AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That had scarred Ava badly to know that her mother had survived the crash, but a faulty seatbelt had prevented her from freeing herself. The man who hit her was charged with vehicular manslaughter and got the maximum sentence. But it caused Ava to be fearful of using her seatbelt.
Xander had been scowling at her until she finished then his face softened.
“Sweetheart, that was a fluke. You have to wear your seatbelt. You could have been killed.” His words hung in the air. They both knew what he was referring to.
Without another word he reached around her, grasped her seatbelt and buckled it. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. Then he carefully pulled back onto the highway. Minutes went by before she spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
“Ava, if anything happened to you I would lose my mind.”
“I know. I promise to wear it next time.”
In his bed that night with Ava firmly wrapped in his arms, he thought about what life would be like without her. He had faced it before, but she was alive. If she died, he had no idea what he would do. He did know that he wouldn’t want to live without her. Life would be meaningless.
The next day Ava went to Xander’s office with the research she had just finished. She had some questions for him. He was sitting at his desk with his shirt sleeves rolled and his tie loosened. She stood in the doorway watching him as he worked. He was unaware of her presence until she cleared her throat. He looked up and smiled at her.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Just long enough to know that I don’t need a big wedding to marry you.”
“Close the door.”
She quickly shut it and went to him. He met her in the middle of the room.
“Ava, you want the big wedding. I know you do. Why the sudden change of heart?”
“I just want to be your wife. We don’t need all the hassle of going through all the preparations a large wedding brings. I should have married you in Vegas.”
“I would have loved that, but I want to give you everything you deserve. Are you worried because we have to tell our families we’re engaged?”
“It’s not that. It’s been so long, and I just want it to come full circle already.”
“I would love to say yes, but I want you to have the experience of a day that is solely yours or else I would have put up a bigger fight in Vegas. I don’t want to rob that from you.”
He hugged her, and they went to the couch to go over the notes she had about the research. He kissed her cheek, and he breathed in the scent of her. He couldn’t resist and began kissing her neck. Ava felt that familiar heated flush go over her body; he was arousing her.
“Stop it,” she whispered.
“You don’t want me to kiss you?”
“You’re having an effect on me.”
He crooked his eyebrow, “I am? What kind of effect.”
She pushed him away, “You know exactly what effect. We didn’t make love last night, and I want you.”
“Oh. We could have a quickie here if you like.”
“Absolutely not. Jacob is in his office, and I’m not sure I can keep my mouth shut. We can wait until we get home tonight.”
“You’re no fun.”
“I am lots of fun. You have told me that many times. Now if you could please go over the notes I have, I’ll get back to work.”
“All business, huh? I like that very much.”
Ava had stopped by his office before she left for the evening. She had worked later than usual, and most of the employees had gone home, including Jacob. Xander was working at his desk, and she closed the door, making him look up. He watched her, tipping back in his chair as she disrobed. She unbuttoned her blouse and let it slip off her arms to the floor, then her skirt. She slipped out of her shoes and unclasped her bra.
