Chapter Three
Don’t think about it.
Just pretend it never happened.
Avery attempted to banish the memory of holding Jillian in his arms, but it was impossible. Every time he closed his eyes, she was there—all of her curvy goodness pressed to him and her sweet scent teasing him. He inwardly groaned. And then there were her big blue eyes that felt as though they could see straight through him.
Maybe he had passed up a prime opportunity with her in the past, but he’d had to. His brother and sister had needed Jillian. And as he’d played a part in their parents’ deaths, it had been up to him to make sacrifices.
But that was then and this was now. His siblings were off making their way in the world and Jillian no longer worked for him. Maybe he shouldn’t write her off so quickly. There was time before he left town for them to hook up and find out if those sparks could ignite into flames of passion.
The thought appealed to him—a lot. But he recalled Jillian’s cooler than normal demeanor and her eagerness to pull away from him. Was it worth pursuing? Or should he leave well enough alone?
His eager imagination was getting the better of him. After all, it was good old Jillian. She was not some rodeo bunny. She was…she was Jillian.
Avery shook his head—willing the tangled web of thoughts to fade away.
He limped back to the truck. This sure wasn’t the rodeo season he’d been anticipating. He thought he’d be able to brush off this injury with a long weekend at home, but the more time that passed, the more his knee ached. He was beginning to think the diagnosis of four to six weeks to recuperate might be right. Still, it beat having surgery by a long shot.
He carefully hefted himself into the driver’s seat. After attaching his seat belt, he eased the truck back in gear. He gently let off the brake and crept the rest of the way home. He told himself that he was just being extra cautious as the road was treacherous. And since he was going this slow, it didn’t hurt to scan the road and sidewalks for any sign of Jillian’s cat. He knew it was silly. Cats could fend for themselves. If this Romeo didn’t head straight home, he would find a warm spot to curl up in for the night.
Avery’s destination was just a few houses up the street and there was no sign of a cat or any other living creature on this brutally cold evening. He slowed before turning into the driveway. Not exactly home sweet home. He got out and paused to grab his duffel bag from the back seat. He learned a long time ago to travel light. It made life so much easier.
Right now, he should be on his way to California for another event, not heading into this dark, empty house. There wasn’t even a porch light on. That’s because there wasn’t a soul there to greet him. Then he thought of Marshmallow. He wondered if the cat would be happy to be back in her own house.
Avery limped up the snow-covered walk to the front steps. He grabbed the banister and hefted himself up the steps, one at a time. His injured leg protested, but he didn’t let that stop him. He swung the door open and stepped inside. He dropped his duffel bag near the front door and then fumbled for the light switch before closing the door. Home at last.
Meow! Hiss! Hiss!
“Marshmallow?” Avery looked around, trying to find the unhappy feline.
It wasn’t like her to put up a fuss. She was usually a very sweet-natured cat. Something must be amiss. Avery took off in the direction of his sister’s bedroom. That’s where the cat spent most of her time. Marshmallow really missed Beth since she went off to college. And he was proving to be a poor substitute. Perhaps it was time to consider finding Marshmallow a permanent home.
Avery flicked on the light. Immediately he spotted Marshmallow on the bed. But a movement at the foot of the bed garnered his attention. A black cat stared at him and blinked his eyes.
“Where in the world did you come from?” Avery asked the cat.
Meow.
A bit surprised by the feline’s response, Avery said, “Sorry, buddy. I wish I spoke cat.”
Murr. Murr.
He studied the cat for a moment. It seemed docile enough. It was definitely someone’s pet. Its coat was black and white. And the tip of its tail was white. Was it possible this was Jillian’s missing feline?
“Well, you certainly are a chatty one.” Avery stepped further into the room. “Would you happen to be Romeo?”
The cat’s ears perked up. Murr.
“Hmm…you must have snuck in the door when I came in.” And then Avery looked at Marshmallow. “Is this your boyfriend?”
Marshmallow’s eyes narrowed as though she was frowning at him. Avery couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. Romeo inched closer to Marshmallow. Obviously Jillian’s cat had been aptly named.
“Well, boy, it’s time you went home.” Avery approached the cat, who watched Avery’s every move.
When Avery put out his hand to pet him, Romeo sniffed his hand. Avery ruffled the cat’s shiny black coat. He wondered what Marshmallow thought of him befriending her admirer. She’d turned her head away, ignoring the entire scene.
“Hey, Romeo, if you’re trying to win over Marshmallow, looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
Just then Avery went to pick up Romeo, but the cat darted away with lightning speed. The cat slipped under the bed. Avery dropped down on his good knee, bent over, and peered into the darkness. He stretched out his arm, but he couldn’t reach the cat.
With a sigh, Avery stood. He pulled out his phone to call Jillian. He may not have caught the cat yet…but at least he could let her know Romeo was safe.
Jillian answered the phone in a frustrated tone. “He isn’t here—”
“Because he’s here.”
“He is?” Her voice suddenly took on a gleeful tone. “Don’t let him out of your sight. I’ll be right there.”
“Well, that’s the problem. I can’t see him or touch him. He’s hiding under the bed.”
“Did you say under the bed?”
“I did.” He couldn’t help smiling at her confusion. This evening had indeed been quite confusing. “I was hoping you could coax him out.”
“But how did he end up in your house? Wait. Never mind. I’m on my way.”
Avery wasn’t sure seeing Jillian again was a good idea after everything that had happened earlier. But it wasn’t like he was going to act on his impulses. It had been just a momentary lapse in judgment. It wouldn’t happen again.
*
At last, some good news.
Romeo was safe.
Jillian wasn’t sure she wanted to see Avery twice in one evening. He hadn’t been acting like himself. There was something about the way he talked to her. And was it her imagination or had he held her longer than necessary when she’d slipped?
Still, she didn’t have any choice but to go to his place. Jillian pulled her coat back on. She grabbed her keys and purse from the kitchen counter. She assured herself that his reaction to her had been a figment of her imagination. After all, he’d had years to notice her but he never did.
Nothing had changed. And even if it had, it was too late. She’d moved on with her life. She was so over Avery Wainwright.
Now, if only she could get to Avery’s house and back before her mother returned, none of this miserable experience would have to be repeated. And to think for years she’d been a nanny for Avery’s younger brother and sister. Who’d have guessed watching humans would be easier than watching an ornery furbaby?
Jillian dashed out the door. This time she decided to drive. Having grown up in Marietta, she came from hearty stock. But tonight it was just too cold out to walk. And she wasn’t taking any more chances with Romeo. He was anything but the docile lap cat the shelter had portrayed him as.
Less than two minutes later, she pulled up in front of the Wainwright place. It was a bungalow house with moss green siding, white trim and a dark red front door that Jillian had always liked. The door was just the right signature touch to make the house stand out without being over the top.
Jillian exited her car and if not for the ice, she’d have run up to the front door. Not that long ago, she’d have thought nothing of letting herself in the door without knocking, but a lot had changed since those days. Now she paused and pressed her finger to the illuminated buzzer adjacent to the door.
It took a bit before the door swung open. When it did, there stood Avery, all six foot two feet of him. His brown hair was tousled and there was a hint of scruff trailing down his jaw. He’d definitely grown into a strikingly handsome man. If not for his determination to remain the bachelor cowboy, she was certain Avery could have his pick of any number of women.
Not so long ago, she’d have been one of those eligible women vying for his attention. After all, with those broad shoulders and dreamy eyes, it was hard not to fall for Avery’s charms. But she’d managed to move past all of that. She was immune to him now.
As he stood in the doorway, she couldn’t help but notice his clothes. She found it odd that on one of the coldest days of the year, he was standing there in nothing but a white T-shirt with a sports logo and gray sweat shorts. But it was the black knee brace that held her attention. Realizing that she was staring, she returned her gaze to his ruggedly handsome face.
“Thanks for coming over,” he said. As though he didn’t notice her staring, he turned to head further into the great room. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to get the cat out of Beth’s room with this thing on my leg.” He gestured toward the brace. “It makes getting around difficult at times.”
“Should you even be standing?” Her gaze returned to his knee, giving it more intense scrutiny.
“I’m not good at sitting around. I’ll ice it in a little bit.”
“What happened?”
“It’s a partial tear of the ACL. Since I don’t normally put too much strain on my knees, the doc said surgery was optional. I chose to skip it.”
She nodded as though she understood. But she couldn’t help but wonder if Avery was telling her the whole truth. This was the man who never stopped cowboying, even if he had the flu.
He was stubborn. It’s why he’d ended up with pneumonia. That was the only thing that had stopped him in his cowboy boots. Between herself and Beth, they’d kept him on bed rest for two weeks. Amidst his protests, she’d plied him with homemade chicken noodle broth and ginger ale.
It had happened the first winter after Avery had become the twins’ guardian and she’d accepted the full-time position of nanny/housekeeper. From laundry to cooking to shuttling the kids around town, she did it all. Avery had compensated her well, perhaps too well. She’d wondered how he could afford it. Any time she tried to broach the subject, he’d brushed it off. He was definitely a stubborn man.
And now, she couldn’t help but wonder if Avery had selectively taken pieces of what the doctor had said about his leg and come up with his own answers, determined to get back out on the rodeo circuit ASAP. She just hoped he wouldn’t pay for that stubbornness in the end. She reminded herself that it was no longer any of her concern. Avery now had his life and she had hers. Both separate and distinct. And that’s how it would remain.
She glanced around the great room to see if much had changed in the year or so since she’d worked there. During the twins’ senior year of high school, she’d moved out. The kids had been eighteen and not really kids anymore. She’d stopped by and checked on them when Avery was out of town, but it had been determined by the family that the twins were old enough and responsible enough to care for themselves.
Jillian scanned the living room. It was a little messier with magazines, some random articles of clothing, and a couple of coffee mugs on the coffee table. But other than that, it was how she remembered.
This room normally felt quite spacious and the vaulted ceiling made it seem even bigger. But this evening with Avery there, the room seemed to have shrunk considerably. And with a fire crackling in the fireplace, it was downright cozy. Too cozy for her comfort.
“Where is Romeo?” she asked, hoping to wrap this up quickly. She assured herself that her rush to leave had everything to do with beating her mother home and absolutely nothing to do with the sexy man standing in front of her.
“He’s still in Beth’s room, under her bed. You might need a broom to get him out. I can get it for you.” He turned toward the kitchen.
“I don’t think I’ll need it.” She didn’t like the sound of using a broom to get Romeo moving. Hopefully she could manage with far less drastic actions.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I’ll just go see about getting him.”
She went to move past Avery, but with him standing behind the couch, there wasn’t much room between him and the wall. Not about to let on that it bothered her being this close to him, she forged ahead.
As she did, she got a whiff of his woodsy cologne. Mm… She kept moving, but her thoughts centered on the pleasing yet complex scent with its hints of fresh-cut cedar and other earthy tones mixed with his unique scent. It was quite a heady mixture.
Realizing she was letting her mind drift into dangerous territory, she reined it in. She focused on retrieving the cat. Knowing every inch of the house, Jillian made her way to the back bedroom. Painted in purple and trimmed in white, it too was mostly as she remembered it. A new white comforter with large purple polka dots was the only notable difference. And there on the bed sat Marshmallow on a pillow while Romeo was curled up in the middle of the bed.
“There you are. You look mighty pleased with yourself.”
Romeo blinked his golden eyes.
Behind her, Jillian heard Avery’s uneven footsteps. She turned to him. “I thought Romeo was hiding?”
“He was. I swear.”
“Uh-huh. Then how do you explain this?” She moved aside so Avery could see both cats on the bed.
“Seems as though Romeo is making progress.”
“Progress?”
Avery nodded. “It appears he has the hots for Marshmallow, but she isn’t having any part of it.”
Jillian’s gaze moved back to the cats. Romeo had turned his head to stare at Marshmallow. If a cat could make facial expressions, then Marshmallow was definitely frowning at Romeo. Jillian couldn’t hold back a laugh. This night was like one long, strange dream, ending with a budding feline romance. Is this what her life had become? Playing chaperone to cats?
“I don’t think this is going to work out, buddy.” Jillian moved to the bed and ran a hand over Romeo’s back. And then she moved to Marshmallow and pet her. “It’s okay, girl. I’ll get him out of your way.”
Jillian leaned forward and scooped Romeo up in her arms. He was gentle and didn’t complain at all. He really was the friendliest cat.
She turned back to Avery. “Thanks so much for taking him in on this cold night.”
“Actually, I didn’t take him in. It would appear he let himself in.” Avery smiled. “It seems he knew exactly what he wanted. I opened the door and he ran past me in the dark. I didn’t even know he was here until I went to check on Marshmallow.”
“But how would he know to come here? How would he know about Marshmallow?”
Avery grinned at her. “Maybe it was destiny.”
“Hmpf…I doubt it. It was probably more like Marshmallow was in the front window studying the neighborhood when Romeo spotted her. After all, he’s a friendly guy.” She gave him a hug. “He just wanted a friend.”
“Uh-huh. And how is that explanation any better than mine?”
For that she didn’t really have an answer. “It was just my guess.”
The fact was that once upon a time she had believed in destiny. It’s what got her through the long period of Avery not noticing her. She thought if she was patient that destiny would intervene and he’d finally open his eyes. Ha! What a dreamer she’d been. Now she was more realistic and kept her feet planted firmly on the ground.
Jillian moved to the doorway where Avery was standing. Not about to brush past him again, she paused. Once he moved, she continued on her way. When she reached the dining area, she glanced toward the kitchen where she’d spent so much time preparing meals for Avery’s brother and sister.
There were drop cloths, tools, and a ladder. It stirred her curiosity. “Was there a problem in the kitchen?”
“Not really. It’s just that it still had all the original appliances and décor from when my parents bought this place thirty-some years ago. So I’m updating it in my spare time.”
“That’s great. You always were good with your hands.” And then realizing she was making excuses not to make her way out the door, she started moving again. It wasn’t until she was at the front door that she paused. It would be rude to just rush off.
She turned to Avery, who was lagging behind her. “Is there anything I can get you before I leave?”
He shook his head. “I’m just going to grab an ice pack and settle down in front of the television.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed there was now a large-screen television mounted above the fireplace. The room had been painted a tan shade with white trim. It looked really nice. There appeared to be a number of changes afoot. She’d just been a bit nervous and missed them when she’d first arrived.
Jillian wondered why Avery was making all of these improvements. He was a cowboy from the strands of his wavy brown hair to the tips of his scuffed-up cowboy boots. She’d always thought once Beth and Jordan grew up that he would move outside of town. She wondered what kept him here in this house. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask, but she resisted the temptation. His life was none of her concern. He’d made that clear a long time ago.
She recalled when she’d finally worked up the courage to make the first move with Avery. It’d been a few years after she’d started working for him and the annual Christmas Stroll had been coming up. She recalled how nervous she’d been with her stomach tied up in knots.
And then the opportunity had presented itself. Both teenagers had been visiting friends and Avery had just returned home from working on the Crooked S. She recalled the evening with crystal clarity. A pot of stew had been simmering in the slow cooker while a fresh loaf of bread was baking in the bread machine. The laundry had been done and the house picked up. She’d waited until Avery grabbed a shower and then she’d invited him to go to the stroll with her.
At first, he hadn’t said anything. She’d willed him to agree. And then he shook his head and glanced away. He’d said it wasn’t a good idea with them working together. He didn’t want to mess up a good thing.
It’d hurt and things had been awkward for a while, but with time she’d accepted that it was a case of bad timing. After all, he’d never said that he wasn’t interested. And so she’d waited—the kids weren’t going to need her much longer.
But when he shook her hand on her last day of work for him, the message was clear. There would never be anything romantic between them. The knowledge had sliced through her heart. All of that time, he’d left her waiting and hoping. She’d felt like such a fool. It was then that she’d vowed to move on and start dating again.
She turned back to Avery. “I should go. Tomorrow’s gearing up to be a big day with the grand opening.”
Avery paused. Was he disappointed that she was leaving so soon? And then he said, “I hope it goes well.”
“Thanks. Okay. Well, thanks again. I hope you’re feeling better soon.”
Once outside, she tried to shield Romeo with her coat as best she could from the cold breeze. Lucky for her, he took it all in stride. She had no problems getting Romeo in the car. She placed him on the passenger seat. As she started the engine, Romeo decided to go explore the back seat.
Jillian slowly navigated her way home over the slick roadways. When she pulled into the driveway, she glanced at her mother’s house. The lights were still out. Yes!
Jillian smiled. She’d done it. Thanks to Avery.
Now to get Romeo inside her little apartment without any further mishaps.