Page 7 of Mermaid For You

Margie chuckles and points to me. “He’s all yours, Ava.” Yes, he is. “Go show him around and ride out on the next tour. He starts tomorrow.”

Ava waves for me to come to her. “Okey doke. Hey, did you want a coffee or anything before we take off?”

“No, thank you. I’m good, doll,” I tell her.

She turns to me with a confused expression. “Um, okay. Margie, do you want a coffee or anything before we take off?”

Oh. She was talking to her the whole time. Oops.

Margie leans forward with her fingers intertwined. “No, doll, I’m good too. Have fun.” She winks at us while Ava’s lips curl slightly.

The friendly woman from earlier vanishes as soon as we close the office door. We’ve only taken three steps before she stops and spins on me.

“Never address me like that, again. No good girl, babe, doll, dollface. Zip. Nada. Big no.”

I nod. “So that’s when you turned cold on me. I noticed the shift in your attitude.”

“Good. You’re observant. Wait.” She inhales a deep breath, and I can’t help but notice the rise and fall of her plump chest. “I’m sorry. I let my emotions and hang-ups cause me to prejudge you. Not fair, and definitely not cool.” Ava extends her hand out to me. “I’m Ava Carey.”

My fingers curl around her offered hand, and I admire soft and delicate she feels. I fidget from one foot to the next, slightly uncomfortable at how I’m getting a semi-erection from holding hands. Shit. Light laughter rolls out of me to mask my embarrassment.

“Nice to meet you, Ava. I’m Van, and I look forward to working together.”

“Van…?”

What did I put as my last name on my paperwork? I can’t tell her Hayes. I guess I could. No. Maybe I did write Hayes. Shit. What’s my name? I suck at living a lie.

“Ava! It’s Tuesday!” We both turn to see a younger John Stamos grinning and waving like a loon at us.

I’m immediately forgotten as Ava waves animatedly at the sun-kissed and toned fitness model. “Alexi!” She turns to me with an apologetic smile. “Oh, sorry. Let’s run over here real quick.”

Begrudgingly, I follow Ava to this Alexi character. She leaps into his arms, and they exchange a few words about it being Tuesday and eating tacos.

Ava swats his arm. “Alexi, you goof. It’s Monday! I would never forget Taco Tuesday. Cora knows I can’t live without her fish tacos with pineapple salsa. Yum!” Again, I’m remembered as Ava turns to me and beams. “Taste of Magnolia is a food truck that comes to the resort on Tuesdays. Down by the coast. Cora makes the best tacos. Life-changing. I would marry this woman for her taco.”

Alexi bursts out laughing. “Same. I’ve been trying to get that taco myself.”

“Shut up! I didn’t mean it that way. You’re such a perv.”

“Who’s this?” Alexi nods toward me before extending his hand. “Alexi Diakos.”

“Van.” I shake his hand. “Is that Greek?”

“Yes. Third generation. I’m originally from Candy Cane Keys.”

Florida guy. I can understand why he came here to escape the Christmas town. That would have to get old quick. Ava smirks and nudges him with her shoulder.

“They kicked him out for being such a scrooge.”

Alexi throws his head back and then turns to Ava with a mischievous grin. “No, it’s because I couldn’t stay off the naughty list.” He regains some self-control and speaks to me. “I was practically raised in my family’s restaurant, Niko’s Taverna. Wanted to try something new.”

Ava makes a point to frown and tilts her head in an overly dramatic fashion. “So, he came to another tourist spot to work as a bartender. Which is basically what he was already doing? Big change.”

“Actually, my cousin Thanasis is the bartender back home.”

“And now you don’t have any competition as the hot Greek. You’re the only one here.”

“So you admit that I’m hot.”

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