We Never Kissed

Chapter 13

Alex

I stood in the corner of Sammy and Cass’s living room, nursing a beer and watching a dozen or so people race to stuff their faces before the games started. Sammy’s game night had been happening for as long as I could remember. Even back in college, the guy could just as easily go to a frat party and meet women as he could spend the night in, playing board games or poker. The boy was competitive as fuck, too. And when he said we started at seven, that meant asses in seats by 6:59 p.m.

In attendance this time were Sammy’s cousin, Terese, and her boyfriend, Keygan, some friends from school, two women from the bakery, and, of course, Ava and her attached-at-the-hip side-kick, Gunnar.

Dude looked like he belonged in a magazine ad for cologne. If I wasn’t straight as an arrow, I’d find him attractive. Okay, he’s damn good-looking, and it bugs the shit out of me . I just found it hard to believe he didn’t still want Ava. Sure, she’d said nothing was going on between them, but that didn’t mean he didn’t still think about them. But who was I to talk? Plus, I had enough things to worry about where Ava was concerned: like how I was going to get her alone to explain about Jessica.

Sammy gave the ten-minute warning, and for some reason, that caused Ava’s eyes to shoot in my direction.

I had been looking forward to this game night because it would have allowed me to spend time with her but, after what happened…the whole thing felt awkward.

I wasn’t sure exactly what went down, but all I knew was that after I’d practically shoved Jessica out my door at ten thirty, I went to do some work and saw that there was a video call from Ava. After further inspection, I was shocked to find it had connected for almost two minutes. Who knew what the hell Ava saw during that time, but I had immediately called her. As I’d suspected she didn’t pick up. I didn’t send her a text because I wanted to speak with her face-to-face tonight.

I didn’t know what I was expecting, but so far she was acting as if nothing had happened. I supposed there could’ve been two minutes of empty air time, and there was no reason for her to be pissed at me, but that would be wishful thinking.

At the five-minute warning, Terese walked over to me, and we hugged.

“Mr. Big Shot, haven’t seen you in a while.” She sipped red wine and grinned, closed-mouth with full red lips. She’d always flirted with me over the years, but I thought she did with everyone. I’d made sure to keep a healthy distance just in case, since she was Sammy and Ava’s cousin.

“Work’s been crazy, but I’m not complaining.”

I was about to ask how she’d been, when she touched my arm, and her face turned serious. “So, how’s your mom doing?”

Her words hit like a gut punch, especially since they came out of left field. Most everyone there knew my history, knew about my mom, so I didn’t get why she was asking me.

Just then, Ava rushed toward us. “Two minutes, people! Let’s go.” Then she looped her arm through Terese’s, saying, “You’re sitting next to me, cuz.”

As everyone took their seats, I tried not to watch Ava’s every move. Her dark hair, full and bouncy, covered part of her gorgeous face. The urge to reach over and brush it away made my hand twitch. She wore loose jeans that hung low on her hips and a tight black T-shirt with the perfect neckline to tease just enough. She had one of those magical smiles that made people feel cared for, and I wanted a big piece of that.

Despite the unresolved issue between us, I sat at the same table as she did, right next to Gunnar, whose grin was more of a smirk.

“Ready to get your ass kicked?” he said, and I caught Ava shooting him a glare.

At our table, Cass doled out cards for Cards Against Humanity while I had second thoughts about joining poker in the kitchen. What happened next didn’t help my attitude.

Gunnar held up his glass to me. “Well fuck me six ways from Sunday…there’s a gnat in my drink.”

Shit . So, she had seen something on that damn video call and then went running to Gunnar? My jaw clenched as I ignored the man sitting next to me and focused on Ava. Her eyes caught mine for only a moment before she shrugged and picked up her cards.

Maybe I was reading into everything, but it felt like, throughout the game, the two of them took every opportunity to give me a dig or send me a message based on the cards they put out. But I made sure to remain unaffected; after all, I’d done nothing wrong, and I would explain that eventually. When that game ended, Gunnar stood and said, “I need some air. I think I’ll hit the balcony.” He turned to me, holding his glass. “Care to join me?”

“Naw, I’m good, bro,” I said and gave him a healthy pat on the back, even though we both knew it was another reference aimed at me, since Jessica and I had been on the balcony. Then I laughed and added, “But there’s no balcony in this house.”

“Right…”

Ava came around the table then, but before she could say anything, I beat her to it. “You two have fun. I think I’ll join the poker game so team play can be even.” We’d had an odd number at the table, but the next game would be two groups battling it out in Pictionary.

My ego received a timely boost when I caught the disappointment on Ava’s face before I walked away.

The poker game should have been more fun, especially since I came out ahead and Sammy was down—the perfect opportunity for me to rub it in his face. But thoughts of Ava had me off my shit-talking game.

At the end of the night Ava, Gunnar, and I stayed to help Sammy and Cass clean up. Working side-by-side, all I could do was fight the urge to take her into my arms and finish that kiss from the plane. Why was there always some issue between us? When she brushed by me, carrying glasses to the kitchen, I almost said something, but I couldn’t bring myself to start that conversation with people listening.

Gunnar came out of the kitchen, carrying a bag of trash busting at the seams. “Here you go, big man. Cass says you know where this goes.” He smirked, and it was all I could to tell that guy off. I was done with his bullshit. Then he winked at me, and I stepped right up in his face, ready to blow, when Ava appeared at his side, also holding a bag and giving me a pointed look.

Damn . I’d totally misread the situation. I took the bag from him, let out a breath, and stepped back, an apology in my expression.

“I’m on your side,” he whispered before nudging Ava against her back.

We both headed out the front door and to the side of the house, wordlessly. And when I turned and opened the bin, we both threw our trash in and then spoke at the same time. I said, “I can explain,” while Ava said, “You don’t have to explain.”

Reaching out, I hooked my finger into the belt loop of her low-rise jeans and pulled her snuggly against my body. “Please, let me say this, Ava.” I stared into those big dark eyes, that stubborn expression I’ve seen so many times on her face, but now it made me want to crush my mouth to hers. I needed to make this right first, though.

“Jessica is nothing to me but a business associate. Actually, she is barely tolerable.” Her face changed slightly, but it still said, I’m not buying it . “Her father is the one I’ve always worked with, but she is trying to prove something to him, and apparently that involves me.” I bent my head until my lips were next to her ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner.” Then, I pressed a soft kiss on her cheek. I felt her grin, but when I pulled back, she quickly reined it in.

“So, you’re saying nothing happened between you two? Even though you took her back to your place?” She laughed. “And, yes, I do realize I have no right to ask you that, but I’m doing it anyway.”

Unwilling to release my grip on her, I used my freehand to brush my thumb over her parted mouth. “I’m glad you are. I don’t want us to have secrets between each other, and I know this isn’t the first time I’ve screwed up, and it probably won’t be the last…but I promise you I want this to work.”

Softly, she pressed her lips together over my thumb, her eyes still locked on mine. Fuck, what I wanted to do with that mouth . And when she bared down with her teeth—“Ow!”—I realized I still hadn’t answered the question I said I would answer.

“The whole time, we talked business—”

“With wine…at your apartment,” she cut in .

“Yes, at my apartment. There was some paperwork we needed to sign, and I didn’t want to deal with security at the office, so we went to my place. And, yes, she was making herself way too at home. I should’ve done a better job at setting boundaries…” With both hands, I grabbed her by the waist and yanked her hard against me. “But my kitchen cupboard was the only thing she got her hands into, and I definitely wasn’t in anything of hers.”

That made Ava laugh, and I leaned forward and captured a quick kiss of her lips. But when I pulled away, she stood on her tiptoes to go back in for more, and I was happy to oblige, running one hand around to her lower back and then over her ass. Damn … I already knew I would never be able to get enough of Ava just by kissing her. I never wanted to stop, and I probably wouldn’t have. But when she pulled back slightly, and her dark eyes found mine, a flash of light to my right caught my attention. “Shit, the porch light is flickering.”

“That must be Gunnar. We better go.” She started to move toward the walkway, but I grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.

“Wait. We need to talk about this. Another minute, please.”

“I’m not mad. I promise.”

She gleamed that beautiful smile, and I ached for more of it .

“I’m not talking about that. Look, Ava, I know how you see me, or at least how you used to see me.” I ran a hand over my jaw. “And I get it, but I don’t want to be that man anymore. I know this whole thing is strange, and you probably don’t trust it, but to me it feels right.”

She stared up at me, and when she didn’t say anything, I added, “Uh, this is the part where you’re supposed to agree with me.”

My heart hung in the balance as she tried to back away, but I still had hold of her wrist so I laced our fingers together and gave her a half grin.

“Okay, I agree. I want to make this work too.” She glanced down at the ground, and I wasn’t sure if it was adorable or concerning.

My solution was to bend down and kiss her once again.

Quickly, she pulled back, saying, “But…”

“I had a feeling that was coming.”

“Not that I want to be another one of your deals, but how exactly are we going to do this, especially if you don’t want anyone to know yet?” She lifted her brows.

“Well…I do have my own apartment?” I lifted my brows right back at her.

“Not a chance,” she said, shaking her head.

I had to admit, I felt a little like a scolded schoolboy. “Why? It’s perfect.” Just the thought of having Ava all to myself in my home, my bed… Heat raced through my veins.

“You know why.” She glanced over to Sammy’s house. “Part of not screwing this up is not just being discreet. It’s not jumping into anything…and that includes your bed, Alex.”

“Fine. Then what do you propose?”

She pulled her lips under her teeth, clearly having no plan herself. “First, I think we need to take it slow. We’ll just have to figure out a way to spend time together, maybe none of the local places our friends and family hang out?”

“And second?”

“Well, you’ve proven to be a resourceful man, a hard worker… raced up the ladder at your firm…”

“And…” I wasn’t sure what she was getting at.

“And…if I mean as much to you as your career does, then you’ll figure out a way to make this work too.” A sexy half grin tugged at her mouth.

Taking her by the wrist, I pulled her around the side of the house and pinned her back against the rough stucco-wall. “Is that a challenge?” I said against her mouth.

Her slight head tilt gave me the answer.

“You always were a pain in my ass, Ava,” I said, grabbing said ass and scraping my knuckles on the stucco in the process. “But trust me on this, baby…when I really get ahold of your ass… ”

She laughed right in my mouth. “Promises, promises.”

I brought my mouth against hers, plundered her with my tongue in a long deep kiss before dragging my lips across her cheek to behind her ear where I sucked her skin in through my teeth. “I’ll keep that promise, Ava.” Then I slid away from her body, leaving her panting against the wall as I strode back to the house.