Arizona Cowboy Read Online Free Page A

turned away from him. “We’ll see.”

Chapter 3
    T wo days had passed since Ava called Holden to cancel their dinner date.
    “You’re not sick, Ava. You’re avoiding me.” His voice still rang through her head. “I’m sorry about what happened. I take all the blame.”
    He could say the words, but he couldn’t take all the blame. She was every bit as much at fault. She’d been overcome with love and promises and kisses and...she’d made the choice. He hadn’t forced anything.
    “I think you’ve met all the regulars.” Mary’s voice snapped Ava from her thoughts.
    “Everyone’s been very welcoming,” Ava replied.
    Her boss slipped a pen beneath the clip of the clipboard. “Not only are you a terrific therapist, but you’re Irene Hall’s niece.”
    “I didn’t know my aunt knew so many people. I mean, she’s active at church, and First Church has a large congregation, but...”
    Mary shook her head. “Your aunt is the queen of Senior Idol. You’ve never seen her perform?”
    Ava shook her head.
    “That’s right. Senior Idol started after you went to college.” Mary touched Ava’s forearm. “Honey, your aunt has been the crowd favorite. All five years. She never wins, mind you.”
    Ava frowned. “Why not?”
    “Once you win, you can’t perform anymore. The seniors’ group that puts on the show wants to give everyone a chance.”
    “I see.” She wrinkled her nose. “Sorta.”
    Mary chuckled. “The city loves her. Have you at least heard her sing?”
    “Of course, but—”
    “You don’t think she’s good?”
    “Well, yes, she’s wonderful. I just didn’t know the event was so popular.”
    “We even get volunteers to bus every able resident from the nursing homes to the high school to watch. We have a blast.” She nodded. “You should consider helping out.”
    “I think I will.”
    After finishing her charts, Ava said goodbye and drove home. Aunt Irene had left a note on the table saying she’d gone to pick up Mexican, so Ava slipped out of her clothes and into the shower. Her mind wandered to Holden, and whether he’d asked Jessica Thomas out on another date. So far Ava enjoyed everything about Surprise, except she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
    Turning off the shower, she dried her face and stared into the mirror. At some point, I’ve got to tell him the truth.
    She ran a brush through her wet hair, still staring at her reflection. Maybe I don’t have to tell him. It won’t do any good. I know Holden. It will only hurt him.
    I know Holden. She’d known him only for a summer. Three months after graduating high school. Emotions were high, spiraling out of control. People just didn’t find their one true love at eighteen. The idea was preposterous. And she’d been headed to college.
    Now, Will Reynolds, her boyfriend during her junior year of college, he’d been a guy she could have fallen in love with. Twenty-one wasn’t too young. He’d been kind, considerate, a Christian and a pharmaceutical major. They’d been compatible in all the right ways, and he seemed to like her a lot.
    But she hadn’t lain awake at night thinking about him. Hadn’t imagined what their children would look like, or what it would be like to wake up each morning with him beside her, as she had imagined with Holden.
    She slammed the brush onto the sink. “Just stop it.”
    “You okay in there?” Her aunt’s voice sounded from the kitchen.
    Ava snarled at the mirror. “I’m okay, Aunt Irene.”
    “I thought I heard something.”
    “I’m fine. Just getting dressed.”
    “Okay. Well, hurry up. Mitch and I are ready to eat.”
    Ava slipped on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Great, an evening filled with hardware store drama. She released a breath and closed her eyes. Her thoughts weren’t fair. It wasn’t Mitch’s fault that she couldn’t stop thinking about Holden. Besides, her cousin enjoyed having dinner with her and his mom, and he always helped them with anything that