The Brookfield Series Volume One (14 page)

“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.”

“I think it’s the toys that bother them.”

“What? Like half the people here don’t have dildos? Now they don’t have to order them online; they can come see them. And it’s in a private room.”

Julie put her hand up. “Hey, I’m not the bad guy.”

“I know. I just couldn’t believe what an arrogant son of a bitch Seth turned out to be.”

“He really isn’t. I think he’s a pretty sweet guy.”

“Sweet. Yeah, I believed that the first ten minutes.”

Lila threw her sippy cup, and Julie looked like she needed a break. Most likely she didn’t need to hear Ava’s problems. Lila was giving her enough.

“Regardless of Seth, I’m still opening my store.”

“Good. Once I lose this last ten pounds, I plan to visit. Only for lingerie. Mark is enough for me; I don’t need anything rubber.”

Ava laughed. “You’re perfect the way you are.”

* * *

Seth decided to stop by Honeycreek Bed and Breakfast. He needed someone to chat with, and his sister, Kimberly, was nowhere to be found so Claire was the next best thing. Hell, she was like a sister anyway.

The aroma of coffee was strong as he made his way through the front door. He headed to where she kept a little buffet of goodies for her guests and found her already there pouring herself a cup.

“Good morning,” he greeted.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” the petite blonde said.

“Gee, can’t I just come by and see my good friend? You do make the best coffee in town.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “Please tell me you’re over this Ava thing and you’re going to leave her alone.”

He had called Claire last night to get her advice. She had given him a hard time and said it wasn’t a big deal. So what if the woman wanted to open a lingerie shop? But what Claire didn’t get was it was on the same street people took to get to the church and the funeral home. Who the heck wanted to leave church and drive past an adult store? He certainly didn’t.

“You’re really being a prude, Seth. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t want some girlfriend of yours to have access to a store like that where she can buy lingerie to wear for you.”

A picture shot through his head of Ava in red stockings and a matching underwear set. Red would look sexy against her tan skin and long, dark locks. “That isn’t the point. It isn’t just me. There are going to be a lot of upset people.”

“They’ll get over it and so will you.”

Claire handed him a cup of coffee, and he took a long sip. “Maybe we can get her to just move the store.”

“You’re impossible.” She shook her head. “Just let it be.”

“I can’t. Everyone is going to be looking to me to stop this.”

“How do you know anyone is even going to care?”

He grunted. “Oh, they’re going to all right.” Grabbing a croissant, he added, “Where’s Jace this morning? Got him locked away? I haven’t seen him in a few days.”

“He’s sick with a sinus infection with everything blooming, I think. I really need to get back to him. You men, when you’re sick, you’re big babies.”

“Hey, you women enable us. Admit it, you like it and knowing only you can make him feel better.”

“Ha, only if you admit you have the hots for Ava and that’s why you’re in such a ruffle.”

“See ya, Claire. It was nice chatting.” He started to walk away. “I’ll bring the coffee cup back with me next time.”

The hots for Ava. Yeah, right.
She was beautiful, charming and, well, she made him grin quite a bit last night. But the hots for her … yeah, right.

* * *

One of the best things about being your own boss, she could work whenever she wanted. Ava was doing just that. She had spent the better part of the day with Julie and Lila. After that, she’d returned to her cabin for a nap and then dinner. She headed to the shop to start getting it ready to paint. Most everyone in Brookfield went home in the evenings, but she was a night person. It would be quiet, and hopefully no one would bother her.

Letting herself in, she switched on the light and glanced around. This was all hers, and it felt wonderful. It felt nice to finally settle down in one place, and without a man. Everything she had ever done in the past was for some boyfriend. She had yet to really experience life for herself. Julie had convinced her that Brookfield would be perfect, but after meeting Seth, she wasn’t so sure. The town was surely full of more people like him.

In the back, she found
 
a can of primer. Maybe tonight she could get the walls coated and go paint shopping tomorrow for colors she liked. Once they were all white, she could hold the paint samples up and get an idea. Currently the walls were a piss-yellow color. What had the previous owner been thinking?

Ava kicked her shoes off then twirled her long hair up into a bun on top of her head. She was warm by nature, so she pulled her T-shirt off and bared a black sports bra underneath. She wore a pair of matching yoga pants. Next, she flipped on the radio to the local rock station.

Grabbing the ladder, she decided to tape around the ceiling first. That was the part she hated because so much time went into placing it in the right spot. It was likely to take up much of the next hour, and it did. It actually took just over an hour, but she was finally ready to prime the walls and say goodbye to the yellow.

She was so busy pouring the paint into the tray and singing with the music that she didn’t hear someone come up behind her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Seth barked.

Ava spun around, almost losing her balance, and stared up at who was becoming her worst enemy. “Excuse me?”

“I drive by here and see lights on. You’re half naked, and then you don’t even lock the damn door. Are you looking for trouble?”

She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Is there a problem with me working at night? Is there some law I need to know about that only applies to Brookfield?”

“No, of course not, but not locking your door is one, and you’re half naked. Anyone could be watching you right now.”

Ava glanced around him and saw no life on the street. “Looks like you’re the only peeping Tom around.”

“Peeping Tom.” He grunted. “Do you not understand how dangerous it is out there?”

“It’s a small town. I’m not too worried.”

“You should be.”

Something in his eyes caught Ava’s attention. Perhaps something in the past had happened. She wasn’t about to ask though. “I’ll be sure to lock the door next time.”

“Next time? Do you plan to be in here every night? And dressed like that?” His eyes drifted up and down her body. She couldn’t help but wonder if he liked what he saw.

“I plan to while I get set up.”

“Why can’t you work during the day like a normal person? I don’t work the night shift.”

She laughed. “Are you supposed to be protecting me or something?”

“You’re now living in Brookfield, aren’t you?”

“I guess so, but you have nothing to worry about. I can take care of myself.”

Silence fell over them. She couldn’t tell if he just had nothing to say or if he was trying to figure out a way to get her to leave. There was no way in hell he would get her to. She was a free woman, and if she wanted to work nights, she would. Turning her back to him, she continued getting the primer all ready.

“Can I help?” he asked.

“No.” She carried the tray and brush over to the wall she was going to start with. If she just ignored him, maybe he would leave. She started dipping the brush into the paint, but Seth stayed present behind her. The thought of him watching as she squatted down and rose up again excited her. It shouldn’t have, but it did. Was he watching her paint or were his eyes on her ass?