Page 40 of The Charming Checklist
“Ava.” She turned to find Darcie behind her, smiling. “We’re going to be getting out of here in a few minutes.”
“Oh, um, great. It’s going well, huh?”
“Sogood. He’s wonderful and I don’t feel like we can really go deeper in getting to know each other while we’re here, if you know what I mean?” She winked. “He seems kind of shy. I mean, I’m coming on pretty strong, and he hasn’t even touched me.”
Ava ignored the tiny flash of hope that burned like an ember. No need for that. Max was simply being a gentleman. Taking itslowwith his future wife. Ava’s heart wrenched and rattled painfully. Somehow, she’d foolishly started falling in love with this man.
“I’m going to suggest to him that we get out of here, and I just wanted you to know. And thank you, of course.” She hugged Ava. “We’ll catch up later and I’ll give you all the saucy details.”
“Oh, no, no, that won’t be necessary.”
Darcie winked again and with a little finger wave, she went back outside again, presumably to grab Max. To make herself feel better, Ava remembered all the pro bono work Darcie had done over the years. Because of her, people who couldn’t afford quality representation got a chance in the legal system.
Ava wandered through the party, watching couples dancing, and Valerie and Cole cuddling on the couch like there was no one else in the room. She had her head on his shoulder, he was playing with her hair, and it was just so sweet and loving that Ava’s heart tugged. She wanted to love someone like that.
“Ava, come on!” Tippi called out, doing the jig with her husband. “Join us, sugar! I’ve got my dancin’ feet on tonight.”
Oh, yeah. That’s right. This was a party. She’d worn green and red, after all, which always lifted her spirits, anytime of the year. Ava joined everyone on the dance floor, doing what she did best. Faking happiness until she eventually forgot why she’d been hurting. Until she buried it with all the other memories. That time her mom had been at a medical conference and Daddy forgot to attend her dance recital when she’d had a solo. But he’d been wrapped up with a dying patient, so that was understandable. His work was life-and-death, and dance was just...something fun.
But Nanny Lucia had been in the audience, clapping and smiling widely.
When I was a younger woman I danced on tables, drank tequila and dated handsome men.
Well, Ava didn’t have the handsome man, nor was she fond of tequila, but she had a table handy. As the throwback “We Are Family” anthem by Sister Sledge boomed through the speakers, Ava tugged off her sandals and jumped on the coffee table. She motioned for Tippi to join her, which she did. Next, Valerie wrenched herself out of Cole’s arms and joined in.
Arms around her friends, Ava danced. And pretty soon faking the happy almost became real.
Chapter Twelve
“You sure know how to throw a party,” one of the council members said, shaking Ava’s hand.
“Anything for Tippi.”
Equally grateful, Tippi and her husband had left a few minutes ago, but the party was still in full swing, others no doubt enjoying the ambience of the quaint lighthouse.
Ava glanced outside for Max’s convertible, and saw it parked nearby. That meant they’d taken Darcie’s car, and maybe he’d be back extremely late tonight to get his. Or perhaps tomorrow morning. That last thought haunted Ava. Darcie would be texting her tomorrow to give the full report. Ava prayed she would censor the tawdrier details.
She had been kissed once by Max simply so that he could prove a point, and she could only imagine what it might be like to kiss him now that she’d fallen in love. Off-the-charts hot, probably. And she didn’t want to think about that happening with another woman. Even Darcie.
Wandering outside, Ava walked along the beach barefoot. It would be okay. She’d weathered bigger disappointments in her life, right? It wasn’t as if she already knew what it was like to love and be loved by Max. She’d never find out, so she’d never lose him, and that was for the best. Unfortunately, her stomach didn’t seem to agree with this conclusion. It rolled and pitched, tight as a drum.
Removing her red scarf, she let it fly behind her like a kite in the salty breeze.
There were other couples walking along the beach, holding hands, and she sensed, more so than heard, someone behind her. When she turned to offer that someone a ready and practiced smile, it was Max.
Alone.
The smile went south, and her heart gave a powerful thud at seeing him, never mind that he wasn’t where he should be. He was here, now, and looked so comfortable in his own skin as he strode toward her with purpose. She gave him a quick assessment. His movements were determined, but they weren’t sharp and angry. They were...something else.
“What are youdoinghere?”
“I was invited.”
“Where’s Darcie? She told me you two were leaving. Going somewhere a little more intimate.”
He’d reached her and his body blocked the bright shimmer of the full moon. “Well, we didn’t.”
Utter indignation swept through her. Not only had he toyed with Darcie’s emotions, he’d inadvertently played with Ava’s. She’d tortured herself for days with images of Max and Darcie’s first incredible meeting. Sparks flying all over kingdom come. Later, their opulent and extravagant wedding day. Their future children, who would look like perfect carbon copies of their gorgeous parents.
