His words were uncomfortably accurate.
She pulled her hand out from under his.
Liam’s smile faded. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
One vertebra at a time, Avery’s spine sat taller and her defiant chin came up. “That would have hurt more if there wasn’t a sprinkling of truth.”
“Still wasn’t my place to say it. I’m sorry.”
He looked it.
It was time to make damn sure Liam knew who he was trying to date.
“I was married.”
He kept his eyes focused. “Are you now?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t care.”
“Even my ex-husband will tell you I married him for his money.”
Liam kept silent, eyes straight.
“When we split, I was given five million dollars and my condo.”
“Did your ex end up on the street?”
She smiled, not helping herself. The thought of Bernie on the street, wearing Armani and holding a cardboard sign, made her laugh. “Not hardly.”
“Everyone has a past.”
“I snore.” Which was once true, but after the nose job, not so much.
“Like a trucker. You told me.” Liam sat forward and placed both hands over hers and held them tight. “Now let’s talk about this friend’s wedding.”
It was Liam’s turn to scramble. “You sure you have Cassandra covered for your shift on Saturday?”
Michelle stood in the doorway of his bedroom, watching as he packed for the weekend.
“We’re good.”
Liam zipped up a garment bag carrying a suit. He owned two, one for the occasional wedding or funeral, and the other he used when meeting with the city or client functions required more than a shirt and jeans.
“Is it an outdoor wedding?”
“I have no idea.”
“Do you know the bride or groom?”
“Nope. Friends of Avery’s.”
Michelle crossed her arms over her chest. “How did you end up getting a ticket on the same flight?”
Liam closed the suitcase and zipped it up. “Avery said there were extra seats. I’m guessing that means they’d booked them for people that can’t come.”
“Sounds fancy.”
It did. But he wasn’t backing out now. Not when he’d finally managed to have Avery add him as her plus-one.
He looked at the time and pulled out his phone to order an Uber to the airport.
“I can drive you.”
“This is fine. You’ll get stuck in traffic coming back.”
He gathered his luggage and kissed his sister’s cheek. Out in the living room, Cassandra jumped off the couch to hug his leg. “Bring me back some cake.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Without any more fanfare, his niece peeled herself off his leg and returned to the dolls she was playing with.
“Have fun,” Michelle said as he walked out the door.
“I will.” Or at least he hoped he would.
Thirty minutes later, the driver dropped him off in front of terminal three. Even with the huge sunglasses covering her eyes, he recognized Avery standing outside the doors, watching for him. She wore a short, peach colored dress and white boots that went up to her knees. The outfit was like nothing he’d seen her in before.
The woman had many sides, each of them just as fascinating as the last.
Outside the car, he rolled his suitcase to her side and stopped. “Love the outfit.”
She hiked her sunglasses up to look him in the eye. “The short skirt or the tall boots?”
“Both.”
She tilted her glasses back onto her nose. “You sure you’re ready for this?” she asked him.
Liam ignored the people whizzing past. “The question is, are you?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But my friends wouldn’t shut up and you weren’t helping.”
“I like your friends.” They seemed to be on his side already.
Avery shook her head and turned toward the doors. “I don’t think you’re ready for this, but here goes nothing.”
He grasped her arm before she could take a step.
“Second thoughts?” she asked.
He moved his hand up to the back of her neck and pulled her in. “None.”
Liam kissed her doubting lips long enough for her to sigh and kiss him back. Only then did he let her go.
He pulled his luggage behind him and held her hand as they walked into the terminal.
Avery led them past the ticket gates and toward what looked like an exclusive lounge. “Are your friends here?”
“They’re already on the plane.”
“They’re what?” He must have got that wrong.
Liam couldn’t say he’d ever had the need for a private airport lounge, so this was a first. They walked through the double sliding doors to be greeted by a smiling hostess. “Hello, Ms. Grant. You must be Mr. Holt.”
Definitely a first. “I am.”
“TSA is ready for you. Do you have any more luggage?”
He shook his head. “No. This is it.”
“I’ll show him the way,” Avery told the woman.
Liam walked further down the rabbit hole.
They waltzed through the lounge and down a nearly empty hall. At the end was a metal detector and a conveyer belt for his luggage. The TSA officer stood by the metal detector with a smile. “ID?”
“Right.” Liam removed his wallet and presented his driver’s license while Avery walked through the metal detector.
He started to toe off his shoes.
“That isn’t necessary, Mr. Holt. Just put your phone through and any keys in your pockets.”
Less than twenty seconds later, Avery and Liam were being escorted out of the terminal and into a waiting car.
“Are we driving to Texas?”
Avery smirked. “You can back out anytime.”
Everything came into focus when the car stopped next to a private jet and Avery stepped out.
Holy shit.
The driver from the car took Liam’s luggage before he could grab it.
He stood looking up at the plane like it was a new invention.
“You’re serious.”
Avery took two steps up the stairs and turned toward him. “You coming?”
Avery took the final step into the private jet and wanted to glare at her friends, who had choreographed Liam’s being there. She noticed Shannon’s eyes light up when Liam stepped through the door and exhaled.
“You’ve met Lori and Reed.”
Reed stepped forward and shook Liam’s hand. “Nice to see you again.”
“I’m glad to be here.”
Lori smiled and shook his hand. “I’m still unsure if you’re a stalker.”
“Hopefully I’ll squelch that thought by the end of the weekend.”
Avery stood back. “And this is Shannon.”
Liam held a look of confusion. “Do I know you?”
“Shannon Wentworth. Former first lady of California, now making a name for herself in the world of photography.” Avery’s introduction made Shannon blush.
“I’m not sure about that world thing, but the rest of it is accurate.”
“A pleasure,” Liam said.
“Oh, the pleasure is all ours. Avery hasn’t invited a male friend into the fold, ever.”
Avery crossed to the bar and poured a glass of champagne. “Like I had a choice. First Trina drunkenly snags my phone and extends the invite, and then this one doesn’t let it go.” She pointed to Liam, who appeared pleased with himself.
“Avery frazzled is a good look,” Lori said.
“I am not . . .” Yes, she was. “Whatever. I hope you and Reed get along,” she said directly to Liam. “This weekend is about Trina.”
“You’ve warned me,” Liam said.
Reed patted Liam on the back. “Well, now that we got that little tantrum out of the way, how about a drink
before we take off?”
“Beer is fine.”
Liam did a complete turn and took in the space.
It wasn’t the largest private jet Avery had been on, nor the smallest. There were half a dozen executive chairs that reclined into a comfortable sleeping position, a sofa, a TV, a bar, and of course, a bathroom.
“Do you guys always travel like this?”
“Every weekend,” Avery exaggerated.
Shannon sat back down. “Don’t listen to her. No. We don’t. Trina insisted.”
“The bride.”
“Yes.”
“This is pretty spectacular. Who is she marrying?”
The cabin went silent. All eyes traveled to Avery.
“Did you tell him anything?”
“I told him what time to be here.”
Reed chuckled and handed Liam a beer. “Do you listen to country music?”
Chapter Fifteen
Liam really thought that Avery’s strong protest of him not knowing what he was getting into had been nothing but smoke.
He was wrong.
Private planes and rubbing elbows with political wives . . . okay, ex-wife. Still, he didn’t think he had more room for new experiences until Reed informed him that he’d be attending the Texas wedding of the century. That might be an exaggeration, but Wade Thomas? His face, and that of his bride, had been pasted all over the tabloids at the checkout stands for weeks.
For once he was bummed he hadn’t picked up the magazine his sister had sitting on the end table in his living room to check it out. He might have put a few dots together if he had. Trina wasn’t a common name, and a wedding in Texas . . . Who was he kidding? He wouldn’t have figured it out.
It became painfully clear that this was not the first time this gaggle of friends had been on a private jet. Not every time, Shannon had said. But oftentimes. It appeared that Avery had been known to pay for the things. Who did that?
Who was she really? He started to wonder if his blowing off her telling him she’d married for money was a mistake.
If money made her tick, then why was she wasting her time with him? He did okay, moderately better than okay, but he hadn’t so much as sprung for a first-class ticket, let alone a private jet.
When the jet landed and they were picked up by a stretch limo and carted off the tarmac like the president, Liam ditched all hope of paying his way for any of this.
They arrived at Wade Thomas’s ranch, where the roads leading to it were lined with media and photographers wanting pictures of the bride and groom.
Their party was escorted beyond the gates and down the tree-lined road.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” Reed offered.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Today is about immediate family and friends. The rehearsal and the dinner . . . and then we’re taking Trina into one of the guesthouses for the night,” Avery reminded him.
“Down-to-earth people with money. Don’t let it get to you,” Reed told him.
Too late.
As he thought the words, Avery, who was sitting next to him in the limo, reached out and placed her hand over his.
His world, which had started to tilt off-kilter, began to settle.
He turned his eyes to hers, squeezed her hand, and smiled.
They pulled up to the main house and climbed out one at a time. “Holy wow.” He’d have to be blind not to be impressed. Massive beams spanned a front porch that you could put his entire home under.
“Don’t let me drool,” he whispered to Avery.
He loved hearing her laugh.
“You’re here!” A woman’s voice echoed through the open front doors.
“Did you think we would miss it?” Shannon asked.
Liam stood back while Trina hugged and giggled and smiled more than any woman he’d ever seen. When her attention landed on him, she pulled in a quick breath. “Oh my God, you’re Liam.”
“I am.” He put his hand out, which she ignored, pulling him into a hug. “I can’t believe she let you come.”
“Me either,” he confessed.
“Oh, good Lord,” Avery sighed. “I’m not that bad.”
A chorus of “Yes, you are” ensued.
Trina walked them into the foyer, and once again Liam was lost in the architecture.
“Sounds like the wedding party has arrived.”
Liam turned to find a living, breathing celebrity walking down the stairs to greet them.
Play it cool.
Wade shook Reed’s hand and hugged the women before offering a smile to Liam.
“Look who Avery brought,” Trina told her fiancé. “Liam, this is Wade.”
“I can’t believe the blonde pit bull caved,” he said, grinning as he shook Liam’s hand. The handshake said a lot.
“Blonde pit bull?” Liam questioned.
“Long story,” Avery offered.
“Not that long. She hated me,” Wade told him. “Said I wasn’t good enough for Trina. Which might be true, but that didn’t stop me.”
“He exaggerates.”
Wade lifted a hand in the air. “Can I have a witness?”
Shannon, Lori, and Trina joined the hand waving.
“Good thing I like you now, Cowboy.”
Wade dropped a hand over Avery’s shoulders and pulled them into the great room.
Avery had to admit, even to herself, that she was a little unnerved by how well Liam adapted to the group. They’d been placed in different parts of the house, mainly because Trina, Shannon, Lori, and Avery had already planned on spending the two days leading up to the wedding doing all the girl things that needed one more round before Trina took the plunge . . . again.
Within an hour of arriving, the four of them were whisked off for some spa time.
While sitting in crisp white spa robes with their feet soaking, they sipped wine and gossiped.
“Is Vicki behaving?” Avery asked Trina about her soon to be mother-in-law.
“She’s been quiet.”
“Is that good?” Shannon asked.
Trina shrugged. “I’m tired of trying to figure that woman out. One minute I think things are fine, and the next I swear she’s powdering my sugar cookies with arsenic.”
“Let it go. She’ll come around when she realizes there isn’t any going back,” Lori advised.
“So, Sunday?”
They all laughed.
Avery pulled her foot out of the pulsating water so the woman doing her pedicure could make her toes shine.
“Liam seems like a really nice guy,” Trina told Avery.
“Which begs the question what he wants with me.”
“Where did all this negativity come from?” Lori asked. “What happened to the self-assured woman who marched into my office before Bernie and said, and I quote, ‘He’s lucky to have me. Let’s do this.’?”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“It had an end date,” Avery said without thinking.
“And Liam doesn’t?” Shannon prompted.
“Of course he does. I just don’t know when that is.” She switched feet for the technician. “Saturday night dates end on Sunday . . . weekend dates end Monday morning. Liam isn’t shaking.”
“That’s a good thing,” Trina said.
“It’s because we haven’t had sex.”
“What?” Lori asked.
Avery glanced at the three sets of eyes on her. “I know, right? He’s kissed me three times, and that’s it. It’s not like I haven’t encouraged it.”
“He’s into you.” The technician, who Avery didn’t think was listening, added her two cents.
“I think she’s right.”
“Or he’s gay. Could go either way.”
“He’s not gay,” Avery told the virtual stranger.
“I don’t think that’s the case,” Shannon said. “The way he looks at you is anything but platonic.”
“You’ve known him for what, five hours
?”
“Which is the normal time span of your dates, Avery. Maybe you should try and stop worrying about when it will end and enjoy what you have going on now.”
Avery glared at Lori. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
“Bridesmaids always get lucky. I bet he doesn’t bolt after.”
Avery didn’t offer a comment.
“I didn’t get lucky at Lori’s wedding,” Shannon said.
“Let’s try and fix that this weekend.” Avery leaned back to enjoy her foot massage.
“This I want to see,” Lori added.
Chapter Sixteen
Avery said he wouldn’t see her . . . and she wasn’t kidding.
Liam found his time filled with Reed, Wade, and two of the guys from Wade’s band. There were plenty of marital tips offered, a lot of beer, and food. So much food. Liam wondered how the men in Texas stayed in their Levi’s.
The ranch was a massive venue setting up for a colossal wedding.
On Friday, during the rehearsal, Liam stood back and watched as the wedding coordinator directed Avery and the others in their duties.
Wade made time with his future wife when they pretended that the minister had announced them husband and wife.
Trina’s father gave Wade a hard time, entertaining the small crowd.
When Avery walked back down the aisle, this time on the arm of Wade’s best man, a stab of jealousy smacked Liam’s brain.
He reminded himself that the other guy was married.
That didn’t stop Liam from swooping in as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
“Looks like everything is set for tomorrow.”
“I don’t think they forgot anything.”
They took a seat in the back row of the chairs set up for the next day. “Let me know if there is anything I can do.”
She blinked as she looked at him. “Are you having a good time?”
“Weddings are always an adventure.”
“Adventure sounds like drama.”
He shook his head. “None of that from what I can see.”
She turned back to look at the bride and groom, who were talking with the minister. “Let’s hope it stays that way. Trina deserves her day.”
Liam had heard through some of the conversation around him that Trina’s first husband had died. No one had elaborated on the details, and he didn’t feel at liberty to ask.
Chasing Shadows (First Wives Book 3) Page 11
