Page 19 of The Charming Checklist
Meanwhile, Ava would love a drive along the coast tonight. Or perhaps a movie at the Granada. She’d heard great things about the new romantic comedy out now. None of that would happen tonight. She had an obligation. It was her twenty-ninth birthday. Yay.
She took another look at Max’s list on her phone. He’d texted it to her later the same night of his epic fail with Mercedes. Even though the list depressed Ava, she’d read it several times that day.
Between the ages of 30-36
Intelligent
Kind and compassionate
Well educated—at least a bachelor’s but more is better here
Even-tempered, not easily excitable
Quiet and introverted
Highly successful in her career and/or business
Brunette
Ready for marriage and children
She sighed. “How can a man who kisses a woman the way he did be this lame?”
Another thing she did far more often than check this ridiculous list: relive that kiss. Every detail. The surf had been crashing in the background, the seagulls squawking, the wind whistling. He’d confidently reached for her and tugged her into his arms. His kiss was commanding, just like him. Consuming. Hot. Pretty unforgettable.
And then he’d texted her The List, saying he’d add more if he thought of anything.
It was almost as if he’d literally taken every character trait of Ava’s and asked for the opposite. Except for the education, intelligence and compassion, she didn’t make a single item on his list. She didn’t even meet the age requirement!
By the way, anage requirement? But the one that hurt her the most was the “successful in her career or business.” Ava was neither. By now, she should have been a lot further along in her plans, but something always stopped her.
A location she’d scoped out suddenly became unavailable. The price of coffee beans shot up. A business loan wasn’t approved.
She lost her nerve.
She glanced at the rainbow clock on her kitchen wall. Max would arrive at her cottage imminently, no doubt, right on time. Which was why she’d given him a time fifteen minutes past when they were to meet her parents at Le Oranguan. She was always fashionably late, a way of letting her parents know no matter what, she was still in control of her own life. It drove them all batty, though by now they should expect it. One year, they’d moved the time later, and she’d still been fifteen minutes late. Were it up to Max, they’d probably be early. She couldn’t have that. This was still her show.
She’d spent most of her birthday roasting beans and consulting the many notes she’d accumulated over the years. She’d been experimenting with mixing different flavors in with the beans. Today, she’d tried a cinnamon nutmeg blend for an autumn-like flavor. After lunch she’d surfed Pinterest. Thanksgiving was already next month, and after Black Friday, the days would pass in a whirlwind of shopping and eating.
The doorbell rang, precisely on time, of course. Ava made the final touches to her hair and went to open the door. There stood Max in his dark suit, looking as though he’d stepped off the pages ofGQmagazine.
Oh, sigh. If only he didn’t talk.
“Right on time.”
He squinted. “What’s that in your hair?”
“My tiara?” She touched it briefly. “I wear it every year on my birthday.”
“Where everyone canseeyou?”
“Yes,Max. That’s the point. I’m the birthday girl.” She grabbed her purse and joined him outside.
The night was typical for the Gulf Coast in autumn, cool, but never too cold. It was her favorite time of the year.
Max opened the passenger door to his silver convertible car. “You look lovely.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
