Page 55 of Maid in Heaven

The front door opened. Will waltzed in with a paddle brush in his hand, smiling as if he were about to say something clever. But he froze in the doorway, stunned by the image of Dan kissing Ava right in front of him. Will gritted his jaw and turned to leave.

Ava pulled away from Dan, attempting to wrench herself from his arms. “Wait, Will! It’snot what you think! He wasn’t invited!He won’t leave!”

Her words rang out in Will’s ears over the pounding of his pulse. He whipped around and looked at the hold Dan had on her arms.

“What’s going on?”The look in his eyes said that a singular nod of her head would make him launch on the male stranger and pound his fist until the guy was missing teeth.

“He’s fuckingleaving.” Ava whipped her arms away from Dan. “Aren’tyou?”

“Who the fuck isthis?Got yourself a new little boy-toy, Ave?” Daniel snarled.

Kuda erupted in a symphony of vicious barks from the entrance to the nearby kitchen.

“I’m herboyfriend, you scumbag.”

Despite the soap bubbling against her scalp and the agitation from the scene Dan was causing, Ava fought the urge to smile.Even though Will said it to intimidate the man, something about the sound of it…

Feltright.

“Ava? ShouldIleave? Or shouldhe?”

“Him!” Ava pointed to Dan like she was a tattling teenager, heart pounding. “Will, Iswearto you, I did not invite him over. He’s drunk. Hecame inwhile I was in the damn shower!”She pressed her wrist to her forehead for a second to put pressure on her forming headache. Shampoofoam transferred. She grimaced and wiped it on her clothes. “This is Dan. Myex-husband,” she said, stressing the ‘ex’ loudly.

Will rolled his shoulders back and took another step in. “Look,Dan, if you would like to keep all your bones unbroken and your teeth in your gums, you need to leave.Now.”

“You’re sleep-deprived. You aren’t thinking straight.Just go home!”Ava used both hands to push Dan toward Will. Again, Kuda’s bark rang out.

“Give me another chance!”Dan yanked Avatoward himby her shirt and kissed her.

Will’s fist crashedinto Dan’s jaw, dropping himto the floor. Ava gasped, covered her face,and leaped backward.Kuda raced to Daniel’s pant leg and toreat the hem of his jeans, shredding fabric.

“Kuda, stop!” Ava pulled at her dog’s collar until he backed up.

Will stood over Danwithreadied fists. “The lady asked you to leave.”

“That’s assault, fuckface.” Dan looked atAva. “You’re just gonna let him hit me?!Aren’t you gonnadoanything?”

Will snatched Danby the inside-out shirt and thrust him onto his feet. “Let’s go, Romeo.”

Ava and Kuda watched from the kitchen doorway as Will tossed Dan out into the snow-covered yard.

Will grabbed the door handle. “You ever think about touching her again I’ll break every single one of your fucking fingers.”

Dan nodded, sobering in the frozen pile of fluff.

Will slammedthe door and locked it.

Ava stepped into the living room, tears wellingin her eyes. “I’m sorry,Will.He just showed up. I haven’t seen him in months!I thought he wasyou.Hejust climbed into the shower with me!”

She wiped a dripping dollop of sudsy water from her brow before it could sting her eyes further.

Will clenched his teeth. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, he just scared me.”

“Okay. Good.” Will exhaled long and slow, looking up at Ava. “Go ahead and finish your shower. I’ll make sure he doesn’t come back.”

A shared pint of Neapolitan ice creamand two classicfeature films later, Ava found herself on the couch, wrapped in Will’s comforting embrace, her head relaxed on his shoulder, dangling, once again,on the precipice of sleep.

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