Love on Beach Avenue(87)

Lucy blinked. Considered. Then dropped her head to rest between her delicate paws, as if telling her she needed some time to think about it.

“Fair enough,” Avery said, getting up from the floor. “I guess trust is earned, not given. I’ll work harder.”

The door opened. Lucy jumped with joy, and damned if the man didn’t get straight to his knees to give her love and affection. Avery’s heart mushed and her head spun, and she watched his tenderness with a longing that roared up from her very soul.

When he straightened up, he tossed her a sexy grin and walked over, pressing a hard kiss to her lips. “You look so fucking hot,” he growled, eating her up with his gaze.

“It’s just a shirt,” she teased, cupping his rough cheeks.

“It’s my shirt. I’m all over you. Turns me on.”

She laughed and stepped away, grabbing the bag from his hands. “Everything turns you on, but right now, all I can think of is food.” She pulled the chocolate croissant from the bag and moaned, crossing her legs in ecstasy. “Oh God, it looks so good. How do you keep finding them? Each time I go, they’re all out.”

He grabbed a paper plate and napkins, and slid his own pastry out of the bag. “When I found out how much you love them, I asked Madison’s to keep one to the side every time they baked a batch and text me.” He took a bite. “You’re right. It’s so good.”

The pastry dropped from her fingers. She blinked, staring at him. “What did you say?”

“It’s good.”

“No, about Madison’s.”

He shrugged. “Told them to put one aside. No big deal.”

The knowledge he wanted to please her and had gone out of his way to make her happy struck hard. If only he realized how much he had to give. If only she could help teach him.

She leaned forward, making sure the shirt gaped open and flashed her bare breasts. “After you finish your breakfast, I want you naked. I’m about to show you how grateful I am for being so sweet.”

He stared back, slightly dazed. “I’m done now.”

She laughed and shook her head. “After. Can I give some to Lucy?”

“No, chocolate isn’t good for dogs.”

“I can give her this crunchy end. It’s plain.”

He smiled, glancing back and forth between them. Lucy gave a tiny whine, sensing she was close to the treat. “Sure.”

She offered the bite, but Lucy sat stubbornly, waiting for Carter to give it to her. “Dammit, she’s stubborn.”

He deepened his voice. “Lucy, you can take it from Avery or you get nothing at all. Your choice.”

Lucy whined and looked away in refusal.

“Okay, your loss.”

Avery kept it aside. Carter dumped the plate, rinsed his hands, and turned. “Now, you were saying?”

She laughed. “Meet you in there, robot man.”

He disappeared in a flash. Arousal tightened low in her belly, mixed with a joy she’d never experienced before. She dried her hands and turned, ready to join him.

Lucy sat before her. Paws in front, head cocked up, she looked like an adorable posed doll.

Avery sucked in a breath. Her heart beat. Was this just a ploy to mock her? Slowly, she took the edge of the croissant and bent down, offering it to her.

The dog gently accepted the bite, chewing politely. When she was done, they gazed at one another with a new understanding.

“Girl power,” she whispered with a big smile. “It’s something I’m going to teach you, Lucy.”

And damned if she didn’t catch a twinkle in those big brown eyes.



“Please don’t make me watch this.”

Avery gave an impatient sigh and turned to face Carter on the couch. “But you’ve never seen it! I swear, it’s not mushy. It’s really funny, and it’s my favorite movie. Can’t you give it a try?”

He glanced down at the cover of the DVD for Notting Hill and looked miserable. “Does it have any of those stupid one-liners that women like to swoon over and repeat endlessly?”

She averted her gaze because it was very difficult to lie to him. “Not really.”

“What about Baby Driver? It’s a new classic. The soundtrack kills.”

They stared at one another in a battle of wills. Lucy cranked her head around to stare at them from her position at Carter’s feet, as if sensing a war. Finally, Avery sighed. “What if we watch my movie first, then your movie?”

He narrowed his gaze in suspicion. “You’re not going to fall asleep during my movie and claim tiredness, are you?”

She giggled at his adorable frown and pressed a kiss to his lips. “No. I’ll make popcorn while you put it on.”

He grumbled, but set up the movie on the ancient DVD player while the merry sounds of popping corn echoed in the air.

She returned to the couch with the bag, and snuggled under the comfy crocheted afghan. “I promise you’re going to love it,” she squealed. “Lucy, wanna come up and sit with me? I’ll share.”

Lucy gave her a long look. Ever since the croissant episode, they’d been slowly bonding, and Avery wasn’t afraid to admit she used bribery to help her along. Still, she was surprised when the dog got up from her spot and jumped up to settle on the extra patch of blanket beside her.