Chapter Seven #2
“Beckett. Ava Beckett, and don’t even for a second try to pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about. I wasn’t born yesterday, Mister. You have the hots for her.”
“I’m a forty-year-old man. I don’t have the hots for anyone.”
She snorted. “You’re a lot older than her.”
“I know.”
“And I’m guessing you didn’t see the way she looked at you.”
Now this made him pause. He didn’t want to know how Ava looked at him. Every fiber of his being was telling him to steer clear of Ava, and yet he found himself drawn to her, every single fucking day.
“How did she look at me?” he asked, knowing he was making the impossible step toward wanting Ava, and it wouldn’t go away.
****
A va tried not to look toward the door, but each time it opened, and even after serving the latest customer, her gaze kept getting drawn to the same door, hoping Pat would make an appearance. He didn’t.
It was getting later, and she should stop hoping. The ride the other night was just fun, and nothing more. They didn’t promise each other anything. She should just let it go and move on. Only, she kept looking, hoping to see him.
Her sister had teased her mercilessly all through Sunday, and during most of Monday.
To make it up to her mother, she had opted to work at the fabric store today before work.
She had done it on purpose as well, so that she wasn’t tempted to go to the garage and find a reason to hang out with Pat. This was getting out of hand.
When Violet had been busy in the back, her mother had asked if she even knew what she was doing.
Ava had answered her honestly. She didn’t have a clue.
All she knew was that when Pat was around, she felt happier, which she also knew was crazy, because she barely knew the guy. It didn’t stop the way she felt.
She knew they were very different people. Pat was used to women throwing themselves at him, and although she wanted to be with him, she didn’t want to be used by him. There was not a chance at forever with him, was there?
Again, the doorbell rang, and Ava forced herself to look away and wipe down the counter. She had no idea who had arrived, and then she heard her name.
“Hello, Ava,” Pat said.
She tried not to be excited, but as he stood looking at her, and there was this deep penetrating gaze, she couldn’t look away.
“Pat,” she said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.
“I’ll take my usual, with whatever you think is the best on the menu today.”
Her heart raced just a little bit. She got to work serving him some coffee, and then heading into the back to cut him a nice big slice of chocolate fudge cake. It was so chocolatey and sweet, and it made her think she needed a dentist trip after eating it, but they were the best kinds of cake.
With the plate in hand, she placed it in front of him. She wanted to ask him how he was doing, but a customer behind him lifted his hand. There was no choice but to excuse herself to do the job she was paid to do. She kept the smile on her face, because the truth was, she was just happy to see him.
Once one customer was dealt with, a second, and then a third, and after that, a fourth needed her help. She got to all of them, and then returned to the main counter.
“So, you finally got here,” she said.
“Yeah, I decided I couldn’t wait another minute to have some coffee and cake.”
“Ah, so it’s the sweet goods that brought you back,” Ava said.
“No, they’re a reason, but the company is what brought me back.”
There her heart went, going ten to the dozen.
He liked her company. Her mother had asked if there was anyone else, someone her own age.
Her mother was worried because of the age difference between her and Pat, but the truth was, she didn’t care.
She liked being around him. He was a good guy.
And she didn’t get the “ick” factor when she was with him.
Some of the guys her own age just didn’t do it for her.
Pat was different. He made her feel different.
“So, you like my thrilling company?”
“Yeah, I do, and I believe you like mine.”
She smiled and nodded. “I do.”
“How about when you’re done here, I take you for another ride on my bike?” he asked.
Ava nibbled her lip. “It will have to be a quick one. I’ve got to go and pick up Bernice.”
“How about we take a rain check on the ride?” he asked.
She wanted to tell him no, but she also knew she owed it to her mother to be responsible.
“You don’t mind?” She tried not to wince.
“No, I don’t mind. You’ve got places you need to be.”
“You could ... come back with me?” Ava said, and then she frowned. “I mean, you know, for a drink or something.”
She was not even hinting at sex, but she hated the thought of him getting the wrong impression.
“Not for sex, I mean, literally for a drink.” She felt her cheeks start to heat, and she looked at Pat to find him with a smile on his lips.
That smile lit up his whole face, and he looked so relaxed and laid-back.
“I didn’t think for a second you were offering.”
Her face was on fire. Thankfully, there were still a lot of customers.
Pat didn’t disappear. She kept going back to him, and they talked about absolutely nothing, from the weather, to the garage and the cars he’d been working on. She talked about the latest quilt she was making, along with the orders at the shop she loved to package.
Talking to Pat made the time go by. This job was never boring, but before she knew it, she had to ask him to leave so she could close up.
Once everyone was gone, Lauren was more than happy to make an appearance.
“You know there is a guy in the parking lot?” Lauren asked.
“It’s Pat. He’s waiting for me,” Ava said.
“He’s wearing a leather cut.”
Ava nibbled her lip. “That’s not a problem, is it?”
“No, it’s not a problem at all.” Lauren smiled at her. “You’re dating?”
“I don’t know if we’re dating. I’m not really sure what we’re doing.” Ava sighed. “So, business was real popular tonight.”
“Yeah, we had a good run of it. I love to hear it when we’re doing well,” Lauren said. “It makes it all worth it.”
“Worth it?” Ava asked.
“Yeah, going to baking school. Putting myself in debt to be taught by the best, and then putting everything into this place. Trust me, a lot of people told me I’d fail within six months,” Lauren said. “I just ... I’m not good around people. I don’t like when assholes boss me about, you know?”
This was the most Lauren had talked to her. Ava liked to think they were friends, but she also knew Lauren was the boss.
“You don’t like being told what to do?” Ava asked.
“By people I don’t like. It probably makes me sound so stupid.”
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.