Spark: Book 1 (The Heat Series) Read online

  “What? Come out to the stairs so we can talk.”

  “I’m busy, and if you don’t get away from me, I’m going to call my uncle and tell him you won’t leave me alone.”

  Xander continued to stare at her in disbelief, but he knew better than to mess with her. She was angrier than a hornet’s nest, and he had no intention of poking her. He walked away and went back up to his office. Ava ran to the bathroom to vomit. Her stomach was in knots. Nothing came out of her though since she hadn’t eaten in almost two days. She loved him so much, and the look on his face was more than she could take. He looked tortured. Maybe there was an explanation for what she saw but what? What could explain what she had seen? She tried to put everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours out of her mind.

  Victoria had sent her an email saying she needed Ava to go to the courthouse. She didn’t relish having to go there again. She went to Victoria’s office to collect the folders with the paperwork she needed to file. She would leave at eight-thirty and get there just as the doors opened. Maybe she would be able to get out quicker, but at eleven twenty-five she was still waiting to file paperwork. She had to fill out another form because the one she previously had filled out had different information on record. So by the time she got back in line, there were several people ahead of her. She was beginning to feel faint. She should have at least had some coffee this morning or a smoothie. She got to the window and finished filing the paperwork. As she was walking the main hallway out of the courthouse, she collapsed. She came to with several people waving folders in her face to fan her as she lay on the floor.

  “Are you alright?” Someone asked. One young woman that was kneeling next to her helped Ava sit up against the wall. A man handed her a cup of water.

  “Do you need us to call an ambulance?” The young woman asked.

  “I’ll take care of her.” She heard a familiar voice say. Xander kneeled down next to her with a worried look on his face.

  “Ava, sweetheart, are you alright?” She didn’t know whether to yell at him or thank him. She was still angry at him, but right now she needed his assistance. She let him help her up, and he got together her files that had fallen out of her hand. The other people had dispersed leaving them alone together.

  “Xander, you don’t have to do that, I feel okay.”

  He stood up with her files in hand, saying, “Aside from the other situation to which I have no understanding, you are not okay. When was the last time you ate?”

  She protested, “You don’t need to baby me, I’m fine.”

  “Then answer the question. When was the last time you ate?”

  “I think Monday night.” Xander let out an exasperated sigh “Monday night! That was almost two days ago. Why haven’t you been eating?”

  “I just…I’m too upset, okay. That thing between you and Ashley hurt me.”

  He stared at her “What thing with Ashley?”

  “I’m not stupid, I saw you.” She was starting to look wobbly again, and he hurried her over to a bench near the entrance of the courthouse. It started to dawn on him that she saw the kiss that Ashley had planted on his lips. What she didn’t see is what followed.

  “What do you think you saw?”

  “Don’t toy with me. I saw you kiss Ashley. Please don’t lie to me.”

  He sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She tried to shrug it away.

  “You saw HER kiss me. I pushed her away and told her that I have a girlfriend whom I love very much. I told her that I would have to request another assistant because it was apparent that she had feelings for me. She admitted she did. I now have an assistant named Charles who at this moment is organizing files in my office. You’ll like him. I asked for a male assistant because it doesn’t seem like my female assistants can avoid falling in love with me.”

  She didn’t resist when he kissed her cheek.

  “You better hope he doesn’t fall in love with you, too.” He held his hand out to her and felt shock of sadness when he noticed she wasn’t wearing her ring. She saw him looking at her ringless finger because she dug around in her purse and held it up.

  “I’m sorry. I was so stupid for not letting you explain.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Do you know how empty my bed felt without you in it? I barely slept last night.” She admitted to him that she barely slept either. The fact was that they both slept better when they were with each other.

  “Let’s get you something to eat. You need to take care of yourself better.” She knew he was right and didn’t know what she would have done without him here. He helped her to a cab, and they went to a small Chinese restaurant not far from the courthouse.

  “Order as much food as you can eat. They have a Kung Pao chicken plate.” Ava didn’t feel that hungry probably because she was so used to not eating. “I’ll have that then.” He placed the order at the window and took the ticket the cashier gave them. They found a booth in the corner and placed the ticket in the table slot. Several minutes later a waiter brought their food and some plates. Instantly, Ava’s appetite reappeared. The smell of the spicy chicken piqued her senses. She scooped a large amount onto her plate. Xander watched her intently as she took a forkful to her mouth. She noticed him watching.

  “Stop. I promise I will eat. I just have been so busy.”

  “How much weight have you lost since you went to the doctor? And don’t lie to me.”

  She hung her head, “I’ve lost two more pounds. This is the first time I’ve ever been below one hundred.”

  Xander was shocked; she was at least ten pounds less than she should be and it showed. Her face looked very thin, and she had dark circles under her brilliant green eyes.

  “We can’t have that. Tonight Cherry Garcia for dinner. How about I order some extra food from here for tonight and store it in my office refrigerator? If I’m not busy during the day, we are going to go to lunch each afternoon even if it’s at the café downstairs.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I want to. Do you know how badly I want to see you during the day? If I get to see you and feed you at the same time, then it’s a win-win scenario.” She smiled weakly and continued eating. Xander ate a majority of the food because she could only eat so much. He ordered more food before they left and took the bag of food back to the office.

  “I’ll meet you in the lobby at five.” He winked at her as the elevator doors closed to take him up to eighteen.

  Ava still felt a bit lightheaded, but she dropped off the folders in Victoria’s office who paged through them while she waited.

  “Are you feeling alright? You look a bit pale.”

  “I was feeling a bit faint at the courthouse and had to sit down before I came back, but I’m alright.”

  “Why don’t you leave for the day? It’s 4:30 and I’m too busy to go over what I need you to do next.”

  Gee, a nice gesture and a dig in the same sentence. You had to hand it to her. She thanked her and went to her desk. She had to wait around for a half hour, so she decided to go downstairs to the café. The line was short, and she ordered a vanilla milkshake. Xander would be proud of her for stocking up on calories. She sat in the corner of the lobby at one of the small bistro tables reading someone’s discarded New York Post.

  If she had looked up, she would have seen Liam watching her from behind a column opposite the large glass front doors.

  Liam Chapman had plenty of free time since he had been dismissed from his position at Magellan Partners two weeks earlier. After they had found out he had a restraining order against him for domestic violence, his expertise was no longer required. He had plenty of time to watch her and that bastard boyfriend of hers.

  As he watched her, he rubbed his nose. The break had healed, but he still had some pain. She was the reason for all his problems. If she had just talked to him, none of this would have happened. But she would pay and dearly. She would learn that she should never have crossed him. He
continued to watch her until Xander stepped out of the elevator. He ducked across the lobby protected by the throngs of people leaving work. He blended in with the departing crowd and was gone.

  Xander settled on the bench near the elevator banks waiting for Ava when he felt a cold hand on his neck. He was glad to see that she had a milkshake in her hand. It might have been a small one, but at least it was almost empty. He wanted her to be serious about her weight gain. So as they walked out, he told her about Abby’s anorexia. He was afraid she would fall into the same pattern. She kissed his hand and promised it would not.

  “Do you have enough energy to walk a few blocks? I think if we get on a cross street we could probably have a better chance of getting a cab.” He held her hand as they walked two blocks up and were able to hail a cab just discharging a couple of teenagers. They decided to stay at her place, so he would go to his apartment to get a suit, let the cab take her home and be over within the hour.

  The cab pulled up to her building, and she checked her mailbox and taking whatever was there. Riley was rubbing against her when she entered the apartment.

  She prepared him his food and while he ate she paged through the mail. There it was; another envelope with the same Connecticut stamp and no return address. Her hand started to shake as she opened the envelope and withdrew the plain white card. On it was two letters “MN.” What the hell could that mean? Then she thought of the other two she had received, and Xander had given to Officer Mike Halloran. “U” was the first one, “R” was the second and now “MN.” She sounded it out a couple of times before it hit her “YOU ARE MINE.” She dropped the card on the counter and dialed Xander’s cell.

  “Ava what is wrong? I’m on my way over already.”

  She was almost breathless as the anxiety attack hit her full force. “Another one in the mail,” she stammered, barely able to breathe. It took Xander a few seconds to figure out what was happening.

  “Stay with me. Calm down, calm down, please. Breathe for me.” He ran along the streets at full speed listening to her wheezing on the phone. When he entered the building, he was covered in sweat. He punched the button and tapped his foot waiting for the elevator to open.

  He pounded on her door, and she opened it red faced. He dropped everything in his hands on the entry floor and scooped her up. They sat down on the couch, and he cradled her until she could breathe better.

  When she had calmed enough, he asked her about what came in the mail. She got off his lap to retrieve the envelope. He opened it and looked at the card.

  “That son of a bitch. I know it’s him now. Wait here I have to make a phone call.”

  He went into the bedroom and closed the door. She could hear some of his conversation peppered with cursing. When he came out his face was red.

  “Mike wants to see the envelope and card.”

  “Now? Don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone.”

  “Don’t worry, Mike is on duty, and he said he would pick it up tomorrow from the office.” He got a plastic bag from the drawer and dropped the envelope in it. He sealed it and put it into his briefcase.

  “Mike said not to contaminate it any more than it’s already been. Stop worrying. We will get him. When are you starting the self-defense classes?”

  “Robert has me signed up for one tomorrow and another on Sunday afternoon. The sooner I get some training the better I will feel.”

  Xander didn’t say anything because he was deep in thought about the conversation he previously had with Mike about getting a firearm. He didn’t like them, but this guy seemed relentless, and if that was going to protect Ava, he should consider it.

  “I feel better. Can we eat?”

  “Sure, I’ll get some plates.” He was glad that she had an appetite because it seemed each time these things happened, she lost it. They sat at the counter eating in silence.

  “Do you think that Liam would try to hurt me?” Xander didn’t want to scare her, but he had to tell her. “According to Mike, things like this can escalate. The restraining order is in effect, and if he violates it, they will arrest him. Let’s hope that Mike can find something on the envelopes that incriminates him.”

  Ava was thinking, too, and shivered. During her time with Liam, she never anticipated he could be this way. He broke up with her so why would he want her back so desperately?

  Ava started the self-defense classes at the gym the next day after work led by Dallas Cook, a third-degree black belt in Karate. What made his teachings so believable was that he was barely five and a half feet tall. A slight of a man but he took down Alvin, his assistant, who was over six feet tall and probably outweighed him by at least a hundred pounds.

  Ava made her way over to Robert who had been watching the class, who asked her, “So, how do you think you did?”

  “I think I did alright. I can probably handle myself as long as I remember what Dallas taught me.”

  “Are you coming to the Sunday class?”

  “Probably.”

  “Can I talk to you in my office.” She nodded and followed after him to his small office. He held the door and closed it after she sat down.

  “What is going on? You never felt the need to take a self-defense class before. Why now?”

  Ava hesitated wondering if she should just reveal the entire situation or give him an excuse.

  “I have a possible stalker.”

  Robert’s eyes widened. “WHAT? Who is this guy? Has he hurt you?”

  “He is someone I briefly dated. He attacked me at a club, but my new boyfriend punched him.”

  “Xander Wilder punched him?!”

  “Oh my God, does the whole family know I am dating Xander?”

  “Pretty much. Xander is a good guy, but watch out for him. I heard he is a player.”

  Ava sighed. “Robert, he used to be a player, he isn’t any longer and hasn’t been since college. Why does everyone think so low of him?”

  “We don’t think low of him, only in the female department. He has a reputation.”

  “That was a long time ago. He has been so good to me since we have been together, even before.”

  “Just be careful that is all I am saying. I also noticed you have lost weight and haven’t been here for a few weeks. Is this related to what is going on?”

  “My stomach has been upset, and I haven’t had much of an appetite.”

  Robert stood and opened his drawer. He pulled out a scale. “Get on.”

  “No. I’m alright.”

  “If you are alright then why are you giving me a hard time about weighing you?”

  She went to step on the scale.

  “No, take the sweatshirt and sneakers off. You’re not going to try to fool me with extra weight from those.”

  She slipped off her sneakers and sweatshirt and stepped onto the scale.

  “Shit, you are ninety-nine pounds. You should at least weight eight pounds more and even that is underweight.” He put the scale away and sat down at his desk. She watched him withdraw several pages from his desk drawer.

  “Take these. They have higher protein selections and good fat options to help you gain weight the healthy way. I want you to gain at least five pounds in the next couple of weeks, even more, if you can. I want you to try to get up to one hundred seven pounds.”

  “Thank you for looking out for me.”

  “You know I love you. You are my favorite cousin. Do you need me to take you home?”

  “No, Xander told me to text him when I was ready to go.”

  “Is he coming tomorrow?” He was referring to the big family dinner that Aunt Mavis had planned for her twenty-fourth birthday.

  “Yes, he will be there.” He hugged her against his muscular chest and kissed her cheek. Xander was waiting for her in the lobby of the Sunset Gym. It was well past nine, and he was still dressed in his suit. He looked haggard (probably from the lack of sleep, busy schedule and dare she say, her misery).

  “Hey sweetheart, how was it?”


  “Did you just get out of work?”

  “I had to go over some contracts with the new client. Then he wanted to go for drinks. I didn’t want to say no because he is bringing a large billable to the firm.”

  “You look exhausted.”

  He gave her a lopsided smile. “Look who is talking. What is that?”

  He gestured to the pages she held in her hand. “Robert gave me some foods to eat to help me gain weight.”

  “Remind me to kiss that man when I see him tomorrow. See, I’m not the only one that is worried about you being so thin.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him.

  “Don’t stick your tongue out unless you plan to use it.”

  She grinned at him. “That can be arranged.”

  Later in bed, after they made love, she curled up in his arms.

  “Xander suppose they can’t catch Liam doing something? I don’t want to live always looking over my shoulder.”

  “He will be caught. Guys like him can’t help themselves. Eventually, he is going to slip up and get arrested.”

  Xander just hoped he was there when it happened. Liam was turning out to be dangerous. Mike had checked to see if Liam owned a registered gun but came up with nothing. It didn’t matter. There were plenty of places to get an illegal gun in the city. Mano e Mano, he could handle Liam, but he was no match against a bullet.

  Chapter 20

  Ava awoke to a delicious aroma tickling her nose. Xander was no longer in bed. He walked into the room freshly showered and half dressed for work in just his suit pants.

  “There’s my birthday girl.” He sat on the bed and kissed her, pulling her against his chest. His kiss grew more passionate, and his hands roamed to her breasts.

  “Hey, it’s not your birthday!”

  He chuckled, “No, but I can’t resist especially when that shirt is so revealing.” She glanced down, and he was right, her nipples were visible as they pressed against the fabric.

  “Regardless Mr. Wilder, I implore you to keep your hands off of them.”