feet behind him, wringing her hands.
“Auntie Avie!” Eric hugged her enthusiastically then pulled away, putting his arm around the waist of his girlfriend . “This is Marie.”
Ava’s gaze traveled over the fleshy young woman whose high cheekbones, sulky mouth, and pert nose reflected an innocence that didn’t quite reach her brown eyes. Marie had been around the block and had probably parked a few cars. There was a hardness about her lips that Ava summed up quickly as belonging to a woman who had seen difficult times. Her freckled features were touched with a light sprinkling of cosmetics, which complemented her reddish-brown hair. To her credit, she wore a conservative dress that draped her form tastefully.
A second glance brought a sudden realization. Eric had chosen a woman who mirrored Raven in size and—if the eyes told it correctly—pain. He had been in over his head the moment he had laid eyes on this one. And there wasn’t much Ava could do, since his heart and hormones were involved.
Eric reached for Marie’s hand and they stood side by side.
She swallowed and met Ava’s eyes, not in a challenging way, but in a way that showed she was nervous but would not let anyone cower her where Eric was concerned.
Then Ava saw it. The moment Eric smiled down at Marie, the younger woman softened. Marie’s eyes communicated the way she felt about him as surely as the window of Heaven could pour down sunshine or rain. At that moment, the sun appeared from behind the clouds, shining through the glass doors behind them as though giving Ava some direction. Two youngsters in love, looking at each other in very much the same way as she and Carlton had when they first took the plunge. What could she say to condemn that? Absolutely nothing.
Raven wouldn’t be happy to find out that Eric was seriously dating—and possibly contemplating having sex. Oh Lord, I’m getting too old for this! Thank God she had plenty of time before her own children reached that phase. But Eric was like a son to her. Her relationship with Eric was so close, she could only be grateful that Raven wasn’t the jealous mother type. Eric appreciated the fact that Ava supported him in areas that Raven did not. And sometimes that could be a tight rope to walk.
Eric looked up at Ava, eyes sparkling with a bit of fear and anxiety, awaiting some positive sign. She couldn’t do otherwise. “Marie,” Ava said, extending her hand, lifting the corners of her mouth upward in what could pass for a smile. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
Marie’s mouth twitched a little as she looked up at Eric for reassurance before taking Ava’s hand.
Eric stared at Ava for a moment, watching the emotions play about her face.
Ava let out a long breath. Saying anything to dissuade him would only push him into this young woman’s arms and into her bed just to prove a point. At least they were taking it slow—or so he said. She knew many men who started the relationship that way, but who would also do a pole vault to get some nookie at the first come-hither.
A sudden commotion behind them made the trio turn.
Simeon stormed into the lobby from the elevators, two beefy bodyguards in tow, zeroed in on them, and continued his angry stride until he stood in front of Ava, Eric, and Marie. He wore a powder-blue and white striped Simeon Cahill signature sweat suit. His dark skin, well-groomed short hair, flashing black eyes, and curved lips were a combination most women considered handsome. Ava would never be counted in that group. Attitude and arrogance were a deal-breaker in her book.
“What happened to the damn meeting?” he asked Eric, then turned to Ava. “And who the hell are you?”
“Good afternoon to you too, whoever you might be,” she replied calmly as she released Marie’s hand, but didn’t offer it to the newcomer. “Ava Davidson. I’m Raven Armand’s lawyer, and his,” she nodded in Eric’s direction.
Simeon glowered angrily at her. “Simeon
“Auntie Avie!” Eric hugged her enthusiastically then pulled away, putting his arm around the waist of his girlfriend . “This is Marie.”
Ava’s gaze traveled over the fleshy young woman whose high cheekbones, sulky mouth, and pert nose reflected an innocence that didn’t quite reach her brown eyes. Marie had been around the block and had probably parked a few cars. There was a hardness about her lips that Ava summed up quickly as belonging to a woman who had seen difficult times. Her freckled features were touched with a light sprinkling of cosmetics, which complemented her reddish-brown hair. To her credit, she wore a conservative dress that draped her form tastefully.
A second glance brought a sudden realization. Eric had chosen a woman who mirrored Raven in size and—if the eyes told it correctly—pain. He had been in over his head the moment he had laid eyes on this one. And there wasn’t much Ava could do, since his heart and hormones were involved.
Eric reached for Marie’s hand and they stood side by side.
She swallowed and met Ava’s eyes, not in a challenging way, but in a way that showed she was nervous but would not let anyone cower her where Eric was concerned.
Then Ava saw it. The moment Eric smiled down at Marie, the younger woman softened. Marie’s eyes communicated the way she felt about him as surely as the window of Heaven could pour down sunshine or rain. At that moment, the sun appeared from behind the clouds, shining through the glass doors behind them as though giving Ava some direction. Two youngsters in love, looking at each other in very much the same way as she and Carlton had when they first took the plunge. What could she say to condemn that? Absolutely nothing.
Raven wouldn’t be happy to find out that Eric was seriously dating—and possibly contemplating having sex. Oh Lord, I’m getting too old for this! Thank God she had plenty of time before her own children reached that phase. But Eric was like a son to her. Her relationship with Eric was so close, she could only be grateful that Raven wasn’t the jealous mother type. Eric appreciated the fact that Ava supported him in areas that Raven did not. And sometimes that could be a tight rope to walk.
Eric looked up at Ava, eyes sparkling with a bit of fear and anxiety, awaiting some positive sign. She couldn’t do otherwise. “Marie,” Ava said, extending her hand, lifting the corners of her mouth upward in what could pass for a smile. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
Marie’s mouth twitched a little as she looked up at Eric for reassurance before taking Ava’s hand.
Eric stared at Ava for a moment, watching the emotions play about her face.
Ava let out a long breath. Saying anything to dissuade him would only push him into this young woman’s arms and into her bed just to prove a point. At least they were taking it slow—or so he said. She knew many men who started the relationship that way, but who would also do a pole vault to get some nookie at the first come-hither.
A sudden commotion behind them made the trio turn.
Simeon stormed into the lobby from the elevators, two beefy bodyguards in tow, zeroed in on them, and continued his angry stride until he stood in front of Ava, Eric, and Marie. He wore a powder-blue and white striped Simeon Cahill signature sweat suit. His dark skin, well-groomed short hair, flashing black eyes, and curved lips were a combination most women considered handsome. Ava would never be counted in that group. Attitude and arrogance were a deal-breaker in her book.
“What happened to the damn meeting?” he asked Eric, then turned to Ava. “And who the hell are you?”
“Good afternoon to you too, whoever you might be,” she replied calmly as she released Marie’s hand, but didn’t offer it to the newcomer. “Ava Davidson. I’m Raven Armand’s lawyer, and his,” she nodded in Eric’s direction.
Simeon glowered angrily at her. “Simeon
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