He jumped to his feet and moved near her. “The person who executed Phillip Ramsey is who Justin Harrington is. The sooner you come to terms with it the better. Evidence doesn’t lie, and we have plenty of it.” He led her back to the sofa and pulled her into an embrace. “Ava, you need to get passed the facade. He isn’t the perfect person he presented. The real man underneath is a ruthless son of a bitch who kills to get what he wants.”
Ava removed herself from his arms and rested her head on the back cushion. She closed her eyes to gather her thoughts. When she reopened them, Brandon was still beside her with a look of pity in his eyes. “How can I trust myself with another man if I fail to see who they really are?”
“You can trust me. I’ve never hurt you and never will.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. Without hesitation, she parted her lips and allowed him to draw her into a deep kiss. His hands were pressed firm against her back causing their bodies to mesh together. “I love you, Ava,” he murmured between kisses. She remained silent and arched her head back as he planted wet kisses on her neck. It felt good to feel something other than pain, and Brandon was the perfect distraction she needed. His hands moved to the top button of her shirt, unfastening each one, exposing her breasts. “Is it okay if I take you into my bedroom?” he asked.
She nodded her head yes and one swoop he lifted her off the sofa and brought her into his darkened bedroom, placing her on his bed. Ava lifted her heavy eyelids and smiled. “Turn on the lights. I want to see your face.”
Brandon did as she asked. He then lifted his shirt above his head and tossed it on the floor.
She eyed his perfect physique before her eyelids became too heavy to keep open.
“Ava.” He gently nudged her causing her to reopen her eyes. When she looked up at him, it was Justin’s face staring back at her. A smile spread across her face. “I’ve missed you.” She reached out towards him to pull him close. Wrapping her arms around his neck she engaged him into a deep passionate kiss. He pulled away to caress and kiss her breasts. She expelled pleasurable moans as she ran her fingertips through his hair. She reopened her eyes to see his face again, but Justin was no longer there. “Brandon, wait.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, face flushed.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.” She sat up to button her shirt.
“Are you okay?”
“No, my head is pounding.” She lied. “Can we just lay together? I don’t want to be alone.”
“Sure.” His face was riddled with disappointment.
Even in her drunken state, she knew she wasn’t ready to move on. She and Brandon cuddled underneath his blanket as she drifted off. “One day you’ll love me again. I’m sure of it.” She heard him whisper before she fell asleep in his arms.
∞∞∞
Ava woke without a hangover, only a feeling as if she didn’t get enough sleep. Something coffee would fix. She sauntered into the kitchen and found Brandon pouring a glass of orange juice. “Morning,” she said stifling a yawn.
He walked over and kissed her forehead. “How do you feel?”
“Surprisingly okay, considering the amount of alcohol I consumed.” She poured the black brew into a mug.
“Do you remember what happened last night?”
She stirred creamer into her coffee and sampled the concoction. It wasn’t her usual blend, but it’ll do. “We almost had sex.”
“I’m disappointed we didn’t.”
She gulped of her drink and set the mug on the counter. “Sorry.”
He moved inches away from her and kissed her on the lips. She didn’t stop him or react in any way. “You can make it up to me if you like.”
She gently pushed him away. “First, we should talk about what’s happened between us. I’ve been here less than a week, and we’ve already come close to sleeping together.”
“What’s wrong with that?” He shrugged.
“Brandon, sex won’t fix the issues between us.”
“We have no current issues. What are you talking about?”
“The biggest one is you’re still in love with me.”
“And?”
“You know where I stand.” She threw the rest of her coffee into the sink and moved towards the stairs.
He grabbed her hand to stop her. “I’m not asking you to forget all you have gone through and come back to me. What I am asking you to do is not fight what you feel. We were in love once or am I mistaken?”
She looked away as she bit down on her lower lip. “No, you’re right.”
“I told you last night, and every other time we’ve been together, I still love you. That’ll never change.”
“But, do you feel strange being under the same roof after all this time?”
He shook his head. “It feels like home again.”
“I feel the same.”
“I know you do, so why not give us a second chance?”
Ava could see the sincerity in his eyes and hear it in his voice. “Justin may have turned my life upside down, but I don’t mind that it’s you who’s helping me pick up the pieces. Being here reminds me of the good times we had together, but we had some serious issues between us.”
“That’s in the past. Look forward at what we could be.”
“Brandon, how can I think about moving forward with anyone when I’m still reeling over Justin’s betrayal?”
“Fuck him! He never cared or loved you like I do. I would never shatter your heart in the way he has.” He moved closer to where she stood. “Give us a chance.”
“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll give it some thought.”
Brandon eyed her with a dimpled smile. “That’s my girl!” He picked her up by her waist twirling her around before placing her back on her feet. “I want to prove to you I’m no longer that man who took you for granted. I want to show you every day what you mean to me.”
“Brandon, slow down. I need time to think about it.”
“Okay, there’s no pressure. You take whatever time you need.”
She managed a weak smile. “I have to go up and call my mom. She’s been blowing up my phone. What time do you go on duty?”
“Not until tonight. I got up early to tackle the high weeds growing in the field. It’s been over two weeks since I last mowed it.” Because the house sat on acres of land, he used a riding lawn mower to cut the grass. “I’ll have my cell phone with me in case you need anything.”
“Okay.” As she turned to go up the stairs, he grabbed her wrist and whirled her around.
“Come here,” he said under his breath. He then pulled her close before backing her up against the wall. He leaned into a kiss. This time she gave in and kissed him back. “I should be finished before noon. We could go out to get your mind off everything.”
“I’ll like that.” She smiled to herself as she proceeded to the guest room. Ava removed her phone from its charger to video chat with her mother. Evelyn was over the moon that Ava was staying with Brandon. She then said how much she disliked Justin and always knew something was off with him. That was a complete turnaround because the last time they had spoken, she couldn’t say enough good things about him. Before they ended their call, she told Ava to forget all about Justin and focus on rebuilding her life with Brandon. The problem is she can’t forget about Justin, and she doesn’t know if she ever will.
After showering and changing out of her nightclothes, she moved the sheer curtains on the window aside to allow unobstructed sunlight into the room. That’s when she caught a glimpse of Brandon riding bare-chested on the lawn mower. He drove in horizontal lines allowing the sun to glisten off his undeniable sexy body. Chemistry was never their problem. She’s always been wildly attracted to him which made the sex even better.
Ava continued to watch him from the window, and her thoughts carried to the good times in their relationship. From the few vacations they had taken together, to quiet nights snuggled on the couch with a movie and popcorn. Brandon’s
only crime that led to the fall of their relationship was not balancing work and home which caused them to drift apart. Unlike Justin, who she trusted with her heart and in turn, he concealed his relationship to her stalker which led to events she can’t even wrap her mind around. So, maybe her mother was right. She should forget about Justin and the deception he brought into her life and focus on Brandon. Ava retrieved her phone from her pocket and called him. She watched as he turned off the mower to answer. “Hey, handsome,” she said before he could utter a word.
“You sound like you’re in a better mood.”
She could hear the smile on his face. “I am. I had a good talk with my mom.”
“I hope you told her I said hi.”
“I did, and I don’t have to tell you she’s ecstatic I’m staying with you.”
He laughed.
“Anyway, if you’re still on track for finishing at noon. I thought we could have lunch at our favorite restaurant.”
“Crossroads Crab Shack?”
“The one and only.”
“Man, I haven’t been there in ages.”
“So, is that a yes?”
“Yes, I’m almost done. I just need an hour to shower and change.”
Chapter Twenty-five
When Ava and Brandon arrived at Crossroads Crab Shack the lunch crowd was in full swing. The hostess had advised them it would be a thirty-minute wait for a table. She didn’t mind, and Brandon didn’t seem to be bothered by it either. The hostess handed him a pager, and they sat outside on a bench underneath a tree while they waited. Ava placed her gold-rimmed sunglasses over her eyes to block the rays of the sunny day, but nothing could tame her hair that blew in the breeze. Brandon reached over to place a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Thanks, but I don’t think that will help.”
“Oh no. What about this?” He scooted closer and faced her to act as a shield.
She smiled. “Perfect.”
“Your mood seems lighter compared to this morning. Did you and your mother talk about more than what you’ve told me?”
“Not really. I had a long talk with myself to gain some perspective. The first thing I’ve done is put Justin in my rearview. It’s been over a month, and I’m tired of crying and walking around angry.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“I knew you would enjoy that bit of news,but wait to hear the rest. Something you said inspired it.”
“I’m all ears,” he said with a grin.
“You said you wanted to prove you were a different man. I never wanted you to change because you’re great just the way you are. Even after I turned you away, you dropped everything to help me through another crisis. It has reminded me of why I fell in love with you. So, I’m one hundred percent opened to slowly rebuilding what we once shared. Emphasis on slow.”
Brandon’s face lit up with a smile so wide it caused his almond eyes to form slits. “You’ve just made me the happiest I’ve been in a long time.” He placed her face in between his palms and kissed her lips. “I’ve always known it was a matter of time before you came back to me.”
“Slow, Brandon.”
“I understand it’ll take you time to consider us back together. You will continue to stay at my place, right?”
“For now.” She then recalled the gray sedan parked outside her home. “Why didn’t you mention my place was under surveillance?”
“Sorry, I thought I did. It’s just in case Justin seeks you out.”
“I figured as much.”
Brandon glanced down at the pager in his hand. “We’re up.” He stood and reached for her hand, not letting go until they sat. The waitress took both their food and drink order. She promptly returned with a Mojito for Ava and a Corona with lime for Brandon. He pushed the lime wedge into the bottle. He claimed it added to the flavor. “I can only have one since I’m on duty tonight. Will you be alright alone?” He took a swig from the bottle.
“I’ll be fine. I’m sure you’ll check in throughout the night.”
“Every chance I get.”
Ava glanced around at the nearby tables eying everyone partaking in joyous conversations over their meals. It was the man sitting in the booth behind Brandon who caught her eye. His hair coloring, the shape of his face, and mannerism reminded her of Justin. She briefly shut her eyes, and when she looked back over Brandon’s shoulder, the man gazed in her direction. Her eyes had played a trick on her, because besides the similar hair coloring, he and Justin looked nothing alike. “Hey, where did you go?” Brandon tapped her hand.
“Uh, nowhere just thinking about what I’ll do with all my free time now that I’m unemployed.”
“Regrets?”
“I should have never taken that meeting because I was an emotional mess. It’s best if I take a month or two off before deciding my next move.”
The waitress delivered their food. Both opting for individual crab buckets consisting of crab legs, shrimp, corn on the cob, and potatoes. She and Brandon placed their oversized bibs around their necks and dug into their food. “This was an excellent idea,” said Brandon, breaking into a crab leg. “Do you remember when I first brought you here?”
“It was our first real date. Before then, we would meet at Java before I went into work. I’d never been to a place where you ate with your hands from a bucket.” She laughed.
“And from that moment, it’s been our go-to place to eat on the occasional Friday nights I had free. We can renew the tradition if you like.”
Ava finished chewing on the shrimp she placed in her mouth before speaking. “Let’s take it one day at a time before renewing any traditions.”
“Whatever you like.” The couple continued to enjoy their meal and laugh over memories of the past. It’s the best Ava had felt in a long time. After they finished their meal, they walked to the park next door. It was a popular park that had a jogging trail, a center lake where people fed the ducks, and a playground.
Ava reached into her purse for a rubber band to place her hair into a ponytail. Otherwise, it would’ve blown in every direction of the wind. “It’s almost as peaceful as your house out here,” she said as they leisurely walked around the lake.
“I’ve been meaning to ask if you had any trouble with the power since they put the new breaker box in?”
“No, not one flickering light.”
“Good. It’s an old house, and it was a matter of time before the electrical would become an issue.”
“Did the electrician inspect the house for other issues?”
“Yes, that’s how he concluded it was the breaker. Since that’s done, I’ll turn my attention to the land. I was thinking about getting goats.”
“Goats?”
“Only three or four.”
“Last year you were considering cattle, so why goats?”
“Easier to take care of and great for clearing land. How do you feel about that?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Because you’re the lady of the house.”
She grabbed his wrist to halt his pace. “Brandon, once the police find Justin I will move back home. Tell me you understand that.”
“I do.”
She couldn’t read his eyes because of the sunglasses he wore. He needed to understand her staying with him was a temporary arrangement. “I meant what I said about the possibility of rekindling our relationship, but us living together again is nowhere on my radar.”
“What’s wrong with being hopeful?” He stroked her hair. “Although the circumstances suck, the prospect of you and I together is more than I could have ever dreamed of. I will do whatever you ask to make you feel comfortable and move forward as slow as you need. If doing all the above is the way to win you back in my life, I’ll do it. I love you, and I’m willing to wait for however long it takes to hear you say those words again.”
Ava dabbed the wet corners of her eyes with her fingertips. Brandon had always been well at pouring out his heart. She never had to make assumptions about
his feelings. She placed her arms around him and held on tight. Once again, he had become her safe haven.
∞∞∞
As Brandon headed out the door, Ava was right behind him to pay a visit to Meghan. At first, he didn’t want to her go out alone, but she convinced him she would be careful. She arrived at a white cottage-style home in a trendy part of town. It’s a neighborhood popular with the young twenty-something crowd. Amongst the homes were small businesses, grocery stores that specialize in organic foods, and popular restaurants all within walking distance.
Ava walked up the cobblestone path to the front door and rang the doorbell. She could hear Meghan’s feet shuffle across the floor and then a fiddle with the locks. “Hey, come on in,” she said with a wide smile.
Ava greeted her with a hug. “How have you been?”
“I’ve missed you.” She shut the door and led her into the kitchen. “I hope you’re hungry. I made spaghetti.”
“I can eat a small serving.” Ava sat at the round wooden kitchen table. “I see you painted the walls. When did you do that?”
“Two weeks ago. I was tired of looking at that dreadful sweet pea green. I wanted something neutral, so I thought light gray would go best with the white cabinets.” Meghan’s home was cozy with two bedrooms and a small backyard. It was the perfect size for a single person.
“What’s been happening at work?”
Meghan placed two plates of food on the table. “So many rumors are floating around.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, wait ‘til you hear this.” She placed a pitcher of ice tea and tall glasses between them before sitting. “Everybody thinks you were fired.”
“What?! Seriously?”
She slowly nodded her head up and down. “According to the rumor mill you were fire because you aided Justin in falsifying his loan documents.”
Ava dropped her fork. “You’re kidding!! Who is saying that?”
“Probably the girls upstairs in underwriting.”
She rolled her eyes. “Those bitches… I’m not surprised. None of them liked me from day one.”
“I told them you resigned, but you know they didn’t believe me.”
Betrayed by You Page 15
