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The pilot announced their approach to Dallas and soon they touched down in a smooth landing.
In a short time they climbed the stairs in his silent mansion. When they reached her door, he stepped inside and closed the door before drawing her into his embrace. The moment he kissed her, her heart thudded. Longing mushroomed while she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. Why did his kisses seem right, so necessary?
His tongue went deep, stroking hers. Pulling her up against him, he kissed her hard, possessively. While they kissed, he swept her into his arms to carry her across the room. When he stood her on her feet, she wriggled away.
Rampant desire tore at her. “Will, it’s time to say good-night. We’ve come back to life like it was. I’m committed to Caroline and then leaving for my teaching. I don’t want to complicate my life with an affair.”
“I’d say you already have,” he whispered, caressing her cheek. She caught his hand to kiss his palm, her actions denying her words.
“Good night,” she whispered and moved away from him. “You have to go now,” she said.
The force of the desire in his expression shook her. As they locked gazes, tension grew until he turned away. He closed the door quietly behind him.
She touched the necklace around her throat. “I love you, Will Delaney,” she whispered. She walked to the mirror to look at the magnificent necklace he had given her. She couldn’t imagine the cost of it. Touching it with awe as she stared at it, she found it impossible to realize it was actually hers.
Placing it carefully on the dresser, she looked at sparkling diamonds and the glittering emeralds that glowed in brilliant green. She unfastened the watch to place it beside the necklace. Both pieces of jewelry were gorgeous, lavish and breathtaking. It was impossible to grasp they were really hers, especially the fabulous necklace.
Keyed up, she crawled into bed to be enveloped in memories of hours earlier with Will and their lovemaking.
The room was growing light when Ava fell asleep and then she overslept. She rushed to get dressed and grabbed a hasty glass of orange juice with a piece of toast before she left to search for Caroline, expecting to find her with Rosalyn, who usually left Will’s mansion as soon as Ava took charge.
Ava hurried toward the playroom. Just outside the open door, she paused when she heard Will’s voice. Her heart skipped at the sound of Caroline’s laughter.
“Muffy’s cute, Uncle Will.” Caroline giggled. “Thank you for Muffy.” Ava started to enter, but stopped when Will spoke.
“Remember Miss Ava is the one who first thought you might like a puppy, so you should thank Miss Ava, too.”
“I will. Miss Ava is my friend,” came a childish voice Ava had rarely heard. Caroline’s statement gave Ava joy. “Is she your friend, Uncle Will?”
“Yes, she is, Caroline.”
“I don’t want her to leave,” Caroline said and then squealed. Ava heard Muffy’s growl and knew the pup was playing with either Caroline or Will.
Ava walked quietly into the room. Sitting cross-legged on the floor in chinos and a black knit shirt, Will pulled on a dog toy held by Muffy, who shook it. He was laughing along with Caroline. Suddenly he let go and Muffy sat on her haunches, staring at them with the toy hanging in her mouth.
Caroline grabbed the toy and the tug-of-war began again. Once more Ava was touched by Will’s care for his niece.
“I overslept,” Ava said, feeling her cheeks grow warm at Will’s knowing smile.
“Imagine that,” he said and she gave him a look.
Caroline squealed when Muffy jerked the toy out of her hands. She laughed, getting up and running to Ava to hug her. Startled, Ava picked up Caroline. She smelled sweet and was soft, her skin as smooth as rose petals. “Thank you, Miss Ava, for wanting me to have Muffy.”
Ava hugged her. “You’re very welcome. I’m so glad you like Muffy.”
Caroline played with a long lock of Ava’s hair. “I love Muffy.” She looked at the pup and Ava set her on her feet. The minute she touched the floor she ran to play with the pup. Muffy chased her and Caroline ran away with Muffy nipping at her heels.
Will stood and crossed to Ava. “Good morning.”
“Thanks for letting me sleep.”
“I wanted to wake you, but I didn’t.” He ran his finger along her cheek. “You look as if you had a full night’s sleep. There are all sorts of things I’d like to do this morning, but I know I can’t,” he whispered, still in a thick, husky tone that kept her thinking of their night together.
“Just as well, Will,” she said, trying to get her breath.
“It’s been a fun morning with Caroline. Ava, she’s coming out of that shell completely. At least when she plays with the dog. You see how she does with her reading. It’s just fantastic what a difference one little mutt can make.”
“That little mutt means so much to her,” Ava said,
“I’ll leave you with her and the pup. I think the baby is getting tired,” he said. She looked around to see Muffy stretched on the floor and Caroline petting her. The little dog blinked and closed her eyes while Caroline tried to entice her to play more.
“See you later, Will,” Ava said.
“It’ll be more than just ‘seeing,’” he said in a husky voice.
She couldn’t wait.
Will left for his office to make two calls, the first to Zach, to tell him the news about Caroline, the second to Ryan.
“Zach, it’s Will. I know you got the attorney’s letter about the will—the reading is scheduled for two weeks from now.”
“It’s on my calendar,” Zach answered. “How’s Caroline?”
“She’s coming out of her silence. I mean really out.”
“Hallelujah,” Zach yelled loudly enough Will had to hold the phone away from his ear as he laughed.
“I wanted to shout, too. It’s fantastic.”
“That’s the best possible news, Will. That’s the greatest. I haven’t been any help, but I care.”
“I know you do.”
“What happened? Was it the new teacher you hired?”
“Yes. Ava suggested I get her a puppy. A pup is hard to resist. It was almost instant.”
“Damn, that’s good news.”
“You’re going to be surprised when you see her, Zach.”
“I’ll go get something for her and this pup.”
Will leaned back to talk to his brother, next calling Ryan, happy to tell each of them about Caroline. When he finished his calls, he sat thinking about Ava. He wanted to whisk her away, somewhere he could be alone with her and make love to her endlessly. Last night had been spectacular. No woman had ever excited him the way she did, and he didn’t want to let her go. Instead, she didn’t even want to go out again. He raked his fingers through his hair. He wanted to be alone with her to make love to her tonight. But it wasn’t going to happen, he was certain. She was driven, determined, bright, accustomed to getting her way—unfortunately some of the same qualities he possessed. It was his stand on commitment and marriage that held her back. Would commitment to Ava be a silken trap the way Adam’s marriage had been for him?
Will thought about life with Ava, and it appealed to him in a way the thought of a long-term—actually lifetime—commitment had never appealed before. Was Ava changing him? Or was he changing to 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.”
She wanted to put her hands over her ears. His words were golden chains that could hold her heart captive. She kissed him lightly, just to stop the compliments. She rolled away and stood. “Will, I’m dressing and going in. Otherwise, we’ll make love all night long.”
“Which is the best possible idea,” he said, propping himself on his elbow and looking at her as she stood nude before him. She turned away and grabbed up his shirt to yank it on. “I’ll borrow this for a minute so I’m covered,” she said, picking up her other clothes.
“The view was much better before you found my shirt. Ava, come here,” he said in a husky, coaxing tone that curled her toes and stirred desire again.
Without looking back, she clutched her things and rushed for the door. “I’ll dress and go, Will. You stay right where you are,” she flung over her shoulder, pulling on clothes as she went. There were two bedrooms, a living area with a bar, and bathrooms in the cabana, but she yanked on her things and dropped his shirt in the hall. She hurried out and across the veranda, half expecting Will to stop her at any moment.
In her room she closed the door and leaned against it. She had to find other arrangements for the evenings. She couldn’t be alone with Will night after night and still avoid succumbing to his seductive ways.
She pulled out her laptop to search for condos or apartments in the area. She would finish her time with Caroline, but she had to move out of Will’s mansion and get away from him before she moved into his bed for an affair that would last until Will walked away. Each time they had made love, she was more deeply in love with him, her heart bound to him more. She couldn’t imagine a time when she wouldn’t love him, whether she was with him or away from him, but if there was any hope of getting over him, now was the time to move away. He talked about her being special and said wonderful endearments, but there was no commitment from him, nor would there be. The sooner she moved on, maybe the less she would be hurt.
Ten
In the morning Ava dressed in a black shirt and black capris with sandals. When she went down to breakfast, she heard Will’s deep voice and another male voice in the dining room.
“Ava,” Will said as she approached the doorway. “Come meet my brother Zach Delaney. Zach, meet our wonder teacher, Ava Barton.”
Zach extended his hand. “I’m honored to meet you and tell you we owe you a far bigger thanks than we can ever convey.”
She shook his warm, calloused hand. “I’ve had plenty of thanks, and I’m so happy for the change in Caroline. She’s a little sweetheart,” Ava said, surprised to face a man whose looks were different from his brother. Her gaze ran swiftly over Zach’s rugged features, a craggy jaw, his startling blue eyes, a total contrast to Will’s dark brown eyes. “I don’t believe I’d pick you out in a crowd as Will’s brother. I can’t see that you resemble each other at all.”
Both grinned. “Thank heavens for that,” Will remarked about two seconds before Zach expressed the same sentiment and Ava had to chuckle.
