“I like her too. In fact, I love her.” His father’s hand covered his. “It’s all right, son. Go find your girl.” His eyes grew watery. “You look at her the way I used to look at your mother when we first met. I want to see you dancing together at my wedding.”
So did he, Dominic realized. He wanted to show her off on his arm and go home with her. Which pissed him off all over again that she’d left without him.
Because he hadn’t fought for her.
Because, like always, it had been Ava Kanas against the world.
If only she’d been patient, she’d have seen him go to bat for her. Balls to the wall. Mouth set to megaphone. Was he too late? Had he come riding to her defense a few seconds too late? She was pissed but, more importantly, she was hurt. Would she forgive him?
He didn’t know. He texted her and waited for her to reply, but the message didn’t even show as being delivered.
Dominic stared at the screen impatiently then shook his head as he made his way through the ballroom to the front of the house. He knew how to negotiate a high-stakes game, and this thing with Ava was about as high stakes as anything he’d ever dealt with before.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Mallory wasn’t sure how she’d ended up at Governor Sheridan’s engagement party with her mother.
She wore a flowing black dress made of layers upon layers of netting that resembled a tent. It reached her knees—probably—and had a decorative collar covered in shiny costume jewels. The only saving grace was it was loose and cool, and her arms and legs were bare.
Mal was pretty sure she’d attended another engagement party in this house years ago and knew the governor had remarried several times after losing his first wife to suicide. She understood grief better than most. She was lucky to have channeled her anguish into her career on the way to finding Alex. If anything happened to him…she couldn’t imagine carrying on.
Except, she ran a hand over her taut belly, she had another reason to keep going now. Another reason to live.
She climbed the steps to the massive front door of the impressive mansion and took one look at the crowd of people milling around inside.
“You go on, Mom. I’m going to sit outside on the bench in the sunshine.” She pointed to a garden seat that might hold her weight. “Say hi to the governor and grab me some water, would you?”
Her mother’s mouth turned down at the corners. “Are you all right?”
Sweat broke out on Mal’s brow, and a wave of lightheadedness rolled over her, but the last thing she wanted was for anyone to make a fuss. Low blood pressure came along with the pregnancy, and she’d learned to move through it. It only lasted a couple of minutes generally. It was the constant back ache like knuckles kneading her kidneys that was driving her to distraction.
“I’m fine.”
Her mother squeezed her hand.
Mallory wanted to be alone for a few minutes and instead there were three hundred people ready to make small talk. She’d rather make an arrest. God. “I just don’t want to go into a stuffy house full of people.”
“Okay. If you are sure. I’ll say hello to Douglas and Tracy and get you a drink. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
Sure, she would.
Mallory smiled reassuringly at her. She loved her mother. What she hated was being treated like she needed a nursemaid.
Alone for the time being, she headed down to the garden bench and sat, sighing as her poor aching feet got some relief.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught a flash of lavender, and her head shot up.
Was that Ava Kanas?
Mal hurried to her feet and walked over to the main gate.
“Ava?” she called.
The woman whirled, and Mal took in her devastated expression. She hurried forward. “What happened?”
Ava blinked suspiciously bright eyes. “Nothing.”
“Liar,” said Mal. “It has to be Dominic. What did he do?”
The bark of laughter had a bitter edge. “What gave it away?”
“The broken heart you’re wearing on your face.” Mal put an arm around Ava and held her when the woman started to shake. “Okay, we’re going to walk down the street here so that we don’t give anyone a free show. I’ll call Alex to come pick us up.”
Mal one-handedly speed-dialed her husband. “Can you come get me and Ava?”
“The baby?” he asked.
“No, Ava is having a problem with a certain hostage negotiator and needs to get out of here fast.” Mal hung up and slipped the phone in her pocket.
Ava straightened and used both hands to wipe at the makeup around her eyes. “Not an agent any longer. The director fired me.”
“What? Why?”
“He caught me and Dominic kissing.”
“What about Dominic? Did he get fired?” asked Mal.
“No.” Ava’s lips trembled.
“What did Dominic say?” Heat rose through Mal. A wave of sensation ran over her skin.
“Nothing much. He just stood there looking pissed.” Ava shook her head. “I couldn’t stay. I had to get out of there.”
Mal ran her hand over Ava’s back. “I’m so sorry. I am sure Dominic will not let this stand.”
Ava didn’t look convinced. At all. And then two things happened at once. Mal felt a rush of liquid burst down her legs, and a car pulled up beside them.
“Oh, hell. Here we go.”
“What?” Ava frowned and then looked down at the puddle around Mal’s legs. “Uh oh.”
Uh oh, indeed. Suddenly the long hours of back ache made a lot more sense. She’d probably been in pre-labor the whole time.
The car window rolled down, and a woman’s voice called out, “Can I offer you a ride?”
Mal leaned into the open window. “My waters broke. Can you give me a ride to the hospital, please?” She’d text Alex to meet her there.
“Of course, get in.”
Mal turned and gave Ava a squeeze, recognizing the misery in her pinched features.
“Do you love him?” she asked.
Ava blinked like she hadn’t known the answer to that question until Mal had voiced it, then nodded despondently.
“Then go back in there and fight for him.”
Ava closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. “I can’t chase him, Mallory. I can’t be another of those women throwing themselves at him. If he wants me, he’s going to have to fight for me. Come on, you have a baby to deliver. Let’s get you to the hospital.”