Chapter Sixty-Two - Fletcher

Six months later…

“It doesn’t taste right,” I said. “Do it again.”

The chef gave me a look that I swore rivaled Satan himself. I didn’t blame him. We’d been working on this dish for a month straight.

I wanted it to be right for the grand opening. The restaurant I opened on Park and Grand was my own. It had no ties to the mafia, only ties to Fletcher Hines.

The last two months after my father finally accepted my resignation and allowed me to let this life go, had been the best two months of my life.

I’d spent every free moment away from the restaurant with Ava. No worries. No stress. Only the trial for Heidi Capello coming up but my lawyer said she wanted to take a plea deal to serve six years if she admitted she was guilty.

I didn’t care as long as she sat in prison for what she did, and left us alone.

“It tastes great,” the chef, Jose said. “It’s perfect, you’re just being zealous.”

Maybe I was, but I wouldn’t admit it. “Do. It. Again,” I said. “This is why I pay you the big bucks.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m being paid to cook for you because you’ll never open.”

I chuckled and wiped my hands on a towel hanging on my hip. “Maybe you’re right, but a paycheck is a paycheck.”

Jose smiled at me. “Whatever you say.”

I caught sight of my watch and cringed. “Oh, dang. The time got away from me. I need to get going.”

Jose’s eyes widened. “Ava’s art gallery opens tonight, right?”

“Right. She’ll skin me if I’m late. See you tomorrow morning at 10.”

I stalked toward the office, finding my cell phone flashing with notifications on my desk. I scrolled through them while I grabbed my keys, locked my office door and left the restaurant. I’d fought Ava on a name for the restaurant and we finally agreed on HINES’ FAMILY RESTAURANT.

I thought Ava was a great name, but she didn’t like it. I smiled at all of her panicky texts on my phone. She was borderline freaking out that I hadn’t answered.

I slid into my driver’s seat and let my phone connect to Bluetooth as I weaved into traffic.

“Fletcher Hines,” she said exasperatedly. “If you’re late…”

“I won’t be late, Love. I’m on my way now.”

She sighed. “You’re just now leaving the restaurant, and you have to fight traffic. If you would just answer your phone once in a while and leave poor Jose alone.”

She already knew. “You think you know me, don’t you Ava Hines?”

“Don’t I? Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you didn't spend the last four hours perfecting an already perfect dish?"

“You’re not wrong. Is Bree there yet?”

She laughed. “You think Bree would be late for this? She’s been anticipating the opening for months. Get here now before I go crazy. I'm nervous and I need you."

She ended the call abruptly. I did my best to make a way through traffic, but realized I’d be late nonetheless. I called and ordered flowers earlier, so hopefully they would arrive and soothe the ache of my being late.

When I pulled up, there were no parking spaces. I had to park two blocks down the strip, and I ran toward the gallery, shoving through people who cursed and yelled at me.

I didn’t care. I had tunnel vision. I didn’t stop until I got to the door and saw the slew of people walking around the place.

Slipping inside, I snagged a glass of champagne from a passing tray and found my way to Ava.

She was in a backless silver dress that showcased her slender waist. Bree was standing beside her, pointing toward a portrait of her childhood home she’d painted with Charlotte in mind.

I slid my palm against her back, making her jump and crushed my mouth against hers when she turned.

Bree laughed with a man I didn’t recognize and Ava yelped. “Don’t be naughty,” she whispered against my mouth. “It’s about time you got here. I was about to send for the police.”

I smiled at her bright eyes, and relaxed demeanor. There was something light about her that had come out over the last few months. It was relaxation. It was freedom.

“The place looks great,” I said to her and then to Bree. “You both outdone yourselves.”

Bree pretended to fluff her hair while Ava turned to the gentleman standing across from her. “This is Brent. He’s one of the artists I picked up. He painted the landscape over there.”

I glanced over my shoulder at the giant piece taking up half of the wall printed in that funky wallpaper she wanted. “Amazing,” I said, shaking his hand. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Ava put up one finger to them, looped her arm through mine and guided me around the room. “There are so many people here. Some have even made bids. I can’t believe it.”

I chuckled, and stopped her to touch her jawbone. “You deserve this.”

She smiled. “I know.”

Commotion from the front doors drew our attention. Duke and Charlotte walked inside, and Duke clapped really loudly. Ava groaned and hid her face in her palms.

“Wow, Ava Hines. This is amazing.”

Charlotte poked her elbow into his ribs and he shrugged at her. They’d been dating seriously for the last few months, and Charlotte had really taken to his lifestyle which was completely different than hers.

She’d come down from her high horse and spent nights in hotel rooms traveling from city to city to watch men fight until they couldn’t stand up.

Ava seemed to be pleased that she was happy, and that was all I ever wanted for Duke as well.

Charlotte took Ava into her arms and hugged her tightly. They had a twin moment as Duke called it. They just looked at each other and they knew what the other wanted to say.

“Twin moment,” Duke said, reaching around me to grab champagne. “Where is Levi? Is he coming?”

“No,” I said, sliding my palms into my pockets. “Dad has him doing a run tonight. He seems to have really stepped up to the plate surprisingly.”

Levi said he wanted to take Dad’s place, and he agreed. It’d been hard on him, but he seemed to have fallen in place nice enough. Rather him than me.

“Ah, maybe they can come see tomorrow. Oh, wow, dude, that’s you,” Duke said.

I looked at the portrait of me hanging on the wall and then at the two women who were admiring it.

Ava had reluctantly drawn several, and when I looked around, I noticed small tags that meant they’d been sold.

I didn’t like the idea of my face hanging in random women’s houses, but as long as Ava was okay with it.

Someone called for Ava across the room and I watched as she walked over with confidence. There was something about her coming into her skin that made tears prick the corners of my eyes.

I didn’t let Duke or Charlotte see. Not even Jamie when she came in her work uniform. Ava was becoming everything she wanted to be, and having her as my wife never felt better.

We spent the entire night mingling, selling art and having too many glasses of champagne. When the last person left, Ava shut the door and locked it. With her back pressed against the glass, I stepped over and trapped her there. “That was a long night,” I said against her mouth.

She giggled, the champagne had her a bit tipsy, and she grabbed the collar of my shirt. “It was, but it was so much fun. I sold almost every painting.”

“I know you did because you’re amazing. Now,” I said, tucking her hair behind her ear, “you go paint more. And more. And then have another event. Until you’re tired and then we go on vacation wherever you want.”

“That sounds like the life, doesn’t it?” she whispered.

“It does. Because it is. The life of us.”

I picked her up to my waist, the slip in her dress bunched against her thighs and she laughed while trying to hold on. “Don’t get these people’s art dirty or I’ll lose my reputation.”

I chuckled. “That’s why we have a back room. For moments like these.”

She met my gaze. “To many more of these moments.”

“To many more, Ava Hines.”