Blaze of Winter: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance (5 page)

“Th-thank you,” she stammered, trying to make sense of the flurry of sensation coursing through her.

“You’re welcome,” he said softly before releasing her. Without his touch, the tension and heat building within her dissipated. To her chagrin, Avery realized that she wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or disappointed. “Here.” He offered her his own gloved hand.

She hesitated before taking it. Though she wasn’t at all keen to repeat what had just happened between them, hanging on to him was probably better than winding up on her rear end on an icy sidewalk. His leather gloves dampened some of the electricity that skin-to-skin contact would bring, but they couldn’t mask his strength. He gripped her hand gently yet firmly, and together they continued down the street.

“It doesn’t snow in San Francisco, so how come you don’t slip?” she asked accusingly, eyeing his boots. “Are you wearing cleats?”

“I’m from Star Harbor, remember? And winter and I agree with one another,” he responded.

“What does that even mean?”

“Stick around and you’ll find out.” He gave her a slow smile. “And a whole lot more besides.”

As reluctant as he was to admit it—it was way too soon for him to even be thinking like this—Theo enjoyed having her hand in his. He wasn’t used to listening to his physical urges. For him, it had always been about the mental. Growing up, he’d been the architect behind the scenes,
masterminding his brothers’ adventures from backstage while they worked their magic in front of the curtain. He loved devising the perfect plan, making sure every piece was rock solid, and seeing it through. It was only natural, then, that he’d end up making a living with words. Being in charge came easily to him—especially if he could plot it all out in advance.

Of course, there were a few times back in the day when things hadn’t gone as expected. But Theo and his brothers had always been prepared with a contingency plan. First, Cole would step up to see if there was any way the escapade could be logistically salvaged. Then they’d send in Sebastian. He could charm his way out of a paper bag, but that didn’t always do the trick. Next, Theo would take a crack at trying to solve the problem with reason and logic. And if that didn’t work? They’d call on their last resort—Val, their cleanup guy.

Still, despite his proclivity for plotting, Theo was a big man. This woman brought out the beast in him in a way he’d never before experienced and he wasn’t quite sure how to respond. He had plenty of knowledge and plenty of skill in the sexual arena, but he’d always looked at it from a slightly detached perspective—as an academic, not a practical exercise. But the rush of blood through his veins, the thrill of touching her, even gazing at her? That was primal, and he was wise enough to recognize it for what it was: desire. Tightening his grip on Avery’s hand, he strode down the sidewalk, making sure she was aware of his strength. If she slipped again, he’d be there to catch her. Dimly, he wondered if she knew what he was doing. Did it matter?

A few moments later, they reached the Lexie Meyers Kitchen. In sharp contrast to the weather outside, it was warm inside the LMK, cheerful and welcoming. A few tables were occupied, but the place was mostly empty. He immediately spotted Lexie, who was wearing a slim sweater over a wool skirt and tights. Lexie was the owner and chief cook of the LMK, but she often filled in as needed in the dining room. True to form, she had a white apron tied around her waist.

“Theo!” Lexie said, her warm brown eyes lighting up when she saw him. “I wasn’t expecting you tonight.” She reached up to give him a small embrace. Lexie’s warmth and
friendliness were contagious. It was no surprise that his brother, Sebastian, was head-over-heels in love with her.

“Good to see you,” he responded, giving her a kiss on the cheek without releasing Avery’s hand. “When’s Seb due back in town?”

“Not until next Thursday. He can only stay a few days before he has to return to New York. They’ve just started the taping for his new show.”

Theo nodded. “I’ll catch up with him next weekend, then.”

“Val and Cole were just here. I think they went down to the Nail with Jimmy Bishop,” Lexie said as she glanced at Avery, “but I’m guessing you want a table.”

“Yes, please,” Theo confirmed, just as he felt Avery tug her hand away. “You know Avery, right, Lexie? She’s been helping out Kate at the Inn.”

Lexie was about to answer when a huge crash came from what sounded like the kitchen. The small woman didn’t even blink. “I’ve got to check something, but I’ll be back with menus in a minute. Why don’t you take the booth in the corner? Give you a bit more privacy.” Within seconds, she was gone.

Avery led the way back. She slipped off her jacket, hung it on a hook, and slid into the booth, immediately adjusting her posture until she was sitting ramrod straight. Theo took off his own coat and wedged his large frame into the other side. Thankfully, they were shielded from most of the restaurant by the high walls of the booth, which gave Theo some comfort—it hadn’t been his intention to put her on display.

“Lexie keeps Seb on his toes, that’s for sure,” he said, trying to set her at ease. He was rewarded when Avery’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

“I like her,” Avery admitted, “though she always seems super busy. The only time I’ve ever talked to her is when I ordered cookies for teatime at the Inn.”

Theo glanced back at the counter. Lexie was making a beeline for them. “You’ll get the chance now.”

“Sorry about that,” Lexie said, handing them their menus and pushing her chestnut curls back behind her ears. “Now where were we?”

Theo cleared his throat. “I want to formally introduce you two. Lexie Meyers, meet Avery Newbridge. Avery, meet Lexie.”

Lexie smiled at Avery. “Thanks, Theo. We’ve crossed paths a couple of times, but we’ve never officially met. I know how thrilled Emma was to have you as her maid of honor.”

Avery shook her head. “I was running around so much at the wedding that I barely got to meet anyone. The food you made for the reception was amazing, though. I also love your omelets,” she confessed.

“If you’re going to compliment Buster’s cooking, it’s only fair that you meet him, too. Buster!” she yelled back into the grill room. Avery peeked around the side of the booth just as a slim, worn, middle-aged man wearing a backwards baseball cap poked his head through the horizontal window behind the counter. “This is Avery, Kate’s niece from the Inn.” Though Buster didn’t speak, he raised his hand in greeting.

Avery gave him a little wave in return.

“That’s Buster for you. Doesn’t talk much but definitely packs a punch.” Lexie laughed. She didn’t elaborate, but Theo understood the reference. A couple of months ago, Buster had single-handedly beaten down a group of drug dealers who were operating out of the Grange, an old farm warehouse on the outskirts of town. Buster’s calm demeanor and wiry build were absolutely deceiving. As a former fighter on the underground circuit—and a retired bouncer—Buster could hold his own. Plus, he was deeply devoted to Lexie. For that, Theo was grateful. Seb was out of town a lot, and Theo knew it comforted him that Buster was around to look after her. “Sorry, even though the place is kind of empty, I’m still a bit scattered. Too many catering events this week and next,” she said, shaking her head. “I forgot to tell you the specials. Would you like to hear them?”

Theo looked at Avery, who shook her head. “No, thanks. I already know what I’m getting.”

“Me, too.”

“What would you like?” Lexie asked, pulling a pad and pencil from the pocket of her apron.

“I think I tipped my hand already when I told you I loved your omelets,” Avery said. “I’ll have one with cheddar, mushrooms, and spinach, please. And I’d also like a hot chocolate.”

“I’ll have the burger, medium. Thanks, Lexie.”

Lexie jotted something down on the pad, then scribbled it out. A little crease formed between her eyebrows. “Okay, I’m
really
scattered tonight. What did you say you wanted again, Avery?”

Avery gave a small chuckle. “Sounds like you could use a break.”

“Tell me about it,” Lexie said. “My head’s been spinning for three days.”

“Why don’t you take one, then?”

Lexie cocked her head at Avery. “I’m thinking about taking some time off when Seb is back in town. He usually likes to help me out at the Kitchen, but a few days away from the place would be good for me. Heck, even a few hours would satisfy me at this point.” Lexie straightened her head. “But I can’t,” she said, quickly. “I have way too much stuff going on.”

“I’ll bet you do a lot of your best creating when you’re relaxed,” Avery said, a sly smile on her face.

“I do,” Lexie admitted.

“And when you come back from a vacation, you’re rested and refreshed.”

Lexie looked thoughtful. “True.”

“Sometimes all it takes is a short break to give you a new lease on whatever it is you’re doing. In fact, you might even be more productive than if you hadn’t taken a break at all.”

There was a long pause, during which both women stayed utterly still.

“I’ll do it,” Lexie finally said, decisively. “I’ll take two days off this weekend. Buster’ll cover for me. He’s been nagging me for weeks to take a break, so he’ll be more than happy to see the back of me.”

“That’s wonderful.” Avery sounded earnest. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how good you feel when you get back into the swing of things after some time away.”

“I like you,” Lexie announced, rather abruptly.

“I—like you too,” Avery responded, a small smile creeping up on her face.

Theo watched both women, fascinated.

“Good,” Lexie said in a satisfied tone. “Tell me what you want, again.” Avery repeated her order, and then Lexie shoved the pad back in her apron pocket and pushed the pencil behind her ear. “Your orders will be up soon. Enjoy yourselves.” She gave them a wink before returning to the kitchen.

Finally, they were alone. “What was
that
about?” he asked Avery, his voice low.

She’d stiffened up again as soon as Lexie left, but her voice was calm. “What do you mean?”

“You were really good with her,” Theo said. “She goes a mile a minute, never stopping. Everyone tells her she needs to give herself some breathing room, but she could care less what other people say. You’re the first person besides Seb and Buster I’ve actually seen her listen to.”

“I just told her something she probably already knew,” Avery said, shrugging. “Anyway, I do like her.” She looked around. “And I like this place, too. Even if everyone here
does
know your business.”

“
I
don’t know your business.”
Not yet
. His gaze bored into hers.

She glanced away and began to study the salt shaker with great interest. “Trust me, you don’t want to.”

“Try me.” He leaned against the back of the booth, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’d rather if you told me about yourself,” she said.

“I’m a novelist.” He didn’t elaborate.

“Well?” she prompted after a few moments of silence had passed. “What kind of stuff do you write?”

“Fiction. Seafaring adventures. My latest book is about a noble captain who is betrayed by his rival.”

“Do you do a lot of research, or are you able to draw on personal experiences?” So she really didn’t know he was T. R. Grayson. Checking his ego, he realized that she might not even know who T. R. Grayson was. Honestly, it might make things easier in the short term if she didn’t.

“Both, actually. I majored in history as an undergraduate. By the time I started my master’s degree, I knew I wanted to write, so I wrote fiction alongside my academic papers. I supplement with research as needed, but the interpersonal stuff comes from my life and my imagination. All of the books I’ve written so far have had some pirate lore woven in.”

Avery laughed, a musical, lilting sound. Almost instantly, her posture relaxed and a smile softened her face. It lit up her eyes and made the freckles dance on her cheeks. “Pirates. I like it.”

He stared at her in fascination, wondering what else he could say to make her laugh. God, she was even more beautiful like this—comfortable and at ease. “I take it you’re not a believer.”

“In old pirate legends? No, despite the fact that most of the Inn’s rooms are named after Gold Coast pirates.” She shook her head. “I’m sure that some of the stories are true, but when you start trying to separate fact from fiction it’s very difficult to rely on lore—especially lore that is hundreds of years old and from self-aggrandizing, cutthroat criminals.”

Theo raised a brow. “Some weren’t criminals at all. Some were privateers who operated with a special license from the authorities, giving them leave to loot and plunder at will.”

“Whether it was legal or not doesn’t make it right.”

“That’s a different matter. But like it or not, those who operated within the confines of the law were allowed to do everything that pirates did.” He smiled again. “Pirates have gotten a
bad rap these days. They’re either portrayed as cutthroat or farcical. What many people don’t realize is that pirates operated under their own code of conduct. They were, in essence, the freest men alive, unfettered by country, king, or government.”