Page 101 of Safe and Sound

Since I’d been raised to hate weakness, I transferred that rage to Ava.Shewas the one emasculating me.Shewas the one who had left me broken four years ago.

When the door flung open, I sucked in a breath. As Ava came striding into my office, it was as if time stood still. The years andhours since we’d last seen each other melted away. Instead of that horrible last day together, all the good times we had merged into that moment.

As her gaze connected with mine, her steps momentarily faltered. My body from my head to my toes tingled like a lightning bolt had zapped me. Seconds passed before she finally continued walking.

“Hello, Dare,” she said, her usually strong voice a slight whisper.

The sound of her voice, coupled with her proximity, sent an ache through my chest. As I inhaled, I caught the scene of her perfume–the one that had been painfully etched on my memory. All these years later I’d recognize it anywhere.

Time had been good to her. She was just as stunning as she had been four years ago. But as I appraised her, her demeanor was different. She no longer appeared the ball buster whose sassy mouth I’d adored.

The Ava before me appeared slightly broken.

And that unnerved the hell out of me.

But I wouldn’t let her know that.

Instead, I slid on my mask. “I have to say I’m surprised to see you back in Boston.” With a shake of my head, I said, “More like I’m fucking floored.

“I, uh….” She swallowed hard. “I needed to see you.”

“You said you never wanted to see or hear from me again.”

“I realize that.”

“Ah, so you must be in town for another no inhibitions weekend.” Flashing her a shark-like smile, I added, “How kind of you to think of my cock after all this time.”

She pinched her eyes shut. “Please–”

I held up my hand. “ While I’ve missed hearing that word from your lips, save your apologies. While I’m flattered you thought of me to satiate your needs, I’m going to have to refuse.”

“I’m not here for sex,” she snapped.

Her words sent a jolt through me. There was the fire I remembered. That was the Ava I’d fallen in love with. “Pity.” I narrowed my eyes. “I like the idea of you crawling back to me.”

With a frustrated huff, she swept her hands to her hips. “Okay, I get it. You still hate me. Considering the way I left things between us, you have every right to.”

Although I should’ve been grateful to hear her acknowledge she had left badly, it didn’t help the hurt in my chest. Drawing on that pain, I replied, “To hate you would mean I actually gave a shit about you. I can assure you I do not.”

“You gave a shit about me once.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “You even said you loved me.”

“Whatever I might’ve felt for you was many years ago. It certainly was fleeting. I can assure you I haven’t been pining away for you.”

With a mirthless laugh, I went for the jugular. “In the end, you were just one of the many, many women I fucked.”

Her body shuddered as if my words had whipped her. Her head dropped as her shoulders caved in. Jaysus, I was a bastard to do that to her.

Hurt pooled in her eyes. “This was a mistake,” she whispered. Slowly, she started to back up.

Just when I thought she might make a run for it, I shook my head. “Stop,” I commanded.

Ava jumped at the sound of my voice. To my surprise, she didn't run. Instead, she cocked her brows at me. “What?”

"You obviously had a reason to come see me.”

“I need your help.”

“It must be something pretty desperate for you to soil your presence with mine.”

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