Coming Alive: Welcome to Carson, Book One

by Renee Harless

  His heart pounds in his chest and at that moment, with her eyes glazed in desire and love and truth, Logan realizes that his entire life will have meant nothing without her in it, by his side. It doesn’t matter that they’ve barely known each other for a few months. The love he feels for Avery is so vast and all-consuming that he can’t believe he had ever considered himself in love with another. Love. Logan had planned to spend the remainder of his life in eternal bachelorhood, jumping from one bed to the next. It’s astounding how this tiny creature with her big blue eyes and wavy brown hair pulled him in and made him never want to let her go.

  Logan leans closer, his hand moving from under her arm to wrap around her shoulder as he fuses his mouth to hers.

  “You’ll never have to,” Logan says before merging their lips together again.

  He presses her back into the mattress and slides his hand down her body to find her already soaking wet for him. His erect member slides into her effortlessly and he makes love to Avery, on and off for the remainder of the night.

  LOGAN HAS MOVED ALL of Avery’s remaining items from her apartment into his home, including the small knick-knacks she had purchased with Nikki. At first, she was extremely apprehensive about moving in with him, but it feels so right. And since that vision she had at the swing set, where she saw her sister, Nick, and Declan, she’s been less hesitant to move further with Logan. Avery never mentioned the vision to Logan, not that she was afraid of what he’d say, but it felt so personal that she wanted to keep that last part of those she’d lost with her, close to her heart. And so far, by following their guidance, she’s been happier, more carefree.

  With Thanksgiving around the corner Avery’s tried to get closer to her siblings. Each of them has fit her into her life in a different way, Sydney and Everleigh being the most open. She was afraid Everleigh would have the most difficult time with her arrival since Joseph left after Everleigh was born, but she welcomed Avery into her heart and reminded her that the situation didn’t reflect on her. Jameson has yet to come around, but Amy and Joseph have spoken to him numerous times and they said he wanted to get to know her. Avery has yet to meet Ryker, but she’s told he’ll be home for the holiday, which makes her a bit nervous. She’s never met a celebrity.

  Austin and Avery have a strange relationship. Knowing that she is dating his best friend makes for some awkward situations. He goes into this protective mode when the three of them are together, as if learning that she is actually his sibling gives him a different perspective on how Logan should treat her. Not that Austin’s concerns have any merit; Logan treats her like a princess.

  Nikki hasn’t returned to Carson, but Avery speaks to her frequently as she updates her on the development of the baby. Austin still hasn’t been told that she’s pregnant with his baby, though Avery’s tried to change her mind several times. Avery knows Austin is going to be hurt and angry when he finds out, but she knows it’s not her place to say anything.

  Joseph and Amy have been incredible; so much so as to invest in her pediatric clinic project, not that it needed any upstart capital. They even joined her and Logan at the lawyer’s office yesterday to go over the final reading of her grandmother’s will. She left Avery a hefty sum of money, along with all of her jewelry and the house. Avery donated it all. The money she donated to a charity that specializes in the inoperable cancer that plagued Declan, and also to an arts program in Asheville. The house is being donated to the Atlanta Historic Society, who is planning to convert it into a museum. She gave the jewelry to Joseph to use in Asheville at an auction to raise money for the fire department in Carson.

  Logan and Avery had been blissfully happy since the family dinner four weeks ago. But this week he seemed different, off. Avery can’t put her finger on it, but he’s always thinking of something else when they’re together, his mind straying to a different world. Normally his behavior would worry her, but when they come together at night, he worships her, like he simply can’t get enough. If anything, their physical connection is better than before.

  She knows Logan is working on a confidential child protection case at the clinic and Avery chalked up his behavior to that, but last night Austin had to bring him home. He was drunk and reeked of Chanel No.5, which Avery recognized because it’s the only perfume her grandmother wore. Avery wants to trust him, especially after Austin assured her that he hadn’t been up to any trouble, but it’s hard to distinguish the truth when a current womanizer is reassuring the actions of a past womanizer.

  Avery wakes in the morning, excited to celebrate her first Thanksgiving surrounded by her family and Logan. Reaching across the bed, she startles when she touches the cold sheets, a clue that Logan left the bed a while ago. Grabbing her robe, she goes to the bathroom to brush her teeth, then moves to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. She stops herself in the hall when she overhears Logan speaking on his phone at the kitchen island. He speaks in hushed tones to a voice that she can easily determine as feminine.

  Not wanting to eavesdrop, Avery rests against the wall, urging herself not to cry, having to bite her lip to suppress a sob.

  “Alright, I’ll be by in a bit. I’m so thankful to have run into you last night.”

  What?!?

  Her mind races in theory, contemplating how he could have been with both Austin and this woman.

  Maybe it’s someone he’s working with? Or an old friend?

  But the smell of the perfume fogs her mind and she can’t help but jump to the only conclusion her brain can scramble together.

  Instantly awakened, Avery turns around and heads to the bathroom to take a shower. She washes her hair and scrubs her body in a complete haze of simmering emotions. Stepping out of the shower, she wraps herself in a towel and sits on the bed, her soaked hair dripping all around her. Avery can’t comprehend the thought of Logan with another woman. He was supposed to be her savior, the person she had to live for, how could this happen to them?

  Completely lost in her thoughts, she doesn’t realize Logan has entered the room until he lifts her chin with his finger.

  “Hey, Avery, you okay?”

  Gracious that the dripping hair masks the fallen tears, she wipes her face to clear the evidence.

  “Mmmhmm. Yep,” Avery replies, masking her sadness with false joy.

  Logan cocks a brow at her response but doesn’t press any further.

  “Hey, I know we have your dad’s dinner this afternoon, but I need to do a couple things and run by the office so we may be a bit late. That, ok?”

  “What do you need to do? It’s Thanksgiving.”

  He holds his palms up in surrender but nervously glances around the room, instantly giving away the lie.

  “Just some stuff I didn’t finish yesterday. I’ll be back soon. I promise.”

  Avery jerks her chin upward with a huff and makes an attempt to stalk back to the bathroom, but he takes a hold of her hand before she has the chance.

  “Hey, I love you, Avery. I promise that I’ll be back soon.”

  And the sincerity in his eyes is enough to cut Avery to the core. She’s conflicted at which action to trust - the lie weaving through his every word, or the love pouring from his heart.

  Checking his watch he looks back at her and places a chaste kiss on her lips before rushing out the door and down the driveway.

  Avery changes into an olive green blouse, dark denim jeans, and brown boots. She blow dries her hair quickly and puts on a smidgen of makeup before grabbing her phone from the night stand.

  Avery calls Nikki first but she doesn’t answer, Melanie doesn’t answer either.

  Relegated to the only other people Avery knows in Carson, she calls Everleigh and luckily her sister picks up after one ring.

  Avery begs her for advice after disclosing all that has taken place in the past week. Everleigh offers to ask Austin what is going on, but Avery explains that she wants to keep it private. Instead, Avery asks if she can stay with her for a few days, until she can figure out wh
at she needs to do. At first Everleigh turns her down, suggesting that Avery speak with Logan, but after much begging, Everleigh finally relents. She does point out that Avery is not getting out of Thanksgiving dinner and that if Logan wants to speak to her he’ll find her there - and then all of the family will be brought into the mess. When Everleigh explains that possible situation, Avery tells her that she’ll think on it for a bit.

  Going ahead and packing her small duffle bag, Avery is intent on getting some space before she confronts Logan. She grabs a picture from the dresser to toss into her bag: a photo of her and Logan from Halloween, taken by Sydney. They were leaning against the porch column, Logan’s arms wrapped firmly around her body, Avery’s head tilted back in laughter at something one of the trick-or-treaters said. Logan was gazing down at her as if she was the most important thing in the world, a beautiful smile gracing his defined face.

  Avery wipes away a tear as she tosses the picture in the bag with her few day’s worth of clothes. Stepping into the bathroom, she adds some small toiletries into her small travel bag. When Avery moves back into the bedroom, she finds Logan standing beside the bed, eyeing her duffle bag. So deeply buried in her own turmoil, she never heard him enter the house.

  “What’s going on, Avery? Why are you packing up?” he inquires, panic raising the tone of his voice.

  Avery steps closer to him, unable to ignore the pull he has over her; grateful that she doesn’t smell the scent of Chanel No.5.

  “Why did you smell like perfume last night?”

  He steps back, seemingly astonished that she would ask such a question.

  “Avery…,” he says, reaching for her hand.

  “No, Logan. Don’t touch me. I’m going away until I can figure out things.”

  He tries once more to grab her hand and this time he is successful; the warmth of his grasp is a comfort to the hurtful situation.

  Logan urges, “Avery, please, I need you to come with me.”

  “Why?” she questions, hesitating to follow him.

  “Because I need you to, okay? Trust me.”

  Taking a deep breath, she hesitantly follows him to his car and waits for him to sit in the driver’s seat. Avery gazes down at her shaking hands, nerves wracking her body. She’s both scared and intrigued at wherever it is that Logan is taking her.

  He starts the car and heads to the main road, interlacing his hand with her reluctant one over the center console. No words are spoken as they climb the steep roads leading to the top of the mountains, nor when they descend those roads heading towards the valley and lake.

  Surprisingly, they turn onto the gravel road that leads to the winery Logan took her to on one of their first dates. When he parks the car, Avery glances at the empty parking lot and turns to him, raising her brow in question. Without any words, he smiles at her and then kisses the back of her hand before releasing it. He assists her in stepping out of the vehicle and then escorts her to the backside of the large barn.

  “Logan, I don’t think we’re supposed to be here.”

  “Sure we are,” he assures her, then continues in response to her apprehensive face. “It’s fine. I wanted to show you something.”

  He leads her down a flagstone pathway, ending at a dock jutting out over the lake. Confidently stepping onto the pier, he tugs Avery in step behind him. She follows him to the end of the wooden planks, protruding them into the middle of the lake.

  Logan turns her in his direction and wraps her in his strong embrace, whispering in her ear, “I love you, Avery. You know I’d never cheat on you. Since you’ve waltzed into my life, I can’t even imagine being with another woman.”

  Avery leans back and looks into his eyes, but she knows he’s sincere, mainly due to the overwhelming fact that she trusts him instinctively. She silently berates herself for considering any alternative.

  She moves away from his embrace and turns to glance at the water, running her hands through her hair.

  “I just don’t understand, Logan. I believe you, but you’ve been so different this past week and you smelled of perfume last night. I just don’t know what’s going on.”

  Avery waits a beat and when he doesn’t respond she turns around, ready to press him for an answer. Gasps escape her parted mouth when what she finds is Logan bent, kneeling before her, a glimmering ring held between two of his fingers.

  “Oh my gosh,” Avery quips, her hands covering her mouth in shock.

  “Avery, you swept into my life and took me completely by surprise. I was never looking for you and I never knew I was worthy of someone like you. Someone that would show me what it means to be kind, to trust, to love, and to show love. Without you in my life, my world seems meaningless. You are in every breath I breathe, every intake of air. Without you I cease to exist.

  “I love you more than anyone can possibly be loved. And you’ve shown me what it truly means to love someone. So, Avery Poindexter, I would be incredibly honored if you would be my wife,” he proclaims, holding the ring higher in his grasp. “Will you marry me?”

  It takes her a moment to catch her breath and gain some composure to answer his request.

  “Logan, are you sure?” Avery asks hesitantly, certain he has made a mistake.

  “More sure than I have been about anything in my entire life.”

  “Yes! One hundred times, yes!” she exclaims as she falls down to her knees and wraps her arms around his neck, his free arm enclosing her around her waist.

  “I love you, Avery,” he says into her neck, wetness settling onto the skin.

  As Logan pulls back, Avery sees the moistness glistening in his eyes, confirming the tears she thought she had felt on her skin.

  “I love you too, Logan,” she replies breathlessly as he slides the overly-large diamond onto her finger.

  She knows Logan does well financially, but a diamond this size must have set him back a pretty penny.

  “I can see the gears turning, the ring is part of the reason I’ve been so distant the past week, besides the fact I was nervous as hell.”

  “You were nervous?”

  “Of course I was. I can’t imagine you not in my life. Anyway, the diamond came from a necklace that belonged to your great-great-great-grandmother.”

  Avery peers down at the perfectly cut oval diamond - which she’s guessing is about five-carats, set in a single band of white gold.

  “Do you think that it’s bad luck...with my family history and…” Avery begins until Logan cuts her off by placing a kiss on her lips, silencing any more discussion.

  “Sweetheart, it’s from your great-great-great-grandmother on your father’s side. Joseph gave it to me last week when I asked his permission to propose. He has rings set aside for all of his other children, but he wanted you to have this. It brought his family good luck when they travelled here from England to start new life.”

  “Oh wow,” Avery sighs, peering closer at the flawless diamond in awe.

  “So I’ve spent the last week searching for someone – anyone - willing to pry it from the necklace and set it in a ring. Austin ran into someone yesterday and she offered to do it last night. He took me out after to celebrate the end of my bachelorhood, or so he says, and I’m sorry about the perfume. I swear, we talked about how the lady went swimming in it.

  Her daughter called me this morning when the ring was finished. That’s why I needed to run off. But my plan was propose today all along; I had a backup ring just in case I couldn’t find anyone nearby to take care of this one. It looks beautiful on you,” he says as he twirls the ring around her finger.

  “I can’t believe you did all of that for me. You’re incredible.” Avery breathes out an excited gush of air. “Wow, we’re getting married!”

  “We sure are. One of the happiest days of my life.”

  Logan stands and tugs her up into his arms, kissing her senseless, her patchwork heart beating mercilessly in her chest, confirming the notion that Logan is her savior, the only person capable of
bringing her to life despite the pile of ashes.

  They drive to her father’s house, excited to share their news, but nervous of the family’s reaction. When they stroll into the house, later than the rest of the family, they find them all seated in the family room watching a football game. No one pays them any mind, except for Austin who shoots a conspiratorial wink in her direction.

  She takes Logan’s hand in hers and they walk across the room to the large sofa that is occupied solely by Sydney. Logan stops along the way to greet Austin and Jameson, while Avery sits beside Sydney and smiles in her direction. She returns Avery’s smile and turns back to the television, but then she returns her gaze quickly as if something caught her off guard. Avery finds her staring at the obscenely large diamond on her small finger.

  Unable to control her excitement, Sydney shouts, “Oh my god what is that? Are you?”

  Avery nods and then Sydney tugs Avery’s hand in her direction, which prompts a high-pitched squeal from her. The noise is immediately followed by more shrieking from the females in the room. Avery sneaks a glance at Logan just as her dad is releasing him from a hug and Austin is patting him on the back. Jameson reluctantly offers him a hand shake.

  A knock has Amy pulling away from Avery to answer the door, and Avery makes her way back to Logan where he wraps his arm around her shoulder.

  “So I hear good news are in order?” a dark voice echoes from the entryway, his mother obviously filling him in on the news.

  “Ryker!” Cassidy exclaims as she rushes forward to embrace her youngest brother.

  Joseph steps ahead and hugs his son, tugging him towards the chair where Logan and Avery stand.

  “Ryker, please meet your half-sister Avery and you know Logan.”

  “Avery,” he says as he tugs her into a tight embrace similar to their father’s, “Welcome to the family.” He pulls away and shakes Logan’s hand, then lugs him forward to slap him on the back in a manly hug. “You too, Logan. You’re officially a member of this clan.”

  “Thanks, man,” Logan replies before once again tucking Avery under his arm.