Broken Love (Broken #4)(41)

All three of them looked my way. It only took Ryder a second to realize I had been standing there waiting before he quickly rushed over to help me navigate up to the house.”

“Shit! Ava, I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart?” Vanessa asked as I stole a peek.

“Sorry, Vanessa. Ava, this is Vanessa, an old friend of the family. Vanessa, this is Ava Moore.”

I wasn’t sure why it hurt that he hadn’t elaborated on me being his girlfriend since he felt the need to say Vanessa was an old friend.

“I’ve got it, Ryder,” I snapped when I made it up to the front door.

His expression was one of confusion, but I didn’t care.

“Um … let me get the door unlocked. Nate had the caretaker come over and turn everything on so the house will be warm.”

It was childish for me to be having an attitude, but right now I didn’t care.

The door opened and my eyes widened in surprise. The sight before me had my skin tingling with just the idea of staying in this house.

“Oh wow.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Vanessa said walking into the foyer and making herself right at home. “Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery had it fully restored to how it would have been when it was first built. Right down to the original colors and wallpaper. The furniture is all original to the house as well.”

What in the hell? Did I ask for a guided tour?

Vanessa made her way into the living room and spun around. “Isn’t it amazing? I’d do anything to live in this house.”

“I bet,” I mumbled under my breath.

Vanessa tilted her head and looked at me as Ryder asked, “What was that, Ava?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all. I’m enjoying our little guided tour.”

My eyes wandered the room in delight. The wainscot on the living room walls was beautiful and continued up the elegant wood stairs. At the first landing was an amazing stain glass window that I was dying to know if it was original, but I’d rather gash my eyes out than ask Vanessa.

“If we make our way into the dining room, you’ll really see some beautiful architecture.”

Nate followed Vanessa like he was a lost puppy and she was the key to finding his way home. Ryder went to follow but remembered me and stopped to help me. When he put his arm out I snapped at him. “I’m fine. Go one with them … it’s clear I’m holding you back.”

Ryder pulled his head back in surprise and was about to say something when the tour guide called out for him. “Ryder! Come on, and bring Ava with you.”

Thank goodness the house wasn’t full of furniture so I was able to make my way around fine.

“I love the coffered ceilings in here,” Vanessa gushed as Ryder and Nate both looked up like they had never seen them before.

Ugh.

“Over here is the sitting room. Parker got the fire going for you in this room only.”

“Parker?” I asked.

“Caretaker,” Ryder said with a slight smile.

I couldn’t help but notice how Vanessa was looking at Ryder as Nate did everything in his power to get her attention.

“Let’s head into the kitchen, shall we?” Vanessa said as both men followed after her.

“I’m sorry … whose house is this?” I asked as all three of them stopped and looked at me. Vanessa’s smile faded as Nate let out a chuckle and Ryder cleared his throat.

Vanessa stood a bit taller as she said, “Excuse me, I’m so sorry. That was so rude of me to barge in like that and take over. I volunteer doing historical home tours and when I saw how excited you were seeing the house, I figured I’d give a better tour than the boys, but forgive me.” She slightly shook her head as she looked at me.

“I’m sorry … how exactly do you know Ryder and Nate?”

Oh, you bitch. The gloves just came off.

Ryder stepped up next to me. It was in that moment he realized he had never said who I was, but only gave my name. “Oh sorry, Vanessa, Ava is my girlfriend.”

“For now,” I mumbled as I made my way past all three of them and stepped into one of the most amazing kitchens I’d ever seen.

The cabinets were the same color as the rest of the wood in the house. The light-colored granite offset the darker cabinets perfectly.

“Beautiful,” I whispered as Ryder walked up next to me.

“Ava, is something wrong? Why are you mad at me?”

Looking into his eyes, I could see he was confused, but if he didn't realize how he had acted when Ms. Fancy Pants showed up, then that was his fault.

Vanessa walked in and sighed. “Couldn’t you see yourself baking in this kitchen, Ava?”

With a fake smile, I turned her way. “Yep.”

“Now upstairs are six bedrooms and two bathrooms. Every light fixture in the house is turn-of-the-century original to the house.”

Nate walked up next to me and leaned in close as he asked, “Would you like me to shut her off now?”

“Please,” I whispered.

Nate clapped his hands together, getting Vanessa’s attention. “So, Vanessa, I’m sure Ava is pretty exhausted from the trip here and is probably ready to rest.”

Pulling her head back and wearing the fakest concerned look I’d ever seen, she asked, “The forty-minute drive got you tired? Well … country life must not agree with you.”