“I did?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Let’s get this over with. What are they?”
“Your cell phone needs to go, along with credit and debit cards. We’ll have to negotiate who knows where you are and how much they know.”
“Negotiate?”
“My position is that no one knows anything. I can’t imagine you’d be okay with that.”
“I have to tell Aine something, and I’d prefer to tell her as close to the truth as I can.”
“Anyone else?”
“As long as I don’t have to be the one to tell them, I guess it’s okay if Pen and Tara think I’ve gone MIA because you and I can’t keep our hands off each other.”
“I wouldn’t mind turning that into the truth.”
“Tabon…”
“Can’t have it both ways, Avarie. Either I’m honest or I’m not.”
It was her pride that made her issue the edict that she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, have sex with him. While her brain knew it was for the best when she said it, and even knew it now, just being next to him in the car was a struggle to keep her mind off just how amazing he’d look naked.
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “I’m not going to lie or pretend that I don’t want you.”
“But…”
“Go ahead and say whatever is on your mind.”
“What happens if we do, and then you don’t want to again?”
“I’m going to fill in some of your blanks. What happens if we have sex, and then I don’t want to have sex with you again?”
Ava nodded, more than a little mortified that they were having this conversation.
“Tell you what. Let’s wait until we get back to the house.”
“Okay.” That was fine with her. Never would be okay too.
“We need to finish the other conversation, though.”
“Rules?”
Tabon nodded. “You didn’t object to not using your cell phone or credit cards.”
“How will I pay for anything?”
“You won’t.”
“What if—”
“Whatever you need, I’ll take care of.”
Never in her life had she been put on a budget, especially one so austere. However, she could handle it. It would probably be good for her to go without for once in her life.
“Good with getting rid of your cell phone?”
“I can’t talk to anyone anyway, so I don’t know what difference it makes.”
“Hand it over, then.”
She did, and then watched as he took it apart.
“Was that necessary?”
“Yep. We’ll do a sweep of your belongings when we get back to the house too.”
“Why?”
“Because someone could be tracking you.”
“Were you tracking me?”
It was one of those questions Tabon struggled to answer. She was beginning to pick up on more of his mannerisms.
“Yes,” he finally said.
“It’s okay, Tabon. I understand.”
“I’m glad you do. Last question, then. What about your parents?”
Ava looked away from Tabon, willing her eyes not to tear up. No matter how she responded, she was going to sound like she felt sorry for herself, and to a certain extent, she did.
She loved her parents. Her mom was far more trying than her dad, but neither had been very parental. She and Aine weren’t certain their mother’s pregnancy had been accidental, but there were times they both felt like a big inconvenience.
“We aren’t close,” she answered.
“Your father wanted to have dinner when you returned to New York.”
“He won’t remember saying he did.”
“Ava, look at me.”
She shook her head. The tears she tried to will away were threatening to spill over on her cheeks and that was the last thing she wanted Tabon to see.
“Please, baby. Look at me.”
She brushed away her tears and turned her head.
“Let me take care of you.”
Ava nodded. She wasn’t sure exactly what he meant, but right now, having someone like him take care of her, no matter how, sounded so good.
How nice would it be to not have to be in charge of her own life, even for a little while? She had been since she was seven years old, and a little break sounded really nice.
She and Aine had never had to worry about money, and thankfully, they’d both been relatively responsible with it. Neither got in trouble with drugs, or hanging out with the wrong crowd. Neither was what Ava would consider extravagant either. From time to time, their father would ask if the amount of their monthly stipend was adequate. It had always been more than enough, given he paid for their apartment and the associated expenses, along with school.
But being taken care of didn’t relate solely to money. Sometimes she just wanted to put her head on someone’s shoulder and let them make the world go away, even for a short amount of time.
Dash had never done that for her. If anything, she was the more responsible person in their relationship. When she last saw him, and witnessed the meeting she wished she never had, she’d guessed that he was going to try to get back together with her, given she’d heard his wedding had been called off.
He’d looked terrible too. He was thinner than she’d ever known him to be, and he looked exhausted. She told herself that his criminal activities were certainly to blame, but if he’d gotten mixed up in something bigger, maybe the way he looked was a result of the pressure he was under.
“Where did you go?”
Ava turned and looked at Tabon. “Just thinking about Dash and what a mess he made of his life.”
“I’m sorry you had to get involved.”
“Me too.”
“Hungry?”
“I’d say no, but the last time you asked, I ate twice as much as you did.”
“Is that a yes?”
—:—
When she nodded, Razor turned off the highway onto Moonstone Beach Road and pulled off to park on the ocean side.
“This has become one of my favorite breakfast spots,” he told her, pointing to the Ollalieberry Inn.
“It smells delicious.”
“The muffins are big enough to share,” he said and then laughed when she looked skeptical.
When they went to cross the road, Razor took her hand in his, and then when they reached the other side, he put his arm around her shoulders.
“Is this part of my protection?” she asked.
“Me having my hands on you? Not at all.” If she’d let him, he’d never let her be far enough away that he couldn’t touch her.
While it had been painful to see how sad her relationship with her parents made her, that she didn’t ask if she could contact them, was a relief.
They ended up sharing two muffins, one ollalieberry and one peach; Ava ordered an omelet, and he had eggs and bacon.
“I need to go for a run this afternoon,” she said, rubbing her stomach.
“Me too, and then spend a couple of hours in the gym.”
“Is there one in town?”
“There’s one in the house.”
“Oh. That’s convenient. Where do you run?”
“When I’m here or home, I prefer the beach.”
“Where’s home?”
“Ever heard of Yachats?”
“Nope.”
“It’s on the Oregon Coast.” He was still trying to figure out a way to get her there. “I’d love for you to see it.”
He waited for her to say something, anything really, but she was acting like she hadn’t heard him.
“Ava?”
“Do you take all the woman you protect there?” she whispered.
“I’ve never taken anyone there. Not even Gunner,” he whispered back.
As close as they were, Razor couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and covered her mouth with his.
“Mmm,” he said,
licking his lips. “You taste like peaches. I like it.”
He kissed her again, anticipating that she might pull away from him, but she didn’t, and, in that moment, nothing could’ve made him happier.
“Ready?” he said when the waitress returned with his credit card and receipt.
“Sure.”
“When we get back, I’m taking your bag straight to my place.”
Ava nodded. “I don’t have much with me.”
“We can always go into town and pick up whatever you need.”
She raised her eyebrow.
“What?”
“I don’t have any money, Tabon. At least not that I can use.”
They were standing next to his car, and he trapped her between it and his body. “I told you to let me take care of you, Avarie.”
“I don’t think that means buying me clothes.”
“It includes everything you need, clothes too.”
He lowered his head and kissed her again, praying she wouldn’t stop him, and she didn’t. No matter what she told herself, Ava wanted him as much as he wanted her. If they were having this much trouble keeping their hands off each other after only a few hours, how would it be between them after a few days?
10
“He talked me into staying,” Ava told her sister when they got back to the house.
“He came to the airport?” Penelope gasped from just outside the bedroom door.
Ava looked at Aine, who shrugged.
“I had to tell them you left.”
“It’s like a movie. Did he call your name over the pager system and profess his undying love?” asked Pen.
“Hardly, but he did ask me to stay in a very convincing way.”
“Is that why your suitcase appears to be missing?”
“There’s no point in pretense, Pen. I’m going to be staying with him, not on this side of the house.”
“Does this mean you won’t be joining us for wine tasting again today?”
Ava shook her head. “I think we may go for a run.”
“Oh my God. Can you imagine running with that hard body?”
“Yeah,” Ava laughed. “I sure can.” She looked over at Aine, who wasn’t laughing.
“Can you give us a minute, Pen?”
“Of course,” she said, closing the bedroom door behind her.
Aine got right to the point. “What’s going on?”
“You can’t tell a single soul.”
Her sister nodded. “Of course I wouldn’t.”
“I found something out I shouldn’t have. About Dash. He’s mixed up in something pretty bad, and he’s been arrested.”
“You’re kidding?” Aine gasped.
“I have to testify against him.”
Aine turned white. “Is Razor like…your bodyguard?”
Ava put her finger in front of her lips. “You can’t tell a soul. Not even Mom and Dad.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
“I wasn’t supposed to tell you as much as I have.”
“You know you can trust me.”
“It isn’t that. The more you know…you could be in danger too.”
Aine nodded, but Ava doubted she had any idea how serious the situation was.
“There’s something else. On our way back from the airport and then again after breakfast, Tabon said he wanted to take care of me.”
Aine put her hand on her heart. “He cares about you. He called me.”
“When?”
“After you left. I told him about you seeing the woman going into his house.”
Ava heard a knock, and expected to see Pen or Tara when she told whoever it was to come in. Instead, it was Tabon, who came in and closed the door behind him.
“Here,” he said, handing a phone to Aine. “Ava will be able to call you, but you won’t be able to return calls to her. If anyone gets their hands on this phone, there will be no link to your sister.”
Tabon handed her a phone as well. “You’ll get a new one at least every few days, unless I see a reason for it to be more often.”
“Thank you, Tabon,” Ava said.
“This is unorthodox, but it is the only solution I could come up with for you to be able to stay in touch. Aine, if you have any concerns, if you haven’t heard from Ava in a few days, you can contact Doc directly.” He handed her a card. “Memorize that number.”
She nodded, murmuring her thanks as well.
“You and your two friends will be leaving in under two hours—”
“Why?” asked Ava.
“They’ll be having a great deal of fun, I promise.”
“Oh, I love San Francisco,” Aine said, opening the envelope he handed to her.
“Gunner will drive you to the airport, and make sure you have everything you need. He’s briefing Penelope and Tara now.”
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Ava said, standing to hug her sister.
“I’ll be downstairs,” he said, walking out the door and closing it behind him.
“Briefing?” said Aine, laughing.
“He speaks a different language sometimes.”
Her sister pulled her down to sit next to her on the bed. “You really like him,” she said.
“I do, but…it’s complicated.”
—:—
“We wish you would come with us,” said Penelope when Ava came downstairs behind her sister. “But we completely understand that you have your own plans.”
“You take good care of her,” said Tara, punching Razor’s arm. Yes, he would, but not in the way Tara was thinking. Actually, maybe he would in the way she was thinking as well.
“Ready?” he said to Ava, who nodded and then hugged her two friends and her sister.
“See you soon, and have an amazing time,” she said, taking Razor’s outstretched hand.
“I’m proud of you,” he said when they walked in his front door.
“I hate lying.”
Razor stood in front of her, with his hands on her shoulders. “You didn’t.”
“I feel like I did.”
“Let’s go run it out of your system.”
When they got to the mile mark, Razor asked Ava if she was ready to turn back.
“Only if you are,” she said, and then kept going without waiting for him to respond.
At the next mile mark, he asked again if she wanted to head back, and again she said she didn’t.
“How far do you usually run?” he asked.
“Between ten and eleven miles, typically. But when I’m training, I’ll do a long run every week or ten days.”
“Marathon runner, eh?”
“It’s my stress relief.”
“I hear ya.”
Razor didn’t ask about turning around again until they hit the five-mile mark, and by then, she was willing.
“Taking pity on me?” he asked.
“Why do I think you could outrun me any day of the week?” she said.
When they got back to the house, Razor collapsed on a deck chair while Ava stretched.
“I need water. Can I get you some?” she asked.
“I can get it,” he said.
Before he could stand, she pushed him back into the chair.
“Rest, old man.”
“We’re back to that now, are we?” he laughed.
Razor shook his head when she went inside. Had it ever been so easy with any other woman? He hadn’t had a long-term relationship pretty much ever. The last he could remember was in high school.
It wasn’t just that Ava was beautiful, or that her body brought him to his knees, she was funny, and smart, and definitely outpaced him on their run.
“What’s next?” she asked, setting his water in front of him.
“Come here.”
“I am here.”
“Closer,” he said, catching her arm. “Right here,” he added, pointing to his lap.
“Tabon…I’m all sweaty.”
“So am I.” He pulled her down on his la
p and nuzzled her neck. “Do you have any idea how unbelievably sexy your ass is in those shorts? For ten whole miles, you and those shorts tortured me.”
“How can I make it up to you?”
“That is a very open-ended question, Avarie.”
She nodded, smiling.
“It hasn’t been that many hours since you told me you couldn’t have sex with me.”
“I told you once before that I change my mind a lot.”
Razor pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I want you out of those shorts.”
When Ava got off of his lap, he expected her to lecture him, or turn him down, or ignore him. Instead, she took his hand.
“Let’s go inside,” she murmured, her voice husky with desire.
Razor picked her up. “Put your legs around me, baby.”
When she did, he tilted his head, angling to claim her mouth.
“Tabon—” she sighed.
His mouth slammed into hers when she flattened her palms against his chest. Instead of pushing for him to let her go, she fisted his shirt, keeping him as close to her as she could.
Her whimpers and mewls would be Razor’s undoing. As much as he wanted to take it slow, he couldn’t. He thrust his tongue past her lips, inhaling her passion as she kissed him back.
Holding her tight, he climbed the stairs with her in his arms. Razor kicked open his bedroom door, laid her on his bed, and settled by her side.
“Tabon,” she said for the second time, which made him pause.
“Talk to me, Ava. Tell me what you need, what you want.”
“I don’t want you to have so many clothes on.”
“Not a problem.” Razor stood.
“Let me,” she said, rolling off the bed to stand in front of him.
Razor didn’t remember a woman ever undressing him while she remained fully clothed, but he was happy to let Ava be the first—and the last if he had his way.
First, she pulled his t-shirt up and over his head. Her hands rested on the waistband of his shorts, and her eyes met his.
“Go ahead, baby. I’ll never stop you from putting your hands on me.”
She pulled down his shorts and got to her knees in front of him. Razor could feel her heated breath as her fingers wrapped around his thickness. When her tongue darted out and he felt the wetness of it, he almost came right then.
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