61

Ava was surprised that she wasn’t alone as she stepped into the bathroom.

“Dr Walsh?” Ava said as she saw the dark-haired woman from before lifting her eyes in the mirror from her own lips as she was adding more lipstick to meet Ava’s.

“Well, hello,” she said, smirking slightly at Ava. Ava caught a glance of herself in the mirror and felt mortified when she realised, she looked just as dishevelled as she felt. “I guess James got what he wanted after all,” the woman then said.

“Pardon?” Ava asked. Her mind was still not back to normal. Then she realised what this woman implied. “You think I had sex with James?” she said, sounding alarmed.

“You didn’t?”

“Of course not,” Ava said, making it sound like it was the most disgusting thing she could think of. “I mean, no. No, I didn’t. Why would you think that, Dr Walsh?”

“Please, just call me Linda. What else am I supposed to think? James has been obsessing over you since he saw you and now you show up looking like that,” Linda said. Ava looked at her as another realisation hit her.

“He was your date tonight?”

“He was supposed to be,” Linda nodded.

“What a creep,” Ava said. Linda snorted and laughed.

“Yes, that he is. Don’t get me wrong, I always knew he was a playboy. I just assumed he would have enough manners to be my date for an evening,” she told Ava. “If you didn’t have sex with him, who was the lucky man?”

“My boss,” Ava confessed as she tried to wrangle her hair back into shape.

“The criminal that James went on and on about?”

“I guess so.”

“Fuck, that’s hot. I don’t blame you. I would choose hot criminal over creepy doctor any day,” Linda said, and they both laughed. There was a sound of a flushing toilet and a stall door opened and Jenni walked out.

“Oh hi,” she said, looking Ava over.

“Hi,” Ava said.

“I don’t think I could do it, I thought I could, but I can’t,” Jenny said.

“Can’t do what? Ava asked.

“Dating a mafia man. I mean, Jax is hot and all, but I can’t get over how scarry it is. I can’t understand that you are so relaxed around Mr Velky, he is even scarier than Jax,” Jennie said. He was? Jannie might have a point, Ava thought, she had been scared of him the first time they met.

“I find him calming,” Ava said honest. Jannie looked at her like she had lost her mind.

“I just think the whole bad boy thing is hot,” Linda chirmed in. Jennie looked at her in the same way she had looked at Ava and shook her head, wiped her hands and left. Jax would not be getting anything tonight, Ava thought.

“Are you going to be okay? Do you need a ride home or something?” Ava asked Linda.

“Wow, you are just as sweet as you look. No, thank you. I was looking forward to getting some at least decent sex at the end of the night. I think I will hit the open bar and see what I can find,” Linda said with a smile.

“Okay. If you change your mind or need anything, just come find me. Even better, I’ll give you my number and you can call me,” Ava said and held out her hand so she could get Linda’s phone.

“Woff, you are genuinely nice and trustworthy. Please be careful so people don’t get the wrong idea.”

“I’m here with three bad, bad men. I’m sure you can be a badass when you’re mad. But I don’t think you can compete with them.” Ava told her as she finished up adding her number to the phone. “Please, don’t trust James, not even a little, okay?”

“What did he do?” Linda asked. Ava glanced at the bathroom door and lowered her voice.

“He tried to get me to sleep with Mr Cleaso so the hospital would get more money,” she whispered.

“What a fuck head. Why are you whispering?”

“I don’t want my date to hear. He would end James if he knew.”

“As he should, I can’t see why that would be bad,” Linda huffed. Ava smiled, she liked the doctor.

“I don’t care about James, but Zane might get in trouble for it.”

“Okay, I see your point.” They finished getting ready while chit chatting about less serious things. Ava hadn’t had a female friend in years and found she enjoyed the company of Linda. They walked out of the bathroom together. Zane was standing, leaning against the opposite wall, and stood up straight when he saw Ava.

“That is your criminal bad boy?” Linda asked.

“It is,” Ava said with a smile.

“You don’t have a spare one lying around that I could use?” Ava giggled at Linda.

“Maybe I do,” Ava said. As Zane walked up to them, Linda said goodbye and walked off to find the bar.

“Was that the woman who was with the doctor?” Zane asked as he led Ava back the way they came.

“It is, she was his date,” Ava told him.

“He has a date?”

“Had,” Ava corrected him and smiled as he chuckled.

“He deserves to be dumped,” he said.

“I agree,” Ava nodded.

“Ready to find our final mark and then to have some fun?” Zane asked her.

“More fun? Sounds like a plan,” she agreed. They soon found the last businessman and he was so eager to connect with Zane and his organisation the man almost drooled when Zane agreed to a meeting.

“I wish they at least made it a challenge. It’s no fun like this,” Zane whined as they made their way over to the table where there were light refreshments. Zane handed Ava a small cup with panna cotta and fruit glace. She looked at the dessert and was about to object when she saw Zane’s look. She smiled and took a spoon full of the delightful treat. “Good girl,” he whispered, and Ava felt the shiver down her spine. Jax walked up to them and Ava looked around for Jennie, but couldn’t see her anywhere.

“Where is Jennie?” she asked.

“She stayed with the last mark. Apparently she thinks I’m too scary,” Jax told her. He didn’t look like he was hurt, just irritated.

“I’m sorry Jax. Are you in a mood for a consolation prize?” Ava asked.

“What are you doing, angel?” Zane asked.

“I have a friend that has been stood up. She should be in the bar. Just look for a bombshell, with chocolate brown hair in a red dress.”

“You know, I liked you before, but if you are going to get me bed mates, then you become my best friend,” Jax told her with a big smile before making his way towards the bar. Zane raised his eyebrow and looked at Ava. She shrugged.

“She deserves to have a good time after spending the evening with James,” Ava told him. She also knew even though Jax was a player, he had manners and would make sure Linda got back home safe.

“What I wouldn’t give to live in your mind for an hour,” Zane told her and chuckled. “How about a dance?” he asked, holding out his hand.

“I would love to,” she said, and let him lead her out on the dance floor where people were swirling around. Zane gently pulled her into him. His free arm went to her back and pushed her against him. He led her out onto the floor, and Ava relaxed and let him lead her to the music. He was an excellent dancer, and she enjoyed being in his arms. She always felt safe there.

“Are you enjoying the evening?” Zane asked. Ava leaned back a little to look him in the eyes.

“It has been amazing.”

“We have done all the things we needed to do. The rest of the night is just for having fun. Let me know what you want to do, and we will do it,” he told her.

“I am perfectly fine just where I am.” He smiled at her and bent down to place a gentle kiss on her lips. They continued to dance. When Ava felt hot, Zane took her out on the balcony and draped his jacket over her shoulders. The night was bitter, but the closeness to Zane and the time spent dancing had Ava comfortable.

“You have been amazing tonight, angel,” Zane told her and kissed her cheek.

“Thank you. I have had a lot of fun. Thank you for bringing me.”

“There is no one else I could have brought. All of this happened because of you,” he said. He pulled her close to him, so her back was against his chest and his arms wrapped around her.

“Would you be very disappointed if I told you I wanted to go home?” Ava asked.

“Never. If I can have you to myself, that is never a disappointment. I will text Carlos to bring the car around.”

“What about the others?”

“Ryder is close by and will follow us. I think Jax will be staying the night if your tip worked out. Jennie, I think is a lost cause,” Zane said as he wrote something on his phone. “Ready to go?”

“Yes,” Ava said, handing the jacket back to Zane. As they were almost in the lobby, James intercepted them. He looked upset.

“Ava, what have you become? This is not who you are. Letting that man do those things to you,” he told Ava. Ava could feel Zane tense up and stepped between the two men. She didn’t know if it was the champagne or if she was still high from the orgasm Zane had given her. But she looked at James with contempt.