Melting The Ice (20 page)

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Is he always like that?”  Ava whispered softly into Cian’s ear giggling at Max’s antics on the dance floor with Macy.  Macy was laughing helplessly as Max took her into a deep dip, bending her back over his arm like a heroine on the cover of a romance novel.

“Pretty much.”  Cian grinned broadly.  Max had pulled Macy onto the dance floor immediately after talking her into matching him shot for shot on a bottle of Patron.  Ava was glad to see her best friend laughing and having a good time.  She still wasn’t sure what had happened during the month Macy had been gone on tour with Nate’s band, but whatever it was had taken a toll on her friend.  Jameson, Jack and Cian’s younger brothers had all departed the day after Independence Day leaving Ava to entertain Cian and Max on her own for a week before Macy had finally came home.  Macy had been going through the motions and not much else since her return.  The only time she had seemed normal was when she was with Maddie but other than that, she had been very quiet.  Ava had caught her staring off into space on numerous occasions over the last couple of weeks.  When asked if something was wrong, Macy was quick to deny anything was bothering her.  Ava hadn’t worried too much until Nate had called her the night before and asked if his mom was okay.  Nate said he hadn’t talked to his mom since she left the tour and he was just making sure she was okay.  He didn’t go into any details, but he and Macy had fallen out over something.  It must have been pretty bad for Macy to not be returning her son’s calls or emails but Ava hadn’t pushed either one to reveal the cause.  Macy’s stubborn ass would talk about it when she was good and ready and not a moment sooner.  Nate could probably be cajoled into spilling his guts if pushed a little by his favorite Aunt Ava, but that wouldn’t be fair to Macy so Ava was staying out of it for the time being. 

It hadn’t really been that much of a struggle to leave Macy to her brooding.  Ava had been so wrapped up in Cian; she’d had little time for much else.  He had his chair pulled up close to hers with his arm draped over the back of hers, his hand toying idly with her silky curls.  She turned to look at him and found him looking back, his dark eyes watching her with predatory intent.  She flashed him a smile and placed a loud, smacking kiss on his lips.  He slid a hand to the back of her neck and pulled her in for a deep feeding kiss, his tongue and lips rubbing against hers until he coaxed a response out of her.  She felt the now familiar, but no less stunning, reaction of her body to just a kiss from him.  With a mere touch of his lips, he could send a tidal wave of warm wanting through her body that completely overwhelmed any thoughts of resistance.   She moaned into his mouth, returning his kiss wholeheartedly before abruptly remembering they were in public.  Her hands came up to press against his chest, jerking her mouth free to put some much needed space between them.  His heavy lidded gaze glittered with arousal.  Those deep pools of chocolate brown mesmerized her like a hypnotist with a pocket watch.  He made to draw her towards him for another kiss.  She came to her feet so quickly; she knocked her chair over as she stepped out of his reach before he could grab her.  “Down, Big Guy before you have me draped across your lap, table or some other hard surface.”  Her eyes narrowed in warning.  He grinned sheepishly at her.

“Over the last few weeks, I’ve discovered that there’s not a surface known to mankind that doesn’t look better with your naked body draped over it.”  He teased, causing her to shake her head at him in mock disgust.  He wasn’t joking by much though.  They’d had sex in some real unusual places, especially when they had been alone together for weeks in her big house.  Whenever and wherever the mood struck, Cian somehow managed to get her out of her clothes and wrapped around him with very little effort on his part.  She would have been embarrassed by her shameless behavior if it hadn’t been such a rewarding experience.  She righted her chair and moved it away from Cian before taking a seat.  His bottom lip pushed out in a mock pout and gave her the puppy dog eyes.

“Stop trying to look pitiful.  It’s not happening, Secord.  Keep your distance.”  She warned with a teasing scowl.  His expression reverted to the heavy lidded, sensual gaze that caused her breath to catch and her heart to race.  A very self-satisfied smile split his face when he heard her gasp.

“We both know I could change your mind if put to the test.”  He said softly, noting their friends’ impending return to the table as they made their laughing way through the crowd.  His gaze met hers, one brow arched as if daring her to deny it. 

She smiled at him knowingly. “Honey, I didn’t mean it as a challenge.”

“Just so we’re clear.”  He gave an arrogant nod of his head.  She laughed and shook her head.

“You really are incorrigible.” She huffed in irritation when his long arm reached out and pulled her, chair and all, right back where she started.  When she turned to glare at him he dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose and smiled.

             
`

“I’ll behave. I promise.” He said managing to look innocent as a choir boy when not two seconds earlier he’d been doing all manner of nasty things to her with those same eyes. Giving him a stern look she kissed his cheek as Max and Macy plopped down in their chairs at the table.

“You probably missed our tango over here billing and cooing at each other.”  Max teased in his lightly French-accented voice and everyone knew American women were mad for men with accents.   Cian was arrogant and on perpetual testosterone overload but Max made Cian look humble.  Luckily for Max, he was hot and somehow managed to come off as charming.     “We were magnificent!  Ava, darling, you have wasted time staring into Key’s eyes when you could have been treating yourself to watching me master the dance floor.”  Max turned his beaming grin on Macy, picking her hand up to bestow a quick kiss to her palm. “And my partner was amazing, as well.  You were like a gazelle, gliding across the floor…”  Macy let out a snort of disgust but still laughed.

“Now I know that’s a lie because if I had been like a gazelle I would have run fast enough to avoid being dragged onto the dance floor with you.”  She quipped.

“You wound me.”  Max said dramatically placing a hand over his heart, his blue-blue eyes sparkling with mischief.  “You have likened me to a beast of the jungle, dragging a poor, unsuspecting gazelle…No, I refuse to see it that way.”  Max adamantly avowed. “You compared me to a beautiful, kingly lion and I will see it as such.  You must stop trying to damage my self-esteem, Macy.” He chided. 

“Is that even possible?” Ava asked Cian under her breath.  Max’s sparkling eyes immediately turned to her in mock warning.

“I heard that, Ava.”  He shook his head, his eyes full of sorrow. “I can foresee two lovely females’ names that will be coming up in therapy this week.”  They all laughed at Max’s outrageous antics. 

“To answer your question, Ava,” Cian said with a wide grin. “No, it’s not possible to damage his self-esteem.  Many have tried but no one has even put a dent in that cocky attitude.”

“I am not cocky!” Max stated indignantly. “I just know my own worth.”  Snorts of laughter greeted his pronouncement as they ordered another round of drinks. 

A couple of hours later, they had all moved into the back room of the bar where the pool tables were located.  They had been shooting pool with Max offering his expert opinion on everyone’s form despite the fact he was the worst shot of the bunch.  Ava was perched on Cian’s knee with his arm around her waist watching Max harass Macy during her shot setup.  Macy swatted at him with her pool cue.  When Max laughed and jumped back out of range, he stumbled into a young, pretty blonde decked out in skin-tight clothes; what little there was of them.  She shot him a withering glare when he apologized and made to continue on when she stopped and did an incredulous double take.  Her whole face lit up with a smile of recognition.

“Hey, aren’t you Max…” she was interrupted by Max, who put an arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the doorway, shooting Cian an apprehensive look over his shoulder.  Macy looked over at Ava questioningly.  Ava shrugged and turned to Cian who was watching Max speaking earnestly to the young woman, his arm still around her shoulders, smiling his most charming smile.

“Who is that?” Ava asked.  Cian shrugged nonchalantly but his eyes looked worried.

“Hell if I know.  Max gets mistaken for other people all the time.”  Cian responded, taking a long drink of his beer. 

“But she called him Max.” Macy interjected into the conversation as she rejoined them. “What are the chances of her mistaking him for someone else named Max?”

Before Cian answered, Max dropped his arm from around the blonde’s shoulders.  She scribbled something on a piece of paper and stuck it in the front pocket of his jeans, taking more time than necessary.  The blonde ran her hand lingeringly down his chest before turning to walk away.  Max shook his head ruefully, turning back towards them.  Cian abruptly stood Ava up and came to his feet.  He dropped a kiss on her lips.

“I’ll be right back.  I have to go the bathroom.” Cian offered as he walked over to Max.  They had a quick conversation and turned to exit the room together.

“What the hell was that?” Macy asked Ava, motioning to where the two guys had been.  Ava continued to watch the doorway for another long moment before turning to Macy and shrugging.  A cold smile came over her face.

“I have no idea.  But I will find out.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

“What the hell was that?” Cian bit out angrily as he crossed to Max. “Tell me that wasn’t some puck bunny here in West Virginia.”  Max just stood there and looked at him mutely. “Well?”

“You said not to tell you.” Max retorted sarcastically.  “You need to calm down, Key.”

Cian and Max headed for the hallway where the restrooms were located.  Cian checked to make sure no one else was there before turning back to Max. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

Max shrugged. “You would have been recognized, too if you had bumped into Miss Blonde.  It is not a big deal.  I got her away from Ava and Macy before she could get out much and told her I was trying to keep a low profile.  I’m supposed to meet her over at the hotel in an hour or so.” Max said with a grin.  Cian rubbed his hand over his face, looking worried.

“What am I gonna tell Ava?” Cian said under his breath, pacing back and forth.  Max looked shocked for a moment before giving Cian a pained look.

“Maybe you should tell her the truth.” He offered tentatively. “I do not have any experience with relationships…”

“I don’t either.”  Cian groaned in frustration.  Max laughed incredulously. “What the hell do you find so amusing?”

“You,
mon ami
.”  Max said still grinning. “I usually refrain from offering advice, but I am going to make an exception in your case because you are my best friend.  I believe you are making a huge mistake by not telling Ava the truth.” Cian looked at Max angrily before sighing and shaking his head in despair.

“You don’t know her like I do.  She’s not the forgiving sort…”

“That may be the case but she is more likely to forgive if it comes from you rather than from some stranger.”  Cian glared at Max who regarded him with pity. “It does not take a genius to know that no one likes to play the fool.”

“It’s not like that!” Cian growled at Max.  Max shrugged completely unmoved by Cian’s rapidly growing ire.

“You did not use to be this stupid.” Max shook his head with disgust. “Do what you like.” And turned to exit the room.

“Wait!” Cian grabbed Max’s arm and snatched him back.  Max looked at Cian’s hand on his arm before looking into his eyes with a frown. “What am I gonna tell Ava?”  Max continued to stare at him as if he were crazy, before shaking his head in disbelief.

“You are a moron.” He muttered.  After contemplating the ceiling for a few seconds, Max sighed deeply. “Since you insist on involving me in your idiocy tell her I met…” Max reached into his pocket for the scrap of paper and glanced at it. “Tiffani with an ‘I’ at some convention or something and she remembered me from that.  What does Ava and Macy think I do for a living anyway?”

“They never asked and I’d prefer to keep it that way.  Give them some vague convention story then distract Macy until time for you to meet up with Tiffani with an ‘I’.  I’ll keep Ava occupied.”  Cian said matter-of-factly.  Max regarded him as if he were mentally challenged before shrugging his shoulders and following Cian out of the restroom.

Cian’s gaze immediately locked with Ava’s upon their return to the bar area and flashed a smile in her direction.  She didn’t return his smile, just studied him dispassionately for a moment before turning back to her conversation with Macy. “Shit.”  He swore under his breath while Max winced. “She’s pissed.”

“Let me handle this.” Max said under his breath and headed directly for the women.  Cian hurried after him, afraid of what his exuberant best friend was going to do or say.

“I apologize, Ladies.  Say you will forgive me.” Max stated dramatically, setting beside Macy and flashing them both a chagrined smile.

“What are we forgiving you for?” Macy asked with interest.  He looked slightly embarrassed which worried Cian; Max had never been embarrassed a day in his life.

“I am afraid you will think less of me.” Max said dejectedly.  Ava continued to watch Max even after Cian seated himself beside her. “That young woman you saw me speaking with?” The women nodded. “We met at a conference a few months back.  We had a…uh, little fling and I told her I would call…but as so often happens, I did not.  I did not think I would ever see Tiffani again.”  Max said his voice chagrined.  Macy burst out laughing and Ava grinned.

“So she wrote you a mean note and shoved it
deep
into your pocket?” Macy teased him.  Max laughed ruefully and shook his head.

“She has graciously allowed me the chance to redeem myself.  Cian was reading me the riot act because he figured out some of what was going on but did not realize I knew Tiffani.”  Max answered. “I did not mean to interrupt the party.”

“It’s not a problem.”  Ava assured him with a smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes.  She came to her feet and slid her purse onto her shoulder. “I have an early day tomorrow and need to head home for some sleep anyway.”  Cian got to his feet, as well, but she turned and motioned him back into his chair. “Stay and visit with Max, Cian.  I can get myself home.” She started for the front door of the bar.  He hurried after her; Max and Macy following close behind them.  She was irate and wasn’t doing much to hide the fact.  She was moving so quickly, she made it out the door and almost to her Range Rover before he caught up to her, grabbed her arm and brought her to a halt.   She took him completely by surprise when she jerked her arm free and rounded on him, her hands shoving him hard, causing him to stumble back a step.

“Back off, Cian.” She snarled through gritted teeth. “I said I’m going home to get some rest.” She turned to open the door of the Rover but he put his hand against it so she couldn’t open it.

“What’s wrong, Ava?” He asked in a soft voice.  She turned to glare at him and poked him hard in the chest with her index finger.

“I don’t know what that bullshit was in there with you and Max or why he just wasted all that breath lying about it, but whatever it was, I’m going home…
alone
.” she said angrily.

“Ava…” He began, but she waved his words away and opened her door. “So that’s it?  You don’t believe Max so you’re kicking me out?” he asked in a wounded voice. “Come on,
Ava, that’s crazy.”

“I’m not kicking you out, Cian.  You are, as before, welcome to stay as long as you please as I promised my son.  I’m just not sleeping with you anymore.” Her words rang with finality as she seethed with rage, her eyes snapping with blue fire.  She was so mad at him, but what worried him the most was the hurt he could see lurking behind the anger.

“Ava, please…” He pleaded, reaching for her again but she moved to avoid his touch.  “This doesn’t make sense.”  She turned around to look at him in disbelief.

“You know what doesn’t make sense?  That you would think I’m that damn stupid, Cian.  I’m supposed to believe that you went after Max to lecture him on hooking up with strangers in a bar?” Her hands were braced on her hips, and one eyebrow was up. “Especially considering you did it yourself not six weeks ago?”  She reminded him of their auspicious first meeting.  “You must have really had some dumb bitches in your past if you expected me to fall for that shit.  I don’t know what you’re lying about and I don’t care.  I’m done with this and I’m done with
you
.”

Frustrated anger was getting the best of him as he saw his whole relationship with Ava unraveling in front of his face.  He was pissed at himself more than anything for getting himself into this situation in the first place, but her stubborn refusal to let this one little thing go added to the helpless fury that rolled through his body.  After the Lani fiasco, one would think he would have learned he wasn’t cut out for relationships.  Before he could think better of it, his angry words were out of his mouth.  “Fine; if that’s the way you want it, that’s the way you’re gonna get it.  I don’t need this shit.”  He turned and stormed back into the bar.  Ava stared after his retreating form before shaking her head in angry disbelief.   Without another word to the gaping Max and Macy, she climbed into her Rover and sped away.