CHAPTER EIGHT
Avery closed her book and stared at the ceiling. It had been two weeks since she’d seen Wyatt at the Bright Star. It had also been no surprise that Wyatt found a reason to get out of their monthly meal with John Jacob and Teri-Lyn, who always rode up to the college to check on them. She’d sat through the meal and pretended
everything was fine, but she could tell Teri-Lyn didn’t buy it.
She’d done her best to put Wyatt out of her mind with schoolwork, hanging out with Parker, and working at Reed Bradley. After that last fight, she’d come to the conclusion that he was right. She should give him the space he needed to find himself. Clearly he was thinking about his future…and it didn’t include her. Maybe it wasn’t
meant to be. He didn’t seem too put off that Kelly was invading his space at the Bright Star. Perhaps there was more to their relationship, and he didn’t want to tell her. Whether it be Kelly chasing after him, or Riley popping up everywhere lately, or Wyatt’s refusal to have a serious talk with her, something was always coming up to put distance between them. So why should she mope around?
There was a perfectly available, sexy, bad-boy quarterback who’d been flirting with her since the day she met him. She and Riley seemed to keep running into each other. Maybe it was time to try something new.
She put on a casual yet pretty outfit and jumped in her car and headed for the building where Riley lived. She nodded at the doorman, who was accustomed to seeing her, as she walked
past the front desk and got on the elevator. She looked around, hoping not to see any of her family members. How the heck would she explain this? Her hand trembled as she pushed the button for Riley’s floor. She continued to second-guess herself right up until she rang his doorbell.
Riley opened the door and his eyes widened. “Avery.”
“Hi, Riley.” Avery swallowed hard at the sight
of him. He had on a tank top, shorts, and was dripping with sweat. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“I was just working out. Do you want to come in?”
“Yes. Thanks.”
“I smell terrible. Give me ten minutes to shower and change.”
“I can come back another time.”
“Not at all. Make yourself at home.” He smiled. “I can fix us some food, and we can talk without the prying
eyes of overprotective uncles.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he zipped out of the living room and headed down the hallway. She put her purse down on the couch and roamed around the room. Riley’s apartment was stylish and a total bachelor pad. There were video games and sports magazines on the coffee table. Most of them had him on the cover. She flipped through one and speed-read
over the interview. It was a typical interview about his rise to fame. She picked up the remote and turned on one of the huge flat screen televisions on the wall, and it was no surprise it was already tuned to a sports channel. She scanned the guide but couldn’t find anything interesting to watch. It didn’t matter anyway because she was so nervous about being there with him she probably wouldn’t know
what she was watching.
She’d been so set on proving she could come to his apartment, she hadn’t stopped to think about what would happen after she’d arrived. They hardly knew each other. She took out her cell phone and glanced at her messages. No calls from Wyatt. What was she expecting since their fallout in the Bright Star parking lot? It was obvious they were over. She had to move on
with her life.
“Is this better?” Riley said as he sauntered back into the living room.
Better? He was downright gorgeous. He’d swapped out gym clothes for a pair of slacks and a blue shirt that complimented his glacial blue eyes. His hair was perfectly coiffed, and he smelled amazing. He’d even trimmed his beard.
“You clean up good,” she stumbled to get it out. “I’m sorry to
just pop in on you. I was in the building and thought I’d say hi and congratulate you on Sunday’s game. I was at the stadium with my family.”
“I saw you on the Jumbo Tron when it panned to the owner’s box. I was sitting on the bench.”
“You saw that?” Wow. She really thought he’d be too into the game to notice.
“I see everything.” He grinned. “Can I offer you something to drink?”
She thought hard. She didn’t want to sound like a kid. She was in a grown man’s luxury apartment after all. What alcoholic beverage sounded sophisticated? Ah, her Aunt Morgan’s old standby. “Would it be too much trouble to whip up a Shirley Temple?”
“No, and it would be totally adorable.” He went over to bar and searched for the grenadine. “I know you’re not legal yet.”
“My birthday
is coming up in a couple of weeks. I’ll be turning the big two-one,” she said nervously.
“How exciting. Maybe I can celebrate the special occasion with you. What are your plans?”
“The family has a big party planned.” She bit her lip and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What are you going to have? Scotch, like my uncles?”
“I’m building up a tolerance for it. I’ve more
of a tequila or vodka man, but I don’t think the occasion calls for it. Unless you’re here for a more exciting reason. Does your uncle know you’re here?”
“I don’t report to Uncle Seth every moment of life,” she said, frowning.
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” He placed the tame cocktail in front of her and got a beer for himself, then rounded the bar to sit on the stool across from her.
“I want to apologize for that mess at the Bright Star,” she said.
“No worries. I thought it was nice the way you came to my defense.” He swigged his beer.
“I’m just glad Cal didn’t hogtie you.”
“He’s a crazy old coot. I don’t think he likes me much.”
“He doesn’t.” She laughed. “He’s says you’re too shiny and pretty. I hope Wyatt wasn’t mean to you after I left.”
“The bartender? No, but he was shooting daggers at me for the rest of the night.” He scratched at his beard. “I didn’t know it was a crime to be handsome in the state of Texas.”
“It’s not. I think people get turned off by how self-aware you are.” She smirked and fingered the bracelet she wore.
“Yes. You were very cold to me when we first met.”
“You were being obnoxious.”
“No, I wasn’t.” He held his hands up.
She glared at him. “Weren’t you?”
“OK, maybe I was overt in showing I was attracted to you, but I toned it down for your uncle. What good it did me. He was practically reading my mind.”
“The horses in the stables could read your mind that day.”
“When I see something I want, I don’t waste any time.”
“There’s something to be
said for going slow.”
“
Slow
is for little boys like your friend Wyatt.”
Avery tensed. “Wyatt’s a different story.”
“I bet.” He slid off the stool and leaned closer to her. “But I’d rather talk about us. We have connection. We keep finding our way to each other. You’ve even defied your uncle’s crazy stay-away policy to pay me a visit. Why is that?”
“I don’t know…”
Avery closed her eyes when she saw Riley coming in for the kiss. It was immediately clear what he wanted, and he wasn’t confused about it. She’d imagined the softness of his lips and how she’d have to lift up on her tiptoes to meet him half way, since there was a significant height difference. She felt his hands on her waist. But it felt wrong. He wasn’t the person she’d spent three years slowly falling
in love with every day. Riley may have been a handsome, rich quarterback, but he wasn’t Wyatt.
She moved away before he could complete the kiss. “I have to go.”
“Don’t go,” he said quickly. “I want you to stay. I’d really like to see you more often. We can figure out what to tell your uncle tomorrow.”
“Tell my uncle?” She gave him an incredulous look. “We haven’t even been on
a date. I think it’s premature to go telling him something like that. What if we’re not compatible?”
“You’re over-thinking this attraction. Some things just happen naturally.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I know I wanted you the second I saw you on the ranch.”
“I think it’s better if I leave.” She scooped up her purse from the couch and exited the apartment without saying
good-bye.
* * *
When Avery’s Uncle Jared called him, at first Wyatt thought he’d wanted to set a date for his career counseling session with him. He was pretty sure he didn’t want to be an architect, but it would be nice to see how Jared worked his magic designing buildings. He called back and learned her uncle needed a favor instead. And it was a really big favor.
Once Jared explained what he needed him to do, Wyatt felt honored that he’d entrust him with such a mission.
Wyatt parked the car and headed into the apartment building, hoping he’d see Avery. He hadn’t seen Avery in a few weeks and he missed her something terrible. She’d gone out of her way not to run into him, and he couldn’t blame her. He entered the lobby, waved at the bellman, then
went over and punched the button for the elevator. The elevator pinged and the doors opened. It was Avery. She was dressed pretty fancy to walk a dog…and there was no dog in sight. Besides, Autumn and Jared were at their place this week. No one needed to walk Bingo.
“Avery.” He moved to the side to give her room to exit. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach.
“Is everything OK?”
“Yes. I’m fine.” She said with a forced smile.
He knew that look. Something was wrong. “Are you sure everything is all right?”
“Yeah. I’ve just been a little distracted about all the life changes coming up.”
“Well, you have a lot to be pensive about. Your birthday party is coming up. Graduation will be here before we know it. Life is going to change
soon.”
“I think it already has.” She gave him a smile.
“Can I walk you to your car?”
“Sure.”
They walked out of the lobby.
“I saw you on Michelle’s cooking show,” Avery said. “It looked like you were having a blast.”
He laughed. “Michelle’s a sweetheart. It’s hard not to be relaxed around her.”
“Did your segment yield any clues about a possible career?
Do we have a chef in the making?”
“You remember that time I tried to make you toast?”
“I forgot about that.” She laughed. “Is that why the fire extinguisher was on the counter for most of the segment?”
“Yeah.” He laughed too.
“Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying your time shadowing the family.”
“It’s been fun and informative, but I’m still no closer to making any important
decisions.”
She threw him a tentative glance. “You ever think you try too hard?”
“Sometimes I think not enough.”
“You’ll find your way. I know you will.”
“And you be careful. I wouldn’t want you rushing into anything you might regret.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Wyatt.” She gave him hug.
He wasn’t expecting such a hearty hug from her, but he was damn
glad she did it. He squeezed her back. She had the faint smell of cologne on her and he knew it wasn’t a scent Bo or Jared used. He tightened his grip, not wanting to let her go. He felt like it if he did, his heart would break. “Goodnight, Princess.”
Wyatt watched her drive off yet again. It seemed he’d been doing that a lot lately. Watching her leave. Each time felt even worse than the
previous one, because it always felt like the last time he’d see her. He longed for the simple days of being together without the angst of complicated feelings lurking around every corner. She didn’t dress that fancy to come visit family, so she must have been visiting that idiot quarterback Riley. The idea that she could have shared a meal or something else with that slick jerk sent him marching
over to the elevators. Instead of inserting his key card, he pushed the button for Riley’s floor. He got out and went over to the quarterback’s door and knocked, hard. A few minutes later, Riley opened the door. He looked like he was dressed for a date too. Riley opened his mouth to speak, but Wyatt beat him to the punch.
“I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing with Avery but knock
it off. She’s special. She’s beautiful and intelligent, so don’t bother with slick, empty, flattering words because she’s above all that. If you hurt her, it won’t be the Blake men coming after you, pretty boy. I’ll knock you on your ass myself.”
He pivoted away from Riley and stalked down the corridor. He didn’t bother waiting for an elevator. He took the stairs until he’d reached the eighth
floor and slid his access card to gain entry. Wyatt stopped outside her uncle’s apartment and looked at his image in the mirror above the hall table. He had to get himself together so Jared wouldn’t see how upset he was. He took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
“Wyatt.” Jared ushered him inside. “Thanks again for doing me this huge favor.”
“No problem. Although, I’m not sure I’m
the man for the job. Isn’t this kind of important?”
Jared smiled. “It’s very important, and I want it to be a surprise.”
“And you’re sure you want my help?”
“Wyatt. You’re a responsible guy. I trust you implicitly.”
He wasn’t sure if he were imagining things. Wyatt gave him a strange look. “Since when did you trust me?”
“Anyone who takes such good care of my niece
can handle this errand. I’ll be right back.” Jared left the room but returned a moment later with the bag. “I need to have this done by Avery’s party.”
Wyatt nodded but remained silent.
Jared looked him over. “What’s wrong?”
“The thing you just said. I thought you hated my guts.”
“Have a seat.” Jared sat on the couch. “I know I’ve been a little hard on you over the years.”
“A little?”
“OK. I’ve been terrible to you. I saw you as this punk kid that was lusting after my niece, and as her uncle, it’s my job to look out for her. But I know you’re a fine young man. I can see why she cares so deeply for you. You make her happy. I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
“Thanks, Jared.” Wyatt stood. “I won’t let you down.”
“I know.”
Wyatt left
the apartment with a renewed determination to win back Avery.