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“Say hello to my wife if you see her.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me, Van Der Haus?”
He starts to shift, and I smile. Bless him.
“I’m here to meet my girlfriend for lunch, anyway,” I say, and he laughs under his breath, obviously finding the fact I have a girlfriend funny. My nostrils flare, and I look at Ava’s drawings again, talking myself down from punching the bastard.
Then I still, my eyes lifting to the wall before me, feeling Ava close by. Smelling her. I turn and find her motionless in the doorway, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Her eyes bounce from me to Van Der Haus a few times, then she slowly, tentatively, wanders farther into the room. Her dirty look is mild and brief.
“Mikael,” she more or less purrs, putting herself between us at the table.Bad move, Ava. Don’t do silly things like that.
“Ava,” Mikael says, clearing his throat. “Let me introduce you. This is Jesse Ward. He bought the penthouse at Lusso. I was showing Mr. Ward your designs. He’s as impressed as I am.” He’s squeezing every word out, his jaw tight, not that Ava notices. She’s too busy preparing to take the power back.
“That’s nice.” She doesn’t even look at me, pushing my buttons further when she gives me her back. “Should we schedule our next meeting now?”
What the fuck is she playing at?
I’m a whole head taller than Ava, so I see the delight on Mikael’s face. The smugness. He thinks he has the upper hand. He thinks Ava isn’t interested in Jesse Ward, the man who bought Lusso. The man to whom every woman gives a second look. Except, apparently, his girlfriend when she’s got the hump with him.
“Yes, that would be good. Does Friday afternoon suit?” he asks. “We can meet at Life and get a rough idea on quantities. Maybe I could buy you lunch?”
“Friday afternoon suits me fine and lunch would be lovely.”
Oh, she’s gone too far. It’s time for a... what does she call it?Trample.
Both of them.
I move my mouth close to her nape and breathe all over it, delighting in the subtle lift of her shoulders. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” I whisper, placing my hands on her shoulders, watching Van Der Haus as I do. He’s not copped on yet, not grasped what’s happening, his face a picture of blankness. I’ll soon fix thatandmy love’s obstinacy. I turn Ava to face me, and she peeks up, her eyes round.Yes, Ava. Yes, I’m doing this.“Baby,” I purr, “have you forgotten I’m taking you shopping?”
She just stares at me, speechless.
“I didn’t realize you knew each other.” Van Der Haus steps back, his blue eyes squinting, like he’s thinking really hard.
“I was in the area.” It’s time to enlighten the prick; I’ll deal with the consequences when I have to. “And I knew the love of my life was here. I thought I would slip in and get my fix.”And you can watch, you womanizing, bitter dickhead.“I’m not going to see her for another four hours.” I keep my warning glare on Van Der Haus as I drop my mouth to Ava’s ear. “I missed you.” I feel it’s not enough marking of one’s territory, so I turn her in my arms and pull her back into me, cuddling her from behind, holding her tightly. I kiss the side of her head, eyes still on Van Der Haus.
“I’m sorry,” he splutters in disbelief. He better believe it. And he better back the fuck off. “When you mentioned you were here to meet your girlfriend, I didn’t realize you were referring to Ava.”
“Yes, isn’t she beautiful?” I kiss her again. “And all mine,” I say, tilting my head, making myself as clear as possible, so if this doesn’t stop, it’s entirely Van Der Haus’s fault when I annihilate him.
He’s quiet for a few thoughtful moments, obviously thinking hard about his next move. It better be the right one.
“Mr. Ward,” he says, forcing a smile to within an inch of his life. “If I had an Ava, I’ve no doubt I would do exactly the same.” But he doesn’t have an Ava. I, however, do.TheAva. “Perhaps Monday would be more suitable?” No, not Monday either. But for now, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I’ve made my point.
“Of course, Monday will be fine.” Ava rolls her shoulders, trying to break free. It only makes me cling tighter.
Mikael flicks me a cautious look as he holds out his hand. “I’ll call you to arrange a time once I’ve checked my diary.”
My rabid stare is telling him to never call her again.
Ava shakes his hand. “I look forward to it.”
I flick my hips out, prodding her. There she is. The woman who cannot help poking me.
Van Der Haus slowly and thoughtfully leaves but stops at the entrance. He looks back and our eyes lock. His look darkens, disbelief and anger rolling into one. It tells me this isn’t over. It tells me he’s retreating to regroup. I silently wish him good luck, my return stare telling him he’s a dead man if I see him again.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” Ava whispers, stock-still in my hold, out of fight. “You’ve just trampled my most important client.”
I turn her toward me, getting up close. “Who is your most important client?”
