Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I give her what she calls my fallen-angel look. “Who says? You haven’t had sex in a car yet, and I know you enjoy new experiences.”
She bites her lip as a shiver runs through her, and I grin. Ava smiles back, but shakes her head. “You know you can talk me into anything, but I have a lunch appointment.”
“I can only talk you into things because you’re brave enough to try them.” I nibble her lower lip, then set her reluctantly back in the passenger seat. “Not today, but we’ll have to try the car thing soon. Especially someplace like this, where there are people around.”
She sucks in a breath. “You are such a devil.”
“And you love it.” I pull out smoothly onto the road.
“Yes, I do.”
I pick up her hand and kiss the tips of her fingers. “I love you too.”
And I do. Ava’s the perfect woman for me: bold and independent, with a genuine depth of sweetness that I’m fully and unapologetically addicted to. I’m looking forward to spending the rest of my life getting better acquainted with all her quirks, passions, and secret desires.
Erik and Brax are a bonus. The brothers I never had, like Brax said, and I like that there are three of us taking care of her, and not just in bed. We’ve formed our own little family, and it works.
Whatever career I take up eventually, it needs to be something that gives me a lot of flexibility. If we have kids, I want to be with them as much as possible, not just at night. Besides, there’s no such thing as a time of day when I’m not happy to back Ava up against a wall and treat us both to a quickie, or a not-so-quickie.
I never could have predicted any of this the night she walked into my bar, but sometimes the curveballs life throws at you are better than anything you could have planned. Ava’s the best surprise I could ever have been gifted with.
AVA
Gray’s car makes short work of the traffic, and we pull up outside the restaurant with time to spare, even after our makeout session. “See you tonight,” I say as I open the door.
“You’ll get a ride home with your friends?”
“I think so. I’ll let you know if not.” I climb out, blow him a kiss, and shut the door.
Lexy and Ember come in from the parking garage and we’re shown to a window table, which looks out onto a side yard where there’s a pretty succulent garden. We start with our usual catching up, but I notice that Ember seems on edge. “What’s up?” I ask.
She takes a breath. “I may have a situation.”
“Oh?”
“A more-than-one-guy situation.”
Lexy and I put down our forks and lean in. “Do tell.”
After lunch, they do give me a ride home, and when my homework is done, I get inspired to try a new recipe for dinner. My efforts to expand my repertoire of dishes don’t often go well, but this one seems simple enough.
An hour later, the kitchen is filled with smoke and I’ve set off the detectors. All the men come out to help me clean up.
ERIK
“I should stick to making sandwiches,” Ava groans.
I grin.
“The edible kind,” she adds pointedly.
My grin gets bigger.
“Oh, stop,” she says, laughing.
I go over and drop a kiss on her lips. “We like sandwiches, hon.”
When Ava confessed to me that she thought of me as her “Boy Scout” boyfriend, I had to laugh. I mean, I was a literal Boy Scout, but it’s been lots of fun showing Ava I’ve got a naughty side, too.
And it’s been more gratifying than I could have imagined to see her embrace the fullness of who she is. I know the situation with her family hurts, but she’s not letting it define her.
I wonder sometimes if it’s worth trying to go and talk to Aaron, or if he’s too far gone to be reachable. My gut says that if he hasn’t found it in his heart to accept Ava yet, he’s not going to, but part of me still wishes I could make things better for her.
With my promotion at work a few months ago, I’m traveling less and working from home more, which suits me. I hope Ava wants kids, and soon; I’d never pressure her, but I would fucking love to be home with a kid or three. For now, though, it’s good that she can focus on her classes.
I’ve always known Ava was special. Long before I left the church, I had a soft spot for her, and I’ll never stop being thankful that life has brought us together this way. She’s beautiful inside and out, the perfect partner for the three of us.
When I used to imagine a life with Ava, it never looked like this. But she’s happy, and that’s what matters most. Gray and Brax are good guys, the best friends I could have asked for on this adventure.