Operation Sex Kitten

by Tess Summers

  Ava didn’t know much about romances, having only been in two her whole life, but agreed, she shouldn’t settle. If Charlie wasn’t what she was looking for, she might know a good-looking marine who could be right up her alley.

  The women spent the rest of the night laughing and exchanging bad dates and bad boyfriend stories, each trying to outdo the other. Ava felt she had the winner but couldn’t share it. Not right now anyway.

  The evening didn’t do much to restore her faith in men, but it did serve to strengthen her resolve she was going to be okay without one.

  * * * *

  The day before Halloween and her parents’ annual bash finally arrived. The party was quite an affair and getting an invitation was a big deal in the Ericsons’ social circle.

  Ava had no idea what she was going to do for a costume. She had been doing a pretty good job of hiding her changing body with baggy clothes, but her morning sickness was starting to draw her mother’s attention. She knew what she had to do; she just didn’t know how to go about telling her parents she was pregnant.

  Surprisingly, they took the news better than she expected, her mother shooting her father a knowing look when she told them. Of course they wanted to know who the baby’s father was, but Ava wasn’t ready to share that yet. Not until she figured out what she was going to do. She also knew her mother’s penchant for talking and did not want it getting back to Travis she was almost four months pregnant, lest he do the math and worry he was going to have to pay her a monthly sum every month in child support. So she lied when her mother asked her when she was due.

  “Beginning of June.” That would put her past any time frame that would possibly make Travis suspect he was the father. When it actually happened in mid-March, she’d blame it on an early arrival.

  Mrs. Ericson suggested they keep the news quiet for now, citing it was too early and things could possibly still go wrong. Ava happily agreed, although she had her suspicions her mother suggesting it had more to do with her being an unwed mother than anything. That was not going to go over well at the country club.

  Opting for a costume of Greek goddess with flowing robes that would hide her tiny bump, she made her way from the pool house to the main house before guests started to arrive.

  “What do you need me to do?” she asked her mother.

  “Be your charming self, dear, and circulate! The caterers have everything under control.”

  Ava did mingle with the guests and was having a nice time as the older judges and lawyers flirted shamelessly with her. Knowing they were harmless, she was enjoying their interesting observations on the world when she caught sight of Travis out of the corner of her eye. She almost didn’t recognize him, dressed in dark jeans, brown leather chaps and boots, a red flannel shirt, and grey cowboy hat low on his head. He looked so sexy.

  Now I’m going to have damn cowboy fantasies! She had been unbelievably horny lately, and how hot her baby daddy looked as a cowboy was not going to help with that.

  The sexy cowgirl on his arm in the short shorts, brown cowboy boots, and leather vest that exposed her midriff while accentuating her amazing tits did though.

  There was no mistaking her for his sister.

  She was beautiful and hanging all over him while having to tilt her brown cowgirl hat up to kiss his face. Her long brown hair was curled but tousled, like maybe she’d had a roll in the hay before getting ready.

  Travis had been very active in the Out and About section recently, and while she always felt a twinge of jealousy, Ava thought she had gotten over him. Seeing him in person for the first time since the morning after Fred was hit, and with the stunning cowgirl no less, hurt. Not as bad as when he was with Tara at the ball but a close second.

  *

  For his part, he at least felt uncomfortable when he realized she had seen him. He had been reconsidering his decision to bring a date to the Ericsons’ party when he saw Ava alone, although he knew the reason she was alone was probably because her date was overseas.

  He had seen her and Ron at a café downtown not long after she canceled their date and wouldn’t take his calls. He knew then she was over him and stopped calling, but it didn’t stop him from missing her. She looked beautiful tonight, but something about her was different, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.

  They did a good job of avoiding each other all night until the costume contest. Mr. Ericson was on the makeshift stage being witty and charming with his audience. Ava was in the middle of a belly laugh when her eyes met Travis’, who was also laughing robustly at Robert. The second their eyes met a jolt of electricity went through both of them, and for a moment it was as if they were the only two people in the room. The moment passed, and Ava placed her hands on her stomach and looked away.

  Francine Ericson was standing not far from Travis, and when he turned to find a distraction, she was the first person he ran into. She had just witnessed her daughter’s exchange with the man and quietly asked him, “So how long did you date Ava?”

  He knew there was no use hiding it. “A little over a month.”

  Fran’s eyes filled with tears. “How long ago did you stop?”

  “A few months ago.”

  The disappointment showed on her face. He knew she adored him and thought of all the times Francine Ericson had sat in his office, lecturing him about settling down and dropping not-so-subtle hints about her single daughter being the perfect candidate when he finally decided to.

  She sighed wistfully. “That’s too bad. You would have been a great father for my grandchild.”

  He felt the color drain from his face as he attempted to comprehend what Francine was saying. Was Ava pregnant?!

  His lawyer mode kicked in, and he tried not to appear rattled as he started questioning her.

  “Wow, you’re going to be a grandma, huh? Congratulations! When is she due?”

  “I know, can you believe it? She’s not very far along, she just found out recently and told us yesterday.”

  “So is the general the father? Are they getting married?” He didn’t know why he wanted to know if they were getting married, but he did. Not to mention he wanted clarification the general was the father and not him. Not very far along was pretty open-ended.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t even know if he knows. He’s overseas, and I don’t think she’s had an opportunity to talk to him. To be honest, she won’t tell us anything about the father yet.”

  “How far along is she, Francine?” he asked insistently.

  Mrs. Ericson finally understood his reason for wanting to know and replied regretfully, “A little over a month, I think.”

  * * * *

  Travis left the party without seeing Ava again. She seemed to have disappeared, much like his date had. Although he feigned he was looking for the woman he came with, she was secondary to finding Ava. He walked out having found neither. His companion had left without even telling him goodbye. He couldn’t really blame her—he’d spent most of his night watching Ava and had barely paid attention to the sexy cowgirl.

  Ava was all he could think about the entire weekend, which wasn’t new, but the pregnancy presented a whole new facet to his thought process about her, their relationship, and what went wrong. He had accepted his blame in the situation, and there wasn’t a day he didn’t get up—particularly on Monday mornings—he wasn’t filled with regret. She had been the best thing that had ever happened to him. He didn’t dare allow himself to fantasize that was his baby, although it was hard not to. But every time his mind started down that path, he made himself stop and think about something else.

  By eleven a.m. Monday morning, he couldn’t take it anymore and was on the phone to Ridgeport Realty, thinking she’d at least pick up the phone in her office if she wouldn’t take his call on her cell. When he was told there was no agent by the name of Ava Ericson there, he grew confused. When he called Oceanside Realty to learn she was still there, he became angry.<
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  Showing up at her office unannounced, he didn’t wait for the receptionist to call her up front and meet him in the lobby. Instead he barged his way back to her office amid the poor woman’s protests.

  *

  Ava was startled when she looked up and saw him looming in her office doorway.

  Fuck.

  He closed the door and stood there glaring at her. Even though she’d only seen him angry once, she knew he was mad and was uncomfortable with him towering over her as she sat at her desk, so she motioned for him to sit in one of the empty grey upholstered chairs opposite her.

  “You didn’t take the Ridgeport job,” he stated flatly as he sat down.

  “No, I didn’t.” She provided no further explanation and braced herself.

  “That was the whole reason we stopped dating. At least, that’s what I thought was the reason. Apparently, there was more to the story I wasn’t privy to,” he said, his voice dripping with contempt.

  She didn’t flinch, which seemed to infuriate him more. Her seemingly lack of giving-a-shit was more than he could stand in a civilized frame of mind.

  “There was much more to me not telling you, Travis, you’re right. Not the least of which was that little stunt you pulled with your sister.”

  He sneered, “Nice try, Ava. The ball was weeks after you got the job offer. You could have told me you turned it down, and we would have gone to it together.”

  She looked at him coolly, although she knew she was going to throw up at any time and kept her hands firmly on the desk so he wouldn’t see them shaking.

  “I guess I’m not a big fan of ultimatums.”

  He snorted in disdain. “Ultimatums…yeah, okay.” The look he gave her was pure anger. “Well, I guess everything worked out for you in the end, didn’t it? You got your marine and your baby, and you don’t have to give another thought to the lawyer-next-door whose head you thoroughly fucked with. Operation Sex Kitten was definitely a success.”

  He knows I’m pregnant! Shit! Wait, how does he know about OSK?!

  Finally, she let him know she was rattled.

  “I never fucked with your head, Travis.” Her voice was shaking and getting higher as she stood up. “If I recall, you were the one playing games, not me. So, if you’re done with your accusations, I’m going to have to ask you to leave now.”

  Before I puke.

  Seething, he sat in his chair a little longer before looking her up and down. “It’s a good thing you had your period when you were with me because if I thought for a second that was my baby…”

  He didn’t finish his thought until he stood up and walked toward the door, pausing before looking her up and down again as if she disgusted him. “If that was my baby, I’d move heaven and earth to make sure you didn’t have custody.”

  That made her knees buckle a little, but she kept her composure when she opened the door and gestured for him to leave as she hissed, “Well we’re both in luck then, because it’s not your baby. I don’t have to worry about a custody battle, and you don’t have to worry yourself with writing a monthly check.”

  “Goodbye, Ava,” he said dismissively as he walked out her door.

  She refrained from slamming it behind him as she ran back to her desk, making it to her garbage can just in time.

  Ava was a nervous wreck from then on and called her brother in Connecticut. After telling him pretty much everything except Travis’ actual name, he urged her to come stay with him between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

  “I’ll be home at Thanksgiving. You can fly back with me, and then we’ll return for Christmas and New Year’s.”

  She knew he was worried about her as he listened to her crying.

  “Do Mom and Dad know?”

  “They know I’m pregnant, and Mom knows I’m having trouble keeping anything down, even with anti-nausea medicine.”

  “Little sister, that is not good for your baby. You have to be able to give your child nutrition. What does your OB-GYN have to say about all this?”

  “I have an appointment next week, and I’ll talk to her more about it then. I’m finding out the sex.”

  Her big brother took a sharp breath. “I’ll be home this weekend to be sure I’m at that appointment with you.”

  “Steve, I love you, and I love you’re concerned, but Mom and Dad don’t know how far along I am. You coming here would raise suspicions. My girlfriend, Anne, is going with me. I promise I will call you the second I know. Hell, I can even Skype with you while it’s happening!”

  Steven laughed. “I might take you up on that.”

  They said their goodbyes, and Ava sat on the edge of her bed crying with gratitude she had such an amazing older sibling.

  Chapter 22

  THE week of Thanksgiving arrived, and all her siblings were back for the holiday. Ava woke earlier than normal and found she was actually hungry enough to join her family for breakfast for once.

  She slipped quietly through the French doors and over to the breakfast nook, where her father was already seated in his robe, his silver hair still wet from the shower. He never dressed before breakfast; he didn’t want to risk getting anything on his shirt or tie.

  “Hey, Ava Bear! Glad you could make it!” He took his feet off the chair next to him and pulled it out, motioning for her to sit in it.

  Her mother came over and ran her fingers through her daughter’s hair. “How are you feeling this morning, baby? Think you can keep something down?”

  Ava nodded cautiously. “I think so. I’ve been feeling better lately.”

  “What do you want, Bear Bug? I’ll make anything you want,” Francine matronly inquired.

  “For some strange reason, I’ve been craving blueberry pancakes. I have no idea why.”

  Her mother laughed and patted Ava’s stomach. “Because that little one wants some, that’s why.”

  “Where is everyone else?” she asked loudly in her mother’s direction. Her dad was busy reading something on his tablet.

  Her mother hadn’t heard her over all the sizzling going on at the stove so her dad answered, not looking up from his digital device. “Well, Steven went for a run, and your sisters are still sleeping.” He looked up and smiled at her. “Which I’m sure surprises you.”

  Ava’s younger siblings were notorious for sleeping late. They would probably sleep until noon if their mother allowed them to. Still, when she had asked where everyone was, she was trying to be diplomatic and not assume they hadn’t changed while in college. But her dad was right; she wasn’t surprised. She hoped Steven got back from his run before they finished breakfast. She always enjoyed the banter at the table when her brother was there.

  Mrs. Ericson set the butter and syrup down in the middle of the table and gave her husband a scolding look. “Robert, it’s only seven in the morning. I’m sure those girls need to catch up on their sleep.”

  “Oh yeah, because I’m sure they’re exhausted from all the studying they’ve done this semester,” her dad muttered sarcastically.

  Ava put her hand on her dad’s and giggled. “Well, at least your oldest two turned out awesome, Pops.”

  She had meant regarding her and Steven’s education and grades, but then thought about her current condition and was immediately ashamed at what she thought must have sounded incredibly hypocritical.

  She looked down, embarrassed, and gestured to her baby bump. “Well, okay, at least you’ve still got hope with Steve.”

  Her dad squeezed her hand and gently but sternly said, “I’m still incredibly proud of you, Bear. That hasn’t changed for a second.”

  Tears filled Ava’s eyes. Hearing her father say that brought a sense of relief. She had been worried her parents were embarrassed and disappointed with her. Disappointing her mom and dad was something Ava had fretted about ever since she could remember. It’s probably why she never got into trouble growing up or ever did anything crazy in college, even though she knew they
loved her unconditionally. They had always shown that to all their children. The examples they set while she was growing up were invaluable and were what gave her the confidence and belief she could raise her baby on her own and do a good job. Their love and devotion to not only their family, but to each other was something to be emulated. Sadly, she didn’t see herself having that kind of relationship with anyone in the future. It broke her heart she wouldn’t be able to give her child that kind of example, but she hoped she would be able to instill a strong sense of belonging. She knew her family would play a huge part in that, and she was going to need her father and brother now more than ever to be the male role models.

  Her father’s words magically made her feel a sense of peace, like things were going to be okay, at least as far as her baby was concerned. She still had the cloud of dread about Travis discovering the truth hanging over her, but for the sake of her sanity, and her health, she couldn’t think about that right now.

  Her mother put the pancakes down in front of her and a plate of turkey, bacon and eggs in front of her father, then came back with a small pancake and eggs for herself. Just then, Steven opened up the door, his hair and shirt wet from the sweat of his workout.

  “Hey, sis! I didn’t think you were going to be here this early! Let me quick shower, and I’ll be right down.”

  The simple fact he was happy to see her delighted her. She had missed her brother; he was her oldest friend and most trusted confidant. Of course he was also the one who glued her bedroom door shut and shaved her Barbie’s head, but those memories only endeared him more to her now. She was sure it was her hormones, but as she looked at the plate of pancakes her mother had prepared for her, Ava felt enormously thankful and grateful for her wonderful, supportive family.