Loose Ends (Magnolia Series Book 1)

by Dawn, Taylor

  “Boss man said I needed to come and help you keep an eye on things.”

  “Already pegging me for incompetent, I see.”

  “Hell, Daughtry. You know as well as I do this has to be done right.”

  “Would’ve been nice to get a head’s up. I don’t need a fucking babysitter.” Luke hit the unlock button on his key ring and went for the door. Before he could grab the handle to pull it open, the other man stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “I’m not in the mood for your shit today, Matthews,” Luke growled.

  “Seems we have something in common then.”

  “Yeah, okay. I fucked up but I’m trying to fix it. So get the hell out of my way so I can do just that.”

  “Make sure you do fix it, or both our heads will be on the chopping block. I love you, man, but if someone is getting tossed under the bus, it’s gonna be you,” Cole chuckled.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got this under control.”

  The other man stepped out of Luke’s way and started to walk away from the vehicle. “Emotions are messy. Just make sure you don’t get yours involved. You know how this’s gonna end, you’ve seen it already.”

  “I don’t need a reminder.” Luke yanked the door handle so hard he felt his arm muscle protest.

  So they thought he couldn’t do his job. Big fucking surprise there. Those motherfuckers didn’t know him very well if they thought he needed someone to come down to Mississippi and wipe his ass for him. Yeah, shit had happened in the past; that was nearly ten years ago. He’d learned his lesson about how human emotions could fuck you over, and he didn’t plan on letting that happen again. Control over the situation was what he needed in order to see this thing through. He’d have that as soon as he got Ava back in his sights and made her forgive him. What the hell would make a female forgive you for fucking up anyway? Flowers? Chocolate? Hell, it’d been years since he needed to pull the chick card. As he started his truck and drove down the gravel driveway, he mulled over the options. Ava didn’t seem like the type of woman to swoon over material things like jewelry or fancy things. She was a grassroots girl. One who would more than likely be enamored with something simple. This was going to take some planning on his part but he was nothing if not meticulous with his actions. He’d wow her and then she’d have no choice but to forgive him.

  ***

  “Good morning, Chase,” Ava greeted her first client of the day. The awkward redheaded, freckle-faced twenty-one-year-old smiled as he made his way over to the styling chair.

  “Mornin’, Ava. How was your weekend?” He sat down and stared at Ava in the mirror.

  She tried her hardest to be pleasant and friendly but none of those things described how she really felt on the inside. Exchanging pleasantries was about as far as she wanted to go on this dreary Monday. If the first day of the week wasn’t bad enough already, the storm rolling in outside made it much worse. “Better than some, and worse than others.” She tried to keep things vague. Not that she’d spill her problems to a client anyway, but giving any sort of solid answer about her weekend was far from her mind.

  “You gonna be at Bo’s on Friday? It’s their 20th anniversary.” Chase was a good kid, but he’d always rubbed her the wrong way for some reason. Ava had a feeling he was once again getting ready to ask her out.

  “Probably not. I’m not much for public gatherings.” Or running into Luke by chance, she thought.

  “You outta come. It’s gonna be a good time. Free wings and beer from seven to nine.” He watched her as she spread the cutting cape over his body. “I sure could use a date,” he winked as she snapped the cape around his neck.

  Ava knew he meant well, but the kid was nine years her junior. It wouldn’t be considered robbing the cradle but it was pretty damn close to the mark. “Thank you for the offer, Chase. But I don’t think so.” How many times did she have to turn him down for him to get the hint?

  “Sweet little thing like you needs a man to take care of her,” Chase said matter-of-factly.

  Fury bloomed inside her already aggravated body and this was the last straw. Without thinking of the ramifications, Ava grabbed the leather-backed chair and spun the kid around so she could look him in the eyes. “First off, I’d think again if you think for one second I’m a ‘sweet little thing’. And secondly, I don’t need anyone to take care of me, least of all you. So how about you stop thinking one day I’m finally going to give in and go anywhere with you.” She was fuming as she saw he wasn’t paying a lick of attention to the words coming out of her mouth, but instead had his eyes trained directly on the small amount of cleavage revealed at her chest. “Are you fucking kidding me?” She stood up straight and pulled her top up to cover what was being shown. It wasn’t that her shirt revealed much at all though, Chase was being a pervert like always. “Look, you little shit. You need to learn some manners and tact. If you want a woman to be interested in you at all, you need to start listening to her instead of drooling over her tits.” Ava reached forward and yanked the cape from around his neck. Just as she went to pull her hands away, Chase grabbed one of her wrists and yanked her down on his lap.

  “I like a woman who plays hard to get,” he cooed.

  Ava tried to stand and pry herself from his grasp. “Let me go.”

  “Come on now, we could be really good together.” Chase thrust his hips up to show her he was ready and willing in the southern region of his anatomy.

  Bile began to rise in her throat at the thought of what he might do to her. After all, she was alone in her salon and she highly doubted anyone could hear her scream. She struggled more as he held tighter to her body. “Don’t fight it. I bet you’d like it once you had a taste,” the sick little fucker whispered in her ear and had the nerve to lick her earlobe. Not being able to remove herself from his punishing grasp, Ava let her body go lax. “See, I knew you’d want it.” He took her hand and placed it on the front of his jeans. “All for you, baby,” he chuckled.

  The only thing she could do was play along until she could manage to either get the hell out of there or have the opportunity to shove her knee into his crotch and make him sing like a soprano. “You’re right. I’ve wanted you for so long, Chase. How about we take this to the back, out of sight from prying eyes?” Ava tilted her head to the large windows to the front of the shop.

  He didn’t make a move to stand up. “What are you gonna do when you get me back there?” his voice dipped low. How disgusting, he was actually getting turned on by this shit. But she had no other choice.

  “It’s a surprise.” Ava tried to keep it inexplicit. Just the thought of telling him anything sexual had her wanting to lose the yogurt she’d forced herself to eat for breakfast.

  “I want you to tell me. Go ahead, tell me what you’re gonna do to me back there.”

  Ava closed her eyes and willed herself to not throw up. Taking a deep breath she forced the words out, “I’m going to…”

  “She’s not going to do anything to you, asshole!” Ava’s head snapped up to see Luke coming right for them. “I strongly suggest you let her up or I’ll make sure you eat out of a fucking straw for the rest of your life.” Relief hit as Luke came closer and wrapped his coarse-skinned hand gently around her bicep.

  “And who the fuck are you?” Chase stood from the chair as Luke pushed her behind his big frame.

  Anger pulsed off Luke in waves as she backed up a bit more in case things got physical. “I’m the guy who’s going to make sure you’re bleeding when you walk out that door. If you’re lucky, I’ll only break a couple bones.” Luke began to stalk toward Chase while Ava watched with horror.

  Chase threw his hands up in surrender. “Okay, look man. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not the one you need to be apologizing to.” Luke bit out.

  “Ava…I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have…” he stammered.

  “Now, get the fuck out of her shop. If I ever hear of you coming in here, or even looking at her while out in public, I wil
l rip every limb from your body while you scream like a little bitch. Is that clear?” Luke said with a deadly tone to his words.

  “Crystal clear.” Chase scurried past her and Luke and darted through the front door.

  Trembling with fear and adrenaline, Ava backed herself against the wall and slid down. Landing on her butt, she pulled her knees to her chest and tucked her head down. White hot tears began to erupt as she shook with so many emotions. In the two years since she’d lived here, she’d never been so afraid that someone would actually cause her harm. But today made her realize no matter where she ran to, she would never be safe. As she sat there bubbling with emotions, Ava could hear Luke’s soothing voice cutting through the fear induced haze.

  “Ava, sweetheart. Look at me,” he kept his voice low and calm. When she didn’t look up, he gently placed a finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to his.

  “Hey, everything’s fine now. I’m here.”

  Instinct told her to throw herself into his waiting arms, but common sense made her pause. After what’d happened between them last night she wasn’t sure just where they stood. “Thank you,” was all she could manage to croak out between her sobs.

  “Don’t ever thank me for protecting you. I’m just glad I came in when I did. Are you okay? Let me look at you.” Luke helped her stand on shaky legs. He seemed to be taking stock and making sure she wasn’t injured. She’d hate to see what he would’ve done to the forceful freckle-faced kid if he’d managed to harm her in any way. The thought was rather comforting. “I wanted to rip his fucking head off for touching you.” Ava shook her head. She didn’t need the police involved in her life for any reason. If Luke had beaten the hell out of Chase, it would’ve caused a shit storm in her life. “Let’s get you out of here. You don’t need to be here right now.”

  Ava stepped around him and walked to her chair. “I can’t leave. I have more appointments today.” She grabbed a tissue to dry her face.

  “Put a note on the door and lock up. I’m not letting you work when you’re upset. This isn’t up for discussion.”

  After what’d happened the night before, Ava wasn’t sure where she and Luke stood. Even though he’d swooped in to save the day, there was still this odd tension between them. Before she went anywhere with him, it was necessary to clear the air. Having something like this hanging over their heads like a dark raincloud just wouldn’t do.

  “Luke, we probably need to talk.” She turned to his now relaxed body and let out a sigh.

  Luke rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and into his mussed hair. “You’re probably right.”

  “I don’t know what happened last night, but the way you acted really hurt me.” She didn’t mean it to sound like she was being a whine bag about it, but it came out that way anyhow.

  “I never promised you anything beyond what we were doing, Ava,” he defended.

  “And I never asked you for anything else. I don’t want a relationship. But I do want to be treated like a human being and not like a piece of convenient ass.” Her voice rose a bit and she regretted it. Being afraid of Luke wasn’t the problem; she was only scared that saying the wrong thing would push him away further.

  “I would never think of you in that way, you have to know that.”

  “But I don’t know that. You pulled a one-eighty last night. It was like you weren’t even the same person I’d been spending time with all day. What the hell happened?”

  Luke’s shoulders dropped like he was giving in, or maybe even giving up. Ava didn’t like that at all. No way was she letting him duck inside himself and throw up more walls. “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t give me that line of bullshit. I’m pretty good at seeing through people and you’re as transparent as a piece of Saran Wrap.”

  “The truth is I’m overwhelmed right now. I’m trying to work on this house and then I met you. Things got out of hand pretty damn quick.”

  “So I’m the problem?” Ava questioned.

  “No. I didn’t say that. You’re not a problem, at least not to me.”

  “Then tell me how I can help make things better for you. I enjoy spending time with you, Luke. I don’t want this to ruin what we have.” Desperation crept into her voice. She didn’t want to need him in her life, but after the mostly amazing weekend they’d shared, she wasn’t ready to let him just waltz right out the door.

  “I enjoy spending time with you, too.” One side of his mouth kicked up and an adorable boyish grin then spread over his handsome face. Ava finally noticed the dark circles under his eyes and it hit her that he might’ve been up all night tossing and turning just as she had.

  “It doesn’t matter how long this thing between us lasts. Days, hours or even months. I just want to be around you. If that’s asking too much then I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t think you’re asking too much. Because I want that, too.”

  “Then I say we put last night behind us and start over. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be able to spend time with you.” She felt like she was bargaining but she’d do just about anything at this point to ensure Luke would stay in her life for even a little bit longer.

  “Just as long as you know I can’t and won’t make you any promises.” Regret crossed his face as he waited for her response.

  “Nothing in life offers a guarantee anyway.”

  “Then I think we have things settled. Now, grab your things, you’re coming home with me for a few days.”

  Chapter Ten

  For once Luke didn’t question himself when he drove them back to his home. Like he’d told her at the salon, it wasn’t up for discussion. She was either going to come willingly, or he’d toss her over his shoulder and pull a caveman move to get her there. Hell, every Neanderthal instinct went into high gear when he’d walked into her shop and seen that dickweed latched onto her, trying to take advantage of her. That shit wasn’t going to fly. Knowing damn well he didn’t have any rights to her didn’t matter. What did matter was the clear fear and discomfort written all over her color-drained face. When he’d walked in and saw her like that, the primal urge to protect and keep her safe bubbled to the surface like a volcano full of molten magma. The only thing keeping him from dismembering that ginger prick was knowing that the police would’ve been called in. He didn’t need the Five-O on his ass. What he needed was to get her out of there to somewhere she felt safe. The only place he could think of was his house.

  “I hate to ask, but can you take me to my house so I can grab some things, please?” Ava asked as he drove through town. “If you don’t want to turn around it’s okay. I can have Brandi bring a few things.”

  Luke didn’t hesitate in pulling off the side of the road and doing a U-turn. Maybe that made him whipped or maybe that just made him a nice guy. But ‘nice’ wasn’t what anyone would use to describe him at all. Trying not to think too much into it he grabbed her hand and pulled the back of it to his lips. He laid a light kiss on the baby-soft skin. “It’s not a problem.” Then he continued down the highway in the direction of the coastline.

  “I won’t be long,” she assured him.

  Luke could still see she was shaken up from the ordeal earlier and that pissed him off. How could some dipshit come in and try to take advantage of a woman who clearly couldn’t protect herself. That was a sobering thought. Wasn’t he basically doing the same shit? Wasn’t he here to keep an eye on her and invade her privacy by planting a listening device in her home? Yet again he’d come to the realization that he was indeed a special kind of bastard and a hypocrite.

  “Do you want me to wait here?” Luke pulled his truck into the driveway and parked a few feet from the garage door.

  “Um, you can wait here. I’ll just be a few minutes.” Ava’s exhausted attempt at a smile had his chest hurting.

  “If you need anything I’ll be right here,” he offered.

  He watched her hop down from the cab of his truck and walk around to the side entrance of the garage. Once sh
e was out of sight he flipped open the console and removed the false bottom he’d installed. The black receiver was still sitting in there nondescriptly so he grabbed it and switched it on. The frequency was already set to match the one in Ava’s home. He wasn’t sure what sort of information he expected to hear since she wasn’t going to be in there long, but any info at all could help him keep an eye on her as his employer had requested. Scratch that…demanded.

  At first there wasn’t much noise except for some rustling around; more than likely Ava packing some things in a bag. But after about two minutes he heard the familiar ringing of a cell phone. Luke turned up the volume so he could eavesdrop on what would be a one-sided conversation on his end.

  “Hey,” Ava answered. “Yeah, something happened with a client.” He heard her take a deep breath. “No, I’m fine. Just shaken up.” A few moments went by before she spoke again, “Brandi, really, I’m okay. Stop worrying about me.” It sounded like she’d plopped down on the sofa which was extremely close to the end table where he’d planted the bug. He could now pick up Brandi’s voice well enough to decipher the entire conversation.

  “I don’t like this, Ava.”

  “I’m going to stay with Luke for a few days. I need some time off.”

  “I don’t know if I trust him, though. Especially after what’d happened last night,” Brandi huffed.

  “We talked about it and worked it out. I think things are fine now.”

  “You think? Or you know? Those are two completely different things, Ava.”

  “Look, I like him. We’re really good together. I don’t want to analyze it too much.”

  “But you know what they say: ‘if it seems too good to be true…’”

  Ava finished the saying, “’It probably is.’ But what if it just is good? Shouldn’t I take a chance on it? Wouldn’t I be stupid not to?”

  “You have more balls than I do. And as your best friend it’s my job to warn you and tell you you’re being a dumbass.” Luke heard Brandi laugh.

  “And as your best friend I’m supposed to tell you to back off bitch.” Ava snorted which had Luke smiling. He’d never heard her snort when she laughed. It was kind of cute.