Will talk to Caroline a little, and then he sat in silence while they played with Muffy. Caroline laughed when Muffy caught her shoe and tugged on it.
Will picked up the puppy to get Caroline’s shoe away from the dog. He grabbed a dog toy, squeaked it and gave it a toss. Caroline laughed when Muffy dashed after it.
Thrilled by the change in Caroline, Ava sat in a rocker and watched, remaining quiet.
“Muffy, here Muffy,” Caroline called. The pup ignored her, and Will stretched out his arm to catch the dog and hand it to Caroline.
They played with the puppy for a long time, and Ava was not alone with Will until that night after he came back from tucking Caroline into bed.
He found her sitting out on the veranda. “Tell me about the day. I’ve been wanting to hear since I arrived home and you indicated it had been very good.”
“I think so. The walls seem to be crumbling for her. When I read today, she started reading when I paused and then I gave her a chance. I’ll ask her tomorrow if she’ll read for you, and we’ll see what she says. She’s a good little reader. By the end of summer, Will, she will be more than ready for kindergarten. She should be confident enough to do well.”
“Ava, this is just amazing when I think of all I’ve gone through. You have come in here and quickly healed the terrible hurt that’s kept her wrapped up in herself.”
“I don’t think I can take that kind of credit,” she said, aware he sat only a few feet away. He rested a hand on hers, their fingers linked together. He acted unaware of the touch. For her, it was a smoldering flame she could not ignore. It was tangible, a steady contact that made her want more.
“I think Caroline may have been ready,” she continued. “I think the puppy has been a trigger for release. She is so happy and excited over Muffy.”
“She laughed. She talked to me. She read for you. We’ll go out to dinner Saturday night, but I don’t think we should leave until near her bedtime. I don’t want to skip out on her when all this is happening.”
“Very good idea, Will. We don’t need to go at all.”
“Yes, we do. I want to celebrate and do this as a thank-you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Saturday night. Dangerous for her heart, yet exciting and too big a temptation to turn him down.
Excitement coursed through Will’s veins on Saturday. He wanted to be alone with Ava, to take her out where he could hold her, dance with her. Gradually, their kisses were heating and she was letting down her barriers. He wanted to be with her all the time now. He had never wanted a woman the way he did Ava. She was in his thoughts constantly. She wanted commitment—could he make some kind of commitment? Since when had he ever given a thought to commitment? With Ava, the idea seemed different than it had before. He wanted her in his life.
He wanted to treat her to an evening out as a special thank-you for how she’d helped Caroline. Will’s throat tightened and emotions gripped him when he thought about the change in his niece.
Ava had been all he had hoped for and more. The breakthrough had come sooner than he had expected. She was fabulous with the little girl. Ava was just the person Caroline had needed: not too gushy, not too remote. Lost in thoughts about Ava, he dressed in his navy suit, finished combing his hair and left to wait in the downstairs study.
He heard a faint rustle and the click of high heels on the polished wood floor. He turned and his breath was gone as if he had received a punch in his middle. He couldn’t keep from staring as he walked toward her.
“Ah, you look stunning,” he said, crossing the room to her while his gaze went over her sleeveless red dress with a low V-neck and short skirt. Its plain lines hugged her tiny waist. Her hair was looped and pinned on her head with a few loose strands. Desire burned, hot, intense. He wanted to carry her to bed instead of taking her out for the evening, but that was impossible.
“Thank you,” she replied with a smile.
“I won’t be able to see anything or anyone tonight except you. You’re a very special woman.” How could he hold her past summer? He wasn’t going to want to let her go. The idea surprised him, but he was as certain as he could be. He wanted her in his life and the thought of her walking out and saying goodbye was unacceptable. When had he developed such strong feelings for her? When had he ever known a woman as special?
“Shall we go tell Caroline good-night?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.
“Yes. I thought about doing it before I came down, but I wanted to wait until you were ready.” He wanted to do everything with Ava by his side.
Together they walked upstairs to the playroom. Before they reached the open door, Will stopped her when they heard Caroline’s laughter. His insides squeezed and his throat knotted. Joy and relief rocked him and he tried to control his reaction.
“Listen,” he said. “I thought I’d never hear that again.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “She’s laughing,” he repeated, thinking her childish laughter was the most wonderful sound in the world.
He looked at Ava with a burst of gratitude. “I was right about you,” he whispered. “You’ve transformed our lives by finding the way to reach her.” He stared at Ava, certain he had never known a woman he cared as much about. Beautiful, breathtaking and she was so much more. For the first time in his life, he was thinking about a serious, long-term relationship.
He took Ava’s arm to enter the playroom. Rosalyn sat in a chair while Caroline ran around the room chasing Muffy, who had a toy in her mouth.
“Uncle Will, look at Muffy,” she cried and laughed again.
“Catch her.”
He didn’t trust his voice for a moment as emotions tore at him. His eyes burned and he was overwhelmed again.
“She loves for you to chase her,” Ava said, filling in for him when he didn’t speak.
He pulled himself together. “Want me to catch her?”
“Yes, please,” Caroline answered.
“She’s been having a very good time with the dog,” Rosalyn said, smiling broadly at him.
Will reached out to grab Muffy’s toy, catching a leg of the sock monkey. Muffy gave a playful growl and pulled, shaking her head and yanking the toy away from Will. When she dropped the monkey, Will snatched it up to hand it to Caroline. “Throw it for her, Caroline. She’ll run and get it.”
Caroline threw the sock monkey, squealing with delight when Muffy ran after it.
They stayed longer than he had intended, but he couldn’t bear to leave when he saw Caroline laughing and having fun.
Finally, Muffy stretched out on the floor, and Caroline sat down beside her to pet her.
“She’s worn out now,” Will said, picking up Caroline. “We will tell you goodbye, but we’ll be home later. I’m taking Miss Ava to dinner.”
He kissed Caroline’s cheek and she hugged him tightly.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He felt as if he had received another blow. His knees felt weak and he held her close, again having to get a grip on his feelings. “I love you, sweetie, more than anything,” he whispered. He leaned away to smile at her, hoping she didn’t notice his eyes were teary.
He turned to Ava, who stepped close. “Good night, Caroline. We’ll be back after a while.”
She brushed a kiss on Caroline’s cheek and Caroline reached out to hug her. Ava took her from Will and hugged her lightly. Will drew a deep breath, realizing he might not ever want to let Ava go out of his life. She was rare, special. He watched her set Caroline down. “Good night. Rosalyn, have a nice evening.”
Finally Will took Ava’s arm and they left. Instead of leaving the