Perfectly Able Page 7

  He eyed me warily. “I know a challenge when I see it. You’re on.”

  “Truth or dare?” I asked.

  “Truth.”

  “Does the fact that I’m an amputee bother you?” I asked timidly, feeling sweat prickle my skin as soon as the words were out of my mouth. Why had I asked that? A lump of dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I admonished myself for such a stupid idea.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “It does?” I asked, my voice sounding small as I felt all the insecure feelings that I had sought to escape crash upon me like ocean waves smashing against a rocky coastline.

  “It’s bad enough being shown up by a girl, but I’ve been shown up by a girl with one leg. Now, I’m going to have to go home and train twice as hard for the triathlon just to make sure I don’t finish behind you.”

  I smiled, relieved to see that he was only joking.

  “Why the hell would you ask me that, Ava? I know we’ve only known each other a week, but I would have hoped that you would have gleaned enough information from me to know that I’m not that kind of person.”

  He was right. I did suspect that it didn’t bother him. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I guess I just wanted to hear you say it.”

  “The fact that you’re an amputee doesn’t bother me in the least. In fact, if anything, it makes me think that you’re an incredibly resilient, strong, and determined person. All of which I find to be extremely sexy traits in a woman.”

  “Sexy?”

  “Sexy. Now, don’t ever ask me that question again. Contrary to popular belief in the world of estrogen, not all guys are asses.”

  “I didn’t mean to insinuate….”

  He shook his head and put a finger over my lips to shush me. “It’s fine,” he whispered.

  I swallowed hard at the feel of his warm finger against my lips, and I found myself imagining his fingertip trailing lower over my collar bone and dipping beneath my bikini top.

  “Truth or dare?” he asked, dragging my mind back to reality.

  “Truth.”

  “I haven’t collected my prize for winning hangman, and we’ll be leaving in the morning. Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked, taking a step toward me.

  My heart pounded until it felt like it would burst from my ribs. My line of vision fell to his chest, and his fingertips lifted my face to his.

  “Do you?” he asked again, closing the distance between us.

  He knew I did, didn’t he? I couldn’t find the words, but I nodded my head, my eyes locked with his. That was all the encouragement he needed as he backed me against the railing, his lips warm on mine, gently teasing me. He licked my bottom lip, and I opened to him, his tongue skillfully delving into my mouth. His hands were warm against my cheeks as he held me firmly in place. It was warm and gentle and euphoric. I felt safe with Ridge…comfortable…and I knew in that moment that I wanted something more with Ridge Sutherland than a fun week in a mountain cabin. I wanted more, but would I have the courage to go after it? Or would I let my fears snuff out the flame that had just ignited for him?

  Surely, I deserved to be happy, didn’t I?

  One arm slid around my waist, his fingers pressing against the small of my back. His warm mouth captured the tiny moan that escaped my throat as he pulled me against him, his hardness evident against my lower abdomen.

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him to me, lost in the moment. I returned his kiss fervently, and then, he pulled away.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked, afraid that he had changed his mind about me.

  “No, Ava,” he whispered as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m just having a hard time being a gentleman around you. I want to….”

  “You want to what?” I asked, excited that I had obviously affected him.

  He pulled me against him as he nibbled on my earlobe, his warm breath caressing my neck. His knee wedged between my legs, and his fingertips skimmed the small of my back and dipped below the edge of my bikini as they followed the curve of my buttocks. He pulled away.

  “What if I don’t want you to be a gentleman?” I whispered as I closed the distance between us. Warning bells rang loudly in my head, but I ignored them, reveling in the fact that he was turned on by me as much as I was by him. I gently kissed him on the lips.

  He returned my kiss, his hands gripping my waist as he pulled away once again.

  Chuckling, he said, “Sweet, sweet Ava, I’ll have to be careful around you. You’ll make a man forget all about his well-laid plans.”

  “We have one night of spontaneity left, Ridge,” I whispered, emboldened by his kiss.

  The sun dipped below the horizon as a sliver of crescent moon graced the sky. It would be dark soon.

  “Truth or dare?” I whispered.

  “Dare,” he answered huskily, and it was becoming clear that Ridge Sutherland never backed down from a challenge.

  Several dares popped into my mind. All things that I wanted him to do. I could feel my courage slipping away with the sun. What would the old Ava have done? She wouldn’t have hesitated, but every experience in life changes us, molds us, and the new Ava choked.

  “You know what? Never mind. Let’s just talk for a while,” I said, knowing how lame I sounded, knowing that I was missing out on an opportunity to be spontaneous with Ridge and that I may never have that opportunity again.

  “We can do that,” he said, holding my hand as we climbed onto the picnic table, sat down on the tabletop, and rested our feet on the bench.

  “Do you ever think about just up and moving to another part of the country? Starting brand new somewhere?” I asked as I stared at the moon.

  “No, not really,” Ridge answered. “I’ve always tried to take care of my mom and Kelsey, and Creekview’s always been home. My mom remarried a couple of years ago, though, so I guess they don’t need me as much as they did. I’d probably consider moving if it were for a job offer in another city.”

  “Where’s your father?”

  He remained silent, and it seemed like it took him forever to answer. In reality, it was only a brief hesitation. “He’s not in the picture.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said softly.

  “How ‘bout your parents?” he asked, and I noticed how smoothly he shifted the conversation to me.

  “My parents are great. One of the few couples I know who’ve never been divorced.”

  “That is unusual these days,” he agreed.

  “Yeah, it is.”

  “So what made you want to be a real estate agent?” he asked.

  “I didn’t really want to go to college, and I liked the challenge of sales. I’ve always loved looking at houses, so I figured why not?”

  “Do you like it?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Sometimes it sucks to work weekends, but for the most part, it’s nice that I can make my own schedule.”

  “I guess it makes it easier to schedule your triathlon training.”

  “Yeah, I usually have time to train early in the morning before my first appointment.”

  “Is it difficult to run on that leg?” he asked.

  “Oh, this is my everyday leg. I have special legs I use for cycling and running. They make a prosthesis to use in water, too. I can’t afford one right now, though, so I just swim without one. During the triathlon, I’ll use crutches to get from the water to the transition area.”

  “You’re amazing, you know that?” he asked, his warm palm rubbing my shoulder.

  I grinned into the darkness. “Not really. Lots of amputees participate in triathlons and do much better than I.”

  “I’m sure your time will improve with practice if that’s something you want to keep doing.”

  “We’ll see how it goes,” I said. “I just want to finish one within the time limit. After that, I’ll figure out whether I want to keep doing them or move on to something else.”

  “Like climbing Mount Everest?” he asked, and I could tell from his voice he was
smiling.

  “Maybe.” I laughed, loving the way he made me feel. I felt like I could conquer the world.

  “Let’s make a pact,” he said.

  “What kind of pact?”

  “If we complete the triathlon before the deadline, we’ll set us another goal to complete together.”

  “Really?” I asked, touched that he would make such an offer.

  “Yeah. It’ll be fun.” He lightly punched me in the arm. “You know what else would be fun?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Going for a swim.”

  “It’ll be freezing,” I countered, remembering how cold the water was the night we’d fallen out of the canoe.

  “So will Mount Everest.”

  “Touché.” I began removing my prosthesis, prepared to meet Ridge Sutherland challenge for challenge. “If I have to take off a leg, you should have to take off something, too.”

  “Ava, are you saying you want to go skinny dipping with me?” he teased.

  My jaw dropped at his suggestion. “Ridge! That wasn’t what I meant!” I shrieked, laughing at him.

  “I’ve never been skinny dipping,” he said calmly. “Have you?”

  “No, but….”

  “You’re always talking about being spontaneous,” he taunted me. “This is our last night here. It’s back to my list of goals tomorrow.”

  “We’ll freeze our behinds off,” I laughed, taking my leg off and setting it on the table. Sneaking glances of him in the moonlight, I peeled the liner from my residual limb and placed it next to my prosthesis.

  “It’ll be no warmer with your bathing suit on,” he whispered as he approached me. “Of that I can assure you.”

  He stood at the end of the picnic table and motioned for me to come to him. Careful not to pick up any splinters, I twisted around, my legs dangling off the end of the table. He stepped between my thighs, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I dare you,” he whispered in my ear.

  I wanted to. I wanted to live again. I wanted to feel the exhilaration as the cold water covered every inch of my skin, but I said nothing.

  “Maybe next time,” he said softly, his lips just inches from mine as he scooped me up and walked toward the steps.

  I clung to his warm body, indecision clouding my brain. Old Ava would have done it. Old Ava was vivacious, confident, audacious.

  I shivered as he walked deeper into the water. Once it was chest high, he dropped my legs, giving me a moment to catch my balance.

  The week was coming to an end, and I wanted to savor every moment with Ridge. Bolstering my confidence with thoughts of old Ava, I wiggled out of the bikini bottoms and untied my top, allowing the water to hide my nakedness.

  I held the scraps of fabric in the air, and Ridge smiled in the moonlight. “Carpe diem,” I whispered.

  Chapter 7

  Ridge

  My Camaro approached the cabin, bouncing as Kelsey drove it entirely too fast over the rough terrain.

  When she finally pulled to a stop in front of me, I glared at her as a swirling cloud of dust caught up with the vehicle. She and Brandy stepped out of the car with sheepish grins on their faces. I pointed at both of them.

  “What?” Kelsey squealed.

  “You know what,” I said in a deep, authoritative tone.

  “Yeah, and you can tell London that I’m devising ways to get even as we speak,” Ava warned as she stood up from the rocking chair.

  I picked up my duffel bag and her suitcase and put them in the trunk. Then, I went back in the cabin and scooped up the grocery bags filled with our leftover food. After loading them, I handed the key to the cabin to Brandy. “Tell your parents I appreciate it.”

  She shot me a grin. “Well, did you have fun?”

  I looked at Ava and the corners of her mouth tilted upward. “I did, but that’s beside the point. Y’all need to stop playing matchmaker.”

  “I knew it,” Kelsey screeched. “I knew y’all would be perfect for each other.”

  “Kelsey,” I said in warning, but she ignored me and beamed at Ava.

  “You liked him, didn’t you?” she asked Ava.

  “Kelsey,” I barked, “that’s enough.”

  Kelsey and Brandy gave each other a fist bump. “Get in the back,” I ordered both of them.

  “We are so freaking good at this,” Brandy told Kelsey as they climbed in.

  “I know, right?” Kelsey answered.

  I shot Ava a knowing look over the top of the car. She grinned and slid into the front seat.

  “So what did y’all do all week?” Kelsey asked.

  “None of your business,” I snapped. Little sisters could be so freaking annoying. I would’ve thought that we would’ve both outgrown it by now, but she seemed to test my patience just as much now as she ever did.

  “Ridge did a lot of running, and we both swam quite a bit,” Ava replied, indulging my sister. “We rode in the canoe, too. That was fun. At least it was until I dumped us both out.”

  “You tipped the canoe!” Brandy shrieked. “How did you manage that?”

  Ava glanced at me from the corner of her eye and burst into laughter. I couldn’t stifle the smile that tugged at my lips at the memory. My thoughts quickly turned to last night. It had been my first experience with skinny dipping. Although Ava and I both deposited our swimsuits on the edge of the bank, our nudity was hidden by the murky waters. Moonlight had glistened off her wet skin, and my fingers fought the urge to reach out and trace her collarbone. Her beauty seemed magnified by the silvery light and perhaps the thrill of the moment.

  I had been able to tell a difference in her. Normally, she seemed cautious and guarded, afraid even, but last night, she had laughed harder and talked bolder. She’d been more daring. Maybe it was because she trusted me more than she had when we’d first arrived at the cabin. Maybe it was because she was shielded by the cover of night. But whatever it was, she had seemed even more beautiful, more vivacious.

  I knew enough about myself to know that I’d never be the life of the party. My serious nature forced me to always be responsible, to think about the consequences, to hear the voice of reason when everyone around me forgot to listen. I was, by no means, a bore, but the need to be accountable at all times seemed a little stronger in me than most of my friends. Being with Ava last night had made me want to let loose, to forget about my goals for a little while and concentrate on having fun. And that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. In fact, it was one of the reasons that I never dated steadily. Serious relationships required constant nurturing and an abundance of energy. I had more important things to focus on at the moment.

  When we pulled up in front of Ava’s apartment complex, I carried her suitcase for her as we walked together to her ground floor apartment. I had instructed Kelsey and Brandy to stay in the car.

  “Thanks for an interesting week,” she said, as we stood just inside of her apartment. A dazzling smile lit her face.

  “It was my pleasure.” I pulled out my phone. “Let me get your number, and we’ll get together.”

  After plugging in her contact information, I pulled her into my embrace and gently kissed her. “Bye, Ava.”

  “Good-bye, Ridge.”

  I closed the door behind me and thought once again about Ava in the lake, dangling her bikini in the air like an unspoken challenge. I grinned and shook my head at the thought as I hurried toward the car.

  “What do you think about her?” Kelsey asked as soon as I slid in behind the wheel.

  “Don’t you have more important things to worry about, Kel?”

  “I just want you to be happy, Ridge, and I think Ava could be good for you.”

  I cranked the car and turned around, peering into the backseat, my glare falling on Kelsey’s face. “You almost got me shot. You know that, right? Besides, I have no time for relationships, and I have no problem getting my own dates. Why did you do that?” The truth was I did like Ava, and that made me even more annoyed with Kelsey.


  “She pulled her gun on you?” Brandy asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Damn, London was right. Good thing she took the bullets,” Kelsey said. “So other than the gun, did you have fun? Did you talk to her, Ridge?”

  “Of course, I talked to her. We were the only two people there,” I snapped.

  “Well, what do you think?” Kelsey asked. “The two of you have a lot in common. Did she tell you that she’s been training for a triathlon, too?”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean we should date.”

  “Give her a chance, Ridge. You need someone to drag you out of your to-do list every now and then.”

  I glared at Kel before I started backing up. “Focusing on my to-do list is the difference between being successful and not. How close are you to graduating from college?”

  “So I can’t decide what I want to do. Big deal. I’ll have some fun while I’m thinking about it, and eventually, it’ll hit me.”

  “Good plan, Kel.”

  “You are so uptight, Ridge!”

  I pulled out of the parking lot. “Where are y’all going?”

  “We left Brandy’s car at your apartment complex, so you can go home.”

  “I don’t want y’all to get her hopes up about getting serious with me. I like Ava, and she’s agreed to come to my Halloween party with me. But let me make one thing clear—I am not looking for a relationship.”

  “I knew you’d like her,” Kelsey said softly.

  “Did you hear what I said?” I asked, exasperated

  “Oh, I heard you,” Kel replied. “You said you were going on a date with her to your Halloween party.”

  “I give up,” I muttered as I drove through the side streets of Creekview.

  When I pulled into my usual parking space in front of my apartment complex, I was more than relieved that I would be getting away from my sister and her friend.

  “Tell your parents I appreciate them letting me use the cabin,” I told Brandy.

  “I will,” Brandy called as she waved and slid into the driver’s seat of her car.