Page 66 of Tortured Tones

She ignored me and stayed focused on my kid. God, that did something strange to my heart. She held Charlotte close. Kept talking in soft tones. Rocked and swayed from side to side.

“Charlotte?” Ava whispered again. “You sure you don’t want Cole?”

“No. You.” Charlotte pouted as her teary eyes glanced at me standing a foot away.

Ouch! Why did that sting?

Within a few minutes, Charlotte calmed down again.

I jutted my chin toward Ava. “You’re good with her.”

“You have to have nothing but love and patience with children.”

Normally I was calm and controlled, but the long day had gotten to me.

After another couple of minutes, Charlotte grew sleepy. Ava placed her into bed and tucked her in. “Night, sweetie.”

Charlotte’s long eyelashes fluttered and brushed against her cheeks. She snuggled her teddy bear tight against her chest. Damn. Why did she have to be so cute?

Once she’d fully settled, I kissed Charlotte on the head, then snuck out of the room with Ava. We headed downstairs and Ava headed straight for the front door.

“Ava?”

She spun around. Her stunning brown eyes threatened to knock a brick out of the wall around my heart. She’d gone above and beyond her duty tonight. I’d be forever grateful. I stuffed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans, rounding my shoulders. “Do...do you want a drink or something? As a thank you for helping tonight.”

“No thank you, Mr. Tanner.”

I may have been tired, but my body still reacted to her voice. I didn’t want her to leave. “I could use some tips on how to deal with moments like that with Charlotte better.”

“I can’t, Cole.” Boundaries, right? “Ask Hannah. Talk to your parents. Buy a book or two.”

That made me smile.

She softened her tone. “You of all people know what it’s like to lose someone. Remember what that feels like? That’s what Charlotte feels too. She lost her mom and dad. Talk to her. Comfort her. Be there for her. Most of all, love her. Treasure every moment because you never know when it may be your last.”

That was my motto. I lived for the present...and fun. I’d avoided emotional ties and was adamant about doing so. But Ava threatened that stand. Why? I sidled over to her, holding her gaze as I took each step. My heartbeat drummed a touch too fast. “What if this is our last moment? Maybe you should stay.” My gaze fell to her rosy lips and meandered back up to meet her eyes again. What would she taste like?

“Nice try, drummer boy,” she sneered, but a shimmer of warmth flashed in the depths of her irises. “I’m flattered. But no.”

With that, Ava walked off and left.

Ergh. I closed and locked the door behind her. I rested my head against the frosted glass and chuckled. She was impossible to work out. But I liked her more and more.

There was nothing wrong with that.

We could just be friends . . . could we?

I dragged my heavy feet upstairs, showered, and fell into bed just after one a.m..

After tossing and turning, I drifted off to sleep around two-thirty.

But jerky, jolting movement on my mattress ripped me from my slumber. I peeled my eyes open. Charlotte bounced beside me. At six fucking a.m..

“Cole, I’m hungry.” She pounced on all fours beside me. “Can you make me breakfast?”

Half asleep, I mumbled, “Can’t Ma do it?”

“I want you to.”

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