never see Will Delaney again.
“Thank you, but I think I should stay right here Friday night.”
“Scared to go out with me?”
“Definitely,” she said, smiling at him. “I don’t need a complication in my life. I’m here only to help Caroline. As quiet as she is, she’s adorable, Will. In her own unobtrusive way, she wraps herself around your heart. I can see why you’re concerned.”
“Looks like I have two females to win over now,” he said quietly, and her pulse jumped a notch.
“Stop flirting, Will,” she said, smiling at him.
“I can’t. I want to take you out.”
“It isn’t going to happen. Your brother must have been a great parent,” she said, determined to get the subject changed.
“He was, and he loved her beyond measure.”
“Were you and your brother close?”
“Yes, the closest brother. I’m close with my other brothers and some friends I’ve known all my life.”
“I noticed the rodeo memorabilia in your room. Do you still ride?”
“I haven’t for the past two years. Mostly because of lack of time.”
They talked about their friends and their lives until she realized the hour was late. Standing, she smiled at him as he came to his feet.
“It’s past my bedtime. Plus, I haven’t taken time to unpack. I should go.”
“I’ll go up with you in case you’ve forgotten the way.”
“Have you ever thought about getting Caroline a puppy?” Ava asked as they headed upstairs
“No, it never occurred to me,” he admitted, glancing at her. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that, or why it wasn’t suggested earlier by someone.”
“It may not be something she wants.”
“It would be a little puppy to take care of. How could she resist loving one if it has a good disposition? When we were kids, my brothers and I had dogs. That’s a good idea,” he said. “I should have thought of a dog myself.”
She nodded. “A puppy might elicit a few laughs from her. Puppies are hard to resist. They do have sharp teeth though, and that can be a drawback for little kids.”
“I’ll get someone to check into which breeds are good with children. Big or little,” he mused. “Seems like little might be easier.”
“It probably would be. Talk to a veterinarian.”
“That’s a great idea. I need to keep you around.” Startled, she glanced at him and smiled when she saw his smile and realized he was teasing her.
They reached her suite and he entered with her, switching on lights and taking her arm. “Come look around and see if you need anything.”
“I’m sure I won’t.”
He turned her to face him. “I’ll be forever grateful to the principal who gave me your name.”
He stood close and his hands were on her arms. Her heart raced, and at the moment she was no longer thinking of him as Caroline’s uncle, a man with a problem who needed her help. Instead, she could only see the handsome, sexy man who was inches away and holding her lightly. When he looked at her mouth, she couldn’t get her breath and wondered if he could hear her heart pounding. She wanted to wrap her arms around him to kiss him. Her desire shocked her.
“I think you’re bringing me back into the world and I’m not certain I’m ready,” she whispered.
“You’re ready,” he said in a husky voice. “I can see it in your eyes.” He leaned closer and bent down to brush her lips with his.
The moment his mouth touched hers, she closed her eyes. Her heart thudded. She had not been kissed by a man since Ethan—six long years ago. Her pulse roared in her ears.
Will’s breath was warm. He brushed her lips again and then his mouth settled possessively on hers, hard, demanding, no longer light and tentative.
Her toes curled and her heart pounded. Her body reacted to his kiss from head to toe. She slipped her arms up to wrap them around his neck and hold him, feeling his body hard and warm against hers.
His tongue went deep, thrusting over hers, creating an intimacy they hadn’t had and taking them to a different level in their relationship, shifting from business to pleasure, from impersonal to personal. For the moment she wanted him as she had wanted few men in her life. Her reactions to him surprised her. Reasoning stopped while her body and heart ruled.
She held him tightly, kissing him back and feeling his heart pounding with hers.
Even though she had decided to keep her relationship purely professional with him to protect her heart from succumbing to his charm, she couldn’t resist his kisses. She had been steeped in grief so long, this was sunshine pouring into a dark night. Somewhere within her conscience a dim voice whispered stop, but she paid no heed. She felt the rough stubble of his whiskers, inhaled his aftershave, savored his mouth.
How long they kissed, she had no idea. Will’s hand traveled to her nape, warm, lightly caressing her, and then his hand slipped down her back to her waist, then lower over the curve of her bottom.
Pausing, she looked up at him while he still held her. “We should stop this, Will. It’s total foolishness. Risks neither of us want.”
“Speak for yourself.” His brown eyes blazed and he wound both hands in her hair. “I want you, Ava. I want to know you,” he said. “And you like being kissed. Your response sets me on fire,” he whispered, pulling her close again and then kissing away any answer she might have.
Again, a wave of desire swept her and she held him tightly, kissing him, relishing the feel of his hard body against hers. She tingled from head to toe, heat pooling in her. Special kisses when they shouldn’t be. Or was it simply so long since she had been held by a man? Thoughts spun away and she was lost in his kisses, returning them passionately until she had to stop.
“Will,” she said, trying to get some firmness to her breathless voice. “You need to go.”
Desire blazed in his dark eyes, making her racing heart pound faster. He wrapped his fingers in her hair to hold her head. “For now,” he said. He released her, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Immobile, she stared at the closed door, but all she saw was Will. Locks of his dark hair falling over his forehead, his gaze boring into her, his mouth red from kisses. Had she made a giant mistake by succumbing?
Not succumbing—she had kissed him passionately in return, wanting more. It was a good thing she had only two days here. Will was a sexy, appealing man. Caroline, an adorable child. Both could wind around her heartstrings until she was bound in unbreakable shackles with a man who had no intention of a serious relationship and a child who wasn’t hers and would soon go out of her life forever.
Each event would lead to heartbreak.
Three
In the morning, Ava stepped into the kitchen to find Will’s chef working at a counter.
Short, stocky, an apron around his waist, the man paused and smiled. “Good morning.”
Before she could answer, Will entered the room and for seconds as her gaze met his, she forgot all else. In a knit shirt and chinos, he looked casual, more appealing than ever. “Good morning,” he said, gazing warmly at her. He touched her arm lightly and his tone became brisk.
“Ava, meet my very fine chef, Rainey Powers. Rainey, meet Miss Ava Barton, a teacher who will be working with Caroline.
“Good morning,” she said, smiling at the man who had thick