by Various
“But it’s so much more than that. I think you understand me on a level I never thought someone could. I don’t know what to do about it.”
“You call those kisses not acting on it?” Avery prodded gently. If he wasn’t doing something about it, then what the hell were those intense kisses all about?
“Yeah, and you noticed I ran, didn’t I? Bolted the first sign of trouble.”
Avery’s lips turned up in a slight smile. “So, I’m trouble now?”
Lucas didn’t laugh like she’d hoped. He was all serious tonight. Damn.
“More than you know,” Lucas growled, his gaze fixated on her, that same look of need appearing again. “I’m torn between taking you to bed, or pushing you out of here and telling you to get away from me.”
“You’re the one that caught me in the hallway and wanted me to make you feel again!” Avery protested.
Men! She would never understand them as long as she lived!
“I know that, Avery. Call it a sign of weakness. You’re killing me here. And I don’t know which way I want to go about it,” Lucas said, his voice strained.
Avery moved to his side in a second. “I can help you decide, then,” she whispered.
Now or never. She’d never been this bold. But life was all about taking chances. Right now, she wanted a chance with Lucas. Even for a night. No reason to worry about regrets. That would come later. She’d deal with the aftermath then. But at this point, the lust took over. Avery reached for Lucas, needing to touch his face. His stubble scratched her hand, but she inched her lips closer to his anyway. His lips parted, waiting for her.
“You don’t know what you’re doing, Avery.” Lucas tried to protest, but she silenced him with her kiss. “You and I, we-”
“Shut up and kiss me, you fool,” she muttered against his lips. “I want to help you feel.”
I want to feel, too. I want to feel you.
Feeling brave, Avery climbed on top of Lucas and positioned herself in his lap, wrapping her arms around him. She’d certainly gotten his attention. His penis pushed up in his jeans, pressing against her. Lucas moaned when she pulled back. “Are you feeling now, Lucas?”
“Damn you, woman. I feel. I feel like I’m going to explode if you aren’t naked soon,” he grunted, voice hoarse. Lucas tugged at her shirt. Avery lifted her arms, and Lucas pulled it over her head. He tossed it behind him.
Then, he stopped.
What the hell?
“Avery, I didn’t ask you in here for this, I really didn’t. I know I cornered you with a kiss, but I don’t want you to think-”
This again? Avery sighed.
“Lucas, I’m a woman of my own free will. Okay? I’m not one to be pressured into these things. So, if you want to stop, we will, but I know what I’m doing. I know what I want. Right now, that’s you.” She trailed a finger along his cheek, hoping for a good sign, waiting for his next move.
“You don’t normally do this, do you?”
Why did he have to ask questions now, of all times? Damn him and his exasperating questions. What was wrong with him? Or was it her?
“Does it matter?” Avery backed away from Lucas, giving him what she hoped was an evil stare. Okay, she just practically threw herself at him, as he’d been insinuating for the past few days, and he wanted to ask questions at this very moment?
Ugh! Whatever.
“I don’t want to be your regret once you’ve thought this over. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. So what if we seem to have a fire for each other, it doesn’t mean we should act on it.”
“Lucas, I don’t get it. Get you. Because if I’m not mistaken, you’ve been coming on to me. And you’re going to have a change of heart now?” Avery swallowed.
Lucas’s breath hitched as his stare hardened. “You can call me a stupid idiot right now, but yeah. I can’t do this with you right now, Avery. Trust me, it’s better this way.” Lucas averted his gaze.
“You are the most infuriating man, Lucas!” Avery gathered her purse. “I don’t know why we’re having mixed signals, but I’m sorry. How about we forget this ever happened. I’m going to get the hell out of here before I-” She grabbed her rumpled shirt and threw it back over her head. She wanted to say so much more to him. The ringing of her phone interrupted her. Who would be calling this late? Panic rose in her throat when she pulled the phone from her purse. Mom and Dad. Why would they be calling at this very moment if it weren’t serious? She didn’t look back to give Lucas another look. Instead, Avery bolted from the room, cell phone to her ear. “What’s going on?”
“Did you remember to pick up your mother’s prescription like she asked?” Dad asked. He didn’t sound very happy at all.
Prescriptions? What was he talking about? And no one asked her to pick anything up unless-.
Her mother had been about to say something before Rodney showed up earlier. Avery never got a chance to ask about it more, because she’d been in her own thoughts and then a new distraction. Oh, crap! If the prescriptions weren’t important, her father wouldn’t be calling after ten o’clock.
“Dad, I-” Avery started.
“This isn’t like you, Avery. You’ve been distracted, slacking on the job, and Alice says you’ve been parading around with a few of the guests. What’s gotten into you?”
She couldn’t remember the last time her father had ever sounded so upset with her. Her heart thundered in her chest. “I’m sorry. Look, I’ll stop over at the pharmacy in the morning.”
“Thank you. Maybe we’ve all been so busy, and distracted. I apologize for sounding so crass.”
“No, Dad. You have the right to. I’ve got a lot on my mind and you’re right. I’m distracted. I’ll be home soon, okay?”
“See you then.” The call disconnected. She bolted from Lucas’s room without another word.
No more getting distracted by Lucas. He was all talk and no action. What the hell had gotten into him, anyway?
Wait, wondering about that meant that she was thinking about him. Again. Argh! Somehow, she’d have to shut the man out of her mind permanently. Whatever his job was, she wished it would end so he’d leave and stop dragging her desires through the mud.
*****
Moron, moron, moron!
Lucas pounded his pillow. He’d said too much. He’d thought too much. Almost giving into temptation would have been the worst mistake he could ever make. No, on second thought, the second. The first had been sticking around when he was younger. He should have just found a way to cut out and disappear, never to be found again. He could have done it, easily. They would have forgotten him after some time, and then he wouldn’t be in the fucking predicament they’d put him in now.
And damn that Avery Callimer for being so likable. With her full, kissable lips and the way she’d responded to him, she wanted him as much as he wanted her. And what did he go and do? Push her off like an idiot! The look of hurt on her face shouldn’t bother him so much, yet it did. Then she got a phone call and ran off, so Lucas never had the chance to apologize, to try and make things right.
This is why I’m no good for a woman. I can’t even get my shit together when I initiated something.
It wasn’t like him to turn down a willing woman. Especially one like Avery.
Her long, silky hair. He remembered the night he first saw her on stage, her powerful, sweet voice etching a spot into his mind leaving an imprint. Then the cold truth of reality rushed back. He wasn’t here for pleasure, and damn it, he’d be good to remember that.
Chapter Nine
A vase filled with red roses greeted Avery in the dining room the next morning.
Where had those come from?
“Mom? Dad? Are you still here?”
Avery doubted they would be, as by this time, at least one of them would be at the inn working. Avery walked around the counter and leaned closer to inspect the vase, hoping for a card to signify who they were from.
Aha! Good. There was one. She reached fo
r the small card, eager to know. Her name was scrawled in messy writing over the top of the card. Avery opened it and read.
I’m sorry. I know I’m driving you crazy.
Lucas
With a sigh, Avery placed the card back by the vase.
There you go again, Lucas. Just when I’m ready to shut you out of my mind, you go and do something sweet.
She inhaled, taking in the sweet smell of the roses.
Lucas was bad news. The best thing she could do for herself was to stop thinking about him all together. With his wishy washy attitude, she just didn’t need it. Besides, what did she know about the man anyway?
Sure, he’d opened up last night, though it wasn’t much.
Lucas had been utterly torn by something. He’d been all over the place with what he wanted. So whatever. As much as Avery couldn’t deny a strong attraction, she didn’t need his drama.
She had enough of her own to deal with.
Speaking of which, Avery needed to hurry, grab her mother’s prescription so that she could meet up with Rodney. Today, she’d be taking the next step to finding out if he was her biological father or not. Avery grabbed an apple from the wicker basket on the table and bit into it, searching for her purse. There it was, on the end table, where she’d tossed it hastily last night after bolting from Lucas’s room. Mom and Dad had been asleep when she came back, and now she’d missed them this morning. It seemed like they worked harder and harder at the inn all the time, and especially when they were short staffed. It wasn’t right. Even though she didn’t particularly want the inn, it sucked that they weren’t enjoying retirement or something.
For the most part, her parents enjoyed the inn. Even in a small town, with a place by the highway, travelers passing through stopped over a lot. Avery found it fascinating and interesting to learn about the different visitors, and what they did in life. Harmony’s Echo was just a pass through town. Not many ever stayed long. Strangers in and out, that’s all Avery had ever known.
Now, two mysterious strangers wound up here, found a place in her life and she didn’t know what to do with them. Well, Lucas, what did he really do to have a place in her life? Nothing, other than drive her nuts, that is. Lucas was a man of many secrets. Why? What reasoning did he have to be so reclusive? Not that it was any of her business, but the way he pushed her buttons ... Argh!
There she went again, allowing that man to slip into her thoughts again.
“Get out of my head, Lucas, and stay out,” Avery muttered, staring hard at the roses.
It was a thoughtful gesture.
Forgetting about Lucas? It wasn’t going to be so easy.
Ten minutes and many jumbled thoughts later, Avery stood in the line to pay for her mom’s prescriptions. The line moved forward quickly.
Now, to drop them off at the house, stop by the inn and say hi to Mom and Dad, then to find Rodney.
On the way back, Avery thought about filling her parents in right then and there about what was going on. She wasn’t lying to then, but she wasn’t doing any better by avoiding the conversations. She’d never, ever been one to not talk to them, so why the hell would she start now? Those were bad habits, and Avery already had enough of those. Didn’t everyone? She didn’t want to add secrecy to the list.
Secrets. There she was judging Lucas for having them.
She had no room to talk. No room to judge.
Avery couldn’t even strike up the nerve to pursue her dreams. She couldn’t tell her mom and dad how even though they gave her love, a place to belong, that part of her still didn’t feel like she belonged. Just a small part, but it was enough to make her feel guilty for feeling it.
By the time she’d put the bag on the table and headed to the inn, Avery still hadn’t come up with a decision.
Mom stood behind the desk writing in a book. She looked up when the bell rang, signaling Avery’s entrance and her face broke out in a smile. She waved. “Hey! Good morning honey.”
Avery planted a kiss on her mother’s temple. “Morning, Mom. I’m sorry I forgot your meds yesterday.”
“Oh, it’s fine. Your father is just worrying over nothing. I told him not to call you and bother you last night. I had a feeling you hadn’t heard me anyway, and I never did get a chance to confirm if you had or hadn’t heard me. I love the man dearly, but he’s such a worry wart.”
Avery smiled. “Well, I worry, too. I took your pills home. They’re sitting on the table next to the roses.”
Her mom’s eyes lit up. “What a beautiful surprise they were this morning! When I saw they were for you, I could hardly contain my excitement. Who were they from? Jameson?”
Avery shook her head. “No, Mom. Not from Jameson, though we did talk the other day to clear the air. I think we’ll be okay.”
Mom’s eyebrows raised. “Well then, who are they from?”
“Lucas,” Avery whispered, looking around to make sure he wasn’t anywhere in sight.
“The guest that’s staying here? Your dad mentioned something about being seen with him. He’s good looking, honey, but what’s going on with the two of you?”
“We’re ... connecting. He’s nice to talk to.” When he actually talked, instead of kissing her senseless then running off. That didn’t matter any longer. Avery would put a stop to that. No more kisses from Lucas. No more of it at all.
“Well, a man doesn’t send you flowers for no reason,” Avery’s mother prompted.
That was true.
“Okay, it was an apology over a disagreement. Nothing major. I enjoy talking to him, but I know he’s a guest. There’s nothing to fret over,” Avery promised, hoping like hell she sounded sure of herself, because she didn’t feel it.
“I know you’re a grown woman and all. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Avery giggled. “See? You can’t blame Daddy and I for worrying about you when you worry just as much. It’s part of loving, isn’t it? Just like you always say.”
“I always knew when you got older, my words would come back to haunt me,” her mother said with a smile. “Hey, we need to make some time for dinner soon, the three of us. It’s been far too long. What do you say? Tomorrow night?”
“I’d love that. I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. Are you working today?”
“I’m going to come back in a few hours, then we’ve got a show tonight.”
“When are you going to pursue that dream of yours? A voice like yours shouldn’t be hidden in a small town.”
Avery gaped at her mother. That was the first time she’d ever said anything like that. While her parents loved Avery’s singing, and she knew they supported her, it still managed to catch her off guard. She shrugged. “I don’t know, Mom. I love being here with you and Daddy.”
“I know you do, but honey, don’t think I don’t see the way you light up when you’re on stage. Some people want a family and love, which I hope for you, but Avery, you’re thirty two years old. Isn’t it time you follow your heart’s desires? I love you and love seeing you every day, even if it’s only for a little while, but you’ve got a talent like I haven’t seen in years. I really think you need to go after it. Don’t feel like you have to stay here because of us.”
“I-” How ironic. Wasn’t it just a few nights ago that she and Lucas had a conversation about this?
“We’ll talk later about it. But I’m serious, sweetheart. I’d love to know what you want for yourself. Don’t sell yourself short just to spend time around us.” The firm but loving look on her mother’s face brought a tear to Avery’s eye. She quickly wiped it away.
“Thanks, Mom.” Avery hugged her. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too. Now, go on and have a good day. I’ll see you later.”
Avery walked away, glancing back once more. Mom busied herself with computer work. At least she wasn’t upset about the medicine mishap yesterday. Good. But what made Dad go almost off the deep end last night? He’d bee
n so angry. That bothered her. Well, she’d just have to find him later and talk to him. She also had to clear the air about why she’d been spending time with a few of the guests. Damn Alice and her prying eyes. She loved to make trouble.
When she reached the third floor, Avery hoped not to run into Lucas. She wasn’t ready to face him right now. She just needed to stay away and focus on other things.
“Morning!” Rodney opened the door after the first knock. “I’m glad you made it.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Avery asked.
Rodney shrugged. “I guess I’m a bit nervous. I let doubts get the better of me.”
“I can understand that.” Avery nodded. “Do you want to take separate cars or just one? I assume you’ve made the arrangements?”
Rodney pulled a slightly crumpled piece of notebook paper from his jeans pocket and waved it at her. “All here. We can take one car. Yours if you feel like driving.”
“Okay. Well, I suppose we’d better get on with it.”
And get away from here so that a specific person I don’t want to think about doesn’t step out of his room.
“If you want to grab lunch afterwards, it’ll be my treat.” Rodney fell into step beside her.
“That sounds wonderful. I’d love to!”
*****
Lucas woke to voices outside his door, or somewhere in the vicinity. Taking a late morning nap had been a stupid idea, something he never did except for when he nursed a hangover. Even with the medium amount of alcohol he’d consumed last night, he’d made an ass out of himself. He had never been one to hold his liquor very well. It was all for the best anyway, as he never wanted to fall down the path that his parents did. One slip up like this, and feeling the aftermath would set up the perfect reminder for Lucas to not touch the shit at all.
Duly noted, body. Duly noted.
What time was it, anyway?
Lucas blinked, waited for his vision to clear and reached for his cell phone charging on the nightstand beside him. Just a little before eleven. Damn it, the day was half wasted already.