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Ichecked my watch.
Late. Unacceptable.
Annoyance had begun to build. Punctuality had always been important to me, especially in my line of work. Ava didn’t seem to give a damn about any of that, however, a fact made clearer with each minute that ticked past ten.
The coffee shop was bustling all around me—tables packed with men and women in their twenties, most of them with facial piercings and tattoos, their hair dyed in wild, unnatural colors. I couldn’t believe that Ava, Analise’s daughter, was one of these types. The idea of bringing her back home with that purple hair and big silver ring in her nostril was almost unthinkable.
I sipped my coffee, which I had to admit was quite good—much better than back home. As bizarre as these young people looked, they brewed a fine espresso. I sipped and passed the time observing the strange people around me, the skies through the tall front windows of the shop the same thick gray they were the day before.
I glanced over at my phone, strongly considering calling her and demanding to know where she was. I thought better of it, however. If she’d skipped out on the meeting, calling to scold her would only make Ava more certain of her decision. I checked my watch one more time.
Ten minutes. If she’s not here by then, the meeting’s off. Not sure what I’ll tell Alaric, but I’ll figure that out later.
Just as I looked up from my watch, I heard the sound of the entrance door opening and closing. The woman that entered was dressed in a leather jacket and denim shorts, along with a purposefully ripped white T-shirt for one band or another. The sleeve of the jacket rode up enough to see the bottom of a tattoo that appeared to snake up her forearm. I was ready to turn my attention away from the woman until I spotted the now-familiar shade of silvery purple hair atop her head.
Ava looked up, pulling off the rockstar-style sunglasses from her face, the low light of the coffeeshop glinting off her nose ring. I still couldn’t believe that this woman was Analise’s daughter. Never in a million years would a woman like her raise someone like this.
All the same, it was impossible to ignore her beauty. Despite her rough-looking clothes, garish tattoo, and unnaturally colored hair, she was stunning. Her features were sharp and striking, her body curvy in all the right places. Her eyes were such a brilliant blue that they shined like little lights as she whipped off her sunglasses and strode into the place.
The way she walked, the way she carried herself with such confidence and fearlessness was mesmerizing. She effortlessly commanded attention wherever she went, noticing but not caring, not getting wrapped up in it.
As she made her way into the coffee shop, I realized what it was – regal bearing.
Ava blew past me, heading to the counter and exchanging a few friendly words with the barista, the two of them chatting and laughing like old friends for the few moments it took to prepare Ava’s coffee. Once her drink was in hand, she laid those gorgeous blue eyes on me and strode right over.
Ava dropped into the seat next to me, setting down her coffee.
“You’re late,” I said, my tone sharp, as if I were scolding a subordinate.
“Easy,” she said, noticing my tone and rejecting it. “My car died. The battery gave out and I needed to get a jump from my neighbor.”
“You should’ve called me. I would’ve been more than happy to take care of it for you.”
“Thanks, but I handle my own business.”
I should’ve expected that Ava would’ve said something like that. Everything about her, from her look to the small business she’d built herself screamed self-reliance.
She shrugged off her jacket and I could see that the tattoo was an intricate floral piece that dotted not only on her forearm, but wound its way to her shoulder.
“Tell me, what on earth isthat?” I gestured toward the tattoo. In spite of how much I was against it, I couldn’t help but notice the brilliant colors of the design, the artistry of it.
Her reaction was without hesitation. “Are you seriously scolding me about my tattoo the second I was nice enough to come down and meet you? Why don’t you mind your own business?”
I smiled slightly. As impudent as she was being, I couldn’t help but admire her nerve, her fearlessness in standing up for herself. It was another trait that reminded me of her mother.
“Even better,” she went on, “why don’t you get to the point and tell me what the hell all of this is about? How do you know my mom? What do you want from me? What the hell is thisimportant businessyou wanted to talk about?”
When she was done saying her piece, she took her coffee, lifted the lid, and blew on the steaming liquid. Silence filled the air as she sat back. The way she pursed her lips drew attention to her mouth, making me acutely aware of how plush and sensuous it was.
All the same, I was frustrated.
“I have to say that I’m having a hard time processing this. I came here expecting to share the news I have with a sophisticated, charming, polite young woman, like your mother once was.”
I caught myself after I said the words. While I had accurately described Analise, she was far from a docile, plain woman. She had a spine, no fear sticking up for herself.
Ava scoffed. “Well, this is who I am.” She swept her hand over her body; her nails painted a deep silver. “Take it or leave it.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her attitude. The way she behaved and looked might not have been what I’d been expecting, but there was a certain level of amusement to it.
