Page 48 of Nigel

“You knowenough and already know that I cannot keep my hands off you.”

“That should bemy line.” His eyes darkened as he stared at her. “I wantto know you, Ava. I want to get to know the woman I am crazy in lovewith.”

“Okay,”she told him huskily. “Fair enough. You already know I havethree brothers and am the only girl who happens to be the youngest.”She stared at their entwined fingers.

“I used tofollow them around. We lost our dad when I was little and barelyremember him. Lionel took over as the man of the house and did heplay the part.” She laughed ruefully. “Kyle, he is thedoctor and we are nearest in age, which means that we are veryclose.” She looked at him. “I told him about you.”

“And?”

“He was the onewho wanted to kick my ass for throwing my happiness away.”

“So I have himto thank.”

“Something likethat. I would have gotten around to it eventually. I was prepared togrovel.”

His eyes flared atthat. “There is still time.”

She leaned in andkissed him, marveling when she felt the quick shudder. “I thinkI am already forgiven.”

“You are. Tellme more.” He took deep breaths to force himself to relax.

“I was aTomboy.” She grinned at him. It felt so strange being with himlike this and when he was not rocking her world, she realized that hemade her feel safe and amazingly relaxed. She had never blown offwork before and she did not feel guilty.

“Over time Icould out shoot, out run and out fish all of them. I was determinedto fit in and worked twice as hard as they did. But I could not cook.I burned everything except simple meals and I was the despair of ourmother.”

Her expression turnedsober. “We argued a lot.” Her fingers went tight on his.“That’s my biggest regret. The constant arguments.”She looked at him.

“She took me towork and I saw- “She took a deep breath and he watched the playof emotions on her lovely face. “They spoke to her like- likeshe was nothing and it pissed me off so much that I could not standit. We argued about it and she- “

“You don’thave to continue,” he told her huskily, feeling her pain andwanting to absorb all of it.

“I do. I neverfelt comfortable talking about it before now. Not even with mybrothers. They were not as affected because they weren’t thereand-“ She lifted a shoulder. “Or because they were guysand it did not mean as much to them. But I heard the way they talkedto her as if she was less than nothing and it pissed me off.”

“I am surprisedyou did not lay them out.”

Her eyes widened asshe stared at him and then started laughing. She laughed so much thatshe collapsed on top of him. He held her close to him, a gratefulsmile touching his lips.

Lifting her head, shewiped the tears from her eyes, a smile wreathing her lips. “Thankyou.”

“For?”

“For makinglight of it. I had a stick up my ass about the entire thing and thatwas one of the reasons I did not want to be with you.”

“Anything foryou darling.”

“I no longerthink I love you.”

“No?”

“I know I do.”

His body went still,his fingers gripping hers until his knuckles showed white. “Sayit again,” he demanded.

“I am in lovewith you.” Her eyes were glittering with tears. “So muchthat I cannot breathe.”

“It happens tothe best of us. How much do you want that picnic?” He shiftedso that he was lying on top of her.

“You were theone who suggested it,” she reminded him, arms going around hisneck.