Dinner at Eight-epub Read Online Free PDF

Like Gheeri.
    The black panther had reminded him of Ava from the beginning, with her green eyes, shiny coat and dark hair. And those typical leopard markings covering Gheeri’s body, only visible if one got close enough to look carefully.
    The fool who’d taken ownership of Gheeri had probably never gotten close enough to see the marks. Fuck knew, he’d never gotten close enough to establish the big cat was a female. He’d stupidly called her Bagheera—after the male panther from The Jungle Book.
    Ava hid her spots too. Superficially, she was sleek and perfect. She kept her worries hidden beneath the surface, far from curious eyes. Jared had been one of the few she’d shared them with.
    But that was then, when her problems had been easily solved. She’d obviously collected a shitload more since last he’d seen her—and she was no longer in a hurry to share them.
    He’d loved being with her tonight. It had been so long since he’d been able to hang out just with her. Distance aside, Anthony had interfered with their friendship. From the time he and Ava had gotten engaged, two months before Jared had decided to leave Sydney, Anthony had objected whenever he and Ava had tried to get together.
    Ava had found it endearing. She’d adored how much time Anthony wanted to spend with her. Jared had found it pathological and begun to feel an unhealthy loathing for his friend’s fiancé.
    He sighed in frustration and shifted to lean on the other doorjamb, accidentally knocking the door against the wall.
    Refusing to put his happiness before Ava’s, Jared had never expressed just how much he disliked the man. Now he wished to God he had.
    Ava’s breath faltered, then it stopped.
    Jared held his own breath, hoping he hadn’t woken her. Probably not. Ava slept like the dead. The second her head hit the pillow, she was out. Nothing less than a bucket of ice water would rouse her from her dreams.
    And Jared would know. He’d used ice water. Once.
    He’d never make that mistake again.
    Ava bolted upright with a loud gulp, grabbing her pillow and holding it across her body like a shield. She looked around the room wildly. “Who is it? Who’s there?”
    What the fuck? “Av, it’s me.”
    She glared in his direction but didn’t loosen up at all. If anything, every one of her muscles seemed to coil and flex, like Gheeri’s did, seconds before she pounced.
    “It’s Jared,” he said, keeping his voice soft. Inside, his stomach knotted.
    “J-Jared?” she asked suspiciously.
    “Yeah, baby. It’s just me.” This was the second time in a matter of hours she’d overreacted to his presence.
    She didn’t move.
    Instinctively, he held his hands up, reassuring her they were empty and he meant her no harm. The idea that she might think he did sent a surge of ice through his blood. “I fell asleep on your couch.” His tone was the same one he used on his patients when they were spooked. Soothing, low, gentle and reassuring.
    She eyed him from the bed.
    “Woke up a few minutes ago and came looking for you. You were sound asleep. I’m sorry I disturbed you. I never meant to.” He sure hadn’t meant to scare the living shit out of her.
    Ava lowered the pillow. “Wow. S-sorry about that. You, uh, startled me.”
    “My bad for waking you. You okay now?”
    “I will be. Soon as my heart rate slows down to a gentle gallop.” She dropped her head back against the headboard.
    Thinking of the bottle of orange juice he’d seen in her fridge just a few minutes ago, Jared excused himself. “Be right back.”
    Quick as he could, he poured a glass and was back in Ava’s room in seconds. “Here you go.” He held out the drink. “Have a sip.” After the scare he’d given her, she needed the sugar.
    Ava took it, but her hand shook badly, and juice sloshed over the edge of the glass.
    “Why don’t I hold it while you drink?”
    “ No! Uh, no, thank you.” Ava swallowed. “Look, there’s no need to treat me like a baby.