Just His Taste (4 page)

Chapter Six

Ava swallowed, trying to give herself a moment to reply. Because her impulse was to pop out her wings and show this guy exactly
how
she could see auras.

Yeah. He made her lose her inhibitions that easily.

Which was totally not a good thing.

And she couldn't even blame it on the alcohol—fairies didn't process alcohol like humans. Even in human form, it usually didn't matter. She could drink bourbon for breakfast if she wanted. Granted, enough of a really high proof could certainly mess with her, but it wasn't like she would get hammered.

Hell, she didn't really know what that felt like.

So she couldn't blame the lowered inhibitions on the alcohol.

It had to be Jason.

“I'm waiting,” Jason said.

“I guess you'll just have to trust me.” She grinned, ignoring her own fluttering stomach.

“Trust you? I hardly know you.”

“Then let's just say I know stuff. And leave it at that.” She laid her hand on the table.

He put his hand on hers. “I know stuff too.”

That fluttering in her stomach turned into all-out explosions inside as he lightly caressed the edge of her hand.

Their fingers laced.

“What do you know?” Ava asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“That…” he looked down, “…t-t-that I've never—”

The waitress's timing couldn't have been more horrible. She smiled a little too much at Jason as she brought another round. Her friendliness stopped when she practically flung Ava's drink at her.

Bitch,
Ava thought. She caught it before it slid off the tabletop, which made her pull her hand away from Jason's. She was pretty sure the waitress knew exactly what she was doing. And probably had done it a time or two before.

What a brat.

Then Ava immediately shamed herself for thinking that way. What kind of a Fairy Godmother was she? Who knows, maybe Jason had come in here before, and the girl just carried a torch for him?

She was Jason's Fairy Godmother.

Not his date.

The waitress batted her eyes at Jason, but he didn't notice, instead his dark-brown eyes stared into hers.

He should have been plain. Hardly good-looking at all. His hair—not quite brown, but not surfer blond—was cut short and severe. His face, when she took in the parts, had no distinguishing marks—his eyes, deep and rectangular in shape. Eyebrows the same rectangular blocks. His jaw, nothing special, just, well, a guy's jaw. No cleft or dimples or freckles or anything to distinguish him from anyone else.

Yet all of it together worked.

Worked very well.

By Hera, why does this guy need a Fairy Godmother?

She took a sip of her new bourbon and coke, trying to collect herself. Jason seemed to be having similar thoughts, because he did the same. Yet she couldn't help appreciating his attractiveness.

And that was all it was. Appreciating his appearance, she told herself. Just like appreciating the Statue of David or Venus de Milo.

Had nothing to do with those butterflies in her stomach. And he wasn't much help, because he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her, either.

Maybe this whole being-human thing wasn't the best idea for this.

Jason cleared his throat and glanced away. “So, how did you know the bride and/or groom?”

So they were back to the small stuff. She could handle the small stuff. “Friend of a friend.”

“Of?”

“Both, actually. One of those weird you-know-who-knows-who-type things. What about you? Are you friends with the bride and/or groom, or were you just there to make the amazing barbecue?”

“Both. I went to high school with the groom. He asked me to do the barbecue, and even though the bride objected, I made a special sauceless batch for her and the other bridesmaids, so no one stained their dresses.”

“Very thoughtful of you.”

He shrugged. “I do what I can.”

“Is that what you want to do?” she asked. “Cater?”

“Not exactly. I do barbecue cook-offs, and that's what I enjoy.”

“Ever won any of those?”

“Not the top prize, but I've placed a few times.” He sipped on his drink. “What about you? What do you do?”

Loaded question,
Ava thought. “I'm a consultant.”

Jason waved his hand like he wanted her to elaborate. When she didn't say any more, he said, “Consulting what, exactly?”

“I work for a dating service. I help people find their Happily Ever After.”

He smirked. “And how's that working out for you?”

“One hundred percent success rate so far.”

“That's impressive. So much so I find it hard to believe.”

“Well, it's true. I've never
not
been able to unite charges with their HEAs.”

“Charges?”

Ava realized what she'd said. “That's, uh, what we call clients. Because they are more than just any person to us. We invest a great deal of time and effort into finding the perfect match.”

“So how does one get you as a consultant?”

“Referrals only.”

He nodded. Then sat up a bit straighter. “That's why you asked about Tessa.”

“Bingo.”

“That's not a match for me, so don't worry about that one.”

Ava tipped her head to the side, about to say something, when a flicker of light in her peripheral vision made her turn.

Son of a kraken!
Cupid hovered over Jason's shoulder, arms crossed, glaring at her.

At least he didn't have one of his arrows out. That would have made things far more difficult.

“Will you excuse me?” Ava said, smiling at Jason. “I have to, uh, use the facilities.”

He stood as she did. “I'll be here,” he said, touching her arm as she walked by.

“I'll be just a minute.”

Ava walked as casually as possible around the corner to the restrooms, glanced to make sure no one could see her, materialized her wand. In a flash of reddish glitter she shrank to fairy size, effectively vanishing from mortal view. Her wings fluttered behind her, happy to be unfolded and stretched.

And Cupid was waiting for her.

“What are you doing?” Cupid snapped.

“I'm working,” Ava said, her wings flapping fast, making her hair blow around into her face.

“That doesn't look like work to me. That looks like flirting with your charge.”

Ava brushed the hair back. “I always take on human form and talk to my charges. That's how I do my job.”

Cupid snorted.

“Have I ever had a failure on my record? This is what I do. It works. You'd be surprised what you learn when you just talk to a charge, instead of trying to guess what they want all the time.”

“And what have you learned so far?”

“Uh…”

“Exactly. This is not good, Ava. Have you looked at him? Really looked at him?”

Ava's shoulders slumped and her wings stopped fluttering so fast. “I have.”

“He's falling for you. Badly. You have to do something.”

“I will, I will. I won't be staying much longer.”

“Good. I would hate to report this to Andres on the Council.”

Ava glared at him. “Go for it. And I'll report to Jupiter your extracurricular activities.” They both knew their little private time together would not be approved by either the Council or the gods and goddesses.

“Which would hurt
you
more than me. Jupiter knows of my past indiscretions. He may not approve, but he would not do anything to me. I'm a god.”

“And I'm a fairy.”

“Exactly my point.” Cupid waved his hand, and he disappeared.

Shit.

He was right. She had a lot more to lose than he did if their relationship were discovered.

Ava hated that.

Chapter Seven

Something changed.

Ava slumped in her seat, like her happiness had been sucked away.

“What's wrong?” Jason asked, realizing that Ava's happy disposition had suddenly vanished.

“Nothing important,” she said, forcing a smile. “I do need to be going, though. I have some things I forgot about.”

Jason raised his eyebrow.

“It's work,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze.

“What do you have to do this time of night?” Jason asked.

“Paperwork,” she replied. “A lot of it.”

He nodded, not believing her. “I see.”

“I'm sorry,” she said, her voice softer. “But it's something that I have to do.”

“Okay.”

“I mean, I've got a lot of it to work on. A new, uh, client. Gotta go over everything so I can find him his Happily Ever After.”

“Sure,” he said, taking a big sip of his drink.

“It is—it's really important that I give this file my full attention. I have to get to work on him tomorrow.” She almost downed her whole drink.

“Do you need a ride home?”

She shook her head. “I'm fine.” She emptied the glass and stood up.

“Let me take you back to your car, then.”

She shook her head again, and that was when he noticed that her hand was trembling. “No, I got this. Really.”

This isn't right.
His instincts Klaxon blared in his head. She was obviously shaken up. And likely intoxicated. Cop Jason kicked in, and he knew he couldn't just let her walk back to the bed and breakfast. It wasn't far, but he couldn't do it.

Jason stood, and as Ava tried to slide around the table—to escape—he stepped right in front of her, stopping her.

“You aren't all right,” he said.

She met his gaze this time. “Fine. Take me back to the bed and breakfast.”

“Let's go.” He led her out the door. He put his hand on the small of her back.

She jerked from his touch. And blushed. “Sorry. I don't like people touching my back.”

“Why is that?”

“Just a thing.”

He nodded. Not that he understood, but Ava already seemed tense. No reason to push.

They made it to the van, and he held the door open for her.

She hesitated at the van's door. “You know, I really could walk. It's not that far.”

“It's fine,” Jason said as she climbed in. He closed the door and walked around to his side.

The smells from the barbecue greeted him as he got in, and his stomach rumbled.

“Do you get to go home and eat the extras?” she asked as he started the vehicle.

“Yep.” He put the car in gear and started back toward the bed and breakfast.

She didn't say anything at first, except he noticed that she fidgeted, her right hand moving near the door. He wished the van had auto locks because he wondered if she was going to try and jump out of the car.

He made himself focus on the drive. Very few streetlights illuminated the road, and the darkness pressed in on the van, making the dim light inside seem even darker. A flash of red caught his eye, but when he glanced toward her, he didn't see anything.

“What?”

“Thought I saw something,” Jason said.

“Oh.”

Silence.

The trees curved over the road, effectively framing them in the quiet. Not even another car on the road. He couldn't even make out the lights from the bed and breakfast ahead, the full foliage of the trees blocking everything.

Jason slowed the van to a crawl as he looked for the entrance to the place.

“Ever find yourself stuck in a position that you wished you weren't in?” Ava finally said as he eased into the parking lot.

Jason brought the vehicle to a stop near the drive. A few cars littered the lot, most parked near the building's entrance. He'd planned on taking her all the way to her car, but he couldn't let her go yet.

His gut roiled and it wasn't from hunger. “What's going on, Ava?”

She sighed. “I can't tell you.”

“Why not?”

“You wouldn't believe me if I did.”

“I was a cop for quite a few years.”

“I think that very reason is why you wouldn't believe what is going on.”

“You might be surprised.”

“Oh, I have the winning hand there.” Her coy voice and smile didn't hide the worry in her eyes. Even in the dim van, he could see it.

Very, very clearly.

Something had rattled her badly.

He put his hand on her arm. “Ava. Please. Tell me what's going on.”

Her fingers laced through his. “I can't. But let me say this, because this I want you to believe. It's the truth, and it's important that you hear me.”

“Okay.”

“You are an amazing man. Confident, sexy, intelligent. A hell of a cook. And I want nothing more than the very best for you. I really, really do.”

“But…”

She put her hand on his cheek, her thumb stroking the little bit of stubble that had come in over the day. “But that's not going to be with me. I'm sorry.”

“Why not?” He covered her hand with his, pressing it against his cheek, loving how her skin felt against his. The words were so bold, but they were also completely true. The feelings he'd had all day as he looked for her at the wedding, they all boiled over in him.

Primal.

And true.

She opened her mouth to reply, and stopped. Shook her head, like she couldn't decide what she wanted to do.

Jason, however, knew what he wanted to do. Overwhelming and strong as the need was, he didn't hesitate.

He pulled Ava across the open space between the captain's chairs of the van, wrapping his arms around her neck.

Ava fell into his embrace, and in a flash their lips pressed together.

Hard.

Wet.

Powerful.

Lips, tongues. Heads rocked from side to side. A kind of energy he'd never experienced before hit him hard, coursing through his entire body. He could practically feel his veins charge with this incredible surge.

Like all the worlds had come together.

She pressed her hands against his chest and cut off their kiss. “Uh…Jason…oh.” Her cheeks flushed, her eyes dilated and became darker than they'd been all night as she scooted back.

Evidently, she felt it too.

“Whoa,” he whispered.

“Yeah. I-I gotta go.” Ava popped the door lock and nearly fell out, trying to get away.

The stark yellow-white light blinded Jason for a second as he opened his own door and darted around the van to catch her.

Fortunately—or unfortunately for her—she'd stumbled and was pushing herself off the ground as he got to her.

He helped her up, but didn't let go of her as she rose.

“Thank you,” she said, dusting herself off.

“Ava.”

She met his gaze. “I—”

He cut her off with another kiss. This one, he pressed her against the side of the van, and she melted into him. Her hips rubbed against his.

Their lips danced. Hell, they went to war. Jason hadn't ever been so overwhelmed by any woman.

Ever.

He'd take her against this van if she'd let him.

He ran his hand down her side, and as he cupped her rear, her leg rose, wrapped around his hip. He very much wished she were still wearing the dress from earlier.

Ava pulled away and tipped her head to the side. Jason took the invitation to taste her throat.

She groaned. Her hips ground into his.

Holy hell.

His turn to make noises.

One of her hands went into his hair, the other down to cup his ass.

“Oh Jupiter,” she whispered.

He paused.

Yep, a mention of a planet gave him pause, even in this uber-hot moment.

He glanced at her. “Uh, excuse me?”

She blinked, and it brought her back to reality. Her face flushed again. “What?”

“I'm a science nerd too, but I've never heard anyone moan for Jupiter before.”

Her eyes went crazy wide. “Oh wow. I'm…I…uh…”

“Are you an astrologer or something? Does Jupiter have some influence over super-awesome, hot make-out sessions?”

“Not exactly. I, well, I worship the ancient gods and goddesses. The Roman ones. Jupiter is the leader, up on Olympus.”

“I thought that was Zeus,” Jason said.

“Jupiter is his Roman name.”

“Ahh. Well then, ‘Oh Jupiter' is right.”

She smiled, a pretty one this time.

He ran his finger down her nose, and she glanced down, impishly, like a fairy in a kid's movie. “I think your prediction may be wrong.”

She shook her head. “No. I'm right. I'm always right.”

“I would be willing to challenge that.” He leaned in closer to kiss her, but she pushed away.

“Listen, I—I have to go. I really do.” And she slipped away, twisting out of his grip.

Jason let her go, but he didn't want to. “Where's your car? I'll walk you.”

“Over there,” she said, gesturing to the cluster of cars near the entrance.

He reached over to take her hand, but she increased her pace, almost speed walking toward the cars.

Past the cars.

To the—
holy hell,
this woman was going to kill him
—the sexy motorcycle on the end.

“This is me,” Ava said, climbing on the bike like a pro. Her legs stretched over the chassis, and Jason got hard all over again.

Chick. Bike. Legs.

Check, check and check.

“Really?” Jason walked around the street bike and about choked when he saw the BMW logo on the side. “Wow.”

She hit the kickstand, hand on the grip, and started it. It rumbled and revved as she put on her helmet.

“I have to go,” she said.

“I want to see—”

She took off, dirt spraying as she tore out of the parking lot.

“Son of a bitch,” Jason muttered. He realized as she pulled away that not only did the bike not have a tag on it, but he didn't even know her last name.

Fuck.