Lone Star Legacy

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his dark brown eyes a silent echo of his words. He leaned down to draw his tongue in circles on her nipple, a leisurely torment before he moved to her other breast. Gripping his arms, she gasped with pleasure. Wanting the slight barriers between them gone, she yanked free his shirt. He pulled it over his head to toss aside.

His bronzed chest rippled with muscles, capturing her attention. She had to touch the thick mat of chest hair that narrowed to a single line that disappeared below his belt. The moment her fingers made contact, he groaned, his response stirring her in turn.

“We do things to each other,” she whispered.

“Magic,” he whispered, then kissed her neck.

He wrapped her in his arms again to hold her close and kiss her. Why did it seem urgent to kiss him? Realizing she was racing headlong toward calamity, she stopped.

She stepped away, yanking up her blouse and holding it in front of her.

“Good night, Will. You have to go.”

His dark gaze bore through her while he reached out to grasp her shoulder. “Sometime soon you will not tell me to go.” His eyes burned with such intense desire, her knees were weak. He leaned close to brush a kiss on her mouth while he caressed her nape. She gasped and closed her eyes. “See, you respond. You can’t keep from it because this is what you want, too, darlin’. It’s good between us, but there is so much more.”

“What I want is commitment,” she said, the words tumbling out.

“I think you’ve had my commitment since the moment we met.”

“Commitment to an affair,” she said, gasping for breath.

He showered kisses on her throat and face and then his mouth settled on hers again.

How long they kissed she couldn’t guess. Finally, she stepped away. He caught her waist, leaning forward. “Good night, darlin’. I’ll dream about you.” He brushed a kiss on her lips and then was gone, closing the door behind him.

His shirt lay on the floor. She picked it up and tossed it on a chair. She wasn’t going after him and she didn’t think he would come back for it.

She touched her lips. She was letting him get too close in too many ways.

Her thoughts churned as she got ready for bed and then lay in the dark to steep in regrets. She had to do better in keeping him at a distance. Avoiding him was impossible. He grew more irresistible each time they were together. How long before seduction? And then how long before heartbreak? Her thoughts shifted to Caroline. Had today really been progress, or just a temporary ripple? Only time would tell. Ava prayed the puppy turned out to be what Caroline expected and hoped for. Ava knew of many programs that brought together animals and children for therapeutic purposes. Hopefully, a puppy would be something Caroline could love and respond to. Another question that only time could answer.

The next day it took no time to realize Caroline was excited about the puppy. She picked out books about dogs to read and once she gave Ava a smile. Ava’s heart turned over and she realized she was grasping at tiny responses as much as Will did.

She noticed Caroline was looking often at the tall nursery-rhyme-character clock in her playroom and she realized for the first time that Caroline could tell time.

She wrote Will a text that Caroline was watching the clock and thought she was excited and anxious for him to come home to take her to pick out her puppy’s things. Ava hesitated before sending the message, unsure if she should get Will’s hopes up, but a minute after she sent it, she received a brief reply that he would try to come home early.

When Will arrived home at three, Caroline was ready, holding the brown bear and waiting quietly.

He came striding into the room in his charcoal suit. Handsome, oozing vitality, Will had a dynamic presence that charged the air with electricity. He flashed a wide smile at Ava and picked up Caroline to hug her. “Ready to get your puppy a crate and bed and toys?”

Caroline nodded. “Yes, sir. And a collar.”

“We’ll get a collar, too. Shall we go?”

In the pet store, Ava enjoyed watching the two of them walking around while Will talked to Caroline about her choices. She pointed at what she wanted, and Will would put it in a basket he carried. When she selected a collar, she smiled briefly at Will. She placed the collar in the basket he carried and when she turned away, he gave Ava a glance that indicated how thrilled he was over Caroline’s response.

When they returned home, they picked a place in the kitchen for the dog dishes, and upstairs a perfect spot in Caroline’s playroom for the puppy’s crate. Caroline set out the toys while Will put away the puppy food.

Finally, it was bedtime for the tired little girl. Will carried Caroline to bed. While he was gone, Ava left him a note that she was going to turn in early. She hurried to her suite to close the door on another night of temptation. It would be more fun to spend the next few hours with Will, but better if she didn’t. All the time at the pet shop her pulse had galloped. She was drawn to Will more each day, yet she hadn’t changed her feelings about an affair. Will was utterly opposed to marriage and serious commitment—the things she cherished most. The safest thing to do was to keep her distance when she could.

By ten o’clock, she was more restless than ever and wished she hadn’t been so hasty in shutting herself away from him.

She didn’t fall asleep until nearly morning, and then it was fitful and filled with dreams that involved Will.

The next day was another like the previous one with Caroline watching the clock and being far more wiggly than normal. In the early afternoon after lunch, Ava read a book Caroline had selected. When she finished, she picked up another one.

“Did you like your dog?” Caroline asked.

Startled by Caroline speaking to her, Ava tried to avoid showing her surprise. “Yes, I did. We had a Labrador retriever, Gus. We loved him and he loved us.”

Caroline nodded.

Ava was so pleased that Caroline had asked her a question. It was a very good sign.

Will wanted Ava to go along to get the pup, so once again the three of them climbed into the limo, a travel crate, leash and a toy at the ready.

Ava took a camcorder, wondering whether Will ever took pictures of Caroline.

They drove to a tall two-story house in a north suburban area of Fort Worth. A friendly woman introduced herself and showed them in, taking them to the garage where a mother dog was sprawled on a blanket. Caroline’s eyes were wide as she watched fluffy puppies wandering around her.

“Now, Caroline, you pick out which one of the puppies you would like to take home,” Will said.

Two puppies wandered to Caroline; one chewed on her shoe. Will leaned down to pick up the puppy and hold it so Caroline could see its face. He reached out and scooped up another. Ava watched the two of them and she prayed the puppy would make a difference in Caroline’s life.

After deliberating and looking at each puppy several times, Caroline finally picked one up and held it carefully with Will’s help.

“This one,” she said to him.

He shot a glance at Ava and she smiled, her heart leaping because of the moment that was significant for them.

“You want that puppy? You’re sure?”

“Yes, please,” Caroline answered, nodding her head.

Will settled up with Mrs. Winston, the breeder, then carried the puppy to the car and placed it in the crate. Caroline sat beside it, her arm on the crate while she watched the puppy, Will talking warmly about the dog.

By they time they got home and had the pup and its belongings unloaded, Ava left Will and Caroline while she went to her room to freshen up. After a while, she walked back to the playroom to see what was happening.

Will lay on the floor with his shoes kicked off. His shirt was pulled out of his slacks and his tie was gone, the shirt’s top buttons unfastened. He was stretched out, playing with the pup while Caroline sat facing him, holding a toy sock monkey for the dog. Ava’s heart missed a beat at the sight of Will and his niece. He was laughing, playing with the dog and talking to Caroline, who laughed at the pup’s antics.

In that moment Ava had to face the fact that she was falling in love with Will. Sadness for the loss of Ethan no longer was a solid wall around her, enclosing her feelings and her heart.

She stepped inside, going to sit near them.

“Come join us,” Will said. “This is a great pup. We’re going to have to give it a name so it will come when we call it. And it’s a girl, so it has to be a girl name. I’ve been waiting for you to come to help think up a name.”

“She looks like a snowball,” Ava said. “Snowball? Powder? Puff? My dog was Gus. Gussie for a girl.”

“I thought of Millie, Tiny, Princess. That’s seven names to choose from. Miss Ava, what do you like best?”

He ignored Caroline, an uncustomary occurrence when she was involved. Ava wondered if he was trying to avoid pinning down Caroline when she wouldn’t respond. Or if he had another reason.

“I prefer my names. Maybe Powder.”

“Too much like a cat name,” Will stated. “So is Puff and so is Snowball.”

“No, it’s not,” she argued lightly, thinking he looked more appealing than ever, stretched on the floor, playing with the dog and concerned with Caroline.

“Muffy,” Caroline said.

As if it were the most normal thing for her to suggest a name, Will repeated it, “Muffy. That’s a good name. All right, Caroline. Muffy it is. Muffy is your puppy and if you want to name her Muffy, we will.”

“I think that’s a cute name,” Ava agreed, sitting in a chair, wanting to intrude as little as possible on uncle, niece and puppy.

“We’ll call her Muffy, and in a day or two, she’ll know her name. I have a trainer coming by who will work with her every day. He’ll be here tomorrow and work with her for a week, then come back when she’s a little older because she’s too young now for a lot of the training.”

Caroline picked up the pup to place it in her lap. The white pup stretched out, falling asleep in minutes. “She’s a baby, Caroline,” Will explained. “She’s worn out and she’ll sleep soundly for a little while because that’s what most babies do. When she wakes up she should go outside—I’ll take her—and then she might want some water.”

Later, when dinner was finished, Caroline slid out of her chair and ran to sit with Muffy.

“You’ve handled this just right, Will,” Ava said.

“I never been so at a loss as I am with her,” he said quietly while Caroline ran around and Muffy chased her. Laughing, Caroline climbed in a chair.

“Look at her laugh, Ava. She hasn’t done that since we lost Adam.”

Ava sat back, observing the scene, watching Caroline reach down to pet Muffy.

When it was story time, Ava got up to go, crossing to Caroline to touch her head lightly. “I’m glad you have Muffy. Dogs are fun and they become part of the family. Good night,” she said, brushing Caroline’s cheek with a kiss.

“Good night, Miss Ava,” Caroline said quietly.

Ava smiled at Caroline. “Good night to Muffy, too,” she said, touching the pup’s head as it slept again in Caroline’s lap.

As Ava walked out of the room, Will came after her. “Ava, wait.”

She turned. He had changed clothes after dinner, pulling on jeans and a T-shirt. He caught up with her. “Wait for me downstairs. I missed you last night.”

She could refuse. Instead she nodded and he headed back to Caroline.

She went by her room to take the clips out of her hair and let it fall loosely around her shoulders. With a cursory glance at herself, she went downstairs to wait, taking her cell phone to send texts to her sisters.

It was over an hour before Will came through the door. Closing the door behind him, he crossed the room in long strides just as he had before to pull her up into his arms and hug her. He leaned away. “Thank you! You have to admit today was a big, giant change.”

She smiled at him. “I will agree it was. You’re a good dad, Will. You handled everything well.”

“I’m flying by the seat of my pants with her. I don’t know what’s best, but she talked to us. She named the pup and said she wanted it. She’s even laughed out loud twice. Ava, I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”

“I still say I haven’t done that much, and you would have thought of a puppy before long yourself.”

“I might not have. I haven’t in all the time Caroline has been in my care.”

“It’s a beginning, Will. Maybe she will be happy enough to talk more often.” Ava turned to walk away to sit. Will caught her arm, turning her back to face him.

“Ava, come here,” he said in a husky voice, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. His kisses were passionate, driven, and she was swept away, unable to resist kissing him in return. She was adding to her problems with him. Night by night, she was binding her heart to Will in a manner that was going to hurt when she broke away.

“I want you,” he whispered.

“Will, don’t mistake your gratitude for something else. There can’t ever be anything much between us.”

“Oh, yes, there can,” he said. “There can be so much. I’m grateful, but I know the difference. You’re a gorgeous, sexy woman and we have an electricity we both feel always.”

Her heart pounded with his words, magic words that were another tie that bound her. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her possessively, his kiss conveying his intent. She resisted for seconds and then kissed him in return, wrapping her arms around his slender waist, holding him tightly while they kissed.

His hands roamed over her, caressing her, unfastening buttons. She should stop him, but it was impossible. Too soon she would be gone, back into her busy working life and her solitary hours on her own.

In minutes he had stripped his shirt and boots, He cupped her breast to caress her while he continued kissing her and then leaned down to kiss each breast while his hands slipped lower, unfastening her slacks and letting them fall.

He stepped back, holding her hips while he looked at her. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered. He picked her up, carrying her to the sofa where he placed her on his lap, kissing her without pause as his hands moved over her.

When he shifted to lie down, holding her close, she slipped away and stood, turning to gather her clothes. “Will, we’re going further and further and I don’t want this. I’ve told you why. We have to work together all summer. I can’t get deeply involved with you and I can’t have a quick, meaningless fling.” She yanked on her shirt and turned to face him. He had walked over to her and slipped his arms around her waist.

“I want you, Ava. You want me, too. You’re fighting something that you also desire.”

“I’m going to keep fighting you on this. I will not get emotionally involved or too physically involved. I just can’t do it. I shouldn’t kiss you. I need a solid commitment—you can’t give me that.”

“Ava, take life as it comes. I’m not looking for a one-night fling. I promise you that. Frankly, I think you’re lecturing yourself. This is something you want. We both want. I still say it’s time you come back into the world and live a full life the way you were meant to. You’re too much a desirable, beautiful woman to shut yourself away and live a solitary, empty life.”

“I don’t see a summer fling as any solution.”

He kissed her cheek, her temple and then her mouth, holding her close. She only had on her blouse and a narrow strip of lace panties. The kiss deepened, changed and became passionate. She was sliding right back to where she had been only minutes ago. She wriggled away from him.

“I’m going, Will. You’re too damned appealing, but I do have a shred of willpower.”

He smiled faintly at her as he if knew it was only a matter of time until he seduced her. She stepped into her slacks, buttoned them and walked toward the door.

“Ava,” he said in a commanding tone that stopped her and she looked back at him. “It’s early. Let’s sit and talk. This has been a very special day and it’s too early to end it now. I want to savor the moments.”

She took a deep breath and nodded, caving the minute he asked.

“I agree that it has been a special day. One I think she’ll always remember. I hope Muffy works out to be a great pet.”

“I’m going to try to see to that. The guy who is coming to train Muffy works on our family ranch. He’s excellent with animals. He’s trained dogs for us, and horses.” While Will talked, he walked over to pick up his shirt and pull it on. Muscles in his smooth back rippled, and she inhaled deeply.

She sat in the closest chair, wanting to avoid the sofa where he could pull her into his arms easily.

In spite of her declaration, she was on fire with wanting him. She had fallen in love with him and she ached to walk back into his arms, kiss him and make love.

She had sense enough to know that was the way to disaster. To get tied up with Will invited catastrophe for her heart, calamity for her school plans. Any woman he saw on a regular basis would be on his terms. And those terms would not include marriage. Eventually, he would be through and walk out of her life, another heartbreak. Ava never wanted that to happen.

She tingled and hoped she could keep from showing how much she wanted him.

He faced her. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Actually, iced tea sounds delicious.” She stood to follow him into the kitchen. “Can I help?”

“No. Just sit and talk to me. I feel like shouting for joy. Caroline laughed and talked tonight. It’s been a year, Ava. I knew you would be so good for her.”

“I can’t take credit.”

“You should. It’s wonderful. I don’t think she’ll go back to the way she was. At least, I don’t think she will as long as she doesn’t suffer some other kind of loss.”

Ava watched him fix drinks and then they moved to the living area adjoining the kitchen. She took a chair again and he sat facing her.

“I don’t hear the puppy, which surprises me.”

“These walls are thick, and Rosalyn has the puppy with her. Later, I’ll get it and put it in my room where I can keep up with it tonight.”

“Another surprise,” she stated, smiling at him. “I would never have guessed you would give up your peaceful sleep to babysit a new puppy.”

“One, the trainer isn’t here yet. Buck will care for her tomorrow night. Two, I don’t want Caroline to hear her crying and worry about her.”

Ava smiled.

“I feel so good, as if a huge stone has been lifted off my shoulders. Let’s go out and celebrate Saturday night. Early evening. I’ll get you back when you want.”

“All three of us?”

“No. I don’t want to take Caroline out yet. This is too tenuous a thread for me to risk having her retreat back into her shell. She’ll be more relaxed at home. Will you go with me Saturday?”

“You are a persistent devil,” she teased. With a crooked smile he winked at her.

They sat and talked until two, when she said she had to get to bed. Will walked her to her room and kissed her good-night with one long kiss.

“Are you still going to get Muffy?”

“Yes. Rosalyn reads until all hours. She’ll still be awake. I don’t hear any howls or crying. Rosalyn is probably holding Muffy. I think she likes Muffy as much as Caroline does.”

“It’s been a good day, Will.”

“Thanks to you,” he said, brushing her lips lightly with his before he left to get the dog.

The next morning after breakfast, Ava, Will and Caroline went out on the lawn to see the trainer playing with Muffy, who was on a leash.

“Both of them seem to be having a fun time,” Ava said.

“They are. This afternoon, Caroline, you’ll have Muffy with you part of the time and again tonight. This is just for a short time while he gets her trained.”

The trainer picked up the dog and came over.

“Ava, this is Buck Yarby. Buck, this is Ava Barton and here is Caroline.”

“Glad to meet you both. Caroline, you have a good little dog here. She’s going to be a lot of fun for you. I’ll show you what she can do after I get her trained.”

They talked a few minutes while Caroline petted Muffy, and then they headed back inside to start their day—already off to a very good start.

Will arrived home early from work. He entered the room with the same commanding presence as always, plus this time he carried the puppy. He scooped up Caroline with one arm.

“Hello, hello,” he said. “Want to play with your dog?”

“Yes, please,” Caroline answered, smiling at him.

“Ah, that’s a wonderful smile, sweetie. You have fun with Muffy.” He set Caroline down and carefully handed her the puppy. “Hold her gently and be very careful to not drop her because that would hurt her.”

“I won’t,” Caroline said, holding the dog and sitting on the floor to put Muffy in her lap.

Will looked at Ava. “This is good.”

“It’s been an unusually fine day. Caroline read to me,” Ava said, wondering whether her pulse raced over Will’s appearance or over being able to tell him the exciting news.

“Wonderful! Caroline, that’s fantastic,” he said. “Look at Muffy, she likes to have you scratch her ears.” Caroline smiled again.

Will tossed off his navy suit jacket and kicked off his shoes, sitting on the floor with Caroline while Ava began to gather books and games to be put away. She listened to Will talk to Caroline a little, and then he sat in silence while they played with Muffy. Caroline laughed when Muffy caught her shoe and tugged on it.

Will picked up the puppy to get Caroline’s shoe away from the dog. He grabbed a dog toy, squeaked it and gave it a toss. Caroline laughed when Muffy dashed after it.

Thrilled by the change in Caroline, Ava sat in a rocker and watched, remaining quiet.

“Muffy, here Muffy,” Caroline called. The pup ignored her, and Will stretched out his arm to catch the dog and hand it to Caroline.

They played with the puppy for a long time, and Ava was not alone with Will until that night after he came back from tucking Caroline into bed.

He found her sitting out on the veranda. “Tell me about the day. I’ve been wanting to hear since I arrived home and you indicated it had been very good.”

“I think so. The walls seem to be crumbling for her. When I read today, she started reading when I paused and then I gave her a chance. I’ll ask her tomorrow if she’ll read for you, and we’ll see what she says. She’s a good little reader. By the end of summer, Will, she will be more than ready for kindergarten. She should be confident enough to do well.”

“Ava, this is just amazing when I think of all I’ve gone through. You have come in here and quickly healed the terrible hurt that’s kept her wrapped up in herself.”

“I don’t think I can take that kind of credit,” she said, aware he sat only a few feet away. He rested a hand on hers, their fingers linked together. He acted unaware of the touch. For her, it was a smoldering flame she could not ignore. It was tangible, a steady contact that made her want more.

“I think Caroline may have been ready,” she continued. “I think the puppy has been a trigger for release. She is so happy and excited over Muffy.”

“She laughed. She talked to me. She read for you. We’ll go out to dinner Saturday night, but I don’t think we should leave until near her bedtime. I don’t want to skip out on her when all this is happening.”

“Very good idea, Will. We don’t need to go at all.”

“Yes, we do. I want to celebrate and do this as a thank-you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Saturday night. Dangerous for her heart, yet exciting and too big a temptation to turn him down.

Excitement coursed through Will’s veins on Saturday. He wanted to be alone with Ava, to take her out where he could hold her, dance with her. Gradually, their kisses were heating and she was letting down her barriers. He wanted to be with her all the time now. He had never wanted a woman the way he did Ava. She was in his thoughts constantly. She wanted commitment—could he make some kind of commitment? Since when had he ever given a thought to commitment? With Ava, the idea seemed different than it had before. He wanted her in his life.