Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Get the fuck out of my office,” he said, leaving himself.
He was angry. There was no way he would let Grant take his place. He stormed into his nightclub, ready to murder anyone who got in his way.
Pushing people who dared to step in front of him, he grabbed Ava’s arm and pulled her out of Grant’s hold and across the dance floor.
Getting to her was a little blur, but he didn’t stop.
“Logan, what are you doing?” she said.
He didn’t speak another word until they were in the privacy of his office and he checked to see Hunter had already left.
Slamming the door, he flicked the lock into place.
“You don’t get to dance with Grant, or treat him like he was me.”
“I’m not treating him like anything,” she said.
“You’re not? So you paw all the men who come into your world, is that it? You’re fucking pregnant, Ava.”
“How can I forget how pregnant I am? It’s the only time I get to see you. Why can’t I be with Grant? At least he’s there and he’s willing to dance with me. He’s even willing to look at me and talk to me. What about you? What is it you’re willing to do, Logan? Oh, that’s right, continue typing on your damn phone. It’s a device, not a person. I was right there, beside you, and you ignored me. What am I supposed to do? Wait around until you decide you want to be with me, is that it?”
“You have no idea what you’re fucking talking about.”
“And you have no right telling me what I can and cannot do. You’re not part of my life, remember? You put me in an apartment and you put me to one side as if I don’t matter.”
“Of course you matter.”
“If I matter, prove it. Talk to me, Logan. Or better yet, dance with me. Hold me. Do anything—but stop ignoring me.”
He stared at her, and he couldn’t believe they were fighting. She had tears in her eyes, and he’d been the one to put them there. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, and he didn’t have a single clue what to say.
“I can’t.”
“Do you not want me?” Ava asked. “I can’t keep on going around waiting for you, Logan. I can’t. I want this baby so much, and I want you, but I need to know if you want me too.”
“You want me?”
“Yes,” she said. “Damn it, Grant’s right.”
“Don’t fucking mention his name to me. Not right now.”
“We’re standing in the very room where you killed Luke,” she said. “And he’s dead. Luke is gone. He’s not coming back.”
“I know that.”
“But he’s right here. Isn’t he? He’s the reason you put me in an apartment. Why you can’t be with me. Are you ashamed?”
“No, of course not. Don’t ever think that.”
“Then it can only be one thing. You feel guilty.”
He pressed his lips together, and he couldn’t look at her.
“You have no reason to feel guilty, Logan.”
“I don’t? You don’t think I have a reason?”
“No.”
He laughed. “Wow, I came to Crow Valley to hurt you, Ava. Everything I’ve done has been to gain my revenge. To take it all out on you, and you didn’t even deserve it. All this time, I was helping him. He took everything away from me, and I let him. I helped him fucking do it.”
“But I’m right here, Logan. I’m here for you. I’m pregnant with our baby, and we’re letting him win. For every single day we’re apart, he’s won.” Tears filled her eyes, and fell down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry.”
“I…” She chuckled. “I didn’t think I loved you. I thought I wasn’t capable of loving anyone, but … I love you. I know it’s crazy after everything we’ve been through, but I think back to that time in the classroom, when you kissed me, then our time at Halloween. I was so tired, and I rested my head on your shoulder. You never really hurt me. Sure, you said some things, but you didn’t hurt me.”
“I was crazy about you,” he said. His hands clenched into fists.
“You were?”
“Hell, yeah. I loved looking into your eyes. Even when you were annoyed, they had so much passion and fire. You were amazing. You didn’t back down or cower. You were a strength, and I wanted you all to myself. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret not telling you sooner. I even stopped a couple of guys asking you out. I told them you had—” He stopped.
“What did you tell them I had?”
“Some disease that rots a guy’s dick off.”
“You didn’t.”
“Oh, I did, believe me, and it wasn’t hard either.”
“But why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve never been able to handle the thought of another man in your life, Ava. Touching you. Holding you.”
“But Grant?”
“Yeah, after I got him to do what I wanted him to, I sent him as far away from me as I could so I didn’t kill him. I didn’t think it would be fair to kill the guy for doing exactly as I asked. It’s why I try to avoid being in his company. I want to hurt him.”