When Avery walks into the living room, I literally can’t breathe. My chest becomes tight and my heart rate speeds up to a dangerous rate. If I could process a complete thought, I’d be concerned that I was having a heart attack. She’s breathtaking. Avery Stevens is the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. I can’t even tell you what Holly and Brooklyn are doing or saying because once I make eye contact with Avery, everything and everyone else just fades away.
“You look beautiful,” I finally manage to get past my paralyzed lips. I walk towards her and lean in to give her a kiss on the cheek. She smells like heaven, all sugary sweet and vanilla; like Avery.
She blushes the cutest shade of pink and gives me a shy smile. “Thank you. You look pretty good yourself.” Brooklyn takes this moment to rush her mom and throws her arms around Avery’s legs.
“You be good for Aunt Holly, okay?”
“Yep! We’re gonna pway with Pway Doh!” I see Avery give Holly a questioning look over the top of her daughter’s head.
“Why do I have a feeling like the joke is on me with this Play Doh thing?” Holly asks as she picks up the overnight bag sitting by the front door. Avery helps Brooklyn into her jacket as we all head out the front door.
I had to park in the street since Holly’s car was parked behind the Jeep. As we’re walking towards Holly’s car, Brooklyn places her small hand inside of mine making my heart do some weird flip in my chest. Holly is already throwing Brooklyn’s bag in the passenger seat while Avery grabs the booster seat from her Jeep. As we wait, I reach down and pick up Brooklyn. “Have a great night tonight, Bean.”
She looks back at me, eyes full of innocence and says, “Have a great night wiff my mommy. She’s the bestest mommy in the world.”
It’s hard to swallow over the huge lump that instantly formed in my desert-dry throat. “I will, Bean. She is the best mommy. You are a lucky, lucky girl.” I give her another hug and kiss on the crown of her head as Avery finishes securing the seat in the car. Avery then reaches up and grabs her little girl and starts to lower her into the seat.
“Be a good girl, and Mommy will see you in the morning.” She leans forward and gives her daughter one last kiss before stepping back and shutting the door. Holly slides in the driver’s seat and gives a little wave. “We’ll be fine. You two go and have some fun, alright?” She shoots Avery an ornery little smile laced with innuendoes and hidden meanings. I like the way that girl thinks.
“Thank you, Holly. I’ll be over in the morning to get her.”
“No rush. Don’t rush. You know, in case you are busy. Or up late. No need to hurry over.” There’s another evil grin on her face as she said, “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine and there when you are done.” I think Avery turns three shades of red as she shuts the door. We can hear Holly’s laugh as she puts the car in gear and pulls out of the driveway.
“You ready?” I ask and extend my hand towards her.
“Yes,” she replies as she extends her much smaller hand towards me.
I take her slim hand in mind and steer her towards my truck. I’ve always had polite manners but I’ve never really been the gentlemanly type. So, when we get to the truck, I find myself stepping outside of the box and opening the passenger door for her. She thanks me politely and climbs in. Before I can shut the door, I lean in and brush my lips lightly over her nude colored pink lips that taste like sun kissed strawberries. We stay exactly like that, our lips barely touching, for a few moments. Just when I’m about to pull back, she leans in further, deepening the kiss. I feel her hand slide up my chest, and her touch short-circuits my brain. I can’t think when she’s touching me, and I’ll be damned if I don’t fucking love it.
After a few moments of enjoying her kiss, I pull back slightly and open my eyes. Her eyes are still closed and she lets out a long, deep breath like she forgot to breathe during our hot little make-out session.
“Ready to go?” I ask after clearing my throat.
She opens her twinkling blue eyes and lifts the corner of her mouth slightly. “Yes.” She reaches up and wipes my lips, removing the lip gloss I probably have smeared all over my face.
I pull back out of the passenger side of my truck and shut her door. As I walk around the front of my truck, I glance at her through the windshield. She’s watching me, smiling. This is going to be the best damn night ever.
“So, where are we going?” I ask.
“We’re heading to St. Charles to the pier. I thought we’d have dinner at a seafood place along the river and then take in the little shops and things going on tonight on the pier. It should be a pretty decent night for it, weather wise.”