by Laura Wright
"So, besides the children's Tylenol and rest and fluids, there's nothing I can do?" Jared gripped the back of the couch and eyed the doctor. "Are you sure we shouldn't have some tests done or—"
Impulsively Ava reached back and put her hand over his. Almost immediately, he captured her fingers beneath his callused palm and began to stroke the top of her hand with his thumb.
Ava swallowed hard, her pulse picking up speed. She'd meant to calm him with the gesture, but instead his intimate, incredibly arousing caress was only succeeding in making her agitated. She slipped her hand from beneath his, though it took great mental and physical effort to do so.
Jared hardly noticed. "Maybe there's some kind of herb, Doc? Muna knows—"
"It's just a virus, Jared," the doctor assured him, standing up, grabbing his black bag. "Give her the Tylenol every four hours and make sure she gets plenty of sleep. You have my word. She'll be running around like a jackrabbit in three days."
"I'll bundle her up really well before I take her back to my sister's house, Doctor," Ava promised, giving the man a thankful smile.
"She'll stay where she is," Jared declared rather loudly, stepping out from the back of the couch and to the doctor's side.
"Jared, wait a minute—" Ava began.
He shot her look so fierce, she practically gasped. "I will be with my daughter."
Frowning, Ava shook her head. "But the flu is contagious. You and Muna —"
"Do you have to move her, Ava?" the doctor interjected. "It might be best—"
"No, she doesn't have to move her. Lily will stay here." Jared's tone was low and determined as he stared at her, daring her to break the law he'd just decreed. The doorbell rang and he gestured toward the hall. "That'll be Rita. I called and told her to bring over some things for you and Lily."
"You did what?" Ava shot to her feet, thoughts spinning in her head, anger stirring in her blood. "Would you excuse us for a moment, Doctor?"
Doc Ward smiled sagely and nodded. "Of course."
Ava grabbed Jared's hand and led him out of the room and into the hall. Once in private, she whirled on him. "I understand you're master of your domain here, but you're not my master. You don't get to make decisions for me or my—"
He raised a brow at her, his eyes a deep, burning gray.
She put her hands on her hips. "Decisions about our daughter should be made by both of us."
He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "You've made every choice regarding Lily's welfare for the past four years." His eyes bored into her. "I think you can grant me some leeway here."
Ava could barely catch her breath. One inch closer and they would be touching, the tips of her breasts to his hard, smooth chest. "Jared, we can't stay in this house."
"You can't stay in this house, you mean."
"How would it look?"
"I don't give a damn how it looks. I want to be there for my daughter."
The bell rang again. Anxiously Ava glanced at the door.
"You don't have to spend the night, you can go back to Rita's, but I think it's important for Lily to have both of us around." Jared took that opportunity to lean in and whisper in her ear, "If you're worried about me laying a hand on you again, don't."
She shivered from head to toe, her nipples tightening inside her cotton bra. It was his breath fanning her ear and that spicy scent that was only him causing her to react like this. Her body remembered him so well and craved more. She was worried, as he'd said. She was worried that if he didn't touch her she'd go out of her mind with want.
But more than anything, she was worried about breaking her heart further when he rejected the sexual advances she was more than likely to lob his way.
"I'm not looking to rewrite history," he said, then eased back from her sensitive earlobe.
"Neither am I," she said, the bold-faced lie almost too obvious to be believed. "I just didn't want you to get sick, too, with all the work you must have to—"
"I don't care if I come down with measles or chicken pox," he assured her. "I want to be with my daughter." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't tell me that you're willing to go against the doctor's orders because you don't want to be around me."
"Of course not. I will always do what's best for my child."
"And so will I."
Ava released a breath, trying to mentally calm her body and mind at the same time. What was she supposed to do? She really didn't want to move Lily. And Jared deserved to care for his child, didn't he? It was just for a few days. She could handle being around him without exploding for a few days.
Couldn't she?
"Fine," she said at last. "We'll stay until Lily's better."
"Good. Now go let your sister in and I'll finish up with the doctor."
After he walked back into the living room, Ava ambled to the door at a snail's pace and opened it with about as much enthusiasm.
"It's about time." Rita stood on the front porch with two suitcases, her blue eyes flashing. "What were you doing in there?"
"Oh, please." Ava shouldered her way out the door and closed it behind her, then took a seat on the steps. A brilliant blue sky decorated the heavens and a light breeze blew the fresh morning scents of earth and sunshine about her face. But even the perfect day couldn't soothe her.
Rita plunked down beside her. "How's my niece?"
"Her fever's down and she's sleeping. The doctor said it's just a little bug. Nothing to worry about."
"I'm glad." She poked Ava in the arm with her elbow. "And how's my sister?"
"You can wipe that smile off your face. Seriously. This is no laughing matter. Jared has insisted we stay here until Lily's better."
"So I gathered. Imagine my surprise while in the middle of my morning yoga I received a phone call from my sister's—"
"Don't even say it," Ava warned, narrowing her eyes.
Rita put her hands up in surrender. "All right. I won't say another word. I won't say that you look somehow different today. And I surely won't say that your eyes are glowing just like they did way back when you first saw Daddy's new ranch hand."
"Don't you have a handsome sheikh to marry?" Ava muttered.
"Not for a few more days."
Ava watched Rita's expression turn from playful to thoughtful, and she put a hand on hers. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Rita shook her head, gave Ava a wide smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Hey, I don't want to be the only married Thompson. Get it in gear and make Jared realize that he's never fallen out of love with you."
Ava's heart plunged to her stomach.
"Just remember," Rita continued. "Reminiscing can lead to all sorts of fun situations."
Yeah, it sure could, Ava mused. In fact after their little Milky Way discussion last night she'd hardly slept a wink. And when she had closed her eyes, all she saw was them together, legs intertwined, lips parted, hands exploring.
Rita fiddled with the luggage tag on Ava's bag. "You know, you should be happy that he's so interested in his child, Ava—that he's already head over heels for her."
"I am. Of course, I am. It's not his affection for Lily that I'm worried about."
"It's his affection for you?"
"No."
"It's your affection for him?"
Ava glared at her. "If you still want me to be your maid of honor, you'd better can it."
"Speaking of which," Rita said, standing up and brushing a little dirt from her jean-clad backside. "Don't forget about my better-late-than-never engagement lunch Friday afternoon."
"If Lily's feeling up to it, you know I'll definitely be there."
Rita winked at her. "You can even bring a date," Then she waved and loped down the steps.
Ava groaned, stood up, picked up the luggage and headed into the house, calling, "Bye, Rita," over her shoulder.
* * *
Jared couldn't help himself.
They looked like a little slice of heaven to him.
He st
ood in the doorway of Lily's room and watched Ava try to coax the little girl into eating. Ava spoke softly, sweetly, with loving words. It made his heart ache with longing to join them. But as she'd given him time alone with Lily this afternoon he felt she deserved the same courtesy.
He smiled as he thought about his time with Lily earlier. He'd read to her until she'd fallen asleep, then sat in a chair and watched her, wondering what she had looked like as a baby. Had her breathing changed since then? Had her hands always curled around the pillow like that? Had they always looked like his mother's hands?
Lily glanced up then and spied him. "Hi, Jared."
Ava looked over her shoulder and smiled a little shyly. No doubt she was wondering how long he'd been standing there.
"What smells so good?" he asked, wandering into the room.
"Mommy made me chicken soup with rice in it."
"Mmm," he said, sitting down on the opposite side of the bed from Ava. "I love chicken soup. It's my favorite."
Lily's face brightened. "Me, too."
"Then why aren't you eating?"
Ava looked at him. "She thinks it will make her tummy hurt again."
Jared let loose a soft, "Ahh," of understanding, then glanced back to his daughter. She was such a precious sight. Her long, copper hair falling about her flushed face, cuddled up in pajamas with little paw prints all over it. "My grandfather used to say that when a child got sick it was their time to rebuild their spirit. To make them strong in mind and in body for an important journey."
Lily's eyes widened. "What's my journey, Jared?"
He shrugged. "It could be helping me with Tayka when she has her foal. But we don't want to risk that—not unless you're strong."
The little girl gasped, then turned to Ava. "I want my soup, Mommy."
Ava glanced over at Jared, a mother's approval in her eyes. He winked at her, feeling as though he'd just won a million dollars, as though he'd taken the first step into the mysterious world of parenting.
Lily ate half the bowl of soup before she looked up at Ava with droopy eyes. "I'm tired, Mommy."
"Okay, baby. You rest now."
Lily's eyes closed and she was on her way to dream land in moments as Jared whispered a good-night to her and picked up the tray.
Ava gave her little girl a kiss on her forehead. "Temperature's down," she whispered to Jared as she walked to the door and switched off the light.
"Good. Remember to keep the door open a crack," he said in the hallway. "She likes that."
Ava smiled softly at him. "Yes, she does." She walked ahead of him on the stairs and he couldn't help but take in her curves, her long, tanned legs—and the way her hips swayed as she moved down the steps.
He cleared his throat, hoping to clear his mind along with it. He needed to stay away from thoughts like that.
Far away.
"The soup smells great," he said. "I didn't know you could cook."
"Yep. Some people have told me that I'm quite the gourmet."
"Your husband one of them?"
She froze at the bottom of the stairs, said nothing.
He shouldn't be asking, but he couldn't help himself. Now that he knew Lily was his, the need to know about the man who raised her was strong. And he had nothing to go on. The PI he'd hired was still working on finding out everything he could about Ava's ex-husband.
Stiffly Ava walked toward the kitchen. "My friends tell me that I'm a good cook," she said, strain threading her voice. "I used to have theme nights once a month. Italian, Mexican, Indian."
"That sounds like a good time." He followed her and placed the tray on the counter. "So, what line of work did you say your husband's in?"
"I didn't," she said tightly.
"I thought you did. Well, what does he do?"
She poured some soap into the sink and flipped on the water, began to wash the dishes. "Why do you want to know about him?"
"I want to know about the man who was a father figure to my child."
"Lily never had a father figure. We … well, we weren't together that long."
"Fine. Then I want to know about the guy who walked away from a woman and a baby."
"Why are you so sure he left me?"
"Did he leave you, Ava?"
She said nothing, scrubbing the bowl with a little too much vigor.
"Did he leave you when he found out that you were carrying another man's child?" Jared pressed.
"Something like that," she ground out.
"Bastard," Jared hissed. "You should have called me."
"I did call you, Jared." She shut off the water with a snap, then turned to face him, her eyes blazing emerald fire. "You know I did." A flash of soapsuds flew through the air and hit Jared square on the jaw.
He touched his face and came back with a handful of pink suds. Ava's gaze rested on the cloud of pink and she bit her lip, her eyes turning from angry to surprised to animated.
Jared's eyes narrowed. "You want me off this subject pretty bad, don't you?"
"I do, but I didn't mean to take it to the water fight level." She covered her mouth, but couldn't suppress what was coming. She burst out laughing. "I'm sorry."
He grinned in spite of himself and leaned past her, dipping into the sink. "Oh, not nearly as sorry as you're gonna be."
Ava's eyes widened with mock alarm. "Do we really want to go down this road?"
"You started it."
"It's pretty immature, don't you think?"
"Nope." He scooped up a handful of suds.
"What would you call it then?" she asked, half laughing as she reached behind her back and scooped up her own handful of suds.
He took a step forward, standing within inches of her, his target. "Taking my revenge."
Before she could say a word, he'd smeared the watery suds down her blouse. She froze, then gasped, then glanced down at her wet top.
He leaned forward, his hands falling against the counter on either side of her. "You were saying?"
Her eyes alight with play, she uttered, "You're going down, Redwolf."
She moved quickly. Tossing her handful of suds right at his face. Jared ducked and shot back away from her. Quick as lightning, Ava moved to the sink for more. But Jared was right beside her. For a good five minutes, they pummeled each other with water and suds, laughing hysterically until both of their shirts were soaked through.
"Had enough, Thompson?"
"Not a chance, Redwolf."
But just as Ava reached for another handful of suds, Jared snaked an arm around her waist, grabbed both of her wrists with one hand and held her against him. Bubbles floated in the air around them.
"You're all wet," she said breathlessly.
He chuckled. "So are you."
The smile died on his lips as he slowly became aware of how close she was, and how transparent her shirt was. If he moved away from her just an inch he could see for himself. Dammit, he felt her—the fullness of her breasts, her nipples tightening beneath her wet clothes. She felt altogether new in his arms, yet familiar. And the combination stirred his blood like a Cheyenne Sun Dance.
Without another thought, he lowered his mouth and kissed her. Nearly sighed. Her lips were so warm, so soft. Just as he remembered. And she was so willing.
Jared tried like hell to keep from touching her but it was no use. She arched toward him as she returned his kiss, her lips parting, her tongue darting out.
It was lunacy to walk away from such an invitation now.
No, it was impossible.
Holding her wrists in one hand, as he knew if she touched him his mind would dissolve into a puddle on the cool kitchen tiles, he eased the other under her wet shirt and up her torso. She made a soft moaning sound against his mouth—the sound that had always driven him crazy with need—and he cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her bra.
They stood there, her back against the sink, his thigh between her legs, his fingers coaxing her nipple into pebble hardness as they made out like
two ravenous teenagers.
Until the phone rang.
Then again.
And once more.
"Don't you have to get that?" Ava asked, pulling back just slightly, her eyes blazing with emerald heat, her mouth pink and wet from his kiss.
"The machine'll pick it up."
Through a red haze of desire, he heard his own voice on the tape, short and clipped. "You've reached Redwolf Industries. Please leave a message. Thank you." Then he heard a woman's voice. Irritated, but seductive. He froze, his lips hovering just above Ava's, his erection pressing into her belly. "Jared, honey. Where are you? I've been waiting, sitting here in that tight, black—"
Releasing Ava, Jared cursed and dove for the machine, hitting the mute button with ferocity. Wednesday. It was Wednesday. The night he spent with Tina.
He turned to face Ava and hated what he saw.
She was hugging her arms to her chest, her mouth tight and grim. "Looks like you have plans."
He exhaled heavily. "With Lily getting sick, I completely forgot."
"You don't need to explain."
"I didn't think—"
"It's none of my business." Her gaze swept the floor, then returned to him. She looked somber with a tone of voice to match. "I'll let you clean up this mess. Good night."
She turned and walked out of the room and Jared fought the urge to call her back or run after her, haul her into his arms again. She'd felt like heaven, like he remembered and he wanted more. He wanted to make love to her, here on this floor—the way he'd imagined a thousand times. But he couldn't. Sure, his anger and resentment were subsiding, but there was a more practical reason for him to keep his distance.
Ava didn't belong to him.
Never had and never would.
He should've been with Tina, he told himself sternly, grabbing a roll of paper towels and spreading the sheets out over the wet floor. Uncomplicated and unfulfilling, but always reliable. He had come to appreciate those qualities in a sexual encounter.
But he didn't want Tina. He didn't want to be with any other woman. Not now. Not after she'd come back into his life. Not after he'd touched her again, smelled her skin.