Page 21 of The New York Nighthawks, Vol. 2

ROAN

Now that Ava finally agreed to stay, I swallowed a sigh of relief.

I had a feeling I would have been dragging her back here anyway because, with her budget, I doubted the hotel she booked would have been safe.

And having her near made it a hell of a lot easier for me to work on my plans for the future.

“Are your bags in your car, baby?” I asked as I held out my hand.

She nodded and dug her keys from her pocket. “Bag,” she corrected as she placed the keys in my waiting palm. “Since I’m only here for a few days.”

She lifted Daisy out of her chair again and made more funny faces at her. The baby’s belly laughter warmed my heart.

I was surprised to find only a small duffel in her car since most of the women I knew would have at least one big suitcase for a short weekend away. My sisters were notorious for overpacking.

After retrieving the bag, I observed her old, beat-up little car and frowned.

The peeling paint and rust were the least of its problems. The taped-up window in the back, bald tires, and steady oil leak under the vehicle worried me more.

I had no idea how she’d made it here in that thing.

But I knew for certain she wouldn’t be driving it again. It wasn’t safe.

I shut the passenger side door and cursed when the loose handle fell partway off.

As I walked back up the brick path to the front door, I pulled my cell from my back pocket and sent a quick text to a friend who owned several car dealerships.

He replied quickly, telling me he’d put one of his assistants to work on finding the right vehicle for my woman.

With that done, I made my way back to the den and smiled at the sweet picture all of my girls made. Cassidy and Daisy were snuggled up to Ava again, captivated by her as she read them a story.

When she finished, Cassidy begged for another, but I stepped in. “Maybe later, sweet cheeks. Right now, I want to get your aunt settled in her room. Then we’ll order dinner.”

“Yay! Can we have mac and cheese?” she asked hopefully, blinking her pretty eyes and wrapping me even tighter around her tiny finger.

“Sure, sweet cheeks,” I said and then pointed a finger at her. “But you have to eat your veggies with it.”

“Awwww, Daddy…” she grumbled.

“Deal?” I raised an eyebrow, and she sighed.

“Deal.”

I heard a muffled laugh, and my eyes strayed to Ava whose shoulders were shaking as she buried her face against Daisy’s tummy.

My lips curved into a grin, and I shook my head. “You won’t find it so funny when you’re in charge of making sure she eats her vegetables, baby.”

Ava’s head popped up, and she smiled, hope shining clearly in her eyes. I knew she was assuming I was leaning toward joint custody, but since I didn’t think she was ready to hear the truth, I didn’t correct her assumption.

I canted my head in the direction of the doorway into the hall and waited while she returned Daisy to her bouncy chair. “I’ll be right back, Cassie-bear,” she said softly before brushing a soft kiss over her other niece’s blond curls.

She walked over to me, and I forced myself to keep my gaze on her face rather than the sway of her hips.

But when we stepped into the hallway, I placed my hand on her lower back, just above her juicy ass.

I felt as if my fingers were burning her skin right through her shirt, and desire licked at my nerves when a shiver skittered down her spine.

Shoving away my need, I guided her to the stairs and up to the next floor.

The landing at the top was open to the floor below, separated by a black wrought-iron banister.

To the right were the doors to Cassidy’s and Daisy’s bedrooms, as well as two other guest bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. To the left was my office, and the master suite, with a guest suite between.

I’d handed the decorating of my home over to my sisters and mother, but I hadn’t been happy about them setting up a guest bedroom right next to mine. Rather than argue, I simply hadn’t used it. Now, I was sending them silent accolades for their unknown help in keeping Ava.

I opened the door to the room and let her walk in first. Ava’s mouth opened, her eyes growing wide, as she turned in a circle, taking everything in.

The walls were mint green and decorated with art in cream, distressed wood frames.

The large oval mirror above the bed matched the style as well.

There were two floor-to-ceiling windows on the wall opposite of us, both with long cream drapes that fell to the soft carpet in the same color.

A comforter set in green and cream tones adorned the bed with a bunch of pillows set against a cream, tufted headboard.

A wrought-iron chandelier was hung over the bed and the rest of the light would come from the matching sconces on the walls.

There was a small area near the windows set up as a little reading nook with a green chair and iron end table.

On the wall opposite the bed was a door that led to an en suite bathroom.

“This is so beautiful,” she breathed. “I’m afraid to touch anything and mess it up.”

I laughed and meandered over to stand at her side, taking a deep inhale of her citrusy scent.

“Don’t sweat it. I may have given them an unlimited budget, but my sisters and mom are penny pinchers.

” I shrugged and set her bag on the chaise at the foot of the bed.

“Besides, if you were to break something, it would just give them an excuse to redo the whole room.”

Ava chuckled but didn’t look convinced. I prowled back over to her and took up a good deal of her personal space since I was unable to help myself.

Rather than kiss her like I wanted, I glided the tip of one finger along her jaw and murmured, “Make yourself at home, baby.” But don’t get too used to it, I thought.

I’d be moving her into the master suite as soon as possible.

It looked as though she’d stopped breathing, so I took a step back, pressing my lips together to keep from smirking. “I’m going to get started on dinner. Come down and join us whenever you’re ready.”

“Um…Roan?”

I’d started to walk away, so I paused and turned back to her. “Hmmm?”

“How do I get back to the kitchen?”

She blushed, a little sheepish and completely adorable. But I didn’t want to further embarrass her, so I just gave her a gentle smile.

“Follow the entry hallway all the way to the back of the house, then turn left.”

She nodded, and I told my feet to get moving again, but instead, they stayed planted on the ground while Ava and I stared at each other.

I wondered if she felt this intense attraction as acutely as I did?

I was quickly becoming obsessed with her, and I had a feeling it was only going to get stronger.

“Don’t be too long, baby,” I rasped before forcing myself to leave and head back downstairs.

I gathered up the munchkins and settled Cassidy at the bar with a coloring book. Then I changed Daisy’s diaper before strapping her into her high chair with a couple of toys.

Ava entered just as I was setting Cassidy’s mac and cheese in the microwave.

Her eyebrows popped up when she saw the packaging.

“Microwaveable? I expected a chef to make her homemade, or at least the stuff from a box,” she teased, her blue eyes twinkling.

I loved that she’d lost some of her awkwardness, becoming a little more comfortable with me.

Shrugging, I pushed the time button, then faced her and leaned my hip on the counter. “She won’t eat any other kind besides these little bowls. And believe me, I’ve tried everything to fool her.”

Ava laughed, and I couldn’t help smiling at the beautiful sound.

“Are you okay with Chinese?” I queried as I opened a drawer and withdrew a take-out menu.

“I love it,” she answered.

“Great, tell me what you’d like, and I’ll put in an order.”

Once that was done, I returned the menu to its place and finished making Cassidy’s dinner.

“Up to the table, Cass,” I told her as I helped her down from the stool at the island.

Once she was in her booster chair, I added peas and carrots to her mac, which she wrinkled her nose at when I set the bowl in front of her.

“We made a deal, sweet cheeks,” I reminded her.

She let out a long-suffering sigh, then picked up her spoon and scooped up a bite. Her overly dramatic expression intimated that she felt she was doing me a huge favor by eating it.

I was perilously close to laughing, so I spun around and busied myself with grabbing a jar of baby food and a spoon.

“Would you like me to do that?” Ava asked sweetly.

I was about to tell her to just relax when I glanced at her and realized she was hoping I’d say yes.

“Sure, baby.” I handed her the items, then made a bottle and set it on the counter next to Daisy’s high chair. The doorbell rang, and I checked the monitor on the tablet propped on the island. It was our dinner, so I strolled to the front door to collect it.

By the time I set out everything we needed, Daisy had finished her food and was contentedly sucking on her bottle.

Somewhere in the short time we’d all been together in the kitchen, Ava had become comfortable and no longer seemed on edge.

As we ate, the conversation was easy and Cassidy regaled us with made-up stories that had Ava giggling.

After we finished our meal, Ava wordlessly helped me clean up, then we all returned to the den.

“I told Cassidy we could have a movie night tonight,” I told Ava as I sat on the couch.

Cassidy immediately crawled into my lap and curled up against me.

It never failed to melt my heart when she did that.

Ava was holding Daisy on her hip, and she attempted to sit at the other end of the couch, but I stretched out my long arm and captured her wrist, tugging her closer and down into the spot right next to me.

I turned on Cassidy’s favorite movie, and we watched in silence until the end credits rolled. Both girls were out like a light, so we carried them up to their rooms. I laid Cassidy on her bed, then changed her into a nightgown before pulling up the covers and placing a kiss on her forehead.

“Night, Daddy,” she whispered with a big yawn. “Aunt Ava? Will you tuck me in, too?”

I took Daisy from Ava so she could give Cassidy a kiss and hug.

“Will you stay forever?” my baby girl asked softly.

Ava was quiet for a minute, and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell Cassidy that was the plan, but I managed not to blurt out more than Ava was ready to hear. “I’ll always be a part of your life, Cassie-bear.”

Cassidy pouted, her cute little bottom lip puffing out. “But I want you to stay. To live with us.”

“We’ll talk about it another time,” I said, letting Ava off the hook while still remaining vague. “Go to sleep, sweet cheeks. I love you.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

I turned on her noise machine and night-light, and she was asleep before we’d even left her room.

“Um, sorry about that,” Ava muttered.

I gave her a noncommittal shrug and entered Daisy’s room. After changing her diaper and putting her in pajamas, Ava gave her a hug and a kiss. Then I did the same before laying Daisy in her crib.

After I quietly shut her door behind me, Ava and I stood in the hallway, alone for the first time since I’d shown her to the guest room. We were so close to my room—to my bed—but I shook away those thoughts, well aware that it was too soon. However, I wasn’t ready to say good night.

“Would you like to watch a grown-up movie?” I asked with a playful grin.

Ava laughed and nodded, so I gestured for her to go ahead, then followed her down the stairs and into the den.

“You’re the guest,” I quipped as we sank onto the couch again. I handed her the remote. “You pick.”

I was pleasantly surprised when she chose a comedy that was considered a “cult classic.” It was a movie I’d seen many times, but I never got sick of it.

She took a seat on the sofa on the other side from me, but as the movie went on, she gravitated closer as if we were magnets.

About halfway through, her body slumped, and I chuckled when I glanced down to find her asleep.

Slipping my arm around her, I hauled her against me.

Then I kicked up the recliner and laid back, resting her head and hand on my chest.

The next thing I knew, the sun was shining in my eyes, and my cock was rock fucking hard. Which had less to do with my morning wood and more to do with the incredibly sexy woman draped on top of me.

“Holy shit!”

I grimaced at the sound of my sister’s shocked exclamation.

Fucking hell.