Everything That Glitters Ain't Gold by Danielle Martin (sneezy the snowman read aloud .txt) 📖

a dirty martini.  Tequila. Dry Vermouth. Olive Brine. 2 olives and 2 cocktails. Ava wasted no time fixing the drinks like a professional. In less than a minute, she was turning back to her customer who awaited her drinks eagerly. “Here you go honey.” Ava slid the glasses over the table towards her.

The woman smiled from ear to ear. “Thank you!” she handed the 20-dollar bill over with 3 dollar bills as a tip. Ava winked at her. She loved tipping customers no matter how big or small the tip was. She quickly turned back to the cash register, placed the $20 bill inside and stuffed the dollars in her pocket. Getting back to her groove, she went back to dancing to the song. The D.J played nothing but slow Jams tonight and Ava was really feeling the music. She danced seductively, running her hands down her hips and thighs. She had dressed sexy tonight and was feeling extremely exotic in her laced blue dress and matching 6 inch heels. Ava twirled her tiny waist, dancing erotically for the pair of eyes watching her. Ava smiled at the person sitting on a bar stool behind the bar. He had been gaping at her the entire time and had yet to take his eyes off of her. She twirled her hips even more, doing a light belly dance wining her slim waist.

“Mmmm…” the man moaned watching her do a private seductive dance for him. She smiled and slowly began sashaying to where he sat on the stool. Ava had his fully divided attention. Her rhythmic moves had put him in a trance. She stepped in even closer and placed her body in-between his open legs. Leaning down, Ava stopped inches away from his face and whispered. “You like what you see???” she made sure to ask the question in a quiet, sexy voice. In return he smirked and nodded his head, remaining silent while scanning her from head to toe. She continued dancing in the center of his lap, brushing against his rising manhood which was rock hard underneath his jeans. She smiled, leaned back and grinded her ass on him, twirling her large ass cheeks on top of his crotch winding and grinding as if she were fucking him.

“Damn…” she could hear his voice as he gripped her waist, pressing himself into her even more.

Ava laughed. She stood up, feeling the heat beginning to rise. Unfortunately, now was not the place or the time. She turned back to the man and slipped her arms over his shoulders. “Not here, babe. Maybe when we get home…” she winked, immediately sensing his extreme arousal.

In return Blake chuckled. He squeezed her around the waist and pulled her in tighter. “I really hate when you tease me like that…” he spoke in a playful tone.

Ava laughed. She leaned in, resting her chest onto his. “Well, no one told you to stalk me while I’m working…” she spoke jokingly.

He smiled at her mischievously. She was telling the truth. They had been together 48 hours and Blake had yet to take his eyes off of her. Ava didn’t mind the attention. She breathed a sigh of relief as she stared at him longingly. Truth be told, she was happy to be here with him. She never had company at work. Desean would have never stepped foot inside the club even if she begged him. Literally, Blake and Desean were like night and day.  She smiled at him while reminding herself how special these last 2 days had been. Staying at the condo with Blake had been one of the most peaceful, mindful and liberating living experiences she had all year. He catered to her each and every need from cooking her breakfast, to massaging her feet, to running her bath water at night. Ava had opened up to him in ways that she never believed she would, becoming infatuated a lot sooner than she expected. Every second with him was a breath of fresh air. A meditation to her soul.

“What???” he asked, noticing she was staring at him in deep thought.

Ava sighed and ran her finger across his lips. “Nothing…” she played it off. Strangely, a part of her wanted to tell him about the emotions she had been feeling, but another part felt it was way too soon. She didn’t want him to know that she was falling for him. She was afraid to let him too close.

He stroked her back, soothing her. “It’s not Madison again is it?” he asked suddenly, completely throwing her off subject.

Ava’s smile instantly disappeared. Her arms dropped to her side as she stepped back from his lap and shot him a crazy look. Immediately, her tone changed. “Why would I be thinking about her??? You said it was over right???” She rolled her eyes and smacked her lips, her mood immediately changing just hearing him mention the mystery woman’s name. Ava had pushed the thought far into the back of her mind and had no intentions on mentioning it again. Clearly, he was not letting the situation go that easy. Indeed, in the beginning Ava was livid. She was extremely irate upon finding out and wasted no time rushing back to the condo to confront Blake about all the things Jade told her. Of course, he had an explanation for everything.

“I just want to make sure, Ava…” he gave her a firm look. “Madison is the past… You are the woman I want to be with… Anyone else that came before you doesn’t matter at all...”

She stared at him with a straight face. His expression seemed honest and sincere but she was still unsure. The fact that he never mentioned her made Ava extremely uneasy. She shrugged her shoulders, deciding not to think about it too hard. He gave her no indication to believe he was being deceptive. Truth be told, Ava could care less about that woman.  Madison was the past. She was his future. “I believe you Blake…” she answered honestly. Truthfully, she believed every word he said. Her gut feeling told her Blake wasn’t lying about this one.

He smiled at her, her answer visibly giving him relief. “Good.” He continued to hold her tightly. “Speaking of exes….” He gave her a look as if he were about to visit a conversation that she had been avoiding. Ava knew exactly where this was going next. “What???” she asked.

Blake’s expression was serious now. “Ava, we have to get your car back… and we need to get your stuff out of that house…”

Immediately, her heart sank into her stomach. Her brows furrowed and her palms turned sweaty. The thought of facing Desean literally made her sick to her stomach. She attempted to hide her fear. “I know I have to, but I’m not ready to see him yet…. I’m afraid of what he’ll might do.”

In an instant, Blake stood up from the stool, his 6-foot frame now standing over her. “He’s not going to do shit.” He spoke in an irritated tone. Blake easily became aggravated whenever they spoke about Desean and truth be told, Ava couldn’t blame him.

He grabbed her by the chin, making her look at him while he spoke. “I’m your man now, Ava. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let anything happen to you.” His voice was firm, letting her know he wasn’t playing games. “I didn’t wait all these years for nothing. As long as I am with you, Desean won’t come near you… I promise you that…”

She stared up at him with wide eyes as he laid down the rules once and for all. Little did he know, he turned her on whenever he talked that way. So serious and demanding. I’m his woman… she quietly reiterated his statement inside her head. So far, they hadn’t discussed relationships or titles so it was a shock to hear him refer to her that way. But the thought of it sounded damn good.

 “You’re right…” she finally admitted it out loud.

Blake smirked, his aggravation quickly melting away. He pulled her back into the center of his lap. “I know I am…”

She laughed and rolled her eyes. Blake had learned her weak spots already, and as hard as it was to admit, he was definitely becoming one of them. “So, when???” she asked hesitantly while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Although she was nervous to finally close that chapter, Ava knew it was long overdue.

 “Tomorrow.” He answered surely. Immediately Ava held her stomach, his response literally making her want to vomit.

“Tomorrow???” she repeated him. “That’s so soon…” she used the back of her hand to fan herself after easily becoming lightheaded. “Desean is going to go nuts! He’s going to fucking kill me once he finds out you and I are seeing each other now…”

“SEEING EACH OTHER???!!! What the fuckkkkk???!!!” A loud, female voice suddenly shouted from across the bar abruptly interrupting their conversation. The sudden, piercing voice shouting over the music took Ava by complete surprise.  She quickly whipped her body around, her hair dramatically flying over her shoulders as she forcefully turned around to see who the hell was shouting at her. Immediately, her vision landed on a pair of woman’s eyes scolding her with a frightening glare. Ava gasped, her jaw dropping once realizing who was standing before her. Fear immediately striked her chest, almost knocking the wind out of her.

“Jade!” Ava called out in shock.

Jade didn’t respond. Instead, she stood staring, switching her gaze in-between Ava and Blake as if she were staring at a ghost. She stood before them dressed in a long, red gown with red lipstick coated on her lips and dangling diamond earrings hanging from her earlobes. Jade was dressed exquisitely as if she had come here to see someone. Quickly, Ava jumped up from Blake’s lap, feeling as if she were moving in slow motion. She had been caught red handed.  “Jade, please let me explain!”

Jade still had not said a word. Her body was shaking as she continued staring at them both. Ava’s heart beat out of her chest waiting for Jade to finally say something. Like an idiot, she mentally began slapping herself upside the head for allowing herself to be caught this way. Ava knew better than to cuddle underneath Blake in public but then again, Jade’s surprise pop up was highly unlike her.  She was the last person Ava expected to show up here.

“You bitch…” Jade finally spoke, breaking the intense silence. Her tone was very dark and cold as she spoke.

“Jade… I…. I…” Ava stammered. She attempted to come up with a defense but her speech was frozen in time. There was no explanation for this. There were no excuses to give.

Without saying another word, Jade abruptly turned on her heel, hiked up her dress and ran off in the opposite direction leaving Ava standing there watching her run away.

“Jade!!!” Ava quickly called out to her attempting to stop her. She did not listen to her calls. Jade flicked the middle finger over her shoulder and made her way clear across the room with no intentions on stopping. “Jade, wait!!!” Ava called after her again. She fell into step around the bar, preparing to chase after her. Before she could get too far, she felt a soft tug on her arm pulling her back. She whipped around and turned to face Blake who stared at her with a concerned look on his face. “I don’t think you should do that, Ava.” Blake said. “She seems extremely upset. Maybe you should let her cool off.”

Defiantly, Ava wiggled her arm away. “Not right now, Blake.” She held up her hand, dismissing him after becoming slightly aggravated that she had been caught. Ava hadn’t planned on keeping this from her forever. The last thing she wanted was for her to find out this way. She hurried around the bar and out onto the dance floor, walking at a quick pace to catch up with