Avery looked up at her longtime friend and smiled. “Just lucky, I guess.”
“Well, whoever he is he must have been good company. I expected to see you a walking wreck. Come on, let’s get you home.”
They collected her bag and walked to Cindy’s car. Avery couldn’t shake the feeling that something Mike said wasn’t right, she just couldn’t put her finger on it. It could be she wasn’t accustomed to so much male attention. When was the last time a man spent any amount of time talking to her?
“Well, was he there?” Cindy asked, starting the car and cranking the air conditioning against the oppressive South Carolina heat.
“He was there.”
“You’re kidding?” Cindy turned and frowned at her. “What happened? And don’t tell me nothing. I know you, Avery Easton, and that look on your face screams something happened.”
Avery adjusted the vent so the cool air could blast in her face. “He hid in the shadows, as far away from me as he could.”
“Jerk,” Cindy snapped.
“Yeah, well, I had the Chaplin give him a card with my hotel address and room number and ask him to meet me there.”
“Are you out of your mind? What possessed you to do that?”
Cindy knew her obsession for Ridge. They’d talked about it constantly with Cindy always pushing for her to let it go and find a man who knew she existed. “I don’t know, Cin, I was lonely, hurting and needed someone. They were best friends. Ridge has slept in my house, eaten my food, worked on my car.”
“He didn’t show, did he?”
Oh, Avery hated hearing that pitying tone in Cindy’s voice. “As a matter of fact, he did.” Cindy’s mouth dropped open. “That’s not all. We had sex.”
“You. He.” Cindy made some funky hand gestures as she spat and sputtered.
“Sex, Cindy. You know what it is. You have it often enough.” Avery winced at the sound of her words. “I’m sorry, that was mean and uncalled for.” Cindy did seem to have a steady sexual life. Who with, Avery couldn’t be sure.
“I’ll let that go because I know the hell you’ve been through. Anyway, I didn’t mean you weren’t capable. I just can’t imagine Ridge and you together.”
Anger spiked through Avery’s system. “Yeah, you and him both, apparently, because he didn’t stick around.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. If I ever see him again I’m going to kick his balls right up in his throat.”
“It was my own damn fault, Cindy. I practically begged him for it. I just needed him so badly I didn’t think through the consequences. Now I’ve ruined our relationship for good.” Avery sunk down in the seat and covered her teary eyes with her hand.
“What relationship?” Cindy asked, pulling out of the parking lot. “The only relationship the two of you had was Cale.”
Cindy was right, as usual. Cale turned out to be the only link between them and with her brother gone nothing was there to keep them together. They did have the mental link but as this point, Ridge didn’t know anything about it and if Avery had her way, he never would.
“So, was it good?”
Avery turned toward her friend and frowned.
“Oh, come on. I’ve watched you pine away over this man for ten years. Was it worth the wait?”
Avery turned and stared out the window. “Yeah, Cin. It was worth the wait.” A night she’d dream about over and over again until it drove her out of her mind. “I did a lot of thinking on the flight home,” she told Cindy. “It’s time for some changes in my life.”
“Okay, number one, how the hell did you have time to think about your life sitting next to that hottie, and two, what kind of changes are we talking about?”
* * * * *
Ridge wandered through the empty house he and Cale had purchased on their last leave. It was only supposed to serve as a place to crash when they came home but it looked as though it would be his permanent residence now. Only a few miles from Avery’s house, it sat secluded in a patch of woods outside of town. This way he could watch over her and stay out of sight all at the same time.
The only things in the house were a bed, a fridge, stove and a small kitchen table. Not that he needed much else. Ridge pulled out a cold bottle of beer and sat at the table. He and Cale had paid cash for the place but never told Avery. Cale claimed he didn’t want her worrying about the property. She had enough to do in her life without worrying about some run-down house.
Cale had snuck some of his personal belongings out of Avery’s house and locked them away here. Belongings Ridge would eventually have to return. That would come later down the road, after the funeral when she’d had time to grieve and come to terms with her loss.
Laying the cold bottle of beer against the scar on his cheek, Ridge groaned. He could still remember Avery’s soft, firm body against his, taste her sweet nectar on his tongue and it was driving him insane. He’d known it would be a mistake to touch her but he hadn’t been able to stop himself. She’d needed him and he’d needed her. Now he had to go through life knowing perfection but never being able to have it again.
Did she hate him this morning like he knew for sure she would? Was she thankful he wasn’t there when she woke? Of course she was. Didn’t every woman go slumming once in their lives?
Ridge’s cell phone chirped, dragging him from his deep, hallow misery. “Yeah,” he spoke with a hoarse voice.
“Mr. Gates, this is Tom Hall, we spoke this morning.”
“Yes, Mr. Hall.” Head of the Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, Tom Hall would see to it that Cale received a proper military burial.
“We received word a few moments ago that Cale Easton’s body will be arriving two days from now. We’ll have a proper reception at the airport and when his sister has confirmed funeral arrangements, we’ll be available.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your attention to this.” Cale didn’t have any family besides Avery and his friends were still active in the military. No one would be there to send him off in true, respectful form.
“Thank you for bringing his case to our attention, Mr. Gates. No soldier should be laid to rest alone.”
Ridge wrote down all the pertinent times and locations and then gave Hall Avery’s number with a condition that he wouldn’t tell her Ridge was involved. At this point, Avery probably didn’t ever want to see him again, much less know he was involved in Cale’s arrangements.
Two days. He had two days to pull himself together and prepare for Avery’s wrath when he showed up at the airport. Right now, he needed a nap. He’d tried to sleep this morning when he’d arrived but that damn panic attack sucker had punched him right in the middle of a dream. Not just any dream. This one involved Avery’s lush, curvy, naked body spread out before him, ready and willing to take him to heaven.
Just when he’d been about to enter her tight, slick body, everything changed. Avery’s image wavered and was replaced by Sehr’s torn, bloody torso. Her pale, lifeless eyes looked up, accusing and condemning him. Her lips moved but he couldn’t make out her words.
That day came back full force. He no longer stood in his bedroom. He crawled across the ground toward Sehr, screaming her name, praying she was okay. Cale stepped out of the smoke and dust, holding her tattered body. They both spoke but the gunfire and shouts of the men around them drowned out the words. Ridge reached for them and another bomb hit, obliterating the scene.
Ridge jolted awake in a full-blown attack unable to breathe, the room spinning out of control. Every muscle in his body tensed to the point of nearly snapping his bones. He could have sworn this would be the attack to end his torment and take him away for good but then he heard it, felt it—the warmth, the embrace and the whispered words.
Clinging to them like a lifeline, he calmed himself and began to breathe easier. When it ended he could became aware of something moving around in his brain. A sensation he’d had before—as if he wasn’t alone. Many times over the past weeks he’d heard and perceived things that didn’t make
sense. Afraid he’d be locked up in a psych ward, he’d kept the odd happenings to himself.
As quickly as he could he shut himself down, force the comforting embrace away and stormed from the bedroom. Cale may have received the head wound, but he’d come home mentally broken, another reason to stay away from Avery. What the hell would she do with a man fucked up in the head? Yeah, Avery Easton deserved so much better.
Now, Ridge laid his head on the table and closed his eyes. He may not be worthy enough for her but that didn’t mean he couldn’t dream about her. Picturing her standing in the room with him, he began to undress her and before long sleep came and took him to the perfect dreamland where he could worship Avery the way she deserved.
* * * * *
“Don’t get me wrong, Ave,” Cindy said, following her through the front door of her house. “I think you taking some time to enjoy life is just what the doctor ordered. I’m just worried you’ll go too far.”
Avery rolled her eyes and tossed her suitcase and purse on the floor. “What does that mean? I’ll go too far. It’s not like I’m going to join some gang somewhere or fly off to a third-world country. I’m simply not going to be working seven days a week anymore. Maybe I’ll find a hobby, maybe I’ll try something new. I don’t know yet, Cindy. I just want to find some joy for a change.”
“Don’t let Hank talk you into taking on some of his more dangerous cases.” Cindy flopped down on the couch and crossed her arms over her chest, pouting like a child.
“Hank won’t put me in any danger, you know that.” Hank Celini owned the private detective agency she worked for when she wasn’t working at the boutique. Mostly she tailed people, took pictures and sometimes engaged them in conversation. Simple tasks, really, but lately Hank had wanted her to branch out and take on more challenging cases.
“Are you going to quit teaching self-defense classes?”
“No. I might trim down the number of classes, though. Instead of five small classes maybe I’ll consolidate them into two.”
“You have this all figured out, don’t you?”
And there was Cindy’s problem. She’d managed to make plans without Cindy’s input. Since the beginning of their friendship Avery had asked for advice on everything. This time, she did it all on her own.
“Look, Cin, I know this all comes as a shock to you, but Cale’s death has made me think. He died doing something he was passionate about. I’m not passionate about anything. I keep myself busy, that’s all. I want to find that passion that my brother was so willing to die for.”
“You’re being silly,” Cindy griped.
Avery had had enough of this conversation. She wanted to be alone and think. Without warning the steel door Ridge had slammed on her this morning began to open. He was there, in her head. He wasn’t in distress this time but he was aggravated. No, not aggravated. She could almost hear his blood racing through his brain. Torn between wanting to know what was happening and afraid of invading his privacy, she sat quietly and listened.
“What’s wrong?” Cindy asked, irritated now that Avery had turned her attention elsewhere.
“Nothing, I’m just tired and don’t feel well. I haven’t eaten all day and I need a nap. I still have to call the funeral home and make arrangements.” She was rambling but she couldn’t drag her thoughts away from Ridge.
“Okay, I can take a hint. Call me if you need me,” Cindy said, heading for the door.
“Thanks for the ride,” Avery yelled before Cindy left. Whatever was going on in Ridge’s head it wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it.
Avery chewed her bottom lip, trying to decide if she should close the connection or risk delving in head first. This was the first time she’d noticed anything other than fear and panic from him.
Risking it, Avery opened up and allowed her consciousness to mingle with his. An instant rush of heightened arousal slammed her. Her blood heated, her heart raced and hot, slick liquid pooled between her legs.
“Oh. My. God.” Ridge was dreaming about having sex. She knew it was a dream. Through the years connected to her brother she’d learned the subtle differences between dreams and reality. In Ridge’s case his thoughts and feelings were surrounded by a thin fog blurring some of the connection. Reality would be right there in her face.
Who the hell was he dream-fucking? Avery stood and paced the living room. Whoever he was doing made him hotter than hell. Oh, his pleasure level was way up there. Who was it he pictured in his mind?
Avery closed her eyes and sent a thought to Ridge. “Say my name.” Hopefully it would come across as part of his dream and he would respond. “Say my name.” She needed to know who this person was that Ridge wanted so badly. Could that be the reason he never paid any attention to her? He was already in love with someone? Someone Cale never told her about?
“Say my name.” He was close to climaxing. His pleasure spilled into her, gripping her womb and causing her clit to throb. Avery collapsed on the couch, pulled her knees to her chest and moaned. “Please, say my name.”
A hard, earth-rocking climax ripped through her body. Her clit throbbed and her vagina clenched. Avery cried out and shivered through Ridge’s intense ejaculation as well. The combined orgasm tore another from her. Her silk slacks dampened between her legs. This wasn’t happening. How could this happen?
Avery laid her forehead on her knees and sobbed. Why couldn’t he feel this for her?
“Say my name,” she spoke aloud. The thin connection severed, leaving her lost and hurting. This made it twice Ridge had brought her pleasure only to leave her alone.
Chapter Five
Avery stood in her bedroom and stared into her closet. She needed to be at the airport within the next two hours. This would be the last time she’d meet her brother at an airport. Today, the funeral home would take him until the burial tomorrow. Grabbing a sleeveless silk white blouse and black skirt from the closet, she wandered over to the bed and sat.
God, she didn’t want to do this. Over the last two days she’d been preoccupied with what she’d experienced the day she’d returned home from Delaware. It had helped keep her mind away from dealing with today and tomorrow.
Ridge obviously had a thing for another woman, possibly even loved her, and Avery had thrown herself at him, damn near forced him into having sex with her in the hotel. Why had he done it if he had someone? It didn’t make sense. She’d never in her wildest dreams thought Ridge would have been capable of cheating. And now, God, what a sleaze she’d become.
Avery combed her fingers through her hair. She didn’t have the energy to worry about this right now. In a daze, she dressed, slipped on a low pair of heels and made her way down the stairs just as the doorbell rang.
The last thing she needed today was company. Irritated, she opened the door.
“I have a delivery for Avery Easton,” the man said, standing behind two fairly large boxes.
“Oh, I’m Avery Easton.” He handed her the clipboard to sign. “I’ll get them from here. Thanks.”
“Have a good day, ma’am.”
She stood looking at the labels on the boxes and then glanced up in time to see the delivery truck drive away and a black sedan with dark-tinted windows slow, stop and sit there in front of her house. A cold chill slithered up her spine—a warning, perhaps, or just her oversensitive, over-used nerves going on the fritz, she couldn’t be sure. Time slowed as she stood there watching the car, half expecting the driver or an occupant to approach.
With all the military formalities she’d run into this could be someone coming to deliver something of importance or simply to offer his condolences. Either way, she didn’t have time to stand here and wait. Lifting the top box, she moved it into her living room and then returned to grab the second.
A quick glance up and she saw the car still sitting there. Odd, but nothing to worry about, she told herself as she dragged the second, heavier box into the house. Before she closed the door the car pulled away. Avery
shrugged it off and studied the two boxes.
The return address indicated it came from the military which meant these were probably the rest of Cale’s belongings. With a heavy heart she went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and carefully broke the taped seal. Inside she found clothes, shoes, personal grooming items and some magazines.
With arms weighed down by lead she opened the second, heavier box and began digging through the contents. More personal items, things he’d apparently had stored away. Mementoes of places he’d been, countries he’d visited and pictures of he and Ridge in happier times. At the bottom of the box she found a thick, large envelope.
Not ready or willing to deal with any of it at the moment, Avery closed the envelope and walked downstairs to her basement. Behind a false wall she had a fireproof safe where she kept legal documents, personal items from her childhood and a few expensive pieces of jewelry that had belonged to her mother. Avery shoved the envelope into the safe, secured it and then replaced the wall.
Maybe when she got home later today she’d go through it, or maybe next week, month or year. “One day at a time,” she whispered.
This day she had to meet yet another plane that held her brother’s body. Forcing her legs to move she climbed the steps, grabbed her purse and headed for the door. Once again she’d be doing this alone.
After setting her security alarm, she locked up and walked down the sidewalk toward her car. Out of habit, she scanned the street, mentally taking stock of the vehicles parked along the road. An act Cale had taught her.
“Always be aware of your surroundings,” he’d preached constantly. “Don’t ever give an attacker the chance to surprise you.”
The black sedan she’d seen earlier sat a block up, parked in front of another house. She didn’t think much of it. They probably had the wrong house. Ignoring the car she slid behind the wheel of her SUV and began the drive to the airport.
To her surprise the traffic seemed light today which cut her driving time down about twenty minutes. According to the gentleman she’d spoken to on the phone, Tom Hall, she was to enter the airport and go directly to the customer service counter. As with everything she’d done over the last few days, Avery moved in a thick haze, her body seemingly functioning without the use of her brain.
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