Page 31 of Imperfections Seduced
“Really, Ava.” Cat puts her hand on Ava’s shoulder to stop her from saying what she really wants to say to me, and tilts her head to the side.
“There’s no need for you to be rude, Nick. Before we all get into a big argument, why don’t we go join Chris and your friends?”
Moving out of the way, I let Cat walk in front of me to stop anyone from trying to talk to her. I’m even more horrified at the back of the dress. I can’t believe she left the house like this. Pulling Ava against me so only she can hear, I fall back a little from Cat. “Why the hell did you let her out of the house wearing that? I know you told her to wear that dress.”
“Cat does have a mind of her own. I can’t make her wear anything. If she’s wearing this dress it’s because she chooses to. And like I said, I think she looks good.”
“Do not bullshit me, Ava. I’ve known you your entire life, and I know an Ava outfit when I see one.”
“She tried it on, I told her she looked drop-dead gorgeous. It enhances her curves and shows off all of her best features.”
“Her best features would be her eyes or her mouth. I’m telling you, if I go to jail tonight for beating some guy’s ass, I’m blaming you.”
“You’re a full-grown man with considerable knowledge of the law. If you beat someone’s ass in here, that’s on you. But, I will bail you out, because I know when you’re passionate for something, or someone in particular, you have a fierce temper which overrides your common sense.”
Cat turns around, her eyes on us. “What are you talking about?”
We both look at her and at the same time and say, “Nothing.” She looks at us like she knows better and turns back around. “I just don’t want to see a drunk dickhead getting the wrong idea with his hands because she’s in that dress calling attention to herself, and I know Chris doesn’t want to see that either.”
“Okay. But she’s not a teenager anymore; she can handle herself. She doesn’t need you to protect her from having a good time.” Ava smiles, patting me on the shoulder, and walks up next to Cat.
I run my hand through my hair, take a breath, and force myself not to look at her exposed back in her very revealing dress. I want to run my hand across every flawlessly smooth inch of skin and run kisses down her back while my hand glides up under that short dress, touching her wet, hot fleshuntil she moans my name. See! This is exactly what I don’t want another guy thinking. Damn this dress and Ava. She doesn’t need me to protect her from having a good time, but who’s going to protect her from me tonight?
We reach the table, and Ava sees Matt. He stands up and they hug. “I haven’t seen you in
Years, but you still look the same, hot as ever.”
“Thank you, thank you kindly. I have to keep myself together for hot guys such as yourself. Where have you been hiding away?”
“I’ve been keeping myself busy trying to be like your cousin—” He stops in mid-sentence when he sees Cat behind Ava.
“Wow! Who is this?”
Ava steps to the side and sits down. Cat smiles and holds out her hands to Matt.
“Matt Fuller! Oh my God, I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“Baby girl, look at you all grown up.”
He holds both of her hands and pulls her into his arms for a hug that lasts way too long. I want to rip his frigging hands off her; his hands are all over her skin. He whispers something in her hair, and she pulls back, the corner of her mouth lifting up. He looks her up and down in a way that’s far too familiar.
“Are you two going to stand here looking at each other all night or are you going to sit down?” I snap. The three of them look at me a bit sideways, but I’m beyond caring. Cat moves to sit next to Ava, but I grab her hand and pull her next to me.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
“Why don’t you sit next to me?”
“Why?”
“It’ll be easier for you to get up, and you’ll have a better view of what’s happening in here.”
She’s looking at me strangely, but I don’t care. I’m sure as hell not letting her sit in a booth in the middle of Matt and Ava. He can sit next to Ava.
“Baby girl, I can’t believe how grown up you look. The last time I saw you was before you left for college. Your hair was pulled back into a ponytail, it was raining, and you had on a jeans skirt and a white shirt. You looked more like you were going to high school than college.”
She looks at Matt from across the table, smiling. “You remember that? I can’t believe you remember that day. I’m impressed.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were ready to leave home, but I was wrong. You’re all grown up now, and it appears going away was a good thing.”
