Free Protecting You (A McCord Family Novel Book 1) by Amanda Siegrist Page A

pretending. He preferred her feigning enjoyment rather than hiding out in her room. He had been worried when Eleanor told him about Zane and his visit with Ava. He had been even more worried when she refused to tell him what Zane said. He didn’t want to upset her anymore and let it go. Considering she hadn't left yet, he decided that was a step in the right direction.
    "Hmm?" she asked as her eyes finally glossed back into reality.
    "The meal—do you like it?" Austin asked again.
    "Oh. Yes, it's good. Thank you for the meal, Eleanor," Ava said politely, glancing at Eleanor, but making sure not to make eye contact with Zane.
    "You're welcome, dear. These boys work hard every day, so I try and make them good meals to sustain their bellies," Eleanor replied. She looked over at Zane, who remained quiet throughout the whole meal. "How is it for you, Zane? You've been so quiet next to me."
    Zane looked up from his plate that he had just finished. "Delicious, Eleanor. There's no other word to describe your meals. I'm finished eating. I have some papers to go over in the study, if you'll excuse me." Zane grabbed his plate and walked into the kitchen without waiting for a response, or even looking at anyone.
    "Are you done, Ava? You didn't eat much," Austin asked her, ignoring Zane's abrupt departure.
    "Yes, I think I'm done," Ava said as she set her fork down.
    "Well, let's help Eleanor clear the table and I'll go show you the pool table we have in the basement. You ever play pool?" Austin asked with a grin.
    He still didn’t want her to hide in her room. While she was here, he planned to occupy her time as much as possible. She needed to breathe fresh air and get on with her life. He wasn't exactly sure how to go about doing that, but he figured getting her out of her room, not curled in bed, was a good start.
    "A few times, but I'm not really up for that," Ava replied.
    "Sure you are," Austin replied as he stood up and started to help take the dirty dishes into the kitchen.
    Ava sighed in defeat and helped clear the table as well. Once they put everything on the counter in the kitchen, Eleanor shooed them out and told them to go play while she finished cleaning everything. Austin didn't argue with her and dragged Ava downstairs before she could go run and hide in her room.
    He racked the balls on one end of the pool table and lined the cue ball up nicely on the other end. He offered Ava to make the first break, but she declined, so he went ahead and did it. He got three solids in before he missed. Ava took her turn and got two stripes in before she finally missed, making Austin slightly surprised the game may turn out good after all.
    Austin eventually ended up winning and taught Ava a few moves to help her in the next round. She tried to retire to her room, but he wouldn't let her. They played one more game and Austin finally relented when her eyes started to look heavy. He walked her to her room and said goodnight to her at the bedroom door. He told her his room was on the other side of the house, and if she needed him, he was the first door on the left and Eleanor was the second door on the left.
    He didn’t tell her where Zane's bedroom was and she never asked. Some things were better left unsaid.
    ***
    Zane locked himself in the study for the rest of the evening. His curiosity took over when images kept gliding through his mind of what Austin and Ava may be doing, but not enough to go look. He eventually went to bed around eleven, figuring he couldn't delay it any longer.
    Sleep came easily despite the nearness of Ava's presence. She was barely a door away from him, their only guest room centered next to his personal space. He hadn't been happy knowing how close she would be. It had been the only reason he delayed going to bed, knowing she was just a few steps away. The immediate feeling of suffocation overwhelmed him, clogging his throat when he realized where Austin had put her.
    His senses were jolted into alarm when he