Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove) (40 page)

Saturday morning, Ava was up and at’em with Logan’s heart around her neck and Lina in tow. They walked the Preserve Country Club grounds, eyes peeled for a six foot two, blond haired surgeon. Aron offered to drive her, but this was a job for a best friend. The vivid blue sky served as the perfect backdrop for a Ladies Day event. A slight breeze blowing off the bay, the fragrance of fresh cut grass and salt in the air. There were several white tents spaced equal distance apart, each with themed decorations representing a different division at the medical center.
 

The quiet loomed with the presence of a tusked elephant between her and Lina. Her friend struggled to maintain eye contact. It had been that way since Lina arrived at the Walters family home to pick her up in a brand new car. A metallic purple Camaro bouncing on twenty-four inch rims. Lina raved about the new wheels. The car offered as a gift from her mother, to cheer her up. Lina took great pride in the fact that her mother was a self-sufficient woman. Even though her father deserted the family more than a decade ago.
 

“Spit it out, Lina. What’s wrong with you?”

 
“You didn’t tell me about your plans. I’m your best friend.” Ava could hear the hitch in Lina’s voice. The way she left caused more sadness and heartache than she ever imagined.

“I didn’t tell, because either you or my family would have tried to change my mind.”

“Is that the truth?” Lina’s eyes stretched wide, a hopeful wisp to her voice.

“Of course, what else could be the reason?”

“Maybe you don’t...” Lina’s words trailed off. Sadness shadowed Lina’s features.

“It’s not like to you hold your tongue. Maybe, I don’t what?” Ava’s voice was firmer than she intended.
 

“Maybe, you don’t trust me anymore to have your back.” That made Ava pause. Turning, Ava hugged the best friend she had in the world.
 

“That’s ridiculous and it isn’t true. We are sisters and I love you. But it’s time for me live my life without fear crowding my every decision. Being a Navy nurse is my dream come true. I can’t keep running home for rescue every time my life takes a wrong turn. I have to figure out some things by myself. My life was a recurring episode of, Saving Ava. I needed to learn how to trust on my own judgment. I know I won’t get it right every time, but it’s okay to forgive yourself. I understand that now.”

“Okay, that’s all I needed to hear, because I can’t ruin this make-up.” Always the diva. “Logan is ahead, one hundred yards to the left of us.” Lina’s low-pitched voice had Ava swinging her gaze over the sea of couture-draped attendees. She scanned the assembly of people quickly, not seeing Logan from her height challenged vantage point.
 

 
Ava moved in the direction Lina pointed in slow motion.
 

There was Logan, in the arms of Rebecca “legs for days” Holbrook. Her world stopped spinning on its axis. That vamp had invaded her kitchen and had her arms around her man. Blinding fury flooded her senses. Shards of red, flashed in her vision. There was a reason to smash a woman in the pelvic girdle with a bedpan. And his name was Logan.
 

“Drop the murderous look girlfriend.” Your stare is attracting attention. Lina said at her ear.
 

 
“She had better get away from my man.”
 

“Repeat what you just said, because the body snatchers must have abducted my best friend.” Lina fist pumped the air.
 

“You heard me. She needs to step away from Logan.”
 

“Logan,” she infused every ounce of possession she held for him into her voice. He couldn’t see her, now that she had entered the crowd. Ava moved at a fast pace through the crowd of leisurely, well-coiffed charity event attendees. Her pace garnered the curious gazes of nearby onlookers. The throng of people hampered her ability to reach Logan. She had entered a human labyrinth.
 

If she couldn’t get to Mohammed, she would bring Mohammed to her.
 

“Come to me, Logan.” At the repeat of his name, she could see him scanning each face in the crowd. She pressed harder to reach him. Then he looked directly at her. With his eyes fixed on her, Ava watched as he disentangled himself from Rebecca. In motion she moved toward her man with every primitive instinct on high alert. But now his longer strides ate up the distance.
 

For the first time, Ava reveled in the predatory gleam in Logan’s eyes. Something new and wondrous happened between them. She responded to the fire of possessiveness in his eyes unabashedly. And smiled lovingly up at him, the feeling of shared possession new and welcomed. Her body ignited clear through to her soul.
 

They reached each other at the same moment, but Ava’s gaze locked with the other woman’s.
 

“Taste.” The only word she said before gripping the nape of his neck, threading her fingers through his hair, and pulling his mouth down to hers. The kiss was slow, deliberately thorough, and penetrating. An erotic dance enacted for all to see. This was her moment to stand her ground. She knew Logan needed the outward display of her commitment to him. Never again would he have to fight alone for their love. The proof she knew Logan needed. She reveled in the triumph.
 

She heard a shout of “hallelujah” in the distance, immediately proceeded by a panicky “oh my heavens, no.” The male voice was Robert Lee offering his blessing. Followed by Maribelle’s companion curse. Rebecca Lynn wasn’t in sight when Ava released Logan from her very public claiming.
 

He looked down at her, in study. Okay, maybe she had been a little over the top.
 

 
“I came home for you.” She said in a rush. “I’m not leaving without you. I know there’s nothing between you and Rebecca, but I thought you might need me.” She wiped at his lip, removing the traces of lip color from his mouth as she searched his face gauging a reaction. Finally, he broke into a body quickening, panty soaking, classic Logan smile.

“I missed you, sweetheart. Thank you for rescuing me.” Ava sighed in relief when he wrapped a steely arm around her waist, pulling her intimately close. She breathed in his woodsy scent heating her core temperature another ten degrees.
Thank God, for bringing him back to me.
 

“I missed you too.” It felt like heaven on earth to be in his arms again. They stayed locked together silent and content. He smoothed his hands over her toned back.
 

“Praise the United States Navy,” she heard his sexy rumble at her ear. “I’ve got my very own wonder woman. You look amazing.” She giggled at his obvious pleasure in her tightened physique.
 

“I’m glad you like what you see.” She wanted to please him. Not out of some misguided obligation, but because he worked to please her.
 

“I more than like it. I love what I see.” The adoration in his eyes set her blood to boil. She diverted her gaze, sure that her cheek flamed crimson. “We need to talk now.” Logan took her hand and led them to a back patio of the clubhouse, overlooking the greens. He took a seat on a bench, and then pulled her down beside him. She settled back into his arms. Content to stay there forever.
 

“What does my mother know about you that I don’t? Tell me what happened to you. Why you had trouble trusting me. And yourself?” This was a conversation she didn’t want to have, but they both needed her to talk about it. It was time to release the hurts of the past. Marcus’s abuse no longer held any power over her. Turning in his arms, so that they were face to face, Ava stared at the man she loved. Knowing she could tell him everything. Even if it had been painful once upon a time.

“Before we talk about that. I wanted to tell you about my commission the night we reconciled, but everything was so perfect. I didn’t want to spoil it.”
 

“But something happened while I was in Australia to make you believe you had to leave.” It was a statement. Had Maribelle already provided him with some details? She nodded her head in agreement. Voice too tight to speak.
 

“You can tell me everything.”

“I know that now.” Giving him a genuine smile. “Your mother knows what happened with Marcus, my college boyfriend. He would hurt me when he got upset. If I disagreed with him or was too vocal in my opinions.” She felt his arm tighten around her. He stroked up and down her arm.

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of. You were a victim.”

“That’s not everything. When we had sex he would restrain me.” His hand stilled on her arm. She swallowed and continued. “It didn’t start that way. He said we were experimenting, but each time he would do something more painful than the last time. He would braid my hair, then wrap it around his fist so I couldn’t get away.” She dropped her head in shame. “So, when you touched my hair that first time in bed, everything came flooding back. Not being able to get free or get away from the pain.”
 

“Look at me Ava.” She did as he asked. “Sexual experimentation is not consent for abuse. You were manipulated. There is no burden of shame for you to bare.” He wasn’t repulsed. He wasn’t blaming her for what happened. Or telling her how stupid she was.
 

“There’s more. I got so wrapped up in doing what he wanted that I lost myself. Whatever he said I believed him. He told me I was worthless and when the abuse started I felt stupid for allowing it to continue for months. I didn’t want anyone to know that I had allowed him to do horrible things to me. So I didn’t press charges. Stupid, I know …” Logan placed a finger over her lips.

“Ava, you got out of the relationship. You completed your education; you help children heal and you made your dreams come. Your courage astounds me.” He lowered his mouth to hers and she kissed him. Her heart overflowed with joy. He lingered his tongue over the scar on her lip, but it didn’t burn or register as pain. He pulled back and looked at her face - support, acceptance, and what she recognized now as love on his face.

 
“Tell me about the scar on your lip.”
 

“The night I got away from Marcus. He came to my apartment with ropes. He had never used them before with me. I refused and he hit me. Only this time he didn’t stop until I was on the floor.” Logan caressed her arms with such gentleness as she talked, all she felt was the safety of his love.
 

“I managed to call Janna before he came back. She called the police and my parents. They wanted me to come home, but instead I moved in with Janna.”

“You thought I would hurt you if you told me how you felt? Ava I would never lay a hand on you to cause you pain.”

“I know that. My heart knows you would never hurt me, but a basic instinct would kick in, and I would lose my reasoning abilities. You would get frustrated when I tried to put space between us. The scar was a constant reminder of what could happen with the wrong man. And the right words never came to tell you how I felt. The words failed.”
 

“And now?” She didn’t feel any pain or anxiety when she touched her lip now.
 

“And now I choose not to be afraid. I am healed, like the scar.” Her spirit soared at the revelation. She had the power to heal, to control her own destiny.
 

“Are those marks on your shoulder from him, too?” She nodded her head in agreement.
 

 
“You are incredible.” His voice had gone low. She pushed at his chest.
 

“Don’t unleash that sexy voice on me. I haven’t finished answering your questions.”
 

“I’m listening, sweetheart.”
 

“When a realized I was attracted to you. The depth of my feelings terrified me. I ran because I didn’t want to vulnerable again. I didn’t want to risk losing myself in another man. Once we were together and I knew you were different, I was so ashamed of my past I kept the barriers in place to guard my secrets. Believing that if you ever discovered the truth about me you would leave. You give me more happiness than I thought possible between a man and a woman.”
 

 
“I am sorry for making you feel you couldn’t talk to me. You sharing your ideas, thoughts, and opinions only make us better. I’ll be a better listener. You don’t allow the words to fail. There is no threat on this earth that holds the power to separate me from you. You will always be mine.” Cradling her face in his hands he kissed her until she was dizzy.

“I’m crazy for you, and I can’t wait to get you home, but I still have to spend one hour at the smooch booth. It historically has been our most lucrative fundraiser. I doubt, Rebecca will be eager to share in the duty with me after our very satisfying public display of affection.” She grabbed his forearm, staying his retreat.

“It’s more than affection. I love you, Logan.” The look in his eyes at her confession washed everything out of existence but them.
 

“You love me?” She nodded her head. “The words, Ava.”

“I love you. I’ve been in love with you, from the beginning.” Her feet left the ground as he picked her up and swung her around. She was still laughing like a loon when her feet sank into the grass.