I broke out into a full smile. “And why is that?”
She made her way over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Well, first off, I’m living in a terribly romantic stone house with the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“Go on,” I prompted as my hand moved down to cup her sweet, tight ass.
“Second, sex with this handsome man is beyond amazing.”
With a wider grin, I winked. “He is rather good.”
Ava held her laughter back as she said, “Yes he is.”
I lifted my brow and asked, “And is there a third reason?”
Her eyes danced with passion as I pulled her closer to me. “I can’t explain it, but I feel like I’m at home here. Like something about this old house brings out something in me.”
I pulled my head back and looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “Really?”
She nodded her head. “Let’s just say I’m thinking it’s really too soon for me to be traveling. It’s probably a good idea for me to stay at least until I get my cast off.”
I don’t think I’d ever felt so happy in my life. My hand laced though Ava’s hair as I pulled her lips to mine and kissed her. It didn’t take long for things to heat up and we soon were lost in each other.
As I held Ava in my arms after we made love, I couldn’t help but feel the same way she did. There was something about this old stone house. It was almost as if I could feel it in the ver
y core of my body. The more time we spent together, the more I realized I wasn’t going to be able to live without Ava in my life.
RYDER HAD GOTTEN up early and headed out to do some work on the ranch, giving me a chance to finish up a design Maurice asked me to fix up. It was a new designer he had brought on full time in his store in Paris. I knew had I taken him up on his offer to work for him full time, my wedding gowns would be among top designers who graced the catwalks.
Tomorrow was Thanksgiving and it had been almost a month since I had broken my leg and set up camp in the old stone house. This morning’s conversation with my mother didn’t go at all like I planned.
“Your father is ready to fly up there and drag you back to Texas.”
With a chuckle, I shook my head. “I know I’ve stayed longer than we planned, but it’s worked out really well. Ryder and I have gotten to know so much about each other. Plus I’ve gotten to know Lucy and Nate Sr. Not to mention Dani is teaching me how to knit.”
“Knit?”
“Don’t sound so surprised, Mom. I’m making her a blanket for the baby.”
The silence over the phone was almost too much to bear. “I’m coming home soon.”
“When?”
“After Thanksgiving.”
My mother let out a frustrated sigh. “Ava! Thanksgiving is tomorrow and that is a very vague answer!”
Pressing my lips together, I held back my laughter. “Well, ya know it’s almost been a month; I could just stay here and go to the doctor for my six-week checkup.”
“Christmas. I demand you be back home by Christmas.”
My mouth dropped open. “You demand it? Mom, I’m a grown woman, you can’t demand anything of me. Besides, I like it here. I feel … at peace here. Although sometimes I swear this old house is haunted … it sometimes feels like I’m living in a romance novel.”
I could hear her taking in a calming breath. “I, for one, can certainly see the romantic side to all of this, Ava, but sometimes you have to go with reality over a romantic dream. I also understand I can’t demand you come home, but it’s hard for me knowing another family is taking care of my baby. It should be me taking care of you.”
And there lies the real problem.
“Mom, no one on this planet could ever replace you. It’s just a part of me is almost afraid to come home. I know it’s childish, but the moment I set foot on that plane, it’s reality and the fact that at some point in the future Ryder and I will be living thousands of miles apart from each other. Please just give me more time. I have the perfect excuse to be here right now. Let me explore this road.”
I could hear her sniffle and it broke my heart. “He’s going to steal you from me … I just know it.”