The Renegade Returns (Mill Town Millionaires) (10 page)

“No, Luke,” she said, then swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I was only thinking about myself, and not how my actions would affect you.” She thought about Mark’s glare, and imagined the pitying looks she’d receive after Luke left. Somehow, she knew they wouldn’t carry the same weight after having Luke’s lips on hers.

“Let’s just play it by ear, okay?”

Luke’s brows shot up. “What? Avery Prescott without a plan or set of rules?”

“You keep it up and you’re gonna owe me another breakfast…” she warned. He just laughed. And deep inside, Avery knew she’d made the right choice.

If only her decision hadn’t been challenged quite so soon.

Just as they finished breakfast, a shadow dimmed their booth. Glancing up, Avery was horrified to see the deputy from the night before. Instinctively her body crowded into Luke’s, as if he could shield her from the embarrassment, even as she told herself there was nothing to be embarrassed over.

The deputy grinned. “Morning, folks,” he said.

Luke nodded, reaching out to shake hands. “Morning, Deputy Holloway. How are you?”

“Fine. Fine.” He shook his head slightly, adopting an expression of mock concern. “I’m just glad to see you folks made it out this morning…after your late night.”

A choking sound escaped Avery—one she wished she had held back. The burn had returned to her cheeks, but Luke just laughed once more.

The deputy winked at her. “Well, enjoy the rest of your day.”

As he walked away, he stopped here and there to talk to several people—including a few who frequented the diner every morning to share gossip. Avery could almost see the story of their midnight encounter spreading across the room in the whispers and grins. By the time Luke had paid and they rose to leave, it seemed like all eyes were on them.

As they made their way out, the whispering seemed to follow them in a wave, until one voice rang out. “Y’all behave now.”

Well, at least she wasn’t paranoid.

Luke gave a salute without stopping. Even the hostesses whispered as they approached the doors, only to stop abruptly as they walked by.

“Y’all have a good morning,” one said with a sly smile.

Luke just smiled back and continued to guide Avery out with the support of his hand at the small of her back. Nolen’s black car was just coming up the road.

“Well, I guess it’s official now,” Luke said.

She cut her gaze at him, confused. “What is?”

“Us.”

Her heart pounded. Maybe she wasn’t as ready as she’d thought. “I’m sure it will all die down.”

“I doubt it. I screwed up, so you have no choice but to date me now.”

Do you want me to?
“How’s that?”

“You wouldn’t want to make me the laughingstock of Black Hills by rejecting me, would you?”

“That’s totally not how the story would go.”
She’d
be the laughingstock. Probably still would be after he left. Why couldn’t two adults just have some fun together without the small-town gossips automatically assuming forever after?

“Oh, Avery, you should know by now that I’m always right. That’s why you should just let me have my way.”

Even if his way was dangerous to her?

“Regardless,” he said, “you just did your good deed for the day.”

That stopped her in her tracks. “What?” Luke was talking in circles now.

“Just think how many existences you’re livening up with that story. You’re doing your civic duty to entertain others.”

“Only a man would look at it that way.”

“Honey, in a town this small, that’s the God’s honest truth.”

* * *

Almost a week later, Luke wished more than anything that he was back in that diner with Avery. Or anywhere with Avery.

As Nolen pulled the car into the parking lot of the local playground, Luke almost had a full-body cramp. The place was covered in people.

And not just locals. Luke only recognized about one in every four faces. Deep down, stage fright set in.

How the hell had this happened?

A year ago, seeing this crowd would have had his energy and excitement skyrocketing, but not today. All he could think about was the weakness in his legs, his cane…and that Avery wasn’t here with him. What if he fell? What if his legs buckled?

Locals actually knew Luke Blackstone, the person. They’d understand. These other people were here to see Luke Blackstone, racing celebrity. That was a whole different ball game, one he hadn’t faced since his crash.

He’d done one press conference after his release from the hospital. After that, he’d stuck to phone interviews and private meetings. He’d prefer the world see him whole rather than broken. Just another reason to push for his return. If he never had another case of nerves, he’d die a happy man. Which made him more sympathetic to what Avery had endured for years in order to date at all.

As he stepped from the car, Christina must have read his thoughts. “I’m so sorry, Luke,” she said as she rushed to his side.

“How’d this happen?” he mumbled, nodding in the direction of the crowd. “I thought this was supposed to be me with a few kids on the playground.” He caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. “Is that a news crew?”

His brother appeared behind his wife.

“What the hell, Aiden?” Luke struggled to control his breathing.

Christina’s big brown eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Luke.”

Aiden spoke over her shoulder. “One of the board of trustees members leaked it to the university newspaper, thinking it would be great press for the fund-raising efforts.” He shook his head. “It just spread from there.”

And Luke hadn’t heard a word. He’d stopped watching the news after his accident, afraid he’d catch a story about himself and risk seeing the footage from his crash. Even now, he could barely watch the sports stations. Though he forced himself to stay up-to-date on the racing circuit, it was hard. Harder than he’d like to admit.

Sucking in a deep breath, he forced himself into the professional persona he’d cultivated over the years. For once, the identity didn’t slip on as easily as before. Like an ill-fitting coat, it pushed and pulled against him, making him uncomfortable and unusually grouchy. If only Avery were here, he’d have just a touch of the calm she usually possessed. But she’d probably hate this kind of thing. She was more a one-on-one kind of girl.

“Well, this looks interesting…”

Luke glanced over his shoulder to see those blue eyes lifting shyly to meet his and he wanted to kiss her. But he wouldn’t, because despite what she might think, embarrassing her in front of large groups of people wasn’t his goal. Instead, he let his voice soften with welcome. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” She glanced around and he could see the uncertainty as it clouded her fine features. “I thought you could use a little support. Maybe.”

“Definitely.”

Suddenly handling himself in front of this crowd didn’t seem quite so hard.

“Maybe you should work the crowd a little and give a short interview to the news crew first,” Avery suggested. “That will make it easier to move them back behind the barricades so y’all can shoot the commercial.”

“Avery, that’s a great idea. Thank you,” Christina breathed. Aiden patted his wife’s shoulder, then called a few men over to get things organized.

By the time Luke had shaken several hands and signed a bunch of autographs, he felt more in control. Avery was beside him at first, but it wasn’t long before the crowd edged her away. He kept her in his peripheral vision, but he didn’t really need to. It was as if his body could feel the distance between them.

Finally he stopped and found her with his gaze. Perhaps reading his thoughts, she pushed through until she once again breached the circle Aiden and several other men had formed around him to help with crowd control. After that, he kept her close, refusing to take more than a few steps without catching her hand.

How she felt about this, he wasn’t sure. Somehow, he didn’t care. In his selfishness, he simply knew he needed her. And in that moment, he vowed to break through the very boundaries he’d put in place. Tonight.

When he was being interviewed, she wasn’t far away. He let himself talk as if talking to her, and deep inside he relaxed. This feeling was dangerous, but he was too intoxicated with her presence to care. He’d worry later—when he had no other choice but to return to the life he’d built before her.

Though he was tired after, Luke realized how right Avery had been. Now that he’d made his rounds, the crowd willingly moved back behind the barricades so they could watch without interrupting. And Luke felt much more comfortable than he had when he’d arrived. If he felt a touch of trepidation as he looked over at the half dozen kids starring in the commercial with him, he sure as hell wasn’t gonna show it.

Avery walked over to the director and spoke quietly. After his nod, she came back and took his hand. “Follow me.”

It didn’t take him long to realize she was leading him over to the kids. He kept his persona firmly in place. “Hey, guys,” he said as they approached the group.

He got a few “hi”s back, a couple of giggles and some shy smiles. If he wasn’t mistaken, the kids were just as nervous as he was.

Then Avery spoke. “Kiddios, I want you to meet a friend of mine. This is Luke, as y’all know. Luke, this is Steven, Mariah…”

He tried to grab on to the names and not let them escape into thin air, but he’d simply met too many people today and his brain refused to cooperate. But he wouldn’t let that stop him.

Crouching down as best he could, he brought himself to the kids’ levels. They looked between five and ten or so—not that he knew a lot about telling kids’ ages. But they were cute. A set of twin girls with ringlet curls. A boy in a local softball club jersey. An older girl with a bright blue cast on her arm. Two other boys, one with crutches and another with a walker.

“Luke is a friend of mine,” Avery said. “And he’s nervous about being in front of the camera.”

Luke felt his feathers ruffle until she went on. “Y’all can help him out, right?”

As the kids started throwing out their best child-size advice, Luke realized she’d started a dialogue he could handle that was still kid-friendly, making it really easy for him to be involved. In that moment, something happened. Luke wasn’t sure what, but he knew he’d never find anyone like Avery, who helped him so selflessly, looking out only for his comfort and caring about whether he succeeded or not. Yes, they’d had some fun together, but it hadn’t been just him giving to her. It had been mutual.

How incredibly lucky was he to have that?

Without further thought, he grasped her hand and pulled her close. The feel of her body against his was even better than he remembered. He savored it.

Tilting his head down to hers, he murmured, “Thank you,” then took her lips in a solid kiss.

Not a brush. Not a quick peck. His lips met hers without hesitation. He soaked up the feel of her, the scent and taste of her, until his body went haywire. Only then did he pull back.

His gaze met hers. He was lost in the world between them, until a sound shattered the bubble.

He looked to the side to see the audience of kids and a few grinning moms. “Ooohhhh,” the kids cooed at them. Then all of them laughed. Luke couldn’t help but join in. To his relief, so did Avery.

This wasn’t just about sex. He wanted to do so much for Avery, big and little, just like she was doing for him. But he also wanted to take her to bed, and he had a feeling that experience would be completely different from the ones he’d had with other women.

Dangerous, but after all, he lived for the thrill.

He couldn’t help but reach out and brush his thumb over the round of her cheek as she smiled, softly stating his need, his purpose. Their gazes met once more, his conveying a promise.

Tonight, she would be his.

TEN

A
s the crowd once more pushed her to the edge, Avery gave up fighting the flow. Weariness muted her purpose. Luke was holding his own, and she didn’t want to feel like a groupie. Instead she turned in the opposite direction, finding an empty park bench to rest.

Only a few minutes passed before Christina sat down next to her. Avery could almost feel the questions before her friend asked them.

“That was some kiss,” Christina started.

Avery took a deep, deep breath as her chest threatened to constrict. “Yes, it was.” Part of her wanted to turn away, to not talk about this now…if ever. But avoiding it wasn’t an option. That look from Luke earlier told her everything was about to change. Her body softened, anticipating that look becoming action. Even while her heart beat in fear for the future.

“Are you gonna be okay, Avery?”

Avery appreciated that her friend wasn’t pushing for details. Christina spoke from concern, not from prurient curiosity.

“I’m not sure.” She searched for words. “Luke’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me. Has always been, from the time I was a kid.”

Christina chuckled. “Yeah, the Blackstone brothers do have a tendency to be larger than life.”

“What if I can’t meet that?” Avery met her friend’s concerned gaze. “I’ve always felt a step behind when it comes to Luke. The only place I’m in control is as his therapist.”

“The woman I saw today wasn’t just a therapist.”

“I wanted to help.”

“Because you care about him?”

“I have since we were just kids. Every day I’m with him, it only gets worse.”
Dang it.
Avery swallowed hard, choking on the words that would reveal just how deeply she’d fallen. “One day he’s gonna leave. I’ll never be enough to keep him here…and everyone knows it.”

Christina’s cool hand enveloped hers, squeezing in sympathy. “Oh, honey, I know exactly how that feels. And I know that not everyone’s story is going to turn out like mine.”

They were quiet for long moments. With each second that ticked by, Avery’s heart grew more uncertain. She, more than anyone, knew how devastated Christina had been when she’d thought Aiden would return to New York for good. Could Avery go through that herself and have her spirit still survive? “I’m not sure I can live through losing someone else.”

“And you shouldn’t have to,” Christina said quietly. “But the alternative is never letting anyone close to you again. I think it’s a little late for that with Luke.”

Very true. Avery knew it, but acting on it, opening herself up beyond this point, was still scary. Could she live with the pain later? At least then she’d have the memories. Could she live with the emptiness of never having those memories at all?

Christina spoke again. “Do you really want to spend your time caring if everybody thinks you weren’t good enough for him later? Or would you rather focus on whether he thinks you’re good enough for him right now?” She squeezed Avery’s hand, flooding Avery’s senses with sympathy. “He’s a great guy. I promise he’s not just playing with you.”

Avery knew that. Though Luke was often playful, he was also genuine. She had a feeling his ambivalence up to this point had stemmed from the fact that he truly did see her as a friend. Hard as that was for her to believe.

For right now, he needed her. Wanted her. Could that be enough?

In the distance, he stood so tall, so proud. But she remembered that moment earlier when he’d needed her. Her chance to meet him more than halfway, without being model perfect or fast-lane ready. “I want him,” she murmured.

“Then take him,” Christina said, “and prove to him he can’t live without you.”

Avery doubted Luke would ever see her that way. Racing, he needed. Avery was just a bonus during the off-season. But she couldn’t live that way forever. And just like that, the lightbulb went on.

Hadn’t Luke been trying to teach her to live in the moment? Have fun right now, without worrying about what anyone else thought or said? And wasn’t she doing just the opposite by letting gossip and giggles and other people’s judgments make her decisions for her?

“Boy, am I slow.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe how afraid I’ve been all this time.”

“Been there, done that,” Christina agreed. “Do you want to continue that way?”

Hell, no.
Avery was ready to live on her own terms. She’d known this for a while. Now she had to quit dragging her feet.

When Luke finally approached, she stood alone, more sure than she’d ever been. He met her with a tired smile.

Her nerves skittering around inside her, she drew in a deep breath. “I sent Nolen home.”

She’d expected a smart remark or a sexy wink. Instead his amber gaze held hers, some of that exhaustion melting away. He traced her cheek with his thumb. The explosions under her skin were deeper this time. Instead of fighting them, she let them flow over her.

Luke’s voice was low, intimate. “I guess you’re stuck with me then.”

“Maybe I could give you a ride,” she teased.

“Your place or mine?”

Her heart picked up speed, beating hard inside her chest. “Mine?”

He nodded, his grin a mixture of relief and anticipation. “Sounds like a plan.”

God, she hoped so. As he took her hand and walked to the car, none of the tension from the night of the drive-in spoiled the mood. Instead arousal built with every stroke of his fingers over the back of her hand. He continued to touch her on the ride home, but she couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not.

The closer they got to her house, the more worry set in. What if she didn’t please him? It wasn’t like she had a world of experience, though she wasn’t a virgin. Logically, she knew how to make him feel good. But would she remember all that when the time came? Or would her body just go haywire and cause her to do something stupid?

By the time they reached her house, she was a bundle of nerves. Sure enough, she stumbled over the threshold and bumbled a few of the stairs. From behind, she felt Luke’s hand grasp her own, slowing her to match his careful pace. They finished the climb to the second floor together. His touch calmed her down and ramped her nerves up at the same time. Please, don’t let her mess this up.

Luke paused just inside the door to her bedroom, taking everything in with a sweeping glance. She wondered what he thought. Never having been a particularly girlie girl, there wasn’t a lot of lace or pink in her room. The curtains were a floral print in soft yellows, blues and purples. She’d repainted a few years ago, covering the lavender of her childhood with a contemporary smoky blue. A darker version of the same colors graced the bed, complementing the blond wood furniture.

“Come here,” Luke said, pulling her toward the bed.

This is it.
How she wished she could shut off the thoughts racing through her brain. They distracted her as Luke propped his cane against the headboard and shrugged out of his jacket and button-down shirt. She allowed her gaze to soak in the muscles she’d learned so well. But there wasn’t long to enjoy the view before he came toward her. Without a word he slipped off her cardigan sweater, leaving her in a silky tank top and khakis.

Guiding her to sit on the side of the bed, he eased off her slip-on shoes. She scrunched up her toes, feeling naked. Exposed. But Luke was having none of that. His strong hands enveloped one foot, his fingers digging into the arch and pushing back to stretch her calf muscles. Her moan erupted into the silence, her brain registering a level of heaven she didn’t usually experience.

He glanced up, his eyes alight with sparks that made her shiver. “Feel good?”

“How could it not?”

He just grinned and moved to the other foot. When he finally made her stand again, she wondered if her feet would support her. Shaky, but she wasn’t in danger of embarrassing herself. Good thing, because those wicked fingers went straight for the button of her pants. Her tummy muscles twitched at the brush of his knuckles. He didn’t look up this time. Instead he concentrated until her pants lay around her ankles and her tank had sailed across the room to drape casually off the side of her cheval mirror.

Luke regained his feet with a push of his hands on the bed. At the last minute she pressed her lips together to keep herself from praising him. They weren’t at therapy. The fact that she was his physical therapist was the last thing she wanted him to think about right now. Although that intent gaze trained on her bare middle was not the most comfortable thing in the world for her to focus on, either.

But he didn’t rush. He soaked her in with his gaze for long moments before he picked her up and laid her on the bed.

She made a sound of protest, but he met it with a firm look. “Hush,” he said. “I lift way more than your body weight at the gym every day.”

He was right. And at least she hadn’t tripped and tumbled into bed like she would have on her own. Curling on her side, she watched as he efficiently stripped down to a sexy pair of boxer briefs. A quick glimpse of the scars on his legs reminded her how incredible he was, how far he’d come…

Then he slid into the bed, and pulled the light comforter up against the chill in the room.

He crawled over her until she lay flat on her back with his body hovering above hers. He eased down tentatively, as if afraid his weight would be too much for her. He covered half of her body, his face buried against her neck. His erection cradled against her hip, one bent leg spreading her open without resistance. His rough thigh applied pressure to that most sensitive spot, urging her to lift her hips against him.

Perfect alignment. Automatically, her body melted, reveling in his heat and the weight that anchored her in this moment.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Just relax,” he murmured into her hair. “Let me soak you in.”

For long moments, she couldn’t let go. But then her breath changed to match his. In. Out. Slowly deepening. His warmth softened her. His mellow scent enveloped her.

Then his thumb moved along the left side of her collarbone, his forearm brushing the cup of her bra. How could such a slight touch feel better than any other man touching her…ever?

“Just relax,” he said again. “Just enjoy.”

But she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to relax with his hands on her. He traced her collarbone out to her shoulder. Then he explored the hollow right below, and stroked down the length of her arm several times. Arousal built so quickly inside she broke out in a sheen of sweat.

He moved back up the sensitive skin on the inside of her arm before he traced the outline of her bra. That touch, so close, but not quite enough, was pure torture. She moaned, her hips twisting.

“There you go.”

His voice, thick and husky, played heavily on her nerves. She dragged her eyes open, wondering if the emotion was real. His gaze followed the path of his hand, but he didn’t study her with abstract interest. No, he was engrossed, just as he’d said. Utterly absorbed, his body hardened against her hip, speaking without words what she needed to know.

Her restless body urged her to move. Luke’s knee kept her legs from closing, so she reached up with her free hand to test the stubble that had barely emerged along his jawline. He leaned into her touch like a cat, powerful and soft. She traveled along the side of his face to bury into his thick, sandy hair.

His heavy-lidded gaze lifted to hers, the connection complete. He rose so his mouth covered hers. His wicked hand splayed across her ribs, then meandered down to cup her hip bone.

His tongue breached her lips. His fingers tightened with lovely pressure. Avery’s body drowned in sensation overload. Her hand tightened of its own accord, pulling at Luke’s hair. He groaned, deep and long, as his body pushed against her, riding her through the smooth cotton of his briefs.

If she didn’t have him inside her, soon, she might just explode without him—which was completely unacceptable. She twisted her head to free her mouth. Her hips lifted against his commanding thigh. “Luke,” she gasped. “Luke, please.”

“Just a little more, baby,” he said against her skin, prompting goose bumps. “I haven’t sampled all of you, yet.”

That
just might kill her, but at least she’d die happy.

* * *

Luke struggled to breathe deep, praying he could hold out a few more minutes. The intoxication of having Avery beneath him was a thrill not to be cut short.

Her skin brushed his fingers, soft as silk. As classy as Avery was, she’d be made of nothing less. But she wasn’t passive—oh no, her hand in his hair conveyed her need without words. The sting of her pull complemented his sharp spikes of desire until he became one long pulse of need. She didn’t just lie there like a pretty princess, but invited him inside with every lift of her hips and clutch of her hand.

Luke was surprised by the slight tremor in his hand as he reached for the front clasp of her bra. He’d always been wholly in control. With Avery, he felt anything but. His body demanded he ease the burning fever beneath his skin. More than that, he wanted Avery to feel the burning fever right alongside him.

He wanted it all, her all, until she’d never be complete without him again.

He didn’t know why, didn’t care.

Propping himself up on his elbow gave him a front-row seat to the reveal of a lifetime. His eager palms brushed the material back, revealing creamy mounds that shook with each breath she took. Awed with a kind of reverence he’d never felt before, Luke buried his face deep into the cleft between her breasts and breathed in her essence.

From his first drive, Luke had become one with his car, with that desire to eat up the ground until freedom burst over him. Now he wanted that same feeling—and he wanted Avery to share it with him.

Her rose-colored nipple felt smooth against his tongue, but quickly hardened beneath his touch. Both her hands now buried in his hair, she pulled him closer. Her body shifted and moved as if enticing him to ease the need inside her.

Yes. Oh, yes.

But it wasn’t until those hands buried beneath the waistband of his briefs that he knew he’d succeeded. Unable to pull himself away from those perfect mounds, he continued to kiss her breasts as he peeled the material off. Avery’s silky panties didn’t fare as well. One hard pull and the barrier shredded.