9
Ava’s handswere shaking as she gripped her book and pushed the door to Brewed Awakenings open.
Viv was leaning over a table wiping it down and she looked up when the bell rang.
“Hey lady, you just missed Big City Billy Badass now known as Joe Friday. He left his card, he wants us to go down to the police station to file a report about you being roofied,” she mouthed. “Normally, I live by the creed snitches get stitches but I will do anything to put a piece of s-h-i-t who takes advantage of women behind bars.”
Audrey had insisted Viv stop cursing in the coffee shop, so their sister had started spelling out her obscenities instead. Ava thought she was missing the point. It wasn’t as if the customers couldn’t spell. But she figured it was between Viv and Audrey and she was staying out of it.
Ava could barely speak as she pointed back toward the door as she tried to explain to her sister what had just happened. “He’s...he’s...”
Viv grinned with a knowing expression and a twinkle in her eyes. “I know, he is hot as f-u-c-k.”
“No...I mean...yes he is but no, it’s him!” Ava emphasized the word hoping that her sister would understand what she was trying her best to convey.
Viv stared at her blankly. It was clear that Ava wasn’t explaining herself well enough for her sister to get the gist. In her defense, she’d just run into the man that had not only saved her life, but that she’d been fantasizing about for seven years. Her mind, and limbs were both big ol’ bowls of Jell-O.
Ava took a steadying breath and tried to gather her wits which had scattered to the wind the second she’d looked up into the soulful brown eyes that had haunted her for the past seven years. Using as few words as possible to explain the situation, Ava was able to say, “He is tall, dark, and dangerous.”
Viv didn’t react and for a moment Ava tried to figure out how she could possibly explain the situation any clearer, but before she did Viv shouted, “Holy shit!”
Apparently, the spell cussing was out the window. Ava looked over her shoulder at the half-dozen customers that were still sitting scattered around the coffee shop. None of them seemed the least bit bothered, which meant they were most likely locals who were accustomed to Viv’s colorful vernacular.
“Wait, are you sure?” Viv suddenly appeared skeptical. “Maybe he just looks like—”
“No.” Ava shook her head. “I talked to him. It’s him. Asher Ford is tall, dark, and dangerous.”
For so many years Ava wondered what her knight-in-shining-armor’s name was and now she knew it. Asher Ford. Even his name was hot.
Viv pointed to the oversized brown sofa that sat against the far wall of the coffee shop. “Sit. You are going to tell me everything that just happened.”
Ava did as her sister instructed. As she sank into the leather cushions the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. No longer was her fantasy man just a fantasy. Her hero was real. Flesh and blood. And he had a daughter who went to the camp she was working at.
It’s fate, she heard her mother’s voice in her head.
Normally she ignored the romantic notions of the spirit of her mother, but there was no way that she could ignore this one. What were the odds that she and tall, dark, and dangerous would both be living in Hope Falls?
“Okay, start from the beginning. Don’t leave anything out.”
“I went to Read Between the Lines to get Emma’s newest book and when I tried to pay, I realized I forgot my bag so I came back. I got a text from Ian—”
“What did the ball-less wonder want?”
“He wants to talk.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“No,” Ava shook her head. “I’m going to, but no. Anyway, I was putting my phone away, and my head was down as I turned the corner and I walked right into him. Literally. I face planted into his chest and—”
“What did he do? What did he say? What did you say?”
Ava might be a basket case right now, but Viv was acting more anxious than she was. “I’ll tell you if you let me finish.”
“Well, you’re not getting to the good part fast enough.”
“I’ve barely said anything,” Ava defended herself.
“I know.” Viv clapped her hands. “Get to it!”
