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"But you’ve never slept with aher head to her desk, Ava shook her head "No, I haven’t God, that was so long ago It seems pathetic that I’ve kept myself in some self-imposed prison since then I mean, I know everyone understood it for a while, but after a few years, I could see the pity in their eyes They were starting to worry aboutif I would ever be the same Both Brant and Declan tried to talk to me, but it was so damn aard for all of us that eventually we avoided the subject It’s why I created this big bullshit illusion that I was nor that I was stillsorry for s were better I hs of relief

"When Mac came back from the military and opened his co it A fake guy every now and again kept hi too close I was too th, but I had our friendship No pressure, nothing messy to deal with But he was in my life in some way" Ava had told Eeuys who came over every few months, so the other woman kneell how far she had taken her efforts to appear normal to her friends and family

"Ava, I believe you’ve pretty much answered your own question After all this time, you suddenly have a man in your bed You’ve actually let so it Yourto keep up with all these new develop so that you finally realized that you needed to do so step has been a little harder than even you’ve realized" Giving Ava a beah You went after what you wanted and you’re living again Shit, you’re as different as night and day from when I first met you"

Curious, Ava asked, "I a her eyes, Emma said, "Honey, you were always one of tays Either really tense or really depressed There didn’t seeured that like your brother, you were probably eating antacids by the handful Even when you were being all bitchy or condescending, I still wanted to give you a hug Underneath the whole tough exterior, you seemed so sad I think your brothers, bless their hearts, knew soht, but in typical male fashion, they just didn’t knohat to do about it Now, even after atte You look happy"

Ava was deeply touched by E heart-to-heart talks with anyone, and she had to adood Maybe if she had had a sister to turn to after her attack, it would have helped her recovery E about your feelings to a guy just didn’t happen, or at least it hadn’t happened for her with her brothers She’d caught both Declan and Brant looking at her thoughtfully on ave voice to their thoughts Having their sister break down in front of theht up there as one of their worst fears She couldn’t really fault theh She knew that they loved her and would be there in a rown into outstandingback theFor listening toup with my moods every day Nowith you and having you in the farin, Emma said, "Yeah, I know You Stones can’t resistto do with ain"

Chapter Eighteen

When Mac called her just as she was leaving the office, she had been both surprised and delighted by his invitation out to dinner for that evening He had been at a client site, so their conversation had been brief He was picking her up at seven and taking her to Ivy, one of her favorite restaurants

As she stood in her closet, surveying the clothing hanging there, she turned her nose up in disgust until it hit her The clothes that she had purchased with the girls at the irlish squeal of happiness, she tore through her apartht to the sexy black cocktail dress that E It was deceptively sin, which only added to its appeal The slinky ainst her skin, and the strapless bra that she earing pushed the creaht neckline of the dress She loved the wraparound shoulder straps that flowed so easily into the back of the dress The forn was classy, but definitely sexy She paired it with a pair of black Christian Louboutin peep-toe, heeled sandals that she had bought years ago in a moment of feminine weakness but had yet to wear

When she looked at herself in the mirror, she screa to wear, she had cootten that she had just stepped from the shower She only had ten minutes until Mac arrived, and she knew that he wouldn’t be late She ran to the bathroom and dried her hair as quickly as possible She had no ti down her back in a wild array of waves Hopefully, Mac would think the carefree look was intentional Next, she applied a light basewith blusher and eyeliner She had just added a coat of gloss to her lips when her doorbell sounded Yep, right on time

She teetered for a ht herself and continue on to the door God, she hoped she didn’t land on her face tonight in the restaurant Maybe flats would have been a better option, but these looked so good with the dress She’d just walk slowly to coht?

When she opened the door, both she and Mac gawked at each other He stood before her looking good enough to eat in a gray suit with a purple silk tie "Oh, ," she gasped as her fingers itched to run across the fabric covering his broad shoulders "You look soawesoht of the scratches stillhis otherwise perfect face