Page 41 of Ava After Midnight

“But I’d very much like to get to know you.”

Relief and desire crash through me like a storm.

Her hands find my chest, fingers toying with my tie, straightening it with deliberate slowness. Testing me. Teasing.

A slow grin spreads across my lips. “Dancing in the storm?”

“Well,” she breathes, eyes flicking up to mine, “I seem to remember you promising to teach me every kind of dance.”

“Ava Marie Williams!” Her mother’s voice cuts through the tension. “You cannot be serious?—”

“Actually,” Ava’s grip tightens on my tie, her voice rich with confidence, “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

Matthew lets out a bitter laugh. “That’s your grand revelation? Trading your future for a bartender with a dance fetish?”

Before I can speak, Mateo does.

“Bartender?” He steps forward, adjusting his cuffs. “My best friend owns that bar, you idiot.”

The punch happens so fast that even I barely catch it. Matthew crumples.

Jade claps, still looking a little green. “Well, that was much better than sex.”

Ava looks at me, at the wedding she’s leaving behind, and grins. Wicked. Free.

“Fuck it,” she breathes. “Let’s go make some thunder.”

I take her hand, twining my fingers through hers, but before we leave, she stops. The entire church watches, breathless, as she lifts her left hand and—without hesitation—slides off the engagement ring. The platinum band, once a symbol of the life she was supposed to have, hits the marble floor with a hollow clink.

Matthew stares at it, at her, his mouth opening like he has something to say. A desperate, final grasp for control. But Ava doesn’t even spare him a glance. She doesn’t owe him closure.

He’s already forgotten.

Ava exhales slowly, shoulders relaxing as if she’s been carrying a weight she didn’t even realize. Finally, she exhales, a slow, measured release of the weight she carried for too long. Her eyes lift to mine, a spark of mischief glinting beneath the finality.

"Let’s get the fuck out of here."

The Miami sun hits my face, but it’s her smile that warms me from the inside out.

"Where to,princesa?" I murmur against her hair, relishing the way she shivers at my touch.

Her eyes sparkle with mischief and promise. "Anywhere with you."

Behind us, Mateo’s low chuckle reaches my ears. I glance back to see him leaning close to Jade, his hand grazing her lower back in a move I know too well.

"Looks like I’m not the only one with plans to dance in the storm," I say, tilting my head toward the new couple.

Ava follows my gaze, her grin turning wicked as she takes in their flirtatious body language. "After her messy divorce, she deserves it... I’m happy for her."

I can’t help but laugh at that, pulling her closer to my side. "Can’t say I blame them. I’ve been looking at you the same way since last night."

She rises on her toes to whisper in my ear, her breath hot against my skin. "Then why are we still talking?"

Heat floods my veins at her boldness, and I barely resist the urge to take her right there on the church steps. But I have plans for my almost-bride, and they don’t involve traumatizing the clergy.

"Car. Now." I growl, nipping at her earlobe before leading us to the waiting limo.

As we slide into the plush backseat, I catch a glimpse of Mateo opening the passenger door of his Aston Martin for Jade,his smile promising all sorts of sin.Attaboy, I think with a grin. Seize that happiness with both hands.

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