Bearly Consenting: Russet Falls Series (14 page)

Avery inhaled, and realized that she now smelled something
food cooking, and it smelled delicious.

“Is it okay if I set you up at the table?” Cheri asked.

Avery nodded.

A few minutes later, Cheri came back out carrying a dish of
angel hair pasta, with fresh vegetables, Parmesan and shrimp. There was also a
fresh hunk of bread with butter.

“This is crazy,” Avery said mostly to herself.

“What else can I get you to drink?” Cheri asked. “More
Sprite? Water? Wine?”

“Wine please.”

“Red or white?”

Avery paused. “White.”

She might as well go big or go home.

Dinner was delicious and she enjoyed every bite and then
stuffed herself with a slice of caramel and chocolate nut cheesecake.

She also changed out of her school clothes after eating.

Something about the food put her mind at ease, and she
slipped back into the recliner and watched the movie, thoroughly enjoying
herself. It was now dark outside, and a look at her watch told her that it was
nearly eight in the evening her time.

Which meant it was close to eleven on the east coast.

She only had about an hour left to the flight.

She watched more television, taking a blanket that was
nearby and curling up under it. She began to doze off, and next thing she knew,
Cheri was gently shaking her awake.

“I’m sorry Miss Monroe, but we are getting ready to descend
and I need your chair upright and I need you to be buckled in.”

“Of course,” Avery said groggily, sitting up and pushing the
chair up. She buckled herself in, just as she felt the plane begin to dip in
the sky.

The cabin was clean now, and Cheri was buckling herself into
her seat.

The descent was quick and painless and Avery breathed a
small sigh of relief when the wheels touched down.

Disembarking the plane was just as easy as it had been
boarding. A tall man, who introduced himself as her driver, Wayne, was waiting
at the base of the steps. He carried her bags and led her to the car that was
actually parked on the runway.

So this was how the other half lived?

He loaded the bags and held the back door open for her.

“Mr. Alexander is waiting for you,” he said kindly, as he pulled
the car out of the airport.

They made a few turns and then the New York skyline opened
up before her.

“Oh my gosh,” she breathed.

It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.

“Ever been to New York?” Wayne asked.

“No, never,” she murmured.

“You’re in for a real treat then.”

Avery craned her neck, looking at the looming buildings that
were getting closer and closer.

Everything was so tall.

And bright.

It was so much more than she had ever expected or
anticipated.

The crossed a bridge into the city, and Wayne expertly made
his way through traffic.

There were so many cabs.

Avery pressed her nose to the glass, taking it all in.

Wayne wound in and out of the streets, and then he finally
pulled the car out into what appeared to be an ally.

Huh?

He got out and came around and opened her door.

Unsure, Avery stepped out.

Where were they?

Worry flooded her.

This didn’t seem right and where was Drew?

Just then a back door opened and there stood Drew, as
handsome and tall as ever, smiling at her.

He looked ridiculously gorgeous in his business clothes,
though he wasn’t wearing a tie, and his shirt was unbuttoned at the collar.

It was incredibly sexy—as if he had unloosened just for her.

She smiled happily, moving towards him, just before he
grabbed her and embraced her.

“God I missed you,” he murmured, kissing her forehead before
kissing her on the mouth.

“I missed you too,” she pulled back to look at him. “This is
way too much.”

“What’s too much,” he asked, taking her by the hand and
pulling her into the building.

“What?” she asked incredulously. “This! Everything. The
plane!” She stopped dead in her tracks, putting her hands on her hips. “A
private plane, Drew? Are you crazy?”

“I know it seems like a lot. But I can do it, and I
want
to do it for you. Besides, a friend of mine owns the plane, and he is kind
enough to share it with me occasionally.” He winked at her.

A friend who shared a private plane with him?

She was definitely in over her head.

“It’s crazy,” she assured him.

“It’s not,” he promised. “Now follow me.” He pulled her down
the darkened hallway. “Are you tired?”

She thought about it. “No. Actually, I’m not. I’m still on
west coast time, plus I slept a bit on the plane.”

He smiled. “Good.”

They rounded a corner and an elevator came into view. Drew
pressed a button, and the metal doors slid open and they stepped inside.

“Where are we?” Avery asked. “And where are my bags?” she
suddenly asked quickly.

Drew gave her an easy smile and took her hand. “Don’t worry.
Wayne is taking your bags back to the hotel.”

She gulped.

“And this is a building that a business partner owns.”

Avery shook her head in disbelief. “How many important
people do you know? Friends that own planes, business partners who own
buildings.”

Drew gave her a sad smile. “I know plenty. You know, I own
buildings too.”

Avery’s eyes widened and her jaw nearly hit the floor.

“What?”

He nodded. “I own part of the building where my office is
located, as well as a few other office buildings and properties in Portland.”

Avery felt sick.

There was so much to Drew that she didn’t know.

“But don’t worry,” he promised, “I’ll try not to be a
pompous ass,” and he gave her a lopsided grin.

She couldn’t help it—Drew made her feel relaxed, even while
telling her that he was a major business mogul.

“Anyway, I know the guy who owns this building and he owed
me a favor.”

Avery looked at him with confusion, but her questions were
soon answered. The doors to the elevator slid open and the entire New York
skyline spilled open before.

She gasped.

“He also owns this roof top bar which he has kindly lent out
to me for the evening.”

She looked around the outdoor bar, filled with twinkling
lights, glimmering surfaces, and plush seating areas.

The place was deserted.

“He lent it to you?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes. He closed it at eleven instead of the usual two in the
morning. And he said we could have it until three.” He glanced at his watch.
“That gives us about two and a half hours-.” his voice trailed off, and Avery
blushed, her skin heating up as she felt her desire for Drew come quickly to
the surface.

“Enjoy the view,” he finished in a teasing tone.

She laughed uneasily.

He led her out onto the roof, and a soft breeze caressed her
skin, causing goose bumps to appear.

“Are you cold?” Drew asked.

She shook her head. She was just overwhelmed, and it
probably didn’t help that she was wearing a sleeveless shirt.

She had tried to pick the most sophisticated outfits from
her closet, and Lindsay had kindly lent her a few items too.

Tonight she was wearing a sleeveless silk blouse and a pair
of form-fitting jeans with black flats. It was simple, but she considered less
as more.

She hadn’t considered that they might be outside at
midnight.

Drew led her to the actual bar, and Avery admired the
twinkling lights strung overhead.

The bartender nodded at them. “What can I get you?”

Drew ordered a beer on tap and then turned to Avery.

She bit down on her lip, unsure of what to order. “I’ll just
take a glass of Shiraz, please.”

The bartender got their drinks, and Drew led Avery to a cozy
cabana and they stretched out on the cozy mattress, overlooking the city.

“I can’t believe how amazing it looks,” she breathed,
sipping her wine.

“It’s an amazing city.” He took a long sip of his beer and
looked over at her. “I’ll be gone from about eight until noon tomorrow. You’re
welcome to use my car to get around the city.”

Avery’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know,” she stammered.
“I don’t know what I would do.”

“Wayne would know plenty of places to take you. Or I could
even suggest some things if you told me what interests you.” His mouth turned
down a bit as he studied her. “But if you’re not comfortable doing that, then
you are more than welcome to just hang out in the room and adjust to the time
change. You can decide in the morning.”

Avery sipped her wine again. “Thank you. I’ll think about
it.”

Drew wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her
practically into his lap. He kissed her hair, breathing in her scent. “You have
no idea happy I am to have you here.”

“Really?”

“Really.’’ He took another long sip of his beer, and sat
there quietly. Then he turned to her, placing his beer down on the table. “Why
did you come out here?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, Avery. Tell me why you came out
here.”

Crap. He was putting her on the spot.

She squirmed uncomfortably.

“Just tell me the truth,” he said is a husky voice.

He closed his eyes, rolling his neck from side to side.

She knew that behavior.

“Are you okay?” she asked quickly, setting her own drink
down and quickly climbing onto her knees so she could look directly at him.

“I’m fine,” he said darkly, but when he opened his eyes,
they were yellow.

Avery gasped, and Drew quickly shut his eyes, pressing his
hands to his temples.

“Drew, you are not fine,” she said in a low voice. “What is
it?”

He shook his head, not speaking, his face twisted in pain.
“I can control this,” he growled, and for a minute, Avery wasn’t quite sure if
he could.

She gently rubbed his hands, murmuring, “I’m here. I’m
here.”

Finally Drew opened his eyes and looked at her. “Thank you,”
he said softly. “You have no idea how much that helps me.”

“You worry me, Drew.”

“I’m fine, really. I still want to know why you came.”

“I came because I wanted to see you!” she said with
exasperation.

Wasn’t it obvious?

Wasn’t it clear to Drew that she was falling head-over-heels
for him, against her better judgment?

That her brain was telling her to proceed with caution,
while her heart trusted with wild abandon.

“What?” he asked, his voice gruff with his own emotion.

“Isn’t it obvious?” she asked, draining her glass of wine.

Who cared?

“What?” Now Drew looked confused.

“I can’t help myself, Drew. I’ve tried to tell myself again
and again that I need to be careful. That I need to watch myself. That I was
hurt before and I can’t go through that kind of hurt again.” His face twisted
in pain, but she couldn’t help that now. “And instead, I foolishly agree to fly
across the entire damn country to see you!”

“You’re afraid, and you have every right to be so.” Drew’s
voice was heavy with sadness, and it made Avery’s own heart ache.

“But don’t you hear me?” she asked kindly. “Even though I’m
afraid, I’m here. I can’t help myself.”

“I can understand that,” Drew said. “But I’m glad that
you’re here. And I hope I can do everything in my power to prove myself to
you.”

“I need another drink,” she declared quickly. The liquid
courage was starting to flow through her and if she was truly going to speak
openly with Drew, then another glass of wine was in order.

Drew jumped up, draining his own beer and they made their
way back to the bar for their second round.

Once settled with their drinks again, Avery let herself
relax into Drew.

“I’m going to stop being afraid,” she said boldly, after she
had another long drink from her glass.

Drew studied her.

“That’s it,” she giggled a bit. She was definitely a little
tipsy.

“Just like that?” he asked cautiously.

“Well, okay, I’m still worried about getting hurt, but I’m
in.” She motioned to the two of them. “This. Whatever this is, I’m in.”

Drew smiled a huge, genuine smile, “That’s the best thing
I’ve heard all day,” he wrapped her in a hug, kissing her on the mouth.

Avery kissed him back and then pulled away. “I’m serious,
though Drew. I’m not entering into this lightly. I’m scared as hell. I need you
to understand that.”

“I do. And I appreciate your openness and your honesty with
me.” His face clouded over.

“What?” Avery didn’t expect to see such sadness.

“I’m just—’’ he paused, “There are things that I’ve done
that I’m ashamed of.” He hung his head. “I don’t want you to think less of me,
but you need to know that part of me. I can’t even share it with you, but I
want to be as open as possible.”

Avery tried to figure out what he meant. “You know you can
tell me anything.”

Drew shook his head. “Some things I can’t.” He looked
frustrated. “I literally can’t even say the words,” he exclaimed angrily.

Avery sat back, watching Drew closely. He was clearly
struggling and she didn’t know what to do.

“I honestly can’t say the words,” he told her, balling his
hands into fists. “There are other supernatural things that you don’t know
about.” He fumbled for the words, furrowing his brow. “I made decisions seven
years ago that have impacted so much. But I’m going to do right by you.”

“Hey,” she murmured, “It’s alright. I believe you.”

He looked so distraught and she took his hand, holding it
tightly.

“I know who you are Drew. What you’ve done in the past is
behind us. Let’s move forward from here.”

He nodded. “I just don’t want to let you down.”

Avery gave him a hard look, feeling the effects of the
alcohol. “Unless you plan on breaking my heart again, I don’t think you can let
me down.”