“You did?” she asked.

  “People talk on the island. I’ve been hearing it all along, but I figured you two clicked when you first met. You have so much in common.”

  “We do?” she asked. She thought they did but didn’t think other people would feel that way.

  “You both own businesses. You both love dogs. You’re caring, friendly and sweet people. You’re both independent and put others’ needs before your own.”

  “Damn,” she said. “I didn’t realize all of that, but you’re right.”

  “And now it’s time to put your needs before others. You can do it and keep Josie happy. I know you can. That little girl is your world, but she is dying to have someone else in it.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Do you ever notice that when men come in here she talks to them differently than the women?”

  “No,” she said. How come she didn’t notice that and her employee did?

  “She’s softer with them. She asks questions. It’s like she wants them to like her because she’s longing for something she’s never had. She asks about my husband all the time. Simple things.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. What we do together. Does he help me at home? Is he nice to me? She said one day that you needed someone to help you at home and she hoped that you found someone. Then she was talking about men and beef. I’m not sure about that one, but she did let it slip that Carter came to your house one day to let the dogs play.”

  Avery shook her head laughing. “I’ll explain the beef statement at some point.”

  “She talks about Seth a lot and Adele and her father,” Melody said. “Does she to you?”

  “No,” she said. “I don’t know why either.”

  “Maybe because she doesn’t feel right doing it because you are single. But you can tell she is longing for something there. I thought I’d let you know. I think once she finds out about Carter, she’ll be thrilled. And he’s so good with her here, I don’t think he’ll have a problem with it either.”

  “He won’t,” she said, feeling like a fool for waiting as long as she had and not seeing what was right in front of her face.

  24

  Take That Step

  Carter drove back to the garage faster than he normally did.

  He realized when he pulled in and braked harder, that it was excitement.

  Not just for seeing Avery and having her take that step but also for the fact that she was ready to talk about letting Josie know about their relationship.

  “How is it going?” he asked Simon. He could see Jason was checking out the last car he’d been working on. Every car Carter worked on today that needed to be picked up had been or his mother checked them out for him. He wasn’t always paying attention that much unless his mother wasn’t working when cars were picked up.

  But since she stayed to watch Doc for him while he brought Dopey to the vet, he knew everything was in good hands.

  Hell, his mother would have locked up for him too if he’d said he wasn’t coming back, but he’d never do that.

  It’s not like he never took a day off in his life. Simon could handle things well and had for years.

  “Dopey okay?” Simon asked him as he rubbed the big mutt’s head. Simon grabbed a treat out of the drawer and passed one off to his best bud.

  “Just an ear infection,” he said. “All taken care of now.”

  “That’s good,” Simon said. “Worse than kids if you ask me. At least a kid can tell you what hurts when they don’t feel good.”

  “That’s true,” he said. He moved past Simon into the waiting area and then went through the garage and into the back to see his mother.

  “How is he?” his mother asked.

  “An ear infection,” he said. He bent to pet Doc now, as his puppy was always happy to see him. Bringing them to work with him daily meant he didn’t feel as guilty about leaving them home alone for a few hours to be with Avery.

  Once Josie was aware of what was going on, he was sure his dogs would be joining him at Avery’s house.

  Or maybe he could have Avery and Josie at his house. He’d like to have them over and not have Avery feel like she always had to cook for him or him pick up takeout.

  “How is Avery doing?” his mother asked, grinning.

  “She’s good. I’m going over for dinner when I leave,” he said. “Just need to pick up a pizza so she’s not cooking.”

  “I thought for sure Avery would be out tonight with Josie.”

  He didn’t talk to his mother much about his personal life, but he wouldn’t be rude. “Josie is at Seth and Ava’s for a few hours.”

  “Oh,” his mother said, wiggling her eyebrows. It always embarrassed him when his mother talked to him like he was a friend rather than her child.

  “Thanks for keeping an eye on Doc,” he said. “I think everyone has picked their cars up for the day. I’m going to send Simon and Jason home. No reason for them to stand around if we are finished.”

  It was a little past four thirty at this point. It would give him plenty of time to go home and shower, then pick up the pizza and get back to Avery’s. She said she’d be out at five or earlier with any luck.

  “I was waiting for you to get back,” his mother said. “I’m out of here too. Got to hand out a ton of candy tonight so your father doesn’t eat it all.”

  Carter didn’t hand candy out. Not like having kids knock on the door. No reason to have the dogs upset and barking nonstop.

  He had a big bowl he’d put on the front porch with a note to take three each. There weren’t a lot of kids in his neighborhood or many that came around.

  If he came home and the bowl was empty, he didn’t care. He bought it for them. Most times there was some left and he’d bring it to the shop to hand out.

  “I’ve got treat bags for both dogs,” he said. “Doc’s is in the car with Dopey’s.”

  “That’s sweet,” his mother said. “You always did spoil your dogs. Maybe someday you’ll do that with a kid.”

  He snorted. “They are from the vet’s,” he said.

  “Oh,” she said, grabbing her purse and jacket. “Even sweeter.”

  “Bye, Mom,” he said as she walked out. He followed her and went into his office to shut everything down and then saw Simon and Jason cleaning up the garage.

  It was in good shape as he thought, and they’d be done in a few minutes.

  “Ready to put your candy out?” Simon asked him.

  They knew what he did. He wasn’t social enough to answer the door either though he used his dogs as an excuse.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Once you two are done, head out.”

  Both of them moved a bit faster and were out of there in five minutes. He locked up right behind them and was opening his front door before five.

  He’d ordered the pizza when he was in his office and had twenty minutes to get it. More than enough time to feed his dogs and shower.

  He got their food down on the floor, went to his room to get a change of clothes and then jumped in the shower to clean up.

  When he was out, the dogs were done, he let them out to do their business, gave them each a treat from the bags he got at Avery’s and put Doc in her crate. Dopey went on his bed.

  He was almost out the door when he remembered to put the Halloween candy in the bowl and on the front porch with the same sign that he’d used for years.

  Then he was on his way to get dinner and see his girlfriend.

  He knocked on her door before five thirty and it was opened fast, Avery grabbing his shirt and yanking him so hard that he thought the pizza was going to fall from his hands.

  She laid her mouth to his and he knew what he was getting first.

  “Dinner can wait,” she said.

  She put the pizza box on the coffee table in the living room. He passed by Betty in her crate and realized she’d planned ahead.

  They were reaching for each other’s clothing and shedding them fast like two animals in heat.

  When he pulled a condom out of the pocket of his jeans that he’d had to get off the floor, he found her tossing the blankets back and bent over.

  Yeah, his primal instincts kicked in and he had his hands on her waist, her back to his chest his mouth to her ear.

  “Don’t turn around,” he said. “Just reach forward with your hands on the bed.”

  He felt her body give a little shudder and she did what he said.

  Her ass was in the air waving at him like a little flag, her hands planted on the bed, her head up and turned to see what he was doing.

  There was a grin on her face that told him she was more on board with this than he was and it kicked a speed into him that he had earlier driving home.

  His hands went between her legs, found her soaking wet and was thankful he didn’t have to wait. He wasn’t sure he could.

  He found her opening and slid in fast, his hands still on her hips and holding her there.

  “Touch yourself,” he said. “I need you to get there fast because I’m not going to last as long as I’d like.”

  “Fast is the name of the game,” she said, laughing at him.

  She went down on one elbow, the other hand reaching between her legs. He could feel her hand moving around her swollen bud and grazing his balls as he thrust in and out of her.

  His body was tense as he tried to hold back until she was ready to come. The angle she was at now pushed him in deeper.

  “Jesus,” he said. “What are you doing?”

  “Moving my hips,” she said.

  He had no clue what was going on, but they were almost swaying side to side and making his dick swell even more.

  “Cut it out,” he said. He knew he sounded as if he was in pain.

  “No,” she said, laughing. “It feels too good. Like two dogs going at it.”

  He shut his eyes when she said that. He couldn’t look at her any longer or he was going to come. She was enjoying his struggle, he knew.

  Then he felt her hand moving more, she was squeezing him so tight he was afraid she was going to push him right out.

  He held still for a second to savor the feeling because if he kept pounding into her he was going to explode.

  Then she did. Exploded around him. Her hand stopped, she was pulsing around him and shouting out his name and his body kicked into overdrive slamming into her hard enough that her legs gave out as he was coming and he was lying on top of her as both of them continued to throb each and every ounce of pleasure out of their bodies.

  He found the willpower to roll over somehow after he pulled out of her. She turned and was lying on his chest, her lips putting soft kisses all over him.

  “I like when you move fast like that,” she said.

  “I only ever seem to do it with you,” he admitted.

  “Even better,” she said, standing up. “And now I’m hungry. I don’t think the pizza is too cold.”

  “I doubt it,” he said. “I’m not sure it’s even been ten minutes since I got here.”

  He walked out to go into the bathroom to take care of the condom, then came back in to see Avery dressed and tossing his jeans and underwear at him. “Eight minutes,” she said. “I looked at the clock when we got in here. So add a minute to you walking in the door and us undressing. Still under ten.”

  She was laughing. “Did you do that on purpose?”

  “Maybe,” she said, walking past him. “Or it could be I was so turned on and hungry that I wasn’t sure which one I wanted first.”

  He heard her laughing and finished getting dressed, then joined her in the kitchen where she had the pizza on the counter and plates down.

  “It feels as if everything we do has to be fast,” he said.

  “And we are going to fix that,” she said calmly. “Are you sure you’re okay telling Josie about us?”

  “I am,” he said. “You tell me what you want me to do.”

  “Nothing,” she said. “Just be you. She already loves your dogs and you come with them.”

  He laughed. He didn’t know what else to do. If he hoped that Avery was starting to love him and that Josie did too, he wasn’t going to say anything.

  He wasn’t sure he’d ever been in love like he was now.

  He’d dated over the years. He’d had relationships too. But he’d never seen himself having a future with those women.

  With Avery, he couldn’t get her out of his head and all he thought of was how to get her and Josie in his life more.

  Maybe it was finally going to happen.

  25

  A Life Lesson

  “How come you won’t tell me what we are doing today?” Josie asked Avery on Saturday.

  It’d taken her a few days to figure out what to say to Josie even though she knew she was having Carter come over with his dogs for the day.

  “Because it’s a surprise,” she said.

  Carter would be here at four. He was working until three, then needed time to go home and clean up. She knew if she told Josie earlier that Carter would be here with Dopey and Doc, then she’d be hearing “When are they coming?” all day.

  So the two of them got up, went to the store to get groceries, came back and put everything away, did their chores and cleaned the house.

  They had lunch and Josie had been in her room painting and she’d been thankful that Josie hadn’t asked until now what the surprise was.

  “I’ve waited all day for my surprise,” Josie said. “Can you give me a hint?”

  She reached for Josie and pulled her into a hug. “I can. You’ve been so good about it all and I’m ready to tell you anyway.”

  She was waiting for Carter to text her that he’d gotten out of work and she knew he’d be here within the hour.

  Josie was jumping around. “Am I getting more art supplies?”

  She frowned. “Do you need more?” she asked. “You have to tell me when you’re low.”

  “I don’t want you to spend the money,” Josie said. “I know everything costs so much.”

  She let out a sigh. She’d have to tell Josie a little bit about having money. Maybe if she said things in general it would help. “Josie, I don’t want you to worry about money ever. Your mother left you a lot of money. You’re too young to know it all now, but one day I’ll tell you when you’re older. Just know, that you should never worry about telling me you need or want anything. And when it comes to art supplies and clothing and everything else, that is on me. You’re my daughter now. I can take care of you and what you need. You know that.”

  Avery knew money had been tight at times with Colleen and maybe Josie had sensed that.

  “Really?” Josie asked. “I’m your daughter?”

  “You are, honey. I’d never ask you to call me Mom if you don’t want to. You had a mother we both love very much. I’m not replacing her, only stepping up to continue what she’d done.”

  Josie nodded her head and knuckled a tear away. This wasn’t the conversation she wanted to have before Carter came over but sometimes life couldn’t be controlled and you had to take advantage of your opportunities when they arose.

  “I might someday,” Josie said. “But I like calling you Avery too. It’s a pretty name.”

  She smiled. “Just like Josephine is too,” she said.

  “And I know my middle name is Avery,” Josie said. “Because my mom said you were her sister. Not by blood but by bond.”

  It amazed her how this little girl could remember things Colleen said at the time when she needed to hear it the most.

  “I am, don’t you forget it. But what I wanted to tell you, I hope you are excited about.”

  “More than new art supplies?” Josie asked.

  “More than that,” she said. “We are going to have some visitors tonight. They will be here soon.”

  “Who?” Josie asked. “I like visitors. We need to get the nice plates out and maybe make a dessert. Do we have time to make a dessert?”

  She was laughing at how much Josie sounded like Colleen at times when it came to entertaining.

  “I thought you could help me make brownies again. The last time this person was here you made them and he liked that.”

  “Carter is coming?” Josie screeched and then started to jump around the room. Betty was getting wound up and it was best that both of them got it out of their system now.

  “Yes,” she said. “Carter is coming and he’s bringing Dopey and Doc.”

  “Of course he is,” Josie said. “Betty needs to play with them.”

  Oh boy. Maybe she was wrong in her thinking. She shouldn’t have listened to Melody. It could be more about the dogs than Carter.

  But she’d come this far and couldn’t stop now.

  “Betty does like to play with them. And she should get used to them more so that Carter can come over often and bring them.”

  Josie stopped moving around the room and paused to look at her. “Is Carter your boyfriend?”

  “What do you know about boyfriends?” she asked.

  “Ryan says that boys and girls hold hands and kiss and that makes them boyfriend and girlfriend. You had a boyfriend before I came along. Kurt. But then he left after me. Was it my fault?”

  Oh shit. It never occurred to her this would happen. “Kurt was my boyfriend and the reason he and I aren’t together anymore had nothing to do with you, Josie. Believe me. Sometimes in life things don’t work out and that was one of them.”

  “Okay,” Josie said. “But you didn’t say about Carter.”

  “Would you be upset if Carter was my boyfriend?” she asked.

  “No!” Josie shouted. “Then he could be here all the time and he could help you when you needed it so you didn’t do everything yourself.”

  “Whoa,” she said, holding her hand up. “Having a boyfriend doesn’t mean they are doing things for you. One thing I want you to know and understand is that you can be strong on your own. You don’t need to rely on other people.”

  “My mom did it all and she was always tired,” Josie said quietly. “She was upset at times too. I know it, but she never wanted to tell me. Maybe if I had a father or she had a boyfriend like other kids’ mothers have, it wouldn’t have been so hard.”