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CALLEN
Itry not to think about the way Ava’s body feels pressed against my back. Her tinkling laughter goes right to my cock as she rests her chin on my shoulder.
“This is amazing!” she yells.
Fear unlike anything I’ve felt before shoots through me as I feel her loosen her grip around my waist and pushes to a standing position. I glimpse her in the review mirror fling her arms out to the side like an airplane.
“It feels like I’m flying.” She giggles as I reach back, gripping her leg tightly with my hand.
“Sit down, Ava,” I command, trying to decide if I should pull this bike over and put her over my knee. “Please.”
She must hear something in my voice because her arms immediately wrap around my waist, pulling herself flush against me.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” she whispers, snuggling her face into my back.
“I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”
Emotions clog my throat as I glide the bike to the side of the road. I should wait the two miles until we got back to my house, but I can’t. I need to make sure she’s all right before we move another inch down the road.
“I’m sorry—” Ava begins.
“I’ve half a mind to take you over my knee,” I cut her off. “Never do anything like that again. I lost one woman I loved, and I don’t care to do it again.”
I climb off my bike and wrap my arms around her waist, lifting her into my arms. Her legs immediately wrap around my waist as she clings to me. I bury my nose in her neck and breathe in her scent—honey, brown sugar, and something else I’ve never smelled before, something uniquely Ava.
“Are you okay?” Her words trail off like she’s unsure why I’m acting this way.
“No,” I mumble into her neck before pulling back from her embrace, searching her eyes for any sign of fear, but the only thing shining back at me is concern.
“My wife died of cancer a few years ago,” I begin, cupping her cheek in my hand.
Surprisingly, she nuzzles into my palm. Her eyes drop shut as I press my forehead to hers.
“I spent my whole life working, trying to provide the best life for the two of us, but never living it. Until one day, she called me from the doctor’s office. Stage four cancer. Terminal. There was nothing we could do about it.”
Every time I’ve talked about Rebecca’s death, I’ve felt a gut-wrenching agony at not being able to live the life I worked so hard to create for both of us. But not this time. Right now, sharing this story with Ava, all I feel is joy. Joy at the chance that the universe is giving me another love as great as the first. But this time, I won’t make the same mistake. I plan to do everything I can to live each day with Ava as if it’s my last.
“I’m so sorry.” A single tear slips down her cheek. “I was so lost when my parents died. The only thing I could hang on to from them was their love of art. It’s one reason I’m pursuing an art history major. I wanted to make all their dreams come true.”
“What about yours?” I ask, planting another kiss on her forehead and placing her back on the bike.
“I never really thought about it,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes.
“I’m going to make all of your dreams come true, Ava.”
The need to claim her lips is almost overwhelming as I lean forward, running my hand along her arm and threading her fingers through mine.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Her breath hitches slightly as she leans forward, rises off the seat, and brushes her lips against mine.
I’m lost in her eyes as we stare at each other. The magnetic pull is strong as my gaze flicks back and forth between her lips and eyes.
“You’re a dangerous creature, Ava,” I groan before stepping back from her, turning around, and throwing my leg over the bike. “I promised you dinner.”
Ava mumbles something to herself as I crank the bike over and point it toward home. We ride in silence with her arms wrapped tightly around my waist. Not the awkward silence some people experience on first dates, but a comfortable one. Just two people who enjoy spending time together.
The sun is just beginning to set as I pull into my driveway. “Home sweet home.”
Ava gives me a bright smile as she climbs off my bike and heads toward the front door. “This is perfect.”
