Page 12 of Navigating His Heart
The woman nodded, “Avery. She is my everything.”
“Avery,” he said quietly, and she looked over at him, studying him.
“May I have her picture?”
The woman’s eyes widened, “You want a picture of Avery? Why? I told you I would delete the pictures of you.”
He shook his head, “You can keep the pictures. I want hers though.”
“Don’t you have a girlfriend? Or more than one? I know most pilots date a lot.”
He looked over at Hudson, who was still waiting for him, “You would be surprised. I’m not much for dating.”
She pursed her lips, and her eyes were full of distrust. “You say that like I will believe it. I have been around the block, and the man that fathered my child most definitely has. I don't trust men. Or their sexy, smiling faces."
Bo's eyebrow lifted, "You really won't give me her picture?"
The woman shook her head. Bo barely held back a growl of frustration.
"You may not believe what I have to say or my intentions, so I will prove to you in any way I can that I am honorable and mean what I say. There is something about your daughter that calls to my heart and soul. I won't give her up. I won't stop asking you about her every single moment I can. I have never felt this way about someone I don’t even know. I’m telling you right now that she is meant for me. That I’m hers like she is mine."
The woman’s eyebrows lifted, her eyes wide, and Hudson stepped forward, “He means it. And I know your opinion of men has been soured, but I’m here to tell you something. This man is a good friend of mine and is one of the most honorable men I have ever met. Give him a chance to prove himself before you lump him in with every other man. I guarantee he will surprise you.”
The woman pursed her lips and looked him and Hudson over, then she sighed, “I’m Aynsley. You may as well know that now if I’m not going to get rid of you.”
Bo held out his hand, “Bowing Cannon.”
Aynsley smiled, “Bowing? That’s really your name?”
He chuckled, “It’s really my name. My dad was a pilot in the Air Force and is one now. He named my brother and sister after flying things as well. My older brother is Jet and my little sister is named Aria.”
Aynsley's smile widened, “I was not expecting any of that.”
Bo shook his head slowly, “Most people don’t. It’s kind of strange. And when people know my real name, they aren’t exactly nice about it.”
She bit her lip, “Well, Avery and I aren’t that type. I like that you have a unique name. Like Avery and I do.”
She stopped talking, looking over at him, and he raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to keep going.
“I know that Avery is shy. She may not want your attention. This is the first time that a man has asked about her.”
Bo felt a breath rush out of him in relief, though he kept it as quietly as possible. “I promise I won’t rush her. I just want to be near her. If that’s all she will give me, I will die a happy man.”
“I want to ask her about this before I make any promises.”
Bo felt his heart kick in his chest, “We aren’t making any promises. I just want her picture and any information about her I can get.”
Aynsley sighed, “She is a hairdresser. She owns a small company with her best friend, Kynlee, and she lives with me.”
Bo grinned, “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Aynsley lifted a brow, “Not really, but you never know someone’s motivation. She is my world. Has been since I found out I was pregnant with her. I have been her family and she has been mine. I have to protect her in any way I can.”
Bo nodded, “I appreciate that, and I love that you were there for her. That you are a good mom and are wary of men, and I’m here to tell you I’m never going to hurt her. I mean it when I say she is mine.”
“You are intense. It’s a little scary.”
Bo laughed, “I’m intense in every aspect of my life. I worked hard to get where I am today with a single-minded focus. I didn’t date, I didn’t waver from my goal. I wanted to follow in my father and my older brother’s footsteps and I refused to do anything else. I didn’t want to be thrown off my game because of a woman.”
