Dax Read online

  “I’m not surprised.” Ava moved to step around her, but Wanda moved with her. Ava widened her eyes and sent the older woman a silent demand to move.

  “I can watch Olivia.” There was the “more” Ava had been expecting. Wanda wanted her to go get Dax and she’d babysit her daughter. Ava had a list of other things she’d chosen not to do and watching Dax try to get a piece of ass fit right into that list.

  “So can I.”

  “I mean, while you go talk to Dax.”

  “I know what you meant. And I’m not going to talk to Dax. What do you want me to be? The third wheel? His wing man? His next conquest?” She pressed her lips together, appalled at her unfiltered stream of anger. Through her nostrils, she inhaled deeply in an attempt to gather control over herself. “I’m sorry, Wanda. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  She wanted to snap at Dax. Yell at him, in fact. She wanted to demand to know why his priorities were so out of whack he couldn’t even deliver a damn suit. She wanted to know why he couldn’t deal with the one thing he’d promised to do while she’d stepped up to do everything else—the planning, the food…everything!

  Wanda trapped Ava in a hug. She didn’t mind the woman’s consoling embrace or her soft tone. For days it had been Ava consoling her daughter, and whispering encouraging words in her ear. Now, being on the opposite end of the spectrum, felt nice.

  “Don’t you worry about it.” The old woman ran her hand down Ava’s hair. “I know how those Colyn men can be.” She pulled away and grasped Ava’s shoulders with a stricter look on her face, similar to one Ava might give her students. “I also know those two men were each other’s worlds and right now Dax just lost his. I’m not asking you to go there and pimp yourself out…”

  Ava’s lips curled upwards at the older lady’s term.

  “…I’m asking you to go be Dax’s friend. Whether you do it for Dax or for Rowdy makes no difference to me. I don’t need clarification, but Dax drowning his father’s death in a bottle the night before his dad’s funeral is a recipe for disaster. Nobody wants a hung-over Dax at the funeral home, and I don’t want him to regret what a mistake missing his last goodbye would be.”

  Ava bit her bottom lip. The older lady sure knew how to lay it on thick.

  “Besides, with Dax staying away from the shop, Stone says he needs to go sort out some stuff, but he’s afraid to leave that boy alone. I’m not sure I want him to leave Dax alone. I don’t know what kind of state he’s in.”

  Ava took a deep breath, realizing how right Wanda was, and huffed it out loudly. “Alright, I’ll go and check on Dax.”

  “Thank you.” Wanda kissed her cheek and patted her back. “I’ll watch Olivia.”

  “Even when I’m not at work, I’m babysitting foolish, immature boys.”

  Wanda laughed. “Boys never grow up, honey. They just learn how to mask their immaturity with their charm.”

  Lord knew Dax had charm. “I’m probably going to have to drag his drunken, stumbling ass home.”

  “I’ll tell you what, sweetie. Since it’s already getting late, I’ll sleep in the guest room and you take all the time you need.”

  Ava eyed her suspiciously. That sure sounded like her ultimate plan included pimping Ava out to Dax. “That’s not necessary. I won’t be long.”

  “I guess that depends on Dax’s state when you get there.”

  Ava sighed. Partially because she didn’t want to argue about staying or going, being quick or taking too long—mostly because she feared Dax’s condition and facing him for the first time since the hospital.

  “I won’t be long.” Ava climbed back into her car, thankful for the cold air hitting her face as she drove toward Willow Valley’s Main Street. Any ordinary day she would enjoy the fall coloured mums spilling out of the planters or the filled up streets making it almost impossible to find parking which meant the local businesses were thriving on this beautiful evening. She’d also normally enjoy walking down the street and listening as tourists ordered ice cream or bought silly Willow Valley souvenirs.

  But today, she cringed at the lack of parking and took quick strides down the boardwalk, keeping her head low to avoid any possible contact with the locals. If they caught her, she’d be forced to endure their sympathetic overtures for Rowdy’s passing. A mass of the community now mourned for their beloved fire chief. But tomorrow would bring enough sorrow. Today, she simply wanted to go home to her daughter and Dax’s immaturity was making that damn near impossible. What did he want from her? Did he need her to run him a hot bath and shave his jaw line so he didn’t show up at the funeral home looking, and probably smelling, like a hobo?

  Stopping at the corner of Bucky’s Bar, Ava breathed deeper to calm her rapid heart rate, hoping to control her anger.

  Before walking under the festively carved tiki-adorned archway, she scanned the courtyard beyond the painted turquoise and pink fence erected to keep the alcohol off the sidewalks. No signs of Dax. He must be inside.

  Swallowing down her gut instinct to turn around and say she’d tried, she prepared herself for what she might find beyond the door.

  Inside, she blinked, her eyes adjusting to the darkened room. There were less people inside and a few tables sat empty. Searching the young, loud crowd of tourists, she spotted Dax sitting at the bar. Stone sat on one side of him and a blonde hung off his other side. Hawk sat preoccupied with another blonde next to her. The sight of Dax wasting his hours in this bar with some strange woman, rather than mourning his father, made Ava’s blood boil.

  Dax didn’t need her. He didn’t need Stone. The man only thought about one thing and he was clearly on his way to getting his nightly fix.

  With their backs to her, she decided she had no reason to stay. But then Stone glanced over his shoulder as if looking for her. Being in a bar wasn’t her thing, but she couldn’t turn away when she saw the relief playing in Stone’s grey eyes.

  The corner of his lips curled upwards, a mixture of apology and relief. He owed her big, although she doubted she’d ever hold him to it. She took slow strides toward them, drawing courage from each step.

  Stone looked ready to speak but then Dax turned and caught sight of her. “Ava!” His booming voice made her jump. The woman beside him sent a nasty look in Ava’s direction as Dax pulled his arm free from her clutching grip.

  “Buck!” He twisted on the stool, and Ava wished she could hide as all eyes fell on them. “Ava’s here!” He hitched his hand at the owner, a tall skinny man who wore his long, grey hair in a low ponytail. Dax then pointed in Ava’s direction.

  Buck scanned the room, his beady eyes searching her out above a pair of round, hippie-style glasses.

  Drying a glass with a thick white terrycloth towel, he walked the length of the bar, before sending Ava a friendly nod. His relieved look was similar to Stone’s. She wasn’t exactly sure what everyone expected of her. It wasn’t like she had any control over Dax. No one did. Not even the blonde he’d dismissed and who’d quickly moved her attention to elsewhere. Dax hadn’t noticed.

  “Pour Ava a drink. What are you drinking, Ava?” When she reached the bar, ready to decline a beverage, Dax’s arm slipped around her waist and hauled her up onto the step where the stools were mounted.

  She scolded herself as the sudden contact ignited a sizzling heat inside her. What was she thinking? He’d just been about to take another woman to bed.

  Wedged between the two men, with little space, she was grateful when Stone moved over a seat. She wiggled out of Dax’s grip and sat down. “Thank you.”

  Stone smiled at her. “Be grateful he’s a happy drunk.”

  She rolled her eyes. “How long has he been drinking?”

  “All day.” Buck stopped in front of her and flipped a glass. “What’s your poison?”

  “Thanks, Buck, but I didn’t come here to drink.”

  “I figured.” He winked at her. “Maybe you could get some food into him. He’s long since been cut off the booze and hasn�
��t eaten a bite. I’ll grab you a coffee.”

  Dax grunted as Buck walked away. “He thinks he cut me off.” The strong smell of alcohol wafted toward her.

  Stone leaned on the counter, closing the distance between them. “He’s been bribing the young tourists with free work at the shop in exchange for their drinks.”

  Ava groaned.

  Stone nodded. “Yeah. He’s lined up a shit load of new paint jobs. The faster you get him out of here, the less work I have come Monday morning.” Stone didn’t sound as angry as others in his position might have been.

  Ava swivelled on the stool to face Dax who sat sideways, one elbow on the bar and his other hand tapping his fingers on his leg. His intense stare gave her goose bumps. The sides of his lips rose only a touch, as his eyes narrowed in on her. “We’ve never been to Buck’s together before.”

  She wouldn’t exactly entitle this encounter as them being “together.”

  “We should eat.” He stood abruptly. His hasty movements affected his balance and, without thinking, Ava reached for him. Being over double her size, he ended up pulling her from the stool.

  A startled screech escaped her as both of them zoomed toward the floor. Luckily, before they landed, Stone righted her to her feet and steadied Dax, all in the same quick movement. The maneuver landed Ava’s body smack dab against Dax’s.

  Blinking up at him, she watched his body react to the closeness. He flinched and she saw a moment of soberness in his eyes, then of fear and want mixed together.

  Dax stepped away first and Ava wondered just how drunk he really was. “We’re going to a booth for some food.” His strong hand patted Stone’s chest in what looked incredibly painful, but neither man flinched. “You coming?”

  Stone shook his head. “Why don’t we get you back to your place and you can order in some food?”

  Dax grunted at the suggestion, pushing off Stone. “We’re eating here.” He turned and made a bee-line toward an empty booth.

  Stone turned to her. “I have to head over to the shop. The guys need some instructional guidance. Without Dax and Rowdy, we’re short men and I have guys staying late just to stay on track. Are you okay with him? If you give me an hour—keep him here until then—I can come back and take over.”

  Ava glanced around Stone to look at Dax. He had his head stuck in a menu. Again, she suspected he wasn’t as drunk as he’d fooled everyone into believing. Suddenly, she was unsure which would be easier to deal with: drunk Dax or fake drunk Dax. Likely option number one. But she didn’t even want to touch on why Dax felt the need to sit in a bar and pretend to be hammered. She’d play along with him…for now.

  She looked back at Stone. “He seemed to be doing fine before I got here.” Her gaze wandered to the blonde who still eyed her, then back to Dax.

  Stone followed her stare. “He wasn’t interested.”

  “Right.”

  “I wouldn’t have called you if he was.” He touched her arm. “I would never put you in that situation. He doesn’t need her…” He paused as if at a lack of words. “…he needs family.”

  Family, right, that’s what she was.

  “I’m sure Hawk has other plans for him.”

  A cold look stole across Stone’s face and he glanced over his shoulder at Hawk. “He’s been warned,” he said, then looked back at Ava. “You won’t have any problems with him tonight.”

  Ava smiled weakly and gave him a small shrug. “Fine. We’re okay. Head to the shop and get lost in work. We’re a short walk from his condo. If I have any problems, I’ll call you.”

  His shoulders relaxed. “Thanks, Ava. Sorry to drop him on you like this. I didn’t know who else to call.” Stone gently rubbed her shoulder, murmuring one last “thanks” before taking off and leaving her with a broken Dax.

  Her eyes moved back to him, sitting alone at the booth staring into the distance at nothing at all. She suspected he was seeing a whole lot of something. Her heart painfully tightened for him. In that moment, she realized he felt as alone as she did.

  She sat down across from him, and noted he’d managed to get his hands on another beer. She eyed it, and him, giving her his disapproval which he shrugged off by purposely taking a long swig of his drink. Once again, she was reminded of her rebellious students.

  “You were supposed to drop Rowdy’s suit off—”

  Dax’s hand swiftly reached across the table and covered her mouth. She jumped, startled, but not nearly as startled as when she found his hard eyes burning holes into her. He looked stone-cold sober and his pain pierced her heart.

  “No mention of him today.” She wished it were that easy. “There will be enough tomorrow and tomorrow I’ll grieve, I promise. Can we have one evening like it used to be? After tomorrow nothing will be the same.”

  His words coincided with her inner feelings, understanding his desire to erase the last few days and pretend none of it had happened.

  When she finally nodded, he retracted his hand.

  Without permission, her fingers grazed the warmth his touch had left on her lips.

  He grinned at her. “If it were any normal day, you wouldn’t be sitting here with me.” The way he said it sounded like an insult to her social life, or lack thereof. Who was he to judge her? He had too much of a social life.

  He sipped his beer, his eyes never leaving her, as if he were issuing her a dare. A dare to what, she didn’t know, but when he set his beer on the table, Ava reached over and brought the bottle to her mouth. He’d supposedly drank enough, anyway.

  She tipped the bottle back, her eyes never leaving his, and let the cooling liquid travel down her dry throat. She finished the remaining liquid and set the empty bottle between them.

  His impressed grin proved he’d fallen to the teenager level of who could out-drink whom. He had no idea that she could, in fact, drink him under the table. Or at the very least, keep up with him. It might have been years since she’d drank enough to feel a buzz, let alone get full on drunk, but at one time alcohol had been part of her daily routine. Her past wasn’t a discussion she wanted to indulge in tonight, though, so she decided to counter his insult.

  “And you’d be sitting over there, with them.” She nodded at Hawk who had moved to the dance floor with two blonde floozies.

  Dax’s eyes followed and lingered on them long enough to make Ava wonder if he’d join them. But he turned back to her, his eyes looking darker under the dim light fixture hanging above their table. “Because I was scared.”

  Scared? Dax? She doubted that very much.

  “Is that what this drunken display is about? Fear?”

  He said nothing and she didn’t pursue.

  Buck stopped at their table setting two steaming plates of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and string beans in front of them.

  Ava leaned back. “I’m okay.”

  Buck touched her shoulder. “Eat what you can.” He turned to Dax. “You finish the whole damn plate, boy.” He winked at Ava before leaving and returning with two steaming mugs of strong black coffee and then also leaving them a full pot.

  “He acts like an old mother hen,” Dax grumbled, but obeyed, digging into his food.

  Ava mindlessly chewed on a few string beans and tested a spoonful of potatoes, but she couldn’t touch the meatloaf. Silence spanned and it seemed the more food and coffee Dax consumed, the quieter he settled into his mind. Ava didn’t usually mind silence, but today her thoughts only drifted to her—their—loss. When she glanced up at Dax, the hard lines across his face told her he had a similar train of thought.

  He dropped his fork on the plate with a loud clatter. “I’ve had enough of this for tonight. I’m going home.” He began to stand, and Ava caught his hand.

  “Wait.”

  Wait? For what?

  Leaving would give her the opportunity to go home and spend time with Olivia. She glanced at the clock on the wall to confirm the late hour. Her daughter was likely sleeping. And Wanda hadn’t phoned or messaged her so all wa
s good at the house.

  She looked back up at Dax, his jaw tight and ticking, impatiently waiting. “Darts?” Her high-pitched voice sounded like a lovesick teenager who would do anything to keep her man crush around.

  Was that what this was? Would this moment be her only opportunity to be with him? If she walked out the door, and they went their separate ways, she’d never get to experience what her body desired: him.

  Or did she just not want to be alone? Maybe it was a mix of both. Maybe it was neither, but the empty house awaiting her drove her to offer up the game.

  She’d already contemplated leaving town and the memories she’d built here. There were new small towns where she and Olivia could start over.

  That’s what she did: ran when things got difficult. But she wouldn’t run without spending a night with Dax, whether it be only a game of darts or more, she wasn’t leaving until she found out.

  From the way his guarded stare watched her, she couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. “You play darts?” he asked.

  “I’ve played darts.”

  “You any good?”

  She rose from her chair, letting his hand go and stepping away from the table. “I guess you’ll have to play a round to find out.”

  Was that flirting?! From her? How long had it been? But, oh, how good it felt.

  His lips curled upwards as he straightened his shoulders. For the first time that night, she saw his real smile. “Lead the way, sweetheart.”

  “First, I need a shot.” Or two. Any amount of liquid courage would help her step out of the box she’d learned to shelter herself in.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ~

  “YOU SUCK AT darts.”

  Ava gasped and Dax couldn’t keep his smile at bay. She really did suck at darts.

  “You stand wrong, your throw is off, and your aim is awful.”

  Her beautiful blue eyes widened, spreading more blue hues through them. “Don’t hold back.”

  “I’m telling it like I see it.”

  She placed her hands on her curvy hips, inching up her shirt and revealing a band of skin just above the waistline of her skirt. Her glare hardly looked serious. “I don’t really think you’re that much better. I’d say we’re even in wins.”