Blown Away (Next Generation 8)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “This isn’t me,” he said, gesturing to his clothes. “I just needed to shed the image today.”

  “I like this side of you.” She ran her hand over the stubble just starting to appear on his jaw. “A lot.”

  That made him want to wear jeans and cowboy boots every day. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Does that mean you’ll come?”

  “Who’s going to be there?”

  “My friend Lauren and her husband Tucker.” She grinned as though she was keeping a secret she couldn’t wait to share. “Are you a racing fan?”

  “Sure. Why?”

  “You know Justin Hunt?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “He’s engaged to my friend Anna. They’ll be there. So will Anna’s brother, Nick, and his fiancée, Megan.”

  “I don’t want to intrude.” He wanted to believe Ava was softening toward him if she was willing to introduce him to her friends, but he’d made the mistake of assuming their relationship was headed in the right direction before. He wouldn’t make that assumption again… at least, not until she gave him reason to hope.

  “You wouldn’t be intruding. We’d love to have you.” She tugged on his hand. “Come on, I know if you don’t come, you’ll just sit at home dwelling on your problems. Wouldn’t you rather go out and have a good time and forget about everything for a while?”

  Brent didn’t socialize for fun. He socialized to make contacts or because it was expected of him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done anything just for the sake of having fun. “All right, let’s do it.” He got up and helped her to feet.

  “See, that’s better already,” Ava said, propping his sunglasses up on his head.

  “What is?”

  “You’re smiling.” She winked at him. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a really sexy smile, Armstrong?”

  He flashed a quick grin. He wouldn’t be able to wipe the smile off his face that night.

  ***

  Ava questioned her decision to bring Brent when she spotted her friends at a large round table in the back of the bar. They leaned in and started whispering when they saw them. No doubt they were speculating about her date and whether he really was the Brent Armstrong who routinely graced the covers of international business and finance magazines.

  “There they are,” Ava said, grabbing Brent’s hand and leading him to the table. She released his hand as soon as Tucker and Lauren zeroed in on the connection. “Hey, y’all, sorry we’re late. We played hooky and had a picnic this afternoon. The drive back into town took a little longer than we thought it would.”

  “Is that right?” Lauren asked, raising an eyebrow. “When was the last time you took a day off work, girl?”

  Ava forced a smile. She had no doubt she would be hustled into the ladies room for the third degree at the first available opportunity. Ava made the introductions and watched her friends’ shock and awe when they realized Brent really was who they thought he was.

  “How do y’all know each other?” Tucker asked, reclaiming his seat after shaking Brent’s hand.

  Ava settled in beside Brent. “We went to college together. Well, we didn’t actually have any classes together. Brent was finishing up his M.B.A. during my first year. But I had some classes with his younger brother, Keith. That’s how Brent and I got to know each other.”

  “I seem to recall you mentioning y’all knew each other back in the day,” Lauren said before taking a sip of her soft drink. “But I didn’t know you’d stayed in touch. Why didn’t you mention that?” She gave Ava a pointed look.

  Ava felt her friends’ curiosity closing in until Brent stretched his arm across the back of her chair. He said, “Ava wasn’t keeping me a secret. We hadn’t kept in touch. We just reconnected at a charity event a few weeks back.”

  “So y’all are seeing each other?” Anna smiled when Ava gave her a cutting look.

  “Let’s just say we’re picking up where we left off back in college,” Brent said, not seeming the least bit bothered. “As friends.”

  Ava knew they were dying to ask whether it was a friends with benefits arrangement, but they were all too polite to blurt it out. “Enough about us,” Ava said, trying not to react to Brent twirling her hair around his finger. “I want to hear about what’s been happening with you guys.” She looked at Anna and Justin. “The big day is closing in. Are you guys getting nervous yet?”

  “Anxious is more like it,” Justin said before kissing his fiancée’s cheek. “It feels like I’ve been waiting forever to make this lady my wife.”

  “Aww, that’s so sweet.” Ava tried to ignore the little stab of envy. She was happy for her friend, but every single girl longed for a man to love her as much as Justin clearly loved his bride-to-be. “How about you?” Ava asked Nick. “Have you two set a date yet?”

  Nick laughed. “No, we’re having too much fun living in sin.”

  His fiancée, Megan, slapped his thigh. “Don’t let your mama hear you say that.”

  Nick smiled. “She’s been tryin’ to nail us down on a date for weeks. We’re gettin’ there, but with Meg’s new show, it’s been a bit of a challenge. It’ll definitely be sometime next summer.”

  “I can’t wait,” Ava said, smiling at the brunette waitress who appeared to take their drink order. Her smile slipped when the woman zeroed in on Brent, pretending Ava wasn’t even there.

  “Can I get you anything?” The waitress brushed her hip against Brent’s shoulder.

  Brent turned to Ava. “What’ll you have, sweetheart?”

  Ava moved closer into his side, trying to send the woman a clear message to back off. She knew she didn’t have the right to feel proprietary, but her claws came out when another woman hit on a man she’d been intimate with right in front of her. “A glass of chardonnay, please.”

  Brent glanced around the table, noting the other men were all drinking beer. “I’ll have one of those.” He pointed to the Heineken Justin was drinking.

  Ava knew he probably would have preferred something else, but she appreciated that he was making an effort to fit in.

  “You got it,” the waitress said, winking at Brent.

  Lauren rolled her eyes, making Ava smile. She could always count on her friends to be on her side.

  “So, Justin,” Brent said, “it’s shaping up to be a great season for you.”

  “I can’t complain.” Justin winked at Anna. “Of course, I always have a stronger finish when my favorite girl is there to cheer me on.”

  Anna laughed. “I never thought I’d become a racing fan. When Justin and I first met, I hated the idea of him getting into that death trap.”

  “But now that she understands the safety precautions we take, she feels better about it,” Justin said. “Which is a good thing. I’m too damn young to pack it in just yet.”

  Ava thought about the challenges her friends had worked through. She wondered if she and Brent could do the same. Of course, there was the little matter of him being her client. Not that she’d cashed his check yet. It was still sitting in her safe, and whenever Tara went to make a bank deposit, Ava told her to hold off on cashing it. Ava couldn’t explain why; maybe she just wasn’t ready to make their agreement official.

  Brent turned to Tucker, who was sitting to his left. “What do you do, Tucker?”

  “I own a construction company. We build new houses, renovations, rehabs…” He shrugged. “You know, the usual.”

  “No kidding.” Brent shot Ava a sidelong glance. “It so happens I took Ava out to my lakefront property today. I bought it quite a few years ago, but I’ve been waiting to build on it. Maybe now’s the time. You think you might be able to come out and have a look at the site? I can give you an idea of what I have in mind.”

  Ava thought about what he’d said about waiting to find his princess. Did he believe he’d already found her, was on the verge of finding her thanks to Ava’s vow to help him, or he was just tired of waiting to build on the land he
clearly loved?

  “I should be able to find some time to come out and have a look tomorrow.” Tucker reached into his pocket and withdrew a business card. “My cell number’s on there. Text me the address, and we’ll make time to hook up.”

  “Sounds good.” Brent slipped the card into his pocket. “I’m looking forward to it. You know a good architect who can help me with the plans?”

  “I sure do,” Tucker said. “You know exactly what you want?”

  Brent looked at Ava. “I may need a woman’s input. You think you could help me?”

  “Um… I…” Ava looked around the table. Of course, all eyes were on her, awaiting her response. “Sure. I don’t know anything about construction or architecture, but I know what I like.”

  “Perfect,” Brent said, grinning. “I can’t wait to get started.”

  Chapter Eight

  Since Ava had agreed to help him with the house, he had a valid reason to see her. That meant he didn’t have to continue with the dating service farce. He just had to bow out without making her suspicious.

  They were dancing to a Brad Paisley song when Ava asked, “Is everything okay? You seem kind of quiet. If you’re having second thoughts about the house, Tucker will understand.”

  “No, it’s not that.” It was difficult to think straight while he held her. She felt so right… He’d never wanted anyone more. “I was just thinking maybe we should hold off on setting me up with someone. Now that I’m taking on this building project, I won’t have a lot of free time.”

  “Oh.”

  Her face remained impassive, and he was getting nervous. “Are you disappointed?” he asked.

  She frowned. “Why would I be disappointed? I have plenty of clients, Brent. One won’t make or break my business. I haven’t cashed your check yet. I’ll just tear it up and we’ll forget the whole thing.”

  Thank God. He hated deceiving her. Besides, he didn’t think he had a prayer of convincing her he was interested in another woman. He wasn’t that good of an actor. “If you’re sure.”

  “I am.” She settled into his arms, and they danced in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

  “Thank you for agreeing to help me with the house. It means a lot.”

  “It sounds like fun, but I’m not sure how much help I’ll be. Like I said, I don’t know anything about construction.” She looked thoughtful as she said, “Maybe you should ask Lauren instead.”

  “I want you.” He knew what he’d said and what he’d meant. He had no intention of taking it back, not even when she looked at him, wide-eyed, as though she was waiting for him to clarify.

  Obviously trying to change the subject, she asked, “So, what do you think of Jimmy’s?”

  “I like it.” He hadn’t frequented bars like Jimmy’s since college, but hanging out there with Ava and her friends made him think he’d been missing something. Stuffy charity events and five-star restaurants never felt like a natural fit, no matter how much money he made. Maybe it was time for him to embrace the fact that behind the designer suits and limousines, he was still blue jeans and cowboy boots. That didn’t make him less of a man.

  “Lauren’s daddy, J.T. McCall, owns it.”

  “McCall?” Brent asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Ava giggled. “Yup, that McCall. Nikki Spencer McCall is Lauren’s mama, and Ty McCall is Nick and Anna’s daddy.”

  “No way.”

  Brent glanced at their table. The group was talking and laughing over beers and burgers. They’d grown up children of privilege, yet they didn’t feel the need to flaunt their wealth. It made Brent wonder what he’d been working so hard to prove. He’d wanted the world to see him as someone other than the scruffy kid with holes in his shoes and clothes that were too small. But maybe the only person who still saw him that way was himself.

  “Are you okay?” Ava asked, gripping his bicep.

  “I’ve gotta get out of here. If you’re not ready, maybe one of your friends could give you a lift?” He headed back to the table to say his good-byes with Ava at his side. To the group, Brent said, “It was nice meeting y’all, but I’ve got an early meeting.” He peeled a few hundred dollar bills off the roll in his pocket and threw them on the table.

  “Your money’s no good here, Brent,” Lauren said. “My daddy won’t let us pay for anything.”

  The waitress came around to collect empty glasses, and Brent picked the money up and tossed it on her tray.

  “Wow, thanks,” she said, her eyes widening.

  It was only money. The money Brent had been killing himself to make for most of his life. Since he had it, and the goal of wiping his mother and stepfather out seemed to have lost its meaning, he didn’t know why the hell he’d been working so hard.

  If that was a mid-life crisis, he wasn’t ready.

  “We still on for tomorrow?” Tucker asked when Brent shook his hand.

  “Yeah, definitely.” Escaping to his own little paradise started to sound better than ever.

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

  Brent waited while Ava said good-bye, feeling guilty that she cut her night short because of his crisis. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, but for the first time, he wasn’t looking forward to going into the office tomorrow. The problem was, he didn’t have anywhere else to go.

  “You didn’t have to leave your friends,” Brent said as they moved toward the door.

  “I didn’t mind. I’m kind of tired anyhow.” She slipped her hand into his and smiled at his look of surprise. “It must have been all that fresh air out at the lake. I’m not used to it.” She squeezed his hand. “That’s not to say I couldn’t get used to it.”

  Brent knew she was trying to make him feel better by taking his mind off his problems, but the questions racing around inside his head were making him crazy. The biggest one was: Where did he go from here? Accumulating more wealth was starting to seem less appealing, and sticking it to his mother wasn’t giving him the thrill he thought it would.

  He needed to be alone, to try to process his thoughts, but he needed Ava more. Taking her to bed would surely obliterate the madness and give him clarity, but he wouldn’t use her to make himself feel better. “Do you have an early morning too?” he asked, unlocking his car.

  “Always. But I’m still up for a nightcap, if you are?”

  He wanted nothing more than to talk to her about everything he was feeling, but he’d already unloaded on her once. He didn’t want to burden her with his problems.

  “I know something’s bothering you,” she said, facing him when he opened her door. “I’m a pretty good listener.”

  She was the best listener he knew, the only woman who’d ever really understood him, but he wouldn’t take advantage of that. “Don’t worry about me.” He kissed her forehead.

  “What if I want to worry about you?” she asked, sliding her arms around his waist.

  “I’m just going through some things right now. I’ll sort it out.”

  “Maybe I could help?”

  “You don’t have to.” He winced when he saw how affronted she looked. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’d love it if you came home with me… to talk.” He leaned his forehead against hers, drinking in her light floral scent. He hoped he could trust himself to let it end there. He’d messed things up so badly the last time they were together, he knew she wouldn’t give him another pass. “I have a guest room. If we stay up late and you’re tired…”

  “Why don’t we just go back to your place?” she asked, placing her palm over her heart. “We’ll just take the rest of the evening as it comes.”

  ***

  Silence filled the car on the way to Brent’s penthouse, and Ava wished she could read his mind. She thought about their talk on the dance floor, trying to determine whether she might have said or done something to upset him, but she couldn’t think of anything that might have set him off.

  She’d thought he was relaxing, enjoying her friends’ company, and forgettin
g about his mother’s visit, but it obviously still weighed heavily on his mind. She knew of one sure fire way to help him forget, but she didn’t know if he was interested in making love to her again. He hadn’t even attempted to kiss her all day.

  Brent pulled into one of three underground spots reserved for his vehicles. She couldn’t help but be impressed by his Hummer and Bugatti. He had everything, yet the empty look she sometimes saw in his eyes made it seem as though he had nothing.

  After a long ride to the top floor of the luxury high rise, Ava couldn’t stand the silence another second. “If you’d rather be alone, I can call a cab to take me home.”

  “No!” He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Ava. I know I’ve been lousy company today, but I really don’t want to be alone tonight.” He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. “Stay with me?”

  He was irresistible. No woman in her right mind could look into those big brown eyes and deny him the chance to make her forget the outside world for a while, preferably a long while. “Sure, if that’s what you want.”

  “It is.” He smiled. “Thanks for being so great today. I know I didn’t deserve it after the way I acted, barging in on your business dinner--”

  “With another woman on your arm,” she cut in. “Let’s not forget that part.”

  He grimaced as they stepped off the elevator. “That definitely wasn’t one of my finer moments.”

  “Why did you bring her to the restaurant? I understand you felt the need to check up on me, not that I think you were justified. What I don’t understand is why you brought her.”

  He fit his key in the lock. “I guess part of me was afraid of what I might walk in on. I thought it may be more than a business dinner. If it was, I didn’t want to look like a fool.”

  “Have you ever trusted anyone to remain faithful to you?” she asked, preceding him into the apartment when he gestured for her to enter first.

  “You never promised to be faithful to me.”