Page 29 of Along Came Amor
The romantic boho style dress had a subtle V-neck, fluttersleeves, and an open back. The skirt fell from Jasmine’s trim waist with an overlay of delicate floral tulle lace that managed to be both ethereal and chic at the same time. Ivory lace complemented Jasmine’s golden complexion and dark hair, making her appear to glow with otherworldly beauty.
As Jasmine stepped onto the block, she wore a hopeful smile on her face.
“I think this is it,” she said quietly, her gaze seeking out Ava. “What do you think?”
Ava couldn’t speak. She blinked fast and nodded. Titi Lisa sobbed. Michelle gave two thumbs up. Even Jillian glanced up from her laptop and said, “Yes. This.”
Jasmine’s eyes grew wet. “It’s perfect. Ava, what would I do without you?”
“You’ll never need to find out,” Ava promised, her voice cracking with emotion.
With her Resting Pleasant Face firmly affixed, Ava took photos and dutifully documented the moment while Jasmine spun and posed.
And if underneath the joy of helping her cousin find the perfect wedding dress stirred something that resembled jealousy, well, Ava would just deal with it on her own time.
Chapter 7
January
Unknown Number:Hi, it’s Ava. From the Dulce Playa. Any chance you’re free tonight?
Ajolt of adrenaline burst through Roman as he stared at the text on his phone.
Ava. After three months, she’d finally reached out.
It was a struggle to keep his expression impassive as the quarterly results meeting droned on around him. Inside, he was jumping for joy.
When he’d given Ava his card, he’d hoped to hear from her. But as weeks turned to months with no word from her, he’d categorized their encounter as what it was: a one-night stand, nothing more.
Just because he caught himself thinking of her at odd times didn’t mean she was thinking of him too. Sipping rum madehim remember the taste of her lips. And when he was lying in bed at night, trying to shut his brain off, he’d recall the look of sheer delight on her face when she’d dipped her feet into the pool.
He’d hoped that she was okay, wherever she was.
And now, a message, out of the blue.
Typing furtively, he added her number to his contacts and wrote back, “Happy New Year. And yes.”
But a thought occurred to him, and he paused before hitting send.
Why now?
When they’d parted, Ava seemed sure that they’d never see each other again. So what had changed?
Not only that, hewasn’tactually free. It was Friday afternoon, and his schedule for the rest of the day was packed with meetings, calls, and appointments. He could cancel or reschedule most, but theGQinterview was key to boosting Casa Donato’s summer sales, and theShark Tankdinner had taken months to coordinate. Plus, he’d bailed on his last three PT sessions, and his lower back was extremely unhappy about it.
Roman glanced at his unsent reply.
His body screamed at him to say yes.
His brain was likewhat the fuck are you doing.
His soul begged him to take a night off.
In the end, curiosity won out. He desperately wanted to know what had made Ava reach out after all this time.
Promising his lumbar vertebrae that he’d stretch tomorrow, he pressed send.
“Mr. Vázquez?”
