Page 6 of Yes, Love

Ava gave me a stiff nod. “Where were you born?”

“A small town in the South of England. You wouldn’t have heard of it.”

“Why did you move to Seattle instead of going back to England?” Ava placed her hand on my upper thigh and gazed into my eyes. She was good at this game.

I laughed. “Because I like the bad weather, but there’s nothing left for me in England.”

“No family?”

“None that I care to visit often.” I flooded with guilt. That was unfair to my mum. I’d turned into a worthless son, but at least she was away from him.

Ava slid her hand a little higher and leaned in to whisper, “I’m going to sit on your lap now. Someone will take a picture.”

“Right then.”

Ava pressed her tight round bottom into my left thigh and draped her arm around my shoulders. I kissed her cheek, then nibbled on her ear. I refrained from immediately wiping the excess makeup from my lips. Lucy hardly wore a stitch of makeup. Every ounce of her stunning beauty was her own.

I wondered briefly what was under Ava’s mask before she asked her next question. “Why did you decide to go on Wild Love?”

I sighed. “A mate talked me into it. I was cast, and he wasn’t.” Eddie stopped speaking to me after that, like a petty child. He reckoned he deserved a bit of the prize money and attention for getting me on the show in the first place. Wanker.

“What did you do before you were cast on Wild Love?”

“Construction.”

“Did you like it?”

I smirked at her. “Not at all.”

“What do you want to do then?”

“So many questions, Ava.”

I spotted a hint of irritation flash through her aqua eyes before she forced her famous fake smile back into place. “What the hell else do you want to talk about, Dominic?”

“Ava, I don’t want to talk at all.” I caught her chin and pressed my lips against hers for all of the prying eyes. When I pulled away, Ava looked confused. Did she think that meant I wanted to fuck her? I thought I ought to clear it up. “I don’t want to fuck you if that’s what you’re wondering, but I might, just to fulfill a need.” I glanced around at the party-goers. None were directly watching us. “Think we’ve given them enough of a show? I’m already bored of this little game, Ava.”

Ava blinked those bright blue eyes at me, smile unwavering. She let out her fake tinkling laugh and leaned in to whisper in my ear, “You’re an asshole, Dominic.” Then she slid off my lap and took my hand in hers, leading me through the crowded party. She kept up the charade until we reached the parking lot, then released my hand and shot me a withering look. “Go choke on your dick, lover boy.”

I laughed and shook my head, finally wiping all of Ava’s makeup from my lips. “Go wash your face, your highness.”

Ava let out that irritated little hiss again and climbed into her car, slamming the door.

I watched her drive away and wondered how in the hell I was going to last five months with her. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my social media platforms. I’d been tagged in several photos with Ava Mills. The rumours were already running. I checked the comments and my DM’s for anything from Lucy.

Silence.

She still followed me, though. She’d see them eventually, especially when I made my own post later tonight. Ava was supposed to send me the perfect photo to use. Her skill set involved looking good for the camera and probably little else.

What sort of desperate mess had I gotten myself into? Trying to make Lucy jealous was completely mad.

Another text from Kitty came in as I climbed into my car. How did it go? The pictures I’m seeing look great! You’re trending!

Of course, Kitty didn’t know the main reason I’d agreed to this fake relationship. She thought I wanted to hold on to my fame and build some petty influencer kingdom. But I was more than willing to let it all go. I was a poor, stupid sap that just wanted love.

Four

Ava

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