Page 16 of The Charming Checklist
Ava cleared her throat. “Max, this is my dear friend Mercedes Ewing. She’s from Dallas but lives and works in Houston now.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mercedes.”
“Well, I’ll just leave you two to get to know each other.” Ava walked away, listening to Valerie ask whether they’d like menus.
She could just leave right now, but gosh, she didn’t want to miss the show. She went to the bar, where she took a seat near the place Cole filled drink orders and ordered her usual coffee and Kahlua. She’d never hurt Cole’s feelings, but the coffee they served here tasted as though it had been strained through lettuce leaves. The only way she could drink any was with the help of some of their best liqueur. Often, Ava wondered whether she should offer some of her own roasted beans, but that might indicate there was something seriously wrong with the Salty Dog’s coffee. She didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Cole set down her coffee and Kahlua. “Don’t you ever drink anything but coffee?”
“I love my beans. But I’ve been known to drink a beer or two from time to time. I want to stay perfectly sober tonight, though, and enjoy the show.”
Cole gave her his dimpled smile. “What show?”
“Oh, just that moment when Max sees himself in the mirror.”
He quirked a brow, poor man. Cole didn’t know about Ava’s slightly devious side. No one did. Every few minutes, Ava stole furtive glances in their direction. Max was doing a lot of listening and nodding, but he smiled too, which was unusual. Did he actually...likeMercedes? Regret pierced her and she felt like she’d been kicked in the gut. She hadn’t been prepared for him tolikeher. If he did, he and Mercedes would be married within six months and she’d be invited to their high society wedding.
Within nine months, Mercedes would have their first perfectly timed baby, followed closely by the exact sibling spacing Mercedes would have researched. She wouldn’t really love Max because she wasn’t capable of loving anyone but herself. And Ava would be forced to go to bed every night knowing she’d done this to a man who helped little ladies cross the street when he thought no one was watching.
Because there was something oddly intriguing about this man who claimed he wanted a completely different life than the one Ava did. Something in his dark gaze pulled her to him and made her believe he hid a secret from the rest of the world. There was something much deeper about the man than his portfolio and numerous achievements.
Valerie sidled up with her tray and placed some orders, which Cole immediately went to mix.
“How’s it going so far?” Ava whispered.
“She’s interesting, isn’t she?”
“You can say it. She’s a snob.”
Valerie went hand on hip and tossed her hair. “Your friend, a snob?”
“Um, yes. And she’s not really my friend. Just an old classmate. I thought it might be good for Max to see how he comes off to others. To Mercedes,spontaneityis a dirty word. She’s planned every minute of her life.” She glanced at the clock behind the bar, in the shape of a bulldog. “Let’s see, she’s twenty-nine, so she’s on the clock to have her first child within a year or so. She better get crackin’.”
“Oh boy. Sounds like I missed that deadline.” Valerie shimmied her shoulders. “Cole hasn’t knocked me up yet. Not sure what he’s waitin’ for. Hurry up, baby!”
He quickly set two IPA beers on her tray. “Comin’ right up with the margarita. Don’t rush me, woman.”
Ava and Valerie turned to each other and burst into laughter.
“Now that I can speak freely,” Valerie said. “She’s making Nick jump through hoops tonight. Everything is special order.”
“And she’ll complain privately that places this plebian can’t ever get a steak right. It’s in the cut of meat, you see. Only the finest and most exclusive of restaurants pay top dollar for the choice Angus beef,” Ava said in her best haughty, high society matron snob imitation.
“Well, she better not say that to Max. He’s personally arranged for us to have a contract with DeWitt Meats and they’re the best.”
“Oh! Wait. Best of all? She doesn’t know that Max owns this restaurant. I just told her he was a handsome businessman ready to settle down. I can’t wait to see what—”
“Ava.”
She didn’t have to turn around to know Max had come up behind her.
Chapter Six
“Hey.” Ava swiveled on her stool to face him. “What’s up? You two havin’ a good time?”
Max was gratified to catch the wary look in her green eyes. Because if she didn’t already feel bad enough about this disaster, he would help get her there. She’d just fixed him up with the worst date of his life. Mercedes Ewing was a first-rate snob, and they were about as well suited to each other as steak and ketchup.
“No.”
