by Nomi Summers
These girls were too sweet for him to be annoyed, although he was mildly frustrated with the timing of it all. “Let me see if I can borrow a pen from the front desk.”
He figured Avery must’ve heard because she tossed a pen and a pad of paper on top of the counter and headed back toward the veranda. He was stuck doing the fan thing, and now other people in the lobby had come over and started asking for pictures.
By the time he’d finished with the crowd and went back out to the veranda, Avery was nowhere in sight. The only one left at her table was her mother.
“Mrs. Cooke, it’s so nice to see you.” He approached Meredith and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
“Shane! It’s so nice of you to come all this way for the wedding,” she said, her warmth making him feel immediately welcome. She had always treated him as one of her own, and Shane appreciated it, especially after his own mother left. “Sit down. I haven’t had a chance to chat with you yet.” She motioned to the seat next to her.
“Do you know where Avery went?” he asked, taking a seat.
She paused and gave him a smile. “Probably to her cabin for the evening. She’s staying at the resort this weekend to make things easier with the wedding and all. Big day tomorrow!” she added, beaming with excitement.
“Do you know which cabin she’s in, by chance?”
She leaned closer with hopeful eyes. “Are you two rekindling old flames?” There it was—no beating around the bush with Mrs. Cooke.
“I’d just like to talk with her. She seems upset with me. I didn’t know she wasn’t aware of Hunter acquiring the resort. I’m afraid I’m the one who spilled the beans. I’m sorry.” He lowered his voice so nobody could hear, but Dax and Leila were off saying goodbye to their guests, and nobody else was left at the table.
“Ah, yes. Well, how could you have known?” She paused to take a sip of her coffee. “This place is Avery’s life. You know, she was always a daddy’s girl. After her father passed, she made it her mission to help me keep this place running. I believe in some way she’s still trying to make him proud.”
“Well, you’ve both done a nice job with it.”
“I’m afraid that’s not been enough.” She set her coffee cup down on its saucer and turned to him. “Truth is, this place could use a facelift. The cabins need a fresh coat of paint, and there are countless repairs that need doing. But none of that really matters if we can’t get people to the resort. It seems families just want to rent summer homes now. Fewer and fewer want to stay here each summer.”
“That’s a shame,” Shane said. “I have so many wonderful memories here. Maybe you just need to remind them why Arbor Shores Resort is so great in the first place.”
“Well, there’s a lot of work that would have to be done first, but I think you’re right. People have just forgotten.”
“Avery mentioned a Fourth of July Jamboree next weekend. Maybe that’s your opportunity?”
“Yes, that’s her plan, bless her heart. She is trying.”
That gave him an idea, an idea that could save this resort from his brother once and for all. He rose to his feet.
“Which cabin did you say she was in?”
“Number four.” She gave him a wink before rising from the table. “Good luck, Shane.”
He wasn’t sure what she meant by that. “Good luck?”
“My daughter’s been guarding that heart of hers since …” she hesitated. “Never mind. I hope the two of you can become friends again.” She smiled sincerely before walking toward Dax and Leila.
Friends. That was an excellent idea. That was an angle he hadn’t yet considered, but right now he was willing to take whatever he could get.
Shane could hear the crickets off in the distance, their melody in full sync, as the cool evening air enveloped him. He followed the glow of path lights down to the cabins at the bottom of the hill. Cabin number four was at the opposite end of the shore from where Avery had placed him. Figures. Man, she really didn’t seem to want much to do with him. He was bound and determined to change all that if his plan worked.
He approached the cabin, and through the window he could see the amber glow of a lamp inside. He watched her through the window for a moment, sitting in an armchair across from the fireplace, a glass of red wine in her hand. She looked deep in thought as she gazed into the flames. Boy, did she ever look beautiful. She had taken off that stunning dress and changed into a pair of boy shorts and a form-fitting tank. Her hair now piled on top of her head in a messy bun, she looked more relaxed than ever. He knocked softly and ducked behind the door.
“Who’s there?” she called out, without getting up.
“Ave, it’s me. I have something important to talk to you about.”
“Go away, Shane.” Her tone didn’t make him feel hopeful.
“It’s about the resort. I just need five minutes. You’re going to want to hear this.”
There was a pause, and a deafening silence that seemed to last an eternity. Finally, he heard the creak of a chair scraping the wood floor, and a moment later the door swung open. His eyes made their way up her body, causing her to quickly turn away to grab a blanket from the back of the chair and wrap it around her shoulders to cover herself. He couldn’t help but stare. This was the love of his life, after all. He knew every inch of her, but up until that moment, he had forgotten just what it did to him. Suddenly, he felt seventeen again. She always had driven him wild, but now she had morphed into a woman, and he longed to be close to her.
“Get an eyeful?”
“Hey, I didn’t tell you to open the door in your underwear,” he teased.
Her cheeks turned the most adorable shade of pink, and she seemed flushed. At least he could still get a rise out of her. That had to count for something.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, sinking back into her chair.
“May I have a drink with you?” He closed the door behind him.
She hesitated. “Wine is on the counter. Glasses are in the cabinet to the right of the sink. Whatever you have to tell me better be good.”
He poured himself a glass and took a seat in the armchair next to her. Both were facing the fire, so he turned his chair to face hers and leaned forward.
“First, just let me say, thank you for agreeing to talk to me.” He took a sip of wine and put it down on the table between them. He had to choose his next words carefully. “I have an idea for how you can save the resort.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Why do you care, Shane? I mean, really. Was this your ploy to get in my cabin? Haven’t you had enough fun for one day?”
He wasn’t quite sure what she meant by that, but he chose to ignore it. “I was just talking to your mom and—”
“Talking to my mom? Why are you talking to my mom about the resort?” Her face held a mixture of hurt and anger.
“I just sat down to say hello and catch up with her. We got to talking about the resort, and it got me thinking. People have just forgotten what makes this place great. You just need to get them back here so they can remember.”
“Well, thank you for figuring all of that out for us, Shane. I hadn’t thought of that.” Her words dripped with sarcasm. So far, things weren’t off to a good start.
“What if, for your Fourth of July Jamboree next weekend, I put on a concert here? We could get people to come from all over Michigan. We could pack this place. Your cabins and the main resort would sell out, and—”
“I can’t afford you,” she said, cutting him off. “We can’t afford you. It’s a terrible idea.”
“I’m not looking for compensation. I just want to help.”
“Why?” She put her wine down and sat upright in her chair, fire in her eyes. It half turned him on and half scared the life out of him.
“Because I just want to be your friend, Avery.” He’d try that on for size to see how it fit. “I understand I hurt you, and you have no desire to get back together, but if we could find a way to b
e friends again …” He searched for the right words. “I just want you back in my life.”
“If you want me back in your life, you’re going about it the wrong way.” How dare he come to her cabin after he spent the afternoon with Chelsea in his. As much as she wanted to tell him what she saw today, it wasn’t her place to question him about his afternoon antics. They weren’t together, and she had made it clear she didn’t want to get back together. He was free to do whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted. Even though the thought of that twisted her stomach in knots, she chose to swallow what she saw between him and Chelsea and keep it to herself.
“How am I going about it wrong? I want to help you bring life back to the resort again.” His voice changed, and she could tell he was getting upset. He stood up, and she couldn’t help but admire how handsome he looked in his dress pants and button-down pressed black shirt. He had loosened his tie and unbuttoned a few top buttons. This was a look you wouldn’t expect to see on him since he had the rock star persona going on most days. He cleaned up well, and this look suited him.
“I’m just saying, for someone who claims he wants to be back in my life, you sure didn’t waste any time with Chelsea.” Shoot. She didn’t want to go there. She didn’t want to sound pathetic or let on that she had any feelings left for him at all, but her jealousy got the best of her. She rose to her feet, ready for the battle.
“With Chelsea? What are you talking about?” His voice rose.
“I saw you two.”
“Again, enlighten me, Avery. I’ve avoided her all night. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“This afternoon.” There it was. “I saw her leave your cabin half dressed. I saw the kiss.” Well, that was a half-truth. She saw the lean in, but she was sure it had ended in a kiss.
“Ave.” He reached out and put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, a serious look on his face. “It’s not what you think.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s none of my business. I’m sure it’s a regular occurrence for you nowadays.” She turned away to escape his grasp.
“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked, his tone filled with anger.
“Like I said, it doesn’t matter. Please leave.”
“Fine.” He headed toward the door and turned around to face her. “But I didn’t do anything with Chelsea. She came to my cabin and asked for an autograph for her sister and pushed her way in. I got her out as quickly as possible. There was no kiss. She pecked me on the cheek before she left but that was it.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Avery repeated.
“You’re right, it doesn’t matter because the truth is I’m single, and I can do whatever I want.” Ouch. “You don’t want anything to do with me anyway, so why do you care?”
“Get out,” she demanded. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, and she refused to let them spill in front of him.
“Fine, I’ll go. But I didn’t touch her, and that’s the truth. You can accept it or not. But my offer still stands about the concert. The ball’s in your court.”
The screen door slammed behind him, jolting her with a dose or reality. What had she done? Why did she have to confront him about Chelsea? There was no denying that she had feelings for him now. So much for playing it cool.
His words stabbed at her heart as she replayed them in her mind. Hot tears escaped the corners of her eyes. What if he was telling the truth, and she just ran him off after his generous offer? As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she knew having Shane Knox headline at the resort was the one thing that might save it once and for all. Shane sold out every venue across the US and Europe. He’d just offered her the greatest gift imaginable, and she’d treated him terribly.
She flopped onto the couch and let the tears flow until she cried herself to sleep, just like she had so many nights since he left her long ago.
Chapter 11
Avery woke to the sound of birds chirping outside of her cabin. A dull ache pulsed behind her eyes, and she wasn’t quite sure if it was the wine, the crying, or a combination of both that was to blame. Glancing at the clock, she knew she’d better get in the shower and get up to the main lodge. The women were having a spa day with pedicures and facials, followed by hair and makeup as they pampered the bride on her special day.
On the bright side, she wouldn’t have to see Shane until the ceremony. The guys had a 9:00 a.m. tee time, and then they’d likely end up at Ripples to unwind afterward.
One look in the mirror at her swollen red eyes and she was grateful for a spa day with the girls. Not so excited to spend the day with Chelsea, but she loved Leila, and as the maid of honor, she was fully prepared to put her own issues on the back burner and give Leila one hundred percent of her attention.
She dabbed some concealer under her eyes, but her efforts were no match for the dark rings. She pulled her sunglasses out of her purse and committed to wearing them as long as she could get away with it. She’d had embroidered robes made for all the ladies in the wedding party with their name on the front pocket and bridesmaid stitched across the back. Except for hers which said maid of honor, and Leila’s that, of course, said bride. She wanted to get up to the bridal suite before anyone else so she could set them out for each of the ladies.
She loaded the boxes containing the robes in the golf cart she had taken to her cabin the night before. She stuffed her toiletries in a duffle bag along with her shoes for the wedding and headed up the hill. Her dress for the ceremony was already waiting inside the suite.
Avery could tell it was going to be a gorgeous day. She’d always loved summer mornings at the resort, but this one felt particularly magical. The temperature wasn’t forecasted to get above the upper seventies all day, and there wasn’t a single cloud in the powder blue sky. Perfect weather for outdoor nuptials.
Avery pulled the golf cart to a stop in front of the main lodge. She decided she’d better check on how the set up was coming along before heading to the bridal suite. She found her mother out on the veranda. The florist was there decorating the pergola, and Mrs. Cooke was showing the event staff how to place the chairs for the ceremony. A beautiful backdrop of Lake Michigan filled the horizon behind the pergola. It was already looking whimsical. Avery loved this venue for a wedding, and she secretly longed to get married there herself one day. She just regretted that her father wouldn’t be there to walk her down the aisle. A sadness tugged at her heart.
“Avery, what are you doing here? You’re off today, remember?”
“Just checking to see if you need any help with anything.”
“Your duty is to the bride today. I’ve got this covered.” She flashed her daughter a reassuring smile.
“Well, you’re the mother of the groom so you shouldn’t be doing all of this yourself.”
“I’m fine. I have more than enough help today.” She put down her clipboard and walked over to her daughter. “So, did you have a visitor last night?”
“Ah, yes, thank you for that,” she said dryly. “Now I know how he found out which cabin I was in.” Avery gave her mom a pointed look.
“Avery, I don’t see why you two can’t just be friends. What happened between the two of you, that was a long time ago. People grow up, and life goes on. It’s time to let it go.”
“Let it go?” Avery felt herself growing frustrated with her mother, and she didn’t want that. Not today.
“You two once loved each other very much. He left to pursue his dreams, and look what he’s made of himself. You can’t fault him for that. Now, I know it hurt you when he left, but first loves always hurt. They wouldn’t be called first loves if they lasted forever.”
“You and Daddy were first loves. It lasted until …” she let her voice trail off. She knew it would be hard for her mother to be alone today. Her father should be with them; it just wasn’t fair.
“Yes, but times are different now.” She patted her daughter’s hand. “I’m just saying, give him a chance to make thi
ngs right. This is your opportunity to get some closure. You’ve been carrying this heartache around for far too long.”
Avery started to open her mouth in rebuttal but caught herself. She felt foolish because she knew her mother was right, even though it hurt to hear her words.
Her mother gave her a comforting smile before heading in the direction of the ice sculpture that had just arrived. She was left standing in the middle of the veranda, secretly wishing it was her that was getting married today.
The day was flying by. After their pedicures and facials at the spa, the ladies retired to the bridal suite for hair and makeup. A knock on the door indicated the champagne had arrived, and with an hour until the ceremony, it was time to give a toast to the bride and wish her well. Avery poured a few sips into each flute, and each of the ladies gathered around and raised their glasses.
“Leila, I just want to say that there isn’t anyone on earth I’d rather see my brother with, and I’m so glad the two of you found each other. I’m honored to welcome you into our family. You’re already the sister I never had, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”
The ladies all cooed and clinked glasses. Leila took a sip before setting hers down to wrap Avery in a hug.
“Thank you for everything, Avery. You’ve really gone out of your way to make today special.”
“Shall we get you into that dress?” Avery motioned toward the beautiful white flowing gown that hung on the back of the closet door.
She took the dress off the hanger and held it open and low to the ground so Leila could step into it. Leila placed her hands on Avery’s shoulders to brace herself as Avery shimmied the dress up her body and then moved around to the back to zip it up.
“So, what’s going on with you and Shane?” Leila asked.
Avery was taken aback by the question, and the rest of the girls in the room fell silent from their chatter, as if awaiting her response.