by Dani Wade
“I bet.”
Without thought, Luke whipped his head around, pinning her with a glare until he realized she was joking with him. Busted.
Christina raised her hands in surrender. “Just kidding.” But that smug smile said she’d gotten all the information she needed.
The pressure to explain rose. For once, he gave in. Maybe if he talked some of his thoughts out, he could make more sense of them. Somehow, he could share with Christina things he’d normally keep to himself. He attributed it to her peaceful bedside manner. His brother Aiden was one of the few people who could shake her calm attitude.
Yet he was grateful to be filling his plate as he spoke, instead of facing her across the lace-covered table. “Avery gave me a massage after my session yesterday. My muscles haven’t felt this good since before my accident.”
“Nice,” she murmured. Again she tossed him the knowing look, but thankfully she held her teasing. “She worked on my shoulder once. Definitely skilled. I’m glad she could help you out.”
Why did he remember his therapeutic massage with less-than-clinical nuances? He shouldn’t…he knew he shouldn’t. Trying to shake the memory, he finished filling his plate and settled across the table from Christina.
She went on. “This is the most pain-free I’ve seen you since you moved back.”
Luke was a little shocked himself.
Christina studied her plate for a moment. “I know it seems silly to be worried about a grown woman, but Avery has pulled away some since KC and I became involved with your brothers. Maybe hanging out with us makes her feel like a third wheel. But I think Avery needs someone to shake her out of her rut, so to speak.” She gave Luke one of her patented purposeful looks.
He didn’t disappoint. “Well, I do need a hostess for dinner.”
Christina lowered her fork despite the bite of waffle on the end. “She agreed?”
“Yes. She tried to brush me off, so I told her how much you missed her…and how disappointed you would be if she didn’t come.”
He leaned back in his chair, accompanied by a creak of wood. Part of him wanted to confess how conflicted he was, how much he wanted Avery to come to dinner for himself. He didn’t want to admit to the attraction that grew every time he saw her, but he was drawn to the chance to make the laughter, the spark of life in Avery’s eyes grow.
“She’s funny—so dedicated to her work, holding fast to this therapist-patient bit. But I think she needs someone to push her outside her safety zone.” A cohort in crime, so to speak. Luke didn’t want Christina to know how desperate he was for the job.
The whole time he spoke, Christina’s expression grew in excitement until she practically glowed. “So you are interested! I knew it.”
Uh-oh. Christina would be unbearable once she thought she was right.
“No, ma’am.” He would not let anything sexual even start between him and Avery. Not when he had no plans to hang around. She was obviously rooted in this town, and the last thing he could see himself as was a small town husband. “You can put that emerging matchmaker back in her cage, because it’s not gonna happen.” He waved his arms around the room. “This version of happily-ever-after is not for me.”
“That’s what Aiden and Jacob said,” she mumbled beneath a smile.
“I’m serious, Christina.” Christina’s astute look had him adding, “I just want to be her friend. I owe her that.” And much, much more. Even though he’d brushed her off as a teenager for all the right reasons, he still felt bad about it now.
“As long as you’re careful with her,” Christina gave the obligatory warning, but Luke could see her concern for her friend in her darkened eyes. “Honestly, she deserves more than a little bit of fun after all she’s been through.”
“Has it been rough since her mother died?”
“Oh, it was rough way before that.” Christina shifted the pieces of waffle on her plate as a thoughtful look softened her face.
“How come I haven’t heard anything about her when I’ve been home?”
“Because there wasn’t much to hear. She went to college and things were good until the summer after her sophomore year. Then her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She’d been dating a guy pretty steadily, but when she buckled down to finish her studies early, he lost interest.”
Ouch. Just what she needed—someone who abandoned her the minute she needed support.
Christina stared into space as she spoke. “She was home as much as her studies would allow, but she finished within a year and a half. Came home and started to build her clientele while taking care of her mom full-time.”
“How long was her mom sick?”
“She went into remission once, for a couple of years, I think?” Christina shook her head, sending her thick, dark hair swinging. “She died almost two years ago.”
Wow. “That’s a long time to be a caregiver.”
“Yeah,” Christina whispered, trailing off into silence that was punctuated by the clink of their silverware. Finally she said, “She’s given her all for Black Hills, but she deserves more—just for herself. I’m glad to see she isn’t going to settle.”
Luke thought of dinner and Avery’s lack of response to Mark’s hand at her back. “You mean that Mark guy?”
“Don’t get me started,” Christina groaned.
“Please don’t,” Aiden added as he strolled into the room. “Her opinion is less than stellar, I assure you.”
A pang stung Luke’s chest as Aiden kissed Christina on the temple, but he shook his head. Absolutely no touchy-feely stuff for him. No, sir. Settling down was not in his current timeline.
“Avery and Mark have gone to a lot of functions together since her mother died. I think it started out as convenient, especially for her, since she gets comments about a single woman needing to get married all the time, but I think he’s always been more interested than she realizes.”
Luke tried to ignore the burn of something unpleasant building in his gut. He hadn’t known they’d actually been such a “thing.” Part of him did not like that thought…at all.
“I’ve never cared for him, but Aiden says there aren’t any complaints at work,” Christina went on.
“There aren’t,” Aiden agreed. He shook his head. “He’s perfectly adequate at his job. Of course, adequate and not exemplary is what has kept him where he is at the moment. I can’t judge the guy based on feminine intuition.”
When Christina threw him a sideways glance, Aiden grinned. “Even if it’s coming from one of the smartest, sexiest women I know.”
She rolled her eyes as her husband kissed her cheek. “I’ll accept the compliment,” she said, “but I just haven’t ever been able to get past it.” With a glance at Luke, she said, “When Mark started pressuring for more—that’s when she broke it off.”
“How long ago?” Luke asked, keeping his gaze trained on Aiden while he fixed his plate so Christina wouldn’t see how much the thought bothered him.
“About six weeks ago, maybe?”
Had that pressure for more than she wanted to deliver been a wake-up call, urging her to break out of her inertia?
Aiden added his two cents worth as he took his seat. “Avery is a very hard worker. When she isn’t treating patients, she’s helping with fund-raisers or volunteering with local charities. All kinds of community stuff.”
Was that because she truly wanted to be busy…or because she just didn’t want to go home alone?
“I think—” Christina began.
“—and you would know,” Aiden teased, smoothing a hand over his wife’s hair.
Christina raised an eyebrow in what Luke liked to call her “lady of the manor” look. “Of course I would. She’s one of my best friends and a great person. She deserves some happiness after all she’s lost. Someone to help
her loosen up and have fun—like KC did for Jacob.”
Aiden shook his head. “She may have loosened him up too much. Do you know he actually took a day off work last week? Just because?”
Luke grinned as Christina smacked Aiden’s arm. A day off for a workaholic like Jacob was a freakin’ miracle.
“I think I can handle that.” Not the romantic part, he reminded himself. Luke felt compelled to specify so Christina wouldn’t get any ideas about forever. “While I’m home, it’ll be my mission to teach her all about good ol’ fun.”
Aiden winked at Christina. “Sounds like a worthwhile mission to have.”
She nodded. “Since her mother died, her only fun has been charity events, community stuff. She needs something for her.”
“Can. Do,” Luke said. “Starting with dinner.”
Christina simply stared. “I thought for sure you’d be more adventurous than that.”
“You know me so well. But trust me, this is just the beginning.” That rock climbing brochure might be what Avery thought she wanted…but Luke knew exactly what he was doing. He swallowed down a big bite of homemade waffles, licking syrup off his top lip. “Do we still have that old tire swing around here somewhere?”
FIVE
Why did going to dinner at a friend’s house spark uncomfortable butterflies in her stomach? Avery had been to Blackstone Manor many times before, but this felt different.
Yes, Luke would be here. Yes, he had invited her. But it was a family dinner, for goodness’ sake.
In all the years she’d been coming to Blackstone Manor to see Christina—and even before that for social events as a teenager—Avery had always been greeted at the door by the Blackstone butler, Nolen. Tonight the heavy door with its lion knocker swung back to reveal Luke.
As a concession to the cooling night air, he wore khakis with a smooth, deep blue polo shirt that made his amber eyes almost glow in contrast. His blond hair, longer than his twin’s, was stylishly disheveled. He’d probably just dried it with a towel, applied a quick comb and been done. His casual good looks took her breath away.
Avery always felt like she was trying too hard. She’d give anything for a set of yellow scrubs right now, instead of her casual black jeans and thin gray sweater with a bright blue argyle pattern down the center. At least then she’d feel more in control than she did right now, with him eyeing her from head to toe. Professional distance might be the only thing to save her sanity in the face of this undeniable draw to Luke Blackstone.
Heaven help her.
As jitters set in, she eyed the door frame while she approached in an effort not to catch it with her shoulder. Careful. Luke’s grin widened just a touch, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Then—oompf.
Avery stumbled over the doorstep, tripping as momentum propelled her forward until she landed right in Luke’s outstretched arms. He mumbled something. She wasn’t sure what, because her senses narrowed down to the warm, spicy scent of his skin and the heat of his hands as they rested against her back. He pressed her closer, making her feel at once safe and unbridled.
Then reality returned. She jerked upright, only to be held in place by his embrace. A sneaking glance found his amber eyes filled with laughter.
“Are you trying to throw yourself at me?” he asked.
As if she could coordinate her limbs to do that on purpose.
She searched for her strictest voice. “I was simply testing your stability. That’s all.” Oh, could this floor open up and swallow me? Her heart raced as his hands inched back until they rested on her upper arms.
He wasn’t quite convinced. “Uh-huh.” Then he fingered a strand of her hair. “Gorgeous.”
Startled, she remembered this was one of the few occasions she’d worn it completely down. A ponytail was a necessity for work, especially with the thickness of her hair. For most formal occasions she wore an elegant, upswept hairdo because it kept the thick mass out of her face and she could accessorize it with jeweled combs and such. But tonight, facing the mirror and seeing the same old, same old, she’d opted to leave it loose around her face.
Suddenly a masculine voice filled the foyer. “Master Luke, is that the proper way to answer the door?” Nolen asked. His voice remained completely deadpan, but Avery could swear his knowing eyes twinkled.
She stepped back, only to hear Luke’s cane clatter as it fell to the floor. “Oh, no,” Luke said as she bent to sweep it up. “That was most improper of me. I should be fired, Nolen. On the spot.”
Turning toward the butler, Avery smiled. “Completely my fault, Nolen. I’m so clumsy sometimes.” Even now her knees shook. She couldn’t tell if it was from her almost-fall, or from being close enough to sniff Luke Blackstone. His clean, warm scent lingered on her clothes, though it seemed as though she hadn’t been close nearly long enough for that to be possible.
“A gentleman never lays the blame with a woman,” Nolen said. “Welcome, Miss Avery.”
“Thank you, Nolen.”
“Yes,” Luke murmured. “Welcome.”
How could just the tone of his voice make her every cell sit up and beg for attention? The simple words were spoken low and smooth. But his sexy, teasing tone lingered over her, becoming absorbed within the earlier sensations and fogging her brain for a moment.
With a quick shake of her head, she carefully stepped forward, following Nolen through the breezeway into the front parlor. Another fall would be too embarrassing for words. She could feel the emotions burning on her fair cheeks. Hopefully it wasn’t too noticeable as she hugged Christina in greeting.
Tonight should have been like any other night that she’d joined the Blackstones for dinner. Casual conversation among friends. Mary’s wonderful food and fine wine. But as they chatted, then moved into the elegant dining room and were served, a constant awareness hummed beneath Avery’s skin.
It didn’t help that Luke seemed to have developed a fascination with her hair. She caught him studying it more than once, with a sort of longing on his face that made her breath catch. Even when Luke wasn’t paying her direct attention, the feeling remained. What would he do if she actually responded to his teasing with interest? Would he run for the hills? Laugh?
Kiss her?
She shouldn’t think like that. It would never happen. Not for a girl like her. He simply liked to joke and play games. She was something to alleviate his boredom. That’s all. Instead she tried to focus on the conversation flowing around her.
The Blackstone brothers began talking about the horrible incidences of sabotage that had threatened to put Blackstone Mills out of business over the last year. Avery had closely watched the drama unfold, along with the rest of the community.
She couldn’t help asking, “Do you think it’s over? Or is someone just waiting out there for another opportunity?” That thought sent shivers over her, though she was far from the target. How could someone in their community work so hard to tear the very people who supported it apart?
“Let’s just say I’m cautiously optimistic,” Aiden said, though he wore a slight frown that fit his dark good looks. “We’ve been without a major incident for two months now. Since the cotton crop debacle.”
Avery remembered the widespread gossip and panic when Zachary Gatlin, now the Blackstones’ head of security, had flown the plane that sprayed the majority of the county’s cotton crop with defoliant long before it was ready. He’d maintained his innocence, stating he’d been framed by someone who had secretly switched out the chemicals in the tanks, but small towns bred distrust.
Jacob shook his head. “This lull makes me suspicious. Worried. I have a feeling whoever did this isn’t done yet.”
Though he and Jacob looked a lot alike, apparently Luke had his own opinion that fell somewhere in the middle. “Maybe he figured out we’re
gonna fix whatever he breaks, instead of abandoning the mill or the town. Might as well hit the road, Jack.”
The other two didn’t look convinced. Neither did Christina, but she said, “Worrying about it won’t help. We have to keep living, keep working, while continuing to implement the tightest security we can for now. If we let our guard down, one of our employees could pay the price.”
Or one of us. The words were unspoken, but even Avery could feel their impression. Whoever the saboteur had been, he’d struck out at each of the Blackstone brothers in turn. Almost fatally in Aiden’s case, when an attempt to burn down his sculpting studio occurred with Christina trapped inside. Avery looked at Luke, and prayed he wouldn’t become another target in whatever game this crazy person was playing.
“Thank goodness Zach agreed to put his military training to good use,” Jacob said.
“Amen,” KC said. “Now, can we talk about something more pleasant, please?” Jacob’s fiancée handed their son, Carter, over to his dad so she could dig into her lasagna without baby fingers in her plate.
“What do you suggest, my dear?” he asked in a sotto voice that earned him a raised eyebrow.
But Christina quickly filled the gap. “How about the Christmas dinner and dance?” she said, a pleading look coming over her elegant features. “Avery, you must help. Taking this event from the country club to the civic ballroom and opening it up to the public has increased interest by leaps and bounds. Which is great for fund-raising, but not so great on its organizers…” Her voice trailed off as she and KC shared a look.
KC nodded, a crease appearing between her eyebrows. “Especially since one of those organizers has never done anything fancy before. I’m much more comfortable with county fairs and hoedowns.”
“It’ll be fun,” Christina reassured her friend. “I promise.”
And it would be. Avery always had a good time coordinating the fund-raisers that helped sustain and build their community. A new playground. School support. A new building for the senior center. They were fun and helped her feel like she was contributing something worthwhile, like her life meant something more than her just working day in and day out. But she couldn’t help wondering if—when—there would be something more.
