Frisk Me(86)

It wasn’t the man who’d befriended her heinous cat, or ate sushi four days in a row just because she loved it.

Ava had never really let herself acknowledge it before, but there had always been this humming presence between her and Luc.

Whenever they were in the same room, even on the same street, there was a connection.

They felt each other. She knew where he was at all times, and he always seemed to have an eye on her, even when he wasn’t actually looking at her.

That connection was gone.

She couldn’t feel him anymore. And she was afraid she knew why.

He knew.

Somehow he’d found out that she’d gone behind his back, researching his past.

And he knew she was going to use it to her advantage. To launch her career in investigative journalism even as she gave up her chance at anchorwoman.

“He’s going to walk,” she said, her eyes never leaving Luc’s stony profile. “He’s going to refuse to do the interview.”

“Then why’s he letting someone put on his mic?” Mihail asked.

Ava frowned. Mihail was right. Luc was standing there, letting the sound guys hook him up. He even let the makeup girl near him, although not without a glare.

He was going to go through with it. He knew what was coming; she knew he knew—she could sense it. But he was going to do it anyway.

But why?

Ava should be thrilled. She was getting exactly what she wanted, but it felt…hollow. Rotten, almost.

“Okay, people, let’s get in places,” Haley, the production manager, said. “Ava, what’s with your shoes?”

She glanced down at her flip-flops. Right.

Mihail handed over her bag and she muttered a terse thanks, ignoring the challenge in his expression.

What did he expect her to do? Inform them that she hated wearing high heels?

Or better yet, tell them that she wasn’t going to dig into the messy part of Luc’s past just because it would make for a juicier story?

This is how it’s done, she wanted to tell Mihail.

Or maybe she was telling herself.

She’d splurged on the shoes. Black Louboutins with their trademark red soles. Ava had been longing for the classic shoes since she stepped foot in New York six years ago.

Now they felt tight, somehow.

She put them on anyway.

The interview stage was designed to look like a comfortable, classy living room. Big brown leather chairs, navy carpet, a coffee table that was already outfitted with water glasses and mugs and a carafe. Rarely did anyone actually drink from the mugs during the interviews, but having the option made it seem like it was just a couple of friends sitting down to chat over coffee.

Luc was already on stage, but had yet to look at her.

Definitely not two friends sitting down to coffee.

Every instinct in Ava’s body demanded that she go to him. Talk to him Ava to Luc, not maintain chilly Ava Sims to Officer Moretti silence.

But something stopped her.

Terror.

Though she didn’t know if it was terror about losing the story, or fear of losing him.

And the fact that the latter fear was the scariest thing of all.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, she thought as Haley impatiently sat Ava in the chair, motioning for her to cross her legs to the left so she wouldn’t flash the camera, before positioning Luc.

He didn’t need much help; he’d look good no matter what. A gorgeous, good-guy cop.

America’s Hero.

She watched him as he listened to last-minute instructions from Haley. His face was tense, his eyes wary.

She’d done that to him. Ava had made him America’s Hero.

As though his being Luc wasn’t enough.

She knew now. Luc Moretti was more than enough, just as he was.

The lights in the studio went out except for the stage, and Ava heard Haley holler for quiet.

A glance at the prompter told her they were ready.

Three, two, one…

It was go time.

Only then did Luc meet her eyes.

And what she saw nearly broke her heart.





CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR



Luc made it through the first half of the interview as if he were in a trance, his responses on autopilot as he answered the innocuous questions.

Ava: So you’re a born and bred New Yorker. Ever thought about moving somewhere else?

Luc: Never.

Ava: You live with your brother and grandmother. What’s that like?

Luc: About like you’d expect; the food is excellent, the privacy nonexistent.

Ava: When did you know you wanted to be a police officer?

Luc: I’m not sure there was ever a choice. It’s who I am.

Ava: You come from a pretty impressive cop legacy. What’s it like being the son of the former NYPD Commissioner?

Luc: Let’s just say it brings a whole different meaning to father knows best.

Ava: Tell us about that day in Battery Park. What were you thinking when that little girl went over?

Luc: You don’t think in a situation like that. You react.

Ava: You gave your coat away on one of the coldest winters in New York history. Did you get another one?

Luc: I bought a new one the day after, although I continue to receive replacements from generous people who saw the video…I appreciate the sentiment, although I donate those to a homeless shelter and encourage viewers to do the same.