Relentless Pursuit

by Sara Orwig

  They were silent until she reached the door of her suite, where she turned to face him. “You barely know me. I’ve only known Caroline for one day. You don’t really know whether I’ll be this much help to Caroline or not.”

  “She likes you. You made her smile when no one else has. I’m willing to take the chance. It’s worth the risk to me to have you try. I’ll never miss the money, and even if I did, if it helps Caroline, it’s worth it to me.”

  “It doesn’t bother you to wreck someone else’s plans?”

  “I haven’t wrecked your plans, Ava. The money I’m offering will help you get that school months or years faster than you would without it. Also, you said you would start with only first and second grade because of limited funds. Now you won’t be quite so limited. I’m not tearing up your plans—I’m aiding them. You’re free to make a choice.”

  “That I am,” she said. “It’s been an interesting day. I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”

  She was angry with his high-handed methods, stunned by the amount, shaken that she could earn that much money in just under three months. Weighing more heavily were the problems she would have with Will and Caroline. She didn’t want to fall in love with Will, and that’s what an affair would mean. An affair for her would be an affair of the heart that needed commitment and real love.

  When Will’s gaze lowered to her mouth, Ava held her breath. Her lips parted, tingled. She wanted his kisses while at the same time she didn’t. “Good night, Will,” she said, turning blindly and stepping into her suite, closing the door swiftly behind her.

  She crossed the room and sat on a chair to stare at the figures scribbled boldly on the paper. Half a million to stay and work with Caroline for the next three months. Three months—a brief postponement of her dreams that would be more than made up when she could open a school, fully funded.

  She could not possibly turn down the opportunity for the half million. If she connected and Caroline responded to her, there would be another half million. Ava stared at the paper and the figures danced before her. She had never been a therapist, yet she knew she could work well with the girl—academically and emotionally.

  If she didn’t succeed, well, she had warned Will about her inexperience in this area. Three months. In those three months if she bonded with Caroline, she might love the little girl with all her heart and it would hurt to leave. And she would leave when the summer ended. She had a life and a career to pursue. Could she resist Will for the entire summer?

  She leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling. Tell him no, came a small voice in her mind. Just say no and walk away.

  Only she couldn’t. The chance for a half million or, if dreams came true, a million, didn’t come along in most lifetimes. If she turned down Will’s offer, she would be looking back forever. Particularly if financing became difficult. She had planned on grants, investors and relying on tuition. Now she would not be dependent on anything.

  “Will Delaney, the demanding Delaney,” she said aloud, her thoughts jumping to their kisses until she was hot, tingly and filled with desire.

  Impatiently, she stood to get ready for bed. Later, lying in the darkness, the turn of events and the amount of money being dangled before her kept her awake until almost dawn when she fell into a fitful sleep.

  * * *

  Saturday, Ava showered and dressed carefully in a navy shirt and slacks—casual but professional. When she walked into the kitchen, Will sat outside on the veranda at a table. He read an iPad on the table in front of him. He was in chinos, a black knit shirt and Western boots. Her pulse jumped merely at the sight of him and she had one more moment of reluctance. She had to give him an answer, and as far as she could see, there was only one reply.

  He stood and smiled, approval lighting his eyes as his gaze swept over her. “Good morning. You look great.”

  “Thank you,” she answered coolly, knowing she should be thrilled and eager when he made such a large offer, but she wanted him to know he couldn’t push her around.

  He walked up to her and her pulse drummed faster when he placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “Come sit and I’ll get your breakfast. Want coffee and orange juice now?”

  “I can help myself,” she said, picking up a china cup.

  When Ava was seated and had breakfast in front of her, Will also sat and sipped black coffee. “Have you thought over my offer?”

  “Of course,” she replied, meeting his gaze. “And I accept. It’s an offer I can’t refuse, as you well knew. I think you expect miracles.”

  “I think you can do miracles,” he answered quietly, his eyes flaring with triumph. It added to her annoyance that he was so confident and able to get his way easily.

  “Go to dinner with me tonight. I want to celebrate hiring you for the summer.”

  “Maybe we should make some rules from the first,” she answered. “You said there were no demands on me other than where Caroline is concerned.”

  Again, amusement flared in his expression so slightly, yet she had no doubt that’s what he felt. “That’s correct, but I thought you might enjoy a night out and to get to see a little of Dallas.”

  “I’ve been to Dallas before,” she answered. “Thank you, but I’d like to keep my personal life separate. I don’t care to go out unless it is something involving Caroline.”

  “Whatever you want,” he said smoothly and her insides tightened. She would love to go out with him, but she wasn’t going down that road.

  “If possible, I should return home today, get my things in order and make arrangements to be gone for the next three months. I’d like a week to get ready and return a week from tomorrow to begin work. How will that fit with your schedule?”

  “Fine, I’ll take you home today. I’d like to tell Caroline the news because I think she’ll be pleased.”

  “I think you’re reading much more into a relationship between your niece and me than there really is,” she persisted.

  “Time will tell,” he said, smiling at her. He reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Thanks for doing this, Ava.”

  The contact made her tingle and the warmth in his voice heightened her reaction to him. Three months in the same house with a charismatic, seductive man. That might turn out to be as big a challenge as working with Caroline.

  “There is no way I can turn down your offer, but I can’t give you any guarantees. I’ve never done this before, tutored long-term in a home with a child with problems as deep as Caroline has. I’ll do what I can.”

  “That’s all I ask.”

  * * *

  Hours later, when she unlocked the door to her condo, Will stepped inside. He took her arm lightly and turned her to face him.

  As she looked up at him, her breathing altered.

  “This doesn’t have anything to do with your working for me,” he said in a husky voice. “It’s simply a man and a woman he’s attracted to.” Her lips parted as she drew a deep breath. He leaned down to kiss her, covering her mouth with his before she could answer.

  Her heart thudded and she stood still, unresponsive for a heartbeat, and then she melted against his hard frame. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him in return. His fingers wrapped in her hair a few moments as he leaned over her and kissed her passionately.

  His tongue thrust deeply into her mouth. His kisses were more devastating than before. Desire blazed, threatening her peaceful world. She stepped back. “This isn’t part of the bargain, Will. It just can’t be. I’ve got my life all lined up and you’ve already turned it upside down for the summer. I don’t want a big emotional upheaval on top of that.”

  “I don’t, either,” he said solemnly. “It’s kisses and wanting to dance with you and hold you, nothing deep or involved. Get back in the world, Ava. You’re too full of life to withdraw into a shell.”

  “You barely know me or what I do or how I am.”

  “I’m beginning to know you, and I know that much about you
already,” he whispered, showering kisses on her temple and cheek, brushing them lightly across her lips. She closed her eyes and in seconds they kissed again until she stopped him.

  “I have to say goodbye now, Will. I’ll see you a week from Sunday afternoon.”

  He smiled at her, running his fingers lightly on her throat. “See you at three next Sunday.”

  She watched him climb back into the limo and leave. Dazed, she moved through her condo, feeling as if she had been caught up in a whirlwind and now dropped back to earth.

  She got out her iPad to check her calendar and begin listing what she needed to do before she saw Will again on Sunday. Then she sent a text to her sister. In an hour, Trinity was at the door.

  “Tell me what you’re doing and where you’ve been and about William Delaney!” Trinity exclaimed, rushing inside, her sandy curls bouncing. “I brought pizza,” she said, waving boxes with enticing smells.

  “It’s good to see you and to be home,” Ava said, smiling, knowing an explosion was coming. “What would you like to drink?” She headed to her small kitchen while Trinity followed and set the pizzas on the table.

  “Water. I have veggie blast and artichoke, basil and onion pizza.”

  “Thanks. Let me pay you.”

  “My treat, and you talk. What’s he like? Does he look like his pictures? Does he have a woman in his life? Is he nice?”

  Ava laughed. “Trinity, slow down. One question at a time. He’s nicer than I thought he would be. He is more handsome than his pictures,” she said, remembering his kisses. “As far as I know there’s no woman in his life right now, but I really don’t know for sure. He was nice. He has a little niece whose dad was killed in a plane crash, and he’s worried about her because she’s sort of closed off the world.”

  “That’s dreadful and sad,” Trinity said, her smile vanishing. “How old is she?”

  “Five.” Ava set two glasses of water on the table and told Trinity about Caroline’s situation.

  Trinity looked horrified. “Poor little thing. So is he going to interview the tutors you recommended?”

  Ava braced herself. “No. He’s hired me for the summer to work with her.”

  “You’re going to work for him and give up all your plans?” Trinity asked, her eyebrows arching as she stared at Ava.

  “Yes. He gave me an incentive.”

  Trinity squinted her eyes and tilted her head to study her sister. “You didn’t fall in love with him, did you?”

  “Of course, not,” Ava snapped, while a twinge of guilt about the kisses she’d shared with him plagued her. “He made an offer I really couldn’t refuse.” She withdrew the piece of paper from her purse. “You might want to sit before you read it,” she added, bracing again for her sister’s reaction.

  With one more long look at Ava, Trinity took the paper to read. Her mouth dropped open and she looked up at Ava. “Is this real?”

  “Very. I’ll have money for my dream and be able to help you and Summer through school.”

  Trinity looked at the paper again and read it aloud, suddenly screaming as she jumped up and down.

  Ava smiled and held out her hand. “Now you see why I postponed my plans until fall. Give me back my paper. I want to keep it.”

  To Ava’s amusement, Trinity reacted in typical fashion and it was an hour before she calmed. They called their youngest sister, Summer, to tell her the change in Ava’s plans, and then Ava spent the next several hours with Trinity. The only topics of discussion were Will, Caroline and summer plans.

  It was almost nine before Trinity left. Ava felt wound up, filled with excitement, trying to ignore the constant simmering prospect of spending the summer with Will Delaney. To tell someone else about Will’s offer, actually show Trinity the amount written by Will, made it seem slightly more real.

  At ten, a violin rendition of a Strauss waltz played faintly and she rushed to answer her cell phone to hear Will’s voice.

  “Did I call too late?”

  “Of course not,” she answered, her pulse speeding simply over the sound of his voice. She sat in a cherrywood rocker, rocking slightly. “My sister Trinity just left a little while ago. She’s very excited about my new job and we called our youngest sister and told her.”

  “I hope they’re happy about it.”

  “That’s a huge understatement. It’s a wonder you didn’t hear Trinity screaming for joy.”

  He chuckled. “I told Caroline. In her own quiet way I think she’s pleased.”

  “I’m sure she didn’t say anything.”

  “No, but I got a little response because she nodded. That’s more than I usually get, so I took that as a positive sign. She also gave me a long look and I think that was another affirmation.”

  “I hope so.” She thought about the little girl and grew somber after the evening with Trinity.

  “We already miss you being here” he said in a deeper tone of voice that caused another flurry to her heartbeat.

  “I’ll be back soon enough.”

  “No, not soon enough. If you wind things up there sooner, give me a call and I’ll send someone to get you earlier. If I can do anything to help you move, let me know.”

  “Thank you. It’s just a matter of putting things on hold for the summer.”

  “Are there really no guys to say goodbye to?”

  “There are really no guys,” she said, smiling. “I meant what I said about that.”

  “You’ve been shut out of life long enough.”

  “That doesn’t go with the job, remember?”

  “This is entirely separate from that. If you’d turned me down on my offer, we would still be having this part of the conversation.”

  “Stop flirting and getting personal,” she said, trying to sound good-natured about it, but meaning what she said. “You make it difficult because you’re now my boss, so it’s a little strange to tell you what to do.”

  “Then don’t.” She detected the laughter in his tone. “You know I could send someone to help you with the arrangements you have to make.”

  “Thanks, but I’ll take care of things here myself,” she said, amused that he would try to take charge of what she was involved in at home.

  “Some weekend soon, I’ll fly your sisters here so I can meet them and they can meet Caroline and see where you live and work.”

  “They would love that,” she said. “We’re not much alike. I’ll warn you now, Trinity is a little dramatic.”

  “She didn’t get that from her older sister.”

  “You don’t know me well enough to decide whether I’m dramatic or not.”

  “I think I do. I’m not much like my brothers, either.”

  They talked easily about their families, and when she glanced at the clock, she was surprised an hour had gone by. “Will, we should end this conversation. Do you realize how late it is? I need to get up early in the morning.”

  “I’m enjoying the company. It’s worth losing some sleep.”

  “Stop it. I’m saying good-night now. Good night, Will.”

  “Good night, Ava. I’d rather kiss you than say farewell,” he said in a husky voice.

  Her heart beat faster. All summer with him; he could derail her dreams even more if she wasn’t careful. She inhaled deeply. She had no intention of letting him do that no matter how appealing the man was. Or what he offered her, because he had already promised enough that she could afford to turn him down in the future. Half a million was a fortune beyond her dreams. The wealth would give her independence to do as she pleased about some facets in her life, including Will Delaney.

  “Thank you, Will,” she said, remembering his dark gaze on her, trying to avoid thinking about his kisses or his sexy voice as he told her goodbye on the phone.

  Will Delaney had just opened a whole new world for her.

  * * *

  Smiling, Will shut off his phone. Before he set it down a tune began to play. He answered the call to hear his brother Zach’s voice.
>
  “Had a moment and thought I’d check with you. I’m in the L.A. airport, but I won’t be coming home. I’m on my way from Australia to Winnipeg. Any luck with tutors for Caroline?”

  “Actually, I’ve hired the teacher who gave me recommendations. I wanted to get to know her better, and then when she was here, Caroline responded to her in a small way.”

  “If Caroline responded in the least, it’s worth a try. Don’t blame you.”

  “Caroline asked Ava if she hurt. Ava is a widow.”

  “I’ll be damned,” Zach said. “Caroline hasn’t said a word to me since she lost her dad. That’s something.”

  “It’s a small thing, but I’m willing to take it. I just have a feeling about this, and with Caroline asking Ava a question—I couldn’t let that go.”

  “Hell, no, you couldn’t. That’s amazing. A widow. That’s nice for Caroline. Our mother isn’t grandma material and our stepmother has never been interested in Caroline.”

  “Zach, Ava isn’t exactly grandma material, either. She’s twenty-eight. Widowed in college. They married before they graduated. She doesn’t date though.”

  “Okay. I assume she’s good-looking.”

  “Good-looking wouldn’t have mattered if I hadn’t thought she’d help.”

  “I know. Well, that’s good news. I’ll pray for Adam’s dear Caroline and this tutor. What’s her name?”

  “Ava Barton.”

  “I’ll meet her next time I’m home. Whenever that may be. Let me know how things go. When does she start work?”

  “Next Monday.”

  “Good deal. And good job, Will. Hey, they’re calling my flight.”

  “So long, Zach. Take care.” Will broke the connection, staring into space, but lost in thought about Ava.

  * * *

  After a busy week, Ava wound everything up by Saturday. She’d taken Trinity for a goodbye dinner, then woke up early and excited on Sunday. She dressed with care, in blue linen slacks and a matching shirt, and wound her hair into a bun, fastening it with a clip. She made some last-minute phone calls, did some research and waited for Will.

  Promptly at 3:00 p.m. her doorbell rang.