Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
I see a hint of a smile as I take her hand. So soft compared to my rough, stoneworn palms.
A slight blush comes across her cheeks, sending blood rushing between my legs. I scoot closer, closing the distance between us.
There’s something so attractive—so feminine about her that it makes me want to just lift her up onto the bar right here and now and fuck her. No woman has ever made me this hot.
“Kidnap me?” she muses, biting her lower lip like she’s actually thinking about it. “You’re funny.”
“You think I’m kidding?” I ask. “I’m not. What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Ava. My name’s Ava.”
I nod, tasting her name as I repeat it. “Ava, my name’s Rick.”
I hear shouting from the door but ignore it. Nothing in the world matters right now but her.
We both just stare at each other like we’re trying to read each other’s minds. It’s hypnotizing. I came here for a beer and some relaxation, and now my whole world’s been turned upside down.
“And you’ve been married off, Ava?” I finally ask. She looks away, and I feel a draining sense of loss in my chest. Christ, what is this girl doing to me?
She nods, causing my body to flood with anger.
What kind of parents could do that to this sweet angel?
“My dad, he—”
“And what about your mom? She didn’t have anything to say about this?”
“My mom, right,” she scoffs as if my suggestion were ridiculous. “Let’s just say my mom cares more about her jewelry and what’s in her closet than my well-being.”
The clamor by the door rises. Ava looks past me in its direction, and her face suddenly goes pale as moonlight.
“Oh, no…”
“What is it?” I turn and see two men in suits, big, burly-looking bastards, marching toward us. Their eyes are fixed on her.
“My…husband’s men. They followed me!”
“I’ll handle them.” I’m on my feet in an instant, but she grabs my wrist and shakes her head.
“No, please. It will just cause more problems.”
I’m a man who acts. I don’t hold back. But I can see by the look in her eyes that the last thing she wants is me causing a scene. So I sit back down.
Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to defend her. Break the faces of these two stooges and take her somewhere safe.
But it’s not what she wants, and the last thing I want to do is make her life harder for her.
So I quickly pull out one of my business cards, scribble my personal cell number on the back, and hand it to her.
“If you need me. Call.”
Her eyes sparkle as the two men close in.
“There she is,” one of them barks.
“Thought you could run off on Mr. Cooper? Think again.” He glances at me and cracks his knuckles. “Who the fuck are you?”
Oh, if only he knew who he was messing with. I could drop this guy and his pal and not even break a sweat. But I told Ava I wouldn’t, so as hard as it is, I turn away and head for the door.
It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, going back out to my truck and driving home. All I can think about is her and whether she’s safe.
Who is this Mr. Cooper bastard pretending to be her husband?
I’m flooded with jealousy, even though I know she doesn’t love him, I still can’t get the idea out of my head that he might try and have his way with her.
It is their wedding night, after all…
“Stop it!” I shout, slamming my fist against the dash, shattering one of the blowers.
The drive home is like torture, and when I finally get back to my house, all I can do is pace around like a maniac. Clearing my mind is impossible. I’m plagued with terrible thoughts.
Finally, after two hours, I manage to calm down enough that I can lie down on the couch and stare up at the ceiling.
Where are you, sweetheart? Are you okay? Don’t let him touch you…
My phone buzzes on my chest, and my eyes snap open. I glance at the clock and realize I’ve fallen asleep. It’s nearly two in the morning.
Quickly, I check the alert and see a text from an unknown number, and my heart skips a beat.
I open it. There’s no name, but that doesn’t matter. I know instantly who it’s from.
So, about that kidnapping thing…
4
AVA
“Does this look like a penis?” my aunt Sylvia asks me, pointing to the design in the foam of her latte. I stifle a laugh.
“I think it’s supposed to be a mushroom.”
“No, that’s a penis,” she insists. “I know a penis when I see one.”
I point up to the sign: Happy Shrooms Coffee. A little smiling mushroom man holding up a mug. “See? I think it’s in reference to that.”
She looks over, grimaces, then shrugs. “I still think it’s a penis.”