Waiting on the Rain by Claudia Connor

23

They parked in front of the cabin and Ava stopped just outside the truck. “Can you tell me what it looks like from here. I don’t really have my bearings.”

“Oh. Yeah, sure. So straight ahead is the cabin. There are two steps up and I’ll be building a ramp on the right side. Or maybe one on both, I’m not sure yet.”

He drew her hand to the right again, angled up. “Hannah’s house is that way, up a slight hill in the wood. You can’t see it from here. The cabin is straight ahead, then…” He took her hand and lifted it to point. “The plan is to build another one to the right, and two more to the left. Each spaced about forty yards apart.”

“Are there trees here?”

“Lots of trees back behind, maybe thirty yards from the cabin and a few pines sprinkled around.”

“So they’ll be nestled at the edge of the woods. That’s nice. It’ll feel like they’re camping.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s the idea. Hannah’s full of ideas.”

Ava smiled. “She is. I love that about her. Cookouts with campfires and s’mores. So it’s not just about the riding, but the whole camp experience. Not with riflery and swimming, I mean it’s a riding camp, but they can’t be riding every second of the day. You could have a camp fire, but there’ll need to be some kind of a guard rail.

“What about around the cabin? You could maybe have something different than grass. A path? Maybe gravel for the walkways so they can hear and feel if they go off track.”

“Hannah had mentioned paved for wheel chairs.”

“Oh, right. Shows what I know. But maybe both.” Hmm. She pursed her lips, running the problem around in her mind. “It’ll have to be wide enough for people to pass and walk in groups. That way you could keep the walkers on the gravel, chairs on the pavement, that kind of thing.”

“I can actually picture that. Want to check out the inside?”

“Lead the way,” she told him, and smiling, took his arm again.

“Stick close. There’s no railing yet.” And looking around with Ava here, he saw a lot more things that needed to be changed, improved, altered, reworked.

“You and your brothers built it?” He opened the door and she stepped inside.

“We helped. Hannah’s husband Stephen and his brother Matt did most of it. We were extra muscle.”

“And you’re going to build all the others?”

“Not just me, but yeah. I guess that’s the plan. Hannah wants to have four cabins that would each house four campers and one counselor. Here. I’ll give your phone some charge.”

He took her phone and moved a few feet away. “Now that I’ve seen them do it, I think with a little direction I could do the rest. Or at least frame up the walls then get some help putting it together. The money is an issue. We’re all chipping in and Hannah’s trying to get a lot of the lumber donated. Matt helped her out with the plumbing and electrical with his contacts.”

He came back to her, laid her hand on his arm. “The style is simple and the layout is mostly a square. Main room here, just big enough for seating and a table for games.”

“What kind of seating?”

“Right now there’s a couch and a coffee table, thanks to Zach and Nora consolidating their furniture. Probably need to add a couple of roomie chairs.”

“Wood floor?” She said, walking across it.

“Yeah. Wide planks. I need to do another round of sanding then a couple coats of poly. The walls are tongue and groove.”

She slid her hand over the wall as they walked. “I like it. You can feel each piece of wood.”

“Yeah. Each one is quarter rounded. Then off this room on the right, a bunk room for the campers and to the left the counselors room.”

He led her to the campers’ room, stopping in the middle. “It’s tiny, but it’s mainly just for sleeping. Two sets of bunk beds, one on each side. Hannah said some kids she’d have here would be able to sleep in a top bunk. They’ll get a kick out of it. Don’t know what is about a top bunk, but some kids really get a charge out of it.”

“It’s different, if they don’t have one at home.” She let go of his arm and walked to the bed, running her hand along the smooth side. “And it’s independence. I always felt more freedom when I was away at camp. I’m sure my parents signed some kind of waiver in case I got hurt, and I know the counselors were careful, but they didn’t hover, you know? There was more room to be a kid. Get some bumps and bruises.”

“Sounds like you’re an expert. No wonder every other word out of Hannah’s mouth lately is, I’ll run that by Ava.”

Ava turned in the room, running her hands along the side of the upper bunk. “Did you build these beds?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re amazing.”

She kept touching it, more like caressing it. It made him proud and also made him think thoughts of her hands caressing him.

“I um… I always wanted a bunk bed. Dallas and Zach got bunk beds. There was a constant battle between them for the top.”

She smiled, made a wistful sound.

On their way out, Ava paused with her hand on the door jam. “You know, you could hang some little information plates here. Just something simple like, bunk room or bunk room one, if the cabins are numbered. Or maybe a cute name for each one instead of a number.”

He could kind of see it, being here in it with her. He could see kids actually using it. Benefitting from it. Ava made it feel like more than busy work for a man who had nothing else to do. She made it seem important.

He led her out, passing the bathroom on the way to what was now his room. “The bathroom needs a lot of work. Just the basics in there now. Toilet, running water.”

“Basic is good, from a blind standpoint. Simple. No rugs out in the middle to trip on.”

“I’m trying to decide on tile in the bathroom or if I continue the wood.”

“Different floorings are good. An easy way to instantly know where you are. Again, from a blind standpoint.”

“That makes sense.”

He continued on to his room, stopping for her to put her hand on the door frame. He’d noticed she liked to feel her way, get her bearings. “This will be the counselor’s room. It’s about the same size as the bunk room. Just big enough for a full bed which I have now. There’s a bedside table and a dresser, more cast offs from everyone getting married lately. I was thinking I could make some simple tables, add a dresser or close in a section over in the corner and make it a closet with shelves.”

“You’re pretty handy.”

“Just wood and nails mostly. Measuring and planning. Plus YouTube.”

“I think it’s more than that. You have skill.”

“I’m good with my hands.”

“Good with your hands, huh?”Ava huffed out a laugh at that and turned to face him, surprised when he was right there, so close.

“Pretty good.”

She felt those skilled hands slide onto her waist, felt his fingers tighten just the slightest bit when he pulled her in a little closer.

“Ava.”

He brought one hand up to her face, cupped her cheek, then combed his fingers through her hair from her face and all the way down to the ends.

She teetered on the edge of what he might say as he ran his fingers through her hair again, and once more before catching her face.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I can’t get you out of my head. I tried.”

She scoffed, started to turn but he held.

“What? You don’t believe me?”

“I don’t know whether I believe you or not. I don’t know if it matters.”

“Why wouldn’t it matter?”

“Because… Because…” Her hand flitted up to her hair, touched his hand there and dropped away. Because I never want to go there again. Because I don’t want to give you the chance to hurt me.

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him about her ex but what would be the point? If she told him she was divorced, he’d ask what happened, probably say he was sorry. And if he did, she was greatly afraid she’d do something stupid like cry.

It was hard enough to have someone tell you you weren’t enough for them. But saying that to Luke? Telling him that and why? “Because you’re afraid?”

“I’m not afraid,” she said too quickly. “I’m… careful.”

“Cautious.”

“Yes.” And she didn’t want Luke, or any man to say those things to her again. That he couldn’t get her out of his head, that she mattered. So why could she barely breathe when Luke said it?

“Ava, I wasn’t planning to be with the woman you heard me talking to.”

“It’s not just that.”

“I know.” He pressed his cheek to hers, planted a kiss just below her ear. “I know.”

Something snapped inside her, a desire and need for this man that overshadowed fear. She drew his face down and kissed him with more abandon than she’d ever felt. That seemed to give Luke the freedom to take what he wanted as well and their kiss exploded.

Luke’s mouth was wild on hers, fierce and possessive. Ava felt herself turning, felt the edge of the mattress against the back her legs. Her head was spinning when her fog–kissed brain registered she was on her back, Luke over her. He grazed his teeth along her jaw, dragged his hot mouth down her throat. Found a spot just below her ear and spent some time there driving her crazy.

She wanted him. She’d been so sure she’d never feel this again. And it’d been so long since she’d felt wanted. But Luke’s erection pressing like steel against her thigh said he did. He wanted her.

She couldn’t think. It was all she could not to be swept away on the tide of passion Luke was raising in her. Her hands went up and around his shoulders.

She felt the power there, the bunch and movement of muscles under his shirt. She ran her fingers into his hair, gripped the back of his head as if to hold him right there.

He found her breast, gave teasing nips through her shirt and bra. She shivered when he slipped warm fingers under her sweater and she felt his rough hands sliding their way up her side.

Then his lips left her throat and before she could think she felt them again on her bare stomach. He kissed her there, tasted, pushing her sweater up and out of his way as he went. The feverish assault on her senses was almost too much. Almost.

She moaned his name when his tongue stroked across the slight slope of her breast. Her breath hitched when his lips closed over her nipple through the satin bra. She gasped, gripping his shoulders, feeling the tension in them, the bunch and flow of muscles.

With a curse, he rose up, and with both hands, stripped her sweater up and over her head. Then, as if he didn’t have the patience to remove her bra fully, he tugged down the top edge, took her nipple into his mouth, sucked hard. She arched off the bed, gripping his head, silently begging for more.

He moved to the other side as one hand slid down between her thighs. She closed her eyes, willing him to touch her where she needed it most. Her center pulsed and throbbed, until she was desperate for him to touch her there. When his hand went between her legs she sucked in a cry.

He cupped her, pressed the heel of his hand in just the right spot. She lifted her hips, desperate for more, and he gave it. His mouth at her throat, his hand rocking, rocking.

The blast of her ringtone beside the bed was ignored. Then it started again. The notes of the Star Wars Storm Troopers theme edged in to her haze. Her brother.

“I should get it,” she murmured against Luke’s mouth now back on hers.

It stopped and started again.

“Shit. I have to get it.” She reached out. Luke leaned over her, pulled out the charging cord and put the phone in her hand.

“Hey.”

“Hey? What the hell, Ava? Where are you? Mom’s a wreck. We’ve been looking for you for hours.”

“What?” Her heart was still pounding, her head still swimming. “I’m sorry. I’m fine.” I’m in a man’s bed. She sat up, losing that delicious, pulsing climax she’d been so close to.

“Where are you?” Ryan demanded. “I’ll come get you.”

“No. I’ll come home. Now.” She was already searching blindly for her sweater. “I’ll call Mom.”

“No. I’ll tell her. Just come home.” The line went dead and she set her phone down on the bed.

“Uh, oh,” Luke said, sitting up beside her.

“Yeah. Shit. Shit.” She shook her head and covered her face, a nervous laugh escaping. She’d gone from a woman on the edge of ecstasy to helpless child in seconds. “My brother strikes again, huh?”

“Hey. I get the family thing. God knows I get the brother thing.”

With her face turned from his, she scooted to the edge of the bed and stood, wondering how the hell she was going to find her clothes. Damn it. She couldn’t even make grand exit. Couldn’t avoid Luke’s gradual withdrawal she knew would come, his easing back to avoid hurting her feelings.

She swept her hand in an arc over the bed and rapped her wrist on the wooden post. Shit. She shook it out.

“Hey. Relax, okay? Let me help you.”

“Don’t you know not to tell a woman to relax?” Truthfully, she did need to relax. She was an adult. Her parents knew she was fine now. No need to panic. But need or not, her heart was racing and not in a good way as it had just minutes before. Thank God she didn’t have to crawl over the floor searching for her underwear.

“Ava.”

“What? What?” She stopped, stared in the direction she thought he was. “I’m thirty–one Luke and I can’t even drive myself home. I can’t—”

“Hey.” He took her face, pressed a kiss to her lips. “You drive pretty good.”

She wanted to laugh, but felt more like crying.

“Arms up,” Luke said.

She felt her sweater brush her stomach as Luke lifted it then he pulled it down over her head. “I can dress myself.”

“Yeah. Maybe I like doing it.” He let the back of his hand brush over her breast, back, and again. He straightened her sweater, spent more time than necessary getting it situated.

When she was dressed she stood awkwardly beside the bed. “Well.” She bit her lip wishing she could make a hasty exit.

“You know, Ava. I can see just fine and I have no idea what you’re thinking right now.” He slipped his hand around her neck, lifting her hair out and letting it fall down her back. “Is it just your parents or is it me?”

“No,” she said after several seconds. “It’s not just my parents and it’s not you. It’s nothing to do with you.” She laid her palm on his chest, thinking how close she’d been to getting that shirt off, feeling his bare skin. “I like you, Luke. Maybe I’m afraid of just how much.”

“Well, maybe that makes two of us.”