Free Fallen for Her: Book 2 by Ava Armstrong

key.  As Ella walked back towards her car she smiled for a moment.  Cassie and Paige were oblivious, uncensored, and up for a good time.  Ella decided to make a concerted effort to adjust her attitude.  She needed to paste a smile on her face and make the best of the shopping trip, even though she had thought about cancelling it.  But when Ray suggested meeting her, she decided to make the trip because she wanted to see him.  Even though she tried to convince herself it was going to be fun spending time with Cassie and Paige alone, deep down she knew it was the thought of seeing Ray again that really made the decision for her. 
     
    She pulled the Honda around to the back of the building and entered unit #112.  It was a homey little place with a lighthouse atmosphere.  Everything inside was painted white, including the furniture, and the ceiling was a faint sky blue.  Little bath soaps shaped like sea shells were placed in a glass jar in the bathroom.  Cassie and Paige were chattering away as they tossed their items into the room.  Then the girls set up their curling irons, hair dryers, and make-up.  Ella laughed to herself.  Some things never changed, but it felt good to think that way for a moment. 
     
    Ray had mentioned he’d be in the room next to theirs.  She wondered if it was #111 or #113…and took a little stroll out to her vehicle to peek at those units.  #113 was occupied.  It already had a vehicle parked in its space.  But #111 was still empty.  She imagined that was probably the one Ray reserved. 

~ Ray ~
     
    It was a thrill to turn the key in the 1959 Cadillac and listen to the engine purr.  Ray carefully drove it out of the city limits and once he got over the Tappan Zee Bridge, he breathed a sigh of relief.  The traffic thinned out a bit and he turned on the radio.  He hadn’t driven a car for a few years and was glad he kept his driver’s license renewed.  Often he was the only one who could drive when out with his friends at the sports bar.  Although in his younger days he was the one who needed a ride home.  Those were his hockey years in college when he spent some serious time worshiping the porcelain throne on his knees, but not any longer.  From his experience as a bartender, he witnessed firsthand the damage alcohol could do, not only to a person’s health, but to loved ones who cared.  Nowadays Ray wasn’t a big drinker.  He had a three beer limit and, lately, that usually took all night to accomplish.  He didn’t like the feeling of being out of control.  But his friends sure appreciated his sobriety and responsibility.  Unknown to them, he had just as much fun only having one beer. 
     
    The closer he got to Kittery Maine, the more his eager he was to see Ella again.  The last message from her indicated she wanted to talk with him about something.  He was hoping it was a pre-nuptial agreement and had a generic one in his briefcase just in case.  He had never met Bob, but the impression he had formed of him was not positive.  A few days ago he did a little research on Bob Albertson and discovered the man was successful, powerful and wealthy, beyond what he had imagined.  Bob was the executive sales manager of a multi-billion dollar tech company.  The articles he read indicated this guy didn’t like losing – anything.  In fact, Ray doubted he rarely heard the word no .   
     
    For the first time he let his mind wander so far as to Ella possibly saying no to Bob.  He got the distinct impression she wasn’t happy with this guy.  Just a hunch.  But, if that was the case, he wanted to help her as much as he could.  Ella was a sweet, kind-hearted person and he genuinely worried she might need someone in her corner if it came to that. 
     
    Pulling off the exit to Kittery Maine, he took Route 103 which snaked along the coastline.  Within a few minutes he was in the parking lot of the Low Tide Inn, an old-fashioned single story resort.  He walked