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Kade stared at the brown skinned stunner across from him in complete awe. She was smart, ambitious, witty and she seemed to genuinely like him. Too bad you’ve forced her to be your fake fiancé. He was starting to think maybe Violet was right, he should have gotten a real girlfriend. “You’re a pretty impressive woman Ava.” He held his drink up and she knocked her glass with his. “I have to know Ava. You’re gorgeous, smart, funny and ambitious, why haven’t you dated in awhile?”
She shrugged and told him the whole sordid tale of Robert and her failed relationships on the road. She wasn’t ashamed, well maybe about the whole Robert thing, and it’s not like this was a real date anyway. Even if it felt like it was.
“I know what your problem is,” he said smugly, sitting back in his chair with those muscular arms folded over his chest.
She wanted to be offended except that teasing glint in those mesmerizing green eyes gave him way. “Oh yeah? Do tell.”
“The guys you date are blind, deaf and dumb.”
Now it was her turn to toss her head back and laugh, probably louder than was acceptable in a restaurant like the one they were in, but she couldn’t help it. “Present company excluded.”
Kade couldn’t tear his gaze away from the long column of her neck as she leaned back laughing. The tops of her breasts shook ever so slightly with laughter and he was enchanted, something he hadn’t been in a long time. “Damn straight,” he smiled in response.
“I’m moving in with Kade,” Ava figured it was best to tell her best friend by ripping the Band-Aid off.
Sophie looked up from her laptop, eyes wide with shock and something else. She tossed her laptop aside and jumped up, wrapping her arms tight around Ava’s neck. “Is this for real? Are you serious? Are you guys serious?”
Ava peeled Sophie’s strong arms from her neck and stepped back. She hated lying but she made a promise. “Yes I’m for real and quite serious. As far as us being serious,” she lifted up her hand to show off the ridiculous diamond Kade insisted she wear, “he’s asked me to marry him.” Ava braced herself.
Sophie jumped up and down screaming, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!”
“Calm down Soph, I think all of Rainbow Springs can hear you.” She wished she could be as excited as her friend. Unfortunately Ava was stuck with truth and reality.
“Why aren’t you more excited? Don’t you love it, love him?”
This was it, the first test. Ava pinned a smile to her face and let her eyes go dreamy. “Of course I do Soph, but I can’t help but be skeptical. What does a billionaire want with me?” That stung a little, was a bit too close to home but luckily Kade didn’t really love her so it was a fictional sting.
“Get outta here,” Sophie wrapped an arm around Ava’s shoulder. “He’d have to be an idiot not to realize how stunning you look, that crazy sexy body and that wicked sharp intelligence. I know it hasn’t been long but you’re awesome and if he doesn’t know that, well send him to me and I’ll tell him a thing or two.”
“Trust me, I know,” a familiar voice boomed in her small apartment.
Both women turned at the deep voice and gasped. Sophie recovered faster. “Kade Steele you are one lucky man. Ava is the best,” she extended a hand out to him. “And just wow, you really are better looking in person.” She turned to hug Ava. “Let me know if I need to beat him up, okay? Call me, love you!” And she was gone and Ava was alone in her apartment. With Kade.
He laughed, “Your friend is quite the character. I like her.”
His kind words were enough to settle her nerves. “Yeah Sophie is my best friend. She’s crazy but I love her.”
“Not that crazy,” he stroked his chin, “After all she did say I was better looking in person.”
Ava laughed and tossed a throw pillow at him. “I said she was crazy, not blind.” She turned back to him, “What are you doing here?”
Kade frowned, “You’re moving in today.” At her blank stare his voice turned gruff. “I’m helping you move your stuff.”
She smiled. “Oh. You didn’t have to do that.”
Kade crossed the room in several long strides, his expression dark. “Let’s get one thing straight honey. I’m not about to let you move into my house all by yourself. That’s not how I do things.”
“Let? Kade Steele you may be the master of your universe,” she poked him in the chest, “but you can’t let me do anything. I don’t ask permission from you or anyone else. Got it?”
“As long as you’re not doing anything crazy or dangerous, maybe.” At her incredulous look he leaned down until her breath fanned his face. “Ava I take care of what’s mine and like it or not, you’re mine.”
Whoa. How could a girl not like being the focus of all that masculine energy? She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes to shut down the desire suddenly bubbling to the surface. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time Kade, and I’ve done just fine.”
Kade reached out and grasped her chin in his fingers, tilting her head so she was looking at him. “You’re not alone now Ava and for as long as that’s true I’m going to look out for you. Get used to it.”
There was no point arguing with him when he got all alpha, she realized and she removed herself from his grasp and walked to her bedroom. She looked over her shoulder, “Since you want to be so helpful, pack up the list in the kitchen, the box is on the floor.” She quietly closed the door behind her. Being in such close proximity to him was messing with her head, her body. It was making her want things she’d shut down years ago, after Robert.
Falling for and losing a man like Kade would destroy her.
