Chapter 22 #2
“Thanks, Ace,” she answered as a maid pulled the door open and ushered her through the house to a patio table.
The man she’d seen earlier on the video with Chris rose from a seat next to Vivienne, a grin on his handsome features.
“Well,” Vivienne said with a polished smile, “I’m so pleased you could make it. Ava, this is my son, Sebastian. Sebastian, Ava Collins.”
Sebastian let his gaze travel her form as he shook her hand. “I’m so very pleased to meet you. I understand you bought one of my pieces.”
“I did. And it’s now hanging above our fireplace,” Ava said as he pushed her chair in behind her.
She unfurled her napkin, draping it across her lap as he took his seat, a grin still on his features. “Our?” he asked.
She tapped the massive engagement ring on her finger. “My husband and I.”
“I see,” he said. “Forgive me for being disappointed.”
“Is he joking?” Alex asked in her ear. “This lunch is going to be tedious.”
Vivienne offered a practiced laugh. “You’ll have to forgive my son. He tends to be an incredible flirt when someone’s bought his paintings.”
He leaned forward, pouring Ava a glass of wine. “You’ll have to forgive my mother. She tends to forget the effect a beautiful woman has on a man. Particularly, an artist like me.”
“Oh, gag me,” Alex said. “Tell me you’re not falling for this, Avs.”
Ava offered him a coy smile, used to the flirting routine and not flattered at all by the feigned interest. “I’m certain you’ve met your fill of beautiful women.”
“Oh, he has,” Vivienne said with another laugh that sounded both happy and annoyed. “Now, Sebastian, let’s talk about your little project that you wanted to share.”
Ava plastered another smile on her features as Alex whispered in her ear. “Yay, I can’t wait to hear what this is. If he suggests a nude painting…”
She forced herself not to react as Sebastian lifted his wine glass. “Well, since you’re interested in my work, I thought you may be inclined to offer some support to my initiative to provide art therapy to underprivileged children.”
“Well, what a noble task, please tell me more.”
“Noble, my foot,” Alex said in her ear. “It’s a good thing you didn’t take me with you, Sparky. I would have lost my appetite already.”
They spent their lunch discussing what had led to the development of the program along with his goals for it.
“Well, what do you say, Ms. Collins?” Vivienne said with a grin. “Does it sound like something you could find it in your heart–and checkbook–to support?”
“Oh, please, call me Ava. And it certainly sounds like a lovely initiative…”
“I really don’t want to give them any more money than they’ve already stolen,” Alex interjected.
Sebastian grinned at her, his light blue eyes dancing with the challenge. “Tell you what…why don’t I sweeten the pot a little? How about a custom portrait for the donation?”
“No,” Alex said. “This is the segue to the nude art.”
“Well, that sounds like an offer I shouldn’t refuse given your talent.”
His grin broadened. “Excellent, then we’re agreed. Why don’t we have lunch next week to work out the details.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Ava, you’re killing me. I’d have rather you fake a relationship with Chris, let’s revisit that plan instead of this.”
Ava fluttered her eyelashes, a smile stuck on her lips as they all rose.
“Let me walk you out,” Sebastian said, offering his arm.
“Let me paint you nude,” Alex added in her ear.
Ava slipped her arm through his. “Mrs. Bancroft–”
“Oh, Vivienne, please.”
“Vivienne,” Ava said with a smile. “Thank you so much for the invitation.”
“Of course. I’m so glad you could connect with Sebastian on his project. And…will I see you at our upcoming Independence Day ball?”
“Alex and I will both be attending.”
“Well, I look forward to meeting him.” Vivienne offered another smile before Sebastian led her through the house.
They reached the door just as it popped open. Ava recognized Theodore Bancroft, though tanner than she’d seen in his last picture, as he stepped into the foyer.
He eyed her with the same sparkling blue eyes his son had.
“Dad, home already?”
“I called it a day after a very fortuitous lunch. It looks as though yours was equally rewarding.”
“Oh. My. Gosh. Like father, like son. Avs, get out of there before they eat you alive.”
“Forgive me for not introducing myself, I’m Theodore Bancroft. And you are?”
“This is Ava Collins. She recently bought one of my paintings and has agreed to provide a donation for my art therapy initiative.”
“Oh, well, will we be seeing much more of you, Ms. Collins?”
“Ava, please,” Ava said with a broad smile. “And my husband and I plan to attend your upcoming ball, so I hope so.”
“Well, excellent. I look forward to seeing you both.” His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer before she said her goodbyes to Sebastian and ducked out the door.
“Whew, thank goodness you got out of there. I was beginning to worry, Sparky.”
Ava slicked a lock of hair behind her ear. “There wasn’t much reason to. You were right when you said like father like son. They’re both wolves.”
“And now the son is going to paint you in the nude.”
“He said portrait, not nude painting,” she answered. “Anyway, I’m here so hurry up before I leave without you.”
Alex popped out of the front door a moment later, and she pulled the comm device from her ear as he slid into the front seat. She grabbed a fistful of his hoodie and pulled him closer for a kiss. “Just in case you were wondering how I felt.”
Color rose in his cheeks as he pulled back and slid his seat belt around him. Minutes later, the helicopter was whisking them toward the city.
They arrived on the roof of StoneCorp, the city skyline stretching before them. As they made their way through the narrow streets to the abandoned warehouse, the sound of their footsteps echoed off the crumbling buildings, sending shivers down Ava’s spine.
Finding the door unlocked, Ava slipped inside, warily glancing around. “Stay behind me.”
“This place is creepy. I cannot believe he kidnapped you and brought you here.”
She slipped her hand around his as they crept down the hall toward the room she’d been in last time.
As they entered, bright lights flicked on, blinding them. Ava held her hand up against them, squinting at the figure limned in the light.
“What is he doing here?” the robotic voice demanded.
“You didn’t say to come alone,” Ava shot back.
“Tsk, tsk, Ava. You should know better than to have ruined our special place.”
Ava rolled her eyes as she pulled the flash drive from her purse. “You’ll live. Here’s your drive. Next time, check your facts before sending me on a wild goose chase.”
“Can I trust that this hasn’t been tampered with?” Raven asked, his voice sharp.
“I didn’t do anything to it,” Alex said with a shake of his head.
“Good. Toss it to me.”
Ava flung it underhand, and he caught it mid-air. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Aw, that’s it?” Ava asked. “No rose?”
“Maybe next time. When I tell you to meet me, I mean alone.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, but Alex may be along for the ride. I’ve got a pretty packed social schedule, and I don’t always have time to drop him off at home first.”
“You’re dismissed. I’ll be in touch,” Raven growled.
The lights went out, plunging them into darkness. Alex’s fingers tightened around Ava’s as they waited for their eyes to adjust.
“Wow, that guy is a jerk,” Alex said.
“I know. Let’s go. I want to go home and change into sweats, maybe game a little.”
“You’re speaking my love language, Sparky.”
She grinned at him in the dim light as they left the warehouse behind, returning home.
“Race you to the couch,” he said with a grin.
“No,” she protested as they crossed to the front door. “I have to get out of this dress and you’re already in a track suit.”
“Well, still, my lobster pajamas await.”
“Ohh, I need a matching pair,” she said with a chuckle as they wrapped their arms around each other’s waists.
“You do, Sparky. Maybe for your birthday.”
“All the way until then? I thought you wanted to impress me,” she said as they pushed through the door to a quiet house.
“Looks like the Harringtons are out for the evening,” Alex said.
“Julia mentioned dinner plans to me earlier. So, we have the house to ourselves for a few hours.”
“Mmm, game-a-thon?”
“You read my mind,” she said with a grin before she leaned in for a kiss.
Her chiming phone stopped them before their lips met. With a sigh, she pulled it from her purse.
“Which other boyfriend is it?”
She shot him a warning glance.
“I’m serious. You’ve got the bothersome builder, the painter extraordinaire, and our aviary ally.”
“It’s Raven,” she answered, flashing the phone toward him, allowing them both to read the message.
Good work with the files. See you at the ball, beautiful. I’ll be wearing a rose for you.
Ava flicked her gaze to Alex. The plot was thickening. Would they be able to sort fact from fiction with the Harringtons help?