Shit. She’s angrier than I expected. I don’t know why this surprises me. She’s always had a giant stick embedded in her sexy ass.

I try to smooth things over by flashing my famous grin that’s been known to steal an unsuspecting heart or two. “Come on An...I mean Avery. My truck’s this way,” I gesture to the right side of the large parking lot.

She clenches her jaw at my slip up, but silently follows me.

Clicking the remote to unlock the door of my black Ford F350, the lights flash and I hear her gasp. “What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“I have to ride in this?” Her expression of horror is confusing. What’s not awesome about my truck? It’s a big, bad beast on the road - like me between the sheets.

“Good Wood Tree Removal Inc.,” she reads the name on the door. Her surprise filled eyes rise to meet mine. “Is this your company?”

“Mhm, yes it is, An...Avery.”

She covers her mouth with her hand, but her eyes are filled with mirth as she snorts. “We’re good with wood.” She reads the slogan under the company name then giggles. “This is so bad, Wesley. You don’t mind driving around in this giant cheese mobile?”

“Mind? Are you kidding? This truck is a chick magnet. They read ‘Good Wood,’ and automatically assume I bring a lot to the table - or should I say bed?” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. She probably thinks I’m joking, but it’s the truth. “Which is a correct assumption, by the way. I wanted to call it Greatest Wood, but that seemed too boastful,” I wink, “and I don’t need to brag.”

“Yeah, I can tell.” She rolls her eyes. “Humble and Wesley Steele are synonymous,” she says, dryly.

Once we’re on the road, my truck eats up the highway miles as we drive further away from the city and closer to our hometown of Piney View, West Virginia, population nine-hundred-eighty-three. It’s where I still reside and the place Avery couldn’t get away from fast enough. I haven’t seen her since she left for college eight years ago and the time has been extremely kind to her. She’s matured into a sexy as hell woman, one I’d like to see naked as soon as possible.

She sighs loudly and rests her head against the passenger window. “Is it really that bad being back here?” I ask, my eyes flick in her direction.

“The circumstances are horrible. I’m worried about my mom and no one seems to know what her prognosis is.”

“I get that, but how do you feel about returning to Piney View? If I remember correctly, you couldn’t wait to move away.”

She shrugs. “Obviously, I didn’t want to come back or I would have done it before now. But now that I’m here, I’m going to make the most of it and enjoy this time with my family.”

“I know Lucy’s excited to see you. She texted three times while I was waiting for you at the airport.”

She smiles. “Yeah, she texted me too. It’ll be great to spend some time with her and Jeremiah.”

“He’s a handful. She’s a great mom though and does better than most in her situation.”

“Are you guys a...couple?” she asks cautiously.

I smirk. “No, Lucy and I have always just been friends. She’s like a little sister to me. Would it bother you if we were together?” I ask, cocking my brow.

“No. God no,” she laughs nervously. “Why would you think that?”

It took me about two point two seconds at the airport to recognize the attraction between us and it goes both ways. She can pretend she wouldn’t mind if I dated Lucy, but I know better. I’m not going to call her on it today, though. I’ll let her think she’s in the clear for now. “Just a hunch.”

“Well, your hunch is way off base.” She glances at her watch. “How much longer until we’re there?”

* * *

We’re barely out of my truck before Lucy comes barreling out the front door of her house. She lets out a shriek of excitement that could give some of the wild animals in this area a run for their money.

Avery laughs and hurries to meet her halfway. The two of them crash into each other with a hug and then the smiles turn to tears. I shake my head. Women. I might consider myself an expert when it comes to their bodies and what buttons to push to make them go off like a rocket launched into outer space, but I have no fucking idea what goes on inside their heads. The women’s psyche is truly one of life’s greatest mysteries - one, I’m not prepared to solve. I’m a lumberjack, not a detective.

Which is why I don’t get involved beyond a physical release.

Grabbing Avery’s suitcases from the truck, I walk past the two crying women and set them down inside the entryway. The two of them follow through the door right behind me.

“Thank you for picking Avery up for me,” Lucy says, with a smile.

“No problem, Luce. I’m glad to help out and it was great to be there waiting to greet Avery.” My eyes flick in her direction just in time to see hers narrow in a glare. I smirk and wait for her to rat me out about the sign, but she says nothing.

“I hate to leave you ladies, but I have to get to work now.”

“No problem, thanks again, Wes,” Lucy says, before giving me a quick hug.

I study Avery’s face as her sister squeezes me. The wrinkle between her eyebrows tells me she’s definitely not happy about it.

“Give me a shout if you need anything. Avery, don’t be a stranger while you’re here. I live right across the street and I like company.” I wink at her and she scowls back. Pushing her buttons is easier than I imagined and more fun too. I can’t wait until I see her again.