Chapter 2: Mark My Words

Chapter 2: 

(Ava's POV)

Last night, I packed my bags and left Gregory's apartment. With no place to stay, I had to spend the night at a local hotel.  

The following morning, I cleared my account and booked a flight back to Florida to meet my elder sister, Adrianna. She was the only living family I had, and at this moment, I needed her the most. After bawling my eyes out over the only man I had ever loved with every fiber of my being, I knew I had no choice but to put as much distance between us as possible.  

I felt empty.  So empty as I stared out of the airplane window. My flight was expected to land in less than twenty minutes, and I was nervous. The last time I saw my sister was three years ago, and we hadn’t made any effort to see each other since.  

Guilt choked me, making it hard to breathe. I felt ashamed. For three years, I had chosen Gregory over my sister, prioritizing him and our relationship above everything else.  My phone screen lit up with a text message.  

It was from Arianna.  

"Hey, Sis. I’m so sorry, but I won’t be able to make it to the airport in time to pick you up. An emergency came up at work, but I’ve asked Damon, my husband, to pick you up. He has your number and will call soon. See you at home. I love you!"

My brows furrowed as I read the message.  

Adrianna was always busy, often prioritizing work over everything else. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to feel relieved that I wouldn’t have to face her guilt-inducing presence immediately or annoyed at how little time she seemed to have for me.  

Soon, the flight was over, and I slowly joined the other passengers as we filed out of the plane.  The warm Florida heat caressed my face, making me wince. I was not ready for this city.  

It didn’t take long for my phone to ring.  The caller ID displayed an unknown number, and I instantly knew who it was.  

"Ava?" a deep, husky voice called tentatively.  

I stiffened.  

No one had ever said my name in such a rich, velvety way. My tongue felt tied, and for a moment, I stayed silent, clutching the phone to my ear. My eyes scanned the crowd in front of me, hoping to spot Damon before he found me.  

"Hello? Are you there?" the voice asked again.  

"Oh! Yeah…yes…I am!" I stuttered.  

"It’s Damon. Your sister asked me to pick you up. I’m at the parking lot, and I’d like to know where you are," he said, his words carrying the thickest British accent I had ever heard.  

"I’m walking down the—"  

"Are you wearing a black tee with matching shorts? Blonde hair in a bun?" he interrupted.  

I looked down at my outfit and nodded before realizing he could see me.  

"Yeah," I mumbled.  

"Gotcha!" he said. "Stay right there. I think I’ve seen you. I’m coming over."  

A knot formed in my stomach, making me tense. Adrianna never mentioned her husband was British. I had only seen him once in a photo years ago and had no idea what he looked like now.  

As I stood waiting, a soft tap on my back startled me.  I turned to face the most beautiful man I had ever seen.  

Yes, beautiful!  

That was the only word to describe the man standing before me, his lips curved into a dimpled smile and his green eyes framed by thick lashes. His sharp cheekbones and straight nose complemented his face perfectly.  

He waved a hand in front of me, laughing. "You’re not much of a talker, are you?"  

"Uh?" I croaked.  

"I’ve been asking you a question for the past two minutes, but you had this blank stare on your face. For a moment, I thought you turned into a statue."  

A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard.  

"I’m sorry. Excuse my silly behavior," I said, shuffling my feet.  

 It’s so good to finally meet you. Adrianna speaks so highly of you!" he said warmly, taking two of my suitcases from me, leaving me with just my handbag.  

"The feeling’s mutual," I replied, smiling faintly.  

We walked in silence to the car. Once we were inside, he drove for a while before glancing at me.  

"Adrianna said your boyfriend of four years broke up with you, huh?"  

Heat curled down my spine. So, Adrianna had been sharing my heartbreak story with her husband.  

I looked out the window and muttered, "Fiancé. He proposed."  

Damon gasped and stayed quiet for a moment. Then, he said, "I can’t believe a man had you and was stupid enough to fumble. You’re drop-dead gorgeous."  

I turned to look at him, genuinely surprised. Compliments were rare for me, even from the man I had been with for four years.  

Damon’s eyes stayed on me as the car slowed in morning traffic.  

"I don’t mean to pry, but do you mind telling me what happened?" he asked, his voice soft and soothing.  

"He cheated on me," I blurted out.  

"His f*cking loss," Damon laughed. "You’re fine as hell, Ava."  

"Yeah," I chuckled bitterly. "He said I couldn’t fuck him as well as he wanted."  

The words slipped out before I realized what I had said. I froze, mortified.  Damon didn’t seem fazed by the unnecessary information I had just shared.  

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—" I stuttered, panic tightening my chest.  

Damon kept his eyes on the road, his voice calm. "You don’t need to apologize. You can share anything with me. I’ll listen."  

I nodded, still embarrassed.  

"If it makes you feel better, I’ll tell you what crossed my mind when I first saw you at the airport," he said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.  

I sat upright, clutching my bag tightly. "Okay?"  

"Well, no offense, but the first thought that popped into my head was, I wonder how well those legs can spread in bed." 

My cheeks reddened as guilt tugged at me. I knew exactly why was happening. My sister's husband was clearly flirting with me, and I didn't even stop him. 

"Ava?" He called out, jolting me back into reality.  

I drew in a sharp breath, "No, Damon." 

"What?"

"You're my sister's husband, and I'm pretty sure she loves you." I said firmly as I shot a glance at him, "You can't have such dirty thoughts about me."

His lips curved into a large grin as his deep green eyes ran over me before he faced the wheels again. 

"Ava. There's something about you; something that I can't quite explain.  I look forward to getting to know you better. Trust me, I can make you fall for me, if I want to."

My mouth dropped open in disbelief. 

"What did you just say?" I asked him, my voice barely above a whisper. 

"I know You're my wife's sister, but I don't care. I can make you to go really crazy about me. Wait, Do you doubt that?"

An alarm rang in my mind and I looked away. 

"Ava. I will make sure you fall hard for me. Mark my words." He said, breaking the silence again. 

I stiffened. 

I did not know what to say in response.  It was hard for me to sit next to a man as handsome as Damon and tell him that he couldn't flirt with me, just because he was my sister's husband. 

A chill ran through me as I rolled over his last words at the back of my head. 

'I'll make you fall for me.'

Was that a threat or a promise? Whatever it was, I had to be so damn careful.