Troublemaker

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Troublemaker Page 8

by Heather Beck

“Yeah, and I told him everything.”

  Tessa opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Isabelle’s voice, angry and loud, filtered into the room. “Oh my gosh, are they fighting?” she asked, her eyes wide. “I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

  “I’ll give you one guess what they’re fighting about.” Ava sighed as she slumped against the wall. “Why does trouble always find me? I feel cursed or something.”

  “None of this is your fault,” Tessa said, giving her a hug. “Things are just really messed up right now, but I promise everything will work out exactly how it’s meant to.”

  “And how do you figure that?”

  “Well, for starters, that creep Miguel is probably in custody right now, and he’ll get what’s coming to him. After that, I’m sure everything will fall into place. It’ll all be okay. I know it.”

  Ava smiled a little. “How do you do it, Tess?”

  “Do what?”

  “Stay so positive when I need it the most?”

  “Because you’re my sister, and I’d do anything for you. And right now, the best thing for you – for both of us – is to get out of the villa. Do you want to hit up the beach?”

  “I’d love to, but…” Ava hesitated.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No, it’s just, I would really like to see Javier first.”

  “I’m sure you would,” Tessa teased.

  “It’s not like that. I want to say thanks for last night. I never got the chance, and after everything he did for me...”

  “You don’t have to explain to me,” Tessa said with a smile. “Do you know where he lives? Have a phone number for him or something?”

  Ava shook her head. “I was hoping Mom could ask Rowan for it. He’s got to have his number, right?”

  “There’s only one way to find out.” Tessa gestured toward the kitchen, where their mom had been talking on the phone. It was quiet now, as if she’d hung up.

  Ava and Tessa went to the kitchen, only to find that their mom was still on the phone. Isabelle was listening, so engrossed in what her husband was saying that she didn’t even notice her daughters standing there. She sighed, finally speaking. “You’re right, Mitch, and I’m sorry, too. With things happening the way they have, it’s been more stressful than we both could’ve imagined. But we need to stay strong for the girls. They’re the ones who really matter in all of this.” She listened for a moment before speaking again. “I’m glad you agree. I know if we work together, everything will be alright in the end.”

  Ava pulled Tessa away, so their mom could finish her conversation in private. “Sounds like they’re back to normal,” she said once they were out of earshot. “Well, as normal as any of us can be right now. She still seems really worried about us. Maybe now isn’t the best time to ask her for Javier’s number. Why don’t we go to the beach like you said?”

  “Hell yeah. I have this new crochet cover-up that I’m dying to show off.”

  They headed to their rooms to pack what they needed for the beach. Ava finished first, but as she waited for Tessa outside her room, a beach bag slung over her shoulder, she heard voices coming from the living room, one of them a guy’s, the other her mom’s. Curious what was going on, she started for the stairs, only getting halfway down when she came to a sudden stop and let out a little gasp of surprise. Standing in her villa, talking to her mom, was Javier.

  Her gasp must have told them of her presence because Isabelle and Javier looked up at her, Javier giving her a warm smile. “Hey, Ava. How are you?” he asked, his voice sexier than ever when he said her name.

  “I…I’m fine.” Ava made her way to the bottom of the stairs. “What are you doing here?”

  “Didn’t you hear the doorbell, honey?” Isabelle asked.

  Ava shook her head.

  “I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I’d stop by and make sure you were okay,” Javier said, looking a little awkward. “I’m sorry. I hope I’m not intruding.”

  “No, of course not.” Ava felt like kicking herself, knowing she had sounded rude even though that wasn’t her intention. “It’s actually very sweet of you.” She cast him a smile, which seemed to put him at ease.

  “That’s what I was just telling him.” Isabelle turned to Javier, her eyes filled with gratitude. “And after what you did, you’re always welcome here. I know I said this last night, but I can’t thank you enough for being there for Ava. I don’t want to think about what could’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

  “I’m just glad I was there. I’d hate to see anything happen to her or any one of you. Rowan’s done a lot for me, so a friend of his is a friend of...”

  “Ava, you ready?” Tessa called, interrupting Javier as she came down the stairs. When she saw that they had company, a grin spread across her face. “Well, look who it is,” she said in a teasing voice, “the knight in shining armor. Did you come for a visit, or are you just passing by on your way to save a few damsels in distress?”

  Ava blushed, wishing Tessa would shut up.

  Luckily, Javier laughed. “Actually, I was wondering if your sister would like to go for a walk.” He turned to Ava, looking expectantly at her. “So, what do you say?”

  Ava hesitated, not wanting to ditch her sister for a guy. “That sounds nice, but Tess and I were just…”

  “Just saying how a walk is exactly what she needs.” Tessa gave Ava a little push toward Javier.

  “Mom, do you mind?” Ava asked, knowing her mom had stayed home to be with her today, instead of going to Corazón de Artista.

  “Not at all. Just don’t go too far, okay?”

  Ava nodded.

  “Don’t worry, Mrs. Riley,” Javier said. “I’ll make sure Ava is safe.” He opened the door, letting Ava go through first. “It was nice seeing you both again,” he added to Isabelle and Tessa before joining Ava outside.

  Isabelle smiled. “You, too, Javier.”

  “Bye, guys,” Tessa called out in a singsong voice as Ava and Javier began to walk away. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

  From over her shoulder, Ava shot Tessa a warning look, but Tessa just stood there, grinning from ear to ear. Ava knew she’d be eagerly waiting for her to come back and spill all the juicy details. Only, there would be nothing to tell. Ava had to keep reminding herself that Javier had a girlfriend, even though it was hard to concentrate on anything other than how good he looked. Dressed casually in a black t-shirt and faded jeans, with a thin silver chain around his neck, he looked like he could be the sexy lead singer in a Latin music video.

  “You have a nice family,” Javier said, casting Ava a smile, breaking her out of her reverie. “It’s pretty easy to see that you and Tessa are close.”

  “I love her to death,” Ava admitted, “but don’t get me wrong, she drives me crazy sometimes.”

  Javier laughed. “I hear that’s what siblings do.”

  “You’re an only child?”

  “Yeah. I always wanted a brother or sister, but it’s just me and my mom.” He paused, looking a little sad and as if he wanted to say more, but when he didn’t, Ava decided not to push him. “So, what brings you to Mexico?” he asked, changing the topic as they passed through Villas Sol Dorado’s front gates and began to walk along the street, not going anywhere in particular. “Are you and Tessa volunteering with Corazón de Artista, too?”

  Ava shook her head. “Tess and I are doing online school. We came here to support Mom.” She felt a blush rise on her cheeks, feeling guilty for lying to Javier. She turned her head slightly sideways, pretending to look at a colorful array of flowers that grew along the street, secretly hoping Javier wouldn’t notice her blush.

  “Wow, that’s sweet. She’s lucky to have daughters like you.”

  “Uh huh,” Ava said, feeling even guiltier.

  “So, where do you guys call home?” Javier asked, running a hand through his thick, gorgeous hair. “I know you’re American. I can tell by the way you talk.” />
  “By the way I talk?” she teased. “You’re the one with the sexy Mexican accent.”

  “Well, you are in Mexico.”

  Ava laughed. “True.”

  “And you think it’s sexy?” He cast her a smile capable of making her knees go weak.

  “No, not really,” she ribbed, trying to ignore the feelings he was stirring in her. “I was just being nice.”

  “Ouch.” He placed his hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt. “Is that how they treat guys where you’re from? Wherever that is…”

  “I’m from California,” she finally answered.

  He raised an eyebrow – another one of his traits that was adorable and sexy at the same time. “Oh, yeah? Where in California?”

  “Hollywood.” She’d wanted to avoid telling him that, and she wondered why he was being so persistent about it. It didn’t seem like he knew she was a reality star, but maybe he did, or maybe Rowan had told him.

  “Hollywood? That’s pretty awesome. Have you met any movie stars?”

  “Um, a few.” She studied his face, trying to figure out if he was only pretending not to know who she was, but he seemed genuine. She smiled, feeling good that, for the first time in a long time, someone seemed to like her for her, even if it was just as a friend.

  “What’s that smile for?” It was Javier’s turn to tease her now, but even he couldn’t stop a smile from spreading over his face, just by looking at her.

  A little embarrassed, Ava shrugged. “Nothing really. It’s just, this is nice.”

  “I think so, too.” His sparkling hazel eyes caught hers, and for a moment, all she could think about was being here with him.

  As they came to the end of the street, Ava and Javier made their way down a walkway that led to the beach. He held out his hand to her, helping her over a step, and as they touched, she felt her heart beat a little faster.

  “Thanks,” Ava said, trying to hide her disappointment when he let go of her hand.

  “Don’t mention it.” He shrugged casually, but she had a feeling that he liked holding her hand as much as she liked holding his.

  They strolled over the sand, soon taking off their shoes and walking along the edge of the water. As the water lapped over Ava’s feet, cooling her down, she watched seagulls fly through the sky, calling out gently as they disappeared and then reappeared in between white fluffy clouds. It was a beautiful, peaceful scene, but she couldn’t feel completely at ease. There were some things she needed to talk to Javier about – things she wasn’t looking forward to rehashing.

  “So, I’m really glad you showed up at my villa today,” she began.

  “Yeah?” Javier said, casting her a curious glance. “Why’s that?”

  “Because I wanted to talk to you.” Ava came to a stop and faced Javier. “I know my mom has already thanked you, but with things being as chaotic as they were last night, I forgot to say thanks. So, thank you. You really saved me.”

  “You don’t need to thank me.”

  “Yes, I do,” Ava pressed. She could tell that any sort of gratitude made Javier a little uncomfortable, but that failed in comparison to letting him know how much she appreciated what he’d done. “You totally put yourself at risk to help me – someone you don’t even know – and that tells me what kind of guy you are. I’m okay because of you, Javier. If you hadn’t shown up and protected me, I don’t know what I would’ve done, but I know for sure that I wouldn’t be okay.”

  Javier was quiet for a moment, taking in her words and blushing a little. “Well, you’re welcome, then,” he said, his tone still as humble as ever. “I guess it was just lucky that I was there.”

  “I’d definitely say so,” Ava said as they started to walk again, “but what were you doing there?”

  “The truth?”

  “Yeah, preferably.”

  “Well, I saw you at the street market by yourself, and I was concerned. Don’t get me wrong, Mar de Lágrimas is one of the safest places in Mexico, but it’s still not a good idea to be out by yourself at night. I wanted to make sure you got home safe, so after I dropped Britney off, I came back.”

  “To look for me?” The thought made her heart flutter.

  Javier shrugged, looking down at the ground. “To keep an eye on you. I know it sounds weird, but that wasn’t my intention. I was just…”

  “Concerned,” Ava said, touched. “I know.”

  A comfortable silence fell over them as they continued to walk, stopping a few moments later when they came to a wooden picnic bench that had been dragged to the water’s edge, probably by some unruly boys late at night. Javier gestured toward it and asked, “Do you want to sit down?”

  Ava nodded, her leg brushing against his as they sat down close together. “So, I’ve been wanting to ask you something,” she said, thinking about the question that had been on her mind since last night. “How do you know Miguel? It seems like you guys have some bad blood.”

  Javier’s face clouded over. “Some? That’s an understatement. I can’t stand the guy. Miguel is manipulative, an opportunist. He has no morals, and I don’t think he’s ever cared about anyone in his life – besides himself, of course.” When Ava gave Javier a curious look, he sighed and continued. “Let’s just say I’ve seen Miguel at his worst more than a few times. We grew up together in a part of Mexico that isn’t exactly the best. How he managed to move to a place like Mar de Lágrimas…well, I have a few ideas and none of them are legal.”

  “Shit. Not the best guy to get tangled up with, huh?”

  “Definitely not.” His tone and expression were firm, but when he saw the worry in Ava’s eyes, he softened. “Like I said yesterday, you have nothing to worry about, because I won’t let him hurt you.”

  “I can believe that.” She met his gaze and smiled, wishing more than anything that he could be hers, but he wasn’t, so she forced her eyes off him. “So, how’s that fist of yours?” she asked, trying to concentrate on anything other than her growing feelings for him. “You pack a mean punch.”

  “Thanks,” Javier said with a laugh. He looked at his knuckles, which were bruised a deep shade of purple, and shrugged as if it was no big deal. “I’ll live. I’m just sorry you had to see that. It’s not the best first impression you could’ve gotten of Mexico.”

  “I’m not going to let Miguel ruin anything for me. I know I only just got here, but I can already tell how amazing this place is. The scenery, the culture, the food…I love everything about it.”

  “Mar de Lágrimas is pretty special,” he agreed. “When I first moved here, it felt like paradise – it still does. Not a day goes by that I don’t count my blessings for living in a place like this.”

  “I can see that, and to tell you the truth, I find that refreshing.”

  “Why? Don’t people appreciate what they have in Hollywood?”

  “You’d be surprised,” Ava said, uncomfortable that the conversation had circled back to this.

  “What’s it like living there? I’m guessing it must be pretty exciting.”

  “It can be,” Ava said, choosing her words carefully so she wouldn’t give anything away. “There’s always something to do, and we have some beautiful beaches and parks. It’s a total tourist hotspot, and you never know who you’ll meet. It’s a lot like Mexico in those ways, but I don’t know…maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the vibe is different here.”

  “And what kind of vibe is that?” As Javier’s eyes met hers, she had a feeling they were no longer talking about Mexico.

  With a blush, Ava opened her mouth to answer when Javier’s phone beeped. He cast her an apologetic look before pulling his phone out of his pocket and glancing at the screen. “Shit, it’s work,” he said, sighing. “I’m really sorry to cut this short, but I have to get back.”

  “Oh, okay,” Ava said, disappointed that they’d been interrupted. They put their shoes back on and headed off the beach, toward the street.

  “They’re always doing this – call
ing me in at the last minute,” Javier explained to her as they took a shortcut through a walkway that she hadn’t seen before. “I would’ve ignored the message, but Villas Sol Dorado is strict about getting things done ASAP.”

  “Villas Sol Dorado?”

  “Yeah, I do maintenance work there. So, when I said I was in the neighborhood, I wasn’t just using a line on you.”

  “But it was still a line, huh?” Ava said, copying the playful tone Javier had just used with her. “Good to know.”

  Javier smirked. “The sad truth is that I’ve been at the villas since seven in the morning, replacing all the screen doors that Mrs. Stevenson’s Pomeranian chewed through again.”

  Ava laughed. “Have you worked there for long?”

  “Almost two years.”

  “And do you like it? Little vicious dogs and all?”

  He smirked again. “Yeah, I shouldn’t complain. It’s a pretty good place to work. I just wish the hours weren’t so random. I like to pick up odd jobs on the side, and it makes it really hard to schedule everything.”

  “Damn. Sounds like you’re kept busy.”

  “I do what I have to do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make time for, you know, important stuff.”

  “Like what?” Ava asked, curious, as they slipped through Villas Sol Dorado’s iron gates.

  “Well, family and being outside, exploring all the beautiful things Mexico has to offer. Just living life, I guess.” He paused slightly, shoving his hands in his pockets, almost as if he was a little nervous. “You know, there really are so many amazing things to see and do here, and I’d love to show them to you, if you’d let me.”

  “Like…like a date?” she asked, taken aback.

  “Yeah, but if you don’t want to put a label on it, we don’t have to.”

  Silence fell over them as they came to a stop outside her villa. Ava turned to Javier and looked at him, not sure how to respond. Even though he was insanely hot and they’d been flirting a little bit too much, there was no way she was going to be his piece on the side. “What about Britney?” she asked, surprised he’d be willing to cheat since he seemed like a decent guy.

  “Britney?” He furrowed his brow. “Why would she care?”

 

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