hand, swam to him. “You jerk!” Grabbing at his body, she tried to climb on him and dunk him under the water. She failed. He successfully managed to slip his hands under her shirt, caress her warm skin and pull her body against his front.
He kissed her.
“I let you win,” Ava said against his lips.
He grinned at her. “Did you now?”
“Yes. I do have a black belt in self defense. I certainly could have stopped you if I’d wanted.”
He pushed her hair away from the sides of her face. “Sorry, darling, but you’re a tiny little thing. I’m not so sure you could win if you tried.”
“Maybe tonight I will show you exactly what I’m capable of.”
Hot damn. “Promise?”
She smirked, a troublemaking look he wanted to explore further. “I promise.”
“Dax, again!” Olivia cried, breaking their moment.
“I’m holding you to it,” he said before swimming to the edge of the pool.
Mission accomplished and then some. Not only had she smiled, but she’d promised an evening of pleasure.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
~
“DAMN IT, WOMAN.”
“I told you, Colyn.”
“You mislead your true meaning,” he barked.
Sitting on his chest, and not in a sexual way, her panting heaved her chest up and down as she grinned down at him. “I spelled it out quite clear. I can’t help it if you thought I was talking about the bedroom when really I was referring to kicking your ass.” She blushed as the curse left her lips and it made her even the sexier.
“You’re a tease.”
“So you’ve said.”
In a quick motion, he flipped her on her back and nestled his body between her legs. “My turn and there’s no hiding my true meaning.” He bent down and took her heavily breathing mouth in a hard kiss that clicked their teeth together. He heard her light giggle, but giggling wasn’t his intention. He deepened the kiss, stealing every last breath she had and leaving them both panting for an entirely different reason. They’d spent a good hour sparring. Yes, sparring, with little tiny Ava.
“You went easy on me,” she panted.
He slid his hand under her head and lifted her to his mouth. “I can play rough.”
She laughed, her hands pushing his chest. “The sparring. You went easy.”
“You’re tiny. I’m not going to break you and I would break you.”
“You didn’t even give me a real chance.”
“A chance to what? Kick me in the balls? I know a little about woman’s self defense.”
She laughed and touched his face. “I did notice you sort of kept good guard in that area.”
He touched her face, stroking the side of her head with his thumb. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a speedy little sprite and are very unpredictable?”
“No, but since we’re speaking of unpredictability, how about you show me how rough you can play in the bedroom.” Red stained her cheeks, but she didn’t bow down.
“One day, I will. But not today.”
She pouted at him, but he had a feeling her self defense classes had been the result of her fear of Kevin and the last thing he felt appropriate doing was tying her up or spanking her ass…although both were appealing. Maybe some day.
“You’re sweaty,” he said.
She gasped, her eyes opening wide. She touched his forearm, then his bicep before slipping under his shirt and grinned at him. “You’re not sweaty at all.”
“I want to be.”
She laughed and he hauled her up with him, throwing her over his shoulder for the second time today. He was glad Olivia was sound asleep.
He started down the hallway toward the master bedroom.
“Let me check on her.” Ava reached for the doorframe of Olivia’s room as they passed.
Dax opened the door and turned around so Ava could look at her sleeping daughter. “Good?”
“Closer,” she said.
Dax rolled his eyes, but walked backward into the room.
“Pull the covers over her,” Ava whispered.
Dax turned around and tucked Olivia in with one hand, then tilted Ava for approval.
“Thank you. That’s good.”
In the master bedroom, Dax walked straight to the bathroom and set Ava’s bare feet on the cold tile. “Stay put,” he instructed, tearing off his shirt.
Lips tight, she said nothing and nodded. Dax moved around the room, first switching on only the dim lights around the ceiling edges, then twisted the taps to the Jacuzzi tub, running his hand under the water and waiting for the perfect temperature before returning to Ava.
He stopped in front of her and raked his eyes from her wiggling bare feet, up her light denim pants hugging her curves, over her damp shirt clinging to her breasts and finally stopping at her eyes. “You’re beautiful.’
“You’re not too bad yourself.” She reached for his bare chest, but he caught her hand and lifted it above her head, doing the same with the other hand.
“My turn,” he coarsely whispered in her ear, running his hands back down her arms and sliding over the sides of her body. In a slow, meticulous motion, he pulled her shirt up and over her head. He leaned back to admire the elegant silky skin he’d exposed before he moved onto the next piece of clothing. The smoothness of her collarbone and rise and fall of her breasts still trapped in her bra called to him. He quickly unlatched it and let the material fall to the ground as one arm snaked around her, pulling her against him, giving his lips access to devour every last inch of her uncovered skin. His tongue ran across her shoulder, his mouth sucked her luscious mounds, and wet kisses trailed up her throat.
He stepped back and let her go. She nearly collapsed without his support and he smirked at his effect on her.
“Who’s the tease now?” she asked with hooded eyes.
He dropped to his knees, his hands grasped her ass and pulled her body to his waiting mouth. He railed a row of kisses down her stomach, over her naval and stopped at the button of her pants. One button and a zipper later, he gripped the edge of her pants and heaved both her pants and panties down her long legs in one swift motion.
She gasped.
He grinned.
His hands travelled up and down her legs before he stood and unbuttoned his own pants. He watched her eyes follow his hands, her tongue licked her lips. He dropped his pants and her teeth latched onto her lower lip.
She looked up at him. “You’re beautiful. But those briefs have to go.”
He chuckled. “Yes, Miss Anderson.”
Her head fell back and laughter erupted from her. “I am not playing Miss Anderson. What is with you and this cottage and teacher fantasies?”
“Maybe because I have you all to myself.”
She closed the distance between them and reached up for a kiss as he bent down to meet her. “You have me all to yourself forever.” She yanked his briefs down and it was Dax’s turn to roar with laughter.
~
WHEN AVA HAD finally fallen asleep, Dax double-checked the cottage and Olivia. He opened her bedroom door and felt a breeze across his bare arms. Goosebumps skittered across his skin knowing they hadn’t left the window open.
He whipped open the door and turned on the light swi
tch. The covers were pulled back and the bed empty.
“Ava!” he shouted down the hallway, taking the short jaunt across the hall to check the bathroom.
Empty.
He grabbed a spare flashlight from under the sink before running back into the hallway and nearly plowing into Ava. “What? What is it?”
“Olivia’s gone.”
“What?” Ava darted by him into Olivia’s bedroom shouting her name. She ripped the blankets and sheets off the bed and fell with them to her knees looking under the bed. She slammed her fists on the floor, cursing, before standing up and pulling open the closet door. “Where is she? Olivia! Oh god, Dax, where is she?”
“I have to check the rest of the house.” Dax caught her wrist as she ran past him to the hallway. She tugged, trying to get away, but he held her.
“Ava?”
She glared at him. “What?
“The window is open.” Her head snapped in the directly of the open the window. “I think Kevin has her.”
Ava gasped and then covered her mouth. Instant tears streamed down her cheeks. “No, no, no,” she chanted through her fingers.
“Call the police. Report a kidnapping. Check the rest of the house after you call the police. I’m going to go find her.”
“If Kevin has her, how? How will we find her?”
“Call the police.”
She nodded and Dax let her go. He lifted the window open to its maximum height before he climbed out and flashed his light around the area beneath the window. As he’d expected, the flowers and vines had been trampled. He’d done perimeter checks daily, often half a dozen times a day, and these marks were new.
“Son of a bitch!” He would kill him this time. He would tear that spineless man into a thousand pieces.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
~
IF ONE MORE PERSON TOLD her they would find Olivia she was going to suffocate them with the pillow clutched in her hands.
Words weren’t actions.