She heard his footsteps and turned to see him striding toward her. He picked her up and spun around with her.
“Hey!” she exclaimed, laughing as he set her on her feet.
“Did you see the response I got tonight? You caused that, Ava. It’s a miracle. She talked to me and I got a little smile from her.”
“I’m thrilled and happy for you and for Caroline, but Will, it’s just baby steps. It’s a tiny, slight progress.”
“It’s monumental, and you haven’t been here that long. Why in hell I never thought of a puppy for her, I don’t know except I’m not accustomed to being a dad. There’s no school for fatherhood. I didn’t even have the usual nine months to adjust to the idea and learn a few things. Thank heavens I decided to fly down and meet you in person,” he said, looking at her. Locks of dark hair had fallen on his forehead while excitement sparkled in his eyes. Their gazes met and the moment changed. Her heartbeat quickened and her lips parted. The expression in his brown eyes transformed. Desire became flames in their dark depths and she could barely get her breath.
He lowered his head to kiss her. The moment his mouth covered hers, urgency and need swept her. She moaned softly, lost in wanting him, knowing she was breaking all her own rules for herself, yet unable to resist. She wanted his arms around her and longed for his kisses.
His arms tightened around her, drawing her close against him as he leaned over her to kiss her possessively. Her heart pounded while she slipped her arm around his neck. He held her with one arm while his other hand caressed her nape and then her back, moving to her waist to tug her blouse free of her slacks. His hand slipped beneath the silk to caress her breast as he shifted her slightly. His warm hand on her breast stirred a shower of tingles, sparks that fell on growing fires within her.
She moaned, her voice dim in her ears. She poured herself into her kisses, wanting him blindly, tossing all caution aside, knowing there would be another time to worry about succumbing to him.
“Ahh, Ava, you’re marvelous,” he whispered, showering kisses on her, and then his mouth settled on hers again, a fierce, passionate kiss that made her ache with desire. He pushed away the flimsy lace bra she wore and cupped her breast. As his thumb lightly circled her nipple, she gasped with pleasure, moving against him.
She tugged his shirt free, slipping her hand beneath it to run her fingers across his muscled chest, tangling her fingers in his thick chest hair, relishing being able to touch him as he caressed her.
A dim voice of caution persisted and she finally stepped back. “Will, this isn’t part of why I’m here and it doesn’t fit my plans. I don’t want a summer fling and I’m not ready for any emotional upheaval.” The words tumbled out breathlessly. She moved away to pull her clothes back in place and give them both a chance to cool. Reason and caution should prevail. Yet as she tried to cling to logic, she longed to step back into his embrace and kiss him.
His breath was warm on her nape and he moved close behind her, his arm circling her waist. He pressed against her backside, drawing her against him.
“You’re fabulous, and I want to kiss and touch you all night. You need to live again, Ava. You’re shutting yourself away. Touching and kissing isn’t commitment. Stop being afraid to enjoy life a little.”
“I can’t get emotionally involved,” she repeated, turning to face him. “Are you listening to me?”
He continued to hold her. “Yes, I hear you,” he replied, his gaze traveling over her features while he combed long strands of her hair away from her face. He gazed into her eyes again and then leaned close to kiss her.
One more kiss, and then she would make him stop and mean it. Time and thought ceased and she was consumed by his kisses that grew more passionate. His arm tightened around her waist, holding her tightly against him. She had one arm around his shoulders, one hand on his back.
She pulled away and tried to catch her breath. “Will, let’s get back to safe topics and just talk.”
“All right, for now.” He stood beside a sofa. “Come sit while we talk.”
She curled up in one corner of it. He sat facing her a few feet away, but he stretched out his arm across the back to touch her hair and wind his fingers in it. While the slight tugs on her scalp made her tingle, she tried to ignore them.
“So do you know where to get a puppy like the one she picked out?”
“Yes. I’ve even seen the available litters and all are either ready to pick up this week or will be by next week. The puppies are twelve weeks old now, which is a good age. We’ll have to drive to Fort Worth to get the one she selected.”
“That’s all great, Will.”
“The Yorkie litter is in Lubbock. Frankly, I’m glad she didn’t pick that one or we would have had a long drive.”
“Which you would have done without any protest,” she said, amused that he even voiced the complaint about the drive when he was so eager to make Caroline happy.
“Besides, you could meet my parents, since they live in Lubbock.” She smiled. “I think Caroline will love having a puppy so much.”
He turned strands of Ava’s hair in his hand. “I like being at home in the evenings. I’ve always traveled a lot so this is new for me.”
“Good. It’ll be better for your niece. That could be why she was more responsive tonight.”
“I don’t think so. We got more out of her today—that’s your doing. And the pup. I’ve been around all along. Though, granted, not for those two weeks. So how did reading with her go today?” he asked, winding the lock of hair around his finger.
“No different than yesterday. I don’t see that as a setback.”
“I agree. I had lunch with my brother Zach today. I couldn’t bring him home because he was short on time. He’ll be back when they read Dad’s will. You’ll meet all my family then—my mother will be here briefly, both brothers. Garrett, who you met at the opera, will be present because he’s like a brother. His dad worked for mine and they were close. The reading shouldn’t take long and I expect it will occur soon.”
Listening, she looked into his thickly lashed dark eyes and thought about their kisses. The new dog, Will’s enthusiasm, his conversation, all of it diminished until she didn’t hear anything for thinking about his kisses and how she was getting closer to him, drawing nearer to seduction.
After a while he leaned toward her and held her chin lightly with his fingers. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying.”
Jolted, she focused on him. “Yes, I have.”
“Right,” he stated in a tone that conveyed the opposite.
“So what do you think?”
Her face was hot. “Sorry. I was thinking about Caroline’s puppy.”
“No, you weren’t. You were thinking about us.”
“There is no ‘us.’”
He smiled knowingly. “So tell me, where’s this school of yours going to be located? Do you have property yet?”
“I’m looking at areas in Austin and also San Antonio. San Antonio has a diverse population, although there isn’t a city in the U.S. that can’t use a school focused on reading. It will probably be Austin because I know the city better and it will be easier. I won’t have to move.”
“What about Dallas?”
“No. Austin is where I live and I’m more familiar with the city.”
“Who is looking for property for you?”
She told him the name of the real