Chapter Three
Ava tried to pull her hand away from him but stopped when he just tightened his grip. Although he was gentle, it still felt strange. Both good and bad at the same time. She liked his touch. It made her insides warm, but it was uncomfortable because it had been a long time since a man had touched her in a way that didn’t hurt.
She thought about what he said. It was hard being new in town. Having friends helped, but the thought of this man being a friend both excited and scared the crap out of her. Her conflicting emotions confused her.
“Dinner’s ready!”
Hearing Nia shout gave her a chance to take a breath.
Sean stood in one lithe move that shocked and impressed her because he was such a big man, and she didn’t expect him to move so quickly. He held his hand out to her. After a slight pause, she laid her hand in his, and he pulled her up and turned toward the picnic tables, towing her along.
He sat her down on the picnic bench, then took a seat next to her and started handing her bowls of food while helping her fill her plate. She looked down, her eyes big, her mouth open.
He grinned at her look of confusion.
Ava glanced over and saw Nia staring at them with concern and tried to smile. She’d ask her friend later what Sean was like. At the moment, she just needed to concentrate on him.
When Ava stared at her food, he bent down, whispering in her ear and making her shiver. “Eat.”
She looked up at him, startled to see how close he was, almost nose to nose with her. She swallowed. “It’s too much. I can’t eat all that.”
He chuckled, picked up her fork, scooped up some potato salad, and brought it to her lips. She was shocked when she automatically opened her mouth.
“Just eat what you can, and I’ll eat the rest.”
Chewing slowly, she looked down at her plate. She reached for the glass of water when the food got stuck in her throat as she tried to swallow, then she grabbed his wrist as he tried to bring another bite to her mouth. “Wait.”
“What, honey?” he asked.
She didn’t look up but continued to hold his thick wrist.
“Look at me,” he said.
She frowned and glanced up at him. “I … I can feed myself,” she stuttered.
He stared at her intently, making her so nervous she fidgeted. Finally, he held out the fork to her.
After grasping her fork, she let out the breath she didn’t know she held.
Ava started cutting up her food into tiny bites but paused when she felt his leg press against hers under the table. She looked up to find him talking to another man across the table.
Even as he was talking to another person, it felt like his attention was solely on her. She moved her leg away from him only to have him press against hers again. Finally giving up, she lifted her fork to take a bite.
After several minutes, Ava set down her fork and pushed her plate away. She stiffened when Sean leaned down to her.
“All finished?” he asked.
She nodded and smiled slightly when he pulled her plate over and slid his empty one away, then watched in amazement as he finished up her food in short order.
Ava stood to help when Nia and a few other women started cleaning up plates, using any excuse to move away from Sean and the feelings he invoked.
Sean gently grasped her wrist. “Hey, sweetheart, can I ask where you’re going?”
“I’m going to help Nia.”
Sean smiled as he nodded and turned back to his conversation.
Ava collected several plates, aware of Sean’s gaze on her the whole time. Instead of creeping her out or making her want to panic, he made her feel safe somehow. It totally shocked her that she would feel anything for a man, especially something positive. The fact the guy was huge and still made her feel secure surprised her.