Seductive Secrets (The Debonair Series Book 3) Page 4

  No. I want you to leave me alone and let me drown in humiliation.

  “No. I’m fine. Really.”

  “At least come inside and get some water, Avery.” The way Max says my name knots my stomach. “Cool off a bit.”

  I’m going to puke. I hate myself right now. I hate my plight. I hate he’s seen me. I hate this entire situation I didn’t want to be in in the first place. I swallow every bit of my dignity and lift my view to him. “Thanks, but I’m fine.” The words burn out of my throat but cross my lips smoothly.

  He shows no emotions as I’m dying a slow death of chagrin. I blink away and drop back down to edge out the next area. I’m silently cussing that stupid wasp, cussing the damn universe for making me the butt end of its horrible joke, pissed at my brother for making me come, and resenting the fact that I’m actually hungry and thirsty.

  I blow a vanquished breath through my nose. “Let me finish this line and I’ll be in.” This way Max won’t be around to further my embarrassment.

  “Okay,” Ryan says and leaves.

  Fifteen minutes later, I walk down the corridor heading for the entrance. My arm burns, the sting throbbing, and I rub it. Funny how the universe enjoys throwing curveballs straight to the face…

  Suddenly, Max steps in beside me with his hands in his pockets. My heart is in my throat as his gorgeous brown eyes pierce me with questions. “Should I call you Avery or Cinderella?” His tone is laced with displeased amusement.

  The entrance feels like it’s backing away from me and my feet feel twenty pounds heavier. “My carriage ride was about to turn into a pumpkin.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  His feet stop and like an invisible rope is tethered around my waist, it seizes my steps. I look to the ceiling, willing myself for strength. “Because I needed to.”

  “That was clear, but why?”

  “I owe you no explanation, only an apology.”

  Maddi is and will always be what I protect. No way I’m telling him that my babysitter’s time was up. Men find out who I am and they want what they think my life is about. They’ve used me, tried swindling me into a date for bragging rights, inadvertently putting my daughter’s emotional well-being in danger. I keep her so deeply private, not even the papers know. She’s my world, and if anything were to ever happen to her or she got her heart broken over my mistakes, I’d never forgive myself.

  “I searched for you,” he says simply.

  “I’m sure not for long.”

  His eyes roam my body from head to toe.

  “Not as fascinating now, am I?” Well, that was bitchy.

  He smiles. “Actually, yes. You are.”

  I expel an incredulous snort through my nose. “My brother is waiting on me.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder.

  When he begins to walk, that invisible rope tugs me again, and I fall into step beside him. He pulls open the door, gesturing for me to enter first. The place smells divine, the scent of delicious foods triggering my stomach to growl.

  Ryan and Marco are sitting at a table in the back, close to where Max and I danced. They’re already eating as I make my way to them.

  Max pulls out the chair and flashes a sweet smile. “I’ll have Marcy take your order. It’s good to see you again.”

  His stare lingers briefly before he strides away. And it’s just in the nick of time. I’m a bundle of pent-up sexual energy, my body about to explode from the lust he has me experiencing.

  “Again?” Ryan says suspiciously.

  I nod. “Your wife dragged me here about a month ago. Remember? I met him then.”

  “Please tell me he’s not the one you stood up.”

  Rolling my lips between my teeth, I cock my head to the side. “Then what type of lie would you like for me to replace the truth with?”

  Pained, he closes his eyes. “Shit. I bet you just cost me this job.”

  “What happened to pimping me out? Not such a grand idea after all?” I deadpan. He glowers at me and it causes me to giggle. “You do high-end properties all the time. What are you so worried about?”

  He levels a brotherly look on me, one where he’s serious as ever and really wants to reprimand me, but can’t because…well, I’m the baby sister he loves so much. “Nothing quite as notable as Lauder Wineries. This place is incredibly popular and to have my work showcased here is a privilege.”

  “Calm your titties, Ryan. I talked with him outside. He didn’t seem upset. You’ll be fine.”

  He opens his mouth to say something but abandons the idea and shoves a bite of his sandwich in his mouth.

  The rest of my lunch goes by without seeing Max.

  Ryan and I finish the garden, still without seeing Max again.

  However, driving to get Maddi from school, Max shows up all over my thoughts.

  Max

  “You seem off. You good?” Jade asks, poking her head into the office.

  I know I’ve been off. I feel it. My world got turned upside down yesterday when I found myself face to face with Avery. Just as quickly as she disappeared the night of the fundraiser, she reappeared like a ghost from my dreams. As lunatic as it sounds, I’ve been looking for her, hoping she’d pop through the doors, show up at the bars, or hell, walk down the sidewalks as I drive to and from work. I can’t explain why she’s been on my mind so deeply, but whatever lure she had on me that night, I haven’t been able to shake. It’s as if my world shifted. It felt like my purpose was rerouted.

  Sounds fucking ridiculous. Trust me. I know.

  “Yeah. I’m good. Been busy thinking of what I want to do with the new land. I thought I had it all planned out but now that I have it, other ideas seem just as good.”

  Jade plops her ass into the chair across from my desk, her face lit up as thousands of ideas cross her mind. “What about a hotel or cabins? People can stay and experience the Lauder Winery at night. It could be romantic or just really cool.”

  I smile. My sister has always done well staying parallel with my thoughts. “My original plan was a hotel.”

  “That or cabins. They can eat here, tour the grounds, stay in an elegant upscale cabin.” She bobbles her head. “We could mix them up. Elegant, homey, modern, artistic, romantic, hunteristic. I mean the list goes on and we give the choice to the people.”

  “Hunteristic?” I chuckle.

  “Deer heads. Bear heads. Wildlife that hunters kill to give it that backwoods feel.”

  She’s got a solid plan.

  “And…maybe you could build you a home somewhere within those acres.”

  I laugh. “You’re starting to sound like Zach. He’s been trying to convince me for years.”

  “It makes perfect sense if you think about it. No neighbors, no landlords—”

  “Nobody to answer to,” I take the words out of her mouth, repeating the same spill Zach has given me all these years. “And I can design it how I want and live by my rules.”

  She sighs. “It’s got to sound more enticing to you.”

  “Have you forgotten the very reasons why you didn’t want your own place? When would I find the time to fix things when they break or mow? I’m a busy man, Jade.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You sound like a highfalutin loser. You have the time to fix things and you could hire the same landscapers you use here. You like them, right? They do a good job.”

  Thoughts of Avery’s sexy ass dirty from my soil definitely entices me. I would call for work on a weekly basis, offer her water and give her a tour of my sheets.

  “Earth to Max. Where are you?”

  I blink back to my sister, clearing away the daydream.

  Jade purses her lips. “Standing on the front porch listening to nature?” She has so much hope in her eyes.

  “Let me focus on one project at a time. I could expand the vineyards. It’ll help with production, therefore, bring in extra profits.”

  “Yeah and have them in view of the cabins. Make it a truly romantic experience.” She scrunches h
er nose. “There’s a house on the land, right? Please don’t put your future on hold. You’re always thinking of the winery before you. Stop just for one second and think of you first.”

  I tap the end of my pen on the desk. “Are you willing to manage those cabins? If not, I’ll need to hire a manager and staff for them.”

  My sister’s light brown eyes widen. “I-um…Will I still be the tasting and party room manager?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s a lot to think about.”

  She stands and straightens her skirt. “I’m on board wherever you lead us. I’ll do what you need me to do.”

  After she exits, my mind sinks back onto the woman who has perched her ass right on the ledge of my consciousness. I need to get her out of my system and that’s going to consist of fucking her or fucking someone else. I grab my phone and scroll through the names.

  Ashley.

  Bridget.

  Felicity.

  None of them stir my dick.

  Tossing my phone back onto my desk, I rake my hands over my face. It’s useless and it’s going to make me do something I don’t normally do—give in to the urge and pursue. Aggravated, I jerk up the phone receiver, dial the florist, and order a dozen roses to be delivered to her work along with a message on the card for dinner.

  Three days and I’ve not heard from Avery, and it’s causing me to be edgy as hell. I’ve lost sleep and a ton of time thinking about the mysterious woman who is absolutely testing my patience. I don’t do well waiting. I don’t pursue. I don’t chase. And I sure the fuck don’t sit here and sulk in clear, uncertain expectancy. I haven’t done any of this since my freshman year in college when Nicole decided she needed a break. Code words for screw other guys. The very night she asked for the break, she fucked someone else. How do I know? She was stupid enough to bang a friend. He was stupid enough to tell me about it. And I was pissed enough to kick his ass.

  What a waste of energy.

  Relationships take effort to maintain, and personally, I don’t care to see the disappointment in a woman’s eyes when I’m unable to meet their social expectations.

  My phone vibrates against my desk causing a hell of a racket. “Yeah, man,” I answer Easton’s call.

  “Meet up this weekend at Lucy’s?”

  “What’s the occasion?” I ask, knowing something must be up. Since he got married a few years ago, wedded bliss has taken him hostage. I’m not complaining though. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time. Zoey is good for him.

  “I need some bro-time. Zoey’s been talking about kids again. I need an escape.”

  This has been an on again, off again conversation between the two. She’s ready to start a family and he’s petrified. Kids scare him. He believes because he and his father had a hostile relationship before he died, that he’ll be a shitty father.

  “Are you sneaking out? Do I need to hide down the street like we’re in high school again?”

  A chuckle rumbles. “Nah. I’ll tell her you needed to talk. She’ll be fine with it then.”

  “You’re going to lie?” I sniff. “I smell your blood in the air.”

  “You may be right.”

  “I’ll be at the funeral. Any words you’d like for me to say?”

  “Just that I was a good guy and I loved my crazy wife. I’ll swing by and get you Saturday.”

  I’m laughing as we hang up and the moment I put my phone on the desk, Jade yells out. “You off the phone yet?”

  “I am now.”

  “You have a visitor,” she sings from down the hall and instantly I explode into a smile.

  “Mmmmmaaaassss,” Caleb, my nephew, comes screaming through the door and straight into my hug.

  I scoop him up. “What’s up, tyke?” I kiss his chubby cheek. “Whatcha do today? Anything good?”

  “Pway.”

  “Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve loved to play with you rather than work.”

  He smiles and points down to the ground. “Daddy.”

  “I’m cooler than Dad, dude,” I tease.

  “Dooonut.”

  I laugh and send a flurry of kisses into his neck. He squeals, laughing and kicking his feet as I carry him back to Jade’s office. Zach sits on the couch with his arms spread across the back and his ankle thrown over a knee.

  “The boy wants his dad and a donut.”

  Zach drops his head to the back of the couch and lets out a long grunt. “This kid eats so freaking much.”

  Jade snickers. “Now you see how my boobs felt.”

  Handing Caleb to Zach, I cut my eyes to Jade. “And my sister’s boobs are my cue to leave.”

  I’m halfway out the door when Zach calls out, stopping me, “You get a call from Easton?”

  “You too, huh?”

  “You in?”

  “Of course.” I grin and leave, heading out to the restaurant to check in on things.

  Avery

  After a morning of the guys shooting the shit over their coffee, the office is finally quiet and I can get to work. With the mess cleaned and cleared, I know where to start and know my day isn’t going to be hard.

  I’m in the middle of entering invoices into the system when the front door chimes. Mentally, I count the seconds before someone enters my office—the only door off the lobby. I rush, finishing the last digits, and push away from my desk. I’m looking down at my skirt, straightening it as I round the corner and glance up.

  My breath rushes out of me. “Max!” I yelp, slapping a hand to my chest. “What are you doing here? Ryan should be at your place.”

  His view flicks to the flowers sitting on my desk. “I know. He told me you were here today.”

  “Oh. Um. What can I help you with?”

  “I’d like a date.”

  There’s no please. It’s not a question. Nothing. Just a simple demand. And I’m fighting off a short circuit it’s caused. “You drove here just to ask me on a date?”

  He smirks slyly, his lips full of confidence. “Considering I wasn’t sure you received the flowers that contained a card with my phone number on it, yeah.”

  God, he’s sexy as sin. A smile plays on his lips as his jawline flexes. He stands with his hands in his pockets, his broad shoulders relaxed. He exudes confidence and is deliciously attractive. So much more than I remember.

  There’s electricity splintering the air around us, my body highly aware and vibrating on the inside. If he’s this damn sexy with clothes on, I bet he’s magnificent without them.

  As he soaks me in, he leaves a sizzle on my skin in his wake. My chest feels heavy under his stare, my knees weakening.

  I swallow, fighting off the desire he’s triggering. “You think flowers and a card automatically warrant a call back?”

  His lips stretch tightly, and his eyes darken with arousal and smugness. “No. But what you’re feeling does.”

  There’s no damn way he knows what my body is feeling. “And what’s that?”

  Slowly he strides to the flowers and runs the backs of his fingers across the petals. My cheeks heat up from jealousy, wishing my skin was getting to experience the feel of his touch. He glances up from under his lashes and smirks like he knows I’m at war with myself.

  He straightens himself. “Chemistry. Attraction. Insurmountable desire,” he says as if he’s privy to my body.

  Surprised, my lips part. He’s one hundred percent right. My body’s a traitor, turning on the “vacant for too damn long” sign, and he spotted the glow.

  Tilting my head, I smirk. “Are you saying that’s what you feel?”

  I need air.

  A ghost of a smile tugs the corners of his lips. I’m quickly realizing that smirk has powers. Rip my clothes off and throw myself at him powers. Dangerous powers. “Why would I be standing here if I didn’t?” His tone is smooth with charm.

  I’m left speechless while my mind computes what he just said.

  “You’re very evasive, Avery.”

  My name from his mouth—
low, sexy, tempting…

  I’ve got to collect myself.

  “So, Cinderella. Would you like to have dinner with me?”

  This pull is baffling yet exhilarating and it’s leaving me bare with excitement, wanting so much more. It’s nothing I’ve ever experienced. “When?” I hear myself say.

  “Tonight.”

  I shake my head. “I can’t.”

  His eyes tell nothing. “Then when?”

  Every Saturday, Ryan and Miranda take Maddi to the park to give me time to clean the house. Over the years, I learned she wins the award for the best surface cleaner around as I end up finding random things stuffed in odd places.

  “Saturday. But a lunch,” I quickly add. Not only is it the only time I have, it’s safe to say I won’t be tempted to surrender to an Avery special.

  His lips tic, but never raise into a full smile. Thoughts of nibbling on them cause my heart to flutter and my stomach to dip. “Where would you like me to pick you up?”

  “From the parking lot where you choose,” I say simply.

  His left brow raises. “Sierra’s at noon?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  I’m finally able to take a breath as air rushes into my lungs when he leaves. Holy shit this man…

  My nerves are shot and have been since last night. After talking to Raven for an hour in hopes of calming myself, I tossed and turned for the most part of the night. Every time I closed my eyes, Max was there, standing with his hands in his suit pockets and piercing me with a look of seduction. Ridiculous. Even in my thoughts, he’s able to give me butterflies. Once I was finally able to fall asleep, Maddi woke me up at the butt crack of dawn for something to eat, only to awaken my nerves along with me.

  I passed the time watching a few episodes of Maddi’s favorite show about a girl and her best friend hosting their own internet show and running into all types of issues. Then when my legs finally itched to move and I couldn’t sit still any longer, I pulled out some paper and had her coloring. It’s cathartic for the mind. With each stroke of crayon, I slowly forgot what the day held as I listened to my little girl talk about her future.