Page 28 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

“Same with this one.” Ava steps up to the counter next to me, jabbing my arm before handing Oliver his coffee. “She can recite historical facts in her sleep, but try to make a joke around her? It’ll go right over her head.”

“Oh, shut up,” I mutter. That heat from earlier reappears, creeping through my veins. I turn away, finishing the two black coffees I’m working on before handing them to Elliot.

He just gives me a soft smile. “I hope you find some time to read this week, Wren. I know it makes you happy.”

I open my mouth, searching for any words, but they all stay trapped in my throat. It’s too overwhelming—the way he’s looking at me, the sincerity in his tone and his gaze. Like he actuallycares.

Ava snorts, reaching up to close my jaw. “She means thank you. Enjoy your drinks.” Then she pulls me into the back, shaking me. “How did you ever manage to get a boyfriend?”

Blinking a few times, I glance back out front. Elliot is still standing at the counter, an amused smile playing across his face. God, it suits him well.

It takes me a few seconds before I’m able to tear my gaze away from his. “I mean, none of the guys I’ve dated have actually been that great.”

Shaking her head, Ava sighs. “Still. Do you even know how to flirt?”

“Uh… kinda?”

As she lets out a frustrated sound, she throws her hands up in the air. “Hopeless. You’re completely and utterlyhopeless,Wren. Yet, somehow, it seems like all three of them have a crush on you.”

My eyes go wide. The amount of embarrassment I feel as Ava waggles her eyebrows at me is impossible to put into words. For a moment, I wish I could dissolve into the floor.

Is Elliot still watching? I hope not.

“I don’t know about all of them. Rhett seems a bit standoffish.”

Ava frowns. “Which one is he? Because the two we just talked to were perfectly friendly.”

“The third one. Kinda brooding? You were offended last week when he didn’t laugh at your joke.”

“Oh, yeah, he is a little standoffish.” She taps her chin for a moment before shrugging. “Whatever. I still think you should invite book boy to the ball tonight. I’ll happily give up my ticket if it means you getting laid.”

“Shutup,”I grit out, glancing at the three men. They’re at their usual table in front of the windows. Thankfully, that should mean they’re out of earshot.

Originally, I was supposed to be going to the Valentine’s Day masquerade ball with Adam. But when I broke up with him a few weeks ago, he gave me his ticket back.

But of course, he couldn’tjustgive it back. He had to throw in something about how he thought the thing was “stupid” and he “didn’t even want to go in the first place.”

Still, Ava happily volunteered to fill his spot as my date, and she’s been talking about it every day for weeks. I’m not taking this night away from her.

“No,” I say. “It’s Valentine’s Day. And I'm not letting you sit at home alone.Youneed to find a pretty girl to take home.”

She only glares at me for a second before relenting. “Fine.”

My eyes wander back to the three men lounging in leather chairs and sipping their coffees. Rhett’s cool gaze meets mine, and I freeze. He may be across the shop, but it feels like he’s stolen the air straight from my lungs.

A faint smile crosses his lips—so faint I’m sure I’m imagining it—before I turn back to Ava.

I take a deep breath. Maybe Ava is right. If I can’t even handle a manlookingat me, I must really need some action in the sex department.

“Just promise me you’lltryto find someone tonight. I don’t want you to go home alone. That would be so sad.” She gives me one of her signature,I-know-what’s-best-for-youlooks.

Inwardly, I wince. Because that was exactly my plan—have fun tonight, go home alone, and fall into bed. The idea of going home with a stranger isn’t appealing to me, especially since that’s how I ended up with Adam.

And I can’t have a repeat of our relationship. I justcan’t.

Ava shoves me. “Promiseme, Wren.”

Rolling my eyes, I say, “Fine. I promise I’ll try.”