Chapter 7
Tyler
After she left, whatever the fuck was wrong with my house went into overdrive. All night long, the floorboard thumped.
It was a noise I didn’t understand. But one that I’d become accustomed to over the months I’d lived in this house.
I didn’t really believe in ghosts. And I wasn’t sure Ava did either.
But I did know that whatever was happening in my house wasn’t normal.
More importantly, and the reason I could ignore it, is because whatever the hell it was, it didn’t try to hurt me. So it was easy to learn to live with it.
I’d learned to live with a lot of hard things in my life. It made a ghost that liked to thump in the night not seem very scary at all.
Although Ava had seemed terrified.
I regretted letting her leave.
Now that she was gone, I wanted to rewind time, pull her into my arms, and kiss her.
It wasn’t every day that a beautiful woman showed up on a man’s doorstep wearing nothing but a leotard and a pair of pantyhose.
My cock grew hard thinking about her. While she’d been here, I’d done everything possible to keep myself under control.
But now that she was gone, there was no reason to hold back. I pulled my dick out and gave it a few fast, aggressive strokes.
Had I ever been this turned on before?
I didn’t think so. There was something about Ava that made me feel wild. Knowing a woman like her existed made me question everything I’d come to believe.
Stroking while I walked, I headed to the bathroom for a bottle of lotion.
I’d been convinced I’d spend the rest of my life alone and far away from people, except for the few forced circumstances that came around at the grocery store or the gas station.
But right now, the private life I’d crafted for myself didn’t seem as appealing.
I wanted Ava here, chattering away while I stripped her out of that leotard.
Her pretty breasts would pop out, and I’d have to give them some attention before yanking the leotard the rest of the way off.
That’s when I’d bury my mouth between her thighs.
I wonder what she tastes like?
Why the fuck had I asked her to leave? I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I could be fucking her right now. Or at least kissing her with some serious intent.
She wanted me to kiss her.
That had been obvious. Ava had eyed me all night long, a hint of something wickedly lustful peeking out of her eyes. She’d kept a playful smile on her lips while she studied my muscles, my form, my face.
And then when she’d left, she’d lingered on my front steps for far too long, looking up at me expectantly, lips slightly parted.
I was a damn fool.
My strokes were faster now, and I gripped my cock tightly.
I should have kissed her.
I should have fucked her.
Conjuring up the memory of her face, lips parted, eyes hopefully expectant, tipped me over the edge. I came before I expected, spraying the front of my bathroom vanity with come.
My breaths were ragged, my heart rate flying high as I tried to figure out what this meant.
No woman had had that kind of effect on me in years.
What if she doesn’t come back?
A sinking feeling shot through me. I should have at least gotten her phone number. Or given her mine.
And did I have to be such a surly asshole to her?
I hadn’t dated in a long time, and my skills with women were rusty. But even I knew that they liked a little romance before a good fuck.
Knotting my brow, I shook my head and tried to relax the tight feeling in my chest. My trouble was, I didn’t think I wanted just a good fuck from sweet Ava Appleton. I was afraid I wanted something more. Something I’d set aside years ago. Something I’d been convinced wasn’t possible.
The neighbors know her.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I remembered that. It wouldn’t be comfortable going over there to ask about her, but if she didn’t come back, at least I had a way to track her down.
And the mountain wasn’t that big. Most of the people who lived here probably knew her.
***As I pulled in, I saw a small package sitting on my front porch.
Damn it. Don’t tell me I missed her.
I’d stayed home for three days straight hoping she’d come back. It figured she’d come when I finally had to venture out.
On my way back from my physical therapy appointment, I’d stopped by the Deer Springs library and asked about a children’s book that had a mannequin with blue eyes.
In the long run, the librarian, a well-put together woman named Brook, found it for me after searching through description after description.
It was called Irma’s Big Lie, and it was an old book from the seventies.
Hopping out of my truck, I bounded up the front steps and picked up the package.
Cookies. Unfortunately, no longer warm. With a little note attached.
Hey Tyler!
Looks like I missed you. You must be a busy man. Have some cookies. I’ll come by with an Arkansas Jam Cake later this week. I hope to see you then!
xoxo
Ava
p.s. I had fun the other night! Thanks for spending Halloween with me.
Frustration rolled through me. After three days with no visit, I’d resigned myself to the idea that she wasn’t coming back.
I would have canceled my therapy in Fernwood if I’d known she was coming by today.
My thoughts drifted back to the envelope. I’d been waiting to open it until she was here again, but curiosity was getting the best of me.
I took the cookies and my town run haul inside, sat down on the couch and grabbed the envelope off my coffee table where it had been sitting for three days straight.
Pulling out one of Ava’s cookies, I looked at the envelope as I started munching.
In the end, I couldn’t do it. We’d open the envelope together. It felt fitting somehow.