Loose Ends (Magnolia Series Book 1) (24 page)

Chapte
r
Twenty-Tw
o

Ava wasn’t really sure
why she was asking to be with Luke again. After all, he’d hurt her beyond repair. If she was a glutton for punishment, this would be Exhibit A. The only explanation she could dredge up was the stress of the entire situation and the information that’d been handed to her. Something like that would cause anyone to seek a moment of bliss. The closest thing Ava could find to achieve her harmony was Luke. Maybe she was using him or maybe she still had feelings for him even though he’d ripped her heart to shreds. Either way, one more night and she’d be through with him and he with her. Now that she knew the truth and knew who he really was, it would never work between them anyway.

As Ava lay on top of Luke’s firm body, she could feel his warmth surrounding her like a cozy blanket. His scent that she adored permeated her senses and she found herself closing her eyes and committing it to memory for the last time. Maybe it would get her through the tough times that lay on the road ahead of her.

“Hey, open your eyes for me,” Luke’s deep voice cut through the silence and Ava did as he said. “Why are you closing them?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She didn’t want to tell him she was trying to memorize everything about him behind her eyelids. That would interrupt the little bubble they were currently in, and she didn’t want their bubble popped.

“You don’t know? Or you don’t want to tell me?” he questioned.

“Neither?” Her voice sharpened a bit.

“Did you forget what I do for a living? I’m pretty damn good at knowing when someone’s lying to me,” Luke chuckled.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Ava shook her head.

“Then we won’t talk about it.” He smiled and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle but meaningful kiss.

The kiss began as something soft and sweet but soon morphed into one filled with passion and intensity. It was as if they both knew it was the last time this would happen and they wanted to put everything they had into it. Ava for sure was thinking along those lines.

It wasn’t long until Luke took the reins and flipped her over so she was underneath him. His bigger body pressed her into the mattress and she felt the unyielding firmness of his erection prodding her thigh through his jeans. She spread her legs wider to let his hips slip between her legs and he pressed forward, cradling himself against her center. Something about still wearing clothing made the action even more erotic. The rasp of his denim-clad lower half on her body made for one hell of an aphrodisiac, causing her to become wetter with each forward motion he made. Luke’s propped himself up on one arm and looked down at her face.

“You look so beautiful like this,” he said.

“Like what?” Ava scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion.

“Underneath me. Your cheeks flushed and your body waiting for me. Absolutely breathtaking.”

“Please don’t say things like that.” She looked away.

“Why the hell not?” He sounded like he took offense.

Ava rolled her head back to look him in the eye. “Because we both know this isn’t going anywhere beyond tonight. I don’t need you telling me a bunch of romantic bullshit. I’m offering myself up on a platter here, so just take it already,” she spouted.

“
Wow
.” Luke began to roll off of her.

“Luke, wait.” She pulled him back down. “I’m sorry. It’s been a crazy day. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you by being a bitch.” Ava sighed in regret.

Luke, ever the gentleman, brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. “I understand. And you have every right to be testy. I get it, I really do.”

“I don’t want you to go. You said one more night and I want that. Please?” Ava felt herself pleading and she wasn’t the least bit abashed by it.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He swiftly rolled on top of her once more and began an assault of kisses to the sensitive area on her neck.

Ava’s eyes rolled back in her head as his lips coasted over her skin and his teeth grazed the area just below her ear. While his mouth was busy with her upper half, one of his hands wandered down and ducked under her top. Again the roughness of his fingers on the smooth expanse of her stomach caused chills to rack her body.

“Are you cold?” Luke asked as he nibbled her ear.

“No, quite the opposite actually.” She smiled.

Luke didn’t answer. He continued to play havoc on her body with a kiss here and a brush of his fingers there. Soon his exploring hand went higher under her shirt, cupping her breast. The delicate nipple puckered instantly the moment he lightly pinched it. A mewl escaped her lips as he repeated the move and then switched to the other breast. Impatience grew as he went back and forth, toying with her body.

“Luke, I can’t wait.”

“Thank fuck. Neither can I.” Luke jumped from the bed and began to undress in record time. Ava licked her lips at the sight of his cock jutting out when he whipped his underwear down his muscled legs.

“Clothes off. I need to be inside you in the next thirty seconds.” Ava hurried with removing her clothing and tossed it all to the floor.

She watched as Luke switched on the bedside lamp and then flipped off the switch to the overhead light. The room was now cast in a sexy glow she could appreciate. Luke’s amazing body looked even more perfect in this type of lighting. Ava couldn’t help but admire it. When he found his way back to the bed, she was ready and waiting. Her head lay back against the soft pillows, legs bent at the knees, still concealing her arousal and her arms lay by her sides, fingers trembling in anticipation. When he joined her on the bed, she opened to him like a blooming flower, opening its petals to the morning rays of sunlight. The way Luke fit himself perfectly between her legs had her ready to slip over the precipice of something amazing.

Ava’s intense gaze followed Luke’s as he grabbed his erection in his hand and leaned forward, sweeping the swollen head through her slick folds. “Damn, you already feel good.” The pained look on his face told her he was holding back. She didn’t want him to. It was time to put up or shut up.

“Now, Luke.” The demand came out on a whine.

But he must’ve been as ready as she was. He let go of himself and unhurriedly pushed inside her depths, the walls of her pussy clamping down on him like it was drawing him in further. When he was completely seated within her, Ava let out a moan at the full sensation. Even though they’d been intimate several times before, every single time felt like their first. It didn’t surprise her though, Luke was special. He was the only one in the world who’d stolen her heart. Funny thing was—even after everything that’d taken place—Ava still didn’t want it back. Even though he’d thrown it away, a small piece would always belong to him.

“Hey.” Luke pulled her from her inner musings. “I don’t know where you are right now, but I need you here. With me.” His voice was low and genuine.

“I’m here,” Ava confirmed.

“Not fully, you’re not. Ava, sweetheart, I’m so sorry for everything.” Luke began to apologize but she didn’t think this was the right time.

To ward off his grand speech, her hands reached around and grabbed ahold of his ass, pulling him farther into her. His hip bones dug into her inner thighs causing a slight pain from the pressure. But it only heightened what she was feeling. He took the hint and began a steady pace, pulling his hardness from her body and thrusting back inward. Each time she could feel the buildup increasing until her body sat on the edge ready to tip over.

“Ask me to make you come,” Luke grunted as if he was holding onto his control by a threadbare rope. But she didn’t want to ask anything of him. If she was going to fall, she wanted to do it on her own and not owe him and damn thing. “Ask, me Ava.” Luke continued to push himself into her, each stroke bumping a spot to send zinging sensations to every nerve ending in her body.

“Please.” she wouldn’t ask, but she’d beg for some reason.

He slowed, delaying her impending release. Her frustration was evident in the way she crumpled her face. “I need you ask you something,” Luke began. “And I want you to tell me the honest truth, Ava.” The pace of their lovemaking had slowed but he kept them steady.

“Fine.” Ava relented.

After moments passed, Luke finally stopped fighting with his indecision. “Before the other day, did you feel anything for me?” His question shocked her.

“Why are you asking me this now?”

“Because I want to know. Tell me the truth, Ava.”

She shook her head furiously. “I can’t do this right now.” Salty tears began to gather in her eyes.

“Yes, you can. I need to know if you felt anything for me. Anything at all.”

“Yes, damn it,” her voice raised a bit.

“What did you feel, Ava?” He kept pushing her.

“Don’t make me say it.”

“Say it.”

“I loved you, Luke,” Ava blurted out the words he wanted to hear. Oh, how she wanted to not use the word ‘
love’
in a past tense, because honestly, she
still
loved him.

Luke didn’t respond, he only picked up the pace and drove himself deeper inside her body. Her legs fell open to let him go in as far as he possibly could. It seemed like you couldn’t even tell where one of them began and the other ended, but it was perfect for this moment.

The coils in her body wound so tight she thought she’d die when they finally snapped. Each plunge of his cock into her body brought more emotion to the forefront and soon Ava felt the warm streaks of her tears begin to trail from the corners of her eyes and onto her cheeks.

“Come for me, sweetheart,” Luke commanded.

And soon she did. The dam broke and with it, her heart broke just a little more.

Chapte
r
Twenty-Thre
e

Luke sat for a few minutes
and peered down at Ava’s sleeping form. She lay curled up on her side with a hand tucked under her chin. She was gorgeous in sleep
and
when awake. And the fact that she’d admitted she loved him, well that was what he needed to hear. Sure, she’d said it in past tense, but there was a seed of hope planted that maybe she might still feel that way about him. He didn’t know what would happen after this whole situation was over, but he knew for sure he wanted it to include the beautiful woman asleep in his bed.

When he left his bedroom, Luke went downstairs in search of Cole. It was his turn to take watch and let his partner get a few hours of shut-eye. If he knew Cole well enough—and he did—the other man would deny himself sleep because of the dire situation they were all in.

“How’re things looking?” Luke asked as he sat at the kitchen table across from Cole.

“All clear for now. One of the motion sensors were tripped but it was a fox.”

“Good deal. Why don’t you go grab some shut-eye for a bit while I take over?”

“Nah, I won’t be able to sleep with all this shit going on. You should know that by now.” Cole laughed. Yes, Luke was right in thinking his partner would want to be where the action was.

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged and got up to make some coffee. It was only two in the morning and they still had several hours until backup arrived.

“How did things go with Ava? Did you tell her the full story?”

“I did.” Luke went about dumping grounds into the coffee maker.

“How’d she take it? Is she alright?” Cole had a concerned look on his face.

“Surprisingly well. I don’t think I’d have taken it that good if someone dumped all that on me. But I knew she’d be strong enough to handle it. She’s a remarkable woman.”

“That she is.” Cole grabbed a couple mugs from the cabinet beside Luke. “Have you decided what you’ll do when this is over?”

“If they put her in Wit-Sec, I doubt I’ll ever see her again.” Luke heard the sadness in his own voice.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that woman won’t
let
them put her in witness protection,” Cole snickered.

“Well, I don’t want them to put her in it either.” He went about pouring them both cups full of strong black coffee.

“Then the only option is to finish this and make sure she doesn’t have to go.”

“You’re right. I can’t lose her.”

“I know you’ve had a rough go of things for the past several years, but I can see how she’s impacted your life. I’m not embarrassed to say that she’s made you a better man.” Cole gave him a light slap on the back.

“I know she has. I want to give her everything she deserves and more. I know it sounds sappy as shit but I want to stand at the end of the aisle and watch her walk toward me in a frilly white dress someday.”

“Yup, that’s pretty fucking sappy.”

“Leave it to you to ruin a heartfelt moment.”

“At least I’m good for something,” Cole joked.

Both men drank their coffee and had seconds. A couple hours passed and the caffeine began to wear off. Luke’s head bobbed forward as he sat in the wooden chair across from Cole. His partner had already laid his head down on the table and was snoozing. He just needed a couple minutes of shut-eye and he’d be energized and ready to keep watch some more. So Luke let his eyes drift shut just for a bit.

***

Ava sat up in bed when her phone began to ring in her purse beside the bed. She swung both legs over the side and dug around for the device. The display showed it was Brandi calling.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Ava answered. She was met with silence on the other end. “Brandi? Are you there?” More silence. She wondered if her friend had a bad connection or lost signal. “Hello?” Ava asked one more time. Chills ran down her spine when a male voice finally answered.

“Hey, baby. Did you miss me?” Bile rose in her throat at the sound of Frankie’s voice.

She tamped down her disgust and recognition hit. “What are you doing with Brandi’s phone?” Ava asked shakily.

“I borrowed it. Seems your friend can’t take a beating very well.” Frankie laughed.

“Oh, my God. Please don’t hurt her.”

“Too late. But if you meet me right now with my money, I promise not to put a bullet in her skull.” She heard him take a drag off his cigarette.

“Fine, I’ll meet you. Where?”

“Meet me at your beach house in an hour. And don’t forget my money, you little bitch. Oh, and if I see you have those Feds with you, I’ll ax this chick and you immediately. Am I clear?”

“Yes.”

“Good, hurry the fuck up.” Frankie disconnected the call.

Ava didn’t have a choice. She’d brought danger to her friend and it was up to her to help her. Brandi had been there for her all this time and there was no way in hell she’d let Frankie hurt anyone she cared about. She’d rather take the bullet herself before one was lodged in someone else.

Gathering up some clothes she quickly dressed and slipped on a pair of shoes. She’d go downstairs and ask Luke and Cole what to do and then be on her way. Down the steps she went and followed the only light on in the house. It led to the kitchen where Cole was asleep with his head on the table and Luke was the same but sitting upright. She didn’t want to wake them so she did what she thought was best and grabbed a pen and paper from her purse. She jotted down a note and laid it in the middle of the table. Silently she said goodbye to them both and went in search of the duffle full of cash. It wasn’t upstairs anywhere, so her instincts led her to the basement. When she turned on the lamp on the workbench, she spotted the black bag but it was empty. “Damn it.” Ava bit out. “Where the hell is it?”

She scoured the basement trying to locate the cash but couldn’t find it anywhere. When she rounded the corner into a small hallway, her heart sank. There sat a medium-sized safe with a combination lock right in the middle of the heavy door. Panic set in as the thoughts of what she should do ran through her head. She couldn’t break into the safe, there wasn’t time, and she sure as hell wasn’t a safecracker. Looking around, she decided she’d at least take the bag with her. After snatching it up, Ava quietly ascended the stairs and passed by Luke and Cole once more. She slipped Luke’s truck keys off the hook by the back door and escaped without waking the men. As her feet crossed the gravel driveway, it seemed like the crunching sound under her feet echoed louder than normal. But so did the nervous thudding of her heart.

Starting the truck she cringed at how loud the engine was when being fired up.
Was it
always
this loud?
she thought. It didn’t matter so she threw it into reverse and backed out of the driveway. Once she was away from the house a hundred yards or so, Ava hammered on the gas pedal and shot down the road. She only had forty-five more minutes to get to her house. She prayed that Brandi would be alright and that she wasn’t too late already. Frankie would be livid that his money wasn’t in the bag, but she’d cross that bridge when she got there. The fact of the matter was, she knew she was a dead woman walking.

Frankie wanted to shut her up and when she saw him again, he’d make sure he accomplished that.

***

“Damn it.” Luke’s eyes flew open and he realized he’d passed out.

Cole’s head shot up from the table and he looked at Luke with hazy eyes. “What happened?”

“I fell asleep. I can’t believe I did that,” Luke chastised himself.

“Damn. That sucks.”

“What the hell?” Luke spotted a note in the middle of the table. It was folded in half and had his name scrolled across the front in Ava’s handwriting.

Luke,

I know you’ll think I’m an idiot for doing this but Brandi was in trouble. I had to go help her. I took your truck. I don’t really know if I’ll see you again, so I wanted to tell you something. I already told you that at one time I did love you, but I wasn’t being entirely truthful. You see, it wouldn’t matter how many times you broke my heart, I would always love you. You were it for me, Luke. I hope you find happiness in your life and please think of me every once in a while.

Love,

Avalyn Woods

Luke stuffed the note in his back pocket as he stood. “Time to go,” he ordered. “I’m not letting her walk into anything without me.”

“Jesus, you really do love her don’t you?” Cole followed as he grabbed up his gear.

“Yes, I do. That’s my future that just ran out of here and I’ll be damned if I let any
one
or any
thing
take it from me.”

“Yee Haw!” Cole snatched up his gear as well and soon both men were in Cole’s truck, backing out of the driveway.

Luke was in combat mode now. His only focus was making sure Ava made it through this thing. If that meant he had to run in there with guns blazing so be it. He’d burn down the entire fucking state to find her and make sure she was in his arms where she belonged.