Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove) (21 page)

Logan blew out a breath.
 

“You verbally attacked her. A lesser woman probably would have broken down into tears. Are you sure you’re ready for this relationship?”

“Careful, Graham.” Logan’s spine went ramrod straight, jaw clenching, and fists tight.
 

“I’m a friend that is not threatened by your roar. I get why you despise secrets, but Ava is not Brooke.” Logan raised both hands, halting the conversation.
 

“I am well aware of who Ava is without you stating the obvious. My relationship with Ava has nothing to do with my past.” The doubtful look on Graham’s face had his nostrils flaring.
 

“Be sure that what happened with Brooke isn’t driving you to control every aspect of your relationship with Ava. You’re very possessive of her.”

“I am protective of her. Ava is mine.” His posture remained rigid, bracing for the next blow.
 

“That’s what I’m talking about. How long have you been with her?”

“Four weeks, but time is irrelevant. I would still feel possessive and protective of her.”

“She might be the one for you. She’s cute as a pin-up model, but keep a cork in that testosterone factory of yours. She makes you happy, I can see that, but stop trying to control her.”
 

With the conversation shifted away from Brooke, Logan’s shoulders relaxed.
 

“She is and I will not lose her. Nothing good comes from having secrets.”
 

“I get it. Your fiancée and your friend sleeping together is a load of crap by anyone’s definition, but dial back on the demands and get rid of the accusatory tone.”
 

“You obviously have not told her anything about what happened during your residency.” And he never would. Sleeping with his friend wasn’t the worst of what Brooke Tyler had done.
 

“Brooke is my past. I will not talk with you or anyone else about what happened.”
 

“Okay, let’s talk about something more pressing. Has Ava met your family?”

Logan served an icy glare in Graham’s direction. “Not yet. She will.”
 

“If she hasn’t met your family, then she doesn’t know about Rebecca. Who’s really keeping secrets here, Logan?”

“She never asks me anything. I met her family less than twenty-four hours after our first date. Her family doesn’t care about my money or political connections. Neither does she, she asks for nothing in return. I’ve never been with a woman like Ava. I know she’s with me, we are doing the relationship song and dance, but I can feel barrier between us. She regards what we have together like a placeholder in her life. I don’t understand.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he took in a deep breath, releasing it with a heavy sigh of frustration.
 

“Have you asked her,” Graham inquired? Logan shook his head in denial.
 

“You know the saying don’t ask the question if you really don’t want the answer. Ava keeps our relationship in a vacuum-sealed jar. Separate from everything.” Blowing out a breath, he ran his fingers through his hair. A blaring horn had him flinching. The city was awake now. The Saturday morning cruisers littered the streets looking for parking places or were already double-parked.
 

“I need to know she is connected to me. She is pulling against our bond. Ava wants what’s happening between us, but I can’t shake the feeling I’m going to lose her.” Graham offered him a skeptical look.
 

“What? I’m making this up?”

“Are you? I mean you just met her. Is she that in to you?”

Logan’s head pounded. Why wasn’t he enough? He needed her to want him, need
him
. Not because he was a surgeon, not because of the money, and definitely not because of a business alliance.
 

“It’s not a figment of my imagination, Graham. I know when a woman wants me.” Logan’s voice was rough with indignation. Yes, Brooke’s betrayal had done a number on him, but what he had with Ava was real.
 

“You have some serious repair work to do when you get home.” Pity crossed Graham’s face before he shook his head and lengthened his stride.
 

“You finish the run. I’m going to catch up to Ava. I’ll see you back at the house.” What was he going to say when he caught up to her?

The sidewalk that ran the length of historic Avondale was filled with morning shoppers and browsers. Couples in coordinated athletic gear sat at outdoor bistro tables drinking signature coffees. Every blue haired, southern lady within a three-mile radius was on the sidewalk with a teacup dog. The run back to the house would be slower.
 

“I’m not about to miss you groveling at Ava’s feet.” They turned in unison, their steps double timed in the direction Ava had gone.

Logan scanned the early morning shoppers dotting the sidewalk. “She’s fast. Do you see her?”
 

“No, she’s not on this block. She’s jackrabbit fast if she can turn on this type of speed after running four miles. How young is she?”

“You too?”

“Me too what? What you are talking about?”

“Ava and her family are kind of sensitive about our age difference. They haven’t said anything since our first meeting, but I get the sense that they are on high alert in case the old geezer goes crazy on their daughter. The first direct question Ava asked of me was my age.”
 

“What’s her story?”

“I wish I knew. She’s doesn’t share much about her past, but I have my suspicions.”

They sped up in hopes of catching Ava.

Logan was the first to spot her cinnamon colored locks swaying in the wind.
 

“There she is on the far side of The Coffee House.” Logan lengthened his stride. “I’ll see you back at the house.”
 

It seemed as if the wind itself propelled her forward. She was running away, rather than towards his home. She was running from him.
 

Just as Logan was extending a hand to touch her shoulder, Ava darted between two parked cars and started across the street. The car, he saw it like a director clipping a film reel for effect, as Ava ran directly into the path of the oncoming vehicle.
 

Logan bellowed her name just as she screamed. He could hear the screech of the tires, smell the burnt rubber on the asphalt.
 

“No,” heartbeat thrashing in his ears, a primal roar in his head, his legs burned as he charged every muscle fiber in his body to move faster.
 

Dear God, let me reach her in time.
 

He pushed off with all his strength forcing his body through the air.
 

She stood frozen at the intersection as Logan came down at her back, throwing them both into the grass covered median at the last second, rotating he took the brunt of the impact from the fall. Her tremors, increasing in seismic intensity, ricocheted through him. Tears streamed unbridled down her face.
 

“I have you, sweetheart. You are safe.” She shook uncontrollably. He needed to get her home.

“Ava.” Her head fell back, her sports top was drenched in tears. “Ava talk to me.”
 

She would not open her eyes. He tried to soothe her, but nothing worked. Terrified and feeling useless, he squeezed her tighter.
 

Just then, Graham ran to his side. “I saw what happened. Is she okay?”

Logan didn’t answer. His focus was on the frightened woman in his arms. “Sweetheart, I am going to pick you up.” She offered no words, just squeezed her eyes tighter, refusing to open them.
 

“Ava, please. Say something.”

“I think she’s in shock and you’re shaking.” Graham fashioned a cradle with his arms. “Give her to me.”

“I can carry her.”
 

“Logan you are in no condition.”
 

Logan rose to his feet. He stood with Ava lifted high on his chest. His biceps pillowed her head as she cried. Her body was so rigid he felt she might shatter if he jostled her.
 

This was his fault. His actions, forced her to leave his side. She wanted to escape. He had almost killed the woman he wanted more than his next breath.
 

What would she see when she looked at him? Ava’s hand gripped and released the material of his shirt. Her hand moved again, this time it didn’t halt. Rather she slowly moved back and forth against his chest. He realized she was trying to comfort him. He briefly closed his eyes placing a delicate kiss on her head.
 

“You are more than precious to me Ava. I am so sorry.” She still sobbed, but they were quieter now, her hand continued to rub his chest. Logan kept his face expressionless afraid he would crumble if he looked anywhere but straight ahead. She hadn’t said a single word to him.
 

The somber trio walked the length of Logan’s driveway entering the house through the side door. He placed her on the couch in the den, pulling the afghan from the headrest to cover her. Seeing Ava sobbing because of his actions nearly brought him to his knees. Instead of protecting her, he had shoved her in harm’s way. When Ava needed him most, he had failed her.
 

Giving one long look at Ava, Logan exited the den and joined Graham by the side entry door.
 

“Masters, you are too quiet. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“She was running from me.”

“I just met her, but that’s not how she will see what happened.”

“You and I both know the truth. She was trying to get away from me. I am the reason she was almost killed.”

“If she felt that way, she would not have been in your arms.”
 

Logan heard her soft sniffle from the den. Something akin to relief washed over him.
 

Graham was hesitant as he spoke. “I can drive the both of you to an urgent care? A mild sedative will help her relax.”

“No. I will take care of Ava. You can go.” Graham gave his shoulder a brief hold in support before moving in the direction of the door.
 

“Go back in there and take care of your woman. Call me if you need anything.” How had the morning turned into such a mess?

From the doorway, Logan took in the fragile woman curled protectively in a ball on his couch and his heart constricted. He would not lose her. He crossed the room and scooped her up into his arms. Logan never took his eyes from Ava as he cradled her back in his embrace. He held her in silence as long as he could. He needed to know she was okay.
 

“Sweetheart, please say something. I am coming unglued. You can rail at me. Punch me. I do not care. I just want to hear your voice. Know that you are okay. Please.”

She sniffled. “I don’t want to run with you anymore.” Once again, she took him by surprise with the unexpected. “You are a terrible running buddy. You talk too much.”

“That is all you have to say? That I am a lousy running partner, after I almost got you killed?”

“I almost got myself killed, not you.”

“No way, this is my fault, you were trying to put distance between us. You ran away because I was being a jerk.” She was trying to defend him. There was no way he would allow her to shoulder the responsibility for what almost happened.
 

“You were being
that
, but it’s not your fault I almost got pancaked by a car.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Logan, I can’t argue with you about why we both almost got hit and killed. You shouldn’t have jumped in front of a speeding car to save me. You could have been hurt.”

“You can’t be serious. I would jump in front of a thousand bullet trains to save you. Don’t you understand your worth to me?”
 

She didn’t respond to his question. He was sure of his feelings for her. His confession caused a warm sensation to form in his chest. He couldn’t deny what he felt for Ava any longer. She was a part of his soul. She had captured him in her spell, made him vulnerable, but when he looked at her none of that mattered.