“Mommy,” Joel squeals, charging across the room, sidestepping numerous boxes onhisway.
“Hi, baby,” I greet back, crouching down to return his embrace. “Did you have funtoday?”
He nods his head excitedly. His elation increases when he notices Belinda standing in the corner of the room. His eyes expand as he licks his lips. He loves Belinda as she sneakily hands him jelly beans when she thinks I’m notlooking.
“Go on,” I say, nudging my head to Belinda. “But don’t eat too many jellybeans as we haven’t had dinner yet. And you’ll have to brush your teeth once you’vefinished.”
Flashing his adorable grin, Joel hotfoots it toBelinda.
His fast steps slow when Belinda says, “Sorry, Joel, I’m all out ofcandy.”
Joel’s lip drops into a pout and a glistening of tears form inhiseyes.
“But there’s an ice cream store half a block down,” Belinda says with her lipsquirked.
Joel’s downcast head rockets up, and his eyes bulge. He loves ice cream nearly as much as he loves pancakes. When Belinda turns her eyes to me, seeking permission, I nod. Joel jumps into the air, throwing his fists up high before he yanks Belinda out of the office and onto the sidewalk, not bothering to bid farewell to Hugoorme.
I rub a kink out of my neck as I pace to the other side of the room. After placing a rolling brush into a bucket of water, I shift on my feet to face Hugo. His brows are furrowed together tightly, and his vibrant eyes are absorbingtheroom.
“What is this place?” he asks, his words sounding as uneasy as his facialexpression.
I bite the inside of my cheek, battling to keep in my smile as I move to the middle of the room. An immature giggle erupts from my lips when I pull a plastic protective sheet off the dental chair and catch sight of Hugo’s fretful face. Anyone would swear I just told him I’m going to extract his teeth without any form of painrelief.
As quick as a flash of lightning sparks a darkened sky, the fret marring Hugo’s face vanishes. His eyes get a renewed spark as a smirk etches onhisface.
“Ava, is this yourpractice?”
My chest swells, honored by the pride inhistone.
I smile and nod. “I’ve been tucking away money the past few years. It’s nothing flashy, butit’smine.”
While Joel has been busy with Hugo, I’ve occupied my time setting up my new practice. When I first walked into this office space six months ago, it took a lot of imagination to visualize the space as anything, let alone a dental practice. It was filthy dirty and roach-infested. But with a little bit of vision, and a hefty loan from the local bank manager, I’m slowly transforming the place from a rundown dump to a small, but clean practice. I’m going to be living off my credit cards for the next twelve months as I build my patient list, but it will be worth the sacrifice to have my own practice.And to be out of Marvin’sclutches.
My pulse quickens when I lock my eyes with Hugo’s twinkling baby blues. He has a venerable smile stretched across his face, and his eyes are sparked withadmiration.
“You did it,” he praisesproudly.
I cringe. “Not yet. But I’mtrying.”
My eyes drift around the half-painted walls and boxes of furniture waiting to be assembled. “I’ve got a long way to go. My doors are supposed to be opening in the New Year. But with how far behind I am, I might have todelayit.”
Hugo removes his thick coat and throws it over an half-assembled officechair.
“Where do you want me to start?” he queries, rolling up his shirtsleeves.
I wave my hand in front of my body. “It’s fine. I’m sure you have other more important thingstodo.”
Hugo arches his brow. “Let me do this. Please, Ava. Not just for you, but Joelaswell.”
My breathing quickens when I peer into Hugo’s eyes. It isn’t just Joel who has fallen in love. Hugo is smitten with himaswell.
“Please, Ava,” he pleads, staring into my eyes. “Give me a chance to make up from some of the wrongsI’vedone.”
My eyes return his beseeching gaze for several heart-clutchingseconds.
“Are you sure you’re not busy?” I ask, my tone hesitant. With everything going on with Marvin, I’m apprehensive to acceptassistance.
Hugo grins a heart-fluttering smile before nodding his head. My eyes dart around the space, not just endeavoring to find a chore to assign Hugo, but struggling to ignore the ludicrous surge of excitement dashing to my core from his panty-wetting smile. Even angrier than the Hulk stuck in a beehive, my body reacts to Hugo as if he owns me. That, in itself, is a truly terrifyingnotion.
