Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Ava laughed. “You’re not stupid at all. You know what you could take and what you couldn’t.” Ava shrugged. “I get it. I do.”
“Is there ever something you would love to do?” Lauren asked.
She took a deep breath and frowned. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, I love working with my mom, and if anything were to happen, I’d be there in a heartbeat, but I just know I needed to have something just in case. My dad was a big risk taker, but he also said that as much as he liked to take risks, he liked to weigh his bets.” Ava laughed. “I think to be honest, he always knew how hard-working my mom was, and that no matter what he did, investing in whatever her heart desired was a sure thing. It can be tough, but I know she’s got what it takes.”
“That is how I feel about this place. I just ... I needed something for my own. I don’t know if you know this, but I had no one growing up. I was dumped at a foster place. No name, no date of when I was born. My birthday is literally the day I was dropped off.”
Ava had no idea.
“I spent eighteen years watching families come and pick kids. They never wanted me. They always looked at me and figured I was going to be a handful, or there were prettier kids. Nicer kids. I don’t know. Either way, I always had a dream, and it was to never allow any children I had to end up in that place, to become financially secure, and to be better.” Lauren frowned.
She couldn’t help it, she went to the other woman and wrapped her arms around her. “You are better,” Ava said.
Lauren tensed in her arms and didn’t return the hug. Ava figured she might have crossed the line.
“You go on,” Lauren said. “I’ll clean up here.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“I’ve not upset or offended you?” Ava asked.
“It’s going to take more than a hug to do that.”
Ava didn’t know for sure, but she didn’t argue. Lauren was the boss.
Pat was there, standing by her car. “I’ve got to go and pick up Bernice.”
“Lead the way.”
She got into her car, and her heart raced. Even though it was crazy for her to even think anything was going to happen. They were just going to have some coffee, or tea, or water. She noticed when they arrived at her mother’s place, Pat kept his distance, to the point that no one would be able to see or even hear him.
Her mother was there, with Bernice.
“Are you coming in?” Hazel asked.
“No, no, I’m going to head home. Get some sleep.”
Her mother gave her a weird look, but she didn’t say anything else. Just kissed her on the cheek, wished her a good night, and waited until she got in the car. She strapped Bernice into the car and pulled out of the driveway.
“You cannot tell my mom that Pat came by, and you’re going to have to like Pat, and not just because I tell you to, but because it is a good thing.” She couldn’t believe she was attempting to reason with her dog. She made her way toward the apartment block. Pat followed close behind.
Parking her car in her spot, she climbed out and waited for Bernice to jump down. With her dog by her side, she waited for Pat and made her way toward the building. Typing in her code, she hoped he couldn’t see how nervous she was. She never invited a guy back to her place, certainly not at night. Never at night. She felt like a lot of butterflies were in her stomach, fluttering away.
They got to the elevator and took it to her floor. She rummaged about in the bag, found her keys, and then stepped forward, going to her door.
Bernice had already had her nighttime walk, her feeding, and went straight to bed which Ava had put in her bedroom. Her dog didn’t sleep in her bed, but had a large fluffy bed in a corner of the bedroom, complete with toys.
Ava closed the door behind Pat, and now they were alone. She was about to ask him if he wanted coffee, only she didn’t get to say a word, as he suddenly grabbed her and pressed her up against the door.
“I’ve been wanting to do this all night long,” he said.
And then he kissed her. This was not a gentle kiss. It was a passionate kiss, a consuming kiss, one that made her toes curl, and shot pleasure to her clit, and one she didn’t want to end, as if felt so good. Better than good. This kiss made her forget her own name and what words meant. All she could think and feel was the power of his kiss, and it was truly amazing.