Oh, boy. This probably wasn’t going to go over well with TreyorMagnus. Or her therapist, because God, Ava was going to have to talk this out with someone, and since Trey didn’t want to talk and Magnus didn’t want to talk…
She sighed and flung herself back on the couch. Maybe this was some sort of medical-related Stockholm syndrome. Instead of falling in love with her captor, she’d fallen in love with her saviors. Was there another term for that? More importantly, what was she going to do now? Tell them? She didn’t see that getting her very far.
“It could be worse,” she muttered to herself. “You could be waking up wrapped in a rug out in a field.”
Ava giggled hysterically as she briefly wondered whether she was insane. No way was she joking about that horrific event. It was way too soon for that.
Right?
An hour later, after she’d started a load of laundry, emptied the few dishes from the dishwasher, and had a brief text conversation with Gloria Steiner, the woman who had taken her in and protected her until Magnus and Trey found her, Magnus returned. Ava had no idea where he’d gone, nor did she ask. He no longer looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole, so she considered that a good thing. But the words that came out of his mouth certainly didn’t make her feel better.
“I really didn’t mean to lay that on you like that.”
“What? That you’re in love with me?” she teased, hoping to get a smile from him.
It didn’t work.
“I swear to you, I won’t—”
“I love you, too, Magnus. I always have. I figured you knew that already.”
His mouth remained open as though his words were stuck on his tongue, and he didn’t know whether to spit them out or swallow them. Ava waited patiently, wanting him to saysomething.
This time when he didn’t speak, it was so much better, because Magnus moved toward her, cupped her cheek, and pressed his mouth to hers. It was soft and sweet, and she relished the warmth of his body, wrapping her arms around him because she wasn’t ready for him to stop.
“What do you say we sit on this conversation for a day,” she suggested when he pulled back and stared down at her. “We can talk about it more tomorrow.”
He nodded. “You want me to order somethin’ for dinner?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of I would make a grilled chicken salad.”
As she’d expected, Magnus grumbled, but it did put him in a better mood.
Chapter Nine
Thursday, July 28, 2022
“It is very good to see youagain, Ava,” Dr. Briggs greeted when she came out to the reception area to call Ava back to her office. “How have you been since we talked on Tuesday?”
Ava noticed that Dr. Briggs was more at ease with her today. Not quite so stoically professional.
“Pretty good,” she admitted as they stepped into her office. “I started working full-time, so I feel like I’m making a contribution to society again.”
Dr. Briggs paused at the seating area and gestured for Ava to pick a spot. “Where do you work?”
Ava went to the same spot she’d sat in the last time. “Camp K-9. It’s in Embers Ridge. It’s a doggy daycare. They also board dogs and train search and rescue dogs and their owners.”
“I know the place,” Dr. Briggs said with a smile. “My cousin’s married to one of the owners of Dead Heat Ranch, which is not too far from there. I’ve seen the Camp K-9 sign. Do you like it there?”
Ava smiled, and it was genuine. “I love it. I’ve wanted to work there since I was a kid. My best friend’s dad owned it. Back then, it was Storme Kennels.”
“It changed ownership?”
Ava shook her head. “Magnus changed the name when he expanded.”
“Who’s Magnus?”
“He’s Tabby’s older brother.”
