The Renegade Returns. Dani Wade

rather not explore.

      The sound of a cabinet door broke the silence, then familiar heat blanketed his upper back in a thick weight. His whole body automatically melted into the cloth-covered table beneath him. Then Avery’s hands found the small of his back and thinking ceased—he could only feel.

      Definitely not like a dude. He’d never before had a therapeutic massage where he had to bite his lip to keep from begging his masseuse for more. Hell, her technique was flawless. Now his body wanted to take this far away from the office to a much more private setting.

      Yep, he was in a heap of trouble here.

      Those slender fingers traced and kneaded every inch of every muscle on his legs and lower back. Every one except the one he wanted her to touch with an ache that was inherently male. Trapped beneath him, that essential part of his body throbbed in an attempt to gain attention. Luke was grateful for the safeguard, even while he reveled in the return of his body’s most basic demands. So much better than his struggle with fear and loathing.

      He’d enjoyed a steady stream of sexual encounters until the accident. But why did this feel like the perfect unique blend of innocence and sensuality to spur his body into hyperdrive?

      Oh, yeah, she was definitely trying to torture him.

      Her fingers traced over muscles, hills, and into valleys. Smoothing out the tension, working out the knots, drawing out the moans. This girl had some hidden talents.

      “You have magic fingers,” he moaned.

      She dug particularly deep into his thigh.

      “Ouch, woman.”

      “Behave.” The prim schoolteacher voice was back. Not the direction he was looking for.

      “It was a compliment. I swear.”

      He lifted a little to glance over his shoulder, only to find her cheeks flushed, eyes a little heavy-lidded. But all of it disappeared when her gaze met his. Then one brow lifted and her lips pressed together.

      Even as he settled back in place, the image of that aroused look on her refined features wouldn’t disappear from his mind. That expression like she’d enjoyed touching him as much as he’d enjoyed being touched. It was a temptation he didn’t need. Then the slide of her hands transformed from a baker kneading dough to the skilled glide of a woman savoring the skin beneath her fingers.

      The very air around him grew heavy. His breath sped up to match his heartbeat. Could this torture continue forever? But certain parts of him demanded it end quickly, in a very satisfying way. Time to change the tempo.

      “You never did say why I haven’t seen you around...”

      He left the sentence hanging, hoping to introduce some sane conversation before he went out of his ever-lovin’ mind. She paused midstroke, his thigh muscle twitching before she continued again.

      “I didn’t really socialize much until my mother died,” she said, her voice low. “There wasn’t really time—or rather, when there was, I was too exhausted to care. I stuck close to home mostly. And establishing a practice takes a lot of work, even with the ready-made clientele here.”

      Which was no doubt true, even if he still sensed a cover-up. His heartbeat slowed as he focused on her. “I’m sure she was very grateful for all you did for her.”

      “I know she was. She told me every day.”

      Luke thought of his own mother, Lily, who had been comatose since a stroke. She’d already sustained injuries from a car accident that had left her unable to walk. There’d been more than once that Luke had wished his mother could tell them something, anything to let them know she was okay—even if it was goodbye. But she couldn’t.

      “You’re lucky,” he mumbled, then realized how callous that might sound and glanced over his shoulder.

      Avery met his look, understanding in her gentle eyes. “I know.”

      She pressed her palms flat against his skin, sending that tingle through him once more. A confusing mix of arousal and comfort.

      Some people didn’t know, could never understand what it was like to lose a parent...but not really lose them. To wish so badly that you could speak to them, but realize it would never happen again. But Avery understood. Her observant ways had probably told her far more about the situation than anyone else knew.

      Then she threw him into the fire. “What about you? Did you ever think you’d be moving back here, even for a temporary hiatus?”

      Luke was glad his face didn’t show. Being home was still a touchy subject for him—more than he wanted anyone to know. “Nope.”

      “But it’s better now, right?”

      His body stilled even more. “How did you know?”

      “Everyone knows James Blackstone was a difficult man—”

      “Try demon...”

      “—but the way he treated you boys was unconscionable.”

      He shouldn’t ask. He really shouldn’t. “How did you know?”

      “Just from the sheer amount of time I spent watching those around me. It’s amazing what people will say in front of you when they don’t realize you’re there.”

      Ouch. Despite the magic of her fingers, Luke rolled to his side. “Did we really do that to you, Avery? Ignore you? Make you feel invisible?”

      “Luke, y’all weren’t the only ones. I was shy, and worked very hard to fade into the woodwork. Do it often enough, and people expect it.”

      He remembered seeing her walk across the country club dining room and realized just how far she’d come. That walk was probably as hard for her as his own had been. “How did you become so smart?”

      “Smart? No. Just...practical.”

      “Practical, huh? Doesn’t that ever get boring?”

      This conversation was way deeper than he’d planned.

      She shook her head, a slight smile tilting the corners of her pink bow lips. “No,” she said. “There isn’t time to be bored.”

      He wanted to ask if she felt the same way in the dark of night, when she was home alone with no one to laugh and cuddle with, but he didn’t. He couldn’t.

      The deep stuff wasn’t what he was here for.

      “Let’s get you set up for your next appointment,” she said as she moved away from the table.

      The fun was over.

      Flipping over on the narrow table proved harder than he thought, but at least he had the coward’s comfort of knowing Avery faced away from him. Easier was getting himself upright with his legs hanging off the table. Boy, her magic hands had turned his muscles to jelly.

      When Avery turned back, she was studying his chart. He could have called her on avoiding him, but he let it go. For now.

      She was back to being all business. “Let’s shoot for three days a week.”

      “Sure.” Not like he had much else going on. “However often it takes.”

      “That means we will see each other on Friday. Monday, Wednesday, Friday good for you?”

      He nodded. Deep in his brain, he searched for a way to instigate himself into other parts of her life. She might have forgotten about him helping her have fun, but he hadn’t. “We could see each other before then. You know, for dinner?”

      “Are we back to that again?” she asked, her face completely blanking for a moment.

      “Mary makes a mean prime rib up at Blackstone Manor. Why don’t you join me? I could even ask her to make her famous chocolate chip cookies.”

      Avery frowned, shifting the chart in her hands. “I