Bare Necessities

BARE NECESSITIES

Copyright © 2012, Lacey Wolfe

Publisher: Southern Girl Press, First Edition

Edited by Megan Fisher

Proofread by Ella Jade

Cover by Designs by Viari

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

www.laceywolfe.com

Bare Necessities

Lacey Wolfe

Chapter One

Ava Miller closed up her soon-to-be shop for the evening. Her day had been full of blueprints, paint swatches, and phone calls. She was ready to head back to the place she called home these days and put her feet up for a relaxing evening.

She headed for her car until she realized she didn’t have her keys or cellphone. Fiddling with the store keys again, she let herself back into the shop and made a mad dash to the back of the hollowed-out store. She spotted the car keys and phone on a small, round table. Sighing, she grabbed them and then ran back across the store.

After she relocked the door, she turned to race down the side road but didn’t make it far. She ran headfirst into something hard and warm. Looking up, she saw a very fine-looking specimen.

“Excuse me…. Sorry.” Wow, this man was hot!

“You’re in a hurry. Is there a fire?” the handsome man asked.

Ava let her gaze drift over his body and noticed the badge. She then batted her lashes and said, “There aren’t any speeding laws on the sidewalk, are there?”

He chuckled. “I like you.”

She grinned. That was good to know. Maybe she could make friends with this hunk.

“I’m Seth Hampton, sheriff of this wonderful town. And you’re new. So tell me, beautiful, what’s your name?”

“I’m Ava Miller.”

“Miller? Any relation to Julie?”

“Cousins.”

He looked her up and down. “I can’t say I see the family resemblance.”

She laughed. Her father had been Italian, and she’d gotten the darker skin from him. Her eyes were emerald green and really stood out from behind her jet-black hair, and having Italian in her, she was full of curves. Something she had to learn to love.

“Since you must be new to town, I think it’s only right I treat you to dinner.”

“Sounds nice. When did you have in mind?”

“Tonight,” he said.

Yikes, he was forward. But, staring at this hot man, the ache in her legs seemed to vanish and her back no longer needed the attention of a hot bath. She’d have to remember to call Julie later and ask her why she hadn’t told Ava Brookfield was full of such attractive men.

“I’d planned on just going home and taking a nice, long soak,” she said sweetly, “but I suppose I could go to dinner, if you ask nicely.”

Seth raked his hands through his brown hair and had the biggest grin. “Ava, would you do me the honor of going to dinner with me tonight?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely.”

“You’re something, Ava. I think you’re going to make a wonderful addition to our town.”

Brookfield was starting to feel like it was finally going to be home. A home was what she’d been craving since her latest break-up. Ava had commitment issues, but she also always seemed to choose the wrong guy. The last one was a true loser, and if it weren’t for the wake-up call he’d given her, she might not be here now. But Julie had promised that if Ava came here, she would find happiness and right now, staring at this hot cop, she just might have found it.

“Where are we going? I’d like to ride separate if that’s okay.”

“I think I should treat you to dinner at the local diner. Have you eaten there yet?”

“Nope, I literally got into town this morning. All I had time to do was rent a cabin over at Honeycreek before heading to the shop.”

“So you know where the diner is?”

“Hang left at the end of this road?”

“You got it. Not only are you beautiful but smart, too.”

She smiled. “I’ll see you there, cutie.”

Ava rushed to her car. The sun was setting, and even though it was late summer in Brookfield, it still got a bit chilly in the evenings. Once in her car, she made the short drive over to the local diner, Swift Water Café. The diner, brightly lit, appeared to be hopping. She couldn’t wait to start meeting people. She loved to socialize. Talking was just second nature to her—along with flirting.

Seth greeted her at her door, and as she stepped out, he placed his hand on her lower back. It was possessive, and at first she wanted to step away, but his hand soon dropped and she realized he was just being friendly.

In the diner, they made their way to a corner booth. Many of the customers quieted and watched as she and Seth took their seats. Just like a normal small town. She was new, and now they were curious. She smiled at everyone. First impressions were important.

A perky waitress made her way over and took their drink order. The blonde made flirty eyes at Seth, and Ava couldn’t help but be amused. He was most likely Brookfield’s number one bachelor. Every woman here probably wanted to tie him down and have six of his children. Thank God that was the last thing on her mind.

“So, Ava, tell me a little about yourself,” Seth said.

“Not much to tell, officer.”

Seth’s face lit up again. She enjoyed making him smile.

“Everyone around here loves Julie,” he said. “It’s nice having her home again. Have you been by to see her and Lila yet?”

“It’s the first thing on my agenda in the morning. I can’t believe how big Lila’s getting.”

The waitress returned with their drinks and then took their order. Diner food, what could be better? A nice, greasy sandwich and fries. She was thankful she wasn’t one of those women who watched her weight.

“So tell me, Ava, what brought you to our lovely town?”

“I’m opening my own business.” Ava took a sip of her soda.

“That’s great. We need some more shops. Let me guess, you’re opening up a boutique of some kind.”

“Something like that.”

“Rumor has it we have an adult store opening.” He laughed.

Ava froze. What was so funny?

Seth continued. “Whoever that nut job is, I hope they know this town isn’t having it. We plan on running them out. We have a reputation to keep up.”

The waitress came back, still batting her eyelashes at Seth. Looking at the food in front of her, Ava was no longer hungry. She dug through her purse for a ten-dollar bill, set it on the table, and then stood up. Seth gazed up, confused.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Yes, you called me a nut job, and I’ve lost my appetite. I thought Brookfield would be different, but you’ve just shown me how wrong I was.” Ava turned and started to make her way to the entrance. Once she was outside, Seth came running out after her.

“You’re the one opening up a sex toy shop?” he asked.

Rolling her eyes, she said, “It’s a lingerie shop, and in the back, there just so happens to be a small adult area. Why I’m explaining this to you, I don’t know.”

“Well, I hate to tell you, but that shop isn’t opening here.”

Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “Just try and stop me.”

Chapter Two

The next morning, Ava fuming. Making her way up the stairs to Julie’s house, she hoped seeing her cousin would help calm her nerves.

At mid-knock, the door opened, and Mark, Julie’s new husband, smiled at her. “I was just heading to work. Perfect timing. I think Lila is on an eating strike, and Julie is having a time. Beware.” Mark skirted past her.

Ava closed the door behind her and could hear Julie in the kitchen. Stopping in the doorway, Ava took in the sight. Julie had her hair pulled up in a messy bun and wore an oversized T-shirt and some ugly pajama bottoms. Motherhood fit her, and she looked absolutely beautiful.

“Morning,” Ava greeted.

Julie turned and smiled. “Ava! Come hug me. It’s so good to see you.”

They embraced, and then Ava took a step back and watched as Lila tossed her Cheerios from the high chair.

“I hear she isn’t eating.”

“Don’t get me started. And it isn’t like I can reason with her.” Julie handed her daughter a sippy cup. “Want some coffee?”

“I’d love a cup, but I’ll get it. You have a seat.” Ava had been to this house many times growing up. She found everything she needed right away and took a seat at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee.

“I heard,” Julie said.

“You’re kidding. Already?”

“Well, you know how close Seth and Claire are.”

No, Ava didn’t know.

“Don’t worry. Once people know what you’re actually opening, you’ll be fine,” Julie reassured her.

“I don’t think so. I think Brookfield is too small a town to accept a lingerie shop. But you, cousin, convinced me that they wouldn’t mind.”