Free Bare Necessities by Lacey Wolfe Page A

maybe even a scorned ex. And you might have to go to Julie. Ava is secretive.”
    “On it, sir. We are going to get this solved.”
    “I hope, and hopefully before the next incident happens.”
    “Don’t worry. There won’t be another.” Cody turned and left.
    Seth stared at the copy of the note in his hand. He couldn’t believe he couldn’t help with this. All he wanted was to find Ava and bring her home with him, where he knew she’d be safe and whoever this person was couldn’t get to her.
    Work was impossible to finish up knowing the offender was out there. Seth closed his laptop, packed his things, and decided to leave for the day. As he made his way to the front door, he saw a meeting going on in one of the rooms. Cody appeared to be in charge of it. Even though Cody had the hots for Ava, or so it appeared, Seth knew Cody could handle the team almost as well as he could. Cody would find the SOB, and soon things would be normal again.
    Then again, had anything been normal since Ava had come to town? As he drove home, his mind wandered to that first evening he’d met her. She’d been fun and flirty. Right off the bat, he’d wanted to know everything about her, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he knew nothing about her. Other than the fact she was opening up a lingerie shop. Where did she move from? What work did she do before this? Why was she in Brookfield? The girl was a mystery.
    He remembered when they’d arrived at the Swift Water Café diner the way she’d jerked when his hand had pressed against her lower back, as though the gesture was too intimate or possibly too possessive. Had someone hurt her in the past? Had she come to his town to get away from someone? She wouldn’t be the first person to take up residence in Brookfield to escape their past. There were several citizens who had done just that.
    When this was done and over, he was making it his duty to get to know everything there was about her.
    * * *
    The sun had been down for a few hours now. Seth had waited as long as he could, but he had to see Ava. It was almost midnight, and he had decided to sneak over to Ava’s cabin when it got late enough. Even with the light dusting of snow on the ground, he had to see her.
    To be on the safe side, he parked his car in front of the main house and then walked to Ava’s cabin. Only one window was lit. He hoped she hadn’t gone to bed yet. Smiling, he thought that wasn’t likely.
    As he made his way up the steps, he cautiously looked around to make sure no one would see him. He then lightly tapped the door, hoping it was loud enough for her to hear but no one else.
    A loud thud sounded from inside, and a curse word came next. He hoped he hadn’t woken her. Her footsteps soon sounded, and he stepped back so she could see him through the peephole. Seth heard the lock click then the door swung open, and he gulped. She wore a purple lingerie thingy with a robe over it. His brain stopped working, and he was thankful when she reached out, yanked him in, and shut the door.
    His gaze roamed over her body, and talking was no longer an option. By the way she was staring back at him, he knew she felt the same hunger. The distance between them shrunk in a second, and they were plastered together, lips greedily touching.
    Seth lifted her and carried her toward her bedroom. He was thankful he had taken the time to help Claire and Jace with the renovation. Otherwise, he would be a stumbling fool right about now.
    He laid Ava down on the bed then parted her thighs with his legs and climbed between. It took him no time to get the robe off and gaze down at the olive-skinned bombshell. Never in his life had he ever seen a woman as beautiful as Ava. There would never be another woman who could turn his head.
    He yanked his shirt over his head then lowered himself back down to kiss her. Her fingers rubbed his chest in small circles before they crept around to caress his back. He wanted her, bad.