Accidentally Hers (Sterling Canyon #1) (17 page)

“At the very least, I’d need to talk to her first.”

He sighed, preparing for her to tense up once he confessed. “She already knows.”

“What?” Her eyes widened immeasurably. “When?”

“She guessed the truth when you and Trip were dancing. So I admitted you were the girl I’d been talking about, and I told her she was one reason you shot me down.”

“Oh you did not!” Avery looked up to heaven, grabbing her skull with both hands. “Great. No wonder she looked so uptight when I returned from the dance floor.” Then she rested her hands on his arms and looked away. “Doesn’t matter. The bigger problem is that you’re still suing my family.”

“I’m suing your brother.” He tipped her chin to meet her eyes.

“Same thing.”

“No, it’s not. Honestly, the more I think about it, the less important that seems to be. If your parents gave you the house, why can’t Andy borrow against its value to pay any judgment?” He cupped the back of her neck with one hand.

“What gave you the idea my parents
gave
us the house?” She crossed her arms, looking ready to read him the riot act.

“There’s no mortgage.” He squeezed her hip with his other hand.

“They
sold
us the house and loaned us the money to do it. We kept it informal, but they’re relying on that money for their retirement.”

“I didn’t know.” Grey scrubbed his hands over his face, unhappy with this new information. “Listen, I’m slowly building new summer business, and it’s possible the Outpost’s insurance company will offer a decent settlement. If that comes together, maybe I’ll be able to make ends meet without needing too much from Andy.”

He blocked out the possibility he might never regain full use of his knee, which would devastate him personally and professionally. He stared at Bambi, unable to stop his hands from reaching for her again.
She might be worth it.

She placed her hands on his chest, which felt so good his eyelids fluttered. “Really?”

“Maybe,” he said. Before she could protest, he pulled her into another kiss, savoring every second. Fortunately, she didn’t fight him this time. He cradled her face then broke their kiss just long enough to say, “Stay with me tonight. I don’t want to let you go.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Normally I date someone for at least a month before sleeping over.” She glanced away for a second, as if she anticipated some kind of smart-aleck remark.

“Why?”

She looked him square in the eyes. “If he’s willing to wait, I know he really likes me.”

“I already really like you.” As far as he was concerned, he’d already waited more than three months for her, clearly meeting her test.

“Then prove it by respecting my boundaries. Besides, I won’t hurt Kelsey. I’d need to speak with her first.” She looked at his bracelet and frowned, looking like she wanted to say something then thought better of it. “And let’s not forget, you quit working with me to maintain objectivity. A relationship would put more pressure on you, not less.”

Grey slapped the top of her Jeep. “I’m getting to the point where I don’t care about the lawsuit.”

“You won’t feel that way in the morning.”

“Don’t you ever lose control?” He bent his head and kissed her neck. “Just let go and trust me, Avery. I’m not going anywhere.”

He heard a sexy little sound in her throat just before she eased away. “I told you, I don’t want to get hurt again, Grey.”

The honesty of her statement stopped him. She was telling him something important, and he had to listen.

“Neither do I, but I’d rather take a chance than pass it by.” He reached up and brushed her hair back with one hand. “How about you give me one date? If it doesn’t go well, I’ll back off.”

She caught her lower lip between her teeth, looking up at him with her big blue eyes. He held his breath, promising God whatever he wanted if he just made this one thing go right.

“Let me talk to Kelsey first.” She let her hands slide from his chest down to his waist.

Lower, please.

“Deal.” He grinned and yanked her close again. “Can we seal it with a kiss?”

Chapter Fourteen

“I have something to do after work today. Can you hitch another ride home?” Avery asked Andy as she pulled up to the inn, where she saw Emma sweeping the front steps.

“Sure.” Andy’s gaze seemed fixed on Emma as he barely mumbled a good-bye before exiting the car. He stopped to speak with her—head awkwardly bowed, thumbs tucked in his belt loops—and then he ducked inside.

When she threw the gearshift in drive, Emma held up a hand and jogged toward the car. “Hang on!”

Avery stuck her head out the window. “What’s up?”

Emma’s expression turned gossipy. “So, what did I miss last night? I meant to come, but dinner ran late here with one couple. By the time I’d cleaned up, I’d lost all motivation.”

“You’re better off, trust me.”

“Better off because it was lame, or because something bad happened?”

“When is Ladies’ Night
not
lame, Emma?” Avery rolled her eyes upon remembering the Montrose guys whose attention never left Kelsey’
s cleavage.

“Come on, Grumpy. We’ve had some fun there.” Emma reached through the window to give Avery’s shoulder a little push. “Just give me the short version.”

Avery adjusted her sunglasses, hoping Emma didn’t notice the heat creeping into her cheeks as she recalled Grey’s kiss. “Honestly, I didn’t stay long. Jonah showed up drunk and confronted me about getting fired ‘because of Andy.’ He was really pissed. Scared me a bit.”

“
Let me guess
—you didn’t back down.” When Avery shook her head, Emma grinned and shook
her
head. “How’d it end?”

“Grey got him to back off, and then I ran out of the bar and went home.” Knowing how Emma felt about her interest in Grey, Avery decided not to share the details of the hot make-out session.

“Grey rescued you?” Emma tilted her head as if to summon more information, but then resorted to a direct question. “Has Kelsey really given up on him?”

“Seems so. Unfortunately, while I was dancing with Trip, Grey told her he has feelings for me.”

Placing a hand over her mouth, Emma winced. “How’d she take it?”

Avery shrugged one shoulder while caressing the steering wheel. “Not really sure. We haven’t talked about it.” She paused for a moment before looking directly at Emma, suddenly compelled to be honest. “The more I learn about Grey, the more I want to know. Now that we don’t work together, I want to see where things could lead. I know you probably don’t approve, though.”

“
I don
’t disapprove of him, you know.” Emma leaned into the open window. “
I just don
’t want
any
guy to mess up our friendships.”

“I’m meeting Kelsey for lunch today to feel her out
.
” Avery sighed and raked her hand through her hair. “It’s probably a pointless exercise since I’ll likely end up getting hurt one way or another.”

“If he’s so nice, why do you assume you’ll get hurt?”

“Well, there’s a good chance my family will hate him if they end up bankrupted. And, what if he’s not as great as he appears? I’ve been fooled before, you know.” Avery tried to ignore the sense of foreboding amassing around her like mist.

“You won’t get hurt,” Emma announced. “You’ll go in with your eyes open, like always.”

Like always.
“Eyes wide open” hadn’t proven to be the best recipe for romantic success. Still, Avery didn’t know how to let go of her need to protect herself and her heart. In every other aspect of life, she had confidence and faith that things would turn out well. But not when it came to love.

“We’ll see.” Avery patted Emma’s hand. “Gotta go to work, Em. See you later!”

She drove to the clinic resolutely
not
thinking about Grey or Kelsey or Andy.
Yeah, right
.

At exactly noon, Avery watched Kelsey enter Boxcar Cantina looking stunning in a pair of beige linen slacks and lightweight, coral-colored sweater. Classic Kelsey maneuver—donning a killer outfit after a setback or romantic disappointment.

Squaring her shoulders, Avery waved while preparing for what she anticipated to be an awkward conversation.

“You look super!” Avery rested her chin in her hands. “I’m glad you’re here so we can order. I’m starving.”

Kelsey slung her purse around the back of her chair before sitting and pulling up to the table. After avoiding eye contact for a few seconds, she gazed at Avery and sighed. “Look, Avery. I know why you invited me to join you for lunch. This is about Grey, right? So let’s just skip to the heart of it. I liked him. He didn’t feel the same. He likes you. You two left together last night. Now you feel guilty about hurting my feelings. Am I close?”

Good gravy.
Avery hadn’t expected Kelsey to fire the opening shot. Although a bit shaken by the surprise, she quickly regrouped.

“Sort of, but last night wasn’t what you think.” Avery sat back, resisting the urge to cross her arms and become irritated about having to defend her relative innocence. “Jonah got in my face about his getting fired. He was nasty, and fairly aggressive, so I took off. Grey followed me to my car to make sure I was okay, and then I went home
alone
. You know my rules.”

Kelsey pressed her lips together while thinking. The waitress stopped by to take their order, temporarily interrupting Avery’s explanation. After the waitress left them alone, Avery continued, “But you’re right. I do want to talk about him—or, more to the point, about him and me.”

Kelsey held up her hand. “Just stop. I know I can be a baby sometimes, and I won’t lie and pretend it isn’t a huge bummer that he rejected me because he wants you, but we aren’t in high school anymore. I hope I’ve grown up a little bit since then. I’m certainly not going to stand in your way if you want to date him, although I’m a little surprised you do considering how, when
I
was interested in him, you were firmly
anti
-skier.”

The subtle taunt made Avery frown despite Kelsey’s otherwise levelheaded attitude about the situation. Had she been hypocritical? She fiddled with her silverware for a few seconds.

“Thanks for being understanding.” Avery dipped a blue corn chip into the fresh guacamole. “I know what I’ve said about skiers and maybe I’ll regret this, but I’ve gotten to know Grey and I think he’s different from the others.”

“Which is what I said from the get-go, if you recall.”
Kelsey
’s “told you so” expression would have been comical if the situation weren’t so awkward.

Avery nodded then leveled a pointed stare at her friend. “You did. However, your opinion was rooted in a first impression and a crush, not from months of getting to know him.”

“Don’t get testy just because I’ve got better instincts than you.” Kelsey crossed her legs and sipped her water while Avery tried not to choke on her chip or begin to enumerate all the examples of poor judgment her friend had exhibited through the years. “
Listen, I don
’t want to get into an argument. I’
m fine. It
’s not going to be a problem between us. All I ask is one favor.”

“Dare I ask?” Avery grimaced as she reached for another chip. “What favor?”

Kelsey leaned forward with one hand on the table. “Since I’m being so gracious and all, don’t blow it by being so closed-off. If you’re going to go for it, then really go for it, okay? Try to be a little romantic. Seriously. We aren’t getting any younger.”

Avery studied Kelsey. For the most part, her friend looked pretty much the way she did every other day, excepting the extra glam. But there was a new glint in her eye—a determination Avery hadn’t seen in the past.

“What happened last night after I left?” Avery narrowed her gaze, suddenly attributing Kelsey’s generous outlook toward another possibility. “Did something happen between you and Trip?”

“No.” Kelsey scowled and adjusted her sweater.

Avery waited for an explanation, but Kelsey fell suspiciously quiet.

“No? Why not?” Avery leaned forward. “Did you end up reconnecting with those guys from Montrose?”

Kelsey paused while the waitress delivered their food, maintaining a pensive silence as the waitress set their meals on the table.

“I left soon after you did. Something did happen to me, though. I’m not sure I can explain it exactly. I was dancing with Trip—” Kelsey broke off to sample her taco salad. “And by the way, that guy is the world’s biggest flirt. Too bad he’s so shallow, because he’s flippin’ hot. Anyway, while he was laying on the charm, I noticed all the other guys in the bar doing the exact same thing with other women. For the first time, I saw the futility of it all. I mean, really
saw
it.

“How many nights did I waste hoping to make some kind of genuine connection with some guy I met in a bar—like with Grey—and worse, the hours I’ve wasted practically begging for crumbs of attention. The sudden revelation made me a little queasy.” Kelsey paused and then tilted her head as if about to deliver sage advice. “Let’s face it, few people ever find love at a ladies’ night.”

“Wow. I’m not sure what to say.” Inside, Avery danced a happy jig in thanks for her friend’s epiphany.

Kelsey waved her fork at Avery, her eyes intently studying her lunch as she speared another bite. “Nothing
to
say. Bottom line, I’m changing my whole MO. I’m thirty. It’s time to get smart. Use my head.” She nearly poked her skull with her fork. “Time to find a good guy who values me. One who isn’t just out for a couple of weeks of fun with me and my girls,” she announced, peering at her ample breasts.

Avery felt a huge smile spread across her face until she thought about how using her own head hadn’t been any more successful than Kelsey’s former tactics. “I bet something in between your old approach and mine is probably best. Can’t hurt to try something new.”

“Oh, yeah, something new is right. Talking to those construction guys about Mitchell’s project made me think about all the clients I’ve met through work. The single older men and divorcees have never been on my radar, but older guys treat younger women well. It’s high time I dive into that pool and see what happens.”

“Gold digger!” Avery teased before sipping her iced tea.

“There’s that, too. Heck, I could be a trophy wife.” Kelsey winked. “I’m not saying I’d go after someone for money, but I think it’s time I considered the whole package, not just the wrapping, y’know?”

Avery lifted her glass, feeling lighter than she had a mere hour ago. “To unwrapping the package!”

“Cheers!” Kelsey clinked her glass with Avery and they both chuckled.

Grey sat at his desk, rubbing his palm against his chest to douse the fire stirring every time he thought of kissing Avery—thoughts which were occurring nonstop since last night. Then again, pent-up desire proved to be a powerful motivator. In order to have her, he needed to settle these lawsuits as soon as possible, which meant he had to power through the spreadsheets, no matter how painful.

He stared at the columns of numbers he’d amassed: medical expenses and rehabilitation costs, his own wages, and extra salary expenses on the books for replacement guides. And that didn’t even include intangibles like pain and suffering, time spent in therapy instead of focusing on building Backtrax, and on and on.

“What’s got you by the short
hairs?
” Trip entered his office, chomping on an apple.

“I’m trying to figure out the minimum settlement I can accept and still guarantee making the loan payments so I don’t lose the business.”

Trip frowned and sat across from Grey. “Is it really that bad?”

“Take a look.” Grey passed the worksheet to Trip. “I knew I’d never get rich in this line of work, but I don’t want to lose everything, either.”

Trip pushed his cowboy hat back a bit, his brows pinching together as he concentrated on the numbers.

“Okay, that’s a bit grim. However, I think you’ve underestimated the income side of the equation. Next ski season business will pick up, especially if you improve your social media presence.” Trip stretched out his legs. “I keep telling you not to micromanage the money. Think long-term.”

“I need to get through the present in order to have a ‘long-term.’ This injury has affected my ability to build the business these past few months. And thirty percent of whatever I get from Randall or the OS goes to my lawyer. I hate this. All I want to do is ski and climb and have a good time with clients. All this other shit sucks.” Grey chucked his pencil at the worksheet.