Kisses, Family & Hope

Chapter 1

one

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy Kisses, Family & Hope, be sure to check out my offer for more Ava and Finn at the end.

With that, enjoy!

* * *

New York City

October 29

Ava King smiled at Constance Hawkins, the woman to whom she’d just handed a two-hundred fifty-thousand-dollar check. “Congratulations, Connie. Is there anything else you need?”

Connie had been staring at the check with wide eyes, but the question had her glancing up. “N-No,” she stuttered, her tears flowing freely down her face. “I-I just don’t know what to say.”

“You say thank you.” Ava pushed down the rush she got every time she was able to help someone’s dream come true.

“Thank you,” Connie sighed gratefully. “When my husband died, I just never …”

Ava blinked several times as Connie’s story never failed to bring a lump to her throat.

“We all deserve a chance to make our dreams come true,” she whispered. “Your last child just graduated from high school, and now it’s your turn. Have you always wanted to own your own business?”

Connie’s face took on a far-away look. “Frank and I had such plans. He was going to stay with the police force for twenty-five years, and then we wanted to open Connie’s Cupcakes. But …

Her chin quivered, and Ava wanted to reach out and hug her.

“But Frank was killed in a senseless accident a week before he was going to retire.”

“That’s right,” Connie agreed tearfully. “And now, thanks to you, I can open the business in his memory.”

“I’m glad I could help.” Ava closed Connie’s folder and slipped it into the Louis Vuitton shopper’s bag she’d taken to carrying instead of a briefcase. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll get out of your way. Be sure and let me know about the grand opening.”

“I will, Ava.” Connie walked with her to the door. “Thank you, again.”

“You’re very welcome. Bye now.”

Ava stepped from the building onto Seventh Avenue and glanced up. The sky was blue, the temperature was moderate, and she had the rest of the day to do nothing.

It had been nine months since her health scare had sent her on a new journey. One that took her out of her position as the CEO and President of her family’s multi-million-dollar corporation. And into a world that allowed her to use the skills she’d developed as a businesswoman and share them with others.

Ava was trying to learn to enjoy life and take it one day at a time. Growing up, she’d felt like Rapunzel. A princess trapped within the walls of a tightly run castle, who’d heard from a young age that her dreams didn’t matter. What mattered was learning how to behave as a King. Which meant the woman inside had been shoved into a corner, where she’d laid dormant for almost thirty years.

Then, in the blink of an eye, a broken blood vessel had been followed by a miracle d**g, and Ava King was given a second chance. Since she’d made peace with her grown daughter, she was trying to create the life she wanted to live.

She wanted balance.

Work.

Family.

Love.

And her very own Flynn Ryder.

There’s …

His name circled …

Stop!

Ava shut down the thoughts and turned toward Central Park. She’d just crossed 40th Street when that awareness she felt whenever he was near skated across her skin. Her pulse raced and fear had her darting into the doorway of the nearest glass building.

She took a deep breath, working to get her nerves under control, and peered around the wall. The sidewalks were crowded, and she didn’t see him anywhere, but she knew he was there. She could feel him. He was near. So near, the tiny nerve endings on the surface of her skin came alive. And his unique smell surrounded her.

“Who are you hiding from?” Finn Reade’s low baritone, with the sexy British accent, whispered in her ear.

Her heart stopped, she forgot to breathe, and her mouth dried.

Ava whipped around, but with her back to the glass window she was trapped.

You’re a King, she could hear her late father’s words.

Stand tall.

Look them in the eye.

Don’t let them see you sweat.

“What did you say?” she retorted in her clipped executive voice.

Finn’s black eyes glittered, and Ava fought not to get lost in them.

“I said,” his voice grew huskier, “who are you hiding from?”

“Me? No one. Why do you ask?”

“So, it’s normal for you to hide in doorways and peer around the wall?” A corner of his mouth ticked up into a sexy grin, and he straightened as if to say, ‘caught you’.

“I wasn’t hiding,” she fumbled in her pocket for her phone, “just taking a call.”

“Right,” he responded, tongue-in-cheek.

“Really.” Ava smiled. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I should go. It was nice to see you again.”

She moved from the doorway and let the other pedestrians carry her away. And with every step, she relinquished a little more of the weight of the corporate persona.

It seemed heavier every time she had to bring it out, but situations where she was in jeopardy of losing control, it was there … handy … comfortable. But not really. It was just, sometimes …

“Are you late for an appointment?”

His voice sent a zip up her spine. How had he snuck up on her?

“No,” she responded, in what she hoped was a nonchalant manner. “Why do you ask?”

“Good.”

He slipped his arm around her waist and led her into Central Park.

Ava wasn’t used to people trying to push her around, and side-stepped out of the flow of traffic, then turned fiery eyes on Finn. “What are you doing?”

* * *

Finn sighed and cursed his need to push, but she’d twisted him in knots since the first time he’d had the pleasure of looking into her beautiful face.

“Forgive me,” he tempered his response, giving her a flirty smile. “You said you don’t have an appointment, right?”

The longer she stared at him with those crystal-clear blue eyes of hers, the more he had to work to stand still.

“Right,” she finally answered.

“And it’s a beautiful day, right?” he tossed another question at her, hoping she’d let down her guard.

“Right.”

Finn fought the smile that threatened to break free at the way she stretched out the word. Almost as if she knew all was not as it seemed, but couldn’t quite figure out what was going on.

“And you never did buy that apartment in the City, right?”

Ava narrowed her eyes. “Just spit it out, Finn.”

“Have you ever been to the Central Park Zoo?” he asked, his heart racing. “Or ridden on the carousel?”

He could swear her eyes lit up, but she quickly dropped her head, and when she glanced back at him her expression was banked.

“You want to take me to the zoo?”

“Yes.”

Ava crammed her hands in her pockets and studied her foot as she slowly toed the ground.

His heart raced, wondering what was going through her head. He made million-dollar deals on a regular basis, but he was more nervous waiting for her to answer his question.

“Why?” she asked, so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

“Why not?” His flippant reply was out before he could call it back. But the gentle arch of her right brow had him amending his answer. “I’ve always wanted to go.”

“You never took Liam and Killian when they were young?”

A corner of his mouth curved at the thought. “No. Claire wasn’t a fan of being outdoors.” He was quiet for a minute, while he studied her. “How about you? Did you take Emma?”

A sad expression flitted across her face, before she quietly admitted, “I missed out on so much when Emma was young.”

“And was the zoo one of them?” he murmured.

Ava nodded, prompting Finn to push, “So will you … go to the zoo with me?”

The twinkle in her eyes appeared first, and Finn’s heart rate slowed slightly.

“Yes,” she conceded. “But just the zoo.”

“Just the zoo?” he asked innocently. “I should forget the carousel?”

Her grin was impish. “We’ll see,” she tossed over her shoulder on her way toward the zoo entrance.

As he walked next to her, he kept trying to label the feeling he had inside. He was happy, but it was so much more. Had he experienced it before? Maybe … but then again, maybe not.

Once they entered the zoo, Finn found his greatest pleasure wasn’t in looking at the animals. It was in watching Ava and the myriad of expressions that crossed her face.

“What are you thinking?” he finally asked as she stared at the brown bears.

A melancholy smile crossed her face, “About the book Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”

“The children’s book?”

“Yes. Most of the time Emma’s nanny, Johanna, read to her before bed. Then one night,” her voice took on a dreamy quality, as if what she was saying had brought her great joy, “I was home early, and Johanna was sick.”

“So, you read to Emma?”

“Yes. Looking back on it, I realize I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have …”

“Isn’t that how many things are in life?” Finn murmured. “Not knowing how precious they are … until they’re over?”

“Point,” Ava agreed with a sigh.

“And so that night, you read Goldilocks and the Three Bears to Emma?” he circled back to his initial question.

“I did,” Ava laughed. “I remember thinking she liked the story because she was comparing herself to Goldilocks. But boy, was I surprised.”

“By?”

“Emma wanted to tell me that the bears used in the story were Ursus arctos and not Ursus americanus. Then she proceeded to list the similarities and differences between the two.”

“Ursus arctos,” Finn pointed to a sign with the scientific name written on it, “Grizzly Bear.”

“Very good, Mr. Reade,” Ava nodded, leading the way toward the seal pool. “Even at the age of four, Emma loved animals, something I never could understand.

“You didn’t have animals growing up?”

“My father was allergic. How about you?”

“A stray cat here and there,” he remembered with a smile. “Except that was before …” His voice died, unsure if he was comfortable sharing his past.

“Before?”

Her blue eyes pinned him with a look that made him feel she was pulling things out of his memory he hadn’t thought about in years.

“When I was a kid.”

His comment succeeded in moving the conversation from places he wasn’t ready for it to travel. When she changed the topic, he breathed a sigh of relief and let her ramble. There was something endearing about it, but he couldn’t put his finger on why he found it so.

Maybe it was because most of the time, she didn’t share with him. They’d been as close as any two people could be, on more than one occasion. Yet, he didn’t know how she liked her coffee or if she ate breakfast.

“... Liam and Elsa?” he heard her say, when he tuned back in. But he was helpless with what she’d asked.

“What?”

“You weren’t listening to me, where you?” She slanted a side-eyed look at him. “Was I that boring?”

* * *

What are you doing? Ava scolded herself. You aren’t supposed to be flirting.

I was just being friendly.

Sounded like flirting.

The look in Finn’s eyes stopped her thoughts. There was a banked fire in them, as if he wanted nothing more than to drag her into the bushes and have his way with her. And damn if that wasn’t what ….

Stop!

She slammed the door on those thoughts because they just got her into trouble.

“Never mind,” she waved away the question. “It wasn’t any big deal. I’d better, ugh … go. Yes. I’d better go.”

Finn grabbed her hand and gave her a lopsided grin, “I’m sorry. You could never be boring.”

The warmth of her hand in his short-circuited her brain for a second, “No? You should hear me in a business meeting.”

He chuckled, “I was just enjoying watching you. You sparkled.”

“Wait a second,” she giggled. “I thought you were supposed to be from England. You sound like you kissed the Blarney Stone.”

“I only speak the truth.” His voice dropped an octave. “You’re very beautiful.”

Ava had been told she was beautiful many times, and she always blew off the comments with a witty comeback. But with Finn, she was at a loss. He wasn’t supposed to charm her out of her panties so easily.

“I—”

He laid his fingers over her lips, “Say thank you.”

“Thank you,” she forced out through a mouth that felt like cotton. “But I need—”

“—To ride the carousel with me,” he finished, leading her from the zoo, toward the playground.

The entire time she was following, she kept asking herself, Why? What was it about him that touched that spot deep inside that had lain dormant for so long?

Was it his looks? He was lean, just under six feet, with dark hair and eyes and sexy dimples in his cheeks. An amazing dresser, and very easy to look at. But it was more. There was something about him that compelled her. Like his pheromones were calling to hers, and when he was near, she wanted.

But that was not her!

Finn bought them tickets for the ride and led them along the path. “Have you decided which color carousel horse you’d like to ride?”

“I get to choose?”

He grinned, “Sure, but once it stops and it’s our turn, it’s every man for himself. If someone else gets it, well …”

“I do like the white one,” she pointed at a large steed on the edge as it passed by them. “But that black one is nice. And so is the grey one. I don’t know.”

As the merry-go-round slid to a stop, Finn cupped her elbow and held on while she stepped onto the platform, “Ava, love, take your pick.”

No, you can’t ride the carousel, Ava, Leo King snapped. There are too many germs.

Which had been her father’s excuse for everything she’d wanted to do. He’d worried she’d end up with pneumonia, just like her mother.

Ava spotted a large white horse to her left and before she could think better, took off toward it. She was an adult and didn’t want to run, but that horse was meant to be hers.

“Got it,” she laughed, reaching it just ahead of Finn.

“Let me help.”

His hands closed around her hips when she placed her foot in the stirrup. He was so close, his heat wrapped around her and she fought the desire to lean back against him.

“I’ve got it,” she told him breathlessly, pushing up and slipping her leg over. “You’d better grab your own horse or you’re going to miss out.”

“I can’t climb on with you?” he teased.

She rolled her eyes and pointed at the horse next to her, “He’s waiting for you.”

“Bossy.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” was out of her mouth before she could stop it.

You’re still flirting.

She knew that, but couldn’t make herself care.

The carousel sped up, pulling her heart-rate along with it. It was exhilarating, and as the scenery around became a blur of faces, she had the most uncontrollable urge to giggle.

She glanced at Finn, and she could almost swear he was feeling the same things. How was it she was already imagining she could read his mind?

When the ride slowed to a stop, she didn’t immediately dismount, hesitant to lose the feeling of euphoria inside.

“Ava?” Finn was waiting next to her horse, sending her a confused look. “Are you alright?”

Their eyes locked and almost against her will, she slipped off the horse and into his arms. That invisible thread pulling her toward him was tightening, and with his full bottom lip within easy reach, it would be so easy to ….

But then the laughter of a little girl burst the bubble surrounding them.

“That was fun,” she forced herself to step back, putting both physical and emotional distance between them. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

He held her hand as she stepped down off of the carousel and led her a few steps away. Ava opened her mouth to say she needed to leave, when he once again waylaid the conversation.

“You were saying you’d like a hot dog, with chili and cheese, right?” Finn led her toward the nearest vendor.

Ava’s mouth watered and, as if it had been her plan all along, she found herself sitting on a bench eating a messy hot dog.

“Do you make a habit of this?”

“What?”

He took a bite and a piece of chili lay on his lip waiting for him to lick it off. Ava found she couldn’t look away as he chewed and swallowed. His tongue peeked out and swept across his bottom lip, leaving behind a spec.

Don’t even think ….

But she was too far gone, and as soon as he’d swallowed, she wiped her thumb across his mouth.

“Chili?”

Ava held her thumb up for his inspection before sticking it in her mouth to lick off the spice. Finn’s eyes flared, and a ruddy hue appeared on his high cheekbones.

“I’m not usually such a messy eater.”

“Good thing I was here then, isn’t it?”

“A very good thing,” he agreed huskily.

She finished her hot dog and stood to toss the wrap in the trash, and yet again; he hijacked her plans.

“A carriage ride?” Ava sent him a pointed look. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

Instead of frightening her, his sexy smile sent a chill of anticipation up her spine.

“Doing what?” he dimpled. “Showing you a good time?”

She was prevented from saying anything until they were in the carriage, and on their way around the park.

“What makes you think I’m having a good time?” she tossed out, instead of directing him back to her original question.

Finn grinned, and Ava had the strangest desire to run her finger along the deep groove in his cheeks.

“I told you earlier,” he murmured softly. “You’re sparkling.”

She leaned back in the carriage and fought the grin that threatened to break free.

“It’s probably just sweat.”

* * *

“Hardly.”

Finn straightened in the seat, aligning his thigh with hers. Her quick intake of air assured him she was affected by his nearness, but she wasn’t willing to jump in with both feet.

“Do you feel like Cinderella?” He indicated the carriage they were riding in, that resembled a pumpkin.

“If you think of me as Cinderella,” she gently chided. “You need to bone up on your princesses.”

“So, not Cinderella?” He studied her closely, “Snow White?”

The carriage rolled to a stop, and he helped her down, wishing he could convince her to spend more time with him.

“I’ve always had an affinity for Rapunzel,” she admitted when they resumed walking.

“Rapunzel?” He frowned. “Which one was she?”

“The one trapped in the tower until she was rescued.”

She hesitated, and Finn held his breath, hoping she would continue.

“At least that was how I felt as a child. My father was very over-protective.”

“And were you the dutiful daughter?”

Ava laughed. “Until I was a teenager, and then I was quite the defiant daughter. But every time I screwed up, dad cleaned up the mess and tucked me back inside.”

The little bit of insight was giving him a picture of a young Ava King he’d not expected.

“Did you ever stop running away?”

She slanted a smile his direction, “It’s one reason why I’ve left the running of King Industries to others. I’m looking for that balance.”

The entire time she’d been talking, he’d followed her into her hotel and onto the elevator. He’d waited for her to tell him goodbye, but as they exited the elevator onto her hotel floor, he had hope that maybe ….

“What does balance look like?” Finn stepped into her space, forcing her to tip her chin up slightly. “Is there room in there for … us?”

Ava’s gaze dropped to his lips before bouncing back to his eyes. “You know how I …”

“No, love, I don’t,” he reminded her. “There is something there. You feel it when we’re together. It’s why we’ve made love—”

“Had s*x,” she interrupted.

“No,” he pushed a little harder. “If it were just s*x, you wouldn’t be so scared. What’s going on up here?” Finn gently brushed his fingers over her temple. “Why won’t you let me in?”

When she relaxed her face against his palm and closed her eyes, he fought the need to touch his lips to hers.

“I won’t deny there’s something between us,” she acknowledged. “But I can’t risk it. I’ve finally got the relationship I’ve always wanted with Emma. And she’s engaged to your son. I can’t risk putting both of those in jeopardy.”

“But—”

“Thank you for today. Goodnight.”

And before he could say any more, she opened the door and slipped inside the room.

Finn took a deep breath, pushed away from the wall, and began the walk home. But his thoughts kept traveling back to Ava’s comment about feeling like Rapunzel. She might have broken free of the tower that was King Industries, but the woman was still trapped. He just needed to figure out how to rescue her, and show her he was worth the risk.