“Look at how Matt betrayed me. Though honestly, even though I never hurt him, I didn’t love him deeply. Not the way you loved Juliette, with your whole heart and soul. That’s a connection I’ve never experienced. Maybe it’s just not in the cards for me. I don’t have the best attitude about love.”
Her downcast expression made him want to punch Matt and every other guy who’d disappointed her. “Or maybe you just hadn’t met the right guy until now.”
Her lips quirked. “Until now?”
“Right now.” Then he rolled her onto her back, holding himself above her. “I wouldn’t want you to change a thing.” Before she could respond, he bent his head and kissed her, gently lowering his body against hers. What he would give to make love to her, here and now.
Her hands found their way around his waist and back, and she kissed him back. Tightening and tingles shot through his body and straight to his groin. She felt so good, so right, so everything. He wanted to be the guy who would change her outlook on love. He would be that guy, even if he needed a sledgehammer to break through all her walls.
“Grey,” she panted as his mouth found her collarbone and she tightened her hold on him.
Unfortunately, a loud bark and wet nose descended upon them, killing the moment. Grey pushed himself up on his elbows and grumbled, “I should’ve left Shaman at home.”
“He’s my bodyguard.” Avery reached up to pet the dog under his chin. “Keeps you in line.”
Grey kissed the tip of her nose. “Not for long. He’ll be grounded this evening.”
Two hours later, Avery returned home to shower and change for dinner. She was humming to herself when she entered her house.
“Look who’s home,” Andy called from the kitchen.
Three things struck Avery at the same time: a bouquet of sunflowers and irises sat on the kitchen island, Andy’s accusatory expression meant trouble, and Matt sat staring at her disapprovingly.
Avery dropped her keys on the desk, her gaze drifting from the flowers to Andy. “Hello to you, too.”
“So, this was a bit of a surprise.” Andy nodded at the bouquet before lifting the card from the holder. “‘Avery, Can’t wait for our first date. Grey.’ Grey? You’re going on a date with Grey Lowell tonight?”
Grey’s lovely gesture had foiled her plans to keep things on the down-low. But instead of being upset by her brother’s anger, the beautiful bouquet only fueled her desire to pursue the relationship.
“Yes.” When she heard Matt sigh, she continued. “In fact, I just got back from spending the afternoon hiking with him and his dog.”
“Really?” Andy returned the card to the holder then crossed his arms, his voice thick with sarcasm. “If he’s hiking, maybe his knee isn’t as bad as he wants everyone to believe.”
“Don’t start, Andy. Hiking on a flat path isn’t anything like the kinds of stress and sideways movement backcountry skiing or climbing place on the joint.”
“Great, so now you’re defending the enemy?” Andy’s eyes widened with betrayal.
Here we go. Avery resented having her great mood spoiled.
“Grey is not the enemy. He’s the victim.” Avery placed her hands on her hips, challenging Andy to say more. “Besides, he’s expecting a settlement from the OS, which should lessen the burden on you.”
“You say that like it was his idea, instead of mine,” Matt chimed in, swiveling toward her on the kitchen stool.
Why is Matt still in town?
“Please stay out of this.” Having to defend herself to Matt in her own home scorched her pride. “It’s honestly none of your business. Isn’t it time you go back to LA and Sasha?”
Matt narrowed his eyes, but then appeared to swallow whatever angry retort he’d been considering.
“You know what, Ave, play the tough-sister act with me, but don’t expect a lot of support when Dad finds out you’re dating Grey.”
“You—not me and not Grey—are the one responsible for this entire mess. I’m not planning on telling Dad anything at this early stage, so keep your opinions to yourself.”
“Getting involved with Grey before everything is settled is stupid. And don’t tell me you, with that big brain of yours, can’t see what I’m talking about, Avery.”
Avery’s shoulders tensed as she clenched her hands and jaw while engaging in a silent showdown with Andy. Her brother glanced at Matt and then sighed in defeat. A wave of emotional exhaustion threatened to fell her, so she marched to the island, snatched the vase away from Andy, and strode to her room.
She set the flowers on the nightstand and collapsed onto her bed. Closing her eyes, she replayed her idyllic afternoon. Grey had obviously spent money he didn’t have to spare on flowers and good food, but more importantly, he’d opened up to her. Even more surprising, he’d gotten her to open up a little, too. Something she rarely did, and never so quickly.
He hadn’t even winced when she’d voiced her cynical thoughts about love. If anything, he addressed her concerns. Equality. Mutual respect. Absolute honesty. Unlike sweetness and deference, those were qualities she possessed. Promises she could keep.
Maybe Grey was the right guy for her. Maybe these cursed legal matters would resolve without hurting everyone she loved. Maybe she could take a chance on love after all.
Facing off with her father would not be pleasant, but she couldn’t let go of Grey simply because the legal matter might affect her family. His effect on her—the way he relaxed her and made her hope—was too powerful to resist, no matter how illogical and fraught with risk.
Avery was swallowing a piece of salmon-and-jalapeño sushi when Grey reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. “I brought you here because this is where I first saw you, so I assumed you liked it. But the way you’re picking at your food tells me maybe I got it wrong.”
“No, I love sushi.” She smiled and took another bite.
“Okay, then.” He squeezed her hand. “What’s changed between three o’clock and now? Did I do or say something wrong?”
“No. God, no! You’ve done everything right.” She smiled and squeezed his hand back, irked for allowing her brother’s sense of foreboding to have interfered with their evening. Absolute honesty. “I’m sorry I’ve been edgy. Andy and I had a little tiff this afternoon.”
Grey released her hand and sat back into his seat. “Ah, gotcha. He’s not a fan of this,” he said, waving his hand between them.
Shaking her head, she grimaced.
Grey inhaled slowly. “Neither of us can see the future. Not about my knee, or the lawsuits, or what’s going to happen in your brother’s criminal case, or if one of us will end up with another broken heart. I wish I had answers, but I don’t. All I do know is how I feel about you right now.”
He intertwined his fingers with hers. “I really like you, Avery. I like your fire, your quick mind, your smile, your loyalty to your friends and family, your honesty, the way you feel and smell. I like the whole package, enough to take a risk and see where things might lead. So I guess you have to decide whether or not you think I’m worth the risk, too.”
Before she could respond, Kelsey arrived, with some forty-something guy, full of smiles and energy.
“Well, fancy bumping into you two here.” Kelsey turned to her companion. “Wade, these are my friends, Avery and Grey. Guys, this is Wade Kessler. He’s from Seattle, but is here in town for a commercial development project along Ute Creek.”