by Melody Anne
I crossed my arms over my chest. Mainly to keep from reaching out and grabbing her. All that shit was to keep her away from me, and now she was calling me out on it. What the hell was I supposed to do? I wasn’t normally an asshole. I hated acting like one.
But for whatever fucked-up reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. If we actually stopped fighting, I might do something really screwed up, like kiss her.
We stood staring at each other for what felt like hours. I don’t know what she was looking for, but something in her face shifted. She tilted her head to the side and looked right into my eyes.
“So which Seth is the real one?” she asked. “The guy who hurls insults at me like I’m a dartboard, or the one who carries Sasha’s bags because they’re too heavy? The guy who glares at me for hours on end, or the one who gave Ian a ride home yesterday because his mom needed his help? I can’t figure you out.”
Shit. I could feel myself giving in. I knew she saw the asshole moves I made toward her, but I never thought she’d see the other stuff. I didn’t know she was even looking.
“Maybe you just bring out the worst in me, Princess.” I lifted an eyebrow and smirked, because she had called that out specifically.
That should set her off.
“I know you bring out the worst in me. I’ve never acted like this before in my life.”
“So we agree that we should just keep away from each other, then.” Why the hell was my heart hammering so damned hard against my ribs?
Avery took a step closer. She looked up at me from under her long eyelashes and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. One of these times I was going to lean down and do that for her.
“We probably should,” she said. Except her voice was a little breathy and the sound shot straight south. She took another step closer until her sneakers were almost touching the toes of my boots. “Or we could start over?”
Wait, what the fuck? Was she serious? This was a joke, right?
But then she stuck out her blue-gloved hand. “Hi, I’m Avery.”
I stared at her hand, not able to move.
This close I could smell her perfume, and it was killing me. Images from the night at O’Malley’s flooded my brain. I remembered how she felt under my hands, how she tasted on my lips. I was cracking, I could feel it.
She was too damned close for me to push her away.
Avery leaned in close and in a stage whisper said, “This is where you tell me your name.”
I glanced around, but everyone else was busy and too far away to notice us. A small smile played over her lips, drawing my gaze down to them.
Panic shot through my veins with fiery intensity. No. Oh, hell no. But arguing with myself didn’t change a thing. I wanted her. So bad.
I struggled for the anger, the familiar burn that would make me turn away, but it wasn’t there. So far, she was nothing like Melissa. But somehow I’d already figured that out. It was the only thing keeping a rein on the urge to drag her into my arms. Now that it was gone, I couldn’t stop myself.
I needed to focus. Ryan hadn’t had any luck finding me a job. I needed to pay the lawyer. Needed to save my sister. Needed a million other things that weren’t Avery.
But I’ve never really been good at staying away from what I want.
And fuck me if I didn’t want her more than almost anything I ever had.
I reached out and took her extended hand and tugged her closer.
Her hand came up and rested against my chest. I’m sure she could feel the way my heart was pounding. The smile on her lips fell away and her tongue darted out to nervously run along her bottom lip. I tried to think of something to say that would make her turn away, but there was nothing there.
Before I could stop myself, I leaned down and did the same thing she’d done, only with my tongue. Her gasp turned into a groan when I did it again to her top lip. She bunched my T-shirt in her fist and pushed her body closer.
The blue in her eyes darkened.
When she pressed her lips against mine, I lost it. I wrapped one arm around her waist and held her as tight against me as possible. Looking down, I knew that the desire I saw mirrored mine. I wanted her so fucking bad it hurt to think.
“It’s nice to meet you, Avery,” I whispered against her lips.
She made this sexy noise in the back of her throat, and I got harder than I thought possible. I had to taste her again. Her lips parted, and I brushed over them a couple of times.
“What the hell are you two doing?” a voice barked.
I jerked back, and Rick was standing there scowling at us. “This isn’t a goddamned dating service. This happens again, you both get written up.” He narrowed his eyes on me. “Violating your parole would not be a good thing, kid.”
Fuck. I took another step away from Avery.
I saw several curious glances shooting our way and a couple of smirks that made me want to punch something.
“Sorry,” Avery said sheepishly, looking a little humiliated.
Before I did something stupid and called Rick out for being a major cockblock, I grabbed the stick and swung around, walking away from him and Avery.
“It’d be best if you avoided that one,” I heard Rick say.
“Thanks for the advice, but I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
I smiled at the bitchiness in her tone. The urge to take one more look before I was too far away had me glancing back over my shoulder. Avery had picked up her stick and bag and was heading back toward Sasha.
Rick pulled out his cell and started typing. His glance kept sliding to Avery, and a frown marred his face. Finally he put the phone back and turned around toward the bus.
I watched for a few more seconds, trying to figure out what the hell that just was.
“Dude, I thought you said there wasn’t anything going on with you two. That was almost as good as watching porn.” Ian stepped up beside me and clasped his hand on my shoulder. “You’re gonna be in trouble, man.”
He laughed and pointed to where Avery was being animatedly grilled by Sasha. When her eyes swung to me, a sexy smile curled her lips up and sent all the blood racing back to my dick. And did weird things to other parts of me too.
“Christ, I already am,” I told Ian.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Avery
“See you tomorrow,” I said to Seth as we were walking to the exit doors side by side. After our . . . whatever the hell that was earlier, I hadn’t been able to concentrate for anything.
Maybe Shari was right. Those looks he shot me were definitely not screaming go away. I’d been on edge the rest of the afternoon after our almost kiss. What if I gave in just one time? I’d never felt this kind of sexual urgency with Grant. I never craved Grant’s touch or held my breath hoping he’d kiss me.
Seth had gotten under my skin big time.
“Have a good night, Avery,” Seth said over his shoulder. His gaze lingered a few seconds longer than necessary, and I felt my skin start to heat. I needed to look away, but I couldn’t. Something flickered in Seth’s eyes, and it sent a stab of longing straight between my legs.
If I had the nerve, I’d walk up to him and ask him to take me home.
“Avery,” Rick called out behind me.
I stopped and watched Seth slip out the doors. Damn it. Rick jogged across the lobby, and when he stopped, he looked at the door where Seth exited. “I just wanted to say it again, I think it’s best if you stay away from Seth.”
What the hell? Anger prickled against my neck. “And again, I appreciate your concern, but it’s really none of your business who I’m friends with.”
“You just have no idea what he is capable of. I’d rather not see you get hurt, that’s all.”
I lifted my chin and looked down my nose at Rick. He obviously took his role as supervisor much too seriously. Luckily I only had to listen to him between six and two. “He wouldn’t hurt me, Rick.”
Rick crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you
so sure? You barely know him. Do you even know why he was sent to prison?”
I didn’t know. My gaze dropped to the ground.
“Just think about what I said, okay? You’re a good kid. Once this is done, you can walk away and forget all this. Guys like him? He’ll end up right back behind bars, you mark my words.”
I knew that statistically he might be right, but I didn’t believe him. Not that I knew anything about Seth, other than that he made my blood overheat, but there was something there behind his eyes that made me think he wanted more.
Before I could argue with Rick anymore, my phone rang. When I looked at the screen, I saw my father’s face pop up.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Hi, kiddo. This isn’t a bad time, is it?”
“Just got done for the day. Is anything wrong? You never call during the week.” I dismissed Rick by turning my back on him and walking out toward my car. I didn’t plan on listening to anything else he had to say, anyway.
“Can’t a father call his daughter when he feels like it?” Okay, that was weird. Dad never called me during the day. Ever. “I wanted to see if you could meet me for dinner tonight? That Middle Eastern bistro you like so much on Cabot Street? Say six?”
Now I knew something was wrong. We usually did dinner one Sunday a month at the club, at my mother’s insistence, and that was the extent of it. I couldn’t even remember the last time Dad and I went out to eat alone, just the two of us.
“Is everything okay?” I asked. “Are you and mom getting a divorce?”
Dad snorted. “Of course not. Jesus, do you think I’d do something like that right before the election? Look, I have to go, my four o’clock just showed up. I’ll see you at six, Avery.” The phone went silent.
I played every possible scenario in my head as I drove home. Maybe Grant had dropped the charges and I was off the hook? Or maybe my mom was going to Sweden to the “spa” to rejuvenate again?
The knot in my stomach grew heavier, even after I got home and showered and changed into a sundress and sandals. I pulled my hair to the side and braided it loosely. Dad liked it when I at least made an effort to look like a future politician’s daughter.
By the time I walked into the bistro, I thought I might throw up. Dad was already there and waved to me from a corner booth.
“Hi, Daddy.” I kissed his cheek and slid in across from him. “I have to say again that this is unexpected.”
“I can’t have dinner with my daughter without a reason?” he asked. But the thing was, I knew my dad and I knew how to read him. There was a reason he asked me here, I could see it in his eyes.
“Cut the crap,” I said. “You taught me to figure out the unspoken things people aren’t saying. It works on you too.”
Dad grinned. “You’re going to make a hell of a lawyer, Avery. Yes, there is a reason I asked you to meet me.”
Before he could say anything more, the waitress came over and took our order. The knots in my stomach had loosened a little after Dad confessed, so I ordered a falafel and hummus platter.
“I wanted to see how things are going with your community service. I realized today that I hadn’t spoken with you since you started.”
“It’s going fine. The first week was tough, but I made it. This week was a little better.”
“And the people? No one is bothering you, are they? I read all the files and didn’t see anything that stood out, but with drug and violence issues, you can never be sure. Your safety is my utmost concern here, no matter what the judge said.”
He was looking at me not as a dad, but as a lawyer now. The wrinkles around his mouth spoke of his seriousness, and I had no doubt that if I even whispered that I felt threatened, he would have me off that crew before morning.
But for some reason, I wasn’t so desperate to get out of community service anymore.
“I’m fine,” I said again. “I’ve never felt unsafe picking up trash. It’s monotonous and boring and the heat is killer, but the crew is pretty decent. There’s one other girl. We’re partners.”
“Sasha Delaney. Nineteen. Possession and distribution charges. Turned evidence against her boyfriend and served eight months. Gave birth in prison and gave the child up for adoption.” Dad recited the facts about Sasha as if he were reading a case study. Which I guess he had.
“She’s more than just all that.” I picked at my straw wrapper. “She has a crazy sense of humor and makes up these stories about the shoes we find alongside the highway. It’s hilarious.”
Dad’s eyebrows dipped down. “Stories? They’re shoes that someone threw away.”
He didn’t get it.
“Never mind.”
“How about Seth Hunter? In prison for—”
“Dad!” I interrupted. “I don’t need a dossier on every single person, okay? They are people. Human beings. Do you think I should be defined by one stupid mistake? Because I’m just like them. You realize that, don’t you? If you insist on having a file of facts for everyone else, then you need one for me too. Avery Melrose. Twenty-one. Destruction of property. Three hundred hours of community service and fifteen . . . ”
“You’ve made your point, Avery.”
“Have I? Because I can go on if you need me to.”
Dad shook his head, then he chuckled. “Your opposing counsel will never stand a chance.”
His compliment made me smile. “I was taught by the very best.”
“So, your mother wanted me to remind you that Sunday is lunch at the club.”
“As if I could forget.”
“She said to wear the gray suit with the pearls Grandma gave you?”
I groaned. I fucking hated that suit. I looked like a forty-year-old unmarried aunt in it.
Our food arrived and we made small talk as we ate, mostly about Dad’s campaign. I waited while Dad paid the bill, and then he walked me to my car. I gave him a quick hug.
“Thanks for the unexpected dinner. Shari went back to campus already, and it’s been me and the microwave.”
“I’ll send Theresa over to cook for you if you want.”
He was serious. He would send their cook over to my apartment to wait on me. “No, thanks. I got it.”
He nodded, clearly distracted by something. “Listen, Avery, I know you have a soft spot for the underdog, but just be careful whom you decide to trust. Most of those people you’re working side by side with will likely end up right back behind bars. You have a promising future in corporate law to think about. Guilt by association is very real.”
Okay, so Dad was the second person today to tell me the probable future of my co-servicers. “I appreciate the advice, but I’m not going to do anything stupid. I just want this done so I can concentrate on graduating and then law school. I’m not going to turn into a career criminal by osmosis.”
“Glad to hear it.” A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “Oh, I forgot to mention that a reporter would like to talk to you about the campaign and your community service. He was hoping to come by the Works building and talk to you.”
“I really don’t want to talk to anyone about this, Dad.”
“After that interview on the court steps right after your sentencing, interest in you has grown. This will show the voters that I’m serious about my one-strike policy. I need you to do this.” He handed me a business card. “I already told him yes, so please contact him and set up a time.”
I pocketed the card and climbed into my car. Of course it was all about the election, and nothing got in the way of making nice with everyone right now. Not even my reluctance at splashing my moment of insanity over the front page and baring my personal baggage to the world.
Talking to some reporter about how I learned my lesson that my father was the best candidate for mayor? Not going to happen.
“See you Sunday,” he called out as I pulled away.
As soon as I was out of his sight, I threw the card out the window.
Ian, Seth, Sasha, and I had unofficially teamed
up by Friday.
Which basically meant that Ian and Sasha walked ahead, laughing and talking, while Seth and I trailed behind, stabbing anything they’d missed. There was a companionable silence between us that felt weird at first.
I kept waiting for him to acknowledge the almost kiss, but he didn’t. We kept walking and stabbing until the air between us felt thick enough to cut through. Every once in a while I’d glance over and find him watching me. The look in his eyes . . . it made my skin feel too tight.
“Another week down,” he finally said. “Only six more to go.”
“When you put it like that . . . just ugh.” I stabbed a to-go cup from some gas station and shoved it into the bag. “I had no idea that people were this blasé about the environment. I mean, I knew there were a few assholes who threw stuff out their windows, but we’re on the way to filling an entire landfill here.”
“They throw it away and keep driving. Everything is disposable. Once its purpose is served, there isn’t any use for it anymore.” The tone of his voice told me he wasn’t necessarily talking about to-go cups and condom wrappers.
“That is completely depressing.” I glanced over at Seth, and he was staring ahead, his mouth pulled tight. “But I think there are a lot of people who still care, who treasure what they have. Who believe that there is purpose to what we want, what we do.” Were we still talking about trash or something else? His eyes grew darker and he glared down at the ground.
“Not many people I know give a shit about anyone else.”
“What about Ryan? He seems like a good friend.”
Finally, he relaxed a little. “The best. Without him, I never would have survived.”
“Survived what?”
He waved his hand around. “This. Life. Prison. Dumb shit we did when we thought we were invincible.”
I smiled. Yesterday, when Rick had warned me to stay away from Seth, I realized how little I knew about him. We had six more weeks to get to know each other better. The idea of being around him didn’t seem so bad now. I actually looked forward to it every day. When he wasn’t acting like an ass, he was really quite charming. And when he smiled . . . it made my stomach tighten every single time. “You did that a lot? Dumb shit?”
