Loose Ends (Magnolia Series Book 1)

by Dawn, Taylor

  “Well, I’ve done enough warning you away from the sexy beast. I guess I’ll let you get your freak on now,” Brandi hooted.

  “Yeah, thanks. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how things are going.”

  “Sounds fab. Love ya, babe.”

  “Love you, too.” Luke heard Ava sit something down near the bug. Must’ve been her phone was his best guess.

  Suddenly he felt himself being swamped with guilt over what he’d been doing. Even deep beneath his twisted heap of a soul, he knew there was some sort of good guy lurking. He’d not seen hide or hair of that guy for what seemed like forever, but wrong was wrong. It didn’t matter how you tried to justify it. Switching off the receiver, Luke crammed it— with a little more force than usual— in its hiding spot.

  “Damn it!” he cursed as he pounded the heels of his hands into the leather cover of the steering wheel. Things were way off track. He wasn’t supposed to be as close to Ava as he’d gotten, but backing off now would cause suspicion. He couldn’t risk it. Seeing things through was the only option.

  Leaning forward, Luke curled his arms around the steering wheel and rested his head. “What the hell am I gonna do?” he muttered.

  “About what?” Ava’s silky voice startled him. He hadn’t realized she’d opened the passenger door.

  He needed an answer and quick. Ava stood there beseeching him with her beautiful amber irises. “Oh, I was sitting here thinking about a couple of projects I need to get done. Probably stressing myself out over nothing.” He smiled.

  “Okay. Do you want me to put my stuff up here or in the back?” She stood there looking so innocent and lovely that it almost hurt physically to look at her.

  “In the back.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and threw open the door. “I’ll help you.”

  “Why do men always think we’re helpless?” Ava laughed.

  Once he made his way around to her side of the truck he noticed the four bags at her feet. He looked from them to her face. “Moving in already?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Well that one,” she pointed a slim finger to a hot-pink medium-sized duffle, “Is nothing but underwear. I figured since you like trophies, I’d need extra to keep up.”

  Luke’s voice dipped lower as lustful thoughts invaded his body and brain. “What if I don’t let you wear anything while you’re staying with me?”

  “Is that a threat? Or a promise?” Ava stepped closer, her sugary floral scent enveloping him like a blanket of blissful sensations.

  “Which do you want it to be?” Damn he needed to touch her. To reach out and feel her creamy silken skin beneath his fingers.

  “I want you to choose.” Her voice shook as she moved in and her chest brushed his. It didn’t matter if she was standing ten feet away or mere millimeters, his body recognized hers and knew the promises it held. Even though it was like opening Pandora’s Box every time he touched her, he craved it like he’d die if he didn’t have just one more touch.

  “How about we take this to my place?” Luke wanted nothing more than to act out every vehicular sexual fantasy at the moment but Ava deserved better than a quick fuck in a truck cab.

  Her facial expression went from extremely heated to lax in a matter of seconds. “That’s probably a good idea.” He could tell she was filled with disappointment but she’d have to get over it. His plans for the evening would perk her right up.

  ***

  “Did you get any work done on the house today?” Ava began what she hoped was neutral conversation as they drove to Luke’s house.

  “No. I was up most of the night so I slept in.”

  “I was, too. Well, not the sleeping in part, but the insomnia issue.” She tried to make it known that he wasn’t the only one having trouble sleeping after what’d happened between them the night before.

  “Then tonight we’ll work on a good night’s rest.” Luke grabbed her hand and twined their fingers together. His promise of sleep was a bit of a letdown though. There were far too many things she’d rather be doing with him than sleeping.

  Since it was early afternoon Ava decided to take in the visual splendor of the landscape around her. Mississippi wasn’t so bad. The heat was more than excessive, and the weather—being so close to the Gulf—was somewhat bi-polar at times, but all in all, it was a beautiful state to live in. She only hoped her past didn’t rear its disgusting head and ruin everything she’d built over the past two years. She knew better than to get too comfortable, but there was always that tiny part of her that wished this was the place she could permanently plant her roots.

  Luke turned the truck onto the long gravel driveway leading to the plantation home. Ava became concerned when he stopped and yanked the gear shifter on the steering column into the ‘park’ position. “What’s going on?” She looked around and then to Luke.

  “I’d like to show you something,” he said as he opened his door. She watched him round the front of the truck and come to the passenger side where she sat with her door closed. He opened it for her and offered his hand to help her down.

  “You’re starting to worry me.” Ava tried to put humor in her voice but trepidation seeped through.

  “Then stop worrying and come with me.” Luke grabbed her hand and began to pull her along with him across the expanse of lush grass. Soon though he stopped in front of a tree. “My ancestors planted this tree right before the war.” He pointed at the towering slice of nature. “Come here.”

  Ava followed and soon she was standing in the cool shade of the most magnificent weeping willow tree she’d ever seen. The flexible branches draped over each other like a cascading waterfall spilling green onto the earth below. Each branch was covered in tiny leaves that caused a bushy effect and almost made it seem as if the outside world didn’t exist. The rough textured trunk was thick and sturdy, telling her that it had indeed been rooted in its home for many years. She envisioned Luke’s family digging a hole for what was once just a sapling needing love and attention to make it grow. Ava fluttered her eyes closed and thought of the many picnics that might’ve been had here on days-gone-by. The laughter of children circling around the base as they played hide-and-go-seek in the sweltering Mississippi summer months. And the stolen affections of a couple who sought shelter under this tree from prying eyes while locked in a passionate embrace. This wasn’t just a tree; no, it was a symbol of the history on this property. A reminder of good times and trying times.

  “Want to see the best part?” Luke’s question pulled Ava from her dreams. She nodded and trailed him as he wound around the other side. “Look,” he motioned to a carving about eye-level.

  “What is that?” She stepped closer.

  “My great-great-grandparents were married here. After the ceremony, they carved their initials in the trunk.”

  Ava lifted her hand and ran a finger through the ancient grooves. “This is…I don’t even have words to describe this, Luke.” She turned to see him watching her, some sort of strange emotion playing on his face.

  “You’re the first person I’ve shown it to.”

  “Really?” She couldn’t believe he hadn’t brought anyone else here to share something this special with. Stepping toward him, she wrapped her arms around his midsection and hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”

  “I knew you’d appreciate it. You seem to find beauty in the smallest of things.” His arms encircled her body, returning the gesture she’d given him.

  “In life I like to see the smaller parts that make up the picture. The things most people miss because they’re too busy trying to see everything as a whole. If they’d only slow down and appreciate the little things, they’d find so much more joy around them.”

  Even though she’d had a rough past couple of years, she adopted that motto. It didn’t matter who you were, life would throw something in your path that caused you to trip. The only way to survive was to look at things with a different perspective. Only then would you see that maybe what you’d thought were road b
locks, were merely stepping stones to get to a better tomorrow.

  Ava found so much comfort wrapped in Luke’s warm embrace. If she could stay there forever she just might consider it. But this was the real world, not some fantasy that prevented you from getting hurt if you found yourself in too deep. If she wasn’t careful she’d find herself so deep that she’d be near the earth’s core soon.

  “Your take on life is refreshing. I wish I knew what caused you to have such an outlook.” Luke lightly kissed the top of her head.

  “Not really something I want to talk about.” Ava hoped he wouldn’t press the issue. She didn’t want to ruin this sublime moment with more lies. And that’s what they would be. Lies to cover her reason for being in Biloxi. Lies that would hurt Luke if she told them and then he found out the truth. No, she wasn’t going down that road.

  “I respect that.” He pulled away enough to tip her head back and look into her eyes. He stared for what’d seemed like an eternity and surprised her by saying, “You wear contacts?” His face was full of confusion.

  Ava pulled away and turned her back. “Yes.”

  “They look like they change the color of your eyes.” She could feel him getting closer behind her.

  “They do.” Her answers were clipped as she hoped against hope that he’d drop it.

  “What color are they normally?”

  “It’s not important.”

  “I think it is. Seriously, Ava, what color are your eyes?” He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around, looking deep into her currently tawny colored eyes.

  Ava let out a resigned sigh, “They’re blue.”

  “Oh. Well, I’d love to see your beautiful blue eyes someday,” his voice was as sweet as molasses with its southern drawl and sugary words.

  “Maybe someday.” She shrugged while letting him tug her into another embrace.

  “But what I really want is to kiss you right now.” He tilted her head back.

  “No one’s stopping you.” Ava smiled up at this dazzling creature of a man, wondering why on earth someone as incredible as him would want someone like her.

  But it didn’t really matter. They were in their own hand-crafted bubble and he was once again getting ready to kiss her breathless. When his slightly moist lips pressed against hers, she automatically opened her mouth in invitation for him to take things deeper. Luke could never be close enough. She could never be full of his taste, aroma or sounds. The more she had of him, the more she wanted. It was a blessing and a curse being with him. She’d thought she could work him out of her system like any other bad habit. But she couldn’t do it when he was kissing her like he was starving for her. Because the fact of the matter was, she was just as hungry for him as he was for her. It didn’t make sense. Nothing truly made sense anymore when she thought about it. It wasn’t just Luke, it was her entire life. The way things had been so good lately, how she’d decided that maybe she wouldn’t have to run anymore, and how she’d finally found a sense of peace when she woke up each morning. The times she looked over her shoulder were far and few between, she didn’t feel as if she needed eyes in the back of her head so much now, and knowing she had at least one confidant in her life—her dearest friend Brandi— made each day more special. Luke was just icing on her bliss-filled cake.

  “I’m starting to believe that you think too much,” Luke said when he finally released her from the toe-curling kiss. His face held concern, but it was the awe and affection that gave her pause.

  “Can’t help it.” Ava let out a girlish giggle that was so unlike her.

  “I guess I need to ask what you’re thinking about, don’t I?”

  For once she didn’t want to hide from him. She was willing to tell him exactly what was on her mind. “I’m just…happy.” Ava let out a contented sigh.

  “Happy is good.” Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s head to the house. I need to feed you and hold you for a while.”

  “Sounds like the perfect evening.”

  Chapter Eleven

  There wasn’t a moment of the evening that Ava didn’t find herself smiling like a loon. Luke took the time to cook dinner—some sort of chicken and cheese casserole his grandmother used to make—and she found herself enjoying the quiet company while they ate dinner on the back porch. Contentment snuck its way in as she listened to him talk about his time in this house when his grandma was still alive. The summers he spent learning every recipe she’d stashed in her cookbook. The times he and she would get into a flour tossing fight while baking her award-winning peach pie. And the days when she’d gotten sick and he’d stayed with her until she took her last breath. Ava could see the emotions playing out on his face like a slide show and felt her own emotions bubbling to the surface. He’d obviously loved his grandma very much. It was evident in the way he spoke about her. Ava found herself wishing she’d met the woman who’d shaped and molded such a huge chunk of Luke’s life.

  “Tell me about your family.” Luke picked up his glass of iced teas and took a long drink.

  “Not much to tell really. My parents owned a small bookstore. Pretty mundane stuff.” Ava shrugged. She wasn’t lying this time. It wasn’t like he could look her parents up and find information on them.

  “Do you talk to them much?” Luke prodded.

  “No, they were murdered when I was in Cosmetology school.” Ava held back the tears that threatened to spill over. She’d never forget the phone call she’d gotten from her aunt on the day her parents were killed. She’d been finishing up with a client while completing a level of training at the hair academy. In just a few seconds her world went from hopeful to bleak.

  “I’m sorry.” Luke reached over and wrapped her hand in his. The gesture comforted her more than she wanted to admit.

  “It was tough the first few years without them. You get used to seeing them and talking to them on the phone. It finally sunk in when I picked up my phone to call my mom one day and realized she wouldn’t be answering.”

  “Damn, Ava.”

  “I spent a couple years being scared that whoever killed them would come after me. The police said it was a random break-in, though. I didn’t even go back to their house after that. My aunt wanted me to go and get some of my parents’ things, but I couldn’t bring myself to set foot in the place where such a horrific thing happened.”

  “Can’t say I blame you. Did they ever catch the person who did it?”

  “No, the case went cold about six months afterwards. There were tips called in to the police department, but they couldn’t form any solid leads. Plus, with it being Chicago, it was nearly impossible to nail down a suspect.” Ava snapped her mouth shut and hoped Luke didn’t catch her slipup. She looked away to hide the fear in her eyes at her mistake.

  “Chicago? I thought you were from California?”

  “Oh, did I say Chicago? Sorry, I guess I got mixed up,” she laughed hoping he’d drop it.

  Luke chuckled but when she looked over at him she could see suspicion lurking in his eyes. Damn it. She’d been doing so well hiding her past. Luke had caused her to drop her guard and screw up. “Must be the day I’ve had. The whole incident with Chase…my brain needs a break.” Another excuse; one she hoped he’d believe.

  “That’s understandable. It’s getting late. How about we go lay down?” Luke grabbed his empty glass of tea—the half-melted ice cubes clanking around the bottom like a couple of Yahtzee dice in the game shaker—and reached for her hand. She’d expected him to lead her up the grand staircase to his waiting bed, but he did nothing of the sort. Instead he walked into the newly renovated living room and pulled a folded blanket from the back of an antique armchair. Ava gave him a quizzical look as he turned around with the fluffy item draped over his arm.

  “What’s that for?” she asked as she reached out and ran her hand over the inviting fabric. The silky texture of the blanket felt like home. Like something she’d want to wrap herself in while sipping a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter’s
night.

  “It’s for lying out under the stars.” He smiled as he leaned toward her. His lips pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and she damn near melted on the spot. “Come on.” He tugged her behind him and back through the kitchen.

  The night heat hit her as she followed him out the back door and onto the wraparound porch. Memories flooded her as she remembered what they’d done on this very porch just a couple nights ago. Her fingers ached to grab ahold of the railing again and let Luke take her body until she begged for mercy. But it seemed he had other plans for tonight. Ones that involved lying on a blanket, staring up at the sky. It was romantic in a way, but not the scene she’d envisioned when he said he wanted to “lie down” with her.

  Fireflies sparkled all around as Luke searched out the perfect spot to spread the blanket. Glancing around, Ava wondered why he’d finally chosen a spot beneath a towering magnolia tree. “Um, it’s going to be hard to see the stars under a tree,” she said while chewing on the cuticle of her thumbnail.

  Luke didn’t say anything as he situated the blanket, stretching out the corners so they were perfectly symmetrical. Ava stood by and watched him kick off his shoes, pull off his socks and tug his shirt over his head. “I wasn’t planning on watching the sky. I’d rather watch you.”

  “I’m not interesting enough to watch. You’d probably get more enjoyment from stargazing.”

  Luke stepped closer and grabbed the bottom of her shirt, gently tugging it upward. “You underestimate your qualities.” She lifted her arms so he could remove her top entirely. “I, for one, think you’re worth watching.” Luke brushed his knuckles along the flat surface of her exposed stomach. “And touching,” he reached up and grazed her already erect nipple through her lacy bra, “and tasting.”

  Ava closed her eyes as he leaned down and ran his warm tongue between her still restrained breasts. “That feels amazing,” she breathed.