Authors: Frances Stockton
“Hey, Alexander, do you think Ryan would agree to open up
the pub at the castle for guests to watch the Griffins’ playoff game Saturday?”
“Sure, we could arrange something. Besides, how can I turn
my sister down when she asks so nicely?”
“Great! I was supposed to fly down to Virginia, but given my
ankle, it’s best if I don’t. If the Griffins win and move onto the
championship, I will be there for Hazard.”
“Tell him I’d like to sit down and talk to him man-to-man.
It can wait until after football season, but as your brother, it’s my duty to
make sure he means to do right by you.”
Avery couldn’t help but smile. “Could I have a hug? I do
love you, you know?”
“I love you too, Avery. You’re an adult and capable of
making your own decisions regarding who you date. Have to admit that last night
I saw red and was ready to beat the tar out of Osbourne for touching my
sister.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Ryan.”
“He talked sense into you.”
“If there’s anyone who can do that, it’s my husband.”
“He’s the perfect husband.”
“Now I wouldn’t say that. No one’s perfect, but it’s fair to
say he’s close. I can only try to be the man he deserves.”
Avery watched her big brother do something he rarely did, he
flushed. It was so obvious that he loved Ryan and the feelings were returned.
Alexander came over and gave her a big hug, just as she
asked. No doubt he’d have that man-to-man talk with Hazard after football
season. That was okay. Hazard would handle the conversation like the hero he
was.
As it happened, Alexander left her to take care of business,
meaning he was calling Phalen. Relaxing back in her lounge chair, the only
thing that’d make her feel even better was if Hazard was with her.
Until she spoke to him later, she’d follow Doc’s orders and
get back to reading her book. Luckily, Ryan had brought her carryon inside when
they’d arrived at the clinic and her Kindle was close at hand.
Four hours later, and after a mini-parade of friends came to
the clinic to welcome her home, Avery was able to walk through the door of her
own apartment. Evelyn Stratham was the last to arrive and drove her home.
Though her best friend’s hair was almost the same
caramel-brown as Hazard’s, and it was longer and straighter than Avery’s, Eve
reminded Avery of herself. They were the same height, had powerful fathers and
similar interests in movies, books and men.
The biggest difference was Eve’s preference for reading
paranormal and historical novels over Avery’s love of action and medical
whodunits. They shared a collection of erotica and kept that knowledge to
themselves.
“So tell me how you managed to score one of the hottest men
on the planet?” Eve asked the moment they sat down and Avery elevated her foot.
“Did you see the cover of
SI
two weeks ago?”
“Believe it or not, with a red dress dare,” she confessed.
“Do tell.” Eve was incredibly pretty, with soft features and
a heart-shaped face.
Avery envied her friend’s naturally straight hair, but
often, Eve swept it into a prim bun, keeping few to realize how long and silky
it really was.
“After a day at the spa and getting my hair done, I went out
for a night on the town. I guess you could say I flirted with Hazard and made
him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
“Sounds to me like the dress worked.”
“I didn’t know that it would. Morgan texted earlier that day
and insisted my future resided at the Truth or Dare Club. How she knew where I
was going or intended, I don’t know. At least I had my safety net.”
“I tell you what, if you hadn’t contacted us when you did,
Sam Riley would have fired up Ethan, Taran and Phalen and gotten them on the
first plane to Nevada.”
“And my big brother and Ryan would’ve been there too.”
“When Morgan gets one of her feelings, no one second-guesses
her, least of all her husband and your brother. To tell you the truth, I’m pretty
sure Remy would have boarded that flight.”
“Is there any news to report regarding Remy?” Avery asked.
Looking wistful and longing for something she hadn’t
obtained, Eve sighed. “Sometimes he looks at me the way I imagine a knight in
shining armor would just before he whisks his fair maiden to safety. Other
times, he looks like he wants to fuck me.”
“Evelyn Stratham, what language!”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. If that’s the case, why isn’t he doing something
about it?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t know. Maybe he thinks I’m too
boring, or too good of a friend to admit that he wants to have sex with me.”
“You are not boring. I think he does want you, but Morgan
claims he’s bisexual. If that’s the case, he’s trying to do the right thing and
avoid hurting you.”
“If he stopped running and paid attention, he might even
learn that I’ve had fantasies about us…and someone else.”
“Triad fantasies?”
“Yes.” Prim and proper Evelyn blushed redder than a candy
apple. “I think it’s the Ransom Hunter books. As often as I’ve read them, the
sex scenes involving multiple partners, namely two men and one woman make me
want to experience it with Remy.”
“You know, I met someone in Dare who wants to meet the two
of you.”
“Really, who, curious minds want to know?”
“His name’s Jaxon Wynter. He’s a stud, no doubt, and a Dom.
Jaxon is the metrosexual version of a Maddox brother. He’s also intrigued by
the paranormal and ghosts. His house is haunted. You’d love that.”
“Remy wants to do an investigation of Dare, Nevada, to
expand the show beyond New England television markets. Do you think it’s
possible?”
“Jaxon’s one of the town founders. I’ll get you in contact
with him. Hazard told me that Jax is interested in discussing an investigation.
Apparently, he knew that you two tried to fly out there a few months ago and
were delayed.”
“Being stuck at the airport was a pain in the butt,” Eve
commented. “The drive home with Remy was amazing. He was kind and considerate
and a complete gentleman, even when we stopped at a motel for the night.”
“Much to your chagrin, I take it?”
“Trust me. I didn’t get much sleep knowing Remington
Sinclair was on the other bed.”
“You should have invited him over.”
“I would have if he’d not been sound asleep when I came out
of the bathroom. He’d been driving for hours. We slept for a few hours, got
back on the road and learned Ethan had been shot.”
“That was a crazy time.
“Yes, it was. But on that note, I should head on home and
let you get in touch with Hazard. I’m sure you’re missing him.”
“Like crazy,” Avery admitted.
Eve stood up. “Do you need anything before I go? I put your
suitcase and carryon in your bedroom.”
“I’m good. I don’t even need the crutches much now that I’m
home. Tomorrow, I’ll get some laundry done. Several things need to go to the
dry cleaners.”
“Would you like me to do that for you?”
“No, I’ll manage. Alexander and Ryan are coming over first
thing and bringing breakfast from the diner.”
“Excellent, have them order the biscuits and gravy.”
“And homemade grits,” Avery said.
“Now I’m hungry. As long as you’re okay, I’ll say bye for
now.”
“Bye for now. Call tomorrow.”
“I will. Thanks for the girl talk.”
“Anytime. Hey, make sure you come to the castle on Saturday
for Hazard’s game. Ryan and Alexander are going to host a big party.”
“I wouldn’t miss your man’s big day.”
Eve waved goodbye and headed out the door. Avery grabbed the
television remote and powered on her forty-inch flat screen. Her small array of
plants set about the small apartment had been lovingly attended to by Morgan
and Cassie while she’d been away.
Everything was exactly as she left it. Satisfied, Avery
grinned when her landline phone rang. Thanks to caller ID, she knew it was
Hazard.
Grabbing the cordless from the charging station next to her
easy chair, she answered. “Hi, Hazard.”
“Hi, baby. Everything all right there?”
“It’s nice to be home, but I miss you.”
“Yeah, I know how you feel.”
Avery filled him in about the football viewing party.
“Hazard, you do know that I’d far rather be with you on Saturday than watching
on a big screen.”
“Sure do, there’s nothing I’d want more. I have some good
news and bad news to share.”
“Give me the good first.”
“My father’s coming to the game. I took your advice and
called him. We talked for an hour, Avery. We haven’t had that kind of
conversation in a long time. It was good.”
Avery was happy for Hazard. “That’s wonderful news.” But
that meant the bad news was really bad.
“It’ll be good to see him. He’s flying in with my brother
Friday night.”
“Oh no,” Avery whispered.
“Angie found out about his affair. She kicked him out.”
“How’s he doing?”
“He’s miserable. Now that they’re separated, he ended things
with the woman he was seeing and wants Angie back.”
“Is it too late?”
“I don’t know. I invited him to the game to get away from
the situation and think about what he really wants. Either way, I told him to
get some family counseling. The girls are going to need their father, no matter
what happens between him and Angie.”
“Good advice. Maybe they’ll work things out.”
“If they don’t, I’m going to let Angie know she’ll always be
family. If she needs something, all she has to do is call.”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that. You’re a good man, Trevor
Osbourne,” Avery said, proud of him.
“I’ve got a good woman helping me be a better man. What else
have I missed today? Is your ankle doing better?”
“Remarkably, yes,” she told him. “Doc is amazing. He set me
up in a room so I could rest and read. The RICE treatment helped a great deal.”
“Remind me to thank him for helping you.”
“I will. There’s something you should know. My brother and
John Redman had a short-lived history.”
For a minute nothing but Hazard’s heavy breath came over the
line. “Are we talking business or pleasure?”
“Both. Alexander said John was his first client. Things went
south after they’d become intimate. Alexander talked to Phalen Maddox. He’s
having Phalen follow up on what Sawyer Hamilton provided.”
“Redman’s weird, Avery.”
“Tell me about it. Now I understand why he didn’t seem to
like me. I’d say he blamed me for what went wrong with Alexander.”
“Doesn’t make sense that Redman would be angry with you for
something that happened with Alex,” Hazard said. “Tell Phalen if he needs to
get in touch with Sawyer directly, I’m sure it can be arranged. I’d also like
Alex and Ryan to keep an eye on you when I can’t be there.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got loads of friends to look after me.
The Maddox brothers alone can put the fear of God into most mortal men. One’s a
detective.”
“I still want them to look after you. It’s killing me to
know I can’t be there now.”
“If you could, I know you’d be here.”
“Soon I will be, baby, soon.”
“Tell me what’ll happen at your meeting tomorrow,” she
requested. “It’ll keep my mind occupied.”
A knock came out at the door, startling her. “Hold on a sec,
Hazard. Someone’s at the door.”
Keeping him on the line and trapping the phone with her
shoulder, she managed to get out of the chair and hobble slowly to her door.
Her ankle was sore, but not too terribly painful at the moment.
Checking the eyehole, she saw her neighbor in the hallway.
Vivian Albright was a sweet older woman who kept an eye on residents. Avery
enjoyed their talks and frequently visited her neighbor for coffee or tea.
“Mrs. Albright,” Avery greeted, opening the door. “This is a
pleasant surprise.”
“Welcome home, dear,” Vivian said. “I heard talking and
footsteps over here and figured you’d made your way back from vacation. All
went well, I take it?”
“It was wonderful. Thank you for keeping an eye on things.”
Before she’d moved into the apartment, Ryan and Alexander
lived there until they married and moved to Druid Creek Castle. Vivian was
mildly arthritic, with signs of osteoporosis, and Ryan had taken a liking to
his older neighbor. He’d asked Avery to keep an eye on her, since she didn’t
have a lot of family in the area.
“I was glad to help, dear,” Vivian assured. “Your
girlfriends came by a time or two to take care of the plants. Nothing
remarkable happened, except one of the vacant apartments in building four was
rented this morning. The super for the complex told me the couple is moving
sometime next week.”
“We’ll have new neighbors to welcome soon,” Avery said.
“Perhaps I’ll bake them some cookies once they’re settled.”
“That’s a great idea. How about I stop by and help?”
“It looks like you’ve hurt your leg.”
“I’ll be fine,” Avery insisted.
“All the same, you should stay off it. I’ll manage the
cookies. Ring me if you should need anything.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Albright.”
Vivian sidled off to her apartment across the hall.
“Still there, Hazard?” she asked, putting the phone back to
her ear.
“Wouldn’t be anywhere else. Maybe you should head into your
bedroom and put your feet up.”
“Hazard Osbourne, are you suggesting phone sex?”
“Since you brought it up, yeah.”
“I didn’t bring it up.”
“Which one of us said phone sex?”
“Both of us,” she replied, giggling.
“There’s your answer. To bed with you,” he urged.
“It’s going to be lonely without you.”
“We can talk late into the night, if you’d like.”
“I like the sound of that.” Avery slowly made her way to her
bedroom.
Going over to her bed, she kept the phone tucked to her ear
while Hazard told her about his upcoming team meeting tomorrow and shed her
clothes. Rather than bother with a nightgown, she decided to sleep nude. As a
habit, she’d changed her sheets before leaving for vacation so that everything
would be clean and fresh upon her return home.