Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
She could say it now, though she hadn’t been able to when they died, or even long after they were gone. “They only showed us the selfish side of love. But their kind of love wasn’t the real thing.”
Her parents had always been more concerned with their next junket than they were with their kids. The family had gone through several nannies, none of whom ever said a thing about the parents’ attitude, even though they all must have wondered how the Harringtons could leave their children behind so often. Her parents had been like playmates, always off on the next fun adventure. All they’d known how to do was pump out a passel of kids, then go on their merry way.
Maybe their parents’ legacy was why none of them could deal with the subject of love. While they could talk about almost anything else with each other, love was off the table. None of them had ever broached the topic with Dane, even though all of them knew he was in love with Cammie. It could also have been why she’d kept Ransom a secret.
None of that mitigated the hurt she’d felt over Ransom’s betrayal. But maybe it explained a little. “I’m not sure I ever really believed in love.” Which might have been a self-fulfilling prophecy. The moment Ransom pretty-womaned her, she’d known the whole relationship had been an illusion. She was nothing special to him, no matter how much she’d tried to please him. It was painfully familiar territory.
She’d thought he wanted someone who worked as hard as he did, someone with the kind of ambition he had. She’d gone back to school for herself, but she’d also wanted him to respect her. And while she’d been doing everything she could to please him, he’d made that offer as though none of it mattered. As though he hadn’t even noticed.
But her little sister called her on the comment about love. “What about Dane and Cammie? You don’t think their love is real?”
Ava shrugged. “They probably think it is.”
Gabby’s blue eyes blazed. “Of course they’re in love. Dane has been in love with Cammie since the day she started working for him.” Twelve years, to be exact. “And Cammie has stars in her eyes when she looks at him.”
“Okay. I admit they’re totally in love.” She’d known it for years too. She just didn’t want to admit that the problem was her. Despite their parents’ poor example, Dane had learned how to love. But she and Ransom had failed spectacularly.
Gabby wasn’t finished. “And what about all the Mavericks? The way Gideon looks at Rosie, the way he always put his hand on her pregnant belly.” Rosie had recently given birth to their little girl. “And Matt—the way he so tenderly touches his new son’s head, then kisses Ari.”
The babies had all been introduced at one of the weekly family barbecues. Ava admitted that the look in Cal’s eyes as he gazed at Lyssa, the youngest of the Spencer children, was love and nothing but love. “I know you’re right. I don’t think I’ve ever seen looks like those.”
“Those men love,” Gabby insisted, heartfelt. “So do their wives and partners. And look at their parents, Bob and Susan Spencer. A love that’s lasted more than thirty-five years.”
Ava held up her hands in surrender. “All right, already. I get it. They’ve all got fantastic relationships. And Dane loves Cammie with all his heart and vice versa.” She took a gigantic breath, filling her lungs, then let it out. “So basically it’s just me and Ransom who suck. We couldn’t make love work.” Before Gabby could say yea or nay or deny the obvious, she turned the conversation on her sister. “What about you? Have you ever been in love?”
Gabby gave a half smile and a half shrug. “There was a French boy when I was at cooking school in Paris.” This time, it was a full shrug. “But I’d never call that love. It was just nice to have someone help with the language barrier, someone to hang out with.”
Ava wondered how big a story lay behind those words.
But Gabby preempted her by asking, “So you know you have to hire the guy, right?” When Ava grimaced, Gabby finished, “He might suck at love, but he sure as hell doesn’t suck at cooking or catering.”
With those fateful words, Ava flopped down onto the table, laying her head on the surface.
Gabby groaned. “That’s disgusting. What if they don’t wash these very well?”
Ava could do no more than mumble, “I don’t care. I don’t want to call him.”
Gabby tugged on her tightly wound chignon, and Ava opened her eyes.
“You’re a different person now than you were then. You can handle him. You’re strong and confident, and you’ll do whatever you need to do to make sure your residents are well taken care of.”