Page 44 of Savage Ends

He loved the smile on her lips.

“You do?”

“Yeah, I do.You want to get a drink?”

“Yeah, but ...not alcoholic.Just a soda or something.”

He nodded his head and saw she’d nibbled her lip.“Good call.”He went to the bar, and rather than order himself another beer, he got them both two cold, fresh orange juices.

So far, the party was not heading in a crazy direction.Most of the women had their clothes on, and the guys were behaving themselves.It was still early though.

“Where’s Bernice?”Pat asked.

“Violet is taking care of her for me tonight,” Ava said.

He handed her the bottle of fresh orange juice, and he watched as she took a delicate sip.

“Can I admit something to you?”

“Sure.”

“I’ve never been to a Halloween party,” she said.

“Not ever?”

“No.Mom’s gone to one this year.She opted to go the bar, and Violet offered to babysit Bernice for me.It’s the first time we haven’t spent Halloween together.Mom is like a big fan of horror movies.Violet and I, not so much.”

“You don’t like to be scared?”

“Not at all.”

“Why do you watch them, then?”Pat asked.

“Our dad used to watch them with her.We picked up the tradition after he passed.”

Now he felt like an asshole.Pat looked at her.Any other woman and he didn’t care about her history.He had no interest in learning about her past, or even knowing what she wanted to do with her life.Ava was different, and had been right from the start.He wanted to hear more.Know more.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“It was a long time ago.Did you ever meet my dad?”

Pat shook his head.“No, I can’t say I have.”

She looked at him with such amazing blue eyes.They were stunning.“He was a good guy.”

“I can imagine.He helped bring an amazing woman into this world,” Pat said.

He knew they were completely different.Ava was young, she had her whole life ahead of her, while he had nothing.The club was his life, and the truth was, he expected to die serving the club.He’d gotten lucky when serving his country, but he would bleed and give everything for the club.

Ava deserved someone better.She deserved someone who had to wait to fall asleep through fucking exhaustion.She needed someone who would be there for her, not dealing with club shit.He’d tried to stay away and convince himself someone would come along for her.The only problem was, someone hadn’t come along, or the other little nasty truth he struggled with.He couldn’t stand the fucking thought of anyone else being with Ava.She was not the kind of woman you screwed and forgot.She was hardworking, loyal, she loved her mother.Technically, she worked two jobs, although she didn’t get paid from helping her mother.She did it without anger or annoyance.She just wanted to be there for her.

Most of the women who served the club were only after what would benefit themselves.He’d met a lot of selfish women along the way.Ava was not like that.

“What is it?”she asked.

“Nothing.You want to dance?”he asked.

“There’s a dance floor?”