When the doorbell rang she greeted the Hendersons with hugs and kisses, while Kade offered a stern handshake. Helena followed her into the kitchen with a bowl of red wine mousse she’d brought. “Oh Helena this looks fantastic! Do you mind if I steal a taste?”
“Please do. Make sure it’s edible before we serve it,” she laughed nervously.
Eyes closed, Ava let loose an erotic moan at the taste of it. “Maybe you should have kept this for you and Bruce,” she winked with mischief shining in her eyes.
“Really?”
“Definitely.” She absorbed the affection in Helena’s hug. “I hope we can still be friends once the deal is closed.” She knew she shouldn’t have said that the moment the words flew out of her mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t meant to presume.”
“Nonsense Ava. You’ve been like the daughter we’ve always wanted and we’d be honored to keep you in our lives.”
It was inevitable to stem the flow of tears but she dabbed discreetly with a smile. “Thank you.” She’d shared with Helena the death of her parents and most recently of her grandmother so the woman knew she had a craving for family.
“You might find you have your own family sooner than you think.”
“Oh I don’t think,” she stopped because she couldn’t finish that sentence truthfully. It had just hit her. She’d had sex with Kate dozens of time in the past few weeks and neither of them had mentioned a word about protection. Oh no, oh no, oh no! She sagged into the nearest chair. Please don’t let this be true. She looked to Helena, “Please don’t say anything.”
“Of course not, dear.” She dabbed at Ava’s eyes. “Now let’s get out there before they spend all night talking business.”
The rest of the meal was fairly uneventful yet entertaining all the same. She tried to avoid Kade’s gaze just in case he saw the truth in her eyes but she kept up her role as the devoted fiancé. Bruce turned his attention to her and she listened with a serene smile on her face.
“Ava, as I’m sure you know, I had my doubts about Kade. About him taking over the business I built with my wife. Tell me why I should sell to him.”
Ava’s smile brightened in Bruce’s direction but her gaze turned to Kade. She looked at him with all the love she felt shining in her eyes, radiating from every pore. She told Bruce everything. “Kade is a man of honor even when it’s difficult. He works harder than anyone I know and he genuinely loves what he does. He takes an interest in every business he owns. But more than that Bruce, Kade is a great man. He treats everyone around him like an equal and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Most of all Kade has a way of making everyone in his orbit feel important, loved, special and that is a skill not many people have. It’s what I love most about him.” Helena dabbed the corners of her eyes and Bruce’s face was a blank mask. She turned her gaze away from the scowl growing on Kade’s face. “At least that’s what I think, but maybe I’m biased.”
Bruce smiled. “I’m sure you are biased as his fiancé and all, but I’m sold. You’ve a good woman there, Kade. Marry her soon.” He stood holding a glass in his hand. “I’d like to make a toast to Kade and Ava, may your love last long and grow stronger every day. To Helena, get ready to spend the next decade traveling the world because I’m selling Cakes A-shakin!” She squealed at the news and draped herself over her husband. “Kade we’ll talk tomorrow about the details.”
That was it. This was all over. “Congratulations,” she told Kade and pressed her lips to his.
They saw the Hendersons out and Ava was ready to turn in but Kade was giddy with excitement and she wouldn’t abandon him at this moment when he’d just gotten what he wanted. “You were fantastic Ava! The best fake fiancé I ever had,” he smiled and squeezed her tight around the shoulders. He laughed, “All that stuff about ‘that’s why I love him’ it was fantastic! I can’t thank you enough Ava.”
Her heart sank to the ground and shattered into too many shards to count at his words. Of course he’d never believe she really loved him because he saw her as a friend and convenient bed partner. “I aim to please,” she said with more bite than she intended. “I’m tired Kade, I’m going to bed.”
Something was wrong with Ava. Kade knew it from the moment she had emerged from the kitchen with Helena. Her eyes were glassy with tears and she was more subdued than normal. Her words at dinner left him shaken and hopeful that she was doing more than acting but she’d gone to bed in her room. Alone. He hated that he was thinking about this when he was set to close the deal he’d been working on for months.
“What’s on your mind, son?” Bruce Henderson strode into his office and took a seat, giving Kade a quizzical look.
“Nothing.” He sighed heavily. “It’s Ava, she was strange last night.”
Bruce nodded knowingly and stroked the early stages of what Kade assumed was his retirement beard. “Son I’d guess that your fake fiancé has fallen in love with you and just realized it.”
Kade nodded and then his entire body froze. “Fake fiancé?”
Bruce’s laugh was deep and booming. “You thought I didn’t know?” Bruce told Kade how he’d done his homework and knew Ava was a recent addition to his life. “You were too affectionate that first night. Dead giveaway. Helena was so nervous during her first business dinner part she barely ate or said word.” His laugh was wistful at the memory. “But I can tell you now, that sweet girl is deeply in love with you and terrified you won’t love her back.”
“No Bruce, you’re wrong.”
“No son, you’re blind or dumb. Helena told me the girl lost her parents as a child and most recently the only other family she had. It was her poor luck to fall in love with a playboy she’s not sure could love her back. But you can and you do.”
It wasn’t a question from Bruce. Did he love Ava? Yes, without a doubt. “Dammit Bruce.”
Again Bruce laughed. “You’re welcome son. Now send those contracts to my lawyer so I can take my wife on a cruise around the world. And Kade? Good luck with Ava.”
Most of his day after Bruce’s visit was spent staring out the window thinking about the fact that Ava was in love with him. Could it be true? She hadn’t said anything but Bruce seemed so sure. He stood and grabbed his jacket. He needed to see Ava.
“Ava you can not sulk around here forever.”
“Sure I can,” she told Sophie without even looking up. “As long as I’m cheery when clients show up, who cares?”
“For starters, I do. You won’t tell me what happened with you and Kade yet every time I see you your eyes are red and glassy from crying, you’re quiet and you look like someone ate your kitten.”
Ava glared at her friend. “Look I was stupid okay and now I’m embarrassed and heartbroken. I need to work through it and I will.” She knew the last few weeks she was a nightmare to be around because she was weepy, emotional and tired all the time. Kade was only part of the reason why but she wasn’t ready to share that just yet.
“There’s nothing wrong with falling in love. If the idiot doesn’t love you back, then he’s as dumb as he is hot.” Sophie wrapped Ava in a hug and kissed her cheek. “What did he say when you left?”
That was the part that broke her heart all over again every time she thought about it. She’d packed up and left the morning after dinner with Bruce and Helena. She couldn’t stay there loving him and him thinking it was all a big joke. But the joke was on her because it had been a month and Kade hadn’t called or texted or stopped by. He hadn’t even arranged a time to do a full photo shoot so she used one of the few shots she had.
Even though her heart was broken she had begun to turn a profit. The postcards and prints were selling like crazy thanks to the bucolic scenery in Rainbow Springs, and a few other businesses wanted to start selling her postcards. Business was looking good and in a few weeks she would have her grand re-opening. “I haven’t heard from him since the night before I left.”
“What! You didn’t call or leave a note that you were leaving?”
“There was no need Soph. I’d served my purpose and if I wasn’t sure if that was true, his radio silence confirmed it.” She didn’t tell Sophie it took ten days of silence before she realized it, and that’s when her heart officially broke. Now she spent her time taking photos inside the studio and out and getting over her ill-advised love for Kade Steele.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Sophie pointed to the angry green eyed man standing behind her.
She turned to Kade. “What are you doing here?”
His green eyes were dark with anger. “I was driving by and imagine my surprise at finding a giant photo of me—shirtless—in the window for all to see. Didn’t waste much time at all, did you?”
Was he for real? “Well Kade since you got what you wanted and you seemed to have forgotten about the photos I needed. I had to use what I had.” She refused to back down. She might love him but she would not take crap from him.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” His fingers raked through his hair. “But you could have gotten your photos you know, if you hadn’t left.”
“Why would I stay? You didn’t need me anymore Kade.”
“I wish that was true Ava. I do need you, so much and I didn’t realize it until you weren’t there.” He took her hands in his. “It’s not just the sex although that was out of this world, but I miss your smile Ava and your taste and that sexy little laugh of yours, even when its at my expense.” Then his expression sobered. “I rushed home to tell you all about the Henderson deal and you were gone. I was devastated. How could you leave me like that, Ava?”
She hugged herself around the middle. “You wouldn’t understand Kade. It doesn’t matter.”
His features darkened. “Well which is it, I wouldn’t understand or it doesn’t matter.”
“Both.”
“Can you just give me a straight answer! Why did you leave?”
She shrunk away at his volume but her anger was good and brewing at his tone. Who was he to be angry with her? “It’s because I fell in love with you jackass!” She began to pace, “How dare you come in here and yell at me after you, Kade Steele, got everything you wanted! What did I get? I’ll tell you. I got a dozen photos, a broken heart and a baby!”
He stared for a long moment, his thoughts indecipherable through the mask he wore. Then he walked away.
Ava collapsed back into her desk chair and cried.
Kade couldn’t believe it, not any of it. Ava had proclaimed her love for him in one breath and told him he was going to be a father in the next. It was too much information all at once and he’d responded poorly. Hell he hadn’t responded at all. Kade Steele had walked away.
He walked away two weeks ago and he hadn’t tried to call her once. To be fair neither had she but then again he was the one who had walked away. But a visit from Sophie had confirmed everything. Ava had fallen in love with him and left because she didn’t think he could love her back. She found out she was pregnant after she’d left and spent weeks crying for him and the family she would never have.
He was gutted by the time Sophie had finished telling him off. But she was still hopeful and that made him hopeful. Before leaving she left an invite for the grand re-opening of the photo studio and that’s where he stood right now.
“Coming in or are you going to stay out here all night?”
He sighed, the weight of what he had to do, weighed heavily on him. This would be the first time he set eyes on her since walking away. “I guess I’m coming in.” When he walked in there was a party going on. Several of the calendar bachelors were seated at a long table, posing for photos with the women of Rainbow Springs. Ava was selling postcards and prints on the other side of the room. He made his way to her. “Ava. Can we talk?”
“There’s nothing to talk about Kade. I’m keeping the baby but I don’t expect anything from you. Be involved as little or as much as you want.” Her attention went back to a few tourists buying prints.
“I don’t think so, Ava.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her around the tall counter, a gasp escaped at the small bump at her middle, showing clearly in the fitted dress she wore. His hand went to her stomach, awe on his face. “We should talk.”
“There’s nothing left to say, Kade.”
“Fine you listen and I’ll talk.” He pulled her behind him away from the crowd and into one of the small studios. He turned and pulled her hands to his heart. “Ava I’m so sorry for walking out last week, for laughing about what you said to Bruce. It touched me, so damn much. I just couldn’t believe that a woman as smart and beautiful and kind as you could actually love me.” He smiled and kissed her forehead, “I didn’t even think I was capable of loving anyone until Bruce told me my fake fiancé was in love with me.”
Her eyes widened. “He did? And he still signed the contract anyway?”
Kade nodded with a smile. “Said he was impressed with my business skill but more impressed I was able to get a woman like you to fall for me.” He reached for the brown paper covered package against the wall. “I have something for you Ava.” He unwrapped the photo while he spoke. “You see I was convinced we were both playing at being in love that I was too blind to see we had both fallen. I admit I was skeptical when Bruce said you loved me even though I was pretty sure I loved you.” He grabbed her shoulders and twirled her to face the photo. “But when I looked at this photo of us, I knew we were both fooling ourselves. I love you so much Ava and I want us to be a family, me and you and our baby.”
Ava looked at the photo and tears sprang instantly at the look of love she saw shining, in both their eyes. She couldn’t believe it. This man, this big lovable man who took care of everyone was hers. “I love you too Kade and I want to be yours and I want you to be mine. Forever.”
Kade looked down at the love shining in her eyes and he was sure she could see the same reflected back in his. He knew he would do anything in the world to keep that beautiful smile on her face, to have her always look at him like he was some kind of hero. “I’ll be yours for forever and beyond Ava. As long as you let me love you, I will.”
“Good because I already tried to stop loving you and I couldn’t. So I think you’re stuck with me.” She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss.
“Baby there’s no person I’d rather be stuck to in all the world.” He planted a soft kiss on her lips. “Ava you beautiful creature, will you marry me?”
She nodded, her smile so wide her face hurt. “Really? Kade I’d marry you tomorrow if I could.”
“Sweetheart I’m a billionaire, you want to get married tomorrow then we’ll get married tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened and she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Sophie, I’m getting married tomorrow!”
“It’s about damn time.”
THE END
Chosen By The Billionaire
Some days, I would just look at myself in the mirror, and I would sigh. I'd always had this feeling like I, and myself as a whole, were just all around too vanilla to be of any interest to anyone or anything, and that I would never be one of those lucky people who figure out what it is that makes them happy in life. It just seemed beyond what I was capable of, like my indecision and my inability to be what other people wanted me to be would be my ultimate pitfall in life, and like there was no redemption for me because of that.
To put it simply, I'd always been something of a curvier girl, and this had led to a lot of internal debating with myself as to my worthiness. We live in a time, obviously, where people at least attempt to be more accepting of people despite, and even because of their differences, and in some ways that should have been encouraging to me. But it still didn't do a whole hell of a lot for my confidence for some reason, and honestly, that sort of “universal acceptance” stuff could feel patronizing to me in my insecurity. Like, it was more of a consolation than a comfort. A nice enough sentiment, sure, and probably the way that all people should try to live. But when you really step back and cut out the crap,
you can't honestly believe that people won't judge you by your appearance. That's just a fantasy, pure and simple, and if you live your life under the impression that things are really like that, you're basically trying to undermine millennia upon millennia of fundamental human nature.
Being talked down to, and told to accept traits that I didn't like, was the last thing that I felt that I needed, and I knew that all the rationalizing in the world wouldn't do me a lick of good. The question was, then, whether my curves were really the problem, or if the problem with my life was a lack of self-confidence, whether independent of my physical issues or otherwise.
On self-inspection, it really did seem like my sensitivities with regard to my appearance were something of an exaggeration- I was actually a rather attractive girl, once I could look around the own obstacles I had set up for myself. I had a roundish, beautiful face, with piercing blue eyes, and eyelashes that fluttered back at me from the opposite side of the mirror. Long chestnut hair flowed down from the top of my head to around my shoulders, framing my button nose and small, delicate lips like a photograph, the combined effect looking not altogether unpleasant, not by any means. Moving down, my breasts were large, round, and firm, a perk, I supposed, of being curvaceous, my dark cleavage deeply cut and tantalizing- the effect, I was sure, the same on a man as it currently was on myself. My curves, I decided firmly, and made myself believe without question, were in all the right places, and as my eyes danced down along them, they seemed to follow a certain tantalizing rhythm, zigging and zagging at just the right moments, and nearly making my head spin as I at last landed down at my waist, and I had to take a moment's rest before continuing.
ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance Page 16
