they are adorable puppies,” Ava said, looking at two that were so cute she couldn’t imagine Caroline wouldn’t pick one of them.
Will nodded. “What puppy isn’t cute?”
Caroline picked up one picture, studying it intently. She held it out to Will. “I want this one,” she said softly.
He flicked a glance at Ava and she could see his joy that Caroline had spoken to him.
“Then I will get you a puppy like that one,” he said, putting down the picture, which Caroline picked up and studied. “Caroline, the puppy is a bichon. That’s what kind it is and why it looks like it does. The little papillon has that name because papillon is French for butterfly, and that puppy has butterfly-shaped ears. Its ears make one think of a butterfly. Tomorrow I will take you and Miss Ava with me and we will get doggie things—we’ll need a feeding bowl and some puppy food, some toys for the puppy and a bed. Do you want to go?”
“Yes,” she answered.
Will picked her up and hugged her, closing his eyes a moment. Ava glanced away, realizing it was an emotional moment for him.
“All right, sweetie, we’ll go tomorrow afternoon. I’ll take off about three o’clock and come get both of you and we’ll go to a local breeder. We’ll have to get a collar and a leash.”
He got another faint smile and he hugged her again lightly before setting her down. “We’ll get a little crate for the puppy to sleep in and we’ll have to find a place in your room to put it. The first few nights it might cry.”
She looked up at him while he talked. He took her hand and they walked to the sofa where he sat. She held the picture and turned to run back and get her brown teddy bear before climbing up beside Will.
“You like the idea of a puppy, don’t you?”
She nodded her head, looking intently at the picture she held.
“We’ll have fun with it. But puppies do have sharp teeth. They bite things because they want to chew. They have baby teeth and like to chew. They don’t mean to hurt.”
Ava followed them and sat nearby, listening to the conversation and hearing the excitement in Will’s voice. Caroline had an eager expression as she sat quietly listening.
“Miss Ava had a dog when she was a little girl, didn’t you?” Will said, pulling her into the conversation.
Ava nodded and talked about her dog, and then Will told about the family dog they had when he and Caroline’s dad were growing up.
Finally, he stood, picking up Caroline, who still clutched the picture and her bear. “We’re off to bed now. Miss Ava has read you stories today, so it’s my turn.”
Ava stood. “Good night, Caroline.” She patted the child’s shoulder and impulsively brushed her cheek with a kiss. “We’ll play some more games tomorrow and talk about puppies.”
As soon as they left the room, she began to clear the table. Edwina would be in to clean in the morning, but Ava saw no reason to leave a mess. She filled the dishwasher and had everything tidy and still no sign of Will. She went to the library and discovered lower shelves that held some children’s books. Some were tattered and worn, some the vintage of her own childhood books. Curious, she pulled out one on dinosaurs and opened it to see Will’s name printed neatly inside the cover and “six years” written below his name. She smiled looking at the book, imagining Will poring over it as a six-year-old. Ava replaced the book and looked through a couple more. She was surprised the books weren’t in Caroline’s room.
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
