We Never Kissed

Chapter 26

Alex

I had to do a double-take when I saw Mark enter the bakery. What the hell is he doing here ? My chest tightened as the obvious answer punched me right in the gut. Of course, he’d show up at some point. Any man in their right mind wouldn’t let a woman like Ava go without a fight.

I took my gaze over to my woman. That’s right, asshole, she’s mine now . I didn’t have anything against the guy, really, so my anger didn’t make sense. Ava looked just as shocked as I was. Instead of getting in line, Mark moved to the far side of the bakery, where a decorative shelf lined the wall and housed framed pictures, bakery utensils, and some prepackaged goods .

My pulse was pounding, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was more fear than anger, that somehow he’d convince Ava to give him another chance. After all, it sounded like Mark hadn’t done anything wrong—other than not being me, obviously—and he’d wanted to marry her.

I eyed the door as Ava made her way over to Mark to greet him, knowing I should go before Sammy or Cass saw how worked up I was getting. Then, I made a split-second decision when Mark gestured toward the door. I said a quick goodbye to Dax, grabbed my boxes—conveniently leaving my keys on the table next to him—then quickly headed out of the bakery ahead of them.

My car was on the street but close enough I could see the front of the bakery. I set my boxes on the hood of the car and just as I turned, Ava and Mark walked out and then moved off to the side of the door.

Ava didn’t notice me watching at first, and although I couldn’t hear everything they were saying, Ava’s body language was clear enough: she was uncomfortable. Which meant I wasn’t going anywhere. I pretended to check my pockets for my keys, even though I knew I’d left them on the table in the bakery.

Fuck it . I couldn’t wait any longer. Leaving the boxes of donuts on the hood of my car, I strode back to the bakery. Ava’s gaze caught mine over Mark’s shoulder and widened. I honestly wasn’t sure what I was going to do, only that I needed to do something, not to mention this was a wakeup call that it was time to make Ava and me official and pray the family accepted it, accepted me.

Ava opened her mouth and drew in air just as I arrived at Mark’s back. But nothing came out, and then Mark turned.

“Alex?” Mark said, narrowing his gaze on me.

“Mark…” I held his stare for longer than was socially acceptable, then said, “Forgot my keys inside.” I gestured with my head to the door. And yet, even though I’d announced it, I just stood there, staring at Mark. “So, what are you doing here?” I darted my eyes to Ava, knowing she’d hate that I’d asked, and sure enough her face was pinched, her mouth forming wrinkles.

Instead of answering me, Mark pivoted and stepped next to Ava. “We were sort of in the middle of something, if you don’t mind.” He showed one of those closed-mouth half grins. “Plus you don’t want someone to get ahold of those keys and take off in your Mercedes.”

“Yeah,” Ava said, her voice a little shaky. “And tell Sammy, I’ll be back in a minute…” Her eyes seemed to plead with me to leave.

Standing in place for a few more awkward beats, I contemplated telling Mark to get lost before I kicked him all the way back to Vegas. But it wasn’t my place. At least I knew that was what Ava would think. I hated the idea of leaving them alone, of him pleading his case, but I just had to have faith it was all pointless. Ava had chosen me, and she would tell him that or some version of it. “No problem.” I gave them a single nod and headed back inside.

Cass was with Dax when I returned, holding my keys. I couldn’t quite read the look on her face, but when she handed them to me, she said, “Didn’t work, huh?”

“What?” My pulse quickened like I’d been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. Could she know?

A sly grin took over her face. “Your car… Didn’t work without the keys, right?”

Her brows lifted, and I got a strange feeling she was throwing double meanings at me. I took the keys from her hand. “Thanks.” I gave Dax a fist bump, and just as I turned away, Cass’s words caught me.

“Should I give her five minutes and then send Sammy out?”

I threw a grin over my shoulder. “Make it two.”

Someone was coming in as I approached the door, and they held it open for me. I could see just beyond; Mark took Ava’s hand. My blood pressure shot heat over my skin, but I felt powerless. Ava had always been annoyed with my knee-jerk reactions, my temper, and this could be a defining moment for us.

Walking out, I started to head to my car as I kept eyes on Ava. Of course, she had that sweet expression, that look of empathy that came from her caring heart, and I hoped he wouldn’t get the wrong idea from it.

Okay, maybe I was an idiot, but I stopped and turned back. As I walked up, I heard him saying, “…it’s all I ask…please.”

“I don’t know…” Ava said just before she saw me approach again.

“I’m only here for one night.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to work, Mark,” I said a little too loudly.

Ava’s eyes went wide, and Mark turned to me.

“Alex.” Mark said my name like it was that vegetable on your plate you didn’t want invading all your favorite foods. “Thought you were leaving.”

“I am. But I was just going to tell Ava that Cass needs her inside.”

He turned to her. “I’m sorry I’m keeping you. So, can you meet me for a drink so we can talk?”

My eyes bore into Ava’s face; even though she was looking at him, I was sure she sensed me willing her to get rid of him once and for all. I knew Ava, though, and she was too nice to cut him off so abruptly.

So, it was a total shock when she said, “Mark, I’m sorry you came all the way here, but I don’t have anything more to say. It’s just not going to happen.” Her eyes dropped to her wrist where she was fiddling with something and when I followed her gaze, I noticed it was the bracelet I’d given her.

Pride—and a large dose of relief—swelled inside me, and I fought to hide my grin.

Mark dropped his chin to his chest. “Don’t apologize, Ava. I just had to try.” He took a step back, then turned to me. “You don’t deserve her.”

I glanced at Ava, whose jaw slacked.

Before I could respond, he looked at Ava again. “And he’ll never give you what I could have.” Then he walked away.

We stared at each other a beat before I said, “Well, that wasn’t what I expected.”

She sighed. “Yeah, and if Mark figured it out, I wonder who else did.”