“Uncle Evan, I don’t want to move to Washington,” Alex protested as she followed me around the house, her dark eyes wrought with sorrow. “I don’t want to leave North Carolina!”

“Alex, we have to go back to Washington for a while until I can figure out what we’re going to do,” I told her for what felt like the thirtieth time that day.

I was trying not to lose my patience, knowing that she was only a child, but I didn’t know how else to explain the change to her.

I felt like I had exhausted all my options and despite Oscar and Amelia’s ever standing offer to help.

I wanted to stay too but my home was in Seattle, along with my condo and any semblance of a life I had once had.

Still, it didn’t seem fair to uproot my young niece from the only world she had ever known.

And Vyolet Viera is in Oriental.

I hated myself for allowing the sweet-faced blonde to haunt my thoughts, the memory of her hot breath against my lips.

I shouldn’t have done that, I thought, trying to forget about the plaintive longing in her face.

How long had it been since a woman had looked at me so innocently?

To make matters worse, she had been calling my cell phone and leaving texts, her compassion driving me to cold sweats.

I tried to do the right thing, keeping my distance and ignoring her calls. Amelia had warned me that she had given Vyolet my cell number but how could Oscar’s wife know what was coursing through my mind every time I saw her daughter’s number on my iPhone?

No, I told myself firmly. It’s for the best. I need to get out of Minnesott Beach and go home. When I get back to Seattle, I won’t even remember what Vyolet looks like and I’ll see her again in another ten years.

But something told me it would not be so simple.

“Hello?”

I whirled around, almost tripping on my shadow who stood staring defiantly at me with her arms crossed.

Alex also spun to stare at the woman who had entered the half-packed living room.

“Hi?” I said questioningly. “Can I help you?”

“The front door was open,” she informed me. “So I just let myself in.”

“Who are you?” I asked pointedly, and she turned pink with embarrassment.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she apologized quickly, stepping over a box of packing peanuts to extend her hand. “I’m Carla Green. I live across the street. I saw you at the memorial, but I didn’t want to bother you then. Of course, I have seen you around, but it never seemed to be a good time to introduce myself…”

She trailed off, her color reddening and I could see she was ill-at-ease.

I took her outstretched palm, offering her a brief smile.

“Evan Collier.”

“Hi Mrs. Green,” Alex piped up. “Is Maddy home?”

“Can I go play with Maddy, Uncle Evan?” my niece asked imploringly, her brown eyes wide.

I stared at her uncertainly.

“It’s fine,” Carla told me quickly. “Alex practically lives at our house…under normal circumstances.”

I eyed her, my lids narrowing, and she seemed to realize her poor wording.

“I just mean that Maddison and Alex are best friends,” she explained quickly.

I chewed on the insides of my cheeks, unsure of how to respond.

“Please Uncle Evan? I haven’t seen Maddy since – ”

“Yes, go,” I said quickly before she could finish her thought. “Just come back for dinner. We’ll go to Cracker Barrel.”

Alex barely acknowledged me as she flung herself out of the living room, out the back door.

I had almost forgotten that Carla was standing there, half turning to return to the packing at hand when she gently cleared her throat.

“I see you’re selling the house,” she said, and I almost started to hear her speak.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied, biting back a more sarcastic answer.

My nerves were far too taut to be dealing with strange neighbors.

“I’m sure Jocelyn and Charlie would be disappointed,” she murmured, and I felt my head snap up.

“What did you just say?” I demanded.

I watched as her face turned ashen and she waved her hands in protest.

“It seems like everything I’m saying is coming out completely wrong!” she gasped. “I didn’t mean anything by that!”

She sighed deeply and shook her head.

“I’m sorry,” she continued when I did not speak but maintained my stony expression, willing her to get to the point.

“I just wanted to come over here and tell you that Alex will be missed,” she whispered, pivoting. “I’ll leave you to your packing now.”

I stifled a low groan.

As if I wasn’t feeling guilty enough about leaving for Washington, I had perfect strangers tossing in their two cents.

No, I concluded. The best thing for us is to get out of here and start new somewhere. Alex doesn’t need a constant reminder of her past. She’ll never be able to move on.

I silenced the same voice which cried out that my niece needed stability, not adventure.

I heard the front door close and exhaled.

I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath.

“Do you need some help?”

Jumping, I spun again to stare at the woman who had plagued my lonely nights, her long, blonde hair tucked into a careless chignon.

“What are you doing here, Vyolet?” I asked but there was a catch in my voice.

She does something to me, physically, I realized, watching as she gingerly made her way toward me through the maze of crates and boxes.

“Well you’re a hard man to get on the phone,” she explained lightly. “I thought I might have better luck coming here in person.”

I swallowed as she neared me, feeling a familiar sensation flowing through my body.

“I’ve been busy,” I replied, turning my head as if to focus on packing. “I am hoping this goes fast for how I’ve priced it.”

“Oh,” she breathed. “So it’s a certainty then. You’ve made up your mind.”

I glanced up quickly and nodded.

“Yes,” I replied. “I didn’t want to draw out the process any more than necessary. I think it’s unhealthy for everyone to stay here any longer than necessary.”

She didn’t answer but I could read the upset on her fair face.

“Are you going back to Washington?” she asked after a long pause and I nodded, unwilling to look at her.

“Why? I had thought that you might consider moving to Oriental after we talked…” she trailed off, waiting for a reply.

The question caused me to look up again and stare at her.

God, she’s so hot, I thought. Would it be such a terrible sin to have one night with her?

I knew the answer was not going to be so simple.

“My life is there,” I replied lamely. “And I think it would be good for Alex – ”

“I think you’re running away from memories of your life here,” she interrupted, and I felt a flash of anger at her words.

What did she know about me or what I was thinking?

Before I could retort, she spoke again.

“Where is Alex?” Vyolet asked suddenly, looking around.

“She’s playing with her friend.”

I paused and studied her face, brow knit.

“I am not running from anything,” I told her flatly and I wondered why I felt the need to explain myself to her. “And I haven’t had a life here in a long time.”

She held my gaze and I could read the disbelief on her face.

“And what about Alex’s life here?” she asked quietly.

I couldn’t listen to her anymore, her words dredging up my innermost fears.

I wanted everyone to shut up and let me do what I had to do for Alex and for myself.

In two long strides, I had covered the space between us, seizing her by the shoulders and dropping my mouth to hers.

It was too much, Alex, the neighbor, now Vyolet, making me second guess my rationale.

Vyolet gasped at the unexpected kiss, falling backward off balance but I was there to catch her, my fingers digging into the tender flesh of her arms and drawing her toward me with intensity.

Her innocent blue eyes stared up at me, wide with shock but I could also read the desire there as her mouth parted to allow for my tongue to explore her.

This kiss was just as I had remembered the one I had stolen from her in the car, my right hand climbing her back to cradle her neck.

A soft whimper escaped her as my teeth drew out her lower lip, pulling at her before my mouth made its way to her chin.

My fingers moved up the base of her skull, releasing the loose bun from her hair, only to tie them up in my hands, tightening my grip to pull her head aside.

She pressed her body to mine as my lips worked down the lines of her neck, licking the sweetness of her skin.

It was exactly as I had imagined her skin to taste, fresh and succulent like the summer rain she appeared to be.

My right hand dropped to her full rear and I cupped it solidly, lifting her slightly.

She seemed a feather in my arms and as my head lowered into the buttons of her white blouse, I danced her backward, pressing her to the full-length window of the patio doors.

Beneath her skirt, my fingers roamed, her hands finding their way into my hair for support as my teeth ripped at the delicate silk of her shirt.

I released her long tresses, massaging one of her luscious breasts as I nuzzled the other, my tongue lashing out to suck on the taut, waiting nipple.

She allowed her thighs to fall away as my fingertips moved toward her center, teasing the already wet lips.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, dropping her head back against the glass and I took the encouragement, my right hand working harder.

I felt her body relax until I pinched her breast, biting at the other as one long finger plunged into her middle.

She yelped out, her own grip tightening on my head as I stroked at her long and hard, my head dropping lower as she guided me between her legs.

Higher, I yanked up her skirt, diving into her without preamble, my hands still penetrating her as my tongue lapped at her pulsating nub.

She wanted to release, I could feel it, but something was holding her back. I could sense it in her.

I began to suck on her button, adding another finger into the sopping middle and she cried out.

A hot gush dripped out all over me and I smiled softly as I felt Vyolet’s knees buckle.

She was ready now.

I withdrew my fingers and rose to my full height, towering over her quivering, svelte frame.

She looked up to me for a kiss, but I had other things on my mind.

I spun her around, pushing her against the glass to stare into the sunny backyard, as I ripped the lace thong completely away from her.

I fumbled to lower my pants, dropping my boxers to the floor.

With one hand firmly on her hip, the other snaked around her throat, caressing her throbbing pulse gently.

“What do you want?” I asked, pressing my hardness against her cheeks and rubbing against her fully.

“You!” she gasped. “I want you.”

“Hmm?” I purred, my fingers squeezing against her windpipe.

“Please,” she begged, and it was what I needed to hear.

“Please what?” I breathed into her ear, positioning my cock against her.

“Please take me! Oh my God…” she moaned.

I would have had her go on longer, but I could take it no longer.

I had been envisioning this minute for weeks and I wasn’t sure how long I could make it last when Vyolet had already proven to be everything I imagined.

Inside her I thrust myself and she released a low, feral moan which only served to make me harder.

Bending her forward, I grunted slightly, feeling the hot, slick envelope of her core wrap around me like a glove.

I plunged forward, hands becoming vices as my movements grew hard, fast and relentless.

Vyolet choked against me but I was half in a haze of passion, relishing the wild bucking as she jerked against me.

I closed my eyes, feeling my sack grow taut and I loosened my hand to stick my fingers in her mouth.

Eagerly she sucked on me and as I felt the hot streams spurt forth into her, another heated jet of Vyolet’s nectar covered my shaft.

In unison we climaxed, a gasping, sweating mess until we had both expelled every drop.

Vyolet pressed her cheek against the cool glass as I slipped out of her, my fingertips rolling over the contours of her body.

She did not turn around immediately but I kept my eyes fixated on her as she found her bearings.

“Vyolet,” I finally said when she refused to look at me. “I don’t want – “

“Uncle Evan! I’m home!”

Vyolet whirled, shoving her black skirt down as she pulled the remnants of her blouse together.

We exchanged a look, but she still did not say anything as Alex came flying into the living room.

“Oh hi Vyolet!” the child called as she entered. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I was just leaving, honey,” she said quickly, scanning the room for her belongings.

“Oh.” The disappointment was obvious in Alex’s voice.

“Actually,” I interjected before Vyolet could disappear. “Vyolet is going to join us for dinner at Cracker Barrel.”

I watched as my niece’s coffee colored eyes brightened instantly.

“Yeah?” she asked happily and Vyolet stared at me.

I couldn’t quite decipher the expression on her face, but something told me it was not genuine pleasure.

Still, I knew she would not refuse Alex and the fact that I was banking on her goodness flooded me with shame.

“I…” Vyolet trailed off, staring at the girl’s hopeful face and I could see her stifling a sigh. “Yes, I am.”

Alex beamed and ran to hug the half-dressed blonde, not seeming to notice that half the buttons had been torn from her shirt and that her makeup was askew.

I tried to cast Vyolet a reassuring look as if to say, “this won’t happen again.”

But she did not look at me as if she already knew I was trying to lie to her telepathically.