CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Saturday arrived, and Ava found herself immersed in a winter wonderland. The Annual Snowball was a vision of winter elegance, capturing the magic of the season with breathtaking decor. Soft blues, crisp whites, and shimmering silver filled the hotel ballroom. Snowflakes of various shapes and sizes hung from the ceiling, casting a delicate glow under the crystal chandeliers. Twinkling lights gave the illusion of gentle snowfall, and tables were draped in white linen with centerpieces of silver branches frosted in faux snow, accented with icy blue glass ornaments.
It was a stunning sight, and Ava couldn’t help but feel a little swept up in the beauty of it.
But as she sipped her champagne and walked the room, her dark navy blue gown trailing behind her, she couldn't shake the emptiness of being there alone. She was still a little bummed that Aussie couldn’t make it, though she understood he had a job to do. Still, she wished he were here with her, even if just for a dance or two.
As her eyes scanned the room, she offered polite smiles and nods to those who greeted her. She’d barely made it halfway across the ballroom when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Ava.” A familiar voice greeted her, though it lacked the warmth that once brought a bit of comfort to her.
When she turned, she found Jarod standing there. His tuxedo was perfectly tailored. The smile on his face was overkill.
She forced a polite smile as she tried to tamp down her irritation. “Jarod,” she greeted, her tone flat and lacking any excitement.
Ignoring her coldness, he slipped easily into a version of himself she knew well—polished, confident, and slightly arrogant.
“Wow, Ava. You look stunning,” he told her as his eyes raked over her body.
“Thank you,” she replied. She had no intention to return the compliment.
As the soft music played in the background, an awkward silence settled between the two.
Jarod was the first to speak. “Listen, Ava,” he started as he stepped closer. “we really need to—”
“This isn’t the place or time to get into that,” Ava interrupted, her tone firm but calm. “Clint asked me to give you this.” She handed him the sealed envelope, her fingers brushing his briefly before she stepped back, reclaiming her space.
Jarod took the envelope but didn’t open it. Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re leaving already?”
“I only came to make an appearance and to give you that since Clint couldn’t make it,” she said. “I’ll let you get back to the gala.” She turned to leave, but his hand closed around her arm, not hard, but enough to stop her.
“Ava, wait,” he said, his voice carrying a mix of insistence and something she couldn’t quite place.
She stiffened, pulling her arm free with a quick motion. Before she could say anything, a group of men approached, their laughter and conversation cutting through the tension. Jarod turned to them, his expression shifting to one of easy camaraderie.
“Gentlemen, good to see you,” Jarod greeted, his tone affable. He pressed his hand against the small of her back as if he had every right to put it there. His possessive touch prickled at her, but she forced herself to remain composed. The last thing she wanted to do was make a scene.
Ava’s eyes swept over the group. She recognized a few faces. Some were city officials, and others were donors she’d seen at other events. But there was one man who stood out. He was tall and handsome. But the way his dark eyes were fixated on her made her uneasy.
“Ava,” Jarod said, gesturing to the man who hadn’t taken his eyes off her, “this is Ezekiel Moore. Ezekiel is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He owns the largest furniture business in the area.”
Ezekiel stepped forward, taking Ava’s hand in his and bringing it to his lips.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ava,” he said, looking into her eyes. His gaze was almost predatory, and his voice dripped with a charm that felt invasive.
She forced a polite smile, gently pulling her hand back. “Likewise.”
“We hear that you are involved in social work. What is that like?” Ezekiel asked as he took a sip of his champagne.
Ava was caught off guard by Ezekiel’s question. How did he know she was a social worker? But the bigger question was, who was talking about her? She glanced at Jarod and gave him an accusing look. He had to have been the one.
She turned back toward Ezekiel. “Social work can be a rewarding career, Mr. Moore. But at the same time, it is very challenging.” She kept her answers brief but professional.
The conversation continued for a few more minutes, but Ava’s discomfort grew with every passing second. Finally, as a lull settled over the group, she started to excuse herself.
“Are you leaving so soon?” Ezekiel asked, stepping closer to her. “I was hoping that I could buy you a drink, and we could talk more.”
How was she going to get out of this? Think quick, Ava!
“I’m afraid that I’ll have to decline. But thank you,” she told Ezekeil, giving him a big smile.
“Raincheck then?” he pressed.
Oh, damn. This guy is not going to take no for an answer. It was time to pull out the big guns.
“Actually,” she said with a small laugh, “I’m seeing someone.”
“What? Since when?” Jarod questioned, looking completely shocked, which almost made her laugh.
She smirked. “It’s new,” she replied with a slight shrug.
Jarod pressed his lips together firmly. She knew he was pissed and wanted to press her on the issue.
Not wanting to stick around any longer, she smiled at the group.
“Well, gentlemen, it was very nice meeting with you all,” she said as she took a step back, creating more space between them.
Ezekiel tilted his head, his eyes not leaving hers. “Until we meet again, Ava,” he said. His tone carried an unsettling undertone.
With a small smile and a nod, she turned on her heel and moved quickly across the ballroom. Her heart was racing. She needed to get out of there before anybody else stopped her.
Just as she reached the door, she was stopped dead in her tracks. Her feet were literally frozen to the floor. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Aussie step inside. His tall frame was unmistakable even in the crowd. Relief surged through her. How had he known that she was there? But that relief quickly evaporated when she noticed the woman on his arm.
The woman was stunning, her silver gown shimmering under the chandeliers as she leaned in close to Aussie, laughing at something he said. The sight hit Ava like a punch to the gut. Betrayal and confusion swirled in her mind. Hadn’t he said he was working tonight? And yet here he was, looking every bit the perfect date for someone else.
She felt like a vice was squeezing her heart. She turned abruptly, desperate to leave, before he noticed her. But it was too late, as their eyes locked with each other.
Ava’s stomach twisted into a ball of knots. The shock on Aussie’s face when he saw her was unmistakable, and there was something else—guilt, maybe regret. She looked him straight in the eyes, barely keeping her emotions in check. She willed herself not to cry. There is no way in hell that she would give him the privilege of knowing that he broke her.
“Ava…,” he said. Her name rolled off his tongue in a whisper but loud enough that she had heard him.
She looked up at him. “So, this was the ‘work thing,’ huh?” Her voice was quiet. The hurt veiled beneath a calm exterior.
“Ava, wait—” he started, reaching for her, but she pulled back, swallowing the ache that threatened to break her voice.
“No need to explain, Aussie. I get it.” She took a breath, her tone turning colder. “Have a good night.”
She turned and walked away, her heart pounding as she waited outside for the valet to bring her car. Her mind raced, hurt morphing into resolve. It wasn’t the disappointment she couldn’t handle. It was the thought of Christian, and how attached he’d already grown to Aussie. How could she explain this to him? This relationship, just like other relationships in her life, was destined to let her down. She’d taken the chance and had hoped this time might be different. Boy, was she wrong.
The valet brought her car around, and she slid into the driver’s seat, exhaling shakily. Then, with a final sigh, she pulled out of the parking lot, ready to put distance between herself and what she’d left behind.
◆◆◆
Aussie felt the weight of guilt the moment he stepped into the Annual Snowball on the arm of Agent Elyssa Price.
He knew the job demanded certain things, even bending the line of loyalty if it meant catching the right targets. But tonight felt different. Standing beside Elyssa, dressed to the nines and looking every bit, the part of her date felt wrong. It felt like a betrayal.
“That group is our target for the night,” Elyssa murmured softly, nodding in the direction of a cluster of men near the back. Aussie recognized most of the faces from the sheet that the FBI had provided so he could familiarize himself with the ones they were supposed to be observing.
“Got it,” Aussie replied, barely keeping his focus on their targets as Elyssa guided him further into the room.
Suddenly, he heard a gasp, and when he turned in the other direction, he saw her. Ava. She was standing only a few feet away, looking like something out of a dream.
Aussie felt like the air had been punched out of his lungs. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was breathtaking and utterly captivating in a way that made his chest tighten and his pulse quicken. He had always thought she was stunning, even in the simplest of outfits, but seeing her like this was something else entirely.
The floor-length gown she wore was a deep navy blue that shimmered softly under the light. The fabric seemed to flow like liquid as she moved. It draped over one shoulder, leaving the other bare, the asymmetry adding a touch of bold sophistication that was uniquely Ava.
Aussie’s gaze traveled down to the train that followed her, subtle yet dramatic, trailing behind her like a whisper. The gown wasn’t flashy or overdone—it didn’t need to be. It was simple but refined, and it suited Ava perfectly.
It wasn’t just the gown itself that struck him. It was how she wore it, with effortless grace and an air of quiet confidence that made his heart pound.
Her black hair was swept to one side. The loose waves cascaded over her bare shoulder, and her makeup was soft, highlighting her natural beauty. But it wasn’t just her appearance that had him mesmerized—it was the way she carried herself. Even in a room full of people, she stood out, commanding his attention as if there was no one else around.
Aussie swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry as Ava’s eyes met his across the room. God, she’s incredible, he thought, unable to tear his gaze away.
As soon as Ava’s gaze met his, he knew instantly what she must be thinking. He had told her that he had a work thing, but here he was with another woman on his arm.
His stomach dropped, and he swore under his breath, feeling like the world’s biggest jerk. However, he never thought he’d run into Ava.
Then it suddenly hit him. The other day, when they were at Bear and Jocelyn’s house, she asked him if he had plans for Saturday. He realized at that moment she had planned to ask him to be her date for this event. Now, he felt even worse.
But what killed him was seeing the mixture of hurt and anger that flashed across her face.
Damn it. She didn’t deserve this. And he’d be a fool to think she’d believe his explanation after seeing him here.
“Ava…,” he started, but she interrupted him.
“So, this was the ‘work thing,’ huh?”
Aussie could hear the hurt in her voice even though she did her best to look strong.
He had to explain to her and make her see that it wasn’t what she thought.
“Ava, wait—” he said and reached for her. But when she flinched and jerked back, not wanting him to touch her, he felt a crack in his heart.
“No need to explain, Aussie. I get it. Have a good night.”
He saw her turn away, her posture stiff as she walked toward the exit. Instinctively, he took a step toward her, desperate to somehow pull her aside and explain without giving away details of the assignment. She wouldn’t wait, though. The hurt in her expression was too real, too raw, and he could practically feel her closing herself off to him.
Still, he couldn’t help but stare, even as she disappeared through the crowd. She was more than just his girlfriend. She was the woman who had started to make him rethink what he wanted, someone he felt fiercely protective over.
Agent Price noticed his distraction and gently nudged him. “Everything okay?”
Aussie pulled his gaze away from the doors where Ava had vanished, his jaw tightening. “No,” he admitted, his voice laced with frustration. “I think I just lost the woman I actually care about.”
She raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
He nodded, swallowing the bitterness that settled in his chest. He couldn’t afford to let emotions derail the assignment, or Derek would have his ass. “Yeah, me too,” he said, steeling himself. “Let’s just do what we came here to do.”
But as he glanced back at the ballroom doors, all he could think about was the fact that by tomorrow, he might have lost her for good.
◆◆◆
Ava stepped through her front door, her heart aching in a way that felt both familiar and bitterly fresh. She’d told herself she could trust Aussie and that maybe he was different. But seeing him at the Snowball with another woman had shattered that fragile trust. She felt like a fool, letting herself get swept up in the hope that maybe, just maybe, someone could care about her without some catch.
The betrayal hurt more than she wanted to admit. She’d set herself up for heartbreak again. If she’d been wiser, she would have kept her distance from Aussie and maintained the walls she’d built to protect herself. Instead, she’d let him in, only to watch him walk into that ballroom with someone else, and the sting of it was cutting deeper than she’d expected. It wasn’t just the disappointment. It was the humiliation of believing, even for a moment, that someone like him would truly care.
Taking a deep breath, she promised herself that this was just a setback. She’d bounce back like she always did, stronger and smarter. She didn’t need Aussie to feel whole. But the real concern that weighed on her heart wasn’t just about herself. It was Christian. He looked up to Aussie. He thought of him as a friend, even a role model. How was she supposed to tell Christian that the person he’d started to trust was no longer part of their lives?
For a moment, she considered keeping everything to herself, at least until she was sure of what to say. Maybe sparing Christian the hurt a little longer would be kinder. But even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew it wasn’t fair to him. He needed honesty, and she’d never lied to him before. She’d tell him tomorrow. It was Sunday. Maybe they’d spend it together. She’d find a way to make it feel less like a loss and more like just another step forward.
She sighed as she turned toward the living room, where the soft glow of the Christmas tree illuminated the cozy space. There, curled up on the couch, was Christian, fast asleep. His peaceful expression tugged at her heart as memories of the night they’d decorated the tree with Aussie washed over her. It had felt like a family moment, something she’d never imagined herself being part of until that night. She knelt beside Christian, tucking a blanket around him carefully so as not to wake him.
The weight of the evening seemed to follow her as she finally made her way to her bedroom. She peeled herself out of her dress, leaving it in a heap by the closet, and slipped into the shower, hoping the hot water would wash away the hurt and tension. She scrubbed at her skin as if she could scrub away the memory of Aussie’s face, his guilty eyes when she’d caught him with that woman. Her shoulders trembled, but she steadied herself. By the time she stepped out and wrapped herself in her pajamas, she was determined to let this be the last time she’d feel that particular ache.
She climbed into bed and pulled the covers up tight around her. Sleep was elusive, her mind swirling with thoughts of what she’d say to Christian, of how she’d make sure he knew he’d be okay without Aussie. But just as she was finally beginning to drift, her phone pinged from the nightstand.
She reached for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Aussie’s name flash across the screen. She couldn’t do this now, not tonight. Not after the night she’d had. Without reading the message, she placed the phone back on the nightstand and turned away, curling deeper into the blankets and shutting her eyes.
Sleep came eventually, but it was restless, and even in her dreams, echoes of betrayal and regret lingered, blurring with the images of a life she’d once dared to hope for.