by Various
“What, you’re afraid you won’t like it? What if it’s a surprise?” Avery teased, watching Laura squirm. She knew very well Laura hated surprises.
“Don’t do that to me, Avery Callimer! Not funny!” Oh but it was. Laura tried hard not to laugh, but ended up in a fit of giggles anyway. “It’s a good thing I trust you, because you’re such a brat.”
“Why don’t you come by Saturday during band practice, and we’ll play your song for you. Bring Ray if you want.”
Saturday. She had to see Jameson then. Time would only tell if they would be able to work together with no hard feelings.
*****
“I don’t understand why you have to do it like this,” Lucas complained to the voice on the other end of the phone. “This is messed up, and if she finds out who I am and why I’m here, shits going to hit the fan. Why did you have to drag me in the middle of more of your drama?” Alone in his room, Lucas sank into the chair next to a small table, fuming. He balled his fists, wishing he wasn’t in this town at this very moment. He could be back in California, but no. Because he owed a favor to someone, here he was. Damn it to hell! How did he end up in these situations?
Oh yeah. Because he had a shitty past that someone had helped him overcome, and now it was being held over his head.
Which is exactly what the person on the other end of the line reminded him of.
“You owe me!” the caller screeched. “Don’t back out on me now, Lucas! I’m paying you double for this job!”
Yeah, like he needed that reminder. The money would come in handy. Lucas could find himself a new arrangement after this. He was done. How much more bullying could he take? If anyone ever found out about these arrangements ... well, let’s just say it wouldn’t bode well. He had to find a way for a better life. There were so many things he wanted to do, and ended up never getting around to it because he was stuck on a ball and chain. There had to be a good way to break free without causing anyone pain.
As much of a jerk as he knew he could be, Lucas didn’t want to see anyone hurt anymore. He was past those days where he didn’t give a shit.
“I’m always cleaning up your messes, and frankly, it sucks, okay?” Lucas snapped, hanging up on the caller. He tossed his phone on the bed, wanting it as far away from him as possible at the moment.
Lucas pulled the 5x7 photo from the top of the file and stared at it. Such a pretty, innocent face. If only she didn’t have to be dragged through a ton of shit. And he was the one that had to make sure it didn’t get out of control. Wrong person to leave that kind of thing to. Lucas always found himself in the midst of trouble.
Sometimes, it seemed like it was the only thing he was good at. Trouble.
Chapter Four
“So dear, how was your day?” Avery’s mother asked her when she returned to the inn at three. After a few hours with Laura, Avery had felt a little bit better. The nerves slivered down her spine when her mother seemed to be waiting for some kind of sign to talk about the letter. It was written all over her face. Avery knew that look well. Every time Mom wanted to know something, she’d start off with small talk, and her lips would form into a thin line. Occasionally her tongue would dart out and wet her lips. A habit Avery picked up herself. The nervous way she skittered around Avery. She wanted to know, but didn’t want to pursue the issue. Avery grimaced.
“Not bad, I guess.” Breaking up with a lifelong friend, debating what to do with information. Sure, that made for a great day, didn’t it?
“Did you have a good lunch date?” Mom peered at Avery through her bifocals. Her denim blue eyes had a worried look to them.
Might as well start talking about it, instead of keeping it a secret. It wouldn’t be long until half the town found out anyway. “Not really.” Avery sighed, and flopped into a chair beside her mother. “Mom, Jameson and I broke up.”
Her mother’s eyes widened and she gasped. “What? Why? Honey, I had no idea you were having problems. Are you all right? Is he all right?” She reached for Avery’s hand.
Avery blew out a breath. This was going to be a long story. “It started a few months ago. I just tried to stay and make things work, even though my feelings changed. I’m afraid we might have ruined a long time friendship, and I don’t know what he’s going to do about the band. I’ve made a mess of things by not speaking up sooner.” She leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder, needing her more than ever.
“Oh, Avery. I’m sorry. I bet you and Jameson will work it out, even if you don’t stay together as a couple. You’ve had such a tightly bound friendship for so long.”
If only Avery had the same outlook that her mother did.
“What was it you couldn’t handle?”
“He cheated, Mama. Just once. He wasn’t thinking right. It was the night that his father passed away. He went back to help clear his parents’ house, set his affairs in order, and in what he calls a moment of weakness, let himself go with an old flame. Someone he connected with one summer. I chalked it up to him not thinking, but my feelings changed after that. I know he’s angry at himself, and the night he told me, he cried. I went weak and told him we’d be all right. But that wasn’t true. We weren’t and I’d been putting it off forever. I know it’s not fair to judge him, because he grieved so much, but I also can’t make excuses any longer. What I didn’t feel only grew stronger.” Avery’s tears fell, sliding down her cheeks.
“Oh Avery. No wonder you’ve been in turmoil about this.” Mom ran her hand through Avery’s hair, something she used to do when Avery was younger to soothe the pain, the nightmares, or when she was sick.
“Am I wrong?” Avery asked, reaching for a tissue on a nearby table and dabbing her eyes.
“You can’t make your feelings about right or wrong. Sometimes, they are what they are. All you can do is sort through them and move on. It is what it is.”
“I wish that helped, but I still feel so torn. Jameson is a good guy, he really is. He made a mistake, and I can’t seem to get past it.” Avery dried her eyes, balling up the tissue and holding it on her lap. If a guest walked in right now, Avery didn’t want to be a complete mess.
“I know that. You know that. So maybe you need to make sure he knows that. Despite what he did, that you care, and that you’re his friend. In time, he’ll forgive himself and you’ll move past it. Both of you will either find a new love, or maybe you’ll rekindle your romance. Just take it a day at a time.”
“I love you, Mom. Thanks for your words of wisdom. I can always count on you.” Avery hugged her. Her mother broke out in a smile, eyes lighting up.
“I love you too, sweetheart. So very much.” The fear in her eyes returned.
“Is there anything I can do to help this evening? We don’t have a performance tonight, so I can still make good on my offer.”
“Nope. I don’t think you’re help is needed at the inn tonight. We’ve got a full staff. And I would love to go out with you, but I’m not feeling too well, so maybe we’ll reschedule it. Would that be all right with you?”
Alarmed, Avery searched her mother’s face. “Are you okay? And of course it’s all right. Your well being is more important.”
She wasn’t sick or anything, was she?
“I’m just a little tired is all. Nothing more. I just need to make sure I get the rest I need. Don’t worry so much.” Avery’s mom patted her hand, smiling. “It’s a little chilly. I’m going to turn that thermostat up a little bit, not have it so blasted cold in here. Why don’t you go enjoy a night off? You’ve earned it.”
“Okay,” Avery nodded. Mom walked off through the double doors and down the hall, leaving Avery alone to her thoughts. She wasn’t alone long when she noticed Lucas striding through the corridor. He appeared just as startled to see her there as she was by his entrance.
“Fancy meeting you here once again,” Lucas teased, his lips curving into a sexy, sultry smile. There should be a law about a man smiling like that, looking so delectable. Avery frowned. Why di
d these thoughts take over her mind every time she was in his presence?
“You don’t look very pleased to see me. Why the frown?”
Oops. Lucas thought she was frowning because of him? Well, she kind of was, but not in the way he thought.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean it like that.” Avery laughed. Every time this man was near, she had no idea how to react. Why was that? “I don’t mean to be rude, especially to a guest. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Maybe I just keep catching you at a bad time,” Lucas said, moving swiftly to sit in the seat next to her. Avery’s heart thundered in her chest. Why did he need to sit down, let alone so close to her? She could now see him up close, every detail of his face more visible for her daydreams. He was the stuff erotic dreams were made of. Sexy, mysterious, intense. What was his story? He never did mention why he was staying here, in the inn, or the town, for that matter. Not that it was any of her business, but the curiosity still held on, regardless. He seemed to be everywhere. He was at the bar last night after her performance. He stayed at her parents’ inn...
Well, it is a small town, after all. Of course he’s going to be everywhere. There isn’t much else to see or do.
“Old Lucas here is a good listener, if you want to talk,” he said with a wink. Oh, how sweetly those lips moved. Okay, that was enough. Avery blinked and focused on the words he said, not on the lips the words came from. What had gotten into her?
“And why is Lucas referring to himself in the third person?” Avery inquired, keeping her eyes focused on his face as a whole.
“That’s the way I roll.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Avery giggled. “You’re a bit of a strange man.”
Lucas pretended to be offended. “Strange? Moi?” He pointed at himself while shooting her a huge, goofy grin. “So, what’s to do in small town Texas?”
“Other than flirt with the innkeeper’s daughter?” Avery shot back. But she smiled. “Not much. There’s a great music scene, but a lot of central and east Texas is full of that.”
“Yeah, I noticed that already. See, the first night I got here, I saw this amazing band ... I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of them, but Baby Stetson’s lead singer is phenomenal. And she’s hot!”
Avery pretended to think long and hard. He thought she was hot? And phenomenal? “You know, they sound vaguely familiar, though I’m not one to check out the female lead singer.”
No, she only checked out sexy strangers that paid her too much attention and she couldn’t decide whether she wanted it or not. Did she enjoy his attention? Hell yeah. But this wasn’t the time, and yet here she was, basking in the way he looked at her, the way her body heated up in pleasure when he shot her another one of those sexy grins.
It was just rebound feelings tugging at her. That’s all.
And that’s why she wasn’t going to act on them. Flirting with Lucas, fine. But it would go no further.
“So, care to keep me company this evening?” Lucas asked.
Avery’s gaze snapped back up at him. Had he just asked her to spend the evening with him? Why? Didn’t he have things to take care of or something? Surely he wasn’t here on vacation. There wasn’t much to see or do on vacation in Harmony’s Echo. So if he was here on some sort of business, why would he spend an evening with her? Why would he want to?
“There’s that stricken look again,” Lucas pointed out, wounded. Honestly wounded, too. He wasn’t fooling around this time. “I know I’ve been picking on you. I’m sorry if I’ve done something to bother you.”
Oh, he bothered her all right. Hot and bothered, which was something Avery didn’t want to feel. Didn’t want to think about. Didn’t want to act on. Well, she did, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. She still fought to tell herself no!
“No Lucas. You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s me. I-” Avery stopped. She wasn’t making any sense. “Okay, that sounds bad. I’ve just come out of a relationship, and while it should have ended awhile ago, I stayed in way too long. I’ve got some personal things to handle, and I’m a complete disaster right now. So, you haven’t offended me. You don’t bother me. I promise.”
“Promises don’t hold much for me.” Lucas lowered his voice. Something flashed in his eyes that Avery couldn’t decipher. As quickly as it came, the look faded. “I’m not asking for a relationship, Avery. I’m just looking for a friend tonight. Someone to spend a little time with, seeing the sights of this town or something fun nearby. That’s all. Nothing more.” He held up his hands, watching her, waiting.
A friend. That couldn’t hurt. Though her body sent signals about Lucas that were more than just friendly, it would be nice to get out of the inn, not have to go home for awhile, and enjoy someone’s company that didn’t know about her troubles. Why the hell not? Avery nodded. “You know what, Lucas, you’re right. I don’t know why I’m acting so cagey. You want a view of this town, though there’s not much of it, let’s do it.”
So much for being cautious. A night with Lucas, being near him, wouldn’t help the heat bubbling in her belly.
But it was too late to look back.
*****
Why Lucas made Avery so nervous, he’d never understand. When she accepted his request to spend an evening with him, he was more than surprised. But glad. He needed to get out a little, hopefully not think about the things he needed to do, and just let loose, even just a little bit. Avery was a young, attractive woman, and despite her jumpy attitude, Lucas liked her. He wanted to get to know her a little better. Even in a non-sexual way, for that matter. That didn’t mean he didn’t want to take her to bed and explore every inch of her body, but that wasn’t going to happen. She seemed too reserved. He wasn’t going to take advantage of her, especially since she’d just admitted she recently got out of a relationship. Avery seemed like the long term relationship person. Lucas wasn’t. He wished sometimes he could be, but the cold hard fact hit him like a ton of bricks a long time ago. He wasn’t relationship material. It turned out to be a good thing that Avery kept him at a distance, though Lucas couldn’t help but notice her sensual gazes she sent his way when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. She was attracted to him. And he’d bet she knew just as well as he did that it was best they didn’t act on it.
For more reasons than he could count.
But something about her drew out his curiosity.
If he could shut that part of his body down tonight, he would. But that was impossible. The desire grew bigger as time went on.
The grand tour of the heart of Harmony’s Echo took about an hour. There really wasn’t a thing here. Just your average small Texas town. So now what? End the night? Have dinner? Lucas stole a glance at Avery as they strolled along a paved path surrounded by flowers and plants. She stared straight ahead, not noticing he’d been watching her again. How was he ever going to accomplish what he needed to when Avery was a temptation to avoid? He fought hard to not grip her shoulders, turn her to face him and kiss her senseless. Any other time, he would. But with Avery, he couldn’t. Too complicated. Too messy. Since when had he been so overly cautious?
Since you have so much on the line right now, idiot.
If he knew he could stop at one little kiss, he could-
No.
A little foreplay action. Her hands on his cock-
Damn it. No!
Speaking of the devil, it began to surge to life.
Oh, good job. Now he could walk around the town square with a hard-on, while the woman next to him would only be oblivious for a little while.
As if on cue, Avery turned to him.
Whatever you do, woman, don’t look down. Don’t see what you’re doing to me. Just don’t!
“So now that you’ve pretty much seen all there is to see of downtown Harmony’s Echo, what now?” Avery asked.
Oh, he could think of a lot of things. None of them were actually going to happen. Lucas spotted a circular picnic table and quickly ambled toward it, sitting and
positioning himself so that Avery had no chance in hell of looking down. She followed him, and sat next to him. “Are you all right?”
“Sorry. My ankle is kind of bothering me. Old injury.” The old injury part was true, but his ankle sure as hell wasn’t the problem tonight.
“Oh! I’m sorry. What happened, if I may ask?” Avery’s hair shone in the spotlight of the streetlight that was just about over the table area. She had an array of highlighted colors that made for an interesting combination.
“Just an old work injury.” He brushed off the questions as best he could. He didn’t want to talk about it. Thinking about that brought up old memories that had no business resurfacing.
Avery’s face fell, and she stared down for a moment. “I didn’t mean to pry.” She almost sounded hurt.
“It’s okay. Just something I don’t want to bring up. It was around a bad time in my life.” That couldn’t have been more understated if he tried, but it didn’t matter. “I appreciate you walking around with me tonight.”
Avery shrugged. “Even though there isn’t much to see? I love this town, and the people. I do, but...” Her voice trailed off.
“But what?” Lucas prompted, intrigued. She’d almost opened up. Avery was almost as reserved as he was. Their history was slightly the same. She’d been abandoned, as he had. But at least Avery had great people to take her in and love her.
He couldn’t say the same thing about himself.
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Avery sighed.
“Can’t be nothing, especially if you don’t want to talk about it,” Lucas pointed out, taking his hand and lifting her chin so he could look at her again. The gesture obviously startled her. She looked up at him, eyes wide.
Why did he do that? Why did he have to go and touch her, even just her face?
Bad move, way bad.
“Well, it’s not like you’ll tell anyone. I want to make a career out of my music. In Nashville.” Avery’s tone took on a wistful manner.
“So why don’t you?” Lucas asked. She did have dreams bigger than this town. A woman like Avery shouldn’t hold herself back. What did he know? He held himself back all time. What really stopped him from getting away from the life he disliked so much?