AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re not going to keep that hidden from me, are you?” Rosa indicated the buttons on his shirt.
“Here?” He grinned, shaking his head as if he considered the idea.
“I’ll show you mine.” Rosa’s hand moved under the table between her and Wesley.
Wesley lowered his gaze toward the woman’s thighs. “Nice!” His eyes lifted to meet Rosa’s knowing smile.
Ava flicked her long hair over her shoulder, feeling heat rising up her neck.Damn him!She’d planned to wear her hair up tonight, but she’d felt forced to leave it down and hide her dirty little secret. While she fumed that Wesley was treated to a sexy peek of who-knows-what under the table, she glared at Rosa’s husband, hoping his jealousy genes would kick in.
As Wesley unbuttoned his shirt and flashed his muscled chest, Cliff merely glanced in his direction as his wife put her fingertips on the dragon, tracing the circle.
Ava gnashed her teeth and dug her fingernails deep into the plush fabric on her chair.
Wesley
Wesley couldn’t keep his eyes off Ava, even with the alluring Rosa Hathaway seated next to him, lifting her dress and running her fingers over his exposed chest. After Wesley had seen his logo tattooed on Ava, he was hooked—stoked even. He wanted to talk about it, shout it from the rooftops that his muse wore his brand.
“Love this,” Rosa cried, withdrawing her intimate touch.
“Rosa,” Ava barked over the din, “what kind of ink do you have? A rose?”
“No. I have a hummingbird found only in the archipelago of my native country, the Dominican Republic.”
Wesley nodded. “The hummingbird symbolizes joy, healing, and good luck, among other things.”
“You are very intuitive. I like a man who is open-minded.” Rosa spoke all about her birthplace as the first course hit the table. By the third course, Wesley learned where Rosa vacationed at Christmas and shopped for the holidays. But during the entire dinner, he still couldn’t keep his eyes or thoughts off Ava.
He had hoped his mention of his tattoo would make Ava bring up hers. As much as he wanted her to show it, he sensed she still wasn’t happy about it. Tapping his foot impatiently through dessert, and Brock’s long-winded speech, he was the first up when Jorge suggested they move into the Seashell room for aperitifs. He hurried to reach her side of the grand table, hoping to capture Ava so he could get her alone and tell her what a wonderful day he had with her. To his utter disappointment, Todd whisked her away, disappearing for three-quarters of an hour.
Todd finally turned up in the Seashell room and collected a glass of beer from the antique bar. Brock welcomed him with a kiss as the room full of fashionable guests cheered. Wesley clapped, lacking gusto as he stared at the empty entrance where Todd had emerged. He waited with bated breath to lay his eyes on Ava, but she never appeared.
Where are you? Why do you always slip away?
Wesley considered she might have gone to her room. They’d had a very late evening last night. One that ended unexpectedly. Ava had planted a steamy kiss on his lips when he’d guided her into bed. A tantalizing kiss she didn’t seem to remember. It had taken all his control to halt her—for a second time. But now that he’d sampled her passion, he knew the connection was made, solid and true. He not only wanted her, but he also needed her. Setting aside his mineral water, he prepared to hunt her down, a repeat of last night. He had to be near her right now, though he wouldn’t go as far as knocking on her bedroom door.
He wandered down the corridor where he’d found her hiding last night, finding the parlor empty. Discreetly roaming the hallways and peering into ornately decorated rooms, he chatted with other guests he encountered until the hours slipped by. He circled back to the Seashell room to hear Brock announce that he and Todd would be retiring to get their beauty sleep before their big day. As guests bid them goodnight and made their way out the door, Wesley hung back, gazing out the windows facing the ocean.Had Ava gone outside? Too dark to see anything.After saying goodnight to his hosts, he went outdoors instead of going upstairs to his room.
The ocean breezes immediately calmed the turmoil churning in his gut at having missed his muse all evening.If he felt this way now, how was he going to feel when she left after the ceremony tomorrow?Fresh panic bloomed in his chest at these strange feelings.
Hours later, he tossed and turned in bed as visions of Ava filled his dreams, becoming his savior character in an ancient world built on high-altitude mountains. Then his dreams turned intimate. The feel of her curvy body and supple lips against him seemed real. He sat up, waking with a pounding heart and muddled mind. Dropping his bare feet to the floor, he desperately wanted to knock on her door.
He scrubbed his weary face in his hands. Going to her room at this hour, after he’d stopped her kisses on more than one occasion, would probably get him punched in the gut. This thought only had him remembering the angry spark in her sexy eyes when she challenged him. He threw his head on the pillow with a huff. Settling into the mattress and tucking in headphones, he focused on his breathing and launched a guided meditation.
Morning came too quickly, but he bounded out of bed, eager to see Ava again.
But, once again, she eluded him until moments before the ceremony.
“Ava, you look lovely.”
She paused as her gaze raked over his torso, making his pulse increase. “Thanks.” Though she hadn’t returned the compliment, he gleaned she liked what she saw.
The groomsmen duty had him occupied with helping guests take their seats on the white chairs placed in rows on the lawn. Music played and the sun hung in a cloudless sky. Once guests were seated, the tempo of the music changed and the ceremony commenced.
Three long hours passed through the nuptials and the late afternoon meal. Though the festivities would last until late into the evening, some guests were leaving to catch flights or drive home. Lingering at the dinner table, Wesley struck up easy conversation to get Ava talking. She’d been particularly quiet today.
“What do you do for work now? Since you left the army.”
Ava took a deep breath, seeming to consider the answer. “I’ve been interviewing all over the country, hoping to get a flying gig—but somewhere nice with good schools for Jack.”
