Dinner at Eight-epub (8 page)

God, she hadn’t felt that prickle in forever. She’d almost forgotten what being aroused did to her. Ava had been so intent on covering and ignoring her breasts, she’d failed to remember how responsive they were to the lightest touch.

She scraped a nail over a nipple, stunned by the wanton response of her body. The walls of her pussy clenched, and the throb intensified. Cupping both breasts, she experimented by running the pads of her thumbs over her nipples, and moaned as a thrill washed through her.

She trailed a tentative hand down her belly and slipped a finger over the front of her panties. Her hips bucked as she touched her clit.

Um, okay. Wow.

Ava closed her eyes, let her head fall back against the pillow and traced soft circles over her swollen bud.

Yeah, definitely good.

For long seconds she played, deliberately blanking her mind. If she thought this through too deeply, she’d begin to make associations with sex and love and marriage and pain, and right now, she didn’t want to. For once, she just wanted to run with the sensations Jared had stirred in her.

Jared. Her childhood crush. Her best friend. And the man who’d made her remember she was a woman—with womanly needs.

Was it terrible to think of him as she dipped her hand beneath her panties and found her bare clit? Was it bad to relive his kiss as she moved her finger lower, sliding it over her pussy lips?

They’d both been aroused. For the second he’d hauled her into his arms, his erection had pressed against her belly. His actions had scared the bejeepers out of her then. Now, the memory of that erection made her belly flip with excitement.

She slipped her finger between her pussy lips, and warm moisture oozed onto it.

Ava was wet—for Jared.

Her heart pounding, she slid her finger over her slickened folds and back up to her clit. The tentative touch was too hesitant. Too uncertain. She needed more pressure, more focused attention.

She needed to…come.

Her breath caught.

That was exactly what she needed. Tension built inside her, making her pussy pulse. Her inner walls clenched, as though seeking something to grasp.

She plunged a finger inside, and a surprised, “Oh,” burst from her as gratification erupted.

She’d forgotten. Repressed all memories and thoughts of sex. And in the process, failed to recall how damn much she liked it. Loved it. How responsive her body was to stimulation. And how incredibly amazing she could feel.

How could she have forgotten?

She stroked her finger in and out, her belly spasming in response. And then she plunged another finger in, stretching her walls.

God, she was tight, as though lack of use had made her shrink. But she was wet enough that her thrusts only enticed and tantalized, the pleasure spiraling.

Ava pressed the heel of her hand against her clit, relishing the build and the climb. Relishing the freedom she found in touching herself. She’d missed this physical satisfaction. For too long she’d denied it.

She would deny it no more.

Thanks to Jared, she was well on her way to experiencing her first orgasm in almost a year.

Jared, her beautiful, kind, tender, sexy friend.

Jared, whose brown eyes shone with affection every time he looked at her.

Jared, whose declaration of love had stunned her, and whose lips and tongue had set her on fire.

Jared, whose balls—once she’d become aware she was holding them—had fit all too well in the palm of her hand.

Jared… Jar…
Jared!

Oh God. She was coming. Climaxing so damn hard… to thoughts of her best friend. Rapturous pulses thumped through her pussy, her muscles tightening around her fingers. Her clit throbbed wantonly, her body jerking in time with her orgasm.

Her thighs clenched tight, tighter still, until a hoarse groan was wrenched from her throat.

Long seconds later, when the tremors had ebbed and her muscles had relaxed to goo, Ava collapsed back against the sheets, her breath coming in harsh rasps.

God, that had been decadent. And delicious. And so damn good.

Good enough that she might just have to do it all over again.

“Jared?” Ava blinked at him over the glass display case of her shop. “What are you doing here?”

The sight of her walloped him in the gut—just like it always did. Would he ever see her and not feel pole-axed? “You’ve sent me pictures of One Smart Cookie. Now it’s time to visit in real life. Up to giving me the grand tour?”

Her mouth drew into a smile of delight. “Always.” She waved him around the counter. “You’re just in time. I’m about to take a fresh batch of white choc and macadamia cookies out of the oven. Nessy?” She looked at the other woman standing behind the display.

“I’ve got it, boss. Go ahead.”

The small shop was filled with customers, all of whom would now miss out on being served by his gorgeous friend. Jared hid his smug smile.

Ava took his hand and tugged him into the back room. Delicious smells hit him as soon as he crossed the threshold, making his stomach contract with hunger.

The small kitchen was equipped on one wall with ovens and a huge fridge, and the other with countertops. Two large electric mixers stood against the far side of the room, and cupboards took up every available inch of space. Tray upon tray of cookies sat on silver, mobile cooling racks.

“So? What do you think?” Ava pulled on industrial-strength gloves and opened an oven.

A waft of heaven-scented heat hit him in the face.

“I’m impressed. The place looks great.” Ava had done an amazing job. The shop was decked out in eye-catching reds and white. Had Jared been walking past, none the wiser as to who owned the store, he’d have walked inside just to look around.

The glass case in the shop front was simple, geared toward displaying the cookies to the max. Each one of them looked mouthwatering.

An elaborate coffee machine sat beside the display case, and four small tables with three stools each had been set out, so shoppers looking for a quick break to enjoy a cookie and a coffee could rest their weary feet.

Ava removed a large tray from the oven, sliding it into one of the racks. “Jimmy designed the shop and Liv decorated it. I couldn’t have done it without either of them. And Liv got me great discounts on all the equipment and furniture.”

She removed a second tray, and Jared feared he might pass out from hunger pains. The interview he’d just had, for a temporary consultant position at an established veterinary practice in Randwick, had run way overtime, and he’d skipped lunch.

“Give these cookies a couple of minutes to cool down and then you can try one. You’ll burn your tongue if you take it now. Your fingers too.”

Jared looked around, taking in every tray. “You did all of this, Av? You baked them all?”

She laughed as she removed a final tray. “It’s my job. Nessy helps. Or Delia, depending on who’s working. They’ve both been with me from the beginning. It’s usually me and one of them in the shop, but for a few hours every weekend I’ve started leaving the place to them and some part-timers, so then they do all the baking.”

“And these cookies?” He gestured to the cooling racks. “How did you come up with recipes for all of them?”

She shrugged. “Trial and error. I played with the original recipe, adding, or switching one thing or another until I found winning combinations. It’s fun discovering new flavors. Hard work, but fun.”

Jared walked over to a rack, inhaling deeply. “What are these?”

“Anzac cookies. The only biscuits I sell that aren’t really mine. Zoey’s grandmother gave me her recipe—on condition I send her a box once a week. More than a fair trade, I thought. Try one.” She picked up a cookie with a pair of tongs and handed it to Jared.

He consumed it slowly, humming his appreciation. “That’s delicious.”

“I know, right?” She grinned. “These ones on the lower racks are my Healthy Bites. I replace sugar and refined flour with honey, ground nuts, whole-wheat flour and chia. Oi, stop grimacing.” She poked him in the ribs. “They’re delicious.”

“As bird food maybe.” He shook his head when she picked one up with her tongs. “I want the sugar and refined flour.” Lots of it. “What are these?” he pointed to a different rack. The cookies looked almost as good as Ava.

“Triple Chocolate Delights. Milk, dark and white choc chips, drizzled in milk and white chocolate.” Jared didn’t refuse her offer this time. “It’s my personal favorite, but too rich to have more than half a cookie at a time.”

He raised an eyebrow as he made short work of the delicious morsel. “I’m not having that problem.”

“I’d offer you another, but taste the One Smartie Cookie instead.” She handed him a biscuit crammed full of brightly colored, candy-covered chocolates.

He chewed thoughtfully. “Mmm, nice. Too sweet for me, but I bet kids love it.”

“It’s my number one party biscuit. I get orders for hundreds of them every weekend.”

Jared tasted three other flavors before Ava finally allowed him one of the cookies from the oven. The hot, buttery treat melted in his mouth, white chocolate exploding on his tongue. The crunch of the macadamia nut finished off a perfect bite.

“This might well be better than sex,” he muttered around a large mouthful, mimicking her words from a few days ago.

Ava chuckled. “Then you, my friend, have been sleeping with all the wrong women.”

Of course he had. None of them had been Ava. “I’d sleep with this cookie if I could.”

She wrinkled her nose. “You give kink a whole new meaning.”

“Mmm. There’s an idea. Call this the Kink Cookie and promote it with the logo,
One bite away from ecstasy
.”

“You’re an idiot.” But she laughed as she said it.

“Seriously, this is better than Arlene Hemings ever was. At anything.”

She grunted. “You just had to bring up her name.”

He grinned. “Still jealous?”

“Oh, get over yourself.” Color tinged her cheeks a becoming pink. Even standing in the middle of her kitchen, wearing a white apron with the
One Smart Cookie
logo printed on the front, she looked beautiful.

“Don’t be. I’d put money on the odds Arlene can’t bake like you.”

Ava looked down her nose at him, a quirk he found totally endearing. How she managed to appear so pompous and cute at the same time, he had no idea. “There are many things Arlene can’t do like me.”

“And I—” Jared took the tongs from Ava and helped himself to another cookie, “—would like to find out about every one of them.” He devoured the cookie, humming his appreciation once again.

“I’m sure you would. And had you taken notice all those years ago, you would have.”

All those years ago, he hadn’t been interested. Now…

“I have a confession.” Jared handed back the tongs. He’d packed away at least eight cookies and was finally feeling full. And perhaps a little hyped up on sugar.

Ava raised a brow in question.

“I’ve been thinking about something you said to me on Monday night.” Thinking? More like obsessing—for the three days since he’d last seen her.

Ava’s gaze grew serious. “Which part?”

All of it
. “The bit about you liking our kiss…”

Her cheeks turned pinker, and she worried her lower lip with her teeth.

“…and maybe wanting to try it again sometime.”

“Yeah?” Her gaze darted all around the shop before coming back to settle on his face. “What about it?”

“How about we make that
sometime
right now?”

She gave a nervous laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m at work. There’s a mob of people on the other side of the door.”

Jared glanced through the glass panel to the shop exterior. “A mob well looked after by Nessy.” He stretched his arm toward her. “Take my hand. Let’s try that kiss again, right here.”

“What if Nessy needs me?” The uncertainty of her words was downplayed by her actions. Ava reached for his hand.

He weaved their fingers together, his chest heaving at the feel of her. “Then she’ll come and get you.” He tugged her hand. “Come closer.”

Ava did, still holding the tongs, wielding them in front of her like a protective shield. “Everyone will see.”

“Easy fix.” Jared stepped back a few paces, taking her with him. He stopped with his back against one of the cupboards. She stopped a step away.

“Hard to kiss you when you’re so far.” Fuck knew he ached to feel the press of those luscious lips against his.

She breathed his name as she narrowed the gap. Her hand trembled.

“Don’t be scared,” he whispered, his gaze zeroing in on her mouth. “You never have to be scared with me.”

But Ava’s fear was palpable. And visible. He saw it in the tiny wrinkles at the sides of her eyes, and in the creasing of her forehead as her gaze narrowed. He heard it in the slight wheeze in her breath.

“I’ll stop anytime you want.” Jared waited, giving Ava the chance to pull away. He made no move, in case she freaked out again. The last thing he wanted, ever, was for Ava to be frightened. “You ready for this, baby?”

She looked at him with those big, green eyes and flushed cheeks and nodded once.

Jared expelled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Then kiss me.”

Slowly, so slowly, Ava lifted up on tiptoes and inched her face toward his.

Jared didn’t move a muscle.

She placed the tongs against his chest, much like she would have placed her hand there, if it were empty. Her lips were parted, her pink tongue moistening her lower lip.

“Kiss me,” he whispered again, his heart hammering in anticipation.

She pushed up higher on her toes, and, realizing he had no choice, Jared dipped his head.

Ava touched her lips to his, letting them linger for a few seconds.

He exhaled on a soft moan, his eyes closing.

She deepened the kiss, this time fitting her mouth against his, her lips clinging enticingly.

Desperate to hold her, to pull her in, Jared jammed his free hand in his back pocket. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was messing up this moment with an unexpected—and unappreciated—touch.