Obsession

“Water is fine. Over ice, please.”

It was a left-over quirk from his previous life, this refusal to drink from anything plastic. Even something as plain as water must be served in glass or crystal. He’d made too many concessions over the last two years. Given up too many luxuries. He refused to concede this last bastion of civility.

“Here you go,” Ava said, head tilted as she regarded him. “Water on the rocks.”

Kingston smiled at her attempt to joke. She really was a beautiful girl, with her dark blonde hair and big green eyes. Nice figure, too, for her age.

And off limits. Not that he had any interest in teenage girls. Even ones as breathtaking as this one.

Reaching across the bar’s granite surface, Kingston took the highball glass just as she pushed it toward him. Their fingers glided against each other, and Ava snatched her hand away as if scorched. It was the second time she’d visibly reacted to his touch.

Embarrassment stained her cheeks a rosy pink.

If Ava Blue wasn’t so young a