Page 71 of The Charming Checklist
Ava loved Max. Loved him with all her heart and soul forwhohe was. For who he’d shown her he was. Not a perfect man. But she wondered now if her not-perfect man wasn’t still after perfection in a woman. Did he love her too, just as she was, or would he try to mold her into someone else? Someone who would one day fit that list. The thought took hold and spread like a weed.
He hadn’t said those three little words to her, after all. But neither had she said them to him. Maybe it was finally time to change that. She’d been somewhat afraid to say the words out loud, afraid to give them too much power. Because Max was right in a way. Love, real love, was messy. Complicated. It didn’t fit any list. She’d found something she would have never expected from love. Somehow, she was a different person. A better one. More introspective and less carefree but in a good way. Love, pure and simple. Unexpected.
Because she understood what she stood to lose now.
Okay, well, that wasn’t a pleasant thought. That particular image needed to go. She didn’t want to think about life without Max. Loving Max. Missing being able to wake up next to him curled into his warm, hard body.
And feeling a warm, thick thread of love wind around her hard and fast every time he cracked a smile.
Chapter Twenty
Max was invited over to Ava’s for dinner the first night after her mother went home.
He came bearing gifts, a bottle of chardonnay from the bar’s collection, which she happily accepted with a kiss.
“Are you all right?” he whispered near the shell of her ear while he stroked the inside of her elbow.
She made a soft sound that was extremely gratifying.
Considering what Ava had been through recently with her mother, he was ready to take her mind off her worries tonight. Ifhismother had suddenly announced she would be divorcing his father, he’d have arranged an intervention. Thrown every counselor and self-help book at the problem. Probably brought in reinforcements. The National Guard, maybe. He’d fix it immediately. Because two people who belonged together, who were as well suited to each other as Dr. Long and Dr. Long seemed to be, should be able to find a compromise. There was too much to lose.
“I’ll be okay. I’m hoping for the best, you know? Yeah! They’ll work it out, they always do!”
That sounded like the cheerleader he knew and loved, and he relaxed. Nothing to worry about here. The delicious smells of garlic and tomato sauce hung heavy in the air. She took his hand and he followed her into the kitchen.
“Should I be concerned? You’re near an open flame.”
Considering their last cooking experience together, he had every right to be skittish.
“You’re funny.” She stirred the simmering red sauce. “No need for you to worry.”
“Great. But just in case, where’s the fire extinguisher? It should be handy.”
“All right, smart-ass. It’s under the sink.”
He checked. “No, it isn’t.”
“Oh. Well, it must be in the um, garage?”
“Youdohave one?”
“Of course I do! Okay, let’s look for it later. Don’t judge me by how I worked in a kitchen with an industrial-size fryer during lunch rush hour. I’ve managed fine so far, and I’ve lived here two years. No kitchen fires.” She pulled down the colander and drained the pasta. “Now, everything is ready so we can eat.”
He helped where he could, but Ava had already set the table with bright colorful bowls and a lined breadbasket. They settled into eating, the scene domestic, and putting him at ease. Ava entertained him with stories about some of their local “color” including the resident who once stopped by the Chamber of Commerce to suggest every business allow a “free” day each month in which everything in their stores would be free. To every single resident in Charming. Ava laughed about it now, but she’d spent some time informing the resident of how bad an idea it would be to get their residents—or the world—accustomed to free stuff all the time. He listened to her jabber away and found that he loved the sound of her voice. She no longer annoyed the hell out of him and now he wondered how he’d ever felt that way.
She gave him more details about the week with her mother, finishing off by showing him the print she’d purchased at the Artlandish gallery, and which she’d asked Ava to ship home. The female anatomy in full bloom.
And yeah, well...he was slightly turned on by that um, flower. “Nice.”
He played with the soft hairs on the nape of her neck. She also felt the tension between them, lowering her lashes and smiling up at him.
Yes, you’ve seen me naked.
Now would be a good time to head to bed.
“Oh! Let’s go for a drive.”
Okay, so not on the same page there. “Sure. Where do you want to go?”
