Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 31820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
“I’ll go and make the necessary arrangements,” Ava said, getting to her feet.
“Make sure my presence is not known,” Marshal said. “That way, it can be a huge surprise to her. I don’t want to risk her finding a way to escape this.”
“You’re going to be our plus one,” Ava said. She looked toward him, and then left the room.
“She’s scary,” Marshal said. “I don’t think she likes me very much.” Marshal sat down, where Ava’s knitting had been left.
He seemed to be a little twitchy, but Knox had already checked and there was no history of drug use in his life.
Reaching for Ava’s knitting, he wrapped it up, being careful not to accidentally slide the needles out. He’d done that before when she’d been close to finishing something she’d been working on for months. He’d never felt so damn bad in all his life.
Once that was put away, he sat down on the coffee table as Marshal sat back. “Do you have this trouble?”
“No.”
“No, of course not. You and Ava have this weird energy vibe, and do you know she refuses to call me by my real name?” he asked, then burst out laughing. “I’m Blondie’s husband. I’m sure she’s just doing it all in jest now, right?”
“What weird energy?” Knox asked.
Marshal sighed. “Come on. You don’t see the way you two dance around each other?”
Knox was not one for gossip. He glanced toward the open doorway, expecting to see Ava standing there, but there was no sign of her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He got to his feet and moved away from Marshal, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Look, I get that you two have this weird friendship, and that’s all great, and I, like, totally get it, but clearly there is something bubbling beneath the surface with the two of you. Anyone can see it, or sense it.”
Knox looked at him and Marshal once again let out an overdramatic sigh.
“You’re always watching her,” Marshal said. “No matter where she is, even if we’re like fifty feet away in the yard and she suddenly makes an appearance. You can sense her. You know she’s right there.”
“I’m aware of my surroundings.”
“Ava is not a piece of furniture.” Marshal shrugged. “All I’m saying is between the two of you, you can cut the tension with a knife, and that will be explosive. You’ll make a cute couple.”
“Do you seriously think you’re the best person to give me relationship advice?” he asked.
“Probably not, seeing as I have a wife intent on killing my ass.” He flopped back on the chair. “Does it make me a loser because I don’t want to stoop to her level?”
“No,” Knox said.
“I bet it makes me weak.”
“It makes you a man who doesn’t want to resort to death to fix your problem.” He shrugged. “Some people do, some people don’t.”
“You do, right?”
“I do my job,” Knox said.
“It would be so much easier if I would be happy to see her ... dead.” Marshal shrugged. “But putting her behind bars seems like the most ideal way to go. At least then I will know she is not spending her way through my fortune. Trust me on this, Knox, find a woman who wants you for you, not for your money and the lifestyle you give her.”
Ava stepped into the room. “Everything is organized for Friday.”
****
Tomorrow night was going to be hard. Ava looked up at the ceiling as she swam backward. Knox had an outdoor pool that was also in a heated room. The whole building was covered in glass, which meant she could spend many nights swimming and looking up at the stars, like she was now. She could do the breaststroke, but where was the fun in that?
It was Thursday night, and tomorrow, she would have to get all dressed up and be on Knox’s arm, which was always a lot of fun. There were times she loved and hated being his plus one. She was a reclusive type by nature. Spending her life in his home was a dream come true. Dressing up and being on his arm, although fun, took her out of her dream and placed her out there, where it was fucking dangerous.
The world was not all sunshine and roses. The place was a dark hole of hell, with rare gems of light. Knox was one of those men who could be hell and heaven at the same time.
“You’re up late.”
She jumped, falling beneath the water, and within seconds she was able to gain her bearings. There was a time, when she and Knox had first met, she couldn’t swim. She’d sit at the edge of the pool, terrified of climbing in, in case she drowned. Knox taught her to swim. He’d been so patient with her.
“Is there something you need?” she asked, looking toward Knox. He’d stepped into the room in a pair of swimming trunks and nothing else, his perfectly defined body on clear display for everyone to see. She couldn’t help but lick her lips as she glanced over at him.