Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
“Fucker,” Drew grunts.
“So what did you do?” Sam asks, interested.
“About Mike? Nothing.” I’m still considering my options. “About Coral? I’ve lent her some money and sent her to a hotel for a few nights.” Both men recoil, alarmed, and I look between them. “What?”
“And you called me a dick?” Sam laughs.
“What the fuck was I supposed to do?”
“Um.” Drew starts waving. “Bye.”
“Leave a woman to sleep on the street? No money, no food?”
“Jesus, Jesse. I thought you were a smart man.” Drew shakes his head and gets down off his stool, joining a group in the corner.
I frown and Sam sighs. “It’s commendable, mate, but I think she’s leading you down the garden path.”
“You didn’t see her,” I snap, taking my water and drinking. “She was in a state. I couldn’t leave her like that, and I definitely didn’t want her shouting her mouth off with Ava around. I want to explain to Ava myself, not have her hear it from—”
“Another woman who’s in love with you?” He shakes his head in despair, and I look over my shoulder, wondering what’s taking Ava so long.
“Don’t worry,” I muse, thoughtful. “They’re dropping like flies.”
“So you’ll talk to Ava?”
“I haven’t been given much choice, have I?” My girl might have dropped it for this evening, but you bet the moment she opens her eyes in the morning, the questions will come. I’m just really fucking happy that Freja Van Der Haus is out of the picture, because that shit would stick and never let go. Her husband, however, is another matter entirely. Fuck. I get off my stool. “I’m going to find Ava.”
“Worried someone’s in her ear?”
“No.” Yes.
I step out of the bar and see her immediately, her back to me. And my heart sinks when I register Sarah with her.
Oh fuck.
34
I can’t see Ava’s eyes, but I can guarantee they’re currently looking up and down Sarah’s front in a way only a pissed-off woman could achieve. “Less is more, Sarah. Have you ever heard of that saying? You would do well to remember it, especially at your age.”
I flinch, as does Sarah. Jesus Christ. Those claws are swiping unapologetically. This isn’t Ava.
No, you’ve made her like this.
I’m flinching again. “Ava?” I say quietly, and she swings around. “What’s going on?”
Sarah leaves, her face a confusing mix of anger and hurt. Sarah doesn’t do hurt. I get nothing from Ava, she just looks around the foyer as members pass, some going upstairs. It’s not ten thirty. But I don’t have the capacity or inclination right now to stop them. I take a couple of steps toward her, cautious, like I’m approaching a volatile animal. “Ava?”
She looks at me, a swirl of emotions in her eyes, and I stop moving forward when she retreats. “I’m leaving,” she says, shaking her head, as if in disappointment, as she turns and walks away from me.
She’s leaving? “Ava,” I call making chase. Again. Always fucking chasing this woman. Her pace increases, like she genuinely thinks she can outrun me. Not ever, and definitely not in heels. “Ava, get your fucking arse here,” I yell at her back, seeing Kate up ahead, looking at us both charging toward her. Ava’s approaching the steps, her hands gathering the bottom of her dress. She’ll break her fucking neck.
I leap down the steps, missing Kate’s static form by a hair’s breadth, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, and get myself in front of Ava, dipping a little to catch her on my shoulder. She yelps as she collides with me and gasps as I hoof her up. “You’re not fucking going anywhere, lady.”
“Let go of me,” she shrieks as I carry her back into The Manor, alarmed looks coming at us from all directions. What the fuck is going on? She went to the ladies’, she was fine, and now she’s far from fucking fine. Don’t tell me an altercation with Sarah caused this severe flip in mood. “Jesse!”
“What’s going on?” Kate asks as I march back past her.
“He’s an arsehole,” Ava spits maliciously, and I laugh sardonically. I’m an arsehole? Five minutes ago, she was sorry. She was all over me. And now I’m an arsehole? It would be lovely to know exactly what has made me an arsehole in the five minutes since she left me in the bar. “Jesse, put me down.”
“No,” I grunt, jolting a little, getting a better hold of her before she wriggles off. Did Sarah say something? Is that what this is about? I look at Kate flanking me, her face demanding answers. I’d love to enlighten her. “It’s fine, Kate.” My jaw is aching it’s so tense. “I just need a little chat with Ava.”
She falls back, and I increase my stride, walking through the middle of endless staff who’ve cleared the tables in the summer room. For fuck’s sake, the band’s not even started yet and members are already creeping off upstairs.