Without Doubt Read Free Page B

noodles aren’t only
nasty, but they’re terrible for you. Have you seen how much sodium
is in there?”
    She doesn’t step away from my close
proximity, but stiffens her stance and narrows her eyes just a bit.
I swallow hard to fight the urge to kiss away the scowl on her
face.
    “ I’m going to get to you,
Sunshine, I promise you that. And when I do, you won’t be able to
able to deny me. Not only that, you won’t fucking want to.” I bow
my head closer to her and her eyes close, undoubtedly of their own
accord, and I gently kiss the corner of her eye where her long
eyelashes meet and tangle. I don’t say another word before backing
out the door and heading back to the table.
    Everyone looks at me as I sit down but no
one says anything. I’m irritated, that’s for sure, but what Ava
doesn’t know is that she just lit a fire under me. I’m not letting
her win this battle.

Chapter Four
    Ava
     
    Last night after Declan left me in the break
room, I ate my “nasty” noodles and allowed myself to fantasize
about a future with him. Total fantasy, of course; that’s not a
road I can afford to travel, no matter how hot I am for the guy.
Feeling him so close to me and smelling his cologne had me a bit
dizzy. When I looked up into his eyes, my heartbeat took off and I
almost lost control of my breathing, but I managed to not embarrass
myself… I think.
    When I went back out into the bar, his group
was just gathering their things to leave. None of them said
anything to me or even looked my way except for Declan. He looked
over his shoulder just as he was walking out and made eye contact
for just a second before turning his blank expression back around
and walking out the door.
    I was more than a little annoyed after
discovering they didn’t even leave a tip. Not even a five was left
on the table. After having to listen to the giggling idiots and
dealing with the girl who couldn’t keep her hands off of Declan,
they should have left me a killer tip…but nothing? It just pissed
me off.
    That was last night. Last long night. Now
it’s Friday, typically a busy night, and I’m prepping the bar to
open…exhausted. I didn’t sleep at all, had class all morning and
study group online all afternoon prior to coming here. I’m just
finishing cleaning the tables and resetting them when I hear a
knock on the door.
    Drying off my hands, I unlock the deadbolt
before pulling open the heavy door to find a beautiful girl who
looks to be about my age. She doesn’t belong here. She’s dressed in
a pressed, white, long sleeve blouse tucked into black slacks and
pointy black heels. Her long black hair is blowing in the wind and
she smiles brightly at me as I come into her view.
    “ I’m sorry, I haven’t
opened yet.” I say kindly, still holding open the heavy
door.
    “ Are you Ava?” the
beautiful girl asks, even though I can tell by her bright eyes that
she knows exactly who I am.
    “ Yes, I am.” Now she has
me a little nervous. I keep a pretty low profile. If you don’t
frequent Max’s, then you don’t know that I work here. I’m not
ashamed of my job; it’s just not anyone’s business what I do
outside the other areas of my life.
    She reaches her hand out to shake mine. “I’m
Macie James, Declan’s sister.”
    What is she doing here? Declan said he was
going to get to me—was this his plan? Sending his sister over to
convince me? I snap out of my inner monologue and return her
handshake, inviting her inside.
    “ No, thank you. I’m in a
rush. He just asked me to drop something off for you,” she says
with a smile as she reaches into her big handbag and pulls out an
envelope.
    “ Oh. Well, thank you,
Macie. It was nice to meet you,” I say, taking the envelope from
her.
    She waves goodbye as she walks up to her
little silver convertible Audi. The car definitely suits the
girl.
    I open the envelope as soon as I lock the
door, before curiosity can eat me alive. Inside, I find a $100 bill
wrapped in a