was doing everything to win her back. He definitely didn’t deserve her, though. She was way too good for him.
In the spate of twenty-four hours, Ava had become more than a prize. She’d become something almost unattainable, only because I, too, didn’t deserve her. At least, that was what my jaded spirit told me.
My mission had become infected by emotion, in that I couldn’t get Ava out of my head or body.
My fingers tingled at the thought of those curves.
I still salivated at how she’d tasted, and I’d been walking around with a hard-on all week just thinking of her.
No woman had ever possessed me that way before.
It wasn’t just her considerable physical beauty but everything about her that I craved.
Each time I looked at her, I lost myself in her beauty. My eyes were addicted. And whenever she spoke, I could have kept listening all night. Not only did I like the things that exited that smart mouth but also the caressing tone of her voice.
I decided not to call Ava.
It wasn’t from a lack of desire, because I’d begun to tap on her number many times. Then the thought of using Ava for my own twisted ends stopped me from calling her. But over and above everything, it was that Ava thought I was a criminal.
I had to clear my name first.
Ava had to see me for who I really was and not some convicted drug dealer.
I walked into a bar close to my childhood home, where my uncle waited for me, sitting at the bar.
“Hey, James. Sorry I’m late,” I said, pulling up a stool.
“Beer?” he asked.
“Yeah. Sure.”
Picking up the bottle the barman had set down, I took a thirsty gulp. Wiping my lips, I said, “That feels better. Okay, then, let’s get down to business.”
“Before that”—he squared his shoulders—“I need to tell you something.”
Taking a sip of beer, I looked up at him.
“Something happened after you left the party the other night. I’m still trying to get over it.” He gulped down his bourbon. “It’s really rocked me. Although it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.”
“What’s that?”
“I found Justin all over Candy.”
I stared down at my hands for a moment. “Have you spoken to Candy about it?”
“She insists Justin came on to her.”
“That’s plausible. It wouldn’t be the first time that Justin’s forced himself on a woman.”
“Are you serious?” My uncle studied me for a moment. “I know that you’ve got issues with him.”
“I’m serious, all right.” I pulled a mock smile. “As you already know, I’m convinced Justin stashed the coke in my backpack. I had him followed and obtained some snaps of him powdering his nose while cozying up with Candy. She looked pretty happy.”
My uncle stared blankly at me.
“Look, um, I’m sorry. I should’ve said something.”
He patted my arm. “Don’t worry about it. I’m the stupid one. I should have known marrying an ex-stripper wouldn’t turn out nice.”
The question on my lips never made it out, even though I was dying to ask it.
James smiled grimly. “Why did I? I hear you ask.”
I nodded slowly.
“I suppose, like most middle-aged men frightened of that downward slope, I needed something to make me feel young. But to be honest” —he sipped his beer solemnly— “It was one big fucking mistake. And now it will cost me for sure.”
“You’re divorcing her?”
“You bet. I don’t know where’s she’s been. I’ve even asked her to get a blood test.”
“Ah… That’s not good. That’s one thing a marriage should offer, loyalty and condom-free sex.”
He sniffed. “That’s right. Anyway, I wanted to share that with you, because I know about your struggles with Justin. And to be honest, I’m pretty fucking pissed off with him.”
“That’s understandable,” I replied.
“He’s the dirty one in this game. Candy was always going to slink off with someone younger. That was predictable. But Justin’s part in this just makes me sick. I’ve told your mom that I don’t want anything to do with him. Marcus has gone off him, too. And they were pretty thick, as you know.”
I nodded sympathetically. At least I had my uncle on my side.
He gulped down his drink and beckoned to the bartender for another. “All right, to business. Show me what you’ve got.”
I took a folder from my backpack and placed it on the bar. “That’s a quick drawing of the village. And over the page, you’ll see the individual designs. I’ve created seven prototypes.”
James spent a few moments flipping from one page to another. I sat nervously by.