CHAPTER 27

“What a beautiful wedding,” Kate said to Avery while the tables were being arranged for dinner and dancing. “And the joint ceremony was very nicely done. Thank you for taking me, dear.”

“Don’t thank me,” Avery said, looking down at her aunt, who was seated nearby. “Thank your doctor. You are feeling all right, aren’t you?”

“Yes, yes,” Kate said impatiently, suddenly restless in her seat.

Julie smiled at her. “Honestly, Kate, you’re on the mend and I didn’t see a problem with you being here tonight. But don’t stay out too late and if you see someone coughing, walk the other way. And definitely no dancing with sick people.” Although she was clearly trying, it was hard for Julie to look cross. Even in jest, she looked angelic, her sandy blond hair swept back from her face and her hazel-green eyes more concerned than stern.

“Humph. You mean to tell me I got all dressed up for nothing?” Kate joked, pulling on her dove-gray satin skirt. The top she wore shimmered in the dim lights, as did her silvery head scarf.

“Hardly,” Avery said, thinking about Luke Bedwin, and hoping Kate was, too. “You look beautiful.”

“I’ve got to run,” Cameron murmured. “I’m heading back to Boston tonight. Tell Lexie she looked gorgeous.”

“Did you help her pick the dress out?” Avery asked. “You have such great taste.”

Cameron gave an elegant little shrug as she pulled on her wrap. “She wanted something unique, so I helped her look. Believe me, the decision was hers.”

“All that lace,” Kate sighed. “It was just right for her.”

“But if you leave now, you’ll miss dinner. And it’s snowing,” Julie protested, gesturing outside.

“I’ll be fine. It really isn’t that bad yet, and besides, my car has four-wheel drive. I’m sorry to miss dinner, though. I just wish I didn’t have that stupid event in the morning.”

“What event?” Julie asked.

Cameron waved her hand around. “Oh, just something my parents are insisting I attend.”

“There have been a lot of those lately,” Julie said.

“Unfortunately, yes,” she said with a small frown.

“Just be safe,” Avery said.

“I will,” Cameron replied, sweeping up the jeweled clutch that matched her burgundy dress. “Good night, everyone,” she called over her shoulder as she walked toward the front door.

“Ah, I see that dinner is almost ready to be served. Shall we, girls?” Kate was about to rise, when she suddenly stopped and looked up.

Avery didn’t need to turn to know that Theodore Grayson was standing directly behind her. She could tell by the way the nape of her neck was prickling. She turned and, sure enough, there he was.

“Hello, ladies,” Theo said with a small incline of his head. “You all look lovely this evening. Avery.” His gaze met hers before he gave her a slow once-over. When his lip curled, she knew he liked what he saw. She should be immune to his gaze by now, but no matter how many times he looked at her this way, it always burned her up from the inside out.

The suit he wore was utterly masculine, the expensive fabric skimming every line of his body perfectly, almost as if it had been cut for him. Actually, it probably had been. What had he said to her the first day they met? Oh, yes. Cost wasn’t an issue.

He shifted and his spicy, masculine scent hit her. Trying to fight the wave of desire that was threatening to sweep her under, she forced herself to stay calm.

“Hello, Theo,” she said, pleased that her voice didn’t quaver.

He smiled at her, a deep, wicked grin, before turning to her aunt. “Kate,” he said, gallantly holding out his arm for her. After he helped Kate up, he turned back to her and held out his other arm. When Avery took it, he pulled her closer, tucking her against his side in a way that promised more later. Much more.

Julie’s eyes widened. “I’m going to talk to John,” she said, gesturing toward the pharmacist, who was standing nearby, mingling with Royce and Trina Hogan. She quickly moved away.

Theo helped Kate take a seat at one of the long tables, then held out the seat next to her for Avery. As soon as the two women were settled, Luke Bedwin walked up to Kate. “Is this seat taken?” he asked.

“It’s free,” her aunt said, a bit nervously, it seemed. Avery hoped—prayed—that Luke had blatantly sought Kate out for a reason. That he was going to man up and declare his interest in her instead of hiding it.

She couldn’t help but look at the older couple. Luke and Kate were leaning toward one another, talking intently. When Luke reached out and took Kate’s hand in his, her aunt stiffened and Avery held her breath. Then Kate relaxed and leaned forward. Avery let her breath out in a soft whoosh. She wanted the two of them to get together so much. Luke was a good man.

Though she could potentially take credit for making her aunt more receptive, she couldn’t take credit for Luke’s actions. Maybe Kate’s illness had spurred him into action. Avery had learned that in times of crisis, people often broke apart, but they also came together. Sometimes bonds that were formed under stress were the strongest. Not that she was glad that Kate had gotten pneumonia—far from it—but if something good came out of it, all the better.

Theo had settled into the seat directly next to hers, the tiny fold-out chair nearly buckling under his weight.

“Did you wear your hair down just for me?” he asked huskily.

It was as if the whole room had faded away. “Yes,” she whispered back. In times past, she would surely have worn it up for an event like this.

“It’s beautiful,” he said simply.

A fresh blush crept up her neck. “Thank you.”

Seemingly satisfied with her reaction, he switched topics. “Seb told me the dinner is going to be incredible.”

Avery relaxed. “Not a surprise, given the fact that they’re both great chefs. Did they prepare all the food themselves, too?”

“No. Buster and Isis, Lexie’s head line cook, led the charge, with major support from Seb’s sous chef, Jorge, and some others from his restaurant, Helena.”

“I am surprised that the wedding is this low-key.”

“I’m not. Seb has a one-track mind when it comes to getting what he wants. And what he wants is Lexie. Once he heard that her parents were going to be in town this weekend, nothing could have stopped him from holding the wedding now. Not even the small issue of planning the damn thing.”

Avery laughed. “He was pretty intent about it. He even jumped the gun when it came to the kiss.”

“He couldn’t help himself. He told me even a month was too long. I know the feeling.” He gave her a look that could have melted ice.

Dinner passed by quickly, each course sublime. Before dessert was served—Lexie’s fabulous coconut cake, of course—the Grayson brothers joined together to deliver an expertly written toast to the happy couple. Luke insisted on taking Kate home directly afterward, and then there was dancing to old-time jazz from a record player. Held firmly in Theo’s arms, Avery swayed softly to the music, lost in the pleasure of the moment.

After a long, lovely evening, Theo walked her back to the Inn, where everyone was asleep. Everyone except for them.

They crept upstairs to Smuggler’s Cove as quietly as possible, the tension between them electric. By now, Avery knew Theo’s body almost as well as her own. She knew what pleased him, what made him hot, and what made him explode. Bolder now, more self-assured, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. While her tongue toyed with his, she swept her hand up and loosened his tie. She deliberately undid the buttons of his shirt one at a time, increasing the tension as each button slid from its hole. The large expanse of flesh underneath was too enticing to ignore, so she slipped her hand inside to sweep across the hard planes of his chest. He kept kissing her, devouring her mouth with his, the soft hitch of his breath the only indication that he’d felt her palm on his skin. She slowly pulled out his shirttails, then pushed his shirt and his suit jacket off his shoulders in one smooth movement.

While he worked the garments off his arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

When he had his hands free, he unzipped her dress. Silk slid down her body as the dress fell to the floor. She kicked it away impatiently, then quelled the desire to push him back on the bed. Slow sensuality was the name of his game, and she was learning to play it well.

The man simply smoldered, and not just because he liked what they were doing. Sensuality was intrinsic to his being. He undid her bra with ease and slowly peeled it from her body. Holding her by the arms, he leaned back to take a long look. The darkening of his eyes was one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen, and she couldn’t help the flush that suffused her body, warming her from head to toe.

Leading her to the bed, he swung her around, then gently pushed her on her back. Though he was a commanding presence, he didn’t dominate, and when she propped herself up on one elbow, using the other hand to undo the button of his pants, he smiled.

“Need some help?” he said, grinning, when it took her a bit longer than she’d anticipated to do it one-handed.

“No, thanks,” she responded. “I have this covered. Ah, there.” The button popped free and she slid the zipper down. Within an instant, his pants were on the floor, his shoes were off, and he was on the bed, kissing her senseless. When at last he lifted his head, she opened her eyes, dazed.

“You are so beautiful,” he said, stroking her hair.

She gave a little laugh. “Put on your glasses and you’ll see all my flaws.”

His eyes raked over her body. “I’m wearing my contacts and I can’t see any.”

“You’re good,” she said, meaning it. Seduction was so easy for him.

“Hardly. But I’m trying to be. For you.” Then he ran a hand up her side and cupped her breast.

As he ran a thumb over her nipple, she sighed with delight. “That feels nice.”

“I like it when you tell me what you want. What you like.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “This is what I like,” she whispered as his clever hands stroked and teased.

It was impossible to think about anything else as her focus narrowed to him, only him. His body, hers, and the way he was making her feel. She writhed and burned under his masterful touch until he sank into her in one long, slow motion.

At the apex of her desire, she opened fully to him—body and soul—as she cried out with the sheer joy of it, reveling in the instant when he, too, lost control and buried himself so deeply inside her she thought she would burst.

Lying nestled next to him afterward, Avery was stunned by how much pleasure they had given one another. She felt content in his strong arms, her head resting on his chest.

“The end of an era,” he said, sighing as he stroked her hair.

She stilled. Was this his way of saying he was leaving? In just a second, their idyllic tryst had gone from sublime to sour. “What do you mean?” she asked, slowly.

“Never thought Seb would be the first of us to fall,” he responded, keeping up the steady stroking, seemingly oblivious to her distress.

She relaxed somewhat, but something about his choice of words rubbed her the wrong way. “You sound sorry for him,” she said quietly.

Theo laughed. “Hardly. It’s just that Seb’s reputation as a player was well known, and I’m happy he found someone who could settle him down. He’s changed a lot.”

“But you haven’t?” she asked, tilting her face up to look at him.

“I didn’t say that,” he said with a frown. “I’ve changed quite a bit.” He squeezed her shoulders. “You’ve been a good influence on me.”

“How so?”

He looked surprised. “You got me to start thinking about what really matters. Like my writing. Which is going really well, by the way.”

“I see.” And she did. So she’d been right about him leaving Star Harbor. He’d come back to get himself together, and now that he’d gotten his book squared away, he would leave. She’d suspected as much all along, but for the past week, she’d deluded herself into thinking he might stay. A dull ache began to form in her chest. God, it hurt. She’d let herself start to care for him, and yes, love him, but she couldn’t allow herself to be dragged down again.

It was time for her to do what she’d come to Star Harbor to do: focus on herself. Fixating on one thing—getting out of there as quickly as possible before she lost it completely—Avery slipped out of his arms, got out of the bed, and began to gather her clothes. The lifeless puddle of silk that was her green dress looked pathetic lying there on the floor. She picked it up and pulled it on.

“Avie, where are you going?”

She ignored his question, barely trusting herself to speak. “Look, I get it. I’m glad I was able to keep you company while you were in town.”

“Avery,” he said, sounding suspicious, “I don’t know what’s going on in your mind, but I think it’s time for us to have a talk.”

She found her bra and panties and slid them into her purse. She didn’t want to hear it. She couldn’t hear it. “There’s no need to talk. I’ll save you the trouble of going through your speech.”

“My what?”

“Your speech,” she said, waving her hand and refusing to look at him. “Whatever it is you use when you break up with someone. ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ Or ‘it’s been nice while it’s lasted, babe, but I have my life and you have yours.’ That kind of stuff. Save it.” Visions of other half-dressed women slipping out of his bed flashed through her mind. No doubt they had been far more accomplished and put together than she was.

“Avery, please come back so we can talk about this rationally,” he implored, but she turned her back on him and picked up her shoes. No way was she going to put herself through this torture. She didn’t want to hear his carefully scripted lines. She just wanted to leave. A clean break.

“I’m being rational. You don’t have to explain to me why you’re going back to San Francisco. I get it.”

“Avie, you have this all wrong,” he said, flicking the sheets off himself and standing up. Avery turned back and didn’t avert her eyes. This was the last time she’d see him naked and she wanted to remember what he looked like. She wanted to memorize every inch of him. She knew she’d never be with another man as perfect as this one.

“No,” she said, slowly shaking her head. “I don’t. When you finish your book, you’re going to head back to California. Theo, your life is there. Not here in Star Harbor. You can’t honestly stand there and tell me you’re not going to go back to San Francisco.”

“That’s what we need to talk about,” he said. “I haven’t made any final decisions yet, and I was going to bring it up, but I—”

“I’ll save you the trouble. Go.”

His brow furrowed. “But, Avie, we need to talk this through. I thought we were past all this BS.”

“What BS?” She crossed her arms under her chest.

He gestured wildly. “This. This emotional shutdown.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she snapped, fury rising. He’d called her out on her behavior and it stung, but she damn well needed to guard her heart. She had to protect herself. She couldn’t give him what he needed. She couldn’t even give herself what she needed. Closing herself off was the only answer.

He was angry now, angrier than she’d ever seen him. His eyes glittered dangerously, sparking fire at her. “My God, Avery, we were past this. Way past this. But for some reason, you’re back to your same old tricks. You’re trying to grasp at any excuse to hide your feelings for me. I don’t even think you want to try to make this work.”

“You’re wrong,” she said, her voice wavering even as her brain screamed at her to walk away. She couldn’t second-guess herself on this, even if he might be right.

“Look, I’m telling you that you have this wrong and you’re blowing me off. Damn it, I thought we had a connection. I thought I’d finally gotten through to you. But if you won’t listen to me, then I don’t want to talk.”

She blinked at his hard tone. He didn’t have to tell her to get out; his dark look said it all. “Fine.” Grabbing her purse, she made to leave, but he wasn’t finished.

“What’s that you told me about your clients? People have to want to be saved? Well, that goes for you, too, I guess. I’m done. Call me when you figure out your issues.”

She turned her head away before he could see her face crumple, and left the room. Thank God it was so late that everyone else was asleep. She ran through the Inn, out the back door, and up Ashumet to Kate’s house. It was freezing, but she barely felt the cold, her hot tears burning her face.

She stripped off her clothes when she reached her room. They smelled like him and so did she. She jumped into the shower to exorcise him, scrubbing every last bit of her body clean, rubbing so hard her skin was almost raw. Sinking down onto the hard tiles, she wrapped her arms around her legs and sobbed until the water turned cold. The chill seeped into her bones, finally forcing her from the shower stall. She dried off, threw on some underwear and an oversized shirt, and reached for her violin case. Then she took out her instrument and began to play. Fingers whipping over the strings, bow flying, faster, faster, she slipped farther and farther into a vortex of emotion. She was crying freely now, moisture dripping onto her violin, sliding across the smooth wood.

She’d played for all of five minutes when she felt a touch on her shoulder. Wildly, she whipped around. Kate was standing there in her dressing gown, bald head gleaming in the dim light of her room. She looked fragile and weak, but determined.

“Avery,” she said. And it was all she needed to say. Avery put her violin down on the bed and let Kate’s frail arms envelop her. Wretchedly, she sobbed huge wracking cries. It was pitiful and ugly, but Kate simply held her, letting her cry it out. Everything she’d been holding back. Everything she hadn’t fully let out before—her mourning of Mia’s death, the stress of Wanda’s disappearance, her muddled confusion about her work, residual sadness about her mother, and the turmoil she’d been experiencing with Theo. All of it came out in a gut-wrenching cry.

“I’m b-broken,” she wept, believing it. She couldn’t keep her emotions bottled up, but when she let them out, they exploded. Why did it have to be one extreme or the other with her?

“There, there,” Kate said, stroking her hair. “You’re not broken. And if you are, we’ll get you fixed.”

Kate’s soothing voice wrenched fresh tears from her eyes. Despite her crying, it felt good to simply be held with no expectations of anything else. Like when Theo had held her in the hospital. Thinking about him made her cry even more. She let it all out.

When there were no more tears left, Kate gently tucked her into bed.

Before she knew it, she was asleep.