The compass fascinated her. Not only because she’d never pegged him as a man who’d ever get a tat but also because of his choice of ink. It was a symbol that seemed to contradict the man she thought she knew. She couldn’t stop staring at it, or the way his muscles bunched when he moved, or the sexy sheen of sweat glistening on his bare skin.
Her body was going haywire in the company of a five-year-old.
She was losing her damn mind.
Pulling out a few fresh peaches from her bag, she adjusted her chair in the sand and pushed her sunglasses up her nose. “Want some fruit, sweetie?” she called out.
“Yes!” Zoe barreled over, reaching out with sandy hands.
Avery laughed. “Go wash them in the ocean or your peach will be crunchy.”
“Ew!” She took off, and Avery kept watch while she rinsed her hands, then got distracted by shells littering the shoreline.
“Can I have one?”
Avery looked up. In the glare of the sun, Carter’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and those full lips held a sexy tilt, like he knew she’d been ogling him before but refused to admit it. “Sure.” She handed it over, pretending his half-naked body wasn’t interesting at all.
He bit into the ripe fruit, and a trickle of juice spilled over his chin. Her throat tightened as she imagined licking over the same trail and ending with her lips on his.
“Now that’s a thought I want to know,” he drawled. Amusement danced in his misty-blue eyes.
She ripped her gaze away and rummaged in the cooler for a juice box. “Trust me. You’ll never know.”
He laughed and took another bite. “Nothing like a good challenge to spur a man on.”
“Is that what this is to you—a challenge?” Suddenly, all the twisted feelings inside her leaked into her voice with pure frustration. “Is the sudden flirtation and interest in me boredom? An itch to finish out your vacay with some fun in the sack? Why don’t you tell me what this is really about, Carter?”
He finished his peach, and wiped his hands on a napkin. Then regarded her with an intensity that made her squirm. “None of the above.” His voice came out like sand and gravel, raking across her ears. “But I don’t have all the answers yet. I’m attracted to you. I want to spend more time with you. I want to kiss you again, and touch you in all your secret places and give you pleasure. This is all brand new to me, too. But if none of this interests you, I’ll respect it and back off. Just say the word.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. God, it’d be easier to just send him away and get back to her busy, crazy life. But deep inside, she wanted all of it. The idea of exploring this attraction was too appealing to turn down. Maybe it was time to take a chance and see what they could be together.
He waited for her response. Patience and a fierce demand mingled in his gaze, daring her not to lie. Sexual awareness skittered through her.
But she wasn’t ready to admit it. Not yet.
She took the safe route and avoided the question entirely. “You’re very good with Zoe,” she finally said.
She held her breath, wondering if he’d push, but his shoulders relaxed, and he allowed her the space. “I like kids. They’re honest and pure with their intentions. I like the way they look at the world without blinders.”
She tilted her head. “I guess I figured you’d find them messy, emotional, and a bit inconvenient.”
His rich laugh made her belly drop. “Sometimes. But the good outweighs the bad. I love the way all three of you banded together to support Zoe after her dad died. I know his death will always affect her, but she’s a happy, vibrant little girl.”
Her heart softened. He seemed to always be surprising her. “I think we were all lucky to have one another. Just like Ally was lucky to have you.”
Surprise flickered over his face, but before he had a chance to respond, Zoe came rushing back up to the blanket, her little hands full of shells. “Look what I got! Mommy says when I bring home a unique shell, it can go in the garden, but we can’t have any of the sames,” she babbled. “Can you help me find the good ones?”
“Definitely. Here, let me take them so you can eat your peach first. Looks like you got sandy all over again, princess.” He transferred the shells to her pail of water, grabbed a clean towel, and dusted off her fingers. Zoe ignored her Sofia the First beach chair and plopped her tiny butt next to Carter.
Smiling, Avery handed her the peach and juice box, watching while they chatted away and Carter began sifting through the various shells. The warmth and genuine interest on his face told her there was no pretense. He wasn’t trying to show off to get Avery into bed. This was a man who knew how to relate to kids and owned who he was. What a beautiful surprise.
A stirring in her gut rose up and crashed over her like a wave. Her dream of a future husband and father had always been a misty fragment of perfection—a list of black-and-white traits on paper that added up to a man worthy of her. But right now, a longing clawed to the surface, and the only sharp image in her vision was Carter Ross.
Shaken, she buried her thoughts and focused on the moment. It was a beautiful day at the beach, and she rarely got time off. For today, she’d have fun and soak in every ray of sunshine. Gabe was on call for emergencies if Taylor needed him, her phone was switched to silent, and the hours stretched before her like a gift.
Carter seemed to sense her shift of energy. They picked out their shells, Zoe finished her peach, and he stood up. “Ready to jump some waves, ladies?” he asked, extending both of his hands.
Zoe bounded up and grabbed at his fingers. “Yes! But not too far, because the water tastes yucky.”
“I’ll keep you safe. Avery? Ready to jump?”
She froze. The words stirred in the hot air with a much deeper meaning. His gaze dared her to join them. Her hesitation was brief, but enough to show her next actions weren’t done on impulse.
She stood up and took his other hand.
Their gazes locked. His grip tightened with a searing warmth and security that made her soul sigh. His slow smile made her heart swell, and she smiled back, a lighthearted happiness flowing through her body.
“Let’s go,” she said.
They ran down, hand in hand, to the shore.
The next hours passed in a joyous blur. At first, the shock of the freezing water hitting her bare skin stole her breath and her nerve. Carter and Zoe called out encouraging words, and eventually her body adjusted to the frigid temperature, and she waded in to her waist. The classic game of jumping waves brought her back to her childhood days with her sisters, when every weekend was spent in the water until their skin pruned and they shivered with cold. Then they’d wrap themselves up in towels and sit together, watching the vast expanse of beach where ocean met sky.
Carter kept Zoe high in his arms, careful to watch every incoming wave for intensity so the little girl never got a mouthful of water or sand. Her hands wrapped around his neck, and she squealed in delight. Emotion hit Avery while she watched them together, wishing Bella could find a man for her and Zoe to love, and wondering if Carter had snuck up to snatch all the secret parts in her heart she didn’t realize she had.
Too soon, the hour grew late, and they began to pack up. They rinsed the toys, shook out sandy towels, and piled up the stroller. The trudge back was slow, but they were all smiling as they reached the burning concrete and put on their sandals.
“Let’s wash our feet, honey,” she told Zoe, guiding her toward the showers.
They cleaned up and started heading toward the car. “Aunt Avery! Can I get the free fudge and say hi to Lenny?”
She turned, waving at the young teen working his summer job by handing out free fudge in front of the Fudge Kitchen. “Sure, we’ll wait here. Don’t take too much.”
“I won’t.” She raced off, and Lenny leaned down to chat with her, his gloved hand picking out a few choice pieces.
Avery shook her head. “She’s got most of the town charmed.”
&nb
sp; “I’m not surprised. The Sunshine girls are hard to resist.”
He stood close. He’d propped his sunglasses on his head, revealing those gorgeous blue-gray eyes that called to her like a rising mystical storm. His nose was burned. Grains of sand clung to his cheeks. Stubble hugged his jaw. He’d shrugged on his T-shirt, which clung to his damp skin and outlined his broad shoulders and chest. He smelled of ocean salt, peaches, and man.
The words popped out of her mouth. “I had a good time.”
“Me, too.”
“Even with Zoe?”
“Especially with Zoe. I like seeing her with you. Your face lights up when you look at her. I keep wondering what it’d be like if you looked at me like that.”
Her breath caught. His voice seared like a brand. “You’re doing it again,” she said.
His hand slowly reached out. He stroked her curls back, and she wondered briefly how bad she looked. Crazy ocean hair, sweaty face, and sand-encrusted skin. But his fingers were gentle when he stroked her cheek, and his eyes burned so bright, with a need that called to her primitive soul. “Doing what?”
“Making me confused. When you talk like that, it makes me . . .”
His thumb stroked over her lips. “Makes you what, Avery?”
She shuddered. “Want.”
He muttered a low curse. His face tightened, and he leaned in so close, his breath grazed her in a caress. “Me, too.”
And then he was kissing her, the lightest brush of his lips sliding over hers, as fragile as a butterfly’s wings. His fingers cupped her cheeks, and his mouth sipped at hers with a delicacy that contradicted the bolt of raw hunger rushing through her in a demand for more. She rose up on tiptoes, but he was already stepping back, staring down at her with a male need that ripped a moan from her lips.
The pounding of Zoe’s footsteps clamored in her ears. The ground shifted underneath her as she tried to refocus.
“I had three, Aunt Avery, but they were little, and look—I brought back some for you!” Zoe stuck out her hand, which held two tiny pieces of fudge. Smushed.
Carter grinned and tousled her golden locks. “Thanks, princess, but I think you should eat mine. I’m really full.”
Those wide blue eyes turned to Avery, full of innocence. “Do you want yours?” she asked sweetly.
Avery shook her head, laughing. “Nope. Why don’t you eat those last two pieces, wash your hands, and come right back?”
“’Kay!” She popped them both into her mouth at once and raced to the fountain.
“Will you let me take you to dinner?” he asked in a low voice. “Or do I need to win another bet?”
She sighed. “No more bets. I’d go to dinner, Carter, but my schedule is insane. I have back-to-back appointments all this week, and a wedding this weekend.”
He nodded, a frown creasing his brow. “Is there a night I can cook for you? You can bring your laptop to my house and do some work, then break for dinner.”
She nibbled on her lower lip in thought, then paused when she caught his hungry stare. Her belly tumbled. Right then, she knew she’d do anything to see him again. In private. “Wednesday. Eight o’clock. Will that work?”
“Yeah. It’s a date.”
“Don’t forget Gabe is meeting you at the tux place tomorrow. And the favors will be done—I’ll bring over a sample Wednesday.”
“Sounds good.”
Zoe appeared by their side, wet from head to toe. “Hi.”
Avery gasped. “How did you get so wet? You were supposed to wash only your hands.”
Zoe gave a little sigh. “There was a bug in my hair, so I wanted to get it out.”
Carter laughed and grabbed a towel from the stroller. “You definitely drowned the bug, along with yourself.” He rubbed her hair dry, chucking under her chin, and she gave him a quick hard hug.
“Can you come back home with me, Carter?”
“Not tonight, princess. But soon. We’ll make another playdate, okay? Right now, Aunt Avery has to take you home.”
“’Kay! Bye!” With another hug, the little girl smiled and skipped ahead of the stroller.
Avery said goodbye, heading back to Bella’s, and wondered how the man had managed to capture both of their hearts in one short day.
She couldn’t wait until Wednesday.
Chapter Fourteen
Carter knew the moment he met Gabe that he didn’t like him.
Gabe was young. Well, younger than he was. He strolled into the tux place with a male grace that pissed Carter off. His dark hair was thick and shiny. He was stylishly dressed in a white summer suit that should look ridiculous on anyone but Robert Redford in one of his old-school films. But no, this guy pulled the whole thing off, shaking Carter’s hand with a firm grip, his dark eyes quickly assessing his build and probably finding him lacking. God knew his one lousy hour lifting weights and running on the treadmill was nothing compared to this guy’s bulging biceps. How could he be a wedding planner? He didn’t seem the type.
“Nice to meet you, Carter,” Gabe said, his voice deep and cultured. “I’ve got a few choices I’d like you to try first, if you don’t mind? Avery told me Ally wanted you to have a different tux from the other groomsmen. Are you open to colors?”
“I’ve worn pink before,” Carter said, slightly defensive. The moment he uttered the words, he wanted to groan. Why was he acting like an idiot? Because the thought of this guy working endlessly next to Avery drove him fucking nuts?
Gabe laughed. “Don’t worry, I’d never stick you with pink. But I think lavender would work with the bridesmaid dresses without being overpowering. I have a few shades of gray picked out and various styles, too. Let’s get you suited up.”
He began to walk toward the dressing room with Carter. “Oh, I got this. I’ll just come out and model.”
Gabe’s dark eyes sparked with humor. “Of course. I just wanted to show you which room you have.”
Ah, shit.
Gabe opened the door to the one on the end. A line of tuxedos was neatly hung up, balanced with various shirts, ties, and two pairs of shoes. “Work from the right to the left. These three styles will accent the rest of the bridal party. I have two shoe sizes in case one runs tight. If you need help with the buttons or cummerbund, let me know.”
“Got it.”
“Want something to drink?”
He deepened his voice. “Sure. Whiskey. Straight.”
Gabe pressed his lips together. “Um, I was going to offer water or coffee since it’s ten a.m., but I can probably get you a cocktail if you give me a few minutes.”
Fuck. “No, it was a joke. Sorry. I’m good.”
“Great, I’ll be out here waiting.”
Carter rubbed his head and told himself to get it together. Why was he intimidated? The guy was just a worker bee. Good-looking, yes. But if he was interested in Avery, wouldn’t he have made his move already?
He needed to find out.
He got himself into the first tux, hoping he’d hate it. Unfortunately, the style was nice—a bit conservative, with a narrowed jacket and tighter pants, but longer in the back, with some flair. The smoke gray accented the lavender shirt. He exited while Gabe assessed with a sharp gaze.
“Good cut. Fits your body shape perfectly. You like the colors?”
“It’s okay,” he said grudgingly.
“Alex, can you come here and take some measurements for me?” Gabe called out.
An older man with spectacles and gray hair walked over with a tape measure in hand. “Hello, Mr. Ross, I’m the owner, Alex. This style suits you.”
“Thank you.”
“Is it acceptable if I take measurements?”
He waved his permission, his gaze studying his competition. Carter cleared his throat. “How long have you been working at Sunshine Bridal?” he asked casually.
Gabe tapped his lips in deep thought, walking in a circle. “Oh, a good three years now.”
“Do you like it?”
�
�Yes. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s an exciting career.”
“I’m finding that out lately. Been shadowing Avery a bit for my sister’s wedding.”
The man smiled, flashing the whitest, straightest teeth he’d ever seen. “Avery’s the best. I learned the whole business under her direction.”
Carter’s muscles tightened. Alex frowned, snapping the tape and remeasuring as his body jerked. “Sorry,” he coughed out. “Avery does seem supportive. Do you work with Bella and Taylor, too?”
Gabe seemed to have no idea he was being grilled. He clucked under his tongue at something with the pant line, and got into a dialogue with Alex regarding brands and each one’s tendency to run a different size. “I help out everyone, but I work mainly with Avery. I’m her right-hand man. Her ride-or-die, you could say.”
His smug grin ripped at Carter’s temper. “Seems like you’re close friends.”
“Very close. Can you try on the next one for me? I want to get a comparison so you can make an informed choice.”
“Sure.” He got off the pedestal and changed into the second monkey suit while irritation scratched at his nerve endings. Was Gabe insinuating he was more than friends with Avery? Was he disrespecting her? He had to get more information. Pump him, then kill the bastard if he said anything lurid.
He stepped back out and resumed his place in front of the mirrors. The two men poked and clucked like mother hens rather than men hanging out without a group of women directing them. Damn, they took their jobs seriously. Still, he had to admit the second suit was even nicer. A lighter gray, breathable fabric paired with a deep-purple shirt that seemed to complement his color and emphasized the muscles he did own. The shawl collar had a deeper silver tone for contrast.
“Hmm, I like this better. What do you think?” Gabe asked.
Love on Beach Avenue Page 17