This has made me open my eyes. I have tenants to keep safe, and it’s silly that I’ve never taken these measures to begin with anyway.”
“If I can be any help, just say the word.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know. I’m just sorry this has happened to you. And poor Seth. I’m sure he’s scared out of his mind for your safety.”
“And his job.”
Claire waved her hands. “He cares more about you. I’m sure of it.”
Ava crossed her arms and rubbed her forearms. Was there a real future between her and the hot officer? After making love to him last night and this morning, she felt like there was a real connection between them. They had fun, flirty, yet serious sex … if that made any sense. It was laidback yet full of needy passion. It was as though they couldn’t get close enough to one another until they were one.
“Tell me something. Have you ever been in a serious relationship?” Claire asked.
“Yeah, several. Why?”
“No, not a long-term one. A serious one. One that you were sure would last forever,” Claire clarified.
“Um…”
“I didn’t think so. I know I’m always butting in, but I really hope you give Seth a chance.”
Ava nodded.
Claire wrapped her arm around Ava’s shoulders. “I’m not your enemy. We can talk.”
“Thank you. It’s just that I’ve never had a friend to be like this with, so I’m not really sure how to open up.”
“Girl, it’s time for things to change. You need to fall in love, preferably with Seth, and you need a set of girlfriends. I love Julie, and I like you. The three of us need to head up to Jackson Hole to a bar and have some dancing fun. Once this weirdo gets caught. Sound good?”
“It does.” She wasn’t lying. It really did sound like a perfect evening. Maybe it was time to start letting her guard down and really connect with people.
“I don’t want to leave you alone, but I need to find Jace and get his thoughts.”
“I’m fine, Claire. Don’t worry. If Seth actually believes I can take care of myself, then that says something.”
Claire smiled. “You’re right about that, because he doesn’t think anyone can do that. You’re good for him. See ya. Call me if anything else happens.”
Ava waved as Claire left the cabin on a hunt to find her husband. Gazing around the untidy place, she debated on actually cleaning. Yeah, right. She was going to get dressed and then head to her shop. Whoever wanted her to leave was not going to win. She had wanted to open Bare Necessities for years. They weren’t going to keep her away.
An hour later, she stood in the middle of her shop, plotting out with boxes where the clothing racks would sit. Each box was labeled with a different item name as she tried to figure out what needed to be where. She wanted it to make sense and be easy for her customers to navigate.
She moved a few more around and then decided to get Kimberly’s opinion. Picking up her phone, she texted Kimberly out of curiosity just to see if she was around. After she set her phone down, she powered up her laptop to start ordering a few of the things she was going to need. She was determined to get this place open soon. Once it was, she would finally feel like Brookfield was home. And once she felt like that, it would be time to make it official and find a place to live and call her own.
Her phone dinged. She picked it up and unlocked the screen to read the text. She expected it to be from Kimberly, but it was John—again.
I really would love to see you and show you how sorry I am. It’s part of my twelve-step program. I’d like to apologize in person. Let me know when.
Ava stared at her phone, debating what to do. Part of her wanted to call her current wireless carrier and request a new number, but it wasn’t like he was hurting her. He wanted to talk, that was it. It made sense. If he was in rehab and following the steps, then it was only logical he would want to apologize to her for how things had been between
“If I can be any help, just say the word.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know. I’m just sorry this has happened to you. And poor Seth. I’m sure he’s scared out of his mind for your safety.”
“And his job.”
Claire waved her hands. “He cares more about you. I’m sure of it.”
Ava crossed her arms and rubbed her forearms. Was there a real future between her and the hot officer? After making love to him last night and this morning, she felt like there was a real connection between them. They had fun, flirty, yet serious sex … if that made any sense. It was laidback yet full of needy passion. It was as though they couldn’t get close enough to one another until they were one.
“Tell me something. Have you ever been in a serious relationship?” Claire asked.
“Yeah, several. Why?”
“No, not a long-term one. A serious one. One that you were sure would last forever,” Claire clarified.
“Um…”
“I didn’t think so. I know I’m always butting in, but I really hope you give Seth a chance.”
Ava nodded.
Claire wrapped her arm around Ava’s shoulders. “I’m not your enemy. We can talk.”
“Thank you. It’s just that I’ve never had a friend to be like this with, so I’m not really sure how to open up.”
“Girl, it’s time for things to change. You need to fall in love, preferably with Seth, and you need a set of girlfriends. I love Julie, and I like you. The three of us need to head up to Jackson Hole to a bar and have some dancing fun. Once this weirdo gets caught. Sound good?”
“It does.” She wasn’t lying. It really did sound like a perfect evening. Maybe it was time to start letting her guard down and really connect with people.
“I don’t want to leave you alone, but I need to find Jace and get his thoughts.”
“I’m fine, Claire. Don’t worry. If Seth actually believes I can take care of myself, then that says something.”
Claire smiled. “You’re right about that, because he doesn’t think anyone can do that. You’re good for him. See ya. Call me if anything else happens.”
Ava waved as Claire left the cabin on a hunt to find her husband. Gazing around the untidy place, she debated on actually cleaning. Yeah, right. She was going to get dressed and then head to her shop. Whoever wanted her to leave was not going to win. She had wanted to open Bare Necessities for years. They weren’t going to keep her away.
An hour later, she stood in the middle of her shop, plotting out with boxes where the clothing racks would sit. Each box was labeled with a different item name as she tried to figure out what needed to be where. She wanted it to make sense and be easy for her customers to navigate.
She moved a few more around and then decided to get Kimberly’s opinion. Picking up her phone, she texted Kimberly out of curiosity just to see if she was around. After she set her phone down, she powered up her laptop to start ordering a few of the things she was going to need. She was determined to get this place open soon. Once it was, she would finally feel like Brookfield was home. And once she felt like that, it would be time to make it official and find a place to live and call her own.
Her phone dinged. She picked it up and unlocked the screen to read the text. She expected it to be from Kimberly, but it was John—again.
I really would love to see you and show you how sorry I am. It’s part of my twelve-step program. I’d like to apologize in person. Let me know when.
Ava stared at her phone, debating what to do. Part of her wanted to call her current wireless carrier and request a new number, but it wasn’t like he was hurting her. He wanted to talk, that was it. It made sense. If he was in rehab and following the steps, then it was only logical he would want to apologize to her for how things had been between
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