Chapter 23
Ava’s POV
+8 Pearls
He clicked the phone off, slid it back into his pocket, and took a step towards me. I instinctively took a step back. What was his deal? Was he just planning on having a staring contest with my lips?
“Don’t move,” he said.
I gasped as his hand suddenly moved to my waist, his grip firm like he was trying to steady me. “Do you want to hurt your back again?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.
I shook my head. “No. But what are you doing? Why are you so close?”
my lips.
“You have something on your face… chocolate stain? Or maybe syrup?” he murmured, his hand now hovering near n He gently tried to brush it off, but it didn’t budge easily.
Then, he licked his finger. Yes, you read that right. Licked. His. Finger. And was about to use his newly moistened digit on the side of my lips when my hand shot out and planted itself firmly on his chest. “Whoa….” I said, my eyes wide. “What in the sticky–fingered heck do you think you’re doing?
The moment he realized what he’d done, a slow, charming smile bloomed on his face, right in front of me. Honestly, the audacity of this man. It was like some handsome devil had cast a spell. But reality check: fiancée. He had one. Distance, immediate and significant, was the only logical course of action.
Except, he tugged me closer, his breath a warm whisper against my ear. “She’s here.”
“Who’s here!” I asked, genuinely clueless. I wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Hailey,” he hissed, a dangerous little smirk curving his lips. “Remember our deal? The whole over–the–top flirting thing to make her rethink that walk down the aisle?”
I frowned. Oh, right. That ridiculous plan we’d cooked up.
“Look, I don’t exactly have a spare girlfriend on speed dial for these situations, Ava,” he said, sounding ridiculously impatient. “And?” I prompted, waiting for the next act in this bizarre performance.
“Fabio“” A voice, high and slightly strained, echoed through the building. “Fabio- where are you?”
Then, before I could brace myself, my eyes went wide in disbelief. Fabio’s hands cupped my face, and he leaned in, his lips claiming mine in a kiss that was anything but casual. It wasn’t just a peck; it was a full–on press of lips, a warmth that sent a strange little shiver through me. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but he seized the opportunity, his tongue slipping in and exploring mine with surprising intensity, all while his fiancée’s voice echoed nearby.
“Look what we have here, what a quite performance, bro. Dante’s voice echoed.
And I immediately let go of Fabio and pushed him away while my lips trembled and my cheeks flushed in embarrassment. We kissed. He kissed me!
I blinked my eyes as I glanced at Dante, and when I looked around, I didn’t see Hailey. Where the hell is Hailey?
“Oh, there you are… Hailey said her voice light as she spotted Fabio. She gave him a sweet smile, then turned to me. “I love your house. Ava. It’s quite old–fashioned, but yeah, it’s still so nice and lovely”
So… that kiss? Completely pointless. Hailey hadn’t even seen it. Instead, it was Dante, standing in the doorway, who’d witnessed the entire awkward, unwanted, mostly spectacle on my part. Fantastic Just fantastic.
Fabio cleared his throat, his hand unconsciously rubbing his lower lip. “What are you doing here, Dante?” he asked, his tone a
Jittle stiff.
“Well, Dante drawled, a hint of amusement in his voice, “your lovely fiancée asked me to be her chauffeur for the day. She mentioned she’d prepared something special for you – a dinner date, wasn’t it, Hailey?”
Hailey’s face lit up. “Oh, yes! You’ve been working so hard lately, and visiting Ava too… I was hoping we could have a proper dinner, just the two of us. You know, since you’re going to be my husband and all, it should really just be you and me, right?”
3:05 PM
Chapter 23
+8 Pearls
Suddenly, I felt like the world’s biggest third wheel. Hailey looked so genuinely bummed, and honestly, my heart twinged for her. Having a fiancé who looked at you with the same enthusiasm as a wet sock? Not ideal.
Tm busy tonight,” Fabio stated flatly:
Hailey’s smile vanished, her expression clouding over. “Busy? But you have plenty of free time to visit Ava Romanov at her house? I don’t see you being busy, Fabio
“Because, as I’ve already explained, she’s under my protection. And who exactly are you to question me? Fabio retorted, his tone sharp.
Ugh. I wanted no part in this escalating drama. Slowly, I began to back away, hoping to slip out of the room unnoticed and let them hash out their issues in private. I almost made it when a hand suddenly blocked my path. I jumped back, whirling around to face… Dante. Of course.
“I don’t have time to waste on you today. I snapped, heading towards the greenhouse, my sanctuary of sanity. Naturally, he followed.
I spun around, ready to unleash my inner banshee. “I said-”
Sshh..he interrupted, placing a finger lightly against my lips. “So fierce. I like it. Or should I say… what a fierce kiss you shared with my brother. Then, a knowing smirk played on his lips.
I turn around, my cheeks feeling like they’d been slapped with a piping hot towel. Seriously, what the actual hell? That kiss. I had never, in my entire life, experienced a kiss like that. It was almost… primal. Why did it make me feel so weird, yet a tiny, traitorous part of me actually wanted more if Dante hadn’t shown up? Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Bad Ava. He was marrying someone else. That kiss was a mistake, a blip, and absolutely nothing I should ever want to repeat.
“It was a mistake,” I mumbled, pretending to fuss with a pot of wilting daisies.
“Oh really?” Dante purred, leaning against the doorframe. “Says the woman who was making little happy noises between
those ‘mistakes?
“Moaning? I did not moan! My voice was probably a little too high–pitched to sound convincing.
“Oh yes
yes, you did, Ava… Little soft sounds of… enjoyment? He punctuated his words with a theatrical little sigh, clearly relishing my discomfort. “Bad, bad girl‘ He chuckled.
And that was it. Something snapped. I took a swift step forward, and he stopped me. “Woah, hold up!” He caught my fist mid- swing, his grip surprisingly firm. “Why is it that you’re so ready to punch me when it was my brother who kissed you?!”
I took a step back and let out a long sigh. “Why is he always avoiding Hailey? She’s perfect. They’re perfect for each other. Using me in the middle of this is just crazy…
He replied, “He’s already tried to call off the wedding, even tried to break the engagement. But do you know why Hailey still wants to marry him? Hailey is… obsessed. A bit of a psychopath, to be honest.”
“WHAT THE HECK?” I exclaimed, my eyes wide.
“You don’t know that woman, really. She’ll do anything to get what she wants. And my brother, Fabio? He’s the same. He’s doing everything he can to get rid of her.”
