Page 96 of Savage Ends

Ava did not take long.

She threw on some lingerie, a pair of jeans, a large shirt, followed by a sweater.She ran a brush through her hair, that was still very much raven.

“Are you sure you got temporary dye?”he couldn’t help asking.

“That’s what it said on the box, only I’m starting to think there was something a little extra in it.I don’t know.I think it is fading.”She shrugged.“It must have been really raven.”

“I miss your blonde hair, but it looks cute.”

“Cute?”Ava asked.“I don’t want to look cute.I want to look sexy.”

He laughed.“And trust me, babe, you look sexy.You are sexy.”He twirled some of the curl around his finger, and then pulled her in against him.“And every single time I look at your hair now, I know what we did that Halloween.I’m reminded of that witch that came and stole my heart.I will treasure those memories forever.”

“How do you know how to say all the right things?”

Pat chuckled.“Believe it or not, I’ve got Bull and Grant to thank for that.”

“Bull and Grant?”she asked, frowning.“Why?”

“Let’s just say when it comes to their women, Maddie and Aria, they kind of messed up, saying some shit they really didn’t mean.”

“You’re serious?”

“Yeah, and I’ve learned from their mistakes.”He took hold of her hands.“I’m not saying being with me is going to be easy, Ava.In fact, I know at times it’s going to be hard.I’m not an easy man to live with, nor have I ever been, but what I can promise you, is that you have my whole heart and I will be loyal to you.I’ll never step out on you.I’ll never quit on us.I will be yours, just as you are mine.”

“There is no one else, Pat.There never will be.”

“Time’s ticking!”The yell came from downstairs, but it was loud enough to be heard.Pat quickly looked down at his watch and winced.“Crap, we’re one minute past the thirty minutes.”

Ava laughed.“That’s okay, I think I’m ready to go and face them.”

Pat knew he should have let Ava go, but there was no one else who would be able to take care of her like he could.

He took hold of her hand, and together they made their way downstairs to face Ava’s mother.One look at Hazel, and he knew she was pissed.However, she did hide it from her daughter, so that was a good thing.

He would prove to Hazel he wasn’t going anywhere.

****

“You look really happy,” Violet said later that morning.

Ava glanced over at her sister and smiled.It was a slow morning.A really slow morning.There were not many orders to fulfill, and they were instead going through the whole shop, filling the gaps and neatening up the spaces.

They had a few customers that had come and gone, and their mother had stepped out.

Ava had already noticed the Chaos and Carnage MC men were close, but not too close as to affect the customers.

“I am happy.”

“Things go well with Pat?”

“Yeah, they did.I mean, we didn’t say we loved one another, but ...I don’t know, I think in a strange way, we kind of did.”Ava frowned.“I don’t know.”

Violet laughed.“Why not just tell him you love him?”

“Isn’t there some kind of girl code that says you’re supposed to keep that to yourself?”

Violet rolled her eyes.“Yeah, if you have an issue with the guy knowing your feelings and they’re going to take full advantage of it and not return those feelings.Then there is a code.”Violet shrugged.“You think Pat is one of them?”