The Avoiding Series Boxset

by K. A. Linde

  “Sure,” she murmured softly. She took another sip of her drink. “Why did you choose this place anyway?”

  “The restaurant?”

  She nodded.

  “Because you like it. You do like it, right? Should we have gone somewhere else? We can still leave,” he mumbled, trying to recover from a misstep he hadn’t made.

  “No, no, it’s fine,” she said quickly, giggling to herself at his adorable reaction. “I do like this place. It’s so classy though. Sometimes, I feel dirty when I walk inside.”

  “Isn’t it supposed to have the opposite reaction?” he asked curiously.

  “Let me rephrase. I don’t feel clean enough to eat here. I feel like someone needs to polish me, like the silverware,” she said, holding up and examining a pristinely polished fork. “I could never get forks this clean.”

  “What’s this about, Lexi?” Ramsey asked, reaching across the table and taking her hand. He didn’t let go, and he slowly swirled a figure-eight pattern against the top of her hand.

  “I’m just tired,” she murmured, glancing away from him, “and I didn’t get to eat lunch. Just irritable, I guess.”

  “Hey,” he said, tugging on her hand lightly until she looked back at him. “I love you. You’ll get through this case.”

  She sighed and nodded. She wished she could tell him about all the other things on her mind, but this wasn’t the place. How could she ask him in the midst of these people whether or not she was going to end up like them?

  Lexi knew that she was thinking too much into it, and her stress was starting to seep into her personal life, but she had a hard time preventing it from happening. Being surrounded by such opulence reminded her too much of the people she worked for—the people she wanted to forget.

  Trying to clear her mind, she placed a smile on her face and asked Ramsey about his day. He already knew that hers had been stressful, but she needed to remember that he had a stressful job, too. Sometimes, it was easy to get wrapped up in what she was going through at work and the doubts she was having about her future. Putting in the effort to find out about Ramsey’s day eased her mind, and dinner arrived shortly after.

  By the end of the meal, her apprehension about the evening had dissipated, and they had slipped effortlessly into a debate about who was going to pay for the meal. Ramsey won, of course. He always won, but Lexi found it amusing to prod him on the subject. Maybe one day she would be able to convince him otherwise.

  Latching on to his arm, Ramsey led Lexi out of the dining hall. She wished that they could do this more often…that they had more time. Snuggling against his arm, they exited through the main entrance and into the late October air. The valet smiled at their approach and motioned to his assistant to grab the keys.

  “Take a walk with me,” Ramsey said, pulling Lexi away from the parking lot and waving dismissively at the valet.

  “But our cars.”

  “They’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about it,” he said, continuing to lead her away from the restaurant.

  “Are you sure?” Lexi asked. She was concerned about leaving the only real possession she cherished alone in a parking lot so late at night.

  “Of course. Where do you think we are?”

  “I guess you’re right,” she agreed reluctantly, glancing back over her shoulder at the valets standing around. “Where are we going?”

  “I just wanted to walk with you and forget the rest of the world. I miss our time together. We’re both so busy.”

  “I know this case is really something else.”

  She felt like she was always making excuses. She never had enough free time anymore, and when she did, she would have so much else to do that she wouldn’t get to spend it with Ramsey.

  He laced his fingers with hers as they veered toward the nearest intersection. The city lights gleamed all around them, and she shuddered a little bit as the crisp evening air reminded her that winter was just around the corner.

  “Are you cold?” he asked, putting his arm around her and rubbing her arm.

  “Just a little.”

  “I’m glad we were able to get dinner tonight. It’s nice to see your pretty face.”

  Lexi giggled slightly at all his compliments. She was now glad he had asked her to walk with him. She had forgotten how nice it was to just get away. He hadn’t been lying at dinner when he said they needed a vacation. They both worked too much to do it though.

  Ramsey gestured for her to cross the street, and she traipsed across the grimy crosswalk in her slingback heels, being careful not to trip over a pothole.

  “Let’s go in,” he said with an easy smile as he motioned toward one of the entrances to Piedmont Park.

  “This late at night?” she questioned him, slightly uncomfortable at the prospect.

  “Yeah, let’s go together.”

  “Isn’t it dangerous?” she asked, biting her lip.

  She hugged her arms around herself as he stood, silhouetted by the lights at the entrance. He did look smashing tonight in a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to three-quarter length and charcoal slacks. His green eyes stood out in contrast to his dark outfit, and she just wanted to kiss him.

  “You feel like you’re in some kind of danger with me?” he asked, his lips quirking up at the sides at the humor in his statement.

  Lexi reached up on her tiptoes and lightly kissed his lips. “I’m not the only one with a pretty face tonight.”

  “You’re trying to change the subject,” he murmured against her lips.

  “Is it working?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “Are you in any way unsafe with me?” he asked, circling his arms around her waist.

  “Depends on what you plan to do with me tonight,” she whispered huskily.

  “After this morning? You’ll be lucky if I let you out of bed.”

  “You think being out of bed would be lucky?”

  Ramsey shook his head. “Into the park,” he demanded, pointing at the entrance.

  “Nope. We should go home now.”

  Ramsey smiled, clearly contemplating her suggestion. Then, as she began to drag him back to their cars, he hoisted her up into his arms and carried her into the park himself.

  “Oh my God! Ramsey, what are you doing?” she squealed as he walked forward.

  He held her gingerly in his arms as if she weighed nothing.

  “I can walk! I can walk!”

  “Are you going to behave?” he asked, smirking down at her face.

  “Not if you keep carrying me!”

  “Then, why would I put you down?”

  She threw her head back, exasperated, and he just laughed at her.

  “All right, all right. I’ll put you down.” He placed her lightly on her feet.

  “Thank you,” she said, steadying herself against him in her high heels. “Can we try to act like civilized adults now?”

  “What’s the fun in that?”

  “You have a point.”

  As they walked farther into the park, the trees began to cluster together, and the city lights gradually disappeared. The characteristic speeding of cars on the interstate and honking of horns in traffic through the commuter city faded away to a dull hum, and they were left with each other. The winding path they had selected was even farther off the beaten track, and Lexi actually noticed that some stars were overhead. The stars had come out for she and Ramsey tonight, like the stars had known they were going to take this moonlit stroll through the city.

  The weight of his hand was peaceful against hers, and the sound of each other’s breathing kept a slow, easy rhythm about their movements—so much so, that she hardly realized just how dark it was where they were. They had walked so deep into the woods that even the lights in the park were missing or had been extinguished. It reminded her of the night when they had ridden four-wheelers in the woods back when they were first exploring each other, first accepting what was happening, first falling in love.

/>   “Ramsey,” she whispered, not even sure why she was being so quiet. “It’s really dark out here. Don’t you think we should go back?”

  “Yeah, probably,” he agreed, stopping and staring down at her. “Let’s just go a little farther, and if we don’t find the other side, we’ll circle back.”

  Lexi nodded.

  After another minute of walking on the darkened path, they followed a bend in the trail, and suddenly, light illuminated the path before them.

  “Oh, good,” she murmured, breathing a sigh of relief. “We made it.”

  Ramsey smiled back at her. “We did.”

  Lexi looked into his face and saw a glint of something she hadn’t recognized before. Had she not been looking? He appeared absolutely ecstatic. She hadn’t even realized how happy he was and that such a small walk with her could brighten his mood.

  Walking forward along the path, Lexi noticed it narrowed as they ventured toward the light. Her eyes widened as everything came into focus.

  No wonder he was grinning like an idiot.

  White candles of all different shapes and sizes flickered along the path. Hundreds of them illuminated their way, and she noticed, where she hadn’t before, the streetlights were all still in place but had been shut off to allow the red-and-orange flames to be the only source of light. He had turned off the world in Piedmont Park to give Lexi one of her own.

  She stared forward, perplexed and in awe at what was materializing, as she followed him down the pathway. The candles opened up to a small clearing where a giant blanket was laid out with a picnic basket and a dozen long-stemmed red roses in a clear vase.

  “What is this?” she whispered, facing Ramsey once more.

  He just smiled. “Dessert?”

  Lexi didn’t even have words right then. How was he always able to surprise her with such unbelievable acts of kindness? Would she ever be able to reciprocate his immense love and admiration for her?

  He slowly pulled his dress shoes off his feet and padded onto the plush blanket that she suddenly realized was the same one they had used at Stone Mountain on their very first date. Kicking her heels off her feet, she walked forward, toward him, her face still a mask of shock.

  She stood there, and without her heels on, she had to tilt her head back to look into his face. “How long have you been planning this?”

  “Long enough that I wasn’t going to let you miss dinner,” he murmured.

  “Sneaky.”

  “I’m so in love with you.” He reached up, took a hold of the ponytail holder, and freed her long, flowing hair. It fanned out around her face and past her shoulders in giant waves from the spiraled tight bun. “That’s better. That’s more like you.”

  Lexi beamed up at her boyfriend. He had planned all of this. She couldn’t believe it. Her mind wasn’t even functioning properly as she realized just how much he really loved her. He was full of surprises. He had been from day one.

  “What’s for dessert?” she murmured, licking her lips.

  “There will be plenty of time for that,” he said huskily. He lightly brushed his lips against hers.

  “Now?”

  “Later,” he said before kissing her once more.

  “Now?” she repeated, reaching up on her tiptoes to try to capture his lips again.

  “Alexa, my Alexa, I don’t know how to say this any other way.” He pushed a lock of her hair out of her face.

  “Say what?” She was still staring at his lips.

  “You are and always will be everything I want in my life. You get me through even the cloudiest of days by making the sun shine all around you. I could never in a million years find the right words to let you know how much you mean to me. So, I thought I’d start my explanation with this.” Ramsey slowly sank to one knee.

  Lexi gasped, her hand rising to her mouth. “Oh my God,” she murmured as she watched him pull a small black box out of his pocket.

  He slowly opened the lid and revealed what lay beneath. She stared in wonder as hundreds of flames reflected off the engagement ring. Perfect, simple, elegant—it was everything that represented their relationship and more. A perfectly cut pear-shaped diamond sat all alone on a thin silver band. It needed no adornment. It needed no decoration. It was flawless all on its own.

  “Alexa Mae Walsh,” Ramsey began, holding the ring out for her viewing, “will you do me the honor of spending the rest of our lives together as my wife?”

  Tears welled in her eyes, and she brushed them aside with her free hand. Her heartbeat was accelerating, and she couldn’t keep from staring at him with her mouth open. Her eyes shone with unadulterated shock at the turn of events.

  “Lexi?” he murmured her name again softly. He was still waiting for an answer.

  She could see the concern beginning to creep onto his face.

  “Yes! Yes, oh God, yes! Of course, Ramsey,” she told him, leaning down and kissing him full on the lips.

  His arms came up around her, and he picked her up off the ground and swung her in a circle. “You said yes.”

  “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,” she said over and over again.

  Placing her lightly on her feet, he took her left hand in his own and slowly slid the ring onto her finger. The diamond glittered in the candlelight, and they both stared at how perfectly it fit.

  “You said yes,” he repeated.

  “Did you think I’d say anything else?” she whispered, transfixed by the diamond resting on her finger.

  “No.” He brushed his finger against her ring. “It suits you.”

  “You suit me, Ramsey Bridges.”

  “Forever and always.”

  AUGUST—TWO YEARS AND TWO MONTHS EARLIER

  Lexi blinked into the afternoon sun. It was all but blinding and caused her to sneeze three times, back to back to back.

  “That’s really cute,” Ramsey told her.

  She glanced at him to retort, but then she let out another sneeze as she looked up into the sun over his shoulder. He chuckled softly to himself, clearly trying to hold it in.

  “Thanks,” she muttered. She sniffled at the onslaught. She walked over to his parked Mercedes and hopped inside.

  It had been twenty-four hours. Just twenty-four hours. A whole fucking twenty-four hours. The longest and shortest twenty-four hours of her life.

  They had walked out of Jack and Bekah’s wedding.

  They had actually walked out of their wedding!

  Her head still swam with the thought. She couldn’t believe they had done it. She couldn’t believe Ramsey had come with her. She couldn’t believe how much mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex they had had in the past twenty-four hours.

  From where they had been just one week earlier, she was hard-pressed to believe all that could happen in such a short period of time. She hadn’t even left his bedroom until a minute ago when they had both caved and decided eating was in their best interest.

  Not to mention, she had a plane to catch.

  Ramsey kept trying to talk her out of it. He wanted her to stay in Atlanta for a while longer. She didn’t have a job lined up yet, but she wasn’t ready to just move in with him. Call her crazy, but jumping into things right after the madness of the past week didn’t sound like the best idea. She wanted to try to work everything out with Ramsey. She wouldn’t mind considering moving in with him again, but maybe she would do it eventually—like after they got all of their trust issues out of the way.

  “Come on, just stay one more week,” Ramsey said, sliding his hand into hers across the car.

  “Nope. Can’t do it. I need to get home and work out some things there—find out about the jobs I applied for, settle things with Chyna, make sure Rachelle hasn’t kicked me out of the apartment.” Talk to John. Yeah, she still needed to talk to him before she could settle all of this with Ramsey.

  “All things that can be done a week from now.” Ramsey backed out of the driveway and started to zip through the city.

  “Psh. If I let things sit wi
th Chyna, she’ll eat me alive when I see her next.”

  “She’ll get over it. If we’re okay, then she should be, too.”

  “You clearly don’t know my best friend and her ability to hold a grudge,” Lexi told him.

  “I’m just glad that you don’t have the same affinity for it.”

  Really? She was pretty sure she could benefit from holding on to a grudge a bit tighter. Lexi could think of one too many times when she had been too forgiving, too understanding, too accepting. Jack Howard.

  No, she wouldn’t think about him today. She wouldn’t think about their past and everything that had led to her walking out of his wedding. Today was the day that she wanted to move forward and be okay with the fact that she had left with Ramsey. She would just think about Ramsey today.

  Maybe tomorrow, she would let the weight of what she had done sink in—when she was all alone and could start to process what had happened. Maybe after she found out whether Jack had gone through with it…

  “Where are we getting food anyway?” Lexi asked, changing the subject. She might have also forgiven Ramsey too easily. She wouldn’t think about that right now either.

  “I was thinking Flip Burger,” he suggested.

  Her stomach growled at the mention of food, and feeling embarrassed, she placed her hand on it.

  “I guess we waited too long to eat.” Ramsey smirked at the suggestion.

  She was sure that he was thinking about their sexcapade last night.

  Her cheeks heated as she replayed her body sliding against his, his hands running through her hair, their hot breaths mingling in the dark room.

  “Uh…Flip sounds fine,” Lexi said, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear and staring out the passenger window.

  Sex had been a nice distraction from all the problems they had to face. She had unabashedly reveled in it, knowing they had too much to talk about when they were finished. She wondered if they would be having this conversation over lunch or if it would wait until later, like maybe when she was back in New York. Lexi had so many decisions to make, and she didn’t even know where to start.

  Ramsey pulled into the Flip Burger parking lot and took the last remaining spot. As Lexi stepped out of the Mercedes, the August heat pressed down on her from all sides, and the humidity caused her dark curls to tighten from the added moisture. She couldn’t believe how just three years in New York City could change her ability to handle the humid Southern summers. A twinge in her chest reminded her how much she missed the city, and she couldn’t wait to get back even though returning would do nothing to help her relationship.