Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove) (42 page)
Read Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove) Online
Authors: Siera London
“Nice to meet you, Ava. I’m Matthew Keaton and technically I’m Monique’s stepfather. Monique was an infant when her mother and I got married. I retired from the Navy one year ago. Her mom is currently deployed to Qatar.”
“Jason, say hello to my friend Ava.” The lanky boy glanced up for a second, tossing a non-descript gesture in Ava’s general direction. Ava remembered Monique mentioning Jason wanting to visit during her hospital stay. Things had worked themselves out.
“My goodness, Monique. Jason is handsome.” Monique giggled.
“He’s taking me to the prom,” Monique whispered conspiratorially. “Dad. Tell Ava how you can help. He can make it so you get to stay here, in Shell Cove.” Ava thought she saw Logan’s ears perked up.
“I’m listening,” Logan said. Ava was, too. But she didn’t want to get her hopes up.
“Monique’s been giving me an earful for weeks about getting you back to Shell Cove. I explained to her that you had to complete ODS first, before we could negotiate with the assignment officers. You had me concerned for the first few weeks, Ensign Walters.” Ava’s eyes bugged out of her head in surprise.
“You followed my progression through officer training?” He nodded his head in affirmation.
“Queens Bay Naval Clinic has a position for a nurse, if you are interested?” Ava’s heart started beating at a rapid pace. Was it possible to have Logan, be close to her family and serve her country? This man was offering her a dream.
“May I ask your rank at retirement?” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he directed Monique back to the exercise machine and waited until she started arm pedaling. Ava’s heart plummeted. It was just a dream. Returning, he focused those dark, intelligent eyes on her.
“I retired as an Admiral, three stars.” Monique’s dad was a three-star Admiral. At that rank, you’re speaking on Capitol Hill and talking on CNN. Wow, talk about life coming full circle. Ava immediately stiffened her spine, stealthily coming to attention. Logan eyes seemed to glow, keeping steady eye contact with the Admiral.
“You have the connections to do what you say. She’ll take it.”
“Logan,” she chastised, “don’t answer for me.” She grinned up at him. Her lip biting days were over.
“Ava. Don’t play. I told the department I was taking a sabbatical before your call from officer training. I was coming for you.”
“You what!” Logan was putting his career on hold for her. The fountains connected to her eyes sprang to the “on” position.
“Admiral, I would welcome the opportunity to serve as the clinic nurse at Queens Bay. Thank you, sir.”
“Please call me Matthew. It took almost three months for me to respond to my first name. After, thirty-three years in uniform, it’s taking more than twelve months to adjust to civilian life.”
“Thank you, Matthew.” Ava excused herself. “I’m going to the ladies room,” she responded before Logan could ask.
Face refreshed, Ava entered the outpatient hallway and slammed into a mountain of soft flesh. She tried to push away only to discover her wrists were manacled in a man’s large grip. Her head shot up, and her eyes landed on the distorted features of Randall.
“Hello little doll, it must be my lucky day finding you all alone.” Heart beating fast, but not erratic, Ava maintained control of her emotions. Her first instinct was to recoil, but then she thought of her life. The life she always wanted. A life filled with love, free from insecurity and doubt. Her love for life and Logan fueled her. It was hers now and no one was taking anything from her ever again.
“Get your hands off of me.” Ava pulled against his hold. There was no leeway.
“They fired me because of you and that surgeon of yours.”
She was Logan’s. And she didn’t share.
“I was about to leave a departing gift in the research lab, but I think I’ll leave my mark on you.” A newfound instinct took over.
“This is not your lucky day. It’s my homecoming,” Ava roared. She curled her body, pulled her knee up and drove as much power through her calf, her knee, and her thigh. She plowed straight into dangling parts like a pile driver during road construction.
Randall released her to cup between his legs, but she held on trying to relocate his reproductive anatomy to his throat. His cry was that of a wounded animal. The sound rebounded through the empty hallway. He would pay for his torment. His sabotage. She was positioned to deliver another blow when Logan and Matthew rounded the corner at a run.
“Ava!” She heard Logan and more than one other person running to her location.
“I’m okay.” She called back. Ava felt herself being pulled into warmth. Logan had her now secure in his arms. Her eyes stayed trained on the enemy. Randall was doubled over, but his breathing was less labored.
A vicious war cry tore from Randall’s lips, and he got to his feet and charged them.
Everything happened at once. Logan pushed her away from him, spun on his heel and hit Randall square in the nose. Blood seemed to pour from a faucet down Randall’s face onto his starched, white dress shirt. Randall was crumpled on the floor swearing up a red, white and blue streak. Oh God, Logan moved towards him muscles strained, teeth bared, nostrils flared.
Ava moved toward Logan, not looking back at her, he extended his hand, palm up, fingers splayed wide. She froze. Logan stood over the other man.
“Don’t ever come near Ava again. I’ll punch a hole in your chest, rip your heart out, and feed it to you if you do.” Ava was glad she was a safe distance away. Logan’s voice was bordering on animalistic. At the sound of a commotion in the hallway, Ava looked up to see Matthew Keaton and two men wearing dark blue security uniforms.
“You okay, ma’am?” The shorter of the two men asked the question.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Logan remained at her side. Standing guard. Ava felt light, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulder. “Logan, let’s wait over by the door.” They both moved to stand by the sliding doors leading to the parking lot. Matthew approached then, spine straight, fists loose at his side, the look of a warrior, ever ready when needed.
“The Shell Cove authorities are on the way,” Matthew said. “I’ll stay with the medical center security team and guard the perpetrator until they arrive. After Ava makes her statement you should be able to go.”
“Okay, and thank you Matthew.” Ava offered her thanks as he walked away. “Do you want to make a statement? I can talk to the authorities on your behalf.” She laughed and kissed him.
“Try and stop me.” Ava blinked back tears of joy as she threw herself in Logan’s arms. Randall’s threat that night in the ballroom had brought her and Logan together. Though she fought the attraction he’d chased her until his love caught her in an embrace she never wanted to be without. Today, confronting Randall helped her finally heal all the wounds of the past. She was worthy of love. She was courageous enough to stand and fight for herself and those she loved. She was no longer chasing Ava.
“I love you, Ensign Ava Walters, Navy Nurse Corps officer.” Ava nodded, tears in her eyes.
“I love you, Logan. Now and forever.”
“Don’t say anything you don’t mean, Ava. I’ll hold you to it.” Logan grinned at her.
“For you, I can deliver.”
As Logan held her close, Ava felt all the joy of having all her dreams come true.
Logan was her hero, the man that would always fight for their love. And she would do the same for him, both now and forever.
Epilogue
Ava pulled the pot roast from the oven and placed the roaster on the stovetop. Removing her oven mitts, she watched as Logan placed the finishing touches on the dining room table. Since her house was rented, the Walters-Masters family dinners happened at Logan’s house. Ava had temporarily moved her things in the apartment over Logan’s garage. A decision he grumbled about daily. She could continue the forty-minute commute to the Queens Bay Naval clinic from Logan’s, but she was actively looking for a place closer to work.
Logan grimaced as he set the serving tray on the countertop. “Why did you invite everyone we know to Sunday dinner?”
Ava dropped a kiss on his lips and Logan smiled like a loon.
He was so easy
. “You’re the one that volunteered to help me in the kitchen.”
“I know, but twelve people, Ava? I have never had more than four people in this house at once.”
“I’ll be sure to tell any children we have that daddy has a four maximum rule for their birthday parties.” Grabbing the carving knife off the block, Ava sliced the meat, layering it on the serving tray.
“Speaking of children. When are you going to set a wedding date?”
As soon as you tell me everything about Brooke we can set a date.
Just then, the side door, that Logan still periodically forgot to lock, opened and the room filled with people.
“We can talk after dinner,” he said, moving to the door to greet their houseguests.
The Walters families plus one were the first to arrive, her parents, Aron and Zari, Granny Lou with Deacon Hill in tow.
“What’s up, sis?”
“You, little brother.” Aron smirked at her.
“You’ve got jokes.”
“Hi Ava, I made a sour cream pound cake for dessert,” Zari the resident baker never let Ava down. Lina decided to join the fun now that the threat of laxatives in her food was no longer warranted
.
“Ava! I’m so glad you get to stay here in Shell Cove with me,” Lina said from the doorway.
“The food smells delicious,” her mother said, placing a kiss on her cheek. Granny Lou entered the kitchen.
“How is grandma’s Naval officer?”
“I’m great, Granny Lou. Never better.”
“I can see that with my own two eyes.” Granny Lou stretched out a weathered hand over Ava’s and squeezed. “I can see.”
“Ava, my girl, make sure I eat light today, no more than two plates. Since you’ve been gone I’ve gained ten pounds.”
“Oh no, Deacon.”
“It’s true. All those ladies down at the church feeding me those processed foods. They messed up my well-oiled machinery.” He was shaking his head in dismay.
“
Come on in, the food is on the table. The roast is still piping hot and there are plenty of vegetables to help with the machinery,” she laughed over the rising voices. Table covered in serving dishes, everyone moved to take their seats, when Robert Lee, Darwin and Gideon entered the house.
“Robert Lee,” her father called, “when are we hitting the links again?” Her father had found a new hobby in retirement and a new golfing partner in Robert Lee.
“Tomorrow works for me, Andrew. We can be on the course with the other Dew Sweepers at first light.” Her father raised a thumbs up.
Gideon shook hands with Logan, before turning his attention to her, “Thanks for the invitation, Ava.”
“I’m glad you decided to come.” Though he nodded in her general direction, his eyes were fixed on Lina. Darwin entered the kitchen and wrapped Ava in a sisterly embrace.
“Get your hands off my woman.”
Some things never change
.
* * * *
Be sure to look for Siera’s next novel in the
BACHELORS OF SHELL COVE series
CONVINCING LINA,
Coming in 2015 to your favorite retailer.
Siera London, a former naval officer, is a writer of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. A native Floridian, her love of coastal towns and bustling cities shines through in her sassy and sexy storytelling. Currently she resides in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband and a color patch tabby that has free reign of the house. She loves to hear from her readers. To learn more about Siera and her books, please visit www.sieralondon.com and www.facebook.com/siera.london.
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