by Jamie Beck
“Of course I’ll help Andy.” She touched Avery’s hand. “He’s like a brother to me.”
“Great, Emma.” Avery hugged her friend, relieved. “One last request. Could you pretend this was your idea? You know how proud men can be.”
“Sure.” Emma smiled then approached the sink and rinsed two tomatoes. “I’ll call him tomorrow.”
“Thanks!” Avery picked her purse off the counter, preparing to leave Emma to her cooking. Then Emma piped up again.
“Before you bolt, tell me what’s going on with you and Grey?”
“Nothing.” Avery waved her hand in an ineffective attempt to erase her memories of their recent argument. “We had a big argument last time we were together. I’m not looking forward to our next therapy session.”
Emma winced and twisted her lips. Her expression looked uncomfortable.
“What?” Avery narrowed her gaze, noting the pink flush in Emma’s freckled cheeks.
“I guess you haven’t spoken with Kelsey today.”
“She left me a voice mail, but I haven’t played it yet.” With everything going on, she’d forgotten Kelsey had planned to help Grey today. She fought the streak of envy tearing through her chest at the suspicion perhaps Grey had changed his mind about Kelsey. He had, after all, kissed her when they’d met, which meant he found her attractive. And Kelsey wasn’t shy about using every tool in her considerable arsenal to her advantage.
Emma set down the tomatoes and wiped her hands before sharing what she knew.
“Apparently while she was at Grey’s this morning, she overheard him making an appointment with Richard Donner.”
Avery’s heart dropped to the floor, just like her purse. “What?”
“He claimed to want a second opinion.” Emma scrunched her nose. “I kinda suspected something else happened between you guys that sent him running. Guess I was right.”
“I can’t believe it.” Avery slumped back onto the stepstool. Grey was planning to fire her? “I knew he was mad, but to quit working with me? And to contact Donner without telling me first?”
Although the circumstances were wildly different, Grey’s betrayal humiliated her much the way Matt’s had last year. And it hurt, too. She’d begun to trust Grey, to believe him to be different, only to be proven wrong again.
Worse, this time she’d failed personally and professionally.
“I was surprised, especially considering what I witnessed between you two at the high school.” Emma leaned over the counter. “Could Grey have heard about Matt coming back into your life?”
“That wouldn’t matter.” Avery waved her hand. “And Matt is not back in my life. Not now or ever again.”
“Because you don’t care about him anymore?” Emma crossed her arms. “Or is your pride keeping you from forgiving him?”
Good question. Truthfully, she guessed it was a little bit of both.
“I won’t lie. Some part of me will always feel something for Matt because, despite everything, I can’t pretend we never shared any good times. But nothing’s going to happen.”
“At least not as long as Grey Lowell is an itch you haven’t scratched.”
Avery stomped her foot then lifted her purse onto her lap. “Grey has nothing to do with Matt.”
“Well, something drove him to call Donner.” The diced onions sizzled when Emma tossed them into the hot skillet. “It’s for the best, really, considering your family situation, Kelsey, and your own feelings for him.”
As angry as Avery was that he’d embarrassed her by contacting Richard Donner, she still wanted Grey to have the best treatment and a full recovery. In her mind, that required retaining her as his PT.
“It’s not for the best, Emma. I can’t believe Grey would jeopardize his recovery like this.” Avery hopped off the stool. “He’s being an idiot.”
“Maybe, but it’s his choice.” Emma began slicing the tomatoes. “Nothing you can do about it.”
We’ll see about that.
Chapter Eleven
Avery drove along Grey’s street while speaking with Kelsey on the hands-free phone. “He didn’t say anything else? Not to Richard or you?”
After leaving Emma’s, it had occurred to her that Grey might’ve switched because his lawyer planned to file the lawsuit against Andy this week. She prayed she was wrong, because that meant she’d run out of time to find another solution.
“No. He told Mr. Donner he wanted a second opinion, and then told me things weren’t working out with you because of complications surrounding the accident.” After a brief pause, Kelsey added, “I told him he was an idiot.”
“I bet that went over well.” Despite the lump in her throat, Avery grinned at her friend’s loyalty. Then remorse for her own disloyalty to Kelsey’s feelings for Grey grabbed hold.
“Yesterday I would never have said it. Once he told me I’ve got no shot, I just didn’t care if he got offended.”
“Really?” Avery parked her car in the lot next to Grey’s building, carefully choosing her next words. “He told you you’ve got no shot?”
“Mm-hm. Apparently he’s involved with someone else.” Kelsey snorted, then her breath caught. “Hey, have you seen him with anyone in town, or seen any woman hanging around before or after his therapy?”
“No.” Jealousy gripped her with shocking force, whisking away her guilty conscience. All these weeks she’d thought he’d been interested in her, but apparently, she’d misjudged that, too. Had he really been seeing someone else? “Guess he didn’t offer a name?”
“Nope. Actually, he didn’t say involved exactly. He said he’s interested in someone else. Said it was complicated. Apparently he hasn’t told her yet.” Kelsey blew out a breath. “He likes that word . . . complicated.”
“Well, I’m sorry if you’re disappointed.” The clarification shot a bewildering but welcome wave of relief though Avery. Maybe she hadn’t misread him. But, given the disloyalty and “complications,” did it matter? She stared out the window, noticing the streetlights flicker as dusk fell. “At least he was honest with you. Now you can move on.”
“Yeah, I guess. Still sucks, though.” Avery could almost hear Kelsey shrugging. “Oh, well. Listen, I’m going to scoot over to a yoga class. Wanna meet me?”
“Not this evening, thanks. I’ve got some things to take care of. Talk to you later.”
Avery turned off the ignition and sat in her car, hoping for wisdom to strike. Or, at the very least, a little clue as to why she’d driven over to Backtrax. She’d be a big, fat liar if she pretended she came merely because she’d never lost a client before, although it was part of her motivation.
Instinctively, she knew her feelings went deeper. Went someplace she’d locked away because of her family and Kelsey and her difficulty trusting a man with her heart—a skier, no less.
Perhaps none of that mattered anymore. Even if Grey had a little crush on her, he’d coldly stormed off the other day and called Donner. He’d felt betrayed, which might’ve poisoned whatever affection he’d developed. He could just be using the “other woman” excuse to let Kelsey down gently.
Not that Avery should care. From day one she’d known to keep her distance from Grey, to ignore her romantic fantasies in favor of accepting reality. So why did his retreat wrench her heart?
Avery stepped out of her car debating what she would say once they came face-to-face. She glanced at the unlit apartment windows. If she lived there, she’d probably keep the lights off too rather than stare at all the beige-and-brown decor. Of course, if she lived there, it would be repainted and redecorated within the week.
She walked around to the office entrance, which was lit by a small desk lamp. Her eyes scanned the empty space. Grasping the door handle, she held her breath then tugged. Luckily, it was unlocked and swung open. A single alarm chirp rang out, prompting her to call, “Hello
?”
“Back here.” Grey’s voice drifted from the narrow hallway.
Avery inhaled one long breath before taking those next few steps. Her stomach clenched as if she were about to enter her dad’s study for a reprimand. When she reached the door, she lightly tapped on the doorframe. “Hi, Grey.”
Grey nodded while keeping his expression blank. His messy hair and tired eyes made him appear a bit haggard.
“You don’t look very surprised to see me.” Avery pointed toward the extra chair next to his desk. “Mind if I take a seat?”
He gestured with his hand. “Go ahead. And no, I’m not very surprised to see you. Only a little surprised.” Grey crossed his arms in front of his chest, withdrawing from her again. “I assume Kelsey told you about my appointment with Richard Donner.”
She drummed her fingers on his desk, staring at him, waiting. Of course, he remained silent. She leaned forward, unable to disguise the hurt in her voice. “Why, Grey? Why did you betray me by quitting and going to Donner behind my back?”
“Betray you? You’re the one who suggested it, if you recall. I’m not even sure I’m switching therapists, but at this point I think it deserves a little consideration.”
“We were arguing.” Avery waved her hands in the air. “You had to know I didn’t really mean it.”
He rested his elbow on the desk then set his chin on his fist.
“No, Avery. I didn’t know. I don’t say things I don’t mean.” Grey sat back, fiddling with a notepad on his desk.
“Would you tell me if you were filing your lawsuit soon?”
He nodded, his scowl seemingly aimed at his own thoughts rather than at her. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. All the circumstances worked against this going smoothly,” he said, gesturing back and forth between them. “I don’t like fighting with you. And honestly, this gets you out of sticky situations with your whole code of conduct. So if Donner’s good enough to take me through the rest of my therapy, it’s best for both of us to part ways.”
He’d made a reasonable case, but she couldn’t—wouldn’t—accept it.
“So that’s it. One argument and you’re out?” She sat up straighter and threw her hands up in frustration. “Are you really willing to compromise your recovery? I’m not saying Donner’s bad. He’s fine. Conservative. Old school. Honestly, he’s simply not as knowledgeable or up to date as I am. That’s not an empty boast, just the truth.”
“Gotta love a woman who knows her worth.” Grey grinned, then his silvery eyes dimmed to dull pewter. “Don’t worry. I can build on what we’ve started and incorporate anything else he recommends. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than this pressure cooker.”
Avery didn’t know what to say. She needed a minute to think, and let her gaze wander around his office to buy some time. Scattered across his desktop were a half-eaten bowl of ramen soup, two chewed-up lollipop sticks, a napkin, a glass of water, and his computer with a GoPro camera attached via USB.
“Is that your dinner?” It popped out of her mouth before she had time to censor herself.
“Yes.”
She then noticed a bunch of crushed-up ramen soup and Tootsie-Pop wrappers in the trash can. “Is that your dinner every night?”
“Lately.” He grimaced while tilting his head and studying her.
She almost asked why, then it hit her. Ramen soup was dirt cheap. His financial straits really were dire if he couldn’t even afford decent groceries. Suddenly she felt about two inches tall.
“Grey, I’m sorry.”
“About my dinner?” His crooked grin looked too cute. Those darn sexy lips of his made it impossible for her to stay focused.
Now was not the time for another Grey Lowell fantasy.
“No. About breaking my promise to butt out of your claim against Andy. I promise, I won’t do it again. So please reconsider switching. I honestly believe I’m the better therapist to get you back to one hundred percent.”
Grey leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, head bent down. “It’s not just about you butting out. Working with you is messing with my head.”
“Why? I just promised not to pressure you. Believe it or not, I do know you were the victim of my brother’s stupid choices.” She bit her tongue to keep from mentioning the bartender’s negligence. “The thing with the OS, well, I only thought I’d hit upon a legitimate solution for both of us.”
“I appreciate that, Bambi.” The corners of his smoky eyes crinkled a bit when he looked at her. “Still, it doesn’t change anything.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t have to say anything for me to feel pressure.” He sat back and ran both hands through his wavy hair. “I already hate the fact I’ll have to hurt you to get what I need. The more time I spend with you, the harder that fact becomes. If I had never gotten to know you, this all would’ve been so much easier. Now it’s all fu—it’s all messed up.”
“Gee, Grey, it almost sounds like you do think of us as friends, despite your recent behavior.” She smiled, hoping to ease the tension in the room, and gently kicked his foot.
“Of course I do.” He rolled his chair closer to her and grabbed her hand. “I like you. I like you a lot.”
Heat shot up her arm and spread throughout her chest as his thumb brushed against the back of her hand. When she panicked and tried to pull away, he gripped her hand tighter. “Grey?”
He was staring at her as his other hand brushed back her hair. His touch set off a spark of energy that pulsed throughout the room. They both held their breath for a second, eyes locked on each other.
“Screw it,” he muttered before pulling her into a powerful kiss—one she felt down to her toes the instant his hot mouth claimed hers. A low rumble resonated in his chest as he tried to get closer to her despite their awkward positions in the chairs.
For several exhilarating seconds, she allowed herself to be swept away by the taste and smell of him. By the commanding way his tongue tangoed with hers. By the rising temperature in the room and shivery sensations overwhelming her entire body as he buried his hands in her hair.
Kissing Grey was every bit as hot as she’d imagined, and that heat shot straight through her abdomen and in between her legs.
One of his hands ran down her neck and back, pulling her closer. His chest heaved. Low sounds rumbled deep in the back of his throat as he got carried away and took her right along for the ride, crushing her to him.
Weeks and weeks of pent-up desire burst forth, causing her resolve to falter. She dug her hands into his thick, wavy hair, kissing him as she’d done so many times in her dreams. Then danger signs flashed in her mind, causing her to exert gentle pressure against his chest. “Wait.”
He kept his forehead pressed to hers, allowing his breathing to slow down. He held her there, cupping her neck, his thumbs gently rubbing her jaw. “Sorry. That wasn’t planned . . . or particularly gentle.”
“It’s not that . . . I just . . . I don’t . . .” She fumbled, unsure of her feelings.
Grey reluctantly withdrew his hands from her face, letting them slide down her arms until he grasped her wrists. “I know. You can’t get involved with me because of your family. At least not until things are settled. And the way things look now, chances are you probably won’t want anything to do with me once that’s resolved.” He kissed the back of her hand. “This is why I shouldn’t keep working with you. Look at how I lost control. I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“I’m not upset. I mean, I am upset, but not because you kissed me.” She kept staring at his hands.
Grey released her and rolled his chair back a foot or two. “I think this is what they call an impasse.”
“You know, it’s not just the lawsuit.” Avery sighed rather than kick something or laugh or cry. “There’s Kelsey to consider, and, well, you’re a skier.”
“Ke
lsey knows I’m not interested in her. And what’s skiing got to do with anything?” His perplexed smile caught her unaware.
“I’ve sworn off them.” She watched his smile fade.
“Why?” He narrowed his eyes. “Because of that idiot, Matt what’s-his-name?”
Oh, great. He had heard the gossip.
“Not just because of him, although he hammered the final nail.” When he kept staring at her, she shrugged and brushed her fingers against the ends of her hair. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve watched two generations of ski pros use women and then leave them behind. It’s hard enough for me to accept the compromises required of relationships, so I’m not too keen on doing so for another skier.”
“Well, I’m not one of those guys, Avery.” Grey’s defiant attitude triggered a need to defend her position.
“Really? You’re thirty-something and single, best buddies with a notorious Casanova, kissing girls like Kelsey in bars and then leaving them hanging.” Shoot. She wished she could retract that petulant last remark.
Grey started twisting the leather bracelet at his wrist. “You don’t know anything about me, or why I’m single.”
She could hear the cooling tone in his voice, all traces of passion and playfulness disappearing. Yet his words didn’t sway her. “That may be, but, after Matt, I’m not eager to take chances . . .” her voice trailed off.
Avery didn’t want to insult him. She simply didn’t want to get her hopes up only to have her life turned upside down again. And everything about Grey seemed destined to break her heart.
“If you think I don’t know something about heartache, you’re wrong. And if you think I can’t commit because I ski, well, that’s just stupid. I know what it is to love someone with your heart and soul. To feel so connected, you think you can’t breathe without them once they’re gone. To face that truth and have to fight your way back to the living.” He pushed the bracelet back and traced the tattoo on his wrist with his finger.