keep her in his life? He didn’t want to think about life without her. He was like Caroline: he didn’t want Ava to leave. Did he want her badly enough to think about marriage?
Or was this the kind of fuzzy, blinded-by-love thinking that had tied Adam into a rotten marriage?
During dinner on the veranda, Will asked, “How were the books and reading today?”
He saw Ava and Caroline exchange a look, and he put down his roll and butter knife. “What’s this?
“Caroline read so very well today,” Ava said. “She answered my questions correctly, read a second-grade book and she told me she’d read to you tonight.”
Will’s heart thudded and he forgot his dinner. “That’s fantastic,” he said, looking at Caroline, who smiled broadly.
“You should have told me before dinner. You should have called me this afternoon. I can’t wait to have you read to me,” he said, meaning it. Joy filled him and it was difficult to keep quiet and act natural. He wanted to scoop up Caroline, hug and kiss her and shout for glee. Emotions shook him and he tried to get his voice and stay casual. He leaned closer to Caroline. “Sweetie, I am so proud of you and so happy to hear what you read.”
She smiled at him.
“Thank you,” he said to Ava, wanting to pull her into his arms. He wanted to hug both of them. He had lost his appetite, but Caroline was eating and Ava had taken a bite, so he knew he shouldn’t disrupt their dinners.
He sipped his water. “Tell me about one of the books you read, Caroline.”
To his astonishment, she began a story. Again he shot Ava a grateful glance. She had worked a miracle in no time. A little dog had worked a miracle, too. He put down his fork, listening closely to Caroline tell him about a story she read earlier in the day. It was not one he recalled reading to her, so it wasn’t an old favorite or one she was already familiar with. More than ever, he wanted to shout for joy, but he was afraid he might intimidate his niece.
“Sweetie, what a fun story. You did an excellent job telling me about it. That’s fantastic. I’m glad you liked it. Is this one of the books Miss Ava gave you?”
“Yes, sir,” Caroline answered, and again his heart squeezed with relief and happiness.
After dinner, Ava sat in a rocker in the upstairs playroom, watching Caroline sitting on Will’s lap, reading to him. Though he listened intently, Will would occasionally glance at Ava with a joyous expression that filled her with happiness.
He misplaced all the credit he gave her for Caroline’s transformation. It was far more about the little ball of fur who was currently stretched out asleep, but Ava was happy for him and for Caroline. He had said he wasn’t good daddy material, but he was patient and considerate with Caroline—so wrong about himself. He had been emotional at dinner over the change in Caroline, and Ava was touched, sharing his joy.
“Caroline, that is grand. You are such a smart little girl,” Will said as she finished reading to him. She slipped off his lap and ran to plop beside Muffy, waking the pup while she petted her.
“Uncle Will and Miss Ava, let’s play a game,” Caroline said. “I’ll take Muffy outside for a minute while you set up the game.”
“I’ll come with you.” Will held Muffy while Caroline skipped beside him as they left.
Ava chose one from a closet filled with toys and games. She placed the board game on the floor, and when Will and Caroline returned, they all sat around it to play. She was constantly aware of Will being attentive to Caroline, giving her his full attention.
Watching Caroline, Ava marveled at the change that had been so quick. When they finished two rounds of the game, Will asked Caroline if she wanted to see a movie and suggested she get ready for bed first.
“I want Miss Ava to help me get ready for bed,” Caroline said.
Ava nodded and Will left to take Muffy out again.
Later, Caroline curled in Will’s lap while the three sat on the sofa to watch a movie. Rosalyn came in to view the movie with them. Ava noticed when Caroline began to nod and shortly she was asleep. Will paused the movie to carry Caroline to bed.
Ava went outside. The evening was beginning to cool. Lights were on the veranda and pool. Finally Will returned, pulling her up into his arms to kiss her hard.
Her heart slammed against her ribs the moment he drew her into his embrace. Then she closed her eyes, clinging to him to return his kiss. When she started to move away, he held her with his arm around her waist. “I want you in my arms. I want to make love to you.”
His husky voice was as tantalizing as a caress. She longed to follow her heart and kiss him. Instead, she held his forearms, feeling the solid muscles. “Will, we’re not getting more involved,” she whispered, her heartbeat racing.
“I’d say we’re already involved, darlin’.” As his arm tightened around her, she resisted. He leaned closer to kiss her again, but she pulled away.
“Will, you’re not listening to me. We’re not having an affair. I’m doing a job with Caroline, which I think is phasing out rapidly. Her reading is beyond kindergarten level.” Ava took a deep breath. All the time she talked, Will showered kisses on her temple, cheek and down to her throat.
He raised his head to look into her eyes and she couldn’t move or talk. Her heart pounded while her lips tingled. Desire enveloped her, a hunger that erased everything else.
“No,” she whispered, her protest feeble, far more faint than all her words had been. Will placed his lips on hers and kissed her, his tongue stroking hers. She trembled, standing stiffly for only a moment and then melting. She kissed him passionately as if starved for his loving. As her hands swept over him, he picked her up and carried her inside the cabana, kicking closed the door in the bedroom. Clothes were tossed away. When she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, Will ripped it away, buttons popping. He yanked open her shirt, pushing it off along with her bra. They kissed while they undressed each other. Standing in front of her, he lifted her up and she wrapped her long legs around him, winding her fingers in his hair while her other hand pressed against his muscled back. Her heart pounded with desire and joy. This is where she longed to be, dreamed about—in Will’s arms.
He lowered her on his thick rod and she gasped with pleasure as they loved with desperate urgency. She wanted him with a deep need that consumed her. Loving him was a necessity. She cried out in ecstasy when she climaxed as he pumped furiously and shuddered with his release.
Clinging to him, she slowed while rapture wrapped her in euphoria.
She kissed his shoulder lightly and soon he shifted her. When she stood, he picked her up to carry her to the bed, yanking away the covers. He lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms.
He combed her hair from her face. “I’ve wanted you so badly, you’re all I think about,” he said gruffly. Her heartbeat quickened in response to his words and the look in his eyes.
“I wasn’t going to do that again. Will, we’re going where I wanted to avoid from the start.”
“I didn’t notice a lot of reluctance on your part just now,” he whispered. “Ava, this is good between us. It seems right, inevitable from the first moment. Go with what you want.”
“Maybe you can move from relationship to relationship so easily, but I can’t. To say the least. I need commitment. For all your wealth, that’s something you can’t give me. Making love is an intimate, binding event. I can’t deal with it without commitment.”
“We are both dealing quite well,” he said, showering kisses on her face, her lips and throat.
“Will, are you even listening to me?”
“Of course. You’re amazing, fantastic. I’ve never known a woman like you. You’re the sexiest woman ever,” he whispered. “Your kisses burn me to embers.”