Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“Hey, the birthday boy is here!” A broad-shouldered man with a buzz cut and a collared short-sleeved shirt heads our way. “Happy birthday!” He hooks an elbow around Ben’s neck and pulls him in for a fatherly-type hug.
“Thanks. Dan, this is Summer Michelle. Summer, my boss, Dan Wilson.”
Dan meets my gaze with an assessing one of his own as he extends his hand. “A pleasure to meet you. I trust my boy is doing his job and keeping out of your way at the same time?”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “He’s only under foot when he needs to be,” I say, being discreet as I promised. “And it’s good to meet you, too.” I shake his hand.
“This is my son, Jared,” Dan says of the dark-haired man who joins us.
“Hi, Jared.” I smile.
“Man, Ben gets all the good assignments,” Jared says, not so discreetly looking me over.
Ben clears his throat. “Watch the eyes, Wilson.”
Jared blinks in surprise. “Well, damn. Okay, then.”
Ava chimes in. “Jared, go away and leave Ben’s woman alone,” she says, sounding pissed off.
“But… we’re not… I mean, I’m not Ben’s anything.” I promised to keep whatever is between us private, and we agreed we aren’t anything serious.
Ava grins, shaking her head at me. “Besides, he gave himself away. He bit Jared’s head off for just looking, and his hand hasn’t left your lower back since you walked into the room. Possessive much?” she asks, smirking at Ben.
A glance tells me that Ben’s cheeks are a bright red from Ava’s summary of what is going on between us.
“Happy birthday!” she says, cutting off any reply. She leans up on her tiptoes and kisses his cheek. “And nice to meet you, Summer. I’m Ava Talbott,” the pretty, bubbly woman says.
“Hi. Nice to meet you, too.”
The introductions continue with a man named Tate Shaw, who I later discover is originally from Texas and occasionally does work there for McKay Taggart Security, and Austin Rhodes, another of the big bodyguards.
I find myself pulled into their warmth, amused by the familial bickering, and over the course of the afternoon, I manage to relax and enjoy myself.
Although the guys gravitate toward each other and hang out together, Ben tries to make sure I am comfortable and doesn’t leave my side—until Ava shoos him away.
“Let us girls talk. Go hang out with the boys.”
She meets my gaze and rolls her eyes. “Too much testosterone most of the time, and I’m surrounded by it.”
“Really? I think you’d enjoy it.”
She shakes her head and laughs. “Why? Because they’re all muscular and hot? They’re all like my brothers.” She glances at where the guys congregate.
“It’s a tough job to have,” I say.
“You try dealing with these hardheaded men on a daily basis.”
I smile. “That’s probably frustrating.”
“Let’s go sit on the back porch. It’s gorgeous out.” Ava leads me outside to a deck that overlooks a wooded area with trees.
“It’s beautiful here,” I murmur, the air still warm. We settle into a long porch swing.
“It is.” She pauses, then says, “I grew up here … well, from my mid-teens on.”
“Really? Was your mother married to Dan?” I ask, drawing the only conclusion I can.
Ava holds back a snort. “Actually, Dan lived in a different neighborhood when Jared and I were younger, and back then we were neighbors.” She pauses, and I give her time to gather her thoughts. “My mother was … is an addict. Drugs. Whatever she can get her hands on. Dan took me in when she disappeared on one of her binges, and he refused to give me back when she resurfaced. He was a cop at the time, so you can imagine how little leverage my mother had.” She bites down on her lower lip. “Sometimes I think he paid her to go away, but he won’t admit it.”
I swallow hard. “Wow.” What do I say to that? My life has been a picnic in comparison. “I’m sorry,” I murmur.
“I got lucky having Dan look out for me, so it’s all good. I try not to dwell on my mother.”
For good reason, I think.
Ava pushes back against the floor, rocking the swing. “So how are you and Ben handling being secluded together?” Ava asks bluntly, changing the subject and taking me by surprise. “It can’t be easy living under the same roof after everything. Although, like I said, it looks like you two are pretty cozy.”
I blink. Ava obviously knows something about my past with Ben. Did he tell her everything? If so, it doesn’t paint me in the best light, but Ava is sitting here, opening up to me and expecting me to do the same.
I squirm uncomfortably as I consider what to say. “Umm … we’re managing just fine.” I don’t want to assume what Ava does and does not know, and inadvertently tell more than Ben wants her to find out.