Ava Comes Home Read Online Free Page B

sitting on either side of him, trying to get as close as possible. Hayden was typically handsome, well-toned with the piercing blue eyes and square jaw demanded of most leading men. All that and dimples too.
    And while he was clearly delighted with his situation, the minute he spied Ava he excused himself and hurried towards her, leaving the two disappointed Barbie dolls in his wake.
    â€œHey you, you look fantastic!” He grabbed her around her leaf-green silk pleated dress and pulled her in tight; trying to give her a kiss, but Ava stopped him. “Not here.”
    Lola tapped him on the shoulder. “Remember the rule, Hayden. No groping in public.”
    Hayden pulled his head up and turned towards Lola. “Do you go everywhere Ava goes, or is it just my recurring nightmare?”
    â€œI go everywhere,” Lola smirked. “Don’t I, Ava?”
    Ava made a face. “Would you get me a champagne cocktail, Lola? We’ll be over there.” She indicated an empty couch to her left. “I have to talk to Hayden.”
    â€œSure,” Lola said. “Would you like anything, Hayden?”
    â€œSome privacy.” He pulled Ava over to the couch before Lola could say another word. They sat down and he reached over to trace her jawline with his finger. “How are you, Buttercup? I haven’t seen you for awhile.”
    â€œI’ve been busy.”
    â€œI watched you on Celebrity Hour and The Steve Harris Show. Have you had your interview with Georgia Barker yet?”
    â€œI did that today. It’ll be broadcast the night of the Oscars.”
    â€œDid she manage to make you cry?” Hayden laughed.
    Ava didn’t think it was a laughing matter. The veteran interviewer had come very close to making her weep when she asked about Ava’s family. It required all her skill for Ava to stay composed. “No, she didn’t make me cry.”
    â€œGeorgia is losing her touch then,” Hayden laughed again. It seemed that’s all he ever did. But he wasn’t laughing for long.
    Ava cleared her throat. “Hayden, before you say anything, I want you to know that I’ve asked Lola to come with me to the Oscars. I know you’re disappointed, but I’ve given it a lot of thought. We’ve managed to keep the public in the dark about the fact that we’re dating and I’d like to keep it that way. If you go with me, the media would have a field day.”
    Hayden gave her a shocked look. “What’s wrong with people knowing we’re going out together? Sure, I understood it in the beginning, but it’s been a couple of months now. It’s serious. As serious as I get.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œYou don’t want to share the limelight, is that it?” He looked and sounded pissed off, just as Ava knew he would be.
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous.”
    Hayden looked away for a moment before turning back. “This would be a golden opportunity for me to be seen around the globe. I’m not as big a star as you are, and you know that. I could use the publicity.”
    â€œOf course the Oscars are all about you.”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œWere you nominated for an award, or was it me? I forget.”
    Just then Ava noticed Lola making her way towards them. It was clear that Hayden was hurt, and Ava hated hurting people. The trouble was she was good at it. She grabbed the drink from Lola, downed it and asked for another.
    Lola gave her a funny look. “Are you sure? Isn’t one your limit?”
    Ava glanced at Hayden’s brooding face. “Not tonight.” She reached for his hand. “Come dance with me.”
    He resisted at first, but she knew the offer was too tempting. Hayden wanted every man in the room to know that he was with the famous Ava Harris. To rub their noses in it would suit Hayden just fine.
    And she was right. He put his drink down on the glass table and followed her