Bare Necessities (2 page)

“I think it’s the toys that bother them.”

“What? Like half the people here don’t have dildos? Now they don’t have to order them online; they can come see them. And it’s in a private room.”

Julie put her hand up. “Hey, I’m not the bad guy.”

“I know. I just couldn’t believe what an arrogant son of a bitch Seth turned out to be.”

“He really isn’t. I think he’s a pretty sweet guy.”

“Sweet. Yeah, I believed that the first ten minutes.”

Lila threw her sippy cup, and Julie looked like she needed a break. Most likely she didn’t need to hear Ava’s problems. Lila was giving her enough.

“Regardless of Seth, I’m still opening my store.”

“Good. Once I lose this last ten pounds, I plan to visit. Only for lingerie. Mark is enough for me; I don’t need anything rubber.”

Ava laughed. “You’re perfect the way you are.”

* * *

Seth decided to stop by Honeycreek Bed and Breakfast. He needed someone to chat with, and his sister, Kimberly, was nowhere to be found so Claire was the next best thing. Hell, she was like a sister anyway.

The aroma of coffee was strong as he made his way through the front door. He headed to where she kept a little buffet of goodies for her guests and found her already there pouring herself a cup.

“Good morning,” he greeted.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” the petite blonde said.

“Gee, can’t I just come by and see my good friend? You do make the best coffee in town.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “Please tell me you’re over this Ava thing and you’re going to leave her alone.”

He had called Claire last night to get her advice. She had given him a hard time and said it wasn’t a big deal. So what if the woman wanted to open a lingerie shop? But what Claire didn’t get was it was on the same street people took to get to the church and the funeral home. Who the heck wanted to leave church and drive past an adult store? He certainly didn’t.

“You’re really being a prude, Seth. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t want some girlfriend of yours to have access to a store like that where she can buy lingerie to wear for you.”

A picture shot through his head of Ava in red stockings and a matching underwear set. Red would look sexy against her tan skin and long, dark locks. “That isn’t the point. It isn’t just me. There are going to be a lot of upset people.”

“They’ll get over it and so will you.”

Claire handed him a cup of coffee, and he took a long sip. “Maybe we can get her to just move the store.”

“You’re impossible.” She shook her head. “Just let it be.”

“I can’t. Everyone is going to be looking to me to stop this.”

“How do you know anyone is even going to care?”

He grunted. “Oh, they’re going to all right.” Grabbing a croissant, he added, “Where’s Jace this morning? Got him locked away? I haven’t seen him in a few days.”

“He’s sick with a sinus infection with everything blooming, I think. I really need to get back to him. You men, when you’re sick, you’re big babies.”

“Hey, you women enable us. Admit it, you like it and knowing only you can make him feel better.”

“Ha, only if you admit you have the hots for Ava and that’s why you’re in such a ruffle.”

“See ya, Claire. It was nice chatting.” He started to walk away. “I’ll bring the coffee cup back with me next time.”

The hots for Ava. Yeah, right.
She was beautiful, charming and, well, she made him grin quite a bit last night. But the hots for her … yeah, right.

* * *

One of the best things about being your own boss, she could work whenever she wanted. Ava was doing just that. She had spent the better part of the day with Julie and Lila. After that, she’d returned to her cabin for a nap and then dinner. She headed to the shop to start getting it ready to paint. Most everyone in Brookfield went home in the evenings, but she was a night person. It would be quiet, and hopefully no one would bother her.

Letting herself in, she switched on the light and glanced around. This was all hers, and it felt wonderful. It felt nice to finally settle down in one place, and without a man. Everything she had ever done in the past was for some boyfriend. She had yet to really experience life for herself. Julie had convinced her that Brookfield would be perfect, but after meeting Seth, she wasn’t so sure. The town was surely full of more people like him.

In the back, she found  a can of primer. Maybe tonight she could get the walls coated and go paint shopping tomorrow for colors she liked. Once they were all white, she could hold the paint samples up and get an idea. Currently the walls were a piss-yellow color. What had the previous owner been thinking?

Ava kicked her shoes off then twirled her long hair up into a bun on top of her head. She was warm by nature, so she pulled her T-shirt off and bared a black sports bra underneath. She wore a pair of matching yoga pants. Next, she flipped on the radio to the local rock station.

Grabbing the ladder, she decided to tape around the ceiling first. That was the part she hated because so much time went into placing it in the right spot. It was likely to take up much of the next hour, and it did. It actually took just over an hour, but she was finally ready to prime the walls and say goodbye to the yellow.

She was so busy pouring the paint into the tray and singing with the music that she didn’t hear someone come up behind her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Seth barked.

Ava spun around, almost losing her balance, and stared up at who was becoming her worst enemy. “Excuse me?”

“I drive by here and see lights on. You’re half naked, and then you don’t even lock the damn door. Are you looking for trouble?”

She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Is there a problem with me working at night? Is there some law I need to know about that only applies to Brookfield?”

“No, of course not, but not locking your door is one, and you’re half naked. Anyone could be watching you right now.”

Ava glanced around him and saw no life on the street. “Looks like you’re the only peeping Tom around.”

“Peeping Tom.” He grunted. “Do you not understand how dangerous it is out there?”

“It’s a small town. I’m not too worried.”

“You should be.”

Something in his eyes caught Ava’s attention. Perhaps something in the past had happened. She wasn’t about to ask though. “I’ll be sure to lock the door next time.”

“Next time? Do you plan to be in here every night? And dressed like that?” His eyes drifted up and down her body. She couldn’t help but wonder if he liked what he saw.

“I plan to while I get set up.”

“Why can’t you work during the day like a normal person? I don’t work the night shift.”

She laughed. “Are you supposed to be protecting me or something?”

“You’re now living in Brookfield, aren’t you?”

“I guess so, but you have nothing to worry about. I can take care of myself.”

Silence fell over them. She couldn’t tell if he just had nothing to say or if he was trying to figure out a way to get her to leave. There was no way in hell he would get her to. She was a free woman, and if she wanted to work nights, she would. Turning her back to him, she continued getting the primer all ready.

“Can I help?” he asked.

“No.” She carried the tray and brush over to the wall she was going to start with. If she just ignored him, maybe he would leave. She started dipping the brush into the paint, but Seth stayed present behind her. The thought of him watching as she squatted down and rose up again excited her. It shouldn’t have, but it did. Was he watching her paint or were his eyes on her ass?

With a glance over her shoulder, she saw his eyes were on her, and he looked away quickly again. Hating herself for it but not being able to resist, she asked, “Like what you see, officer?”

He cleared his throat, and as she turned back to the wall, she couldn’t help but smile. Seeing him unnerved thrilled her.

“Be sure to lock up as I leave.” And he was out the door without a look back.

Chapter Three

Seth wasn’t sure what came over him, but he had never before felt so many emotions at one time. He was turned on by the Italian beauty, angered by her lack of concern for safety, and worried that something could happen to her.

For some reason, people just didn’t get things
could
happen. The world wasn’t this safe place everyone imagined it to be. There were bad people out there, and he just wished everyone knew this without having to have a wake-up call. He had gotten that call. It was a memory he tried his best to push behind him and not think about, but seeing Ava tonight, half naked and all alone, brought up memories.

Once he parked his car in the driveway, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to his sister, wanting to know she was home safely. After he let himself into his house and switched on the lights, his phone dinged. Glancing at the screen, he smiled. She was okay.

Next he called down to the station and asked that a patrol car check on Ava every hour as long as she was crazy enough to be down there painting.

He tried his best to drift off to sleep that night, but his thoughts kept going back to Ava in her tight-fitting black pants and that thing he supposed she called a shirt. She had big breasts, a tiny waist, and wide hips to accommodate her lush ass. She was sexy and beautiful. On top of that, she was smart and funny. Every time they were together, she always brought a smile to his face and he forgot the world still moved around him. She could be his perfect woman.

Too bad he had close down her business before it even started, but there was no way she could open up her adult shop. Maybe he could convince her to move the shop twenty minutes away to Jackson Hole.

His eyelids just wouldn’t shut. It was going to be a long night. Somehow, he had to trust that his department could keep an eye on Ava. Seth sighed. He had a long night ahead of him.

* * *

Ava’s eyes opened as a banging sound echoed through her cabin. Rolling over, she saw it was nine in the morning. Shit, she’d only been asleep a few hours. She’d painted most of the night. Then she had come home, popped some Tylenol for a headache, and gone to bed—three hours ago.

The knocking continued. Groaning loudly, she climbed out of bed and went to see who the hell was there. She debated grabbing her robe since all she wore was a white T-shirt but decided against it. She planned on giving this person a piece of her mind and then climbing back into bed.

Swinging the door open, she sighed. Of course. It was Sheriff Seth Hampton. “You. I was sleeping. Can this wait?”

Seth pushed his way through her door. He closed it behind him and walked around the living room in a pacing fashion. What the hell did he want now? Crossing her arms, she plopped down in a chair and waited. Perhaps, if she bit her tongue for once, this would get over with quickly and soon she would be resting on that down pillow.

“It’s a good thing I got you up. I’ve been thinking, and you really need to work during the day like normal people.”

“I was pretty safe last night. Don’t think I didn’t notice the patrol car that kept driving by. You know, I was told this was a safe town. A place where parents could let their kids roam the streets during the day. But now the town sheriff is giving me my own watch, so tell me, is Brookfield not the safe place you all claim it to be?”

“It’s safe, but you never know. And creeps come out at night.”

She let her eyes drift over him. He looked tired, as though he hadn’t slept, but he still looked incredibly hot in uniform. Licking her lips, she wondered if he worked out and how his chest might feel against the tips of her fingers—warm and hard, she imagined.

He cleared his throat, and she felt her face grow warm, knowing he knew she was checking him out. She then let her gaze drop a little lower, and a slight smile curved her lips at the growing bulge in his pants.

Glancing back at his face now, she caught him focusing on her thighs. Her legs were crossed, but the T-shirt was short and she was pretty sure he was getting a peek-a-boo shot at her pink lace hipster panties.