Even when she threw sass, she couldn't help blushing. Fuchsia spread across her cheeks. I had to hide my smile by rubbing my jaw.
“Things didn’t go well after, so it doesn’t count. We’ve been chatting for a few minutes, and you haven’t told me to get lost yet.”
“Well, I have to remain professional. This is an interview… thrust upon me out of nowhere by Jaden…”
My low chuckle circulated the room. “About that. He’s trying to set us up.”
Ava blinked. “You’re kidding.”
I shook my head.
She guffawed, and then it turned into an airy giggle. I watched, entranced by the way her face lit up. This was the Ava I remembered. The one whose laugh alone made me feel warm inside. My smile blossomed the longer I watched her.
“The irony of him trying to set up exes,” she said. “Do you think we should tell him?”
“Or we could just have dinner.”
Her smile gradually faded. “We shouldn’t. I don’t see why you’d want to.”
Straightfaced, I said, “Well, because you’re fire, a certified baddie, wifey material, and that girl.”
Her amused snort echoed. “I’m looking at you, but I’m hearing Jaden.”
I laughed and shrugged.
“Do you even know what any of that means?” she asked.
“I gathered that they mean you’re incredibly attractive and amazing.” She was indeed all of those things.
Shaking her head, she blushed profusely. “Acertifiedbaddie, huh?”
I nodded. “Yup.”
“I’m flattered. But, Lincoln…”
“Come on, Ava. What could it hurt? Surely we can have dinner as friends?”
Her teeth sank into her lower lip. With a resigned sigh, she finally accepted. “Fine. I have time tonight.”
“Perfect.”
She got up. “Maybe we can continue your,” she made air quotes, “interview then.”
I watched her walk out, satisfied that there was a chance we could move beyond her despising me.
12
LINCOLN
I arrived at the restaurant twenty minutes early. I tried telling myself it wasn’t because I was nervous, but ten minutes into waiting, I decided to be honest with myself. My nerves were hanging by their last thread. Twelve years later, I was having dinner with my ex-girlfriend.
It was nerve-racking. But only because I never stopped loving her, and I was scrambling to get her to stop hating me. As I waited, I scoped the place out. It was upscale but cozy with a lot of dim lighting.
Shit. Now that I thought about it, maybe this atmosphere was too romantic. It wasn’t supposed to be adate. Ava was adamant that this wasn’t a romantic thing. She had emphasized that when I called and offered to pick her up at her hotel. She opted to drive herself, telling me, “This isn’t a date, Lincoln. Just two people eating.”
I blew out a breath and picked up the glass of water I’d been nursing. I wasn’t sure how much longer I sat alone when I glanced up and there she was, being led to our table by the hostess. I stood up and waited.
I swallowed because my tongue threatened to roll out of my head like a cartoon character. Ava was a stunning vision in a deep emerald cocktail dress that hugged her frame. The neckline dipped just enough to stay elegant rather than provocative. The hem hit mid-thigh, showing off her long, shapely legs. The strappy heels she strutted in gave me ideas about those long legs wrapped around my waist… I had to shove away my lascivious thoughts before I got a boner right there in the middle of the restaurant.
