“Jesus, just tell them you have them boxed in based on Lemmond versus Hewstan.” I guess I had been listening well enough to his call after all. The subject matter had brought to mind, in that photographic way I have, a particularly relevant case.
After a beat, Senior tells the gaggle of lawyers on his call that he’s going to investigate the case I mentioned and get back to them.
Finally, it’s just the two of us.
“You don’t have to research it,” I tell him. “I can recite it for you right now.”
Leaning back into his chair, he raises his arms and puts his hands behind his head. “No, I’ll have one of the associates pull it up for me.”
“Well, you’re welcome in any case.”
I can’t help the snark. This is the first time I’ve seen him in almost a year. The first time I’ve spoken to him since I overheard him plotting ways to marginalize both me and my grandfather. As much peace as I’ve found by being away, I’m just now understanding that I’ve only buried all my anger at him, not let it go. It’s a toxic mix of my latent abandonment issues, disappointment in myself for stooping to his level, and the deep, seething frustration that’s come from finally accepting that he has no desire for a real relationship with me. It was all only ever a transactional one for him. It was about what I could do for him. How I could make him look like a good father who supported my ambitions. He wasn’t up to the task of being a father twenty-seven years ago when I was born, he wasn’t capable of it when he had me move in with him when I was twelve, and he’s definitely not up to it now. It would require too much effort from him. It would require him not being a fucking narcissist.
Yeah, you could say I’m angry.
“You look … tan,” he says instead of taking my hint to thank me. “I suppose wasting your legal talents in pursuit of the next wave is worth it to you?”
“Really?” I groan. “Listen—”
He drops his arms and leans forward, elbows on his desk. “No, I want you to listen. You owe me that after the latitude I’ve given you this past year. I can pretty well guess that you’re done contributing to this firm. It was very clever of you to remember the lax leave of absence policy we had for shareholders. Thanks for that. As you know, I’ve corrected it.”
“Right. So, I’ll—”
“Resign and sell your shares at base level, yes, I know. And then you’ll—what? Live out your days being a beach bum? Where is your pride?”
“It’s back where it should have been before you forced me into your empty world.”
He shakes his head in frustration. “The ‘empty world’ that gave you a top-notch education and placed you in a highly esteemed law firm? That’s what you’re disparaging?”
“There’s no point in trying to get you to understand that we don’t have the same values.”
“Really?” he asks with a laugh. “Seems to me we were lockstep in pursuing wins on cases and big payouts for a while there.”
“That was my mistake. I’ll own it. And now I want out.”
“You’ll be back. You’ll eventually tire of that lazy Maui life. Your mind is too ambitious to go unchallenged.”
I grin before laughing. “You won’t ever get it.”
He lets that hang in the air for a minute before standing. “Listen, you’re about to get a very nice payout with those shares. But I need you to do something for me first.”
“Oh, boy. What are you plotting now?”
He looks at me quizzically. He never did know I heard his conversation that night I left for Maui.
“I need you to hold off on your resignation and shares sale until after the board meeting.”
Of course, his main priority wouldn’t be trying to reconcile with me. It would be trying to protect his company. I scoff and mutter, “You want me to lie to the board?”
“What I want, what I require, is for you to see the big picture and not rock the boat at this sensitive time. The board doesn’t need to know about your official departure at this moment. It’s about protecting the firm. That’s always my overriding concern.”
“No shit,” I mutter. I really can’t control that mouth of mine sometimes.
“Don’t be such a child about this. You’re going to make enough off those shares to allow you to waste your days surfing for quite a few years. Just play the game for a few more days.”
I make a show of thinking about this, but the request to extend my stay is exactly what I need. It will buy me time to research an idea I have for what I might do with my shares other than sell them to him.
“All right. I’ll stay, but only as long as I have to,” I say grudgingly. “Then I’m out of here for good.”
My father looks pleased with himself. He really has no vision of anything other than his own worldview.
“I’ll have Doris send you the itinerary for the board meeting,” he says. “And dust off your old office.”
“Fantastic,” I say flatly and start to turn away.
“Oh, and I’ll need you to attend the ABA event tonight. It’s important to make a show of solidarity.”
“Ah, no. That’s not part of the deal.” I have no desire to be put on display at an American Bar Association event, pretending to be the prodigal son returning home to the nest solely to boost his image.
“Remember, Son, that you’re not in a position to pick and choose. You have less than a week where you need to abide by my rules. Then you’ll get your goddamn early retirement, complete with a golden parachute you have done nothing to deserve.”
I could argue with him about this point. I could cite all the cases I helped the firm win, all the revenue I’ve brought in, all the new clients I’ve attracted with my reputation for a photographic mind and the ability to connect the finer points of the law. But I just don’t care.
Instead, I tell him honestly, “I don’t have the right clothes for something like that.”
“There’s a suit in your office.”
When he sees my surprise, he adds, “You didn’t think I wouldn’t know when you were finally coming back, did you?”
I hold back a shiver at the thought that he’s had spies checking on me since I’ve been away. I should have known he wouldn’t have just let me be.
“Doris will arrange for a haircut and a shave, too,” he says as I turn away. “Appearances matter, Ford. At least for this week, I need you to look the part you used to play so well.”
Yes, that’s all it is, I tell myself. It’s only a part I’m playing until I’m truly free.
16
Ava
It’s the kind of lawyers’ event I’m normally thrilled to be a part of. Sure, the presentations can be dry, but the networking during the cocktail hour has always been my thing. I usually relish reconnecting with work colleagues or making new acquaintances, determined to further opportunities to advance my career in any way I could.
But not tonight.
Tonight, I’m here physically, but still distracted otherwise. I’ve been back to work for two full days now, gotten completely caught up on my emails and cases, and should be in the swing of things. But I’m still off. My thoughts stray so often to Ford that it takes effort to redirect my attention. I’ll find myself revisiting our time together, indulging in replaying those moments where lust overtook us.
“He’s here tonight.”
Startled by the voice in my ear, I turn to see Tyler, my friend and co-worker. He’s even more of a social butterfly at these things than I am. We’d gone our separate ways a while ago as he mingled and I stood off to the side, being unusually reserved.
“Who’s here? Bryce? Yeah, I know. I saw him earlier. And I’m keeping my distance,” I say.
“No, not him. I’m talking about McAvoy Junior,” he says, his eyes dancing with excitement.
I laugh. “And who is that?”
“Girl, you really have no idea of the gossip in our world, do you?” He makes a show of looking around. “Where did he go? He was here a minute ago.”
“Who? You’re going to have to educate me.”
He sighs. “McAvoy Junior is the absolute hottest lawyer in LA. I mean, hot as in he’s drop-dead gorgeous and he’s brilliant at the law. His dad, McAvoy Senior, isn’t too bad himself, I must say,” he says with a salacious grin.
“Ooh, so your odds are doubled!”
“Don’t I wish. No, neither play for my team. Anyway, they call Junior Boy Wonder because he skipped a grade in high school and finished college in three years. A real brain. But word is he absolutely loathes that nickname.”
“Okay,” I say slowly, bemused.
“Anyway, he made a big splash working for his dad for a few years. He’s supposed to have this really amazing memory for case law. But then he disappeared about a year ago. The official line was that he was taking a leave of absence. But there were plenty of people who said he had it out with Senior. Anyway, this whole room is positively buzzing because he’s back.”
“People are easily amused, is what you’re telling me.”
He laughs. “That is true. But just wait until you feast your eyes upon this hunk of a man, Ava. He’s unreal.”
“Well, I may not get a chance to experience this amazing hunk of a man because I’m going to go soon. I’m just not feeling it tonight.”
Tyler shakes his head in disappointment. I’m usually up for a little fun banter with him, but I just don’t have it in me at the moment.
“I can’t believe you haven’t shaken vacation mode yet,” he says. “Okay, I’m going to see if I can find him real quick. Don’t leave. I promise it will be worth it.”
I shake my head, smiling at his dedication to this mission. “Okay, I’ll stay for a little bit.”
I watch him rush away, his head swiveling from side to side as he hunts for his prey in the sea of suits and cocktail dresses. I’m wearing one of my favorite day-to-night dresses for the occasion along with heels. Without the blazer I pair it with for work, my arms are bare and the scoop neck somehow becomes more suggestive. The way it hugs my curves and exposes my legs above the knee has gotten me a few lingering looks. Me being me, I shut down any interest by pulling up my walls and moving on quickly. I have no desire to get involved with another lawyer, not after the disappointment that was Bryce.
Speaking of whom … here he comes, making a beeline for me. I have no choice but to stand still and await him, as I’ve already made accidental eye contact.
“Ava,” he says, his slightly gravelly voice revealing that he’s had a few cocktails already.
He leans in and I give him my cheek to kiss, but at the last second, he plants his lips against mine sloppily. I pull away and wipe at my mouth, glaring at him.
“Oops,” he says.
“Not cute,” I tell him and he shrugs. “Neither was that move you tried with my client while I was away. Good thing my firm had it covered and you didn’t succeed.”
He had tried to approach my client directly, without involving me or my firm. That’s a big no-no and he should know better. Other than pure hubris, I don’t know why he tried it.
“Where were you, anyway?” he asks.
“On vacation.”
He laughs. “No, seriously. Was it that conference in Boston?”
“No, I was actually on vacation. I completely disconnected.”
Eyeing me skeptically for a moment, he finally nods sagely. “Yeah, sure. Okay, if you don’t want to share, I guess I can live with the mystery.”
“You need to recuse yourself from this case,” I tell him, preferring to get back to business. That’s the only relationship we have left, at least in my mind.
“What? Why would I do that?”
“You were only supposed to be temporarily filling in for Polanski when he was out sick. Why are you sticking with this? Just to mess with me?”
He smiles and steps closer to me. “I’d love to mess with you again, it’s true.”
“Ugh.” I put my hand on his chest and push him back. “Your whiskey breath is not charming.”
“Ah, give me a chance,” he says, reaching out for me.
I step back just as I feel someone else’s hand circle my waist from my right side.
“There you are, honey.”
What I see makes me catch my breath.
It’s Ford.
My Ford.
Only, he doesn’t look the same. His normally tousled hair has been trimmed and is tamed into a neat style. His scruffy face has been cleanly shaven. And his usual board shorts have been replaced by a finely tailored gray suit, light-blue dress shirt, and no tie. He smells the same, though. God, he smells so good. It’s some sort of sandalwood, salty, beachy scent.
Before I can ask what he’s doing here, he offers his hand to Bryce, saying, “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Ava’s fiancé.”
I open my mouth to dispute this surreal notion but stop when I feel Ford’s fingers squeezing my waist.
“Fiancé?” Bryce repeats dubiously. His eyes fall to my left hand. My bare left hand.
“The ring is getting sized,” Ford explains smoothly. “We should have it back in no time, shouldn’t we, Ava?”
“Um, well,” I mumble, trying to sort out just what the hell is happening.
“Wait a second,” Bryce says. “Let me get this straight, Ava. You, of all people, are getting married? And it’s to the Boy Wonder, Ford McAvoy?” He laughs, clearly finding the whole thing preposterous.
That’s exactly what it is. Still, I’m irritated that’s what he thinks.
Before I get a chance to say anything, Ford leans in close to Bryce, telling him with absolute confidence, “Ain’t nothing boy about me, old man. Now, why don’t you go ahead and get yourself another drink? You’ll need it for when it really hits you that Ava walked away from your ass.”
My hand flies to my mouth as I fail to suppress a laugh at the expression on Bryce’s face. He’s shocked and angry at being talked to this way.
“Real mature,” Bryce sneers.
I catch Ford winking at Bryce before he turns us away and toward an empty cocktail table.
“Kiss me,” Ford says.
“What? No. I don’t even know what is—”
“Fine. Then, I’m going to kiss you. And it’s going to be a real kiss. Slow, deep, and leaving you wanting more. Both because I want to—so fucking much—and because your ex is still watching us.”
“Oh,” I say on a sigh, powerless to refuse him when he puts it like that. I raise myself to my tiptoes as he gathers me to him.
When he kisses me, I lose all sense of anything else. My body melts into his, just the way it had during our few days together in Maui—no doubt a perfect display of our desire and attraction to each other.
When we slowly, oh so slowly, pull apart, he caresses my cheek with his hand and stares into my eyes.
“I was desperate to see you again, but I never thought I’d find you here, Hula Girl,” he says softly, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Where did you come from?” I ask and he laughs. Before he can attempt some kind charming reply, I continue, “No, I mean it.” I pull fully away from him, needing the distance to try to comprehend what’s going on. “I really want an answer. Because I’m so confused. And honestly, I think I’m a little mad at you, too.”
“Mad at me? Why?”
I shake my head, trying to formulate all the reasons. In the end, I simply say, “Because you lied to me.”
“Uh, no, I didn’t.”
“You’re not just some surfer dude. You’re a lawyer. You don’t live in Maui. You live here. You played some really jacked up game over there, pretending to be something you’re not.”
“No, you’ve got it all wrong.”
“Ford McAvoy? That’s your full name?” I realize with some embarrassment that I never got his last name.
He nods. “And you’re Ava …?”
“Ruiz,” I say dismissively. “That’s not the point. The point is that my friend Tyler told me wh
o you are about fifteen minutes ago.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “What did he say?”
“That you’re well known as a brilliant lawyer. That you’ve been away. And now you’re back.” I pause. “He also said that you’re gorgeous, which I won’t argue with.”
That gets a laugh out of him. “Your friend Tyler doesn’t know the whole story, Ava. No one does. I left the law about a year ago when I moved home to Maui. I do live there. I really do teach music at my mom’s school. And I spend all my time otherwise surfing.”
I still can’t sort out what all this means. “Then—then, why are you here?”
“I wish I could say I planned this as some elaborate way to get in touch with you, but it’s trickier than that. I have some business to wrap up.”
Looking past him, I try to process all of this. “Wait a second.” I look back at him. “You knew that whole time that you’d be in LA and you didn’t plan on seeing me, did you?”
“I, uh—”
“I think our engagement is over.”
Laughing, he holds up his hands in a pleading gesture. “No, listen. The only reason I didn’t make plans to see you is because this stuff I have to deal with, this work stuff, it’s complicated. But I swear, I was going to reach out to you as soon as I had a handle on it.”
“Yeah, right,” I scoff.
“It’s true. I just didn’t want to make promises when I knew I had this work thing to sort out.”
“And you couldn’t tell me about that? As if little old me wouldn’t understand? I have my J.D., just like you.”
“Well, I didn’t know you were a lawyer back in Maui, did I? You said you weren’t one.”
“Because you said you hated lawyers,” I snap back. “Why would I admit to being one?”
He bites his lip and looks at me like he wants to devour me next.
“What?” I ask impatiently.
Squinting at me in that way he does, he says, “It’s our first fight.” Leaning closer, his lips graze the shell of my ear. “It’s fucking turning me on.”
Despite the shiver of arousal running through me, I pull away. “Ford, what is happening?”
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