Chapter Five Ava
W hen I executed my self-defense move on Dare, I never expected it to end with us getting drinks. Despite his cocky side, there was something endearing about him. Something that made me want to get to know him better. Even if it was just for the night, which I knew would have Nick breaking into the hallelujah chorus for breaking my sex drought.
Just as we reached the bar, we ran smack into Nick and the girls. At the sight of Dare’s hand at the small of my back, their eyes lit up. “Sorry we took so long. The bathroom lines were insane,” Lexie said while keeping her eyes focused on Dare.
“It’s okay.”
Dare glanced between me and my crew. Extending his hand, he said, “I’m Dare Kavanaugh.”
Nick immediately thrust his hand into Dare’s. “I’m Nick. Ava’s nephew.”
When Dare’s brows furrowed, I replied, “It’s a long story.” Pointing to the girls, I said, “That’s Dani and Lexie, my nieces.”
As he gave the girls his best panty-melting smile, Dare shook their hands. “Nice meeting you.”
“The pleasure is all ours,” Lexie gushed.
“I was just going to buy your aunt a drink. Would you like to join us?”
In perfect unison, the three shook their heads. “Nope. We’re good,” Nick replied.
“Are you sure? I co-own this club so I have liquor no one else gets.”
“Smooth,” I muttered to which Dare grinned.
Dani’s eyes popped wide. “Omg, you’re the owner ?”
“I am. Along with four of my brothers.”
“Fuck me. There’s more of you,” Nick muttered.
Dare threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Aye, there’s five of us, but my youngest brother is only eighteen.”
“Any single ones?” Lexie asked.
“Besides me, there’s only the eighteen-year-old.”
“Pity,” she mused.
“Would it help if I told you Eamon was eighteen going on thirty?”
Lexie wrinkled her nose. “He’s still a baby.”
Dani waggled her brows. “There’s something to be said for breaking them in.”
“In Eamon’s case, he’s well broken in.”
“Even better,” Dani teased.
Jabbing my finger at her, I said, “Absolutely not.”
“He’s legal.”
“Barely.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “Fine. I won’t be a cougar tonight.”
“How noble of you,” I teased.
“We were heading out of here anyway,” Dani said.
“You’re leaving already?” Dare questioned.
Nick held up his hands. “Listen, we have no hate for Bandia , trust me. It’s just we never get out of Gloucester, so we want us to experience as much of the nightlife as possible.”
Dare grinned. “I don’t mind. Unless you plan on taking Ava with you.”
Lexie shook her head. “Oh no. We wouldn’t dream of it.”
Nick eyed Dare up and down. “You’re not one of those rich dudes who takes advantage of women?”
I gasped in horror. “Nick!”
“What? You know I’m going to look out for you.”
“Do you have to embarrass the hell out of me while doing it?” I groaned.
Dare interrupted our squabble. “I’m not offended by your question, and you’re right to ask it. There’s a lot of creeps out there in all tax brackets.” Extending his hand, Dare said, “I give you my word that I will keep Ava’s best interests at heart. Even if it means I don’t get any pleasure but her company tonight.”
“Keep talking like that, and you’ll be completely pleasure free.”
While Dare chuckled, Nick shook his hand. “She deserves a really good time tonight.”
“It would be my honor to give it.”
Giving Nick a playful shove, I said, “Right, well, I’ll see you back at the hotel.”
With a wink, Nick said, “See you in the morning.”
“Seriously. Go.”
While the girls couldn’t contain their giggles, they waved goodbye along with Nick. Once they were out of earshot, I sighed. “Nothing like meeting the family on the first date, huh?”
“If you want to even out the playing field, I can totally introduce you to three of my brothers. Well, maybe two since one was already indisposed in the VIP section with his wife. My other brother is also here with his wife, so they’re probably somewhere fucking as we speak.”
“Wow. I had no idea this club was such an aphrodisiac.”
“It’s supposed to make you leave your inhibitions at the door.”
“Isn’t that usually what happens in a sex club? There’s not like a hidden dungeon or peep show room here, is there?”
“No. But if you’re ever in New York, my brother-in-law's club, Inferno, has all of that.”
“Jesus,” I muttered.
“It’s pretty cool because it’s got something for everyone. The Heaven side is pretty tame compared to what goes on in Hell.”
“I can only imagine.”
Tilting his head, Dare surmised me. “From the looks of it, our conversation has you needing a drink even more than before.”
“That’s very perceptive of you.”
“Turned on or off?”
“Excuse me?”
“By the sex club talk? I mean, I’m pretty sure hearing my brothers were banging their wives was a buzzkill.”
Waving my hand dismissively, I replied, “I’m not one to judge.”
“So you wouldn’t judge me if I said I’d been to Inferno many, many times.”
I shook my head. “What you, or anyone else for that matter, does in their private life is only their business. If you enjoy getting freaky in a sex club, more power to you.”
Dare’s eyes rolled back in exaggerated bliss. “Man, I am so glad I rescued you tonight.”
“Once again, I had it covered.”
“I know. I just love to see you all riled up. Especially the way your tits bounce in your dress when you heave out your frustrations.”
“You are impossible.”
“Impossible sexy.”
“Impossible infuriating,” I shot back!
“I’ve heard that one before.”
Placing my hand on his shoulder, I said, “Come on. I think your impossible ego needs a drink to cool off.”
Once I had a mojito and Dare had an Irish whiskey I’d never heard of, we made our way to find somewhere to sit. As we started into a dimly lit corner, a couple immediately vacated their chairs and snatched up their drinks at the sight of Dare.
“Intimidating.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m going to add that to my repertoire of words to describe you. Intimidating.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Um, did you just miss that couple practically running away from this table because you were coming?”
He shrugged. “Must’ve missed it.”
“Or you’re so used to people cowering in your presence because you’re the big, bad club owner.”
Dare snickered. “Now there’s one I haven’t been called before.”
“I’m serious.”
“Fine. I suppose I am used to special treatment.”
“I’m glad you could admit it.”
“I’ve got Pretty Privilege too,” he joked.
“Of course you do.”
“Okay, so enough about me.”
“Color me surprised you don’t want the conversation on you.”
“Har, har. I want to know more about the woman who knocked me on my ass in more ways than one.”
“What do you want to know?”
“I just met your nephews and nieces, but they’re more like your siblings.”
I nodded. “It boils down to the fact we were raised more like siblings. My brothers were twenty- four and twenty-two when I was born.”
Dare’s eyes widened. “Wow, I thought the almost sixteen year age difference between my oldest and youngest brother was a lot.”
“Nope. My family has you beat.”
“It sounds like we come from similar families though.”
“If you mean loud, boisterous, and always in your business, then yes we do,” I remarked.
“You just described my family perfectly, especially always in your business. Like I had a run-in with my younger brother about that very thing tonight.”
“You did?”
With a sheepish expression, Dare replied, “Yeah, it got physical.”
My eyes popped wide. “While we are known for raising our voices, I can’t remember the last time any of my family got physical.”
“Seriously? I’ve always heard how temperamental Greeks can be.”
“Maybe that’s a harmful stereotype like what drunks the Irish are,” I clapped back.
Dare threw back his head with a hearty laugh. “Actually, that’s pretty accurate about my Irish family.” Amusement danced in Dare’s blue eyes. “You’re a real ball buster, aren’t you?”
“If you mean I tell it like it is and don’t take shit off anybody, then yeah, I’m a ball buster.”
“What do you do in your spare time besides busting balls?” Dare asked.
I laughed. “I’m an accountant.”
“Seriously?”
I eyed him around the rim of my mojito. “Is there something wrong with it?”
With a shake of his head, Dare replied, “No. Of course not. It’s just that most of the accountants I’ve come in contact with are total sticks in the mud.”.
“Sadly, we can't all lead glamorous lives like club owners.”
“True. I need you worker drones to come and destress by spending money here.”
I playfully smacked his arm. “Hey now.”
“Just teasing you.”
“What job did you see me doing?”
“Something with a little more kick.”
“Like an FBI agent?” I suggested.
“Maybe.”
“Spit it out,” I urged with a laugh.
“Okay, fine. I pictured you as an international Flight Attendant.”
“Hmm, why am I not surprised that you picked a service job that’s often sexualized?”
With a grimace, he replied, “Fuck. That’s not what I meant.”
“Sure it wasn’t.”
“Flight Attendants have to be tough. Have you seen some videos of angry passengers before?” he argued.
“Maybe you should stop while you’re ahead,” I suggested with a smile.
I laughed. “That’s probably a good idea.”
“Did you always want to be a club owner?”
“Yes and no. My older brothers, especially the oldest, Callum, are usually the ones making the deals that I end up going along with.”
I eyed him curiously. “You don’t seem like the passive type.”
“Only in business do I defer to them.”
“I don’t see how that could be satisfying for someone like you.”
Shifting somewhat uncomfortably on his steel, Dare protested, “Hey now, we just met.”
“I can’t help calling it like I see it.”
“Well, Killer, that’s all well and good, but you really don’t know me, do you?”
“I don’t have to know you to see you,” I countered.
“I’ve always heard about Greek fortune tellers. Are you an oracle, Ava?” he teased.
Huffing around the rim of my glass, I replied, “I’m not surprised you’re trying to deflect right now.”
He held up his hands. “Okay, okay. I’m listening. What do you see?”
As I stared intently at him, he once again shifted on his stool. I could only assume not many people, especially women, ever tried to dig deep with him. He could easily hide behind his money and prestige. “Someone who often sacrifices his own happiness for the greater good of his family.”
A myriad of emotions swirled in his eyes, but pain was the most prevalent one. “How could you know that,” he replied in a whisper.
“Because the Greek art of seeing isn’t total bullshit, Mr. Kavanaugh.”
“Do you do readings because I’d really like to know my future?”
She laughed. “No. I’m really absolute shit at it most days.”
“You hit the nail on the head for me.”
“Trust me, I couldn’t even see that my husband was having an affair.”
“Your husband?”
“Ex. As of today.”
A relieved breath whooshed out of him. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Let me guess. He was fucking his secretary?”
“Actually, it was an eighteen-year-old in his history class.”
Wincing, he replied, “You didn’t see that one coming, huh?”
“I’m not Cassandra from the myths–I can’t foresee the future. I can just read people. Well, some people.” I wrinkled my nose. “Trust me, if I could have foreseen what was going to happen, I would’ve never married him.”
“How long were you together?”
“Five years.”
He shook his head. “You wasted all that time on a fucking fool.”
“Truthfully, not all of it was bad. There were some good years. I mean, I certainly wouldn’t do it again if I had the chance, but it could’ve been so much worse.
“I’m surprised you can see it that way.”
“Maybe it’s that wisdom comes with maturity. I sure wouldn’t have thought as much when I was younger.”
“You’re not old.”
“I'm older than you,” I teased.
“Not by much.”
“Somehow I can’t imagine you dating many older women.”
To my surprise, anguish flashed in Dare’s eyes. It was so out of character for him I couldn’t help wondering if there was an older woman in his past who had hurt him. The look was fleeting and quickly replaced by him slipping his usual carefree mask back in place.
“I’m an equal age opportunity lover,” he mused with a cocky smile.
I realized at that moment that I wanted nothing more than to strip away the layers to get the man Dare tried to hide. That man was someone I wanted to heal.
Hopping out of my chair, I held out my hand to him. “Come on. Let’s be young and dance.”
With a wink, he replied, “Your wish is my command.”