The subtle taunt made Avery frown despite Kelsey’s otherwise levelheaded attitude about the situation. Had she been hypocritical? She fiddled with her silverware for a few seconds.
“Thanks for being understanding.” Avery dipped a blue corn chip into the fresh guacamole. “I know what I’ve said about skiers and maybe I’ll regret this, but I’ve gotten to know Grey and I think he’s different from the others.”
“Which is what I said from the get-go, if you recall.” Kelsey’s “told you so” expression would have been comical if the situation weren’t so awkward.
Avery nodded then leveled a pointed stare at her friend. “You did. However, your opinion was rooted in a first impression and a crush, not from months of getting to know him.”
“Don’t get testy just because I’ve got better instincts than you.” Kelsey crossed her legs and sipped her water while Avery tried not to choke on her chip or begin to enumerate all the examples of poor judgment her friend had exhibited through the years. “Listen, I don’t want to get into an argument. I’m fine. It’s not going to be a problem between us. All I ask is one favor.”
“Dare I ask?” Avery grimaced as she reached for another chip. “What favor?”
Kelsey leaned forward with one hand on the table. “Since I’m being so gracious and all, don’t blow it by being so closed-off. If you’re going to go for it, then really go for it, okay? Try to be a little romantic. Seriously. We aren’t getting any younger.”
Avery studied Kelsey. For the most part, her friend looked pretty much the way she did every other day, excepting the extra glam. But there was a new glint in her eye—a determination Avery hadn’t seen in the past.
“What happened last night after I left?” Avery narrowed her gaze, suddenly attributing Kelsey’s generous outlook toward another possibility. “Did something happen between you and Trip?”
“No.” Kelsey scowled and adjusted her sweater.
Avery waited for an explanation, but Kelsey fell suspiciously quiet.
“No? Why not?” Avery leaned forward. “Did you end up reconnecting with those guys from Montrose?”
Kelsey paused while the waitress delivered their food, maintaining a pensive silence as the waitress set their meals on the table.
“I left soon after you did. Something did happen to me, though. I’m not sure I can explain it exactly. I was dancing with Trip—” Kelsey broke off to sample her taco salad. “And by the way, that guy is the world’s biggest flirt. Too bad he’s so shallow, because he’s flippin’ hot. Anyway, while he was laying on the charm, I noticed all the other guys in the bar doing the exact same thing with other women. For the first time, I saw the futility of it all. I mean, really saw it.
“How many nights did I waste hoping to make some kind of genuine connection with some guy I met in a bar—like with Grey—and worse, the hours I’ve wasted practically begging for crumbs of attention. The sudden revelation made me a little queasy.” Kelsey paused and then tilted her head as if about to deliver sage advice. “Let’s face it, few people ever find love at a ladies’ night.”
“Wow. I’m not sure what to say.” Inside, Avery danced a happy jig in thanks for her friend’s epiphany.
Kelsey waved her fork at Avery, her eyes intently studying her lunch as she speared another bite. “Nothing to say. Bottom line, I’m changing my whole MO. I’m thirty. It’s time to get smart. Use my head.” She nearly poked her skull with her fork. “Time to find a good guy who values me. One who isn’t just out for a couple of weeks of fun with me and my girls,” she announced, peering at her ample breasts.
Avery felt a huge smile spread across her face until she thought about how using her own head hadn’t been any more successful than Kelsey’s former tactics. “I bet something in between your old approach and mine is probably best. Can’t hurt to try something new.”
“Oh, yeah, something new is right. Talking to those construction guys about Mitchell’s project made me think about all the clients I’ve met through work. The single older men and divorcees have never been on my radar, but older guys treat younger women well. It’s high time I dive into that pool and see what happens.”
“Gold digger!” Avery teased before sipping her iced tea.
“There’s that, too. Heck, I could be a trophy wife.” Kelsey winked. “I’m not saying I’d go after someone for money, but I think it’s time I considered the whole package, not just the wrapping, y’know?”
Avery lifted her glass, feeling lighter than she had a mere hour ago. “To unwrapping the package!”
“Cheers!” Kelsey clinked her glass with Avery and they both chuckled.
Grey sat at his desk, rubbing his palm against his chest to douse the fire stirring every time he thought of kissing Avery—thoughts which were occurring nonstop since last night. Then again, pent-up desire proved to be a powerful motivator. In order to have her, he needed to settle these lawsuits as soon as possible, which meant he had to power through the spreadsheets, no matter how painful.
He stared at the columns of numbers he’d amassed: medical expenses and rehabilitation costs, his own wages, and extra salary expenses on the books for replacement guides. And that didn’t even include intangibles like pain and suffering, time spent in therapy instead of focusing on building Backtrax, and on and on.
“What’s got you by the short hairs?” Trip entered his office, chomping on an apple.
“I’m trying to figure out the minimum settlement I can accept and still guarantee making the loan payments so I don’t lose the business.”
Trip frowned and sat across from Grey. “Is it really that bad?”
“Take a look.” Grey passed the worksheet to Trip. “I knew I’d never get rich in this line of work, but I don’t want to lose everything, either.”
Trip pushed his cowboy hat back a bit, his brows pinching together as he concentrated on the numbers.
“Okay, that’s a bit grim. However, I think you’ve underestimated the income side of the equation. Next ski season business will pick up, especially if you improve your social media presence.” Trip stretched out his legs. “I keep telling you not to micromanage the money. Think long-term.”
“I need to get through the present in order to have a ‘long-term.’ This injury has affected my ability to build the business these past few months. And thirty percent of whatever I get from Randall or the OS goes to my lawyer. I hate this. All I want to do is ski and climb and have a good time with clients. All this other shit sucks.” Grey chucked his pencil at the worksheet.
“Didn’t you keep any of your inheritance for personal use?” Trip tossed the apple core in the trash and leaned forward.
“Not much. I needed to apply most of it toward the purchase price of Backtrax in order to qualify for the small-business loan. I only kept about fifteen grand in my personal account.” Grey scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’ve dipped into it a bit, but am trying to save it in case I need it to cover a loan payment or two if the business account runs dry before I recover any money from Andy Randall. Problem is, that could happen before next winter unless we drum up a lot more business in a short time frame.”
Grey scratched the back of his neck and blew out a long breath. Had he not been sidelined in February, he’d have some extra funds to buy a couple of snowmobiles and maybe upgrade the snowcat, too. Now those things would have to wait. “If only this accident happened two years from now, after I’d reserved more capital, it might’ve been less problematic.”