Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I chuckle. “Point taken, Declan.”
He smiles. “I had a brief meeting after lunch. Someone has to take care of business on Sundays.”
That comment is directed at his brother. Sean rolls his eyes. “Get a life, Decky. We have people who can deal with that shit every day of the week. You didn’t have to pull that thing out of your closet and take the meeting yourself. No one is handing out gold stars for your achievements today.”
Their bickering continues as the soft sound of heels hitting the floor pulls my gaze toward the hallway.
I finally see her.
Approaching me dressed in a pair of skintight jeans, a black blazer and, what looks like a T-shirt with a sparkly red print, is Ava.
Jesus. With her hair bunched up in a messy bun on top of her head and pink gloss smeared over her full lips, she looks like every man’s dream.
I tear my gaze away from her because she’s not my dream. She can’t be.
“Ava,” Sean beckons her over. “Harry is here. You remember him, right?”
The heels of her boots tap the floor in a steady, easy rhythm. That slows as soon as she’s a foot in front of me.
I take a deep breath before I look squarely at her face.
She studies me for what can’t be more than a second or two before she clears her throat softly. “I can’t say that I do.”
My jaw tenses as I hold in a laugh.
“Did you and Sean go to that school upstate together?” Her index finger taps her chin. “That’s how you know him, right?”
Sean laughs. “Looks like you’re forgettable, Harry.”
“It seems that way.” I raise my chin. “How have you been, Ava?”
“Good.” Her gaze is stuck on my face. “I’ve been very good.”
“Good,” I repeat. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“And you?” she questions as her brothers watch us. “How have you been?”
Sean’s hand moves to squeeze my shoulder as it always does when someone asks how I am.
“I’ve been great,” I say evenly. “Work is thriving. My family is happy, and your brother is always around to give me a rough time.”
Her gaze trails to where Sean’s hand is resting on my shoulder. “Friends are important.”
“Very,” I punctuate the point by patting my palm in the middle of Sean’s chest. “Our friendship means the world to me.”
“Oh, Harry.” Sean leans in to plant a kiss on my cheek. “You’re going to make me blush.”
That turns Ava around. She walks away from me.
A pang of regret darts through me, but that not-so-subtle reminder that I just sent her about my friendship with her brother was more for my benefit than hers.
Ava Wells will always be off-limits. Nothing will ever change that.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ava
Why did I act as though I didn’t remember Harrison? I suppose I can attribute it to overcompensation. I didn’t want to approach him with a massive grin because that would be a dead giveaway that I was excited to see him.
Instead, I acted aloof and disinterested, resulting in Harry having a mini bromance moment with my brother.
The message he was sending me was crystal clear. His friendship with Sean is important to him. I know it’s just as important to Sean, so I have to stop trying to catch Harry’s eye across the table.
“Your sister has an excellent palate, Harry,” Callie says as she pops another noodle in her mouth.
I have no idea if she’s allergic to seafood, but she hasn’t touched any of the delicious shrimp or lobster she set out in the middle of the table.
She’s been munching away on breadsticks, pasta swimming in decadent sauce, and salad.
I, on the other hand, sampled everything.
“I agree,” I add without glancing to where Harry is seated across from me.
Before dinner started, I tried my best to score the seat at the head of the table so I wouldn’t be facing Harry, but Sean grabbed that one.
“I’ll pass that on to Jos,” Harry says in a low tone. “We’ll add this kit to the rotation.”
“How’s Roxy?” Callie asks. “I was hoping you’d bring her with you.”
I’ve never met Harry’s youngest sister, but I know she attends the same private school I once did. Sean clued me into that a few months ago when he called me to talk about one of my former teachers. Roxy was enrolled in her class at the time. During science week, Sean tagged along with Harry to view Roxy’s exhibit for the science fair. She won first place, which meant she got to take the trophy home for a week. My name is engraved on the same trophy from back in the day when I took the big win.
Sean spent a few minutes talking to my former teacher about my current endeavors. He said she was impressed with my musical abilities but disappointed that I didn’t pursue a career in the sciences.