Page 12 of Bound and Blitzed

And so, I researched. I jotted down notes. I considered important questions. And I came up with a list of talking points that need to be discussed.

He knocks again.

I pause in front of the mirror above the hallway console. While I’ll never win any beauty awards, I look sleek and professional today. I brushed my wild curls back and secured them in a low bun with a center part. I’m wearing green cords and a black button-down shirt. And, I glance down, warm slippers.

I got this. I can have this conversation, especially if Avery had the guts to show up.

Straightening my shoulders, I stride to the door and pull it wide open.

Avery’s hand is raised, as if to knock a third time, and he lowers it with a sheepish grin when he sees me.

“Morning, Valentina.”

Damn. How is his voice so velvety and smooth this early in the morning? When I wake up, I sound like a croaking rooster.

To be safe, I clear my throat. “Good morning. Come on in. I can make coffee.”

Avery holds each side of my doorframe and leans forward slightly. I blink up at him, feeling my cheeks heat. Whatever that male move is, it should be illegal. The position makes his biceps bulge and his forearms flex. My throat dries and I clear it again.

“Nah, I promised to take you out for breakfast.” His smile is almost lopsided when he says, “Something tells me you’d feel more comfortable in a public place, and we have a lot to talk about.”

Gah! How does he know that? How can he tell I’m uncomfortable with men in small spaces when Ale or my cousin Rafa have never picked up on it? They attribute it to my being nerdy, not nervous.

“We do,” I agree, stepping back and holding the door open wider. “Come on in. I’ll grab shoes and my notes.”

“Your notes,” Avery says, humor in his tone.

I glance at him over my shoulder as I pull mules from my closet. “This is a felony, you know?”

He chuckles. “Going right to the heart of the matter, are you?”

I narrow my eyes. He smiles broadly.

“Let me at least get some caffeine in my system first,” Avery says. “I know a great place for pancakes, and we should just beat the morning rush. Once we’re there, you can tell me all your concerns.”

I slide on my shoes and stare at him. “Don’t you have any?”

At the seriousness of my tone, he sobers. Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans, Avery rocks forward on the balls of his feet. “I do.”

It’s all he offers but it’s enough.

Nodding, I stride into the kitchen, stuff my notebook and pen into my purse, and slip it onto my shoulder. Grabbing keys from the little dish on the console table, I walk past Avery. “Let’s go.”

“All right,” he agrees, following me out of my condo and waiting while I lock up. “Let’s do it.”

Chapter5

Avery

The second thehot brew hits my tongue, I feel more awake. More prepared to do battle with this interesting, bewildering, beautiful creature studying the various types of syrups across from me.

We place our orders, have coffees in hand, and are seated in a quiet corner of my favorite pancake house. From experience, I know the place will be hopping by 10:30 a.m., but at 9:19 in the morning, it’s still relatively empty.

“Okay, Valentina,” I say, “lay it on me.”

She squares her shoulders and glances at her purse. It’s clear she wants to pull out the notebook I saw her stuff inside before we left her condo. No doubt she’s created a pros and cons list and has deliberated a slew of important points. I wait for her to decide and am pleasantly surprised when she forgoes her notes and instead, wraps her hands around the steaming mug of coffee and leans closer over the table.

“If we do this…” She lowers her voice. “Get married, we’re committing a felony. It’s a sham marriage and we can be criminally charged.”

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