Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Ransom was pleased with another business deal in the making. He and Will had often collaborated on interesting imports, joining in lucrative ventures.
He checked his watch. Almost time for the cake reveal. But before he turned toward the kitchen, he saw Clay Harrington bearing down on him, his girlfriend or date or whatever she was nowhere to be seen. Such a glower tensed Clay’s face that Ransom said, “Everything okay, buddy?”
Clay seemed so worked up that the only words he could get out were, “Yeah. Sure. Great.” Then he pointed a finger, almost stabbed it at Ransom’s chest. “I need to talk to you.”
“Okay. I’m right here.”
A thunderstorm passed over Clay’s face as they moved away from the main body of wedding revelers. Ransom had never worked with Clay. Most of his business dealings were with Dane and the resorts. But he knew the family, he knew that look on Clay’s face, and he suspected what was coming before Clay even got the words out.
The man scowled. “What’s going on between you and Ava?” Just as the Mavericks were protective of their younger sister, Lyssa, the Harrington brothers were protective of their sisters too. Which was why Ava had never wanted to reveal their relationship.
So maybe Will wasn’t the only one who’d noticed all those longing glances. Ransom did it even now, his gaze involuntarily shooting to Ava on the dance floor. Before he could say a word, Clay read his expression and stepped into his personal space, his pointed finger hovering right before Ransom’s nose. “You hurt her, and you don’t just answer to me, you answer to my whole family, and that includes the Mavericks.”
Then he turned abruptly on his heel, without even letting Ransom reply, and stalked off toward Dane.
Ransom once again glanced toward the dance floor in search of Ava. Always looking for her. And he was met by Will’s wink, before the man saluted him with his champagne glass.
All that talking Will had done with this Maverick and that Maverick? Well, damn. The man had a big mouth, and he’d probably whispered his suspicions about Ransom and Ava to anyone who’d listen. Sebastian was looking at him too. Assessing.
After grabbing a glass of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter, he stalked to Will and Harper. “You’ve been talking, haven’t you?” The Mavericks were a bunch of gossips. And the rumor had obviously spread fast. Straight to Clay.
Will widened his eyes in mock affront. “Me? Talking? About what?”
“You don’t fool me, Franconi.” He shook his head sadly, as if he couldn’t believe it.
A smile broadened across Will’s face. “The truth is—” He paused a beat. “—the butler did it.” Beside him, Harper giggled.
Ransom wanted to laugh. He wanted to clap.
He wanted to rush to Ava, catch her up in his arms, and carry her off like a Neanderthal.
But the Mavericks would have a field day with that.
And Clay would probably punch him.
Chapter Sixteen
Parched after all the dancing, Ava took a glass of water off the rolling bar cart. When she’d gulped it down, she couldn’t resist an espresso martini.
She couldn’t see Ransom. And really, she shouldn’t be looking for him. She’d actually been terrified he might sit down with her during the meal, but thank God he hadn’t. The worst was over—sitting next to him during the wedding and all those sweet vows.
Refreshed by the water and martini in hand, she rejoined her compadres from the dance floor, which now consisted of Kelsey, Tasha, and Cammie. Then Charlie bounced back after her dance, while Sebastian whirled Susan, aglow with delight and laughter, around the floor.
It was only as she sipped her espresso martini that Ava noticed her friends looking at her. Kelsey’s eyes were full of mirth. That woman always seemed to be laughing.
Tapping her bottom lip with a polished finger, she smiled at Ava. “You know,” she drawled, “if I were single, I wouldn’t kick the chef out of bed for eating crackers.”
Something slithered down Ava’s spine. Kelsey couldn’t know. She could only be guessing.
But that gleam in Kelsey’s eyes said, oh yes, she knew something. Maybe they all did. “I wouldn’t kick him out for potato chips either.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Not even for tacos.”
Tasha giggled. “You’ve eaten tacos in bed? I’ve so gotta try that with Daniel.”
All the women laughed. Ava forced herself to laugh too. “Ransom is in the kitchen. If you want to give him some… crackers.” She raised one eyebrow.
But Kelsey wagged her finger in Ava’s face. “Oh, no. I think that chef is taken.”
Good Lord. They did know. They all knew. She felt as if a bucket of water had fallen on her head. But she kept smiling.
Then Kelsey hugged her and whispered in her ear, “Go for it.”
“Stop that,” Charlie chided them all. “You’re embarrassing her.”