49. Ava
Chapter Forty-Nine
Ava
Homecoming
Josie beamed at me from behind the counter at Firehouse Café. “You’re officially here,” she squealed before flinging her arms around me.
I had an amazing dinner with my friends who’d visited Alaska with me the day before Tanner arrived in Seattle. As much as I’d loved seeing them and their friendship meant the world to me, it had sealed something inside me. I belonged here in Willow Brook.
The first trip, when I had been licking my wounds and swimming in humiliation, had felt like a burst of oxygen, a change of scenery I’d desperately needed. The second trip, broken ankle and all, had made everything click into place.
“Ava!” Janet’s voice reached me as she bustled out from the back. Her smile was wide, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Welcome home,” she said, beaming.
“Thanks, Janet.”
Her gaze shifted to Tanner. “And aren’t you a smart boy?”
“Am I still a boy to you, Janet?” Tanner teased lightly.
“You always will be. I’ve known you since you were a baby,” she pointed out with a shrug.
“Okay. Fair.” He chuckled.
“Did you just get back to town?” she asked.
“We did,” I said. “I need something other than airplane food.”
“What do you need?” Casey asked from behind the counter.
“Can I have one of the everything bagels?”
“You got it,” Casey replied. “Tanner?”
“Same.”
“I know both of your coffees. Any donuts?” she prompted.
“I want donuts later. Right now, I need protein, cheese, all of that,” I said flatly.
Tanner curled his arm around my shoulders and squeezed, and Janet’s brows hitched up. “Well, would you look at that,” she teased.
“Look at what?” Tanner shot back.
“You being affectionate, PDA and everything.”
“Is that a surprise?”
Janet arched a brow. “It is, and you know it. I’m happy for you two. Meanwhile, I need to get to the back for more baking.”
“You’re baking?” I asked.
“Yes. Luna is in Anchorage for the day, so I’m in charge of the kitchen. It’s going very well.” Janet grinned.
“Janet, you’ve always been a good baker,” Holly said from behind me as she stepped up.
“I know I’m pretty good, but Luna’s better,” Janet insisted. “I like to be honest.” With a wave, Janet whisked back into the kitchen.
I turned just in time for Holly to fling her arms around me, knocking Tanner’s arm off my shoulders. “I need to give Ava a hug,” she announced.
“Of course,” Tanner said solemnly, stepping aside.
The hug itself was warm and tight, but it was more than that. It was the way it all felt to be greeted like this with the layers of belonging. A few minutes later, Tanner and I sat at a small table together. I looked around Firehouse Café and let out a happy sigh.
“What is it?” he asked.
“It’s really good to be here.” I met his eyes. “Ever since I came on my first trip—when I didn’t meet you, by the way—I loved this town. That’s why we came back. I just can’t believe I’m going to live here.”
“You are definitely living here.”
My heart kicked in my chest. Emotion rose so quickly inside that I had to blink hard. Tanner had just taken a bite when he reached over and placed his big, strong hand over mine. He brushed his thumb slowly over the back of my palm. After he finished chewing, he asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just, well, it’s a lot.”
He nodded. I smiled at him and, for no reason, started giggling. It bubbled up out of nowhere.
“We gotta get you home,” he said. “Speaking of, who took care of Growly?”
“Josie.”
“I bet he missed you.”
Just then, Tiffany appeared at our table. “I didn’t even see you come in,” I said.
“I know. You’re in love. I get it,” she teased. “Growly missed you. Welcome home.” She squeezed my shoulder.
Her husband, Wes, stepped up beside her, reaching for her hand automatically. “Nice to see you back.” His gaze flicked between Tanner and me.
“It’s good to be here,” I said even though I was tired and desperately needed a shower. Something about flying always left a film on my skin.
“We’ll have card night soon,” Tiffany said. “You’ll be there, right?”
“Of course. As long as I’m invited.”
Tiffany’s eyes went wide, and she looked affronted. “Of course, you’re invited!”
A few minutes later, Tanner and I walked out into the parking lot. Just as he reached for my hand, I felt a slight stutter in his step and glanced over. Laney was approaching. I bit back a sigh. Her features were tight. Tanner gave me a squeeze.
“Hey, Laney,” he said evenly.
She stopped in front of us, glancing between us before clearing her throat. “Hi.” Her gaze shifted to me. “I owe you an apology. Well, you and Tanner.”
“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “We all make mistakes.”
“We do.” She inhaled. “For what it’s worth, I wish you both the best.” Her tone was taut with a little pain threaded through it.
“The same to you, Laney,” I said, dipping my chin. “I’m sure I’ll see you around town here and there.”
“When I come home to visit,” she said. “I’m going back.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I have to figure things out.”
“Well, good luck.” Tanner dipped his chin once in acknowledgment.
A few minutes later, we were driving. I carefully flexed my ankle. “It feels okay,” I said. I had worried it might swell on the plane from sitting so long. I had made a point to walk up and down the aisle several times. Chris had cleared me to fly, but still.
“Yeah? How’s the weight on it?” he asked.
“It’s fine. I think I’m just cautious. I’ll be relieved when I don’t have to think about it.”
“You’re not likely to break it again,” he pointed out.
“I know. The doctor said it’s stable.” I let out a breath. “But still, I don’t ever want to break it like that again.”
“No more glacial hikes for you?” he asked.
“None,” I said firmly. “It was fun, but I’m good.” I shook my head. “I was so excited to get off the glacier, I jumped too high.”
He glanced my way, a brow rising in question.
“I could have fallen down a crevasse,” I said, maybe a little dramatically.
His gaze was back on the road as he snorted. “But you didn’t.”
I grinned over at him. “Good thing, and I met you.”
His low chuckle rolled through me, warm and rough, and my belly did a slow, lazy flip. This man.
I had fallen in love with this place before I ever met him, but he absolutely sweetened the deal.
Tanner wouldn’t let me carry a single thing into the house. Not my bag, not my jacket, not even my water bottle.
As soon as I stepped inside, Growly leaped from his favorite corner of the couch and trotted toward me, tail high, purring his signature growly rumble as he circled my ankles.
“Oh, my goodness, I missed you,” I whispered, scooping him up.
He rubbed his chin against mine, whiskers tickling my cheek. I stared into his homely, perfect little face, one ragged ear with his plump cheeks and sweet eyes. My throat tightened.
“I never knew I could love an animal like this,” I said, glancing at Tanner.
He smiled, and my heart turned over in my chest. “Now you know.”
I set Growly down and gave him a little extra food because I wanted to spoil him.
He sure liked food, and I liked making him happy.
I spun slowly in the middle of the tiny house, clasping my hands together as I took in the view through the windows.
The mountains rose in the distance, bathed in late afternoon light.
“I’ve never been to your house,” I pointed out suddenly.
“No, you haven’t. It didn’t come up because, well…” He gestured to my ankle. “You were recovering here. We can go over today if you want.”
“Soon,” I said quickly. “But I don’t want to leave here today. I think we just stay here for the rest of the day.”
He waggled his brows and shrugged. “Works for me.”
It was late afternoon, and while the bagel had tided me over, I was still hungry. “I think we order pizza,” I announced, “and we chill and watch Netflix.”
His gaze went dark and molten in a way that made heat pool low in my belly. “Okay,” he said slowly. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Do you have anything you need to do?” I belatedly asked, realizing he might have actual things to take care of.
“Nothing today. Tomorrow, I have to swing by the station. But today, I’m all yours.”
I let out another sigh.
“You’re sighing a lot,” he teased.
“They’re happy sighs.”
“Good.”
“Do you need to go to your house?”
“Nope. Unless you want to. But there’s no need today.” He glanced toward the living room. “And Growly’s here.”
Before I knew what was happening, Tanner tugged me toward the bedroom. Sunlight streamed through the window, dappling across the bed. Dust motes drifted lazily in the air.
“It’s daytime,” I pointed out.
“It is,” he agreed. “Is that a problem?”
“Oh no,” I said quickly. “Not a problem.” Not even a little.
Time seemed to loosen after that. I couldn’t tell if it moved fast or slow.
Tanner unwrapped me like something precious, his big hands moving over my skin with deliberate care.
His touch was light when I needed it, firmer when I wanted more.
He cupped my breasts, thumbs circling slowly until my breath caught and my body arched toward him.
His mouth traced a path down my belly, warm and unhurried.
The scrape of his teeth along my skin made me shiver.
The solid weight of him against me felt grounding and intoxicating all at once.
When he dragged the backs of his fingers up the inside of my thigh, I trembled. “Tanner,” I breathed. “Please. Hurry.”
A low chuckle vibrated against my skin as he pressed another languid kiss to my belly. “I’m getting there. The wait makes it better.”
I laughed, breathless and desperate at the same time. His fingers slid inside me, slow and sure, and the sensation pulled a soft cry from my throat. When his mouth followed, I shattered quickly, pleasure cresting and spilling through me in a rush that left me panting and trembling.
He rose over me then, bracing himself above my body. I needed him. Now. His eyes held mine, dark with desire and something deeper. The intimacy between us felt almost visible, like smoke curling around us and binding us closer. He eased down, and I felt the warm press of him at my entrance.
“I love you, Ava,” he rasped.
My heart answered before my mind could catch up. “I love you too.”
Our lips brushed as his fingers laced with mine. He slid into me in a slow, deliberate glide, the stretch drawing a gasp from my lips. He settled fully, and for a moment, we stayed there, foreheads touching.
“There,” he whispered.