We Never Kissed

Chapter 27

Ava

I snuck a peek at my phone, which rested on the counter, so Gunnar wouldn’t see me. “Do you know if these dishes are clean or dirty?” I asked, pulling the door open.

“Neither,” he said from his perch on a barstool. He dug into his microwaved lasagna and then took a big bite.

Looking inside at the empty racks, I said, “Oh.”

“How late is he?”

I sighed and leaned my elbows on the counter. “Forty-five minutes.”

“No text… No call?”

I shook my head. The average woman might have gotten worried if she hadn’t heard from her boyfriend, who was supposed to pick her up for a date, but Alex often worked late into the night and sometimes got caught in meetings with clients. It wouldn’t be the first time this happened, but I never cared before.

“So, what are you going to do?” He shoved the cardboard container toward me. “Wanna share my dinner?”

I managed a small grin for his kindness.

Alex and I were supposed to have the serious talk about how and when we’d tell the family about us. I wouldn’t voice this to Gunnar, but in the back of my mind was a little voice that said Alex had changed his mind about us, that it was all too much for him to face my parents and Sammy. “Thank you. No.” Sighing, I straightened and grabbed my phone. “How hard is it to send a text?” I’d sent him two and called once, and even that, I worried, was too much.

“Not that hard.” He pointed his fork at me. “And I was just starting to like the guy too.”

“What? You said you liked him.” I tilted my head.

“Let’s just say, he rides a fine line.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then added, “Now the jury’s out until I see how tonight plays out.”

I wasn’t the best with being patient, so I grabbed my keys, phone, and purse. “I can’t just sit around here.”

“You going to his office?”

“No, I’m going to his house.” I had a key, and I would decide on the way over if I would use it or not.

He swiveled on the stool as I passed him. “Call me if you need backup.”

“I will,” I said over my shoulder and headed out the door.

At Alex’s place, I sat in my car, trying to decide if I was the same Ava who knew exactly who Alex was and what his life was like… Or, was I Ava the girlfriend, who had expectations? The former would have me going inside, getting naked, and waiting for him on his couch with a bottle of wine. Obviously, that Ava was more fun, less complicated. And yet I didn’t move. I’d settled once before—with Mark. Yes, this was different, and Alex had told me he wanted to make this work, but had he really understood what that meant?

My phone chimed, and I snatched it up. I’d texted Alex before I left that I was coming here, would wait thirty minutes, and then I was going home and to bed. That was twenty minutes ago.

Alex: On my way …

I stared at it, waiting to see if there would be more. “That’s it?”

My irritation was growing by the minute. Even though I knew at least he was alive and on his way, still, I sat in my car. I was irritated, but I couldn’t go home until I heard his excuse— uh, reason .

When Alex finally arrived, I opened my window as he approached my car.

“I’m sorry,” he said instead of a greeting. “It couldn’t be helped.”

Narrowing my gaze, I felt my blood pressure spike. “Did Jessica have you gagged and bound to a chair?”

“Jessica?” He pulled his head back, ran a hand through his hair. “She wasn’t even there.” He sighed. “Could we not make this—”

“What? Into a thing? Well, from where I’m sitting…it is a thing.”

“You didn’t have to come here.” His gaze darted around the lot.

“Yeah, I could have sat home, waiting by the phone like a good girl. Is that what the other girls did before me?”

Shaking his head, he pulled his lips into a tight line. “Can we go inside to talk…please?”

“Haven’t decided if I’m staying.” I faced forward and stared through the dark windshield.

He leaned over, rested his forearms on the opened window. “Ava…” He placed a soft kiss on my cheek as I continued to look forward. It would be so easy to let him charm his way out of this, but I was still annoyed. “Please… I said I was sorry. I was at work and— ”

“Then why do you smell like cigars?”

“Come on, Ava. You know how some of these meetings are. We had both Carl and his brother in Derrick’s office. It was impromptu, and I didn’t have my phone. I couldn’t think of any excuse to leave. Either they’d think another client was more important than they were, or they’d think it was personal, and their business wasn’t as important.”

I turned to him and tilted my head. “Some people think business isn’t as important as personal. I guess you’re not one of those people?”

He straightened and blew out a breath, staring up at the sky. “I’ve been working on this deal since before we were together. Are you saying I should just let it go down the toilet?”

It was my turn to sigh because I knew where he was going with that. But at the same time, I didn’t want a life of being second to his career. “No, of course not. It’s just that…” And then it hit me why this bothered me so much. “I don’t even know what we are, like are we even a couple? Am I even allowed to be annoyed that this happened?” I held his gaze and waited.

A sexy half grin transformed his expression. “Are you saying you wanna be my girlfriend?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I sort of thought I already was. ”

With another quick glance over his shoulder, he kneeled down and held a hand out to me. “Ava Steadman…will you be my girlfriend?”

I felt a blush take my cheeks as I popped open the door, enough to get out but so I wouldn’t hit him. “Will you get up before you ruin those pants?”

“That’s not an answer,” he said, gazing up at me.

I threw a hand on my hip. “So, you’re saying you want to make this official…as in tell people?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” His tone was serious, and he must have read the concern in my eyes because he added, “And, yes, I’m still worried about the family, but I believe in us, and I’ll convince them we’re the real deal.”

I took his hand and pulled. “We’ll convince them.”

“Hell, yeah, we will!”

Alex’s voice carried in the night, and I flinched. “Shh!”

“Hell, no. I just claimed my woman.” Then he gave me a celebratory slap on the ass.

“Oww!”

Pulling on my arm, he hiked me over his shoulder and called, “And now I’m taking her back to my cave.”

“Alex!” I screamed and tried to gasp his shoulders, afraid of falling.

And then he slapped my ass again and took off toward his apartment.

Chapter 28

Alex

Ava spread the blanket down over the sand, and then I dropped the backpack on top of it. I had carried both of those things as well as two chairs and a towel, while Ava only carried her sandals. She’d told me it was my penance for being late tonight, and I had accepted it with a grin because I would’ve done it anyway. My girl wasn’t going to lift a finger in my presence.

I watched as she sat on her knees and dug things out of the backpack—which I’d mostly prepared in the morning before work—waiting until she got to the surprise I knew would please her, especially after our argument. I would have hated that to go to waste.

She didn’t disappoint when she squealed and pulled out the container. “Please tell me these are chocolate budino tarts.”

I nodded, confirming I’d brought one of her all-time favorite desserts.

“But they’re so hard to find.” She opened the top and took a big sniff. “Mmm.” Her grin grew wider, and she reached her hand out to me. “I can’t believe you did all this.” She laughed. “And it could’ve all gone to waste.”

I sat down next to her, ran a hand up her back. “Yeah, you almost blew it.”

Her mouth flew open, and I laughed. “You know I’m kidding. I might be a screw-up sometimes, but I know what my girl wants…and needs.”

Ava set the carton down and took my face into her hands before placing a soft kiss on my lips. “Thank you,” she whispered, lingering there, “but don’t talk about yourself like that…”

This woman … The breeze kicked up and mercifully cooled my heated skin. We’d been there five minutes, and I was already itching to get her naked. I nuzzled her neck and drew in her scent.

She was more concerned about the dessert at the moment and turned back to the backpack, adding, “Only I am allowed to put you down like that.”

“Fair enough.” I pulled out a digital candle, turned it on, and set it on the blanket .

We shared the chocolate tarts along with a perfectly paired beer, which we drank from the bottle. I always did love watching her chug a beer. I wasn’t worried about driving home because I planned to make the most of this beautiful night with my gorgeous girlfriend. We were in a pretty secluded spot, especially for this time of night and this late in the fall.

We had easy conversation, almost as if neither of us wanted to broach the subject we were supposed to be discussing. It just felt so right to finally be together and feel like we were a real couple, but this thing wouldn’t go away.

Ava must have noticed my inner debate because she said, “Are you sure you’re up for doing this? Telling the family, I mean.”

I took her hand. “I won’t lie. I’m a little worried…for all the reasons I’ve already said. But, hey, we already passed the first relationship test, so that should count for something, right?”

She tilted her head. “Test?”

“Yeah, we had our first fight and survived.”

“You survived,” she said, pushing against my chest.

Locking a hand around her wrist, I yanked her body against mine. “You’re a tough adversary, Ava, but I haven’t revealed all my power yet. ”

She gazed into my eyes, her chest drawing in a deep breath. “Well, I can’t wait for that.”

The heady tone of her voice satisfied me, and I closed my mouth over hers. She responded instantly, letting out a little moan as I held her, and we kissed. She was wedged between my legs, wriggling in all the right spots as our kiss grew hungry, frantic. When she pulled away, our eyes met and held for several seconds. I knew in that moment, I could spend the rest of my life looking into the depths of those gorgeous eyes. “I wish I had words to fully explain what I feel for you, Ava.” I could hear how breathless my words were, but I didn’t care.

“I think I know,” she said quietly. “I just hope…”

I knew what she was thinking. It was the only dark cloud in this whole thing, but I didn’t want her to worry or feel responsible. “There’s nothing we can do but be honest.” I brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I love Sue and Denny and Sammy…you… You’re my family. My only family. But, there isn’t anything I’d give up to be with you. I’d risk the world for you, Ava.” A tear slid down her cheek, and I brushed it away with my thumb.

“You shouldn’t have to,” she said, a hint of desperation in her tone. “I’m banking on all of us. My parents love you like a son, and if we don’t make it—”

I crushed my mouth to hers, kissed her long and hard before easing her down onto her back. “Don’t you dare say it.” I peered down at the most incredible woman I’d ever known. “We’re making it, damn it.” I shook my head when her mouth parted to speak. “That’s final, Ava.” Then I placed kiss after kiss on her mouth, her neck, her collar bone as I worked to relieve her of her clothes. She was stunning under the moonlight, and my heart almost couldn’t take it.

We made love under the cloudless sky with the sounds of crashing waves muffling her cries as we reached that pinnacle together, holding each other as close as two people could.

After, we lay on the blanket, me on my back, Ava with her head resting on my chest. If this is the only moment I ever have with Ava, I’ll be the luckiest man in the world . And yet, I knew I’d fight like hell to keep her in my life.

Her finger brushed over the scar on my chest, and then she kissed it softly. That small gesture had my body coming alive again, ready to go for round two. But then she jumped up. “Come on.” Reaching down for my hand, she said, “We haven’t gone skinny dipping in ages.”

I shook my head, releasing a chuckle. “Skinny dipping? You think I would have taken this long to be with you if I’d ever seen you naked?”

I let her pull me up, and then gazed down at her, waiting, trying to keep eye contact when she was only in her panties .

She shrugged. “Whatever, you saw me in my underwear.”

She was right. “And it was torture.”

Her sexy grin grew, then she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me in to keep her warm. “Good! Now let’s go before I change my mind.”

I liked the ocean; Ava loved it. So, of course, I didn’t say no. “One quick dip and then home…to a hot shower and bed.”

“Mmm. I like that.” She took off, running.

I followed, catching her before she reached the water’s edge. Swooping her up, I carried her into the ocean. We held each other as the chilling waves crashed over us, a symbol of the outside forces that threatened us being together. But I wouldn’t let that happen. Ava is mine. Now and forever . But I prayed I wouldn’t lose the family over it. I can’t lose them either.

Back at my place, we rushed across the wood floor to my bedroom, our hair still damp. We dropped our stuff in front of the bed, ready to jump into the shower.

“Let me grab some new towels, and I’ll meet you in there,” I told her.

Her phone buzzed, and she snatched it from the pile on the floor. “Oh, shoot, I forgot to text Gunnar that everything was okay.” She laughed.

“Let him sweat it out.” I grinned and went to get the towels while Ava dropped her phone and headed for the bathroom.

Mere seconds later, I returned with the towels. Ava’s phone had slipped from the pile and I almost stepped on it. Picking it up, I saw there was a new text on the screen, a preview. But it wasn’t Gunnar. I stared in confusion at the screen. My chest tightened as I read the first words: I’m sorry to bother you, but have you told Alex yet? I don’t think I can… The rest of the message was cut off. Her phone was likely locked, but as my heart pounded frantically in my chest, my eyes moved to the name on the message: Maggie . “What the fuck?” My brain raced, my breath labored, heat suffusing my whole body. This can’t be right . Why the hell was Ava messaging with my mother…and why would she keep it a secret from me?