A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) by Victoria Wells Page A

have called Starr first. She’s nowhere near as high strung as Ava.
    “So you know I’m at Nick’s.” It was more of a statement than question.
    “You are where?” Ava yelled loud enough to wake the dead.
    Oh shoot! “Didn’t his number come up?”
    “No! The ID says ‘Private Number’! What the hell are you doing there? Did he force you to go there? Huh? Tell me!”
    Ava was hot! She hardly ever cursed no matter how mild the word. But she couldn’t stand Nick’s guts! How could she go anywhere with him the way he’d treated her. He had to have forced her. Unless he did something insane like pledge his love to her. Not! As far as Ava was concerned, Nick was a wealthy, selfish, self-centered man. He didn’t deserve Summer or her baby.
    Yanking the phone from her ear to keep Ava from rupturing her eardrum, Summer frowned at the phone. “Hey girl, pump your brakes,” she hissed. “If you give me half a chance, I’ll tell you what’s up. But if you yell at me one more time, Ava, I’m hanging this phone up. Are we clear?” Summer knew she had to be as vague as possible with her explanation as to why she was at Nick’s.
    “Yeah.” Ava mumbled with an attitude.
    Just as she was about to explain things to her Nick appeared in the doorway. As Summer assured Ava she was okay and would be home as soon as the weather permitted, he leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his broad chest. His presence was overwhelming, making her nervous as he stood hovering like a hawk. Mentally coaxing herself to bring the conversation to an end, Summer cut Ava off mid-sentence.
    “Listen, I have to go now. Please do me a favor and call my parents.”
    “Are you all right?” Ava skeptically questioned because suddenly Summer’s voice became really quiet.
    “Yes.”
    “Is he there?”
    “Yes.” Summer’s gaze momentarily shifted to Nick then back to the television as if she was watching it.
    “Has he hurt you?” Ava gritted out between her teeth. I can’t stand that man!
    “No, I’m fine. I… I really have to go.” Summer’s voice pleaded.
    “Summer, if he hurt’s you…” I’ll hunt him down like the dirty rat bastard he is.
    “I’ll be okay. Don’t worry.” Summer again pleaded.
    “All right girl, I love you. Call me if you need me.”
    “I will. I love you too. And please don’t forget to call my parents.”
    Summer partially lied to Ava. She really did love her with all her heart. But call her? No way! If Summer sent out a distress signal, Ava would hike in the blizzard to Nick’s penthouse. The Caucasian blood running through her veins would help her brave the elements. The African blood would give her the endurance to make it. And once there all hell, along with World War III would breakout. Ava likes to cut people… for real. Summer could just see her wielding a butcher knife at Nick like one of those chicks in Kill Bill. Ava was straight up crazy and wouldn’t care that Nick was several inches taller not to mention pounds heavier than she was.
    “All right Boo, I’ll call the folks.”
    Ending the conversation, she placed the phone back in its base. Thank goodness Ava agreed to call her parents. The last thing she needed was to explain things to them. She was pretty sure they would have the same reaction as Ava, if not worse, especially her mother. The
    only one who would possibly understand would be Starr. But she would have to wait to call her because Nick hadn’t budged. Besides, she was sure Ava would call Starr once they’d hung up.
    Strolling down the hall Nick heard Summer talking. Sure enough, she was on the phone. He wondered whom she was talking to, her voice had suddenly become low and she was giving one-word answers when he appeared in the doorway. Nick assumed she was talking to a man because of the way she was acting. Nick’s jaw clenched as he listened to the one sided conversation.
    “Dinner’s ready.” His eyes narrowed as he pushed away from the