“You and I don’t need to reminisce about old times. In fact, I wish you hadn’t stopped by. This…” I waved a hand between us. “—is completely unnecessary.”
His eyes met mine again. “Ava, please?—”
“I’ve had a long day, Lincoln.”
He sighed softly. “So this is how it’s going to be between us?”
“I’m not sure whichusyou’re referring to.”
The muscles in his jaw bunched some more. “You know what? You’re right. We don’t need tocatch up.” His eyes seemed to harden, the soft orbs turning to sharp jade stones. “Just keep in mind that I’m very protective of my clients when it comes to nosy journalists.”
I snorted. “Thanks for the warning. The door is that way,” I pointed to it.
His entire face pulled into a tight knot of irritation. But he didn’t hit me with a comeback as I expected. Instead, he wheeled around and marched to the door. Before he opened it and went through it, I heard him mutter, “I knew coming here was a bad idea.”
The door closed with a gentle thud.
Despite the suffocating swirl of anger, pain, regret, and resentment going through me, I felt a sliver of amusement. Lincoln never slammed doors, no matter how heated he got. Not since that one time he got pissed at Ethan, slammed one, and it broke. He told me he’d been afraid of his own strength after that. I chuckled at the memory. The man could bench-press my weight with one arm. He had no business slamming doors.
My smile melted away with the memory and turned upside down. I didn’t mean to be such a bitch to him when he was only trying to be nice. But I couldn’t risk it. Falling back into friendly banter with the only man to hurt me so deeply, I almost didn’t recover, was downright dangerous.
6
LINCOLN
“Damn it all to hell!” I growled as I got into my car. I almost slammed the door out of sheer frustration, but took a breath and gently pulled it in. I didn’t want to risk damaging the damn thing. That woman was so… so… stimulating. Only Ava could ever get me riled up like this. She always made me want to scold her about her flippant attitude, yet kiss the hell out of her.
Maybe she had the right idea. We shouldn’t get comfortable with each other again. Whenever we were in the same space for too long, sparks flew. That was dangerous. Besides, as far as I knew, she was still getting ready to marry some other fucker. But I couldn’t help remembering the way things were between us. The chemistry… it was explosive. It had been ever since I’d laid eyes on her after a few years away at college…
Twelve years ago…
The Montgomery living room hadn’t changed. Then again, I’d only been away for three years. The room still smelled like that lemon wood polish Ethan’s mom liked to use. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery welcomed me home some minutes ago—I even gotmy cheek pinched by Mrs. Montgomery as if I were still the ten-year-old Ethan brought home. They then left for a dinner party. I was told Ava was upstairs, but I didn’t go up to bother her. She’d come down eventually.
So, I was left to my own devices until Ethan came back from wherever he was. He was supposed to be home already because I told him what time I’d be here. But that was Ethan for you, always running late. I bet he was with a girl. Since the Montgomery household was like my second home, I got comfortable while I waited.
I lay back against the cushions, one arm propped under my head, and lazily tossed my keys in the air like a football. My fingers twitched instinctively, wanting the weight of a real ball.
After a while, I got bored lying there by myself. A part of me started to wish I’d stayed on campus with the guys. My Harvard crew, as I liked to call them—Michael, Jamie, Spencer, and Alex, had all decided to stay on campus for spring break. But I was long overdue for a visit home.
If I hadn’t come to Springfield, my mom would likely have a conniption. She said she hadn’t seen her little boy in ages—I was twenty, for goodness’s sake—so I had to come home. It was only an hour and a half drive from Harvard to Springfield, but I never got to come home because of football.
Footsteps on the stairs pulled me from the boredom I’d fallen into. I smiled slightly but didn’t get up. Finally, Ava was coming down. I doubted she even knew I was here. My best friend’s little sister was a sweet kid. I was only two years older than her, but I’d just always seen her as well… my friend’s kid sister, whom I had to protect. She was a sassy little riot, though, and could protect herself. She always had me in stitches when she and Ethan had their spats. That quick wit and sharp tongue made her entertaining as hell.
I threw my keys up again, but paused, causing them to smack me on the forehead. I muttered a curse and rubbed the sore spot. My head tipped backward, eyes trained on the staircase behind me, to take a proper look at what had distracted me. From this angle, everything appeared upside down. Including the pair of legs that appeared halfway down the steps.
They were shapely, smooth, toned, and bare. Lethal.
My breath hitched.
Who the hell…?
Did Ava have a friend over? The girl kept descending, and the hem of a black dress came into view. The dress was short.Reallyshort. My gaze travelled up to delicately curved hips that made my fingers twitch. I had this sudden urge to palm them between my hands.
Her torso came into view, and so did the nicest pair of tits I’d ever seen. They looked like perfect handfuls… and I had big hands. Overgrown, mutated paws, according to my friend, Alex—that asshole. All the better to catch a football with, I’d say.
When her face appeared, my world came to a screeching halt.
No!
