Loose Ends (Magnolia Series Book 1) (26 page)

“This will never work,” she told him, shaking her head.

“Why?”

“Because they’ll put me in witness protection to keep Frankie Senior from getting to me. We’ll never see each other again.”

“They already have him in custody back in New York, Ava. We put in the call and our office there went out to pick him up. They’ll need you to testify, but as for Wit-Sec, no, you’re not going there.”

“Thank you.” Ava launched herself forward and landed on top of Luke. Her lips found any surface they could as she pretty much kissed him silly.

“Did you mean what you said in the note you left?” Luke brushed her hair away from her face and gazed into her eyes, his blue irises catching the azure of the ocean waves nearby.

“Yes.” She took a deep breath, “I know you don’t feel the same and that’s okay…”

Luke cut her off. “I love you, Ava.”

“But the things you said to me that day.”

“I needed you to draw out the man who was watching you. The only way I knew how to get you to go home was to say something like that. I’ll never forgive myself for telling you those things.” He kissed her forehead. “But I never stopped loving you and I meant it the first time I told you.”

“You did?” The tears began to flow once more.

“I sure did. I didn’t think I’d ever say that to anyone, but I found it easy with you. You’re easy to love, Ava.”

“So are you, Luke Daughtry.”

Ava and Luke stayed on the beach until the local police department showed up to take their statements. After hours of clearing things up, Luke being checked over by the paramedics and Cole making fun of him for not being a ‘bullet virgin’ anymore, they were free to go. Only, Ava didn’t want to go into her home again. There were too many bad memories living there. She’d tried to build a life in the house that was constructed of nothing but lies. There was no way in hell she was continuing down that road.

“Is everyone okay?” Brandi jumped out of a patrol car and ran over to her and Luke.

“Yes, we’re all fine.” Ava hugged her friend. “Tired, but fine.”

Brandi nodded and smiled. “I guess I have to go make a statement or something, I’ll call you later.” Then she was off to meet with an officer.

“Listen, I have to fly back to Chicago for a while. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone,” Luke admitted to Ava.

“But you’ll be back, right?”

“I plan on it.”

“Then I’ll be right here, waiting.” Ava smiled and pulled him to her for the biggest hug she’d ever given. His warmth gave her strength. And she would wait for him to come back; she’d wait until the end of time if she had to. Luke Daughtry was put in her life for a reason, she now knew it was to show her how it felt to be loved and protected. For those things, she’d wait forever.

Epilogu
e

After flying to New York
to testify in the trial of Frankie Senior, Ava came right back to Biloxi. She’d never felt more at home than she did there and it was a no-brainer to build her new life in a place where she was comfortable. Her salon stayed busy and she couldn’t be happier. The only thing missing was a place to live. For now she’d been crashing on Brandi’s sofa but she hoped that would change fairly soon and she’d be able to get her own place.

As she stood in her salon on a Tuesday morning, Ava waited for her next client to arrive. When he breezed through the door she relaxed at the familiarity of having him there. “Good morning, Jack.” She smiled at the old man and patted him on the back as he took a seat in her styling chair.

“How ya been, young lady?” Jack tossed his ball cap on the counter and sat back fully in the chair.

“I can’t complain. Things are pretty damn good.” She spread the cutting cloth across him and grabbed her electric clippers.

“That’s good to hear. Now, let’s get rid of this hair,” Jack laughed.

Ava went about her usual weekly routine of shaving off Jack’s extra quarter of an inch of hair. She couldn’t help but smile while she did it. To some it might’ve been a mundane activity but to her, it was who she was. This was where she was meant to be. The only thing that would’ve made it better was if Luke was here with her. She hadn’t seen him in four months and each day apart felt more like ten years instead of twenty-four hours. But she knew he’d come back eventually.

Once she was finished with Jack’s hair, she whipped the cape off him and began to hang it on the hook beside her mirror. Jack threw down her money on the counter and smiled.

“Don’t hang that up just yet, I’m looking a little shaggy.” Ava spun around at the familiar voice behind her.

“Luke!” She took off at full speed and jumped into his muscled arms. Her legs wound around his waist and her arms around his neck.

“Miss me?” he asked.

“More than anything.” She buried her face in his neck.

“I’ll leave you two be. See ya next week, Ava.” Jack slipped out the door and left the two of them alone.

“I’m sorry I had to stay gone for so long. Had some loose ends to tie up in Chicago.”

“Do you have to go back again?” Ava felt disappointment coloring her words.

“No, I’m here to stay. Got transferred to the field office here.”

“That’s wonderful.” Ava couldn’t stop grinning.

“I’m guessing you want me to stay, huh?” His lips turned up in a goofy smile.

“Of course I do. But just so you know, you still have to pay for your haircuts. I have a business to run,” she joked.

“I can think of several types of payment.” He let her down and yanked her to him for a kiss that she felt all the way to her toes.

Everything was now right in her world. Luke was back, her life was on track to so much happiness. Every loose end that’d once flown free was tied up with a shiny bow. What more could she ask for?

Th
e
End

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Loose Ends
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Continue Reading for a Sneak Peek of
Split Ends

Book Two in the Magnolia Series

 

Spli
t
Ends

Magnolia Series: Book Two

*Content for Split Ends is not yet edited and is subject to change*

Chapte
r
On
e

“You’ve got to be
shitting me,” Cole Matthews gawked at the stark white piece of paper in his right hand. His other hand flailed through the air like he was batting flies away from his face.

“Whoa, you don’t look happy.” Luke walked by Cole’s desk.

“Look at this shit.” Cole tossed the letter to the edge of the desk; Luke snatching it up quickly.

This was the last thing he needed. He’d had so many life changes in the past six months—including moving to the FBI field office in Biloxi. That was a leap that he didn’t really think about before he found himself knee deep in his decision. His partner Luke Daughtry was transferring to be closer to his girlfriend Ava, so Cole got it in his mind that he should move too. What a numbskull move.

“Am I reading this right?” Luke sat the paper back on the desk.

Cole dragged a hand through his gelled raven hair. “Yup.” He blew out a frustrated breath.

“You’re
married
?” Luke’s face was one of pure shock. Cole couldn’t help but think his partner had the same look a cartoon character did when someone handed them a stick of dynamite.

“Apparently so.” He huffed.

“Wait, how did you not
know
you’re married? That seems like something you’d know about. Were you drugged or something?” Luke chuckled.

“No. Hell, I was nineteen. She thought she was knocked up and I did the honorable thing.”

“But I’m not understanding why you’re
still
married.” Luke’s confused expression mirrored Cole’s.

“I don’t either. I signed the damn divorce papers over ten years ago.”

“Maybe they made a mistake.” Luke sat on the corner of Cole’s desk.

“If there’s a mistake
this
big, my faith in the judicial system is fucked.”

“Seems like an easy fix though, file again and get rid of her.”

“Yeah, I’ll get it taken care of. She’s gonna be in town for a few weeks. I’m sure we can get it done then.”

“Sounds like a plan. Listen, I’m gonna head out. Ava’s cooking fried chicken and rhubarb pie.” Luke rubbed his stomach.

“You’re so whipped.” Cole busted out laughing.

“No, I’m in love with the most amazing woman on the planet.” Cole didn’t envy the googly eyed look Luke wore when he talked about his girlfriend. In fact, Cole had sworn off all emotional attachment to the fairer sex ever since he’d first signed those damn divorce papers.

If there was ever a woman he was head over heels in love with, it was her.
Gracie Callahan
. With her spitfire attitude, her glowing red hair and those emerald eyes; every man in a five block radius turned to look at her when she walked by. Cole hadn’t seen her since he was twenty though. He wondered what she’d look like as a completely filled out woman. Would she be the same innocent beauty as she was years ago? Or had she changed over the years like he had? Damn this was going to suck big time. As if he didn’t have enough shit on his plate, now he had to entertain Gracie while she was in town. Well fuck a duck.

***

“Are you sure we have to go?” Gracie looked at her daughter who was whining.

“Yes, for the umpteenth time, we have to go.” Gracie continued to toss articles of clothing into her bright red suitcase.

“But I could stay with Aunt Jenna. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.” Her daughter pleaded with her while digging through Gracie’s jewelry box. Something the almost teenager did quite frequently.

“Cora, I need you to come with me. Please don’t make this an argument.” She lowered her voice.

Cora tossed a pair of earrings back into the wooden box and turned to look at her mom. “Mom, this is my summer vacation. I don’t want to spend it in Mississippi!” The dark haired girl threw her hands in the air and stomped out of the room.

Gracie yelled at her back, “I’m your mother and what I say is the law around here! You’re going and that’s final!”

She heard her daughter call from the hallway, “Whatever!”

That was Cora’s go to response for something she didn’t like. When something didn’t please her, she just said ‘
whatever
’ and stormed off. The twelve year old was becoming more like her hot headed father with each passing day. The only thing was, Cora had never met her father. And he had no idea he had a daughter. No, it wasn’t as if she was trying to be a terrible human being by not telling him about their daughter. It was more for self-preservation. Gracie knew he wasn’t in the relationship one hundred percent and she refused to keep him around just because they created offspring. Was it the right thing to do in keeping the information from him? No. But it was the easy thing to do in the circumstances. Cole Matthews wasn’t someone who Gracie would consider ‘daddy material’. His wild ways and refusal to be tied down was just a couple of the reasons she felt compelled to be tight lipped about Cora. Yeah, they’d dated all through Junior and Senior year in high school and of course, they thought they were destined to be together. They’d even waited until the night of Senior Prom to take their relationship to the next level. In room 265 at the local Super 8 motel they kicked things up a notch and had sex. Actually, just having sex wasn’t really the word for it. Cole had blown her mind and body. She’d expected her first time to be rough and possibly painful but Cole made sure he took the time to make her comfortable and cared for. Boy did she feel cared for that night. After the initial nervousness had worn off, he’d taken her to heights she never dared to imagine, even a few days later she could feel the places
on
and
in
her body that he’d been. Even now her cheeks flamed and her panties became damp at just the thought of what he’d done to her. But all good things must come to an end. And their end was when she found out she was pregnant at nineteen. Fresh out of high school Gracie didn’t know what she’d do. When she’d gotten up the nerve to finally tell Cole about the baby, he’d proposed and they were married less than a week later. At the time it seemed like a good idea but after being together for only a month, Gracie knew it wasn’t going to work out. Cole wasn’t there emotionally and there was no way in hell she’d raise a child in that type of environment. So she did the only thing she could think of, she lied. Telling Cole that the pregnancy was a fluke might’ve been a terrible thing to do but it was better than keeping a man around who clearly didn’t want to be there.

Her plan was to fly to Biloxi, get Cole to sign the divorce papers and get out. Even though Cora would be with her, she had her fib ready in case he suspected anything. She’d pass Cora off as a one night stand after they’d broken up all those years ago. He’d believe it, he had to. If Cole caught on to her sham, she’d be knee deep in shit and the consequences of that were life threatening. Getting in and getting the job done quickly was crucial.

Zipping up her bags she began carrying them to the front door.

“Cora, time to go!” Gracie called through the house.

“I’m coming,” her daughter popped out of her bedroom dragging her own suitcase behind her. Yeah, Cora had a bit of an attitude. But Gracie blamed it on the fact that her
own
Irish heritage must’ve bled into Cora’s genes a bit too much.

Gracie glanced at the bags by the door and sighed. Time to go. This wasn’t a trip she wanted to make, but right now, the safety of her daughter and herself was hanging in the balance. She’d do anything to protect Cora and this was a step she had to take. Gracie would lay down her life for the sassy twelve year old. Time to put that theory to the test.

Thank you for reading an excerpt for Split Ends!

Look for it late spring 2016!