Page 71 of Close to Heaven

Soon they were in the truck, her, Jax, and Smoky, and driving down the hill to her cabin. Since it was still early and a holiday, they didn’t pass a soul outside or on the road. Jax pulled into her driveway. “Wait there.”

He hopped out, came around to her side, and opened the door. Then he offered her a hand down.

“Are you sure?” she asked, glancing around for witnesses.

“I don’t want you to re-injure your ankle.”

She took his hand and allowed him to help her down, but then she quickly released it. She wasn’t worried for herself so much as him. She knew how important it was for him to maintain a good reputation, and she didn’t want to do anything to sully it. Although, would anyone really care if they saw them together? Dakota would.

“Thanks…for everything,” she said.

He nodded and handed her the backpack. “I’ll see you later. Be careful driving.”

“I will.” She turned and slowly walked to her front door. After she unlocked it, she turned around to wave and saw he was still standing next to his truck.

So sweet and protective, she thought as she went inside. She wasn’t used to a man fussing over her like he did. In the past, she’d been the one to do all the fussing. I could easily get used to this.

She heard his truck drive away and realized she was standing in a trance in the foyer. She shook her head and then peeled off her coat and boots.

She’d promised her dad she’d be over early to make Thanksgiving dinner for them. She’d gone grocery shopping earlier in the week and stocked his refrigerator with all the ingredients. It would be a scaled-down version of Thanksgiving since it was just the two of them, but still, she wanted to make the holiday nice for him.

A few minutes later, she was in the shower, her head tipped back under the warm spray and her muscles loosening in the steam. She massaged shampoo into her hair and recalled how Jax had touched it earlier, lightly fingering her strands and then tucking them behind her ears. He had big, masculine hands, yet his touch could be so gentle.

Next she lathered her body with vanilla-scented body wash. As she ran the pouf over her breasts, she thought about his hands cupping them and his fingers tweaking her nipples. He’d used the perfect amount of pressure, not too hard or too soft, and her nipples hardened just thinking about it.

Then she trailed the pouf down the middle of her body and below her waist. His hand had been there too, softly probing, exploring, and bringing her to the height of pleasure. Her core pulsed as she recalled the exquisite feeling of release.

She’d never experienced that kind of reaction with Trevor. She’d have described their sexual encounters as “nice,” but they were nothing to write a romance novel about. In the last few months of their relationship, she hadn’t been as motivated to have sex with him, and it had become one more thing for him to complain about. Now she saw the sign for what it was, the beginning of the end.

She finished rinsing off and carefully stepped out of the shower. The last thing she needed was to slip and fall and need rescuing again. Of course, being rescued by Jax hadn’t been all bad…

“Stop it!” she said, scowling at herself in the mirror. “You’re acting like a hormonal teenager instead of a grown woman!” On the other hand, was that really so bad?

She took more time than usual to choose her outfit and do her hair and makeup, knowing she would see Jax later. She didn’t even bother pretending it was for any other reason.

A short time later, she pulled into Carl’s driveway and was surprised to see a car parked next to his truck. She wasn’t aware that he was expecting any other visitors. Had he forgotten it was Thanksgiving?

She went up to the front door, knocked, and went inside. Carl was in the living room with a woman, and he was helping her into her coat.

“You must be Avery,” the woman said with a friendly smile.

“Yes, and you are?”

“Carolyn. I live a couple doors down.”

“Oh.” Carl had never mentioned her, and Avery wondered what she was doing here, but she didn’t have to wait long to find out.

“I brought you and your dad a homemade pumpkin pie. He told me it’s your favorite.”

“He did?” Avery eyed her dad curiously.

“I told her she didn’t have to, but she insisted,” Carl said, smiling sweetly at his neighbor.

“That was very nice of you,” Avery said, flummoxed by this turn of events. She’d been worried about being late, yet her dad already had company—female company!

Carolyn glanced at her watch, and Avery took the opportunity to study her. It was difficult to tell the woman’s age since her hair was dyed a pretty shade of auburn and she had very few wrinkles. Her clothes were conservative yet fashionable, and Avery noticed her watch and purse were designer brands.

“It was nice meeting you, Avery. I hope you enjoy the pie.”