“First, you steal my money. Then, you steal my grandfather’s pistol. I should file a police report. And you think I’m going to leave you alone? What do you think I am, girl, some kind of weakling? How dare you disrespect me. As for your mother…”
Ava jabs her finger at him. “You keep my mom’s name out of your disgusting mouth. How dare you talk about her! She did nothing but try with you and you–”
“Shut your mouth and give me the pistol, girl. Pass it under the table. It’s not yours.”
“Look, Silas. We left in a hurry. Mila grabbed your pistol instead of the one we inherited from Dad by mistake.” She hands him a wrapped package under the table, which he holds on his lap.
“I always thought your sister was stupid. An airhead. Decent in the kitchen, like your mother. It’s all women are good for. What about my money?” He drains his glass. I want to go over and knock him off his chair.
Ava thumps the table with her fist. “Howdareyou? You stole our inheritance. You made Mom’s life a misery. I took back what you stole so we could make a fresh start.”
Silas’s expression is sour. “You know what I believe, girl? A man’s entitled to the money his women have. I’m the head of the family. Your money ismymoney.”
Ava’s voice is incredulous. “Myfather’smoney?”
He shrugs. “He’s long dead. What I say goes. And I say you stole what’s mine.”
Ava is dangerously still. She has the look of someone about to do something foolish. I rise in my chair, scooping up the dog.
“You do?”
“I do. And while you pay me my money back, your mother can live with me. Insurance for the payment. Otherwise I’ll go to the sheriff and your lives will get complicated.” He looks pleased with himself.
Ava’s hand closes around her glass. I stride over, knocking over a chair on purpose to get both of their attention. Poupon starts yapping at the noise.
“My beautiful fiancée, don’t tell me that you’ve forgotten our date tonight…” I close my hand on her arm, just as she raises it, ready to toss her drink in her stepfather’s face. With the otherhand, I give her Poupon, who’s delighted and starts licking her face.
Silas scoots his chair back as I angle my body between the two of them.
“And who’s this? Don’t you want to introduce me?” I ask, putting on a relaxed, polite tone.
I pull her to her feet, putting my arm around her shoulders.
Ava’s looking at me like I’m from another planet, but she goes along with me. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
I smile through gritted teeth. “Let’s get home. This firefighter needs his supper and we have to fit those shelves.” I glance over at Silas. “She has so many books!”
He nods. “You’re living together? You’re engaged?”
“Yes, it was love at first sight. Snowflake Falls is known as the Love Town, haven’t you heard? It’s famous for it.”
Silas makes a disgusted face, but he seems to be buying this whole act. “Ava, I’ll be back on Monday. Tell your mother what I said.”
I don’t give her a chance to reply, leading her out of the bar and onto the street. She’s trembling with rage, but even through the anger I can’t escape how soft she is in my arms. How good she smells. How much I want to run my fingers through her hair and kiss her.
“I’m driving you home.”
Ava doesn’t protest. “What was all that about?Fiancée?”
I hold open the car door. “I didn’t want him to know you lived alone.”
“How do you know I live alone?”
Shit.
“The Chief told me. When Mila moved in with him.”
She runs her fingers through her ponytail, then takes it out so her hair falls around her face. Her tea scented-shampoo mixed with the scent of her perfume makes my dick twitch.
