Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
She nods. “Exactly.”
I’m quiet for a moment. Ava looks so beautiful, but the mood for any kind of sexual encounter has been broken.
Just as well, since I decided I wasn’t going to fuck her tonight anyway.
“I think we could use a walk,” I say. “Would you like to take a walk through town?”
She smiles. “Brendan, that’s a great idea. I think walking would help clear both of our heads.”
I glance out her window. “You’d better grab a jacket. It’s pretty cool in the evenings.”
“Yeah, I’ll change into some jeans. Give me a moment, okay?”
I nod, and she goes to her bedroom.
I try not to think about her taking off her skirt.
She returns a few moments later, wearing jeans—tighter than her usual boyfriend jeans, and her ass looks amazing—and a gray blazer that looks like it might’ve come out of her father’s closet.
It’s very Ava, and it works on her.
“Shall we?” she says.
We walk down the stairs, through the door into the bakery and out the back way.
It’s Saturday night in Snow Creek. Hardly a thriving metropolis. Most of the businesses closed at six, but the restaurants are open. And of course my bar is open, with Laney tending tonight again with help from Maryanne and Nicholas waiting tables.
I take Ava’s hand, small and warm in my own, and she blushes a bit but smiles up at me.
Good.
I guide her out of town, through the small park, and then we walk a few blocks through a residential area.
We don’t talk much, and I figure Ava is thinking about the tarot reading. Maybe about meeting with her mother and what the message might mean.
And while I’m concerned about all of that, I’m mostly thinking about my dick, which is hard, because I’m walking next to Ava Steel.
But damn it, I will not bed her tonight.
We walk back through the main drag in town, and just as we’re passing my bar, Brock Steel and Rory Pike exit.
Ava goes rigid.
“Hey, guys,” I say.
“Brendan, Ava,” Rory says. “Nice to see you.”
My gaze drops to Rory’s left hand. She’s wearing a ring with a giant pink stone.
Ava grabs Rory’s hand. “It’s gorgeous!” She then gives Rory’s hand to me.
I glance down. “So it’s official.”
“Sure is,” Brock says, “so hands off her, both of you.”
Rory laughs and pulls her hand away. “He’s just kidding.”
“That’s what you think.” But Brock smiles.
Rory Pike is gorgeous. All the Pike girls are. But Ava Steel is the most beautiful woman in town in my eyes. In her own exceptional way.
“Brock,” Ava says.
“My cousin’s a little mad at me, if you can’t tell,” Brock says.
“Yeah, I’ve heard the tale.”
“Ava, you want to go into the bar with us?” Brock asks.
“Aren’t you just leaving?”
“We were, but what if I buy you a drink?”
“No. I had two glasses of wine with dinner,” Ava says.
“Okay.” Brock grins. “But you can’t be mad at me forever. I’m just too damned charming for that.”
Rory grabs his hand. “Come on, Brock. I think they’re on a date.”
“He’s taking a date to his own bar?”
“Ignore him.” Rory looks over her shoulder.
The two of them walk hand-in-hand down the street.
“Sorry about that,” I say.
“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong. He’s the one I’m mad at.”
I glance at the door leading into my bar. “You want to go in? Maybe we could both use another drink. And since you’re with me, you don’t have to pay.”
“No,” she says. “I think I’d just like to go home now.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
We walk by the bakery, and I take her through the alley to the back door. “Good night, Ava.”
She lifts her eyebrows. “Don’t you want to come in?”
“Well, of course. I was just going to…”
“Going to what?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I was determined not to go to bed with you tonight, Ava.”
She frowns. “Why? Didn’t you enjoy it the last time?”
“Are you kidding me?” I cup her soft cheek. “It was fucking spectacular.”
“Then what would be a good reason for not doing it again?”
“I don’t want you to think I’m only after one thing.”
“Why would I think that?”
“Because…you’re better than this, Ava. You’re better than going to bed with a guy on the first date.”
Her gaze darkens, and not in a good way. “What the hell is that supposed to mean, anyway?”
“Oh, hell if I know.” I trail my fingers through my long hair, tugging on the ends. “It came out all wrong. You know what? I would love to come upstairs with you. I would love to make love with you all night. But I would also love to just talk. I want to get to know you, Ava. I like you. I would like for this to…lead somewhere.”
She smiles, still holding my hand. “I think I’d like that too. The universe seems to be pushing us together right now, sending us both the same message.”