Page 58 of Against The Tide

The cute little pink dress she’s wearing makes her light golden tan glow. With her hair knotted atop her head, my eyes are drawn to the heart-shaped neckline and the way the frilled straps fall off her shoulders where she’s so slender. Still, she’s a stunner with all her freckles and high cheekbones.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her hand hovers over my chest like she’s not sure whether she can touch me or not, and as always, I place it over my pounding heart to the sight of her broadening smile.

“I’m looking at you because I like what I see. Because you’re beautiful, Avery.”

Blinking, she lowers her gaze to the ground, much like the way Iris did when she asked me if I loved her, and it dawns on me that they haven’t been shown much love from the one person that should’ve showered them with it. I want to fix that. I want to be the one to pour it on them, to drown them in all the affection I have for them.

“I mean it, sweetheart.”

Eyes widening at my endearment, she sways on her bare feet with a sigh. “Doc…”

“Yes, sweetheart?” I repeat. Hooking a finger in one of the gaps between the buttons on the front of her dress, I draw her to me until we’re flush to one another.

Tears line her eyes even though she’s evidently trying to force them away. “Why are there tears in your eyes?”

Shaking her head, she brings her other hand to my chest too. “I’m not just Avery to you,” she murmurs into my chest.

“No, you’re not. You’re my sunshine.”

“Your sunshine,” she repeats, tipping her head to meet my gaze.

“Yeah.” I bite the tip of her dainty nose before pressing a kiss to it. “Mine.”

Slowly, she rolls onto the tips of her toes and wraps her arms around my neck. Her breath licks over my lips, scorching and magnifying my thirst for her.

“Yours.”

With her eyes still locked on mine, I press my lips to hers in an awkwardly perfect kiss that has her wrapping her legs around me when I sit her on the counter. My hands bracket her hips so that my thumbs stroke over the flat in the middle.

Hum after hum, she kisses me back deeper with her fingers knotting in my hair and her tongue dueling with mine. And I want her so damn much. I want every part of her. To devour every moan and taste every inch of her body. My need for her is overwhelming, coursing through me without mercy.

But with Avery it’s not about my need; it’s about hers. Reluctantly, I pull away with one last lick into her mouth and a bite of her lip, tracing my hands over her sides all the way to her shoulders.

“I should go,” I tell her, but as I try to step back, she refuses to release me. “Avery…”

“I don’t…I don’t want to be alone, Doc.”

Nuzzling into my neck, she holds on tight as I lift her from the kitchen counter and take her over to the couch. The TV is on one of the movie channels showing Piranha.

We settle in a huddle along the length of the couch, and with Avery tucked into my chest and our legs tangled together, there’s nothing I can do to distract from my reaction to her. My jeans have never felt so tight in my entire life as they do now with her body flush to mine and her hot, trembling breaths seeping beneath my skin.

I would give everything up to live in this moment forever. To never let go of her and be the one constant in her world that never lets her down.

CHAPTER 17

AVERY

Coffee. The smell fills my lungs mixing with the fresh Saturday morning air from the open window. For the first time since I can remember, I feel good. I’m not drowning in grief, overwhelmed by the loss of my father. Even as his favorite song plays over the radio, I’m smiling while I hum along to a soft version of “Beyond the Sea.” Although I’m aware that the situation with Carl is far from over, I’m breathing, and it doesn’t hurt. Knowing that Rowan has eyes on him has helped ease my worry and fear.

Sitting back in front of my laptop with my coffee, I read over the email my boss sent over. A part of me is wary of replying with my notice, especially when he’s giving me the okay to work from out of state.

Take your time.

I read over his close again and again. Iris is out in the orchard with Jo and the dogs, leaving the house in complete peace and quiet. I should be concentrating on the water quality reports for a couple of the new exhibitions I headed along with the plans for the new touch tank. Nothing calls to me, though; I want to be out there with them, enjoying what we have left of the summer sunshine.

Closing my laptop, I head outside. There’s a large tent set up by the edge of the lake. The top is all mesh, allowing me to see through it.

I’m checking it out when the nudge at my back makes me jump. Big dark eyes look up at me from behind a creamy mane. With a neigh, the longhaired pony nudges my belly, offering me a bright red, fully blossomed rose.