Max
I’m edgy as hell. It’s been two days since I’ve set my eyes on Avery and gotten to taste her lips. It’s been two days of short texts and even shorter conversations, no thanks to my busy days.
I miss her.
I crave her.
I’m falling for her.
And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
“Get back here.” Zach nudges me. “Wherever you keep going, do that on your own time. I’ve got a meeting in a little bit.”
“I pay you the big bucks to park your ass right there and play with a pencil,” I jest.
“You don’t pay me shit until my work is complete.”
“Daaaaddddyyyy!” Caleb comes screaming into my office on wobbly legs, his arms stretched out while his blond hair bounces on top of his head.
“Little dude!” Zach explodes and snatches him off the floor into his lap. “How was today? Anything exciting? Did you drive Miss Lorit crazy?”
Caleb’s head bobs. “Uh-huh.”
Jade steps in and sighs. “He decided to give Ziggy a haircut and somehow managed to spill an entire gallon of milk on the floor.”
“I can understand why you cut Ziggy’s hair. Poor dog looks like a mop. You were doing the furball a favor, but milk on the floor? What did you do that for?”
“Siimm,” Caleb replies.
Zach’s lips tic. “Little dude. Swimming is better in the pool. Not the kitchen floor.”
Caleb’s blue eyes could make you sell your soul to the devil and those innocent persuaders shift to me. “Maassss!” He reaches out.
“I see how it is. You get in trouble and you want me to save you,” I tease plucking him off Zach’s lap and into my arms. “What’s up, tyke?”
Jade sits beside Zach on the couch and drops her head back closing her eyes. “He’s going to make Lorit quit.” Her head snaps to Zach and she playfully glares. “And it’s your fault. He acts just like you.”
Zach bellows. “Me? I’m a perfect angel.”
“Doonuut,” Caleb babbles.
Jade points to Zach, bouncing her finger. “You! Everything he does has Zach written all over him.”
Zach flashes a cunning lopsided smirk. “Then we should all be thankful he’s got his daddy’s brains.”
Jade groans. “Just great. He’ll be an idiot his entire life.”
We’re all laughing when Isabella interrupts us. “Excuse me, Mr. Lauder. You have a visitor.”
My pulse picks up and the excitement makes it across my lips. The only time I have an unscheduled visitor is when there’s a five-foot-four spectacular woman I crave immensely popping in. And just as expected, Isabella walks away, her image being replaced with the stunning view of Avery. My chest swells with excitement.
Her gray eyes smile at me until she spots Caleb and then glances to Jade and Zach. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company. I’ll, um. I’ll just call you later.”
“Avery, this is my nephew, Caleb,” I introduce her.
Delighted, her grin is wide as she tickles his stomach. “Hey, little guy.”
Caleb giggles and buries his head into the side of my neck to hide.
“He did not get that from me,” Zach says. “I was never girl shy.”
I snap my head to him and breathe one name smugly. “Elissa.”
Zach’s face falls, his grin melting away just by mentioning the one person who could bring him to his knees just by a wave when we were in tenth grade. She dated a football player and wouldn’t give smooth talker Zach the time of day. His charm wouldn’t work on her. So what does Mr. Dumbass decide to do? Get close to her by dating her best friend, Cynthia. Except Cynthia fell head over heels for him. She gave up her virginity to him, abandoning her purity for a guy she wanted to spend the rest of her life with after only knowing him for two weeks. The very same guy who fantasized about her best friend.
One day after school, Zach was at Cynthia’s hanging out. Her parents told her to feed the dog or some shit like that, leaving him and Elissa in the room together…alone. It went over horribly. He confessed to Elissa, thinking he was being suave and romantic, only to find himself with a slap across the face that was felt around the neighborhood. Not to mention, Cynthia’s fuming broken heart. Oh, she had some ugly choice words as she hissed them through her tears.
“Elissa DeBarros?” Jade asks.
I nod and Jade’s mouth drops before the cackle comes bellowing out. “Oh my god, she hated your guts.”
Zach stays silent and scratches the back of his neck while glaring daggers into me.
“He—”
“Shut the hell up, man,” Zach interrupts with a stern warning. “You’re so dead to me.” He bites back a laugh.
I pass Caleb back to him. “Yeah. Well, I wish I felt bad.”
Jade slaps his leg as she gets to her feet. “Come on, you dog. Let’s get out of here.”
Zach tips his chin as he passes. “Dinner at my place Friday. I’ll invite the other douchebag.” He smiles to Avery. “The invitation extends to you as well if you’d like to join us.” He winks and strides out.
I shove the door shut behind him and pull Avery into me, claiming her lips slowly to savor everything I’ve missed. “I’m so glad to see you,” I say, high off the taste of her.
“I missed you.” Nerves appear in her gaze.
I smile at the buzz she just ignited in my chest. I kiss her again, this time more urgently. Our tongues dance together as electricity shoots down my spine and into my dick. She’s something I’ve needed in my life. Something I didn’t realize I wanted until I was looking down at her for the first time.
I tighten my grip on her hip, not ready to feel the absence of her body as she takes a step back.
“You scare me,” she breathes, looking to my chest.
“The only thing you need to fear is how long you’ll moan my name.”
She looks down at her feet. “I came here on a mission and I need to talk to you before I lose my nerve.”
When her gaze lands on me, I see all the fear and worry, and I release my grip.
“You need to sit,” she says.
“I’ll stand.” The panic coursing through me doesn’t make it to my voice.
She wrings her thumbs and starts to pace. “I was going to wait, but I’m scared if I do, I’ll chicken out and continue to find excuses not to tell you.”
“What’s wrong?”
Her feet stop and she blinks to me. “I like you. A lot.”
I smirk, confident I know where she’s going with this.
Her shoulders deflate. “Max, I’ve lied to you.”
My smile drops as hurt and anger jolt me. I shift on my feet and shove my hands into my pockets.
“I omitted some of the truth to protect myself.” She inhales. “I’m a pro-snowboarder. I don’t just work for a snowboarding team. I am the snowboarder. We weren’t supposed to get where we are now. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
I can feel the wrinkles beside my eyes as I squint, trying to comprehend.
“I didn’t say anything about it because some people like to use me for what they think my life is,” she continues.
“You act like I don’t know what money and notability brings in.”
Her head hangs low. “I know and I’m sorry.”
I move to her and rub my hands down her arms. “You protected yourself. I get it.”
“I really like you for you. Your money doesn’t interest me, but you do.”
“And the fantastic sex.” I grin.
“Definitely that too,” she says grinning.
I bend and kiss her tenderly. “I’m not mad.”
I can feel the relief running down her body, her muscles relaxing under my palms. In a twisted way, I’m elated to know she was that worried about upsetting me.
“I have to go back to work now.” Her lips contort to the side, her face scrunching.
“Would you be my date for Zach’s dinner this Friday?”
“I’ll have to call you later and let you know.” Confliction rides in her tone.
“Of course.”
She kisses my jaw and I close my eyes relishing it. “Thank you for being you.”
Cupping the back of her head, I kiss her, pouring in all the passion I feel for her. “Call me later.”
“Hey,” Jade bebops through the door and tosses a folder on my desk almost knocking a few other folders off. After Avery left, I dove head first into some financial reports to get my thoughts composed.
Jade sits in the chair. “All your information on Kid’s Bazaar. It’s a little weird for a winery to sponsor a children’s event. Don’t you think?”
Kid’s Bazaar… It’s a winter sport event. Will Avery be there?
“I do it because of you. It’s my way of paying back the higher powers for keeping you alive.”
“I’m sure by now the gods know you’re forever grateful. Now you’re just paving your way into heaven.”
I breathe a chuckle. “Close to a hundred and fifty thousand dollars’ worth to help with the expenses and marketing.”
My baby sister’s eyes bug out. “Damn, Max. I’m truly amazing to you, huh?”
I spread my arms out. “What can I say? I’m vying for the best brother award.”
She giggles. “This Avery. You seem to like her a lot. Care to share?”
“No. It’s none of your business,” I say reserved.
Jade hums annoyed. “Just admit you’re getting serious about her. You never have women come here, ever. And she stops in a lot. How many times has she stayed at your place? Zach said she was there. Either you’re absolutely crazy about her or she’s got some juicy dirt on you. Which one is it?”
“You’re an observant, nosy sister,” I grumble.
She lifts a shoulder with a devilish smirk…my devilish smirk. “What can I say? I’m in tune with my award-winning brother,” she deadpans. “Does she reciprocate the same feelings?”
I despise my sister being in my personal business. She can take a wet stick and turn it into a raging inferno. She’s persistent about me finding Mrs. Right and wants me to invest time in everyone who slightly catches my attention. Since she’s become a mother and is married, she has a newfound hope that I will soon follow suit. And she’s a pushy little devil.
“Don’t you have anything else to be doing?” I ask.
“Nope,” she chirps. “I’m all yours. So, spill it.”
I tap the folder. “Well, I’m busy.”
“You’re deflecting. Quit giving me the runaround, butthead. Fess up.”
Leaning back in my chair, I rub my forehead trying to quiet my mental groan. I sure as hell don’t care to be strong-armed by my little sister, but I know she won’t leave it alone if I don’t give her something. Methodically, my mind races. “I don’t have much to tell you.” I drop my arms and look her square in the eyes. “We’ve been dating. Yes, I’m crazy about her and I’m certain she feels the same way. But before you go and plan a wedding, we’re nowhere close to it. We’re taking it slow, day by day. I’m in no rush.”
Satisfaction dons in Jade’s expression. A small smile tugs the corners of her lips. Fuck. She’s already plotting…
“If it makes any difference, I like her and more importantly, what she’s doing to you.”
“I’m begging you to not get your hopes up yet. I don’t know where it’s going from here.”
“Is she coming to the cookout?”
“I hope so.”
She gets to her feet and straightens her skirt. “I know you hate talking about your feelings, but at least keep it real with yourself. You deserve to be happy. You’re a really good guy.” She bobs her head side to side. “Of course my opinion is biased, but I love you.” She stops at the door and turns to me. “I’ll try not to be pushy, but I can’t help being excited for you.”
I sigh into my empty office. No matter what she says, I have a feeling she’ll be as pushy as ever.