An Unexpected Romance

Chapter 8

Angel

I’m relieved when the conference call finally ends. It was harder than usual to stay focused, images of Ava played in my mind, and the excitement to see her tomorrow night was causing my trousers to tighten. My god this woman is irresistible. 

After spending two weeks jam packed with business meetings in New York, I thought she wouldn’t have the same effect on me as before, but in fact I think it's worse. I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my heart rate. I have always prided myself in not being riled by anything, or anyone. I have lived through enough to fill the pages of one of those sad novels that cause even the worst Mothers to feel better about their children’s lives. However Ava is a whole other game, one that gives me the feeling that no matter how much I play, I will never understand the rules. These were the type of women who were dangerous, ones who could wiggle their way into your heart and destroy you from the inside out. Megan was a brilliant example of that, and as much as I hate to admit that her death affected me, deep down a part of me feels broken because now I can never fix the past.

Leaning back in my desk chair I check my phone to see it's past six and officially means my work day is done. As much as I would happily stay late to avoid my empty apartment, there is no point as nobody usually stays past three on a Friday. As I go to put my phone in my suit pocket, the screen lights up and text from an unknown number fills the screen. As i open it up i realise it’s Ava, and like magic my evening is improving. A photo shows the Lilies i sent her in a glass vase in her bedroom, and underneath she has simply put;

Can’t wait to see you again

Ava

Straight to the point. I love the fact that she expresses her emotions easy enough, no games or having to interpret what she really meant to say. I’ve dated women like that, the worst kind of woman who are never happy, and not worth the drama that they bring along. f**k, Saturday is too long away, I’m an impatient man and how does an impatient man get what he wants - by asking.

How about tonight then ?

I watch the screen as the message shows she has read my response. My heart rate spikes as the speech bubble pops up and then disappears again a few times. I put my phone on my desk and stand up to clear away for the weekend. What's that old saying - a watched pot never boils. I’ll pack up for the weekend and let her dwell on the decision, then when I get to my car I’ll check again.

I am pretty certain the journey from my office to my car has doubled since I arrived this morning, and as soon as I spot my grey Mercedes I speed up my steps. Sliding into the seat i pull my phone out instantly and at the sight of her response grin;

What time?

I  text her that i'll be 20 minutes before putting my car into reverse before she has a chance to argue. Shooting out the garage I only quickly checking my mirrors before pulling into the London traffic. The roads are packed with cars which is typical for a Friday night in the busiest part of the city, black cabs pull to stop in front of me and I am in such a good mood that unlike usual my road rage is at a minimum. The journey to Ava’s feels a much longer journey compared to the one we shared on the night of the ball, despite tonight's journey being shorter. At each traffic light I find myself tapping my hands against the wheel, betraying my nerves. I don’t know where I plan on taking Ava, I didn’t think this far ahead. Not often do I act on impulse but something about her makes me through all sensibility out the window. It took me by surprise on the night i took her home, I could tell she wanted me, she was like a schoolgirl with a crush, it was written all over her face and whenever she moved. I didn’t expect the kiss to go as far as it did, but like a drug I was addicted and intoxicated. All I know now is that I want more, more of Ava. I want to know everything about her, show her how I can take care of her and make love to her the way I should have on the night she lost her virginity.

Maybe it is a good thing the drive feels longer, it might give me some time to come up with some inspiration on how to show her that I want more than s*x.

As I finally pull into her street I see a figure leaning against the wall just down next to the gated entrance to Ava’s home. My headlights illuminate the figure as I get closer and I realise it is Ava. ‘What on earth is she doing out here?’ I question out loud, pulling over and getting out the car.

“Hey beautiful” I greet, walking around to open the passenger door for her.

Ava pushes off the wall when she hears my voice and walks towards me with the same swing of her hips that I remember. She looks gorgeous dressed casually in a black loose fitting dress with a white tee underneath and white sneakers. Her red hair is pulled back into a low pony showing off her gorgeous face that I'm convinced only an angel could carve, this girl is stunning.

“Good evening Mr Moretti”  she replies, her tone teasing as a coy smile fills her face,

“Save the formalities for the bedroom” I tease back adding a wink for good measure. Ava’s face flushes and she freezes where she's standing. When i finally release a laugh, her face visibly relaxes before she rolls her eyes at me

“Very funny”

I pull open the passenger door as she gets closer and she climbs in with grace that I didn't realise was possible. Once in the car I pull off, still unsure where my destination is.

“You could have waited inside, you must be freezing” I comment as she holds her small hands in front of the heater.

“It’s okay, I wasn't sure if you remembered the address, so thought waiting outside would make it easier” Ava’s tone is steady, but her expression is not too convincing. There is definitely something underlying there, I glance at her and she looks away immediately.

“Where are we going?” she says before I get the chance to question any further. I shake off the earlier worry and I turn my eyes back to the road as the lights go green. I drum my fingers against the steering wheel,

“Have you eaten?” I ask, my stomach rumbling in the process

“Not yet, I left before dinner” she answers, before looking down at her clothes “I’m not really dressed for dinner”

I glance at her giving her a once over in utter disbelief she thinks she isn't dressed well, better than i would be if i was her. Sweats and a plain tee is standard casual for me.

“You would be perfect no matter what you wear” I comment, watching her face flush again through the corner of my eye, i could spend all day making her go that way, “It’s no problem though, I know exactly where we can go”

The rest of the journey I ask Ava about her day and I tease her about the phone call earlier just so I can see her cheeks go rosy red once more.

It takes about 20 minutes to drive back through London traffic, where I have in mind is not too far from my office. Pulling into an empty space in the car park, i hop out the driver's seat and rush round opening the passenger door,

“Welcome to the best American diner this side of London” I say, putting on my best showman voice. Ava smiles in response at me but hesitates until i offer my hand 

“Trust me, the food is really good” I reassure her, helping her out of my car. Her hand stays in mine as we walk together towards the tin clad building. There is something so gentle and sweet about the way our fingers link together, almost as if we are the only two that matter. I squeeze her hand and she turns to me offering me a small smile before looking away again.

“Sweet darling’s” Ava reads the red neon sign sitting on the roof of the restaurant, pretty hard to miss.

“Yup, best place for shakes and a still functioning jukebox” I joke leading her up the ramp, 

“So you come here a lot?” Ava asks, her eyes looking back to me

“Not so much anymore, but when I first started up the company this was my office pretty much.  I would be here from the moment it opened till closing, mainly for the free wi-fi”

“I’m surprised they didn’t kick you out” she giggles,

“Luckily I know the owner so as long as I kept buying coffee and lunch he never minded” 

Pushing through the doors I’m instantly greeted by one of the waitresses, Martha,

“Angel! Long time no see!” she squeals, pulling me in for a one handed hug, her other hand holding a tray full of plates. Martha’s curly brown hair falls into my face before she pulls back. Martha is in her early 20’s and is a little bit on the bigger side, but I would be too if she got the fifty percent discount she gets here. She had a baby at 16 so has been working here since, i never got the full story but sounds like her parents kicked her out the moment she fell pregnant.

“How’s the little one?” 

“Good, little smart arse i swear” she laughs “I’ll let Matthew know that you’re here” 

She skates to the back office as I show Ava into a booth not too far from the door. Taking a seat opposite me she leans across the table,

“They’re on roller skates” She whispers loudly to me, her surprised face makes me laugh

“I forgot to mention that part, yes” I chuckle. Her face is so close, our noses almost touching. Looking down to her soft pink mouth, I remember the taste of her and desire fills me making my mouth dry. Looking back into her eyes i can see the desire reflected back

“Angel” her voice is a whisper as I lean in our lips so close.

“Moretti” Matthew interrupts making Ava flinch and pull back.

“Moretti” Matthew shouts again, I look up to his grinning face as he approaches our table. His blonde hair is buzzed cut and he has thick rim black glasses on that look almost too big for his face. In classic fashion he is wearing a black I heart NY t-shirt.

“Hey Matthew, how’s it been” I greet as he slides into the booth next to me,

“Good, good. Got a new chef in and he’s spiced up the menu” he gloats grinning ear to ear “How about you mr big shot? It’s been months since you last visited.”

“Busy busy. Rome wasn’t built in a day” I joke, looking back to Ava I smile 

“And who is your new friend Ange” Matthew asks, nudging me with his elbow

“Ava, it’s lovely to meet you” Ava says politely, a timid smile on her face

“You are gorgeous” Matthew says in reply, Ava’s face in shock as she turns to me,

“Easy tiger, she's taken alright”  I take Ava’s hand into mine on the table and give it a small squeeze, making Ava smile.

“Sorry buddy” Matt apologies giving me a wink, “it is nice to meet you too Ava, however word of advice in case you didn’t know already this guy sleep talks like a crazy person”

Ava snorts a laugh in response that equally shocks me and makes me laugh also, seeing her relax in a less pressured venue is already so nice.

“Matthew phone!” another waitress shouts from across the floor

“It was lovely chatting, but some of us are still on the clock” he winks at Ava as he slides out the booth “Later Ange”

As he walks away I pull two menus from the holder on the table, sliding one in front of Ava

“This menu is huge” her eyes wide as she scans the A3 laminated menu, I grin watching her brows furrow as she reads. After a minute she looks up at me, “Are you not going to order?”

“I already know what i’m getting” I lean across and push her menu down so i can see her whole face “The real question is what are you going to order” I smirk. She shakes her head at me smiling and pulls the menu up hiding her face again.

After a few minutes Martha comes to the table

“Are we ready to order?”

I look towards Ava, and she pops the menu down on the table nodding

“After you” I say, gesturing to Martha. Ava looks a bit sheepish as she tells her order, and I’m pleasantly surprised with how much she ordered - Large american cheeseburger and fries with a Strawberry shake. Not that I was sure what she would order, but i’m glad she didn't go with a salad and some water. A girl who can eat is hot as hell. Megan was the opposite, counting calories constantly and fasting on and off. When she started using the weight fell off her, and she hardly ate or came home for that matter. Shaking the ugly thoughts from my head, I bring myself back to the present, back to Ava.

After I order my usual Martha leaves to fetch our drinks. I take Ava’s hands into mine from across the table again, that electric feeling so comforting and familiar now easing my mood.

“Matthew seems lovely” she smiles “How did you two know each other?”

“Ah, well  a super long story but we lived with each other for about a year in a foster home back in Hampshire” I answer focusing on my hands holding hers, “He has autism and was picked on a lot, and I was a bit of an outcast, so naturally we fell together”

Talking about it makes it feel like yesterday, and to say Matt was picked on is the tamer version, the kids full on beat the crap out of him for fun. Ava squeezes my hands, and i look up at her small smile

“It’s nice that you had each other. Though i must admit i can;t imagine you as an outcast”

I chuckle,

“Well gorgeous, luckily for me the good looks came with age. However being good at school, was never cool” 

“If they could see you now, i bet they would regret their actions” 

“Probably, though a lot of my success has been luck”

“Luck?” she repeats

“Mhm. I lived on Matt’s sofa for a year, bartending and doing small PI jobs on the side. Once I saved enough I started renting, still using Matt’s restaurant as the office. I dropped the bar tending and started doing PI full time not long after” I explain rubbing my thumb in strokes across her hand. I hear a clunk and turn to see Martha as she slides the Pepsi to me and the shake to Ava,

“Food won’t be long” she adds before skating off. Pulling out hands apart, I watch Ava take a sip and her face lights up

“Good?” 

“Mhm” she grins, “Want some?”

Leaning forward I watch her as I take a sip from the striped straw. It's sweet, and nourish.. Just like Ava. Pulling back I look at her soft eyes in wonder. I can’t remember the last time somebody has cared enough to sit and listen to me ramble about my back story. But then most people never got the chance to be this close to me anymore.

“So how did some diner office PI company turn into Moretti Management?” 

“Luck, like I said. Have you heard of Jackson & Son’s ?”

“The accounting firm ?”

I nod “My friend Mark is the son of Jackson & Son’s”  I take a sip of my drink before continuing “He had been hiring me for one off jobs on his personal side. When his Dad retired, he offered to make me the official PI for the company. I eventually spanned out and here we are today”

“Wow that’s pretty impressive” she gasps

“Hm, not nearly as impressive as you are” I tease taking her hand again “You do amazing things for so many people”

She squints at me “Did you do a background check on me Mr Moretti”

“Who can say Ava Maria Sinclair, class of 2012” I wink, she laughs and lightly smacks me. We continue to laugh and chat until the food comes. I tease her when she hesitates to pick up her burger instead of using a knife and fork, which gets me another well deserved smack making me laugh even harder.  Martha comes round to clear our plates once we are done, and offers us dessert

“No thank you, I think i will explode if i eat anymore” she laughs

“Just the bill then please” I ask. Martha nods with a smile, and disappears. After paying I don’t get a chance to say bye to Matt, so make a mental note to send him a text this weekend. I’ve been really slacking recently, If I didn’t work with Mark i probably wouldn’t talk to anyone.

“Thank you for dinner” Ava smiles as we walk back to my car,

“Thank you for accompanying me. It’s quite nice having company for a change” I reply 

“Anytime Ange” she winks with a giggle as we get too my car, i grab her waist and pull her back making her squeal,

“You mean Angel gorgeous” I chuckle into her ear. Spinning her around, I walk us until her back meets the side of my car. She is breathless, her hair windswept and when our eyes meet it is like all the air has suddenly been sucked out of my lungs. My heartbeat quickens and all I can see is her, and in that moment I finally understand what men mean when they say they would slay dragons for their woman. Leaning forward I capture her lips in mine, her lips soft as I trace them gently. I probe her mouth and when her tongue finally tangles with mine I hear her audibly moan, as her hands snake up around my neck pulling me closer. We kiss as if it's the last kiss we will ever have and when I start to pull away she moans pulling me back with desperate need and desire. It is getting hard not take it any further right here as i feel myself harden and prod against her stomach, A car horn from the main road jerks us out of the sensual haze, as she flinches leaning back and dropping her hands,

“I’m sorry, I got carried away” she explains, her face red with embarrassment. I tilt her chin up to me

“Don’t be sorry, that was perfect” I reassure, kissing her once more on the lips “Come back to mine for a bit?”