by Lacey Wolfe
Pulling the curtain back from the front door, he glanced out to see Ava. Shit, what does she want? Didn’t she know he was not to have any contact with her? Now she was at his house, in the middle of the night. Of course, she was looking right back at him, and he couldn’t just ignore her. Could this day get any worse?
Seth unlocked the door and held it open for her to come in. Once she was safely inside, he closed the door, locking it again. He saw her make note of what he was doing. He had his reasons.
“You know you’re not supposed to be here,” he said.
“I feel horrible about this.”
He raked his hands through his hair. “Why? Tell me why you think it’s me.”
“I didn’t know what to think. Imagine how it feels for someone to want you to go away and you don’t even know who it is. The only person who has ever been vocal about me leaving is you.”
“But I told you I was wrong and that I was sorry.”
“I know. But then I thought you were doing all that just so I wouldn’t suspect you,” Ava confessed.
“Shit, Ava, let me guess. You also think I kissed you so you wouldn’t think it was me?”
She nodded. Wow, this was just unreal.
“It’s not me. I would’ve found out who it was if I was still on the case. You being here now could cost me my job.”
“I don’t want that,” she said quietly. Then her eyes met his, and she continued. “I know it was wrong, and I wasn’t thinking right the other day. Your department stands behind you. They believe you’re innocent, even though they have honored my request. What do I do now? Tell them I was wrong? Would it do any good?”
“You could always try. It’s up to you. If you believe even a small bit it was me, then don’t talk to them. Leave me off the case.”
“It’s late. I guess I should let you do whatever you were doing.” She turned toward the door, but Seth reached out and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her to face him.
“Why are you out this late?” he asked.
“I’ve been working around the clock, waiting on whoever the creep is to show their face.”
“You’ve been alone in your store late at night when there is someone out there who wants to run you out of town. Are you crazy?” His voice rose, filled with anger.
The look on her face told him he’d just made a mistake. That feisty Italian was kicking in as her hands landed on her hips, and she tossed her long, dark locks behind her shoulders. “I can take care of myself. Can you please enlighten me as to why you get so upset about me being alone at night? I do live alone. Does that bother you?”
Now that she mentioned it, maybe he just needed to sweep this woman up and move her in with him to keep her safe all the time. It then hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn’t, no matter how hard he tried. He couldn’t make up for what had happened to Kimberly with Ava. These were different situations and different women.
“Have a seat. I’d like to explain something to you,” he said.
Once they were seated on the couch, he took a deep breath and began to speak. “I was home from college, and Kimberly was still in high school. Being home, I decided to hook up with an old girlfriend. Things got carried away, and I forgot to go pick Kimberly up, so she decided to walk home.” He paused, composing himself before he continued. He stared down at his hands and finished. “She was raped that night. And to this day, I blame myself. If I hadn’t put my own selfish needs before hers, then it never would’ve happened. My sister never would’ve experienced something so horrible. So that’s why I am the way I am. I want to keep everyone safe in Brookfield. This is my town, and I don’t want bad things happening.”
Ava reached out, taking his hand. He could tell she didn’t know what to say. It sent chills through him finally sharing with her what had happened all those years ago. Most people didn’t expect that had happened to Kimberly, who was a sweet and well-adjusted girl. Ava gazed into his eyes before she softly said, “I’m very sorry about what happened, but it isn’t your fault. You didn’t know that was going to happen. And Kimberly is a wonderful girl. Her head seems to be on her shoulders straight. You can’t protect everyone … but I certainly understand you a lot better now.”
“I get a little out of control sometimes. If anyone can take care of themselves, it’s you.”
Ava released his hand and then slowly rubbed her palm up his chest. It felt damn good for her to finally be willing to touch him. Gazing down into her big green eyes, it took everything in him to resist leaning down and kissing her. He needed her to do it. To show him how she felt and that she did, in fact, want him. He already knew he wanted her in a bad way.
Her fingers crept behind his neck, and she rose up. Her mouth was close, and all he would have to do was move an inch forward and he could taste her sweetness. His gaze was locked on her lips. Ava sucked her bottom lip in a little, and he thought it was cute. This feisty woman was nervous to make the move, and it warmed his heart to know she had a soft side.
Finally, she must have found courage because her lips took his in a greedy way. In no time at all, her tongue swooped in, and all thinking was out the door. Ava started out cautiously but, out of nowhere, she shoved him back onto the couch and climbed into his lap. As she straddled him, she pushed her top half against him as if she was trying to glue herself to him.
She smelled wonderful—a mix of fresh flowers and a hint of honey. Between how good she tasted and smelled, he really was wondering if she was an angel from heaven, coming to take him home. Home. That was just how she made him feel.
Ava moved her body so she now sat in his lap and grinded against him. Good God! As she hit his crotch and moved the way she did, he worried he was going to react the same way a high school boy would.
Pulling away from her kiss, he gripped her shoulders and pushed her back. “Slow down, or else this is going to be over much sooner than either of us is hoping for.”
It took a moment for his words to register, and then she giggled. “Sorry. I guess I got a little carried away.”
She leaned forward and let her lips trail down his neck to his collarbone. Her lips sucked in a little, and then her tongue gently traced where her mouth had been. His zipper was getting awfully tight, and he wondered just how far this should go. He wanted to take her. Carry her back to his bed, undress her, taste each and every inch of her, and then bring her hopefully the best pleasure she’d ever experienced, but something in him told him tonight was not that night. The circumstances of her coming here and the reality of the real world slammed into him, reminding him that Ava had to leave.
“I hate to tell you this, but you really must stop. We can’t go any further,” he said.
“I know we can’t, but it feels so good.” She looked deep into his eyes. “Maybe we could.”
She wanted to be with him. This made it so much worse. “If you stay any longer and someone sees you here, I could lose my job. We aren’t supposed to be in contact until this case gets solved.”
Ava climbed out of his lap and sat next to him. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
“It isn’t your fault. Someone is trying to make it look like me, and I was sure I’d find them, but my team here in Brookfield is excellent. They will find the SOB without me.”
“I’m sure whoever it is means no harm. Simply trying to give me a scare. They obviously don’t know me. I don’t scare easily, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Seth chuckled. “Tell me about it. Even I couldn’t get you to leave.” He reached out and took her hand. “And that was one of the stupidest things I ever wanted.”
“I’m still a little thrown by this curveball. One moment, you hate me then you like me, but I think I’ll take it for what it is.”
“How do you think I feel? One minute, you are giving me dirty looks, and then you’re giving me a different type of dirty look.”
She leaned forward, kissing him. It was a short one but enough to bring his engines to life again.
“I guess I better get out of here. Thankfully, it’s late, and hopefully no one will see me.”
“Let’s hope.”
After one last kiss, she left, abandoning him alone on his couch praying like hell she made it home safely at this time of night. Seth was glad he’d finally opened up to her. Not many knew what had happened to his sister. Neither he nor she talked about it, not even to each other. Whenever he brought it up to Kimberly, she would brush it off as though it was no big deal. He wondered if the past haunted her as much as it did him.
* * *
“Come here, Lila, you little cutie,” Ava called after the walking toddler.
“I told you, she is a mess. It’s darn impossible to get anything done.” Julie darted across the living room, snatching her daughter up in one swoop.
Ava watched in delight as she studied the pair. Julie held Lila up and gave her little tickles before setting her loose again. As soon as Lila was free, she ran back the other way.
“Wow, look at that expression you have on your face. Are you catching the baby bug?” Julie asked.
“The what?”
“The baby bug. You know, you want one yourself.”
“I don’t think so. I kinda need a man, a ring, a dog, a house … all that stuff.”
“You have some of those.”
“Um … no. Pretty sure I have none of those. I’m renting a cabin still over at Honeycreek, and I don’t have a dog, a ring, or a man.”
“Oh, you know that last part was a lie,” Julie joked.
Ava raised an eyebrow at her cousin. “He isn’t mine.”
“Oh, please. If you’d quit fighting your feelings for one another, the two of you would be between the sheets in no time.”
Without a doubt, Ava knew Julie was right. Hell, Ava might have even gone to bed with the man last night. She was glad he’d had self-control and stopped before they’d gone any further. Sure, all they had done so far was kiss, but she could not wait to get the man naked.
“Now you’re in la-la land, which tells me I’m right.” Julie smiled. “Anything else happen since that last kiss?”
Ava would love to tell her cousin she’d seen him last night, but apparently it hadn’t gotten around yet that she had accused Seth of being the one who was damaging her shop.
“Nothing.”
“Maybe Mark and I should have you both over for dinner one evening. Oh, and Claire and Jace could come also. A triple date!” Julie’s gaze darted all around. “Where the heck is my cellphone? I’ll text Claire right now and see when they are free.”
Ava laid her palm on Julie’s hand. “Cousin, chill. This triple date can’t happen right now.”
“Sure, it can.”
“No, really, it can’t. I sorta accused him of being the one doing all those things to my shop. He’s been removed from the case, and I’m not allowed to be in contact with him until they solve it.”
Julie’s mouth dropped open. “What? Are you insane? Seth would never do something like that. I’ve known him for a long time. He doesn’t have it in him.”
“I wasn’t thinking straight. I told Seth I would go to them and tell them I was wrong, but he said not to. If I at all think he might be involved, then I have to leave him off. He didn’t want anyone accusing him of tampering with evidence, and he thinks someone out there is trying to make it look like he did it. Obviously, they are, after the note they spray-painted.”
“Poor Seth.”
“This is hard on me, too,” Ava argued.
“Yeah, but how could you think he did it?”
“Because the man has been telling me practically since he met me that he wants me to leave. Go to Jackson Hole or wherever. Just get out of Brookfield. He isn’t innocent in this.”
“I wasn’t trying to imply that he is.”
Ava crossed her arms. “It sounded like it. I’m the one being vandalized.”
“Let’s just change the subject. This is touchy and fresh, and the last thing either you or I want is to be on non-speaking terms over some silly fight, right?”
Ava’s arms fell to her side, and she smiled. “You always were the peacemaker. God, what would I do without you in my life?”
“I don’t know. Have a lot more enemies?”
Lila walked over, obviously getting worn out from the circles she had been running around the living room. She stood in front of Ava and reached up. Ava picked up the little girl, and when Lila snuggled up next to her and plopped her thumb in her mouth, Ava’s heart melted. Maybe she was catching the bug, because right about now she wanted her own.
Chapter Eleven
Seth had been right, and now the town folks were scrambling madly, collecting supplies. The first dusting of snow hit a little early this year. The weatherman reported that it wasn’t going to last. The next day, the day would heat up enough to melt the snow away, but it still left everyone in a tizzy. The local grocery stores were packed as everyone prepared for the upcoming winter.
Pulling into the station, Seth was ready to get this day over with. The first part had been the usual nonsense, and now the last half was dealing with all this snow stuff. Hopefully, everyone made it home safely tonight, and he could get some rest. After the visit from Ava, and knowing she just might have let him make love to her, had left him up all night tossing and turning.
As he entered his office, he noticed several officers watching him. He wasn’t really sure why. Looking down, he checked to make sure he hadn’t spilt anything on himself. Nothing. Shrugging it off, he took a seat in his office and fired up the computer to go over his e-mails.
Cody suddenly leaned through the doorway. “I need to talk to you.”
“What’s up?”
“It’s about Ava’s case.”
Shit. What was going on now?
“There’s been something else,” Cody continued.
“You’re kidding. What?”
“A note was left at her cabin.”
Seth stood, shoving the chair away from his desk so it smacked against the wall. “The person has been to her place?”
Cody nodded and handed him a paper. “This is what the note said. It’s not looking good for you.”
Now Seth was really confused. He took the note and read in disbelief. Your kisses may be sweet, but I still want to see your sweet ass walking out of this town.
“Fuck.” Seth gripped the paper tightly in his hands.
“I’m going to ask this only once. Is it you?”
“Hell, no!” Seth yelled. “Someone is trying to set me up.”
“Any idea who?” Cody asked.
“No.” Seth shook his head. “But I wish I did. I’m glad you’re in charge of this. I know you’ll find him.”
Cody cleared his throat. “We’ll find whoever it is.”
“There has to be someone else. Ava has to know someone else who has said something.” Seth’s thoughts turned back to last night when she’d visited him. “When did she get the note?” Please say last night. At least then he’d have an alibi.
“When she returned home today from a visit with Julie.”
Shit! “I know I’m not in charge of this, but you’re going to have to come down hard on Ava to think of someone. Anyone at all she has seen walk by the place slowly or whatever.” He let out a groan. “Does she think I sent this note?”
“No. When she brought us the note, we asked her that. She said she was sure it wasn’t you and that she thought someone was setting you up.”
Relief swept through him. Thank God for that. Maybe whoever this person was wouldn’t be able to ruin things between them. Whoever was terrorizing Ava had to be someone she knew and had to be watching from afar. Maybe an old flame or a friend she’d done wrong. Then it dawned on him. They knew nothing about her past.
“Find out about old friends she might have gotten in a fight with, family who might feel like she owes them money, maybe even a scorned ex. And you might have to go to Julie. Ava is secretive.”
“On i
t, sir. We are going to get this solved.”
“I hope, and hopefully before the next incident happens.”
“Don’t worry. There won’t be another.” Cody turned and left.
Seth stared at the copy of the note in his hand. He couldn’t believe he couldn’t help with this. All he wanted was to find Ava and bring her home with him, where he knew she’d be safe and whoever this person was couldn’t get to her.
Work was impossible to finish up knowing the offender was out there. Seth closed his laptop, packed his things, and decided to leave for the day. As he made his way to the front door, he saw a meeting going on in one of the rooms. Cody appeared to be in charge of it. Even though Cody had the hots for Ava, or so it appeared, Seth knew Cody could handle the team almost as well as he could. Cody would find the SOB, and soon things would be normal again.
Then again, had anything been normal since Ava had come to town? As he drove home, his mind wandered to that first evening he’d met her. She’d been fun and flirty. Right off the bat, he’d wanted to know everything about her, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he knew nothing about her. Other than the fact she was opening up a lingerie shop. Where did she move from? What work did she do before this? Why was she in Brookfield? The girl was a mystery.
He remembered when they’d arrived at the Swift Water Café diner the way she’d jerked when his hand had pressed against her lower back, as though the gesture was too intimate or possibly too possessive. Had someone hurt her in the past? Had she come to his town to get away from someone? She wouldn’t be the first person to take up residence in Brookfield to escape their past. There were several citizens who had done just that.
When this was done and over, he was making it his duty to get to know everything there was about her.
* * *
The sun had been down for a few hours now. Seth had waited as long as he could, but he had to see Ava. It was almost midnight, and he had decided to sneak over to Ava’s cabin when it got late enough. Even with the light dusting of snow on the ground, he had to see her.