Accidentally Hers (Sterling Canyon #1) (23 page)

“Don’t apologize for being worried about your family. Besides, your problems
are
my problems.” He hugged her again, his firm embrace somehow steadying her erratic emotions. “I’m sorry I can’t do anything to help.”

When she stiffened a bit, he asked, “What?
Is
there something I can do?”

The memory of his disappointment when she’d last inserted herself in his legal matters flashed like a road construction warning light. “Never mind. Where are the plates? Let’s reheat this food. I have to get back in thirty-five minutes.”

“Avery, stop.” He gently squeezed her arms. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

“It’s more like what I don’t want you to do, or to have already done.” She glanced at the floor, shifting her weight to one leg.

Grey reached out to tip up her chin. “I promise you can trust me.”

His gray eyes focused on her face, scanning every millimeter as if he were searching for the key to unlock her thoughts, making it impossible for her to hide.

“Andy thinks maybe you’re one of the reasons his lawyers are having trouble with the prosecutor. I told him you wouldn’t do that. I know he’s not your favorite person, but you didn’t go to the prosecutor and insist they play hardball, did you?”

“No.” Grey stepped back, his expression disheartened. “I told you from the beginning, I’m not out to hurt anyone. Especially not someone so important to you. The only things that matter to me are you and my business. Seeing your brother rot in jail isn’t going to do squat for my bottom line, and it sure wouldn’t make me someone you’d want to spend time with, would it?”

Even though she’d known in her heart Grey wouldn’t seek vengeance, hearing him confirm it lifted her spirits. She hugged him tight. “Thank you.”

His arms locked around her waist. “Listen carefully, Bambi. I’ll
never
intentionally hurt you or the people you love. No matter what.” He kissed her head and then nuzzled against her neck. “Feel better?”

She nodded, inhaling the scent of his skin. Funny how his scent settled her so quickly. If her stomach hadn’t growled, she could’ve stayed locked in his embrace all day. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

“Okay.” He used a spatula to plate the food to reheat in the microwave. Although he’d just been cuddling her and making promises, his furrowed brow indicated discomfort.

“You seemed preoccupied.”

He waved it off. “Nothing, just thinking about stuff.”

“Stuff? Did something happen this morning, or last night with Trip?”

“Both, actually.” He grabbed silverware from a messy drawer and set it on the counter. Rubbing one hand over his face, he sighed. “I heard from my lawyer this morning about a settlement offer from the OS. It’s not as much as I’d been counting on.”

“Oh.” She waited, afraid of saying the wrong thing. Of course, Grey’s anxious expression proved they both realized this news could affect her entire family down the road.

“If I knew for sure I’d be skiing again—this year or, at the very least, next—I’d take your brother’s insurance money and call it a day. But I might not be able to lead out-of-bounds teams again, ever. If that’s the case, I need a lot more compensation because then this injury truly screws with my life—personally and professionally. Between my dyslexia and lack of college education, I’ve got no plan B. So, I can’t settle until I know about this knee—or win the lottery.” He accompanied the deadpan delivery with a quirk of one side of his mouth. “I asked Donner for a prognosis, but he won’t make any guarantees, just like you never would.”

The microwave beeped, so Grey retrieved their lunch and took a seat. His posture, slumped over the plate, warned her to tread lightly. Avery sat beside him, absorbing his last remarks in silence.

Her brother had screwed up Grey’s life. Deep down she knew there was a possibility his knee might never handle skiing his way. Setting aside Grey’s professional concerns, how bitter might he become if he couldn’t pursue his passions? How much might he come to resent Andy, her family, and possibly her?

Her stomach now churned with a fresh wave of doubts, so she barely picked at the lunch she’d been craving minutes earlier. She glanced at Grey, who was shoveling giant bites into his mouth.

“This is great.” He squeezed her thigh with one hand. “Thanks.”

“You’
re welcome.
” She placed her hand on his forearm. “Grey, I know you’re frustrated. But as I told you in March, you should expect nine to twelve months of recovery and therapy before you’ll be able to truly test your knee. You’ve got to be patient and keep working. I believe in my gut that you will ski again—even in the backcountry—although I’ve got to tell you, I’m not keen on you putting yourself in the middle of avalanche danger on a regular basis.”

He grinned, cupped the back of her neck, and pulled her into a kiss made spicy by the lunch he’d devoured. “Thanks, Bambi.”

“Sure. So now tell me what happened last night? Did a posse of angry women chase you and Trip out of all the bars?”

“Nope.” Grey chuckled. “Beer and pool, just like I promised.”

“So what was the problem?”

He set his fork down and sighed. “Your ex was bartending. Seems he’s planning on sticking around for a while.”

“Oh, brother.” Avery waved her hand in the air. “He’s clueless.”

“He’s pretty convinced everything’s not dead between you two. I need you to tell me straight up if there’s any part of you that still cares about him.” Grey reflexively twisted his bracelet around his wrist, subconsciously turning to Juliette whenever he felt discomfort. “I’d understand. I know you can’t always get over loving someone just because you want to. And I’m willing to fight for you, but I need to know exactly what I’m up against. Don’t sucker punch me later with the fact that he still means something to you.”

She met Grey’s even gaze, her breath catching in the face of a man so straightforward. So open. So sincere.

Being jealous of Grey’s enduring affection for Juliette’s ghost wouldn’t help Avery move forward. She had to choose to see it as a positive sign of his capacity for love rather than fearing it as something she could never match. To earn his love, she needed to be honest.

“I’m grateful he’s been a friend to Andy now, when so many others have shied away, and I remember some good times. However, what I once thought we had was never what it should have been. It was comfortable, but it wasn’t true.”

“Okay.” Grey pushed his plate aside, tugged her close, and wrapped his legs around her hips. “I feel better.”

“Me too.” She wound her arms behind his neck and kissed him.

“Can we take this to my bedroom?” he asked.

She glanced at her watch. “T-minus twenty minutes.”

“I can work with that.”

Chapter Nineteen

“You’ve had that slaphappy look on your face for the past few weeks now. If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you were stoned.” Trip shook his head and tossed his hat aside. “Let me guess, you were just talking to Avery.”

Grey shook his head and reached into the bottom desk drawer for a grape Tootsie Pop.

Trip glanced at his watch. “It’s only ten o’clock. Can’t you wait until after lunch before chain-eating those things?”

“I’m celebrating.” Grey smiled and grabbed another lollipop to hand to Trip, eager to share his good news. “Care to join me?”

“For later.” Trip tucked the Tootsie Pop in his front pocket before sitting down. “What are we celebrating?”

“I just hung up with the president of Denver’s Daring Denizens.” He leaned forward and drummed his hands on the desktop for emphasis, only to be met by Trip’s puzzled expression.

“Who or what is the triple D?” Trip shifted in his seat, raising crossed fingers while joking, “Please say it’s a group of strippers.”

Grey shook his head. “You think my candy habit’s a problem, but your sex-capades will cause a lot more trouble—for your health and your sanity.” Grey stretched his hands over his head, cracking his knuckles. “‘Triple D’ is a group of adrenaline addicts living around Denver. They organize all kinds of adventures for their membership of twenty-five hundred
and growing
. Backtrax is now on their list of certified program providers. They’ve just booked three large groups for September climbing trips with a promise to plan several winter ski trips, too. If I keep tapping into these kinds of groups, I can build a solid following by word of mouth. Repeat customers, that’s the key.”

“Well, this
does
deserve a celebration.” Trip rested one big cowboy boot across his opposite knee. “Maybe we should bring some bubbly to the jazz festival tonight.”

“Avery is finally introducing me to her brother, so I’m not going to make him uncomfortable by drinking.” Grey started sifting through one pile of mail on his desk. “You coming with us, or just meeting us there? Kelsey and their friend Emma will be staking out a good spot and marking it with a bunch of red balloons so we can find them.”

“Eh. No booze on top of the fact that jazz isn’t really my thing makes it a less-than-exciting proposition.”

“Not enough twang and tears for you, I suppose. But apparently the whole town comes out.” Grey then joked, “Seems like having all the women corralled in one place would be right up your alley.”

“Good point. Guess I’ll slip in toward the latter half and see where the night leads.”

Grey chuckled, then his gaze fixed on an envelope from Pyramid Insurance. He tore it open and withdrew the check he’d been expecting. Normally a healthy five-figure check would have him doing somersaults. Not this check.

“What’s that?” Trip leaned forward as if sensing money.

“
OS settlement check.
” Grey tossed it on the desk and watched Trip check out the amount.

“Seems a little light considering how badly that bartender screwed up.” He sat back and laced his hands behind his head. “Sorry, Grey. I know you’ve been hoping to avoid filing a suit against Avery’s brother.”

Grey crossed his arms, uninterested in another lecture about money. Trip just didn’t appreciate Avery’s importance in Grey’s life. There’d been other women since Juliette, but none that made him think about the future. None that made him feel everything more intensely. None that made all other women invisible.

“Not too long ago I’d assumed we’d be in the red by this point.” Grey clicked off the screen and picked up the check. “I’ll use this insurance money to settle some of the debts I’ve racked up because of my knee. But thanks in large part to your efforts, it’s not impossible to think we can keep Backtrax afloat until I’m fully back in the game, even
if
I choose to settle for Randall’s twenty-five grand.”

Trip scrubbed his hands over his face; his irked tone grated through the room. “You’ve guaranteed a big loan, Grey. And you still don’t know whether you’ll get full use of your knee back. Wouldn’t it be better to have a bigger buffer?” He tapped his pointer finger against the desk several times. “Quit putting Avery’s needs ahead of your own. If she cares as much about you as you care for her—she’ll want you to be treated fairly. She’ll want you to have some breathing room and not risk everything just so she can keep her house. It’s just a house, for God’s sake.”

“It’s her
childhood
home.” Grey sat back, crossing his arms again, fully aware she’d yet to invite him there. She’d kept him away, as if she were protecting it—and her heart—from him. So unlike Juliette. He didn’t know how to handle his disappointment about that distance, or how to make inroads beneath her defenses. “If her family loses it because of me, it’ll be over between us.”

“If that happens, it’s because of Andy, not you.” Trip planted both feet on the ground and placed his elbows on the desk. “I’m serious, Grey. Don’t you make any decisions until your doctor gives you the final call on your knee.”

Grey raised one hand. “Stop. I haven’t made a decision yet, and I don’t want to go ten rounds with you about it now. Let’s change the subject and talk about how we’re going to handle these new bookings.” When Trip nodded, albeit reluctantly, Grey continued. “I’m still limited physically, but Donner’s giving me a green light to do some light climbing in another two weeks.”

“Now
there’s
something to celebrate.” Trip high-fived Grey and then they started to brainstorm ways to devise climbing trips to accommodate various levels of expertise.

Later that evening, Avery sat between Grey’s legs, leaning against his chest while listening to the second band in the lineup. Last year, she’d begrudgingly attended the festival, still smarting from Matt’s rejection. She winced at the memory, recalling the various looks of pity and curiosity she’d endured.

Now the sexiest, most caring man she’d ever met was cuddling her on a blanket in the middle of the crowd. Although he appeared to be enjoying the guitar riffs gently weaving through the crowd, he seemed preoccupied.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothin’.” When he looked at her, his eyes twinkled with warmth and sweetness, which washed pleasure through her like a sip of hot cocoa.

“You look distracted,” she said, touching the spot behind her ear where his murmur had tickled.

“Just disappointed your brother decided not to show up. I’d hoped to officially meet him so we could get past the rough start.”

“I bet he doesn’t want to be on display in front of the whole town. With his hearing at the end of next week, meeting you now isn’t the best timing, anyway. I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

“You’re probably right.” Grey’s smile looked unconvinced.

“Hey,
I’m
here with you. Doesn’t that count for something?”

Sliding his arms around her waist, he purred, “Yes. You make me happy.”

Avery turned to kiss him, stroking his jaw with her hand. The deep growl in the back of his throat set off a spark of heat, which sizzled as he tightened his grip on her waist.

“Hey, you two. Save it for later,” Kelsey taunted. “There are kids here, you know.”

Grey chuckled and loosened his grip. “
Sorry, ladies.
”

Kelsey and Emma were seated in folding chairs next to an open cooler containing assorted drinks and snacks. Shaman lay on the corner of the blanket, gnawing on his braided bully stick.

“Where’s Trip, Grey?” Kelsey asked as she looked up at the cluster of red balloons floating above them. “Is he colorblind or something?”

“He said he’d probably come late. Should I tell him you missed him?”

“Hardly!” Kelsey snorted, brushing off a mosquito. “But Emma here has never met the infamous ladies’ man.”

“That’s okay.” Emma blushed. “He doesn’t sound like my type.”

“What’s your type?” Grey asked, leaning back on his elbows.

“Sincere, not showy.” Emma’s blush deepened to dark red, like her hair. “Sorry, I know he’s your friend.”

“No offense taken.” Grey winked at Emma.

Avery breathed a contented sigh, pleased with how Grey had been making an effort to get to know her friends this evening. She hadn’t realized how nervous she’d been about whether Kelsey could handle being with them. Fortunately, her concerns had been unfounded. With the exception of Grey’s disappointment about not meeting Andy, the evening had been perfect so far.

“In fact,” Grey continued, “You sound a lot smarter than the women who think they can get him to settle down.”

“See, Em, that’s why dating older men makes sense. They’re settled, not still bent on proving themselves a stud.” Kelsey crossed her legs and chugged her beer.

“Did someone just call my name?” Trip’s jovial baritone voice snuck up behind them.

Beer shot from Kelsey’s nose while Shaman barked hello. Avery and Grey laughed; Emma’s cheeks turned dark purple.

Kelsey wiped her face, then quipped, “Only
you
would act like that nickname was some kind of compliment.”

Trip knelt to purr in Kelsey’s ear. “Nicknames are so interesting, aren’t they? Bambi here seems to have made peace with hers. How about you, Kelsey? Any nicknames you’re living down? I feel like there is . . . in fact, it’s on the tip of my tongue.”

Although Kelsey waved Trip away, Avery held her breath and pinched Grey, who then subtly cleared his throat. With a satisfied grin, Trip turned his attention to Emma.

His smile widened, presumably over discovering newfound prey. “This beauty must be the elusive Emma, whose breakfast food I often smell on my way out of the Weenuche.”

“Dial it back a notch or two, if that’
s possible,
” Avery replied. “You’re not her type.”

“Always with that forked tongue.” Trip tipped his cowboy hat, first at Emma, then Avery. “I think Cobra is better suited to you than Bambi.”

“Hey, now. Bambi works.” Grey sat forward, the heat of his chest warming Avery’s back.

“How about you, Emma?” Trip ignored everyone else. “Any nicknames?”

Emma shook her head and swallowed a large gulp of beer, clearly tongue-tied by Trip’s velvety voice and perfect bone structure. Her shy withdrawal seemed to capture Trip’s interest because he started to move toward her.

“I’m trying to enjoy the music!” Kelsey nudged Trip with her foot. “Not listen to your yammering attempts at seduction.”

“Don’t be jealous, sweetheart.” Trip snatched a soda from the cooler and sat next to Grey and Avery. “There’s more than enough of me to go around.”

After the group’s collective “grow up” groan, Trip had the good grace to laugh at himself. “All right, I’
m done.
”

As everyone settled in, Avery believed the evening would continue to play out as smoothly as the notes flowing from the saxophones. She should’ve known better.

“Oh,” Emma uttered as she sat up straight and waved to catch the attention of someone in the crowd. Avery followed Emma’s gaze and saw her brother and Matt only a few yards away, cutting through the horde. Apparently her brother had changed his mind.

Grey’s muscles clenched around her even as he smiled.

“Hey, Emma.” Andy nodded, grinning, then he turned toward the others. “Sis, Kels.”

“Hi,” Avery replied.

Just as an awkward pause settled over the blanket, Grey stood and extended his hand toward Andy. “Glad to finally meet you, Andy. I’m Grey. This is my friend, Trip.”

“Hi.” Andy reluctantly shook Grey’s hand and nodded at Trip, his cheeks suddenly rivaling Emma’s in hue. He glanced at Grey’s knee and then briefly met Avery’s gaze. Without looking directly at Grey, he mumbled, “I’m sorry about the accident.”

Andy’s obvious shame pulled at Avery’s heart.

“I know you are.” Grey’s relaxed expression eased the knot around Avery’
s chest.
“For your sister’s sake, let’
s set
it aside.”

When Andy’s slumped shoulders straightened a bit, she appreciated Grey’s kindness all the more. Grey then slid a less friendly glance toward Matt. “Matt.”

“Now I remember,” Trip blurted out. “The bartender from Grizzly’s! Frustrated comic.”

“Just Matt, thanks.” Matt folded his arms, sighing. His heavy gaze fell on Avery. “Evening, Avery.”

“
Hello,
” she said coolly, pulling her knees to her chest.

Matt’s presence complicated everything. Perhaps her brother could’ve become more acquainted with Grey tonight if Matt weren’t with him. Now, what already was an awkward introduction had turned tense. She aimed for brightness, but her voice sounded flatter than she’d hoped. “Andy, I’m glad you changed your mind about coming.”

“I realized this might be my last festival for a while.” He sipped his seltzer without saying more.

Just like that, the threat of his sentence hung over all of them like a dense storm cloud, causing a chilling silence.

“You don’t know what will happen.” Emma’s gentle voice drifted into the void.

Grey briefly looked away and then sat down, leaning back on his hands, strategically placing one of them behind Avery in a maneuver she suspected was, at least in part, an effort to mark his territory in front of Matt.