Page 94 of Wish I Might
Nash stepped inside behind him and slipped off his sunglasses.The cheerful living room was laid out for conversation, a velvet sofa in vivid orange facing two club chairs, one purple and the other peacock blue, in the same fabric.A mid-century modern coffee table sat in the center, its sleek style somehow complementing the plush velvet perfectly.
But it was the people in the room who caught his attention.
The woman was stunning.She was white, with bright pink hair that hugged her scalp in a sleek cap and deep blue eyes currently twinkling with amusement.She was tall, over six feet, wearing a short summer dress that matched her eyes, and built like the proverbial brick house.She had a bold face, all keen angles and sharp points, with a lush mouth currently painted the same color as her hair.
In contrast, the man next to her was short, probably only about five-nine or so, his skin a warm bronze that made the woman next to him glow.Like Sawyer, he wore casual shorts and a T-shirt, his madly curling black hair dusting the collar.He had thickly lashed eyes that were so brown they read black, and a smile on his clean-shaven face.
That smile warmed as he stepped forward to greet Sawyer with a hug.“About time.”
“I’ve been busy.”Sawyer returned the hug with genuine warmth, then aimed his grin over the man’s head.“What, I don’t get a hug?”
“You bastard,” the woman said fondly in a Cockney accent, and when her companion stepped back, wrapped Sawyer in a hard embrace.Then she eased back with a sharp grin to flick the brim of his hat.“You look like a suburban dad.”
“Well, the dad part’s right.”Sawyer slipped off his sunglasses.“Ava and Thiago, meet Nash.”
Nash nodded hello, amused when Ava slung her arm around Sawyer’s shoulder—they were the same height—to give Nash a very thorough once-over.
Then she gave him a smile of considerable charm and purred, “Well, hello, handsome.”
Thiago rolled his eyes.“You just can’t help it, can you?”
“Why should I?”Ava replied, and shot Nash a saucy wink.
“Ignore her, she’s in vamp mode.”Thiago held out a hand.“Nice to meet you.”
“Why don’t we sit down?”Sawyer suggested, steering Ava to the sofa.“And you, behave.”
“Yes, Dad,” Ava said with a pretty little pout, but she sat without further objection.“T, darling, will you get the drinks?”
“At your service,” Thiago drawled.“Nash, what’s your pleasure?”
“Just water.Thanks, Thiago.”
“Call me T.Sawyer?”
“A beer.”Sprawled on the sofa next to Ava, he swept his cap off.“Lou’s driving today.”
“Excellent.Ava, the usual?”
“Yes, please.”
Thiago walked around the sofa to a small bar set up along the far wall.Opening the mini fridge, he pulled out two bottles, a beer and a water.“Ava, play hostess and take these back to our guests.”
“Work, work, work,” she complained, but got up to fetch the bottles he held out.She passed Sawyer his beer, then handed the water over to Nash with a smile.“Here we are.”
“Thanks.”
Thiago crossed back to the sofa, a Faygo Red Pop in one hand and another bottle of water in the other.“Ava, your death water.”
She took it, rolling her eyes.“T doesn’t do fizzy drinks,” she told Nash, twisting off the cap.
“God, no.”Thiago chose the chair next to Nash and smiled at him.“Do you know what they put in that stuff?”
“No, and I probably don’t want to,” Nash replied.
“Smart lad.”Ava lifted the bottle to drink, then lowered it.“So, Nash.”
“Yes, Ava?”
