Avery choked on his laugh. He’d missed this. It had been too long since he’d taken time to spend with family. “All right. I’ll call in the pizza. I’m with the kid on this one. No rat roast.”
Hank beamed, and he and Quinn did a covert low fist bump that clearly wasn’t meant for Avery to notice. But he did.
Something was up.
What were these two old farts brewing this time?
He just hoped it didn’t land one of them in the hospital like last time when they drank too many beers and attempted to catch a bear by tying a salmon to the end of a rope as bait. The bear had gotten the fish and both men had received stitches and a hell of a story for their troubles. They were lucky that’s all they’d gotten. It could have been so much worse.
Avery felt like Hank and his roles were reversed. Lord knew, he spent more time worrying about what his dad was up to, who he was dating, and was he going to marry this one too, than the other way around. After his mom had run off when he’d been seven, he’d taken over making himself lunch, buying groceries, and washing clothes. Hank didn’t think about things like that. He thought about bigger things, things with large dollar signs and profit margins. Worrying about dinner for a little boy was never on his radar. Then stepmom number one had moved in, and he’d gotten to be a kid again for a short time. Then she’d taken off, leaving Drew behind, and Avery had stepped in as surrogate father to Drew. He’d had a breather in high school, when Hank married wife number three. He even attended a few years of college before Hank and wife number three called it quits, and Drew had escaped into the wilderness. It had taken them two days to find him that time.
Avery had decided right then not to return to college, and he’d never regretted it. Though there were times he wished he had the responsibility of someone his age rather than of a fifty-year-old man.
Chapter 7
Catriona didn’t sleep a wink that night, too excited for her new future to begin. She had a meeting with Jill Knudsen at Dawson Realty and Development. She’d asked Hank if she needed a lawyer to represent her and he’d scoffed and said that he had her interests well in hand. This was Alaska after all, where land could still transfer with a handshake and a gift of smoked salmon.
In lieu of salmon, she’d conned her sister Kennadee into making the family favorite, lowbush cranberry muffins. The recipe had been their mother’s and all the sisters, except Catriona, could make them with ease. She was better on dish duty than actually cooking anything. That was one place she didn’t shine. Well, that and when it came to singing. Her song-writing, guitar-playing brother Brey, who was living in Nashville, often said that when Catriona sang it was like hearing a cat caught in a blender. She didn’t think she sounded that bad, but now she only sang alone in the car or the shower with the music loud enough that she didn’t have to hear herself either.
She gave up trying to sleep any longer and jumped out of bed and got ready for the day. After doing thirty minutes of yoga, she hit the shower. The forecast was for snow so she layered in a soft, knit, long-sleeve shirt with a loose sweater in burgundy over it. Struggling into snug leggings, she pulled on sensible boots, and headed for the kitchen.
The house had changed since Sorene had moved out a few weeks ago. Since she’d agreed to marry Ash Bleu, they had been “construction camping” at the lake house they would soon make their home.
Cat made a mental note to head out there to see their progress. What Sorene and Ash had already created together was a work of art.
Kennadee was in the kitchen, checking promised muffins baking in the oven.
“I didn’t think you’d be up this early,” Catriona said at seeing her sister.
“I’m off to Nenana for a few days,” she said.
“You are hardly ever home anymore.”
“Once I finish this last bit of training and get my certification, I’ll be around to help out more.” Kennadee wiped her hands clean on a kitchen towel. “Have you seen Zoe? Did she come home last night?”
“Ever since Sorene moved out, Zoe is living wild.”
“Dad needs to do something about that.”
“You know that will never happen. He thinks the sun rises with her.”
“Now, that’s not true,” Jack answered, entering the kitchen and heading to the cupboard to grab a mug that he filled to the brim with coffee. “I love all my children equally.”
Catriona shared a disbelieving look with Kennadee.
“I saw that,” Jack said, not turning around. “And Zoe did come home last night. Yet it was later than I’d like.”
Ever since Zoe had returned home after quitting college after one semester, she’d been sowing her wild oats.
“Has she had any luck finding another job?” Catriona asked, tired of hearing Zoe complain about working for the family business with Jack. They’d all taken their turn learning the ropes at Wilde Log Homes, and they were better off for the experience. It was Ryder and Sorene who had turned that experience into their careers, while the rest of the Wilde Clan had ventured into other fields.
“Hey, I just had an idea,” Jack said. “Zoe hates working at Wilde Homes, but she might love working for you when you open the Mystic Heart.”
“Uh, Dad—”
“Hear me out. She’s good with people, and your shop will be more her style than being around construction.”
“With a new business, it’s hard to show a profit the first few years, and taking on an employee would not be a good idea.”
“That’s where I think you are wrong. Don’t discount good customer service. If you have enough help for your customers, they will most likely purchase more.”
Catriona knew he had a point, but the idea of babysitting her little sister didn’t appeal in the slightest. “I’ll think about it.”
The timer dinged on the oven, and Kennadee lifted the pan of muffins free. Catriona helped her transfer the steaming, tart-sweet-smelling muffins into a cloth-lined basket.
“Hey, I want one of those.” Jack reached to grab one, and Catriona slapped his hand.
“These are for Jill. I’m meeting her and Hank in half an hour.”
“She doesn’t need them all,” Jack grumbled. “You could spare one for your old pop.”
“I wouldn’t call you old. Cagey, yes, but not old.” Catriona kissed his cheek and lifted the basket out of his reach. “I’ll let you know how the meeting goes. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, Wild Cat.”
She waved goodbye to her dad and Kennadee and headed out.
It was already snowing enough to give her windshield wipers a workout when she pulled into a parking space in front of Dawson Realty and Development.
The receptionist ushered her into a conference room where she found Hank and Jill going over a pile of papers.
“I’m not late, am I?” she asked, horrified that she might have had the time wrong. Way to give a good first impression.
“Oh, no, honey,” Jill said. “I’m early. I was too excited to get this wrapped up. The faster we can come to terms, the faster I can get out of town and start sunning myself on a warm beach and sipping a Mai Tai.”
“That sounds like heaven right now,” Catriona said wistfully.
“Let’s get to work then,” Hank said.
Catriona offered the muffins, which Hank and Jill helped themselves to. She hadn’t been able to eat anything, her nerves too squirrely. The coffee she’d sucked down wasn’t sitting too well either.
“Hank told me what kind of shop you want to open. I love the idea. The house is perfect for something magical like that. Plus, I love that another smart, independent woman will be operating out of there. The place has always been good to me.”
A scuffling could be heard from the main office area, followed by the receptionist hollering, “Mr. Dawson, you can’t go in there.”
“The hell I can’t.” Avery burst in and took in the scene. “I knew you were up to something, but this is low even for you, Dad.”
“Now, son—”
“Don’t you ‘now son’ me. Did you even let Jill know that she had another offer on the table?”
“What other offer?” Jill looked from Avery to Hank, confused.
“Now, Avery.” Hank rose and walked to his son. “Let’s go into my office and talk about this.”
“I don’t think so. We’ll hash it out right here with all the interested parties present.”
“What kind of offer?” Jill asked again.
“A full cash buyout,” Avery said through gritted teeth.
“Are you serious?” Catriona rose from her chair too. “You don’t want me operating across the street from you that bad? That’s dirty and underhanded, and, and…unethical,” she finished lamely.
“Unethical?” Avery scoffed. “It’s business, sweetheart.”
“Don’t you ‘sweetheart’ me. You lost that right by being a—a bonehead.” Catriona fumed, knowing that at any moment steam would shoot out of her ears like some cartoon character.
“All right, let’s calm down.” Hank tried to get control of the room.
“What is going on here?” Jill asked, bewilderment knitting her brows.
“These two kids used to date,” Hank informed her.
“I wouldn’t call it dating,” Avery mumbled.
“What would you call it, Avery?” Catriona asked. “Dinner out, steamy make out sessions, your hands under my clothes—”
“Divested of, not under,” Avery clarified, stealing Catriona’s breath.
Heat infused her face.
“Avery Carrick Dawson, apologize, right now,” Hank boomed. “No son of mine speaks to a lady that way.”
Carrick? That she hadn’t known. Poor guy. She immediately steeled herself against feeling sympathy for Avery in any way. The man was trying to ruin her chance at opening her own business.
Avery seemed to realize he’d gone too far, his eyes shifting to the side, the vein on the side of jaw flexing.
“Wait a minute,” Jill piped up waving a hand from Avery to Catriona. “You two were an item? Why hadn’t I heard about that?”
“Because we were never an item,” Catriona tried to set the record straight. “We only went out a few regrettable times over a short period.” Every night during those unforgettable ten days, which didn’t make a relationship, no matter how badly she’d believed they were destined for the altar. She’d felt like two pieces of a puzzle with Avery. They had fit so well together, how could they not be meant for each other? That question still haunted her at unexpected times, but today she was crystal clear on why they weren’t good for each other. She felt like killing him.
“I think I’m getting a picture.” Jill gave a knowledgeable nod of her head. “Hank, I would like to speak to both Avery and Catriona individually before I make my decision.”
Obviously frustrated with his son, Hank was still a respected business man who’d amassed an empire in Heartbreak, if you could call it an empire in this tiny part of the state. “Of course, Jill. I’ll get some more coffee.”
“That won’t be necessary. I will take this meeting to Second Chance Books. Catriona, I’ll start with you, if you will meet me there.”
“I’d be happy to.” Catriona stared at Avery, whose temper still burned under the surface, turning the blue chips in his hazel eyes to propane flames. She gathered her purse and slipped into her coat, while Jill did the same, grabbing the basket of muffins on her way out.
“Avery, I will see you in an hour to talk with you,” Jill said as she walked by him.
“Yes, ma’am.” Avery moved aside to allow them to leave, closing the conference room door behind them.
Catriona and Jill ignored the booming argument that started up immediately between Avery and Hank.
It was a relief to walk outside into the raging blizzard.
“Hell of a morning,” Jill commented.
“That it is.” In more ways than one. Catriona climbed into her Subaru and followed Jill to Second Chance Books, which in Heartbreak took all of five minutes even with the snow falling in heavy enough curtains to impeded their journey.
Rushing for the door of Second Chance Books, they dusted off snow and stomped clumps off their boots before cocooning themselves inside.
“So, first. What is really going on between you and the very sexy Avery Dawson?” Jill asked. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not so old that I can’t appreciate how hot he is. You know there was a time, between either wife number one and two, or two and three—I can’t remember—where Hank and I did some sheet aerobics.”
Sheet aerobics? Catriona choked on a laugh.
“Hey, Hank has a way with the women, and I’m sure Avery inherited some of that wicked, panty-stripping charm.”
She didn’t know what suddenly had her sharing her personal feelings regarding Avery. She hadn’t even shared with her sisters how fast she’d fallen for him, or the overwhelming hurt when he’d discarded her as though she were nothing. Maybe it was Jill’s warm eyes, the maternal manner in which she laid a hand on Catriona’s. Whatever it was, she found herself spilling the details, told Jill of her broken heart and her broken dreams when it came to Avery Dawson.
“And yet, feeling like you do about him, you still want to open a business across the street from his?” Jill studied her.
“I need this. Not for him, not for anyone but me. This is my baby and doesn’t have anything to do with proximity to him. I’ve spent too much time dating any man who asked me out, even went out with my boss—”
“Yeah, that’s never a good idea.”
“Right? All in the attempt to get Avery’s attention. But now, I’m ready to forget about him.” Fat chance. “And put all my passion and love into this business venture.”
Jill gave her an understanding look that held a note of amusement. “Why don’t you tell me your vision for the Mystic Heart?”
The next hour was spent with Catriona gushing about her ideas, trying to temper her excitement so that her words and actions came off professional, but it wasn’t to be. She might as well have been a school girl in her enthusiasm as they went through the building while she painted with words and hand gestures what she envisioned.
They ended back at the front door, and Jill gathered her into a hug. “Thank you, Cat, for taking the time to explain so well your plans. After I talk with Avery, I will make my decision.”
“Do you know when that might be?”
“I promise to let you know either way later this afternoon. And thank you, Cat. I’ve enjoyed talking with you. Your mother was an amazing woman, and it was a real shame we all lost her so early.”
Tears traveled up and clogged Cat’s throat. All she could do was nod.
Avery was poised to knock when she opened the door to leave. He took one look at her moisture-filled eyes and grabbed her arm as she tried to brush by him.
“Are you okay?”
“F-fine,” she stuttered out, her voice not strong enough for anything louder.
“No, you’re not. What happened?”
“What do you mean, what happened? You happened.” She pushed at his chest, but he didn’t budge.
“Cat—”
She wrenched her arm free of his grasp, and her feet slid on the slick snow and ice. Before she landed in the wet and cold, Avery hauled her into his arms, his face much too close to hers. His eyes dipped and stared at her lips, lips parted on a gasp at having her body once again flush against his.
“Careful,” he whispered in a gruff voice.
Careful, indeed.
“Thank you,” she said. He continued to stare down at her. “You can let me go now.” Please. If he held onto her any longer she was bound to do something stupid like kiss him.
“Right.” Slowly, much like peeling off a strip of duct tape, he released her.
She stepped away from him, and gratefully dragged air into her lungs when she’d reached her car, while Avery watched her progress.
“This isn’t persona
l, Cat,” he called after her. He slid his hands into his coat pockets and continued to stare at her, his expression unreadable.
“If you don’t think what you’re doing isn’t personal, you are lying to yourself.” With that, she got into her vehicle and drove off, her body still shaking remembering the imprint of his.
Chapter 8
Avery slammed his office door, having left Jill across the street. He fell into his leather chair and stared at his computer not seeing anything but the memory of Cat when he’d held her in his arms.
Why had he done it?
A few tears brimming those stunning green eyes and he’d folded like a map.
The misery and grief in her gaze had him meeting Jill at Second Chance Books and rescinding his offer. Jill’s approving smile made him feel like an ass for putting in an offer in the first place. In that moment he knew she would have turned down his cash buyout anyway. His offer had been an immature, petty thing to do. Just because he had a problem any time Cat was in close proximity didn’t give him the right to put barriers in the way of her dreams.
Now he had to figure out how he was going to deal with having her right across the street day in and day out.
Nights too.
Knowing Cat, she’d give the business her all, and that meant she’d basically be living in the place. It’s what he did, and their work ethic was one of the many things they had in common.
They’d both lost their mothers and had a huge hand in raising their siblings, though Catriona’s situation had been far worse than his. For one, he didn’t have six siblings, however Drew probably counted for more than one with his outlandish behavior. While his mother had chosen to leave him, it wasn’t so in Cat’s circumstance, with her mother dying from leukemia. The whole town had grieved for Nicola Wilde. She’d touched everyone’s heart and it was a tragedy that she’d died so young and so painfully.
He raked a hand through his hair and pulled up the browser on his computer. He had work to do. He didn’t have time to think about Cat.
The Pump House wouldn’t open for another hour, but he could already hear his employees getting everything ready for the lunch crowd.
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