Age of Ava by Melanie Moreland

Chapter 7

Hunter

The rest of the week passed in a haze of days that bled into one another. I emptied one of the spare guest rooms which was the least full, but it still filled a quarter of the dumpster I had rented. The floors under the old, worn carpet were in good shape, so I planned to rent a machine and sand them, leaving the wide pine planks natural and adding a layer of varnish once I had done the same in the other room. I would paint both rooms in a light color to brighten them up. For now, I left it, reassembling the bed frame and adding in a new mattress I’d ordered online. I was getting tired of sleeping on the couch. The first thing I had done when I arrived was to take the mattress to the dump. It was old, lumpy, and musty, and I had no desire to use it. I even bought a set of sheets, grateful that the laundry machines, ancient as they were, still worked. I was looking forward to sleeping in a comfortable bed again.

I stayed busy morning until night. There was enough work to be done, I never had to worry about running out of things to keep my hands and mind occupied.

Still, she was there. On the fringes of my awareness, poking around the corner, the memory of her smile, her laughter, the way she teased me, stole food from my plate. Cut my hair. Kissed me back.

Ava.

The worst time was at night, when my body was tired from work, but my mind still awake. I would replay the hours I had spent with her. It didn’t matter who she was—or who her family was. All that mattered was how she felt in my arms. Tasted. The scent of her skin as I kissed her throat. I couldn’t seem to shake thinking about her. As I lay on the old but surprisingly comfortable couch, the moments in her company played on a loop in my head. The way it felt as she combed my hair and cut it. The intense look of concentration as she focused on the task at hand. She narrowed her eyes, and her tongue pressed on her bottom lip, her small white teeth worrying the edge of it as she worked. It was quite…adorable.

I didn’t do adorable.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was useless to do so. Ava was everything I admired in a woman and, at the same time, the very thing I avoided.

She was smart, witty, intelligent, and funny. Her smile was contagious and her laughter intoxicating. She was warm and personable. Bossy. Direct. In charge and in control.

She was also sexy as hell. In her power suits and heels, she was elegant and refined. Sure of herself. But dressed down, with no makeup and simply Ava? She was stunning.

I tried to ignore the picture of her sitting on the porch, relaxed and happy, that kept coming to my mind. But it wasn’t the porch the way it looked now, run-down and creaky. It was solid and sturdy, with a massive swing piled with pillows hanging to the right of the door, where the view of the water was amazing. I was beside her, our hands entwined, and the sensation I felt every time that image snuck into my head was one I couldn’t recall ever feeling in my life.

Contentment.

Where that came from, I had no idea, but I pushed it aside every time it hit me, and I ignored the little voice in my head telling me it was going to happen.

Obviously, I needed to get out of here for a while. Even I had taken being alone to the next level.

My phone buzzed, and I checked the voice mail, pleased when I heard that my permit was ready and I could pick it up. I glanced at the time and decided I would grab it this afternoon, then head to the bar for a couple of hard-earned drinks and a meal.

Maybe I would pick up something else.

* * *

Milly Johnson handed me the document. “There you go, Mr. Owens. All set.”

“Great.”

“The new porch will be a lovely addition.”

“I think so.”

“You have a lot of plans for the house.”

I nodded. “It needs some serious updating. I have no chance of renting it the way it is right now.” I chuckled. “It’s a time capsule—and a bad one, at that. As soon as I have the plans drawn up, I’ll be back.”

She smiled. “You plan on renting it, then? You aren’t staying?”

“No. It will be a good rental income. I’ll come check on it every so often.”

“With the view and the area, I’m sure it will do well.”

I smiled in thanks and picked up the file. My mind was already planning, thinking of the lumber I would need for the addition, the machines I would have to rent, the roof extension. I was so busy thinking, I almost missed her. I pushed at the door leading out as she pulled, and we both froze as we recognized each other.

Ava was dressed in slim-fitting slacks, a purple blouse peeking out from a tailored vest that hugged her torso and looked anything but masculine on her frame. Her hair was twisted up away from her face again, and her makeup was skillful and light. The heels she wore made her legs look long and sexy.

But it was the expression on her face that caught my attention. She looked tired. Defeated. Her shoulders were bowed, her eyes dull today. She smiled in greeting, but it didn’t reach her eyes—they remained leaden and distant.

“Hello, Hunter.”

“Ava.”

“We need to stop meeting like this,” she said, although the humor sounded forced.

I chuckled. “A trip to city hall isn’t complete without running into you, Little Dragon. Here to chap some asses?”

She shook her head, the action causing the small purple studs in her ears to twinkle. “Just dropping off some more paperwork.”

I stepped aside. “Don’t let me hold you up.”

She sidled past me, the scent of her drifting by. It was floral but not heavy, with an undertone of something citrusy and light. It was lovely and suited her well.

“Thank you,” she murmured and kept walking.

I stared after her, shocked.

No quips, no needling, no teasing. She was withdrawn and…sad was the only word I could think of.

I was surprised how much that bothered me.

I headed to the truck and climbed in. But I didn’t start it. I sat, watching the door for some reason.

Waiting, I realized with a jolt, for Ava to reappear.

When she did, I observed her. Even her walk was different today. Slower, as if the act of moving forward was almost too much. Before I could stop myself, I was out of the truck and by her SUV.

“Ava.”

She looked up, blinking, surprised to see me there.

“Hunter?” she asked. “Is there something I can do for you?”

The tone of her voice told me everything. She’d been doing things for everyone, and she was more than sad. She was exhausted. Drained.

I stepped closer. “Yes.”

I saw her struggling to stay polite. Be kind. Because if there was one thing I knew about her, it was that she was always kind.

“What might that be?” she asked, trying to sound upbeat. “I don’t have much to give, but I can try.”

“Have dinner with me.”

“Pardon me?”

I stepped closer. “Have dinner with me.”

“Why?” she breathed out.

I couldn’t explain it to her. I had no idea how to tell her what I was feeling. That seeing her this way, fatigued and weary, made my chest ache in an odd way. It brought out a sensation of wanting to help her. Something I had never experienced until this very moment.

“I felt like Chinese, and it’s never fun eating that alone. I like to have a few dishes. Come eat with me. Relax a little. You look like you could use it.”

She glanced at my casual clothes and down at her outfit. I laughed. “You can go change if you want. Or stay dressed up. I don’t mind.”

Suddenly, her eyes were bright again, the fog from earlier disappearing. “Hold up.” She rounded her little SUV and opened the trunk. She reached in and pulled out a pair of flat shoes, kicking off her high heels. She undid the buttons of her vest, sliding it off and tossing it in the trunk with her discarded heels. She pulled the silky fabric of her blouse out of her waistband, letting the material hang loose around her hips. Then she reached up and unclasped her hair, running her fingers through the dark silk that hung straight to her shoulders.

She sighed in happiness and looked at me, lifting her arms. “Will that do?”

She was artlessly sexy, her hair not perfect, her blouse wrinkled, and her pants a touch too long with the flats. But her shoulders were straight, the light back in her eyes, and she was smiling.

“Perfect,” I assured her. “I assume you know a good Chinese place?”

“The best. You want to follow me?”

“Yeah, Little Dragon, I’ll follow you.”

She paused before sliding behind the wheel. “Hunter?”

“Hmm?” I asked, looking over my shoulder.

“Thanks.” She smiled at me, the wattage that of the bright afternoon sun in the summer. Its warmth hit my chest, lighting me up.

I got into my truck, shaking my head. Adorable didn’t begin to cover it. Neither did sexy.

Dangerous, maybe. Addictive, for sure.

What the hell was I doing?

* * *

The restaurant was about fifteen minutes away, hidden away in a small strip mall. You would miss it if you blinked. I pulled up my truck beside Ava’s and slid from the vehicle, eyeing the small weather-beaten sign.

I scratched my head. “You sure this is the right place?”

She tugged on my hand. “Trust me.”

We walked into the restaurant, and the aroma hit me. Spice, garlic, ginger, and soy. Pungent and rich. There were only six tables and the two sides lined with eight booths. A couple of tables were taken, but Ava headed to the far side and slid into a booth. I followed her, my stomach growling. If the food tasted half as good as the place smelled, I was going to enjoy our dinner.

Ava plucked a plastic-covered menu from the holder and slid it my way.

“The dinner for two is good, but I usually order the dinner for four. The spicy one.”

I glanced at the list. Hot and sour soup with sizzling rice, spring rolls, sliced barbecue pork with hot Chinese mustard to start. Sizzling spicy beef, General Tso chicken, vegetables with almonds, crispy house noodles, and salt and pepper shrimp were the main dishes.

My mouth was watering.

“You take it home and share it with your family?” I guessed.

She shook her head. “I take home the leftovers, but I eat in usually. I prefer it hot and fresh.” She wrinkled her nose in amusement. “I love it when they drop the sizzling rice into the hot and sour soup. It makes lots of popping noises.”

I gaped at her. “You order a dinner for four just for yourself?”

“They’re my favorites.” she defended herself. “I take most of it home. And Mrs. Yeo only brings me one soup. She packs the rest of them up for me to take home.” She grinned. “Trust me, if I’m taking it home to my family, I need at least double that order. My dad could eat most of the one dinner by himself.”

I had to laugh at this crazy woman. She was so natural. She liked all the dishes, so she ordered a dinner for four by herself. She didn’t care. I couldn’t think of another woman I’d ever known who would be so carefree about something like this. One woman I’d dated used to count the number of bites of everything she ate. It drove me crazy since she’d rather starve herself or waste the food than take one more bite. We hadn’t lasted long. No one ever did.

Not that this was a date.

Having dinner with Ava didn’t count as dating her. I was simply returning the favor from the other day. That was all, I assured myself.

I slipped the menu back into the holder. “Sounds good.”

A young woman appeared by the table. “Hi, Ava.” She glanced my way, and her eyes widened. “And hello, stranger.”

Ava chuckled. “That’s Hunter. Hunter, this is Jade.” She turned to Jade. “How is your mom?”

“Much better. She’ll be back soon. Her hip is healing well.” Jade smiled. “Thank your family again for the gift basket and the meals. Mom said she was spoiled.”

Ava waved her hand. “It was our pleasure. She’s cooked enough meals for us, it was nice to give her a treat.”

Jade looked pleased. “Do you know what you want?”

Ava nodded. “The usual, but two soups.”

“I’ll probably eat two bowls,” I interjected. I loved hot and sour soup. “And bring all the appetizer things.”

Jade laughed. “Okay, then. Drinks?”

“White wine, please,” Ava said.

“Beer. Whatever is cold,” I added.

“Coors?”

“Good.”

Jade walked away, and I studied Ava. She still looked tired, but she was more relaxed. “Hard week?” I asked casually.

A shadow crossed her face. “A long one. Nothing new or different.” She traced her finger over the worn surface of the table. “Some feel longer than others.”

“What do you do, exactly? I mean, aside from the superhero gig?” I asked, trying to keep the mood light.

“I oversee all the planning and paperwork on every project we handle. I coordinate all the departments, secure the permits, deal with the various foremen, and work with the leads to stay on budget—” She frowned. “Among other things.”

“You deal with a lot of red tape.”

She paused before answering, letting Jade set down our drinks, and sipping her wine. “Yes, I suppose I do.”

“You must be very good at it.”

Her eyes focused on the table for a moment. “I try.”

I sensed we were heading down an unhappy path. “I think you do more than try.” I nudged her foot with mine. “You’re humble.”

That made her smile. “That almost sounds like a compliment, Mr. Owens.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Never. Here comes your soup.”

That made her sit up. She smiled widely. “Oh.”

* * *

The soup was delicious. I could understand why Ava enjoyed the sizzling pucks of rice being dropped into the hot broth. It popped and steamed, blazing with heat. The rice added another element to the soup, and I ate two bowls. Everything that followed was amazing. Including watching Ava eat, which was a total turn-on. There was nothing put on or fake about her. She picked up the pork with her fingers, dragging it through the hot mustard. She cursed at the heat, chugging water, then went right back for more. She licked her fingers when the plum sauce on her spring roll dripped. She slurped the noodles, catching the sauce that dribbled on her lips with her tongue. She snagged the mushrooms I pushed to the side of my plate with my chopsticks, not caring if I disliked them or was saving them for later. She moaned low in her throat as she ate a shrimp, biting into the crisp, spicy coating with gusto. We played chopstick war over the dish of vegetables when I realized she was sneaking all the crunchy almonds out of the dish. We talked about nothing and everything. The small town. The area around it. Toronto in general. Her little SUV and how minute it looked beside my large Ford F-150.

“Why do you need such a large truck?” she asked, eating the last of her spring roll.

“I move around a lot. I carry my tools with me. My life is in there.” I shrugged. “Sometimes I sleep in it when we’re on the move.”

“Does Cash like the truck?”

I chewed a piece of the sizzling beef, swallowing the delicious mouthful.

“I found Cash wandering by the road a few years ago. He was barely more than a pup. He had a limp and was pretty thin—it was obvious he’d been alone for a while. I pulled up beside him, and he came right to me. He had a huge piece of glass stuck in his paw, and it was infected. I found a vet and got him fixed up. He had no collar, no chip, nothing. No dogs like him were reported missing. It was fall, and the vet figured he’d been abandoned.”

“That’s awful,” she whispered, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

“He said it happened a lot. People got a pet for the summer, then when they headed back to their life in the city, they left the dog or cat behind.” I shook my head. “I couldn’t leave him, so I took him with me.” I paused, taking a sip of my beer. “To answer your question, I think Cash associated the truck with me, so he loves it. He knows he’s safe.” I didn’t meet her eyes. “And he is my most loyal constant.”

She regarded me quietly, then laid her hand on mine on the table. “You’re a good man, Hunter Owens.”

“Don’t spread that around.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

I sat back and regarded the table. We had done a pretty damn good job eating the food. There was lots left, but I was shocked at how much we’d consumed.

“I was hungry,” I commented.

“Me too.”

“I know.”

Jade came and brought us takeout containers, which we filled. She added the extra soup and cleared away the dishes. I crossed my arms on the table and studied Ava. She had more color in her cheeks, and her eyes were brighter.

“I liked watching you eat,” I said.

“Really?”

I nodded. “You’re not pretentious. You enjoyed the food, and you didn’t try to hide it.”

She lifted one shoulder. “Life is too short to deny yourself. Food was an important part of growing up. My father and brothers had voracious appetites. I liked food, and my dad always insisted I eat to enjoy it and fuel my body. Not to deny myself. I work hard and I need it.”

The bill appeared, and before Ava could move, I slid it my way and offered her the plate of orange slices and fortune cookies.

She narrowed her eyes. “We’ll each pay.”

I shocked myself when I shook my head. “Next time. Tonight is my treat. Now take your fortune and read it out loud.”

“Do I have to add ‘in bed’ at the end?”

“What?”

She chuckled. “My family always adds the words ‘in bed’ at the end. Makes it fun.” She cracked open the cookie and read the small slip of paper.

“You will do amazing things—” she paused with a grin “—in bed.”

I laughed and opened mine.

“You are a great leader—” I lifted my eyebrow and waited “—in bed.”

The air shifted around us, growing warm. I ate the crunchy cookie, and Ava picked up an orange slice, biting into the fruit. A small river of juice ran down her chin, and I had the craziest desire to pull her closer and lick it off, then kiss her until she begged me to stop. Or to take her home.

She laughed and swiped at her chin, slipping her finger into her mouth and licking it off. Our eyes met and locked. I broke open another cookie and spoke.

“Dance with the man across the table.” I swallowed. “In bed.”

Her eyes widened. “That’s not what the cookie says. You didn’t even read it.”

“Because I already know what my fortune is. You. Coming home with me tonight.”

“I don’t do relationships. And you said you don’t do complicated.”

“So, we’ll keep it simple. I want you, Ava. I want to feel you against me.” I leaned closer. “I want you under me. I want to feel how you move with me. You’ve been on my mind since you walked away on Monday.”

Her cheeks flushed, and her breathing picked up. “Birth control,” she whispered. “I’m not on any.”

“My responsibility. I’ll pick it up on the way home.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Me too. All the sweeter when we’re together, Little Dragon.” I dropped my voice. “Say yes. Life is too short to deny yourself,” I said, covering her hand on the table.

She flipped her hand over, our palms smoothing together.

“Yes.”