9. 9
9
Thursday sped by like lightning for Ava. She spent the day dialing down her resume and qualifications and spraying it in every direction she could think of to get a half-decent job without having to leave Jackson Hole.
Friday brought giddiness all day as Ava debated her outfit and underwear set a thousand times, trying on nearly everything in her closet. She made a mental note to treat herself to some new clothes once she got new employment. She’d lost more weight than she’d realized after the divorce, and much of her apparel hung off her in a sloppy fashion.
Barely remembering to breathe properly for the drive across town, she finally arrived at the address Will texted her. She pulled up in front of a modest ranch-style house in the suburbs, piled beneath a foot of fresh, white powder. After another deep breath, she was outside, forging through the cold, crunching through the snow up the walkway.
Before she had the chance to knock, the door opened, revealing Will Jessup in a soft-looking baby-blue t-shirt that clung to his muscular physique and a pair of dark denim jeans. As Ava’s eyes took him in from top to bottom, a laugh bubbled out of her. His socks were humorous, each peppered with pieces of pizza walking on legs, each with cartoon eyes.
“Nice.” She pointed down at them.
“Thank you. I figured they gave off less of a Bundy vibe.” He gestured beyond a small, vaulted foyer. “Please, come in! Take off your coat. It’s freezing out there.”
“Thank you.”
She entered, and he took her coat, whistling at the red dress beneath it, which hugged her delightfully curvaceous hips.
“My Lord.” He bit his knuckle. “You are just… something else.”
Ava felt red bloom through her cheeks.
“Come. Come. Welcome to Cafe du Jessup .”
Though spotless, Will’s home had a cozy feel.His house, smaller than most in the area, felt warm and full of life, filled with the scents of fresh coffee and lemon cleaner.
“How ‘bout a tour while the food I just pulled out of the oven cools?”
“Sure.” Ava nodded, looking around.
Will waved her to the hallway, and she followed him down past several rooms extending off either side until the hallway came to a T. Ava wondered to herself how many women he had given the same tour to.
“Guest room.” He gestured to his leftand then moved to his right. “This one is my, like, I dunno what you’d call it… study? Office?”
Ava poked her head inside. Coffee-colored walls were dotted withnature photographs of local wildlife.A cushy, high-backed reading chair sat in one corner next to a tall bookcase loaded with paperbacks. A spotless desk with a small home computer took up the central space.
She followed Will further. He rapped a knuckle on one door.
“My room.”
Ava felt the raptors claw at her stomach again and heat between her thighs. She wanted to see the room, to see if his bed was as she’d imagined…
“Forgive the mess. This one’s Starla’s room.” He quickly swung open the door. The pink room was full of stuffed animals, piles of clothes, craft projects, and posters of unicorns. A hot pink canopy laced with string lights draped over an unmade bed. Will grimaced at the state of the room before shutting the door and leading Ava to the living room. He motioned to a plush couch with rich brown throw pillows on each side.
“And obviously, this is the living room. ”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.” He snatched the remote from the coffee table,which was an elevated wagon wheel topped with athick,circular piece of glass.He flipped through TV apps until he found avideo of a crackling fireplace.He placed the remote back on the table.
“I’ll be backin a second with the food. Make yourself at home.”
Ava nodded and walked in a slow circle around the room, soaking everything in. Eggshell-colored baseboards butted againstcreamy beige walls.Raw beams of oak ran along the length of the ceiling. Wrought iron sconces carried a warmth throughout. A beveled mirror hung beside the entrance to the kitchen. Black-and-white one-sheets from classic films adorned the walls, each in a large, uniquely-distressed frame. She studied all of the movie posters, arms clasped behind her back as if viewing works of art at a museum.
Wild Strawberries. Nosferatu. Dr. Strangelove. The Maltese Falcon …
All of them were originals, with fold marks carving them into squares throughout the image.
There were framed photos, too. Will and his daughter at the beach. Teenage Will, presumably at his high school graduation with his arms around what looked to be two proud parents.An infant swaddled in a ballerina blanket.
There were rustic figurines of black bears and elk along a thin table piled with opened mail. A rolled yoga mat tucked neatly beneath a decorative chair. Pink, tiny snow boots and jackets were neatly against the wall by the foyer. Thesmall details gave the homewarmth and a charm she hadn’t expected. She worked her way back to the entertainment stand and eyed the rows of DVDs and Blu-rays. Some classics. Some children’s movies. Many of theclassicsshe’d seen before. Others looked unfamiliar.Some titles wereevenin different languages. None of the cases were still in the wrapping.
Will emerged from the kitchen with a platter of jalapeno poppers in one hand and red nuggets of something in the other. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I made a few things. We have poppers and buffalo cauliflower bites. They taste like buffalo chicken but with a fraction of the calories.” He set them down on the wagon wheel table. “Not that you need to watch your figure. I, however, do. No one wants big-ol’ beer-gut Will to scrub their hot tub in fireman pants.” He patted his abdomen, one Ava already knew had a chiseled six-pack. “I also have nuggets because, let’s face it, who doesn’t like chicken nuggets? ”
“I actually love chicken nuggets.” Ava covered her smile.
“Yesssss. Good.” Will pulled a fist down in the air. “And also coffee, which will be like a religious experience for you.”
“Bring it on.”
Will disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two steaming mugs of coffee and a plate of nuggets precariously balanced on his veiny forearm.
“Here, let me help.” Ava jumped up to take the mugs, brushing his fingers gently with her own as she did. She smiled, nerves jangled, and took a seat on the couch. She patted the spot next to her.
He smiled as he sat. “Try it. I love this brand.” Will scooted the perfectly-foamed mug with its dash of cinnamon over.
“See, if you were a serial killer, this is how you’d drug me.”
Will comically threw his hands up in the air. “Would you like me to take a sip first and show you that it’s not been tinkered with?”
“Ewww, no.” Ava paused for a moment and scrunched her face. “Cooties.”
Will laughed, picked up his mug, and clanked it against hers. “Cheers, darling. ”
The pet name made Ava feel like a character out of one of the black-and-white films on his media stand.
Ava took a sip, and her eyes grew wide. “Oh my God, Will. This is like Heaven in a cup!”
“Right? I told you. I don’t play about my beans, man.”
“Where do you get this stuff?”
“That’s a secret. Can’t divulge that information, unfortunately. Sorry. It’s classified.”
Ava laughed, grabbed a popper from the plate, and looked around. “Where’s Gremlin ?”
“Oh, she’s probably asleep on my bed,” Will called out over his shoulder. “Gremlin!Come here, girl!”
Silence .
“Gremlin, come on! You’re makin’me look bad.”
Still nothing.
Will mouthed to Ava, I’ve got this. “Fiiiiiine. More for us.” Will smackedhis lips as if enjoying some imaginary food.
Suddenly,the sound of nails clacking against wood floors rang out. Gremlin came screamingthrough the halland into the living room. Losing traction, the pudgy pug skidded sideways and bowled all of her weight into Ava’s calves. The motion wobbled her, dousing herdresswith hot coffee .
“Shit,” she shrieked.
“Oh my God, Ava! Let me get you a towel!” Will leaped to his feet, slammed his mug on the table, and dashed into the kitchen.
“Gah that burns!” Ava toreat the soaked, steaming fabric of her dress, fanningher lap. She stood andturned, pulling the skirt all the way up to fan her drenched panties.
“I’m so sorry!” Will shouted again as he scurriedback with a couple of tea towels.
“It’s okay. She didn’t mean to do it.”
Will handed the towels over her shoulder.Ava gingerly blottedher tender skin.Will dashed off again, returning a moment later from his bedroom. “Here. Here’s a shirt and somesweatpants to change into. I’ll go get you anicepack and some aloe gel for the burn.”
“No, it’s okay. I think the clothes will be fine.” She held an arm out. He handed the clothes to her. “Can you… turn around?”
“Oh! Right. Right. Sorry.” He made a face and turned, unaware that he’d been staring as she tore at her clothes.
At their feet, Gremlin lapped up a smallpuddle of spilled coffeefrom the floor.
Will caught the reflection of Ava stripping in the beveled mirror across from him. He tried to look away, but moments later, his eyeswere studying the shapeof her body, tracing the smooth skin that ran down her back to the dimples just above her lacy panties.He couldn’t help but notice her bra and underwear matched, a good sign judging by his vast past experiences.
His heart rammed against his chest. Those weren’t your everyday lounge-around-the-house underwear.
Those were panties you wanted to be seen.
His eyes were transfixed on the curves of her hips. The delicate definition of her shoulders. The shapeliness of her legs. He tried to scorch the image into his memory.
Hers was a body man fought to the death for. It deserved to be painted and hung in the finest gallery as art. Every inch cried out for his touch. His cock twitched in his pants,stiffening into the start of a problematic erection. He slid his idle hands over his lap to hide the rising tent there.
Now isn’t the time, he thought silently, willingthe tightness in his abdomento dissipate.
She handed one of the towels back over her shoulder. “Can I have you wet this for me, please? The creamer’s startin’to get sticky.”
Her words anchored him back to reality. “Huh? Yes! Wet towel.Of course.”
Frazzled, Will took it and hurried through hiskitchen, one withdark woodgrain, offset by stainless steel appliances and the warmthof amber pendant lights. Flicking his faucet to full blast, he ran the fabric beneath the water, accidentally hosing down the crotchof his pants with the wild spray in the process.
Pull it together, Will. Jesus, you act like you’ve never seen a woman’s underwear before.
Apart of him didn’t want to listen, didn’t want to pull it together at all. That part wanted to run his hands over her supple skin and cup her breasts while he pressed into her from behind.
When he returnedto the living room, Ava was pulling his sweatpants up over her panties, already donning his shirt. His eyes tracked to the way her nipples pressed against the fabric. It was then that herealized the shirt he’d given herread ‘ FBI: Female Body Inspector.’
“Nice shirt.” She chuckled, shaking her head. She took the dampened tea towel.
“Sorry. I should have just shown you to the bathroom. I don’t know what I was thinking,” Will said, running a hand through his sandy hair.
“It’s alright.” She turned around again, pulling his T-shirt away from her skinto wipe down her breasts and stomachtoremove the stickinessfrom her agitated skin.
“I will say,” she laughed, “I’ve never had someone get me out of my clothes that fast on a date. ”
“I’d like to say I’m honored or make a joke right now, but I know you’re in pain.” Will raced into the bathroom for a moment and retrieved a small container of aloe vera gel, handing it to Ava upon his return.
She poured a small amount on her hand and rubbed it against the tender skin of her chest, cooling her burns.“Thank you.”
She pulled the shirt down over her gelledskin and turned to face Will. Will lowered to the floor and wiped up the wet Gremlin-sized paw prints.
Will gavethe pug a quick kiss on the snout. Gremlin snorted.
“Are you alright,” Will asked as he stood.
“I’m fine.”
Will gathered her dress and bra in one fell scoopand nodded at the couch.“Have a seatin the burn ward. I’ll get your dress in a bag. I’ll pay for the drycleaning.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do—”
“Nonsense. It’s the least I can do.”
“I’ll make you afreshcup while I am at it.Feel free to eat while the other stuff is still hot.”Will’s smile was bright and bold, stunning Ava into momentary silence.
He disappeared around the corner again and headed to the trashcan.Without thinking, he stepped on the pedal and threw the clothes in. “ Damn it.” Half a second later, he mashed the pedal again and pulled them out, flustered. “What am I doing?”
You gotta calm down,man. Pull it together!So what if youcan see her nipples through your t-shirt? So what ifthe image of her drenched, lacy panties is searedinto your brain? You’re done with flings,remember? You have a shot at something real this time. Don’t blow this!
Will shoved the dress into a grocery bag and set it on the counter.He hurriedly returned to the living room. “If it’s alright with you, I have a movie in mind for us.”
“Oh yeah? What movie?”
“Ever seen An Affair to Remember? ”
She thought for a moment. “No.”
“Well, I think you’d like it. It’s like a more romantic version of Sleepless in Seattle , in my opinion.”
“Ooooh, I love that one,” she admitted, popping a cauliflower bite into her mouth and settling back into the lush couch. “I’ve heard about thatone, but I’ve never seenit.”
“Great! I think you’ll like it a lot. Something about this movie is just timeless and pure.”Will took a seat beside her.
“Oh my God.” Avareeled back in amazement. “I say the same thing about Casablanca all the time. ”
They looked at each other for a beat too long, tendrils of attraction tugging them togetherlike a giddy octopus. Will scooted closer until they were both sitting in the middle of the couch, legs gently touching, feeling the low buzz of electricity course through the point of contact.
He pushed play,tradedthe remote for a chicken nugget, and leaned back into the couch beside her. Effortlessly, he took her hand and interlaced their fingers together, resting them on her sweatpants-covered leg. As the opening credits began,they nestled next to one anotherandtried to ignore the undeniable attraction pulling their focus from the screen.
At some point in the third act,Will realized Ava hadn’t stirred in a while. He glanced down. She was laidagainst his arm, head slumped onto his shoulder, eyes shut, breathing rhythmically. He watched her sleep for a moment and felt the strangest feelings…
Contentment.
Joy.
He wanted to live in that moment for eternity, feeling her against him, appreciating the trust that comes with falling asleep beside someone. He imagined her green eyes openingin the morning. He tried to picture how captivating she must look with tousledhair framing her groggy features.
He swepta dangling strand of red-brown hair from her face, tucking it softly behind her ear. The gesture was just enough to wake her.Ava batted open her eyes and gasped quietly.
“Oh,God,I’m so sorry.” She chuckled. “Did I drool on you?”
Will snorted. “No. No drool. You’re okay.”
Ava rubbed her hands over her face and up through her hair. “I haven’t slept that good in months .”
“So…it was a riveting date then?”
“Oh my God, I didn’t mean it like that. No, actually… it was wonderful.”
“I’m glad. I guessif you could doze off like that,youdecided I’m not a serial killer?”
“ Jury’s still out ,” she teased with narrowed eyes.
They stared at one another in silence, heads propped against the backrest of the couch. Will felt a strong urge to kiss her. Ava felt it, too, as if his lips werebeckoning her.
“This was so nice.” Will took a deep breath, stood from the couch, and gathered the empty platters from the table. “Ipromise to have your dress dry-cleaned in time for our next date.”
“Oh,” Ava rose,silentlycursing herselffor whatever she did to spook him from going in for the kiss. “So,you think there will be a next date, huh?” She asked, hands on her hips, unaware her nippleswere pressing against the fabric.
It took every ounce of focus for Will to maintain eye contactand smile with confidence.“Why, yes, I do.”
She smiledand headed to the foyer, bundling up in her long coat. “I have an idea in mindfor the next onethat’s guaranteed to keep me awake.”
“Alright. Text me when and where. I’ll be there.” Will met her at thefront door,Gremlin trotting close behind.
She gave Gremlin a goodbye scratchon the head.“This was fun.”
“I had a good time, too.” Will maneuvered ahead of her and opened the front door.He gazed into her eyes for a moment before quietly muttering, “I really want to kiss you right now, but I’m trying to be a good boy.”
Ava’s eyes glittered in the sodium vapor streetlight bathing the snow all around them in its orange hue. She fought the urge to grin. “Okay. Well, don’t be a good boy for too long.”
Will struggled to find the words, exhaling a frosty breath up against the door jamb above them. “I have made a lot of mistakes in my past. I’ve jumped the gun. Gone off and ruined things before they could properly start.” His eyes gazed at her with sincerity. “I’m trying to do things right this time.”
Ava nodded, wordless and filled with respect at the display of self-control. It was a compliment of the highest order. “Goodnight, Will.”
“Goodnight.”
Ava trudged through the high snow toward her SUV, tightening her coatto ward away the bristling wind.Will felt a hand grasp his heart and squeeze. When she got to her vehicle, she cast a glance back over her shoulder, and he waved. At that moment, they both exchanged the same forlorn look.
Neither one wanted Ava to go.