Page 153 of Along Came Amor
He stood there with his hands in his pockets, cool as could be... and shrugged.
He fuckingshrugged.
Ava’s face grew hot, and her body went numb. Everything inside her screamed,Yes, but Scared Ava was not to be deterred. “I tried being married,” she said. “It didn’t work.”
“You haven’t tried being married tome.”
He said it like it was the most reasonable thing in the world, and she sputtered out a reply.
“Marriage isn’t something you keep trying until you acquire a taste for it. It’s notolives.”
“I don’t know what you have against olives, but fine, we’ll table the topic of marriage for now.” His voice had taken onthat bargaining lilt that made her wary. “Counteroffer. Let me kiss you, tonight, in the middle of the dance floor.”
“In front of my family? No way!”
His tone softened. “Then walk out of here, right now, holding my hand.”
She swallowed hard as her pulse throbbed in her throat.
“Ava.” He held out a hand toward her, palm up. “What would you do if you didn’t have to be perfect?”
Warmth spread through her as she remembered the first time he’d asked her that question. The roof. The pool. And everything that had followed, all leading up to this sweet, charming, handsome man offering her everything.
All she had to do was let herself take it.
Her fingers twitched. Her hand started to rise.
The door burst open behind her. They both jumped, and Ava spun around to see Gabe standing there with a wild-eyed expression on his face, taking up the whole doorway. Gabe’s gaze bounced around the closet and finally landed on the box Roman had kicked aside earlier. Lunging, Gabe reached a hand inside, rummaged around, and came up holding a microphone.
A microphone... with a green light.
Ava sucked in a breath.
No.
Gabe flicked a switch on the mic, and the light turned from green to red. He shot Ava a look full of sympathy. “Sorry. No one knew where it was.”
Roman strode forward, his expression grim. “Did everyone out there hear our conversation?”
Gabe grimaced. “Yeah.”
Ava mentally replayed the things they’d said. God. Howmuch had they all heard? Panic swelled within her like a balloon about to burst.
Roman turned to her. Slowly, he extended his hand.
“They already know,” he said quietly. “You have nothing to lose.”
Didn’t he see? She’d already lost everything.
She stepped back and saw the moment Roman realized she wasn’t going to take his hand. His shoulders slumped slightly. His arm fell to his side, moving as if through molasses. Like he’d still been hoping...
Chest tight, she turned and ran for the door.
Gabe, who was built like a linebacker, danced out of the way as if Ava’s hair were on fire, giving her a wide berth as she charged into the hallway.
She heard the men talking behind her, but she didn’t care what they were saying.
Why should she? Her life was over.
