Chapter 2
AVA
Ava winced as she tugged too hard on her blonde locks, her frustration mounting with each unanswered text. With one sent to Raven and one sent to Sebastian, she was at a standstill on moving forward on any front.
With a sigh, she pulled on her hoodie and zipped it. Their earlier attempt at gaining access to the Bancrofts’ security system had failed miserably.
Alex had managed to hack into their standard security without an issue as always, but the cameras she’d spotted while inside the panic room during the incredible set of events from the Independence Day party hadn’t been anywhere to be found.
They needed a new plan, one that Alex was already busy working on. But he needed something placed close to the monitoring system to hack it, and it would be up to her to make sure that happened.
She figured she could do it, though it didn’t make Alex happy at all. She couldn’t blame him. No one would want their wife playing up to another man regardless of the reason behind it. But with their relationship being so new, he’d really taken it hard.
She was trying not to get upset, but a part of her was frustrated that he was so worried over losing her.
It implied that she was only sticking with him until something better came along, and despite telling him that wasn’t the case, he couldn’t allow himself to believe it.
How many more times would she need to reassure him before he truly understood that he was her choice, now and always?
She didn’t want to be too hard on him, but she couldn’t stop herself from feeling frustrated every time they discussed it.
She emerged from the closet, still pulling her hair from inside the jacket.
“Taking Giz for a walk?” Alex asked as he pounded on his keyboard.
“Yeah,” she answered, scooping the chihuahua up from the bed. “No answer from our favorite friends.”
“Neither?” he questioned.
“Neither. But as soon as I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
Alex heaved a sigh, returning his gaze to his computer screen. “Can’t wait.”
“Alex,” she answered with a sigh, her fingers lingering on the doorknob as she held the dog tight to her.
“I know, I know. You and Billionaire Biceps aren’t going to be curling up on the chaise in his artist’s nook, but still…”
“You hate that I have to play up to him at all.”
He shot a finger gun at her, his eyes never leaving the screen. “Also, that Raven is cool with it.”
“I’m not sure Raven is going to be affected in quite the same way as you are, Ace.”
“Well, given his penchant for leaving you roses,” Alex said, “I’m surprised he didn’t tell you not to do this.”
She let her eyes shift to the ceiling, her lips turning up at the corners.
“Don’t laugh,” Alex said. “You’re a special woman, Avs. And now everyone knows it.”
She trudged back across the room, hovering next to him until he finally raised his eyes.
With a wince, he asked, “Are you mad?”
She pushed the lid of his laptop closed, forcing him to snap his hands away from the keyboard. “And I am married to the most special man on the planet.”
She stole a kiss from him before she ambled back to the door. “I’ll let you know if I hear from any of them.”
“I love you!” he called after her as she strode down the hall, a smile forming on her lips.
She slipped out of the house, the scent of sea salt filling her nostrils as the roar of the waves greeted her along with the late morning sun.
She crossed the boardwalk down to the beach, her toes sinking into the sand as she rolled up her pant legs. Gizmo scampered across the grains, sniffing at seaweed and shells.
“What do you think, Gizmo? Who’s going to answer first? The first guy Alex hates? Or the second?”
The dog offered her a yip.
“You’re right. It doesn’t matter who answers first, Alex is struggling with all of this.”
She shuffled through the sand. “Let’s just hope they both can help us put this to an end in some way.”
“Ava!” a voice called from behind her.
She twisted to find Kyle hurrying toward her. He waved before he jogged the distance between them.
She smiled at him. “Hey, doc. How’s Sierra?”
He set his hands on his hips as he grinned at her before his features twisted with confusion. “What?”
“Sierra. Have you heard how she is?”
“Oh, yeah, her. Yeah, she’s good. She’s…being bossy, so clearly well on the road to recovery.”
Ava bobbed her head. “That’s great. I’m so glad. I feel terrible about what happened. After everything you’ve been through already.”
“Well, Sierra kind of got through unscathed, so…you know she had it coming.” Kyle shrugged. “You know…Dad was in the explosion, Julia in the almost-fatal car accident, and then I nearly died from the beating, so…you know…she was due.”
Ava raised her eyebrows, her jaw unhinging for a minute before she plastered on a smile. “Right. Well, anyway, I’m glad she’s okay.”
Kyle smiled again and nodded. “Well, a lot of that has to do with you. I mean, you were…incredible in that panic room. Just amazing.”
“Aw, you were, too. That had to have been frightening, especially since it was your sister.”
“Well, I mean, that’s what doctors do, but I couldn’t have done it without your help. Both the medical assist and the whole vetting of options thing.” His head bobbed up and down again.
“Happy to help. I’m really glad it worked out.”
His grin broadened. “And then the whole A-Team stuff afterwards, wow! But, umm, what really impressed me was just those clear moments where our communication just…hit so well. It’s like we just naturally understood each other.”
Ava shifted her weight as the dog milled around at her feet, tilting her head as she tried to pick apart the comment.
“I just…I feel like…” Kyle shook his head before he lunged forward, cupping her face in his hands and pressing his lips against hers.
Ava stiffened, taken by surprise by the kiss, her eyes going wide despite their closeness. She pushed him away, stumbling back a step. “Did…did you just kiss me?”
Kyle’s eyebrows knitted. “Yes?”
Ava slid her gaze sideways to the crashing waves. “Uh…I-I’m married to Alex.”
Kyle narrowed his eyes, his hands falling to his hips again. “Right. But…that’s fake, right?”
Ava sucked in a breath, her lips momentarily pulling into a wince. “Oh, uh, no. Sorry, it’s…it’s not fake anymore.”
Kyle stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide and his jaw hanging open. “What?”
“I’m so sorry,” Ava said with a shake of her head. “I assume Julia told you we only got married for Alex’s inheritance but…that’s…we decided to make a go of it for real. It’s a recent development.”
Kyle bobbed his head a few times before he tossed an arm in the air. “What is with all these fake marriages turning real?”
“Huh?” Ava’s features twisted with confusion.
“Never mind,” Kyle answered as he paced in a slow circle on the sand. “I’m just…I’m sorry. I thought…the fake marriage and then our connection…or what I thought was a connection…whew…I’m sorry. I’m an idiot. I really need to stop kissing married women.”
She huffed out a laugh. “It’s okay, and you’re not an idiot. Although…have you kissed a lot of married women?”
“Just two,” Kyle said with a shake of his head. “Both in fake marriages turned real. Gosh, I really need to get into a fake marriage so I can find love.”
Ava wrinkled her nose. “What? Who else is in a fake marriage? Plus, ours wasn’t really fake, just…not based on the traditional model of love.”
Kyle glanced at her, a moment of panic flashing through his eyes. “Uhh, I really shouldn’t say. Forget you heard that from me.”
Ava crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re sort of terrifying when you give people that look?”
“It’s been mentioned,” she said. “Who else is in a fake marriage?”
“Ehhh, I mean…it’s not important.”
The eyebrow raised a little higher. “You just kissed me. I could tell Alex. And he could ruin your credit score and issue warrants for your arrest in six states.”
Kyle’s features turned ashen, and he swallowed hard. “Really? He could do that?”
Ava nodded. “Oh, yeah, he could do that.”
Kyle winced, his shoulders rising to his ears as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Grant and Julia. But you did not hear that from me.”
Ava’s eyes widened. “No! Grant and Julia’s marriage is fake?”
“Well, it was,” Kyle answered.
“So…when we visited…”
“Fake,” he said with curt nod.
“You’re kidding. But…they were pretty obviously in love.”
Kyle heaved a sigh. “Yeah, well, everyone knew that but them.”
Ava pressed her lips together as she shot a surprised glance at the sea. “So…you kissed Julia?”
Kyle frowned. “Yeah, I did. Once for real, a few times we fake kissed. It was…complicated. Oh, I just can’t believe I made this mistake again.”
Ava chuckled. “It’s okay. But…I mean, maybe you shouldn’t go around kissing married women as a rule. May save you some heartache.”
“Right…if only all the good ones weren’t taken.”
She patted him on the shoulder. “There are plenty of good ones still out there. And you’re going to find the perfect one, I know it.”
“I don’t know,” he said as she scooped up Gizmo and slowly made her way back up the beach. “They don’t call me Crazy Kyle for nothing. I just…think I’m a lost cause.”
“Nah,” she said. “One day, you’re going to find someone who just loves all that crazy and wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Kyle sucked in a breath as he strolled along next to her. “You have more faith than I do, Ava.”
“Maybe you just need a break. It seems like you’ve really been through a lot in New Orleans. Maybe the Hamptons will do you good.”
He offered her a soft smile. “Maybe.”
Her phone chimed as they reached the boardwalk. “Oh, sorry.”
“Is that something about the whole The Board thing?” he asked.
“Yes and no. It’s Sebastian.”
Kyle pressed his lips together, bobbing his head. “Right. He’s a real smooth operator, huh?”
Ava offered him an amused grin as she flicked her gaze up to him. “You sound like Alex.”
“Yeah, well, I guess we’re both a little protective of you. I mean, him more so because he is actually your husband, but…you know…I’m like a back-up.”
Ava giggled. “Don’t be a back-up, kid. You deserve better than that.”
“Well, until I’m not a back-up, I’m with Alex on this. That guy is definitely sniffing around where he shouldn’t be.”
“Duly noted. But he is a nice way into that family, so I’m going to let him sniff.”
“Ava!” Kyle said, his eyes going wide. “You can’t do that. It’s like…wrong.”
“Wrong? I haven’t led him on. In fact, I’ve told him very clearly that I’m married.”
“With a guy like Sebastian Bancroft, that’s like waving a green flag. I mean, you’re basically just saying…I’m a challenge. And this guy loves challenges.”
Ava batted her eyelashes, her eyebrows pinching. “Are you serious?”
“I swear to you as a guy, a smile followed by ‘I’m married’ is basically a go signal.”
“Got it. Well, he’s painting my portrait, so…”
Kyle scoffed. “He’s what? No, that’s…no.”
“Wow, you are objecting pretty strongly here.”
“Ava, this guy is definitely after you. Paint your portrait is code for I’d like to try to come on to you, kiss you, maybe more, probably more.”
“I’m a grown woman, Kyle. I’ve been hit on by a lot of guys. I know exactly what he’s doing. I’ll be fine.”
“Really? Because what if you draw a line and he decides to cross it?”
“I’m a black belt, remember? I just took down four armed men.”
“Right,” Kyle said with a nod. “Right, yes. You are…well…I still don’t like it.”
“I know. This isn’t my favorite thing either. But we need to figure this Board thing out, and if Sebastian can inadvertently help us to do that…I’m going for it. Figuratively, not literally.”
Kyle sighed. “Okay, so what did he say?”
“Avs?” Alex called out, approaching them on the boardwalk.
“Hey, babe,” Ava said, kissing his cheek as he joined them. “I just heard from Sebastian.”
“Ugh,” Alex groaned, his head falling back between his shoulders.
Kyle bobbed his head. “I felt the same way. And just so you know…I may have kissed her, but I didn’t know your marriage was real. And also, I agree with you about the Sebastian thing.”
Alex rubbed the back of his head, his face screwing up with confusion. “Uhhh–you kissed Ava?”
“We’ll talk about it later, it’s nothing,” Ava said as she rubbed his arm. “We have other things to worry about.”
She raised her phone in the air. “Such as Sebastian’s latest message. ‘Well, I’d love to hear about all your rodeos. Any chance you’re available this afternoon? We can chat while I get started on your portrait.’”
“No, you’re not available,” Alex and Kyle said simultaneously.
Alex poked a finger at Kyle. “Yeah, exactly.”
She shifted her gaze between the two of them. “I’m going. I’m going to use this as an opportunity to get your little device into the panic room.”
“Ava!” Kyle shouted as Alex said, “Sparky!”
“I will be fine, guys. I’m texting him back and telling him I’ll be there.”
Kyle grabbed her phone. “No, don’t say that—it sounds too available.”
Ava set her jaw and yanked the phone back. “I’m not going to say that, duh.”
“What are you saying?” Kyle asked as he lifted his chin to peer at the display.
“Seems like you already had a good start on the portrait, but yes, I can make that work. And there’s something I’d like to ask of you, too.”
“Oh.” Kyle wiggled his eyebrows. “Oh, wow, that’s…that should work.”
“Ava’s pretty good at flirting,” Alex admitted with a frown.
“And it’s sent, and while we were discussing that, I got another message from Raven.”
“What’s Rosebud Raven want?” Alex asked.
Ava heaved a sigh and shook her head. “There’s some trouble coming your way. Be prepared.”
“That sounds like a threat,” Kyle said.
“Get used to it,” Alex answered. “Everything these days sounds like a threat.”
Ava bit her lower lip as she pressed the phone against her chest. What more trouble could be coming?