Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Gideon gave him a hearty hand clasp.
And finally, when they were once again mingling, Ransom could look for Ava.
Chapter Fifteen
When Ransom turned, his gaze met Ava’s across the pool deck, and his eyes widened, almost as if he was shocked to see her. Then a lady-killer smile curved his lips, and his eyes—God, his eyes seemed to touch every part of her, lighting a fire in her.
Just when she thought he’d approach, he saluted her and headed toward the kitchen, where Fernsby was most likely taking over the preparations as if he were the master chef, and Gabby would be adding last-minute touches to the wedding cake. Her sister would fiddle and fiddle until she achieved perfection, even if it took hours.
Only as she exhaled did Ava realize she’d been holding her breath during the entire wordless exchange that felt as if it said so much.
Clustered with Kelsey Collins, Tasha Summerfield, Charlie, Will’s wife, Harper, and Cammie, Ava was suddenly brought back to the moment as Kelsey said, “Well, that was the sweetest thing—champagne as a wedding gift.” The news had swiftly made the rounds of the guests.
Ava liked Kelsey, Evan Collins’s sister, her blond hair curled expertly for the wedding, when normally she wore it straight.
But it was Cammie who said, “I’ve always liked Ransom. He’s just so easy and accommodating to work with.”
Why did they have to be talking about Ransom? Ava’s heart still felt as if it were fluttering away after him.
Then Cammie asked, “How’s it going with your catering problem?”
It was almost a relief to spend a few minutes explaining to the other ladies about firing her catering company. “Ransom has jumped in with both feet. It’s really taken a load off my mind. The menus he’s created are really good.”
Kelsey nudged Tasha. “Of course he creates fabulous menus. Just like he has for the wedding.” Then she smiled with a knowing look, as if she sensed something was going on between Ava and Ransom. Kelsey could sniff out even the tiniest hint of romance in the air.
But they were right. What Ransom had done for Rosie and Gideon was so sweet. She felt as though he was taking a pickax to the wall she was trying to keep high between them, and another chunk was falling away.
“He really is a great guy,” Tasha said, flipping her long, silky black hair over her shoulder. Ava expected Tasha and Daniel Spencer to announce an engagement any day now. After all, love was in the air.
She didn’t allow herself to blush. “He’s been very accommodating.” It was the best word Ava could think of without actually gushing. And without telling them about the amazing day she and Ransom had spent together—the traffic jam, Supermart, Motel Y, pancakes the next morning, and dinner at his restaurant. The details were too new to share, too sensitive, her feelings too perplexing.
Harper added in her sweet voice, “The two of you look so good together.”
Against her will, Ava’s cheeks heated, even as she was shaking her head. Before she could get out the word no, the other ladies were chiming in. “I mean,” Charlie said, “we know how intimidated most men are by you because you’re so brilliant and successful. But you wouldn’t have that problem with Ransom.”
“Of course it wouldn’t be an issue,” Kelsey agreed. “He’s like the most famous chef in the whole country.” She winked. “Even the whole world.”
A nervous heat wave washed through her body, and Ava grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, downing half of it in one gulp.
All the women were eyeing her now.
“Wait.” Kelsey’s eyes glittered with interest. “Is there a story here?”
She didn’t want to lie to them. And really, nothing was going on. Yet, even as another wave of heat suffused her body, it felt altogether different. It warmed her insides with a beautiful thought.
Maybe I have some new friends here.
They actually understood. She was a female executive who intimidated men. It was much like the discussion she’d had with Ransom the other day. She always had to be on guard, always had to look for ulterior motives, always had to fight for her right to be who she was instead of whatever “the man” wanted her to be.
But she didn’t have to be guarded with these women, and she was so happy to be included in their group, included in their lives. She didn’t have many female friends. She’d always had Gabby, but even though Gabby was her best friend, it was somehow different from having a friend you hadn’t grown up with.
She wanted this kind of friendship for Gabby too—friendship with women who respected you, even admired you.
She and Gabby were so often surrounded by men in their chosen careers. Even when socializing, which Ava did often as part of her job, many of her associations were with men. And their wives seemed to view her differently because she was part of the business world, a world that was open to them only on the periphery. She’d felt that sometimes they even looked down on her, like there was something wrong with her that she was married to her career and wasn’t a mother.