Your Irresistible Love (12 page)

We come from a family used to the hard work of a ranch, and she felt guilty for her eternal quest for her true calling. I told her I doubted anyone in the family would show her anything except support. I want her to have all the opportunities in the world. Why settle?

My search for Summer is interrupted again, this time by my father.

“Son, you have the look of someone who knows he has some apologizing to do.”

“Guilty. I completely forgot to show up at Summer’s exhibition.”

My father smiles. Though in his sixties, he’s in top form. He refuses to go to the gym, but keeps in shape by doing most of the things around the house himself. That includes repairing the roof and other potentially dangerous activities, which drives me mad with worry. Unfortunately, I can’t tell a man who spent most of his days shouldering the hard work at the ranch suddenly to stop doing what he’s used to.

“Lovely girl you brought with you today,” he comments. Ah, let the cornering begin. I’m surprised my mother hasn’t attempted it yet, but the day is still young. “There is no greater gift for a man than a loving wife.”

“Dad.” I keep my voice respectful. “Let’s not get into this today. I brought her here because I thought she’d like it.” We walk in the shadow of an old oak.

“Don’t you want to get married?”

I snort. “Pippa was married, and look how that turned out.”

“Your mother and I are celebrating our thirty-sixth anniversary.”

“I know, but times are changing.”

My father gives me a look that says,
You might be CEO, but you know nothing
.

Well, the man earned his right to think whatever he wants. Logan approaches us, and after he and Dad have a short exchange about their dismal fishing results from last weekend, Dad leaves.

“You brought Ava today,” Logan says.

I groan. “Obviously.”

“You really like her, don’t you?”

I debate denying it, but Logan is not stupid. “Yep.”

“Did she give in?”

“Maybe.”

“Are you only going to give one-word answers?”

“I won’t discuss private matters with you,” I say.

“Why not?”

“That’s my business.”

Logan surveys me, flashing a shit-eating grin. “You’ve got it bad for her, brother. I don’t remember seeing you like this in a long time. You took last weekend off, you—”

“You don’t look like you have a stick up your ass anymore,” a female voice supplies from our right. Logan’s grin widens. I groan again. Summer joins us. “Mom’s been interrogating Ava, and I was around, of course, so I overheard them.”

“Of course,” I say.

“She’s lovely,” Summer says. “And she’s got it just as bad for you.”

“Summer, I was under the impression you were mad at me and ignoring me. I’d prefer it that way.”

She flaps her hand impatiently. “Yeah, I was. But you brought a woman with you today, so you’re totally forgiven.”

“Why am I being cornered by my own family? I—”

“You can’t boss us around in our free time,” Logan says. “You cease to be CEO when you get out of the building.”

“Which means we can try to beat some sense into you,” Pippa says, appearing out of nowhere. They’re taking this cornering thing to an entirely new level.

“This is getting out of hand. I’m going to have a drink and return later, when you’re normal again.”

As I stride away from the group, my eyes search the crowded garden for Ava. I find her near the entrance to the house. I remember her wide eyes as she said I’d be easy to fall in love with. Well, that makes two of us, because she’s damn easy to love. She’s not like other women I’ve dated, all fancy. She likes the life I grew up with, not the one my money can buy now. Women usually show thinly disguised disdain for my family. Some have outright told me that someone with my status should have a more sophisticated family. Ava’s embracing them. Family is important to her, just like it is to me.

I start toward her, but before I blink twice, a guy starts chatting with her. A vein pulses in my neck. I get close enough to hear the conversation.

“Do you have time for dinner this week?” he asks.

What the fuck? I leave her alone for a bit and someone’s already hitting on her? I’m about to interrupt their conversation and put him in his place, but her answer stops me cold in my tracks.

“Not a good idea. I’ve been in a relationship for a year.”

She lied to me? Well, that seals it. I have many defects, but I’d never touch another man’s woman. It’s a matter of principle. The guy takes the cue, nodding curtly and blending in to a nearby group.

I step in front of her, raising an eyebrow. To my surprise, she grins.

“Have you been eavesdropping?” she asks.

“Why did you lie to me when I asked if you were seeing someone?”

“Relax, Sebastian.” She rolls her eyes. That usually annoys me, but it looks cute on her. Damn it, I’m supposed to be mad at her right now. “I didn’t lie to you. I told him that to get rid of him.”

I eye her closely, not wanting to admit how much relief her confession brings me.

“Are you jealous?”

“Yes. Does that amuse you?”

“Very much. You have this expression between brooding and moody. It’s very sexy.”

I let out a low sound in my throat.

“That’s even sexier,” she whispers.

“Do you want to take a walk?” I say in her ear. “I need to take a break from my siblings. They’re driving me mad already, and it’s only afternoon.”

She grins. “Sure. I love, love, love your family. They’re so. . .” She holds her hands together. “I can’t explain it, but I wish I had a family like yours.”

“You’re on the right track to become an adopted Bennett.”

“How do you know?” she asks suspiciously.

“You’ve already been questioned by Mom and survived it. Summer was eavesdropping on your conversation, by the way.”

“So is eavesdropping a family hobby?” she challenges. In response, I do something so completely out of character it surprises me more than her.

She yelps. “Did you just pinch my ass?”

“I’ll do it again if I have to.” What is this woman doing to me?

“I didn’t know you were a pincher.”

“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”

“Like what?” she challenges.

“I’ll be happy to show you.”

“So are we going to take that walk, or what?”

I offer her my arm, and she takes it with a smile.

“This place is heaven on earth,” she comments as we make our way in the vast garden. I lead her to an alley lined by coast redwood trees, and watch her drink in the surroundings. “A tree house,” she exclaims, coming to a halt.

“Summer used to paint here before she moved out of my parents’ house.”

The story behind the tree house goes back to when I bought the place for my parents. Summer was still young and wanted a tree house. I rounded up all of my brothers and we built it for her. I told them things would be different from then on, because I made good money and would take care of all of them. I also made them swear they wouldn’t let money define who they were; that they wouldn’t turn into self-absorbed assholes. Several expensive cars and homes around the world later, I can say they’ve kept their promise.

“Can we go inside?” Ava asks. Eyeing the fragile old ladder leading up to the house, I’m certain it’s not the best idea, but when Ava adds, “I’ve
always
wanted a tree house,” I nod.

The tree house isn’t half as decrepit as I expected it to be. In fact, it’s remarkably clean, which means someone’s still using it. Ava inspects the old wood with curious eyes. She belongs in here, just as she belongs with my family.

The recognition fills me with both panic and warmth. Panic because I feel like I’m not only rushing into this, I’m diving headfirst; and warmth because nothing’s ever felt more right.

Reaching for her waist, I pull her to me, tracing the contour of her mouth while pushing her against the wall. Opening her lips, I slip my tongue inside, tasting her sweetness. There’s no restraint in her kiss as she presses her soft curves against me. My palm slides to her breast, cupping it over her bra. Needing to feel her soft skin in my hand, I make quick work of unclasping her bra and pushing her straps and her dress down, revealing her breasts. I break off the kiss, drinking in her bare skin, her puckered nipples calling to me. I press both breasts together with my hands, coaxing her peaks with my thumb and mouth.

“Sebastian.”

My name sounds perfect in her mouth. I lure a moan out of her, and I suddenly become greedy for more sounds of pleasure. I could watch her slowly come apart all day long. When I get back from my trip, that’s exactly what I plan to do. Right now, I will give her another taste of what I plan to do to her. Dropping my hand to her thigh, I cinch her dress up to her waist, groaning as I caress her over her thong. It’s soaked through. Goose bumps appear over the delicate skin on her arms. I push the fabric aside, touching her slick flesh. She swallows hard, but that doesn’t stop me. Her eyelids flutter closed, and I tighten my grip on her waist.  

“Don’t close your eyes,” I say with a growl. Biting her lips, she looks up at me with wide eyes. When I touch her clit, she fists my shirt. When I pinch it between my fingers, her legs quiver, which gives me immense pleasure. I loved feeling her come apart today, now I want to see her. As I caress her tender spot, I watch her breath quicken, her pupils dilating. She clenches around me as I slide a finger inside. I want her like this, always. I don’t know where the thought came from, but I know it’s true. Nothing ever felt as right as being with her does. I want her smiling and laughing for me, and I want her panting underneath me. When her orgasm ravishes her, I hold her tight to me, steadying her and claiming her mouth.

Upon our return to the group, it appears that no one noticed our absence. One of my cousins whisks me away, while Mom gets Ava’s attention.

The rest of the day passes by quickly, and before I know it, I’m dropping her off at her apartment. We’re standing in the lobby, and neither of us wants to say goodbye yet.

“I had a great time today,” Ava says. “Thank you for taking me with you. Your family is wonderful.”

“I’m glad they didn’t drive you too mad.”

“Stop it, they are adorable. Are you heading straight to the airport?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.”

I take her hand, as if I’m about to kiss it, then pull her to me, kissing her lips hard.

“See you in a week.”

Chapter Seventeen

Ava

I thought concentrating with Sebastian nearby was hard, but concentrating without him proves to be impossible. On Monday, I have a dopey grin on my face the entire morning. I try to look as professional as possible during the weekly meeting with the marketing department, but I’m not sure I’m fooling everyone. When I return to my office, I make a promise to myself that I won’t think about Sebastian for the remainder of the day. Then I discover a box of chocolates on my desk, and I squeal like a high school girl, of course. There is also a typed note on top of the box, with five words on it.

Enjoy your day.

Love,

Sebastian

Something I haven’t felt since college blooms inside me. Butterflies. My smile gets dopier.

I set the box aside and start working, telling myself that I’ll only allow myself to eat a chocolate if I go an entire hour without thinking about Sebastian. I break that rule within five minutes, opening the box and swallowing not one, but three of the tiny little bastards. They taste amazing. God, I need him back like, right away. He’s barely gone and I miss him already.

Tuesday is better, and worse. It’s better because I manage to control my smile and worse because I miss Sebastian even more. At eleven o’clock, I receive a huge bouquet of flowers. This time the card says,

I’d do anything to see your smile now.

Sebastian

Aaaaand behold the return of the out-of-control grin. Surprisingly, I do put in some solid hours of work afterward, skipping lunch. I end up staying at the office until seven, when Pippa bursts in.

“Pippa, this is a nice surprise.”

“Wanna grab dinner?”

“Oh, yes. I’m starving.”

She eyes the flowers on my desk, and then turns her attention to me, an expectant expression taking hold of her features. I pretend not to notice it.

We take a cab to a restaurant downtown that Pippa swears has the best pizza. The place is packed, so there must be some merit to it. We wait for half an hour before the waiter finds us a table.

“Bring us two margaritas,” Pippa instructs him. She leans over to me. “They make some kick-ass margaritas.”

“I thought they were known for the pizza?”

Pippa blushes. “That too. And hot waiters.”

“Oh.”

As I look around, I get what she means. Every single waiter could grace the cover of GQ.

“You were really oblivious to all the hotties running around here until I mentioned them?” She narrows her eyes triumphantly, as if she proved something to herself.

The margarita really is kick-ass
.
We order seconds, munching on our pizza.

“What’s the deal with you and my brother?” Pippa asks.

“What do you mean?” I ask, a little too quickly.

“Oh, don’t give me that I-have-no-idea-what-you’re-talking-about look. You’ve been drooling over him since he showed you around.”

“I have,” I admit in defeat. “Why are you feeding me carbs? I can never lie when I eat carbs.”

“I thought that was the margarita’s job.”

I grin.

“Spill. What happened between the two of you? Have you. . .” Pippa wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

“No.”