Blaze of Winter: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance (35 page)

And she didn’t seem to understand how serious he was about her.

Given that she had some pretty significant issues of her own to overcome—issues that he knew about and had chosen to slam down on her pretty head when she least expected—he could have been more sensitive. He winced. A
lot
more sensitive.

He’d been sneaking around the damn Inn for three days. And she was sneaking around too, doing everything she could to avoid seeing him. He’d have done the same thing in her position. Avery was hurting, badly, and he’d been too hung up on himself to even recognize it. He should have given her more time, slowly drawing her out of her shell until she understood that he was her man. For now, and for the rest of their lives, if she’d have him.

He wanted her to have him so very much.

After her meeting with Theresa Vasquez, Avery went straight to the LMK for a mug of hot chocolate. Sitting at the counter and sipping her drink, she glanced around. At this time of day, the place was bustling with the early-evening crowd. Rachel, one of the LMK’s most cheerful servers, flitted from table to table, taking orders, refilling coffee cups, and waving to
customers as they came through the door. Avery smiled to herself—she recognized almost everyone inside the restaurant.

After a two-hour talk with Theresa, she’d been offered the job. The center was gorgeous, state-of-the-art, and it subscribed to Avery’s own philosophy of treating the person, not just the addiction. Theresa would be a pleasure to work with, as would the other members of the staff she’d met while she was there. The job, a combined position of practice educator and senior social worker, would be challenging and interesting. It paid well and the center was a short drive from Star Harbor. In a word, the position was perfect for her, and she’d be an idiot not to take it.

So what was holding her back?

It wasn’t a cop-out to leave Boston, not when she was needed elsewhere. And she wasn’t being kept away by any unresolved issues with Mia Davenport and her family. She realized now that she couldn’t quit being a social worker. She loved it, and she was good at it, too. Surely it couldn’t be Theo who was holding her back. He’d probably be gone soon, anyway.

Something around her heart ached when she thought about Theo, and Avery tried desperately to will it away. She missed him horribly—his sly sense of humor, the way he looked at her as if she were the only woman in the universe, and most of all, the way he hadn’t given up on her, even when she’d pushed him away time and time again. But now she’d pushed him away for good, and thinking about him would be awful for her mental health. She took another sip of her beverage, just as a familiar figure sat down beside her.

“Keeping warm, girl?” Babs Kincaide asked.

“Hi, Babs,” Avery said, glad to have some company instead of being stuck inside her own head. “I’m trying to. How are you doing?”

“Well enough. I need something to warm my own bones,” she said as Rachel approached. “Coffee, please.”

Rachel gave a nod and circled around the counter with the carafe.

“It’s busy tonight,” Rachel said with a smile. “You ladies ordering dinner or just having a drink beforehand?”

“Just this for me, thanks, Rachel,” Avery said.

Babs gave Avery a quick glance. “Same here.”

“I see,” Rachel said. “Well, let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you.”

Avery nodded.

When Rachel had disappeared into the kitchen and they were alone, Babs spoke. “That Theo’s been nothing but trouble from day one.”

Avery gave her a sharp look. “So you know?”

“Girl, I know ’most everything that goes on in this little town. I knew that you two had dinner at this very spot the day after it happened.”

“Kate didn’t want you to know. She said you and the Grayson boys had history.”

Babs snorted. “Sure. History of ’em getting into trouble and me hollering. I swear, their dear mother, may she rest in peace, couldn’t handle ’em all. And speaking of Kate, she’s lucky to have you working on her behalf.”

Avery blinked. “What do you mean?” she said, her voice wary.

“You know I’m talking about Luke Bedwin.”

Avery took a sip before answering. “I didn’t do anything. Luke approached Kate on his own.” It was the truth. Mostly. No need to divulge her part. “Kate deserves to be happy and I believe that he can make her that way.”

“She’ll be happy with him, all right. The poor man’s been lovesick over her for years. He’ll treat her right, and I have no doubt that you made that known to her. But I’ll tell you something else. You need to be happy, too.”

A throbbing sadness hit her hard and fast. “It’s too late for that,” she said, blinking and turning back to her drink.

“Hardly. Anyone with eyes can see the way he looks at you. He loves you, girl, plain as day.”

“He never said so. And anyway, he’s leaving. Going back to California.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“Not in so many words.”

Babs chuckled. “If there’s one thing that man does right, it’s words. He would have told you if he were leaving.”

A spark of hope lit up inside of her, then quickly faded. It was over, and the sooner she recognized that, the better it would be for everyone. “I don’t know what his plans are, and it doesn’t matter. I need to do what’s good for me.”

Babs set her lips in a straight line. “Don’t say I didn’t tell you, girl. Never thought I’d see the day when I’d be rooting for a Grayson,” she muttered, “but here I am, and the person I’m trying to help won’t hear it.” She pushed away her coffee cup and slid off the stool. “I’m off. Give my best to Kate.”

Then she was gone.

It wasn’t until Avery prepared to leave that she realized that Babs hadn’t taken a sip of her coffee.

CHAPTER 29

Theo was depressed, but stalking down to the piers helped him shake some of the tension that had been snaking through him. The day was gray and cloudy, a perfect mirror for his mood. A few brave seabirds called out in the chilly, damp air. He thought about strapping on some skates and heading out to the pond. It had always been a surefire relaxation method before. But something told him it wouldn’t work this time. Avery had snuck her way into his heart so insidiously, he couldn’t believe how much not having her hurt. But why now? Why this woman?

It was more than the fact that he’d been so wrapped up in himself in the past that he hadn’t been open to real love. It was Avery—everything about her fit just right. The curve of her lips when she found something amusing. That tinkling, fairy laugh. Her innate kindness. The sparkle in her eye when she challenged him. The way she encouraged others to open up and confront their inner selves, even though she was afraid to do the same. Man, he loved everything about her—even her flare of temper when he teased her.

Saturday night hadn’t been a tease. It had been an all-out onslaught, and she’d fled from him. Sighing, he leaned on the railing of Mutterman’s Pier and gazed out over the harbor. Without realizing it, he’d returned to his favorite childhood spot—his thinking place. This was where he’d go for a few minutes away from his rowdy brothers when he needed some breathing room. His dad had always known where to find him. Right at the end of this pier.

Family. He wanted one of his own, and it tugged at his heart. Being back in Star Harbor had done this to him. Had made him realize who he really was and what he truly cared about. Returning to his old life wasn’t an option at this point. He was staying right where he was, and there was only one woman he wanted, in his bed, in his life: Avery.

The only problem was that he’d driven her away.

What could he do to make her see that he’d changed? What could he do to get her to accept that he was willing to wait for her as long as it took? And where the hell was Val when he needed his advice? Probably off on some super-secret DEA mission.

Pondering the serious question of what to do about Avery required something strong to drink. Luckily, he was close to the Nail. Giving the water a final glance, he walked back down the pier and into the warm, dry tavern.

Andy greeted him as soon as he walked in.

“Theo. You’re here early. Hate to say it, but it isn’t your style to be drinking this early in the day.”

“I just needed a warm place to think,” Theo responded, shucking off his coat and throwing it on an empty stool before sliding onto the one next to it.

“Library wasn’t cutting it?” Andy asked with a laugh.

“This isn’t an academic problem.”

Andy let out a low whistle. “Oh, boy, you got it bad.”

Could the man see right through him? He’d given up trying to understand how people in Star Harbor knew so much. “You might say that,” Theo said wryly. “Unfortunately, she and I aren’t seeing eye-to-eye right now.”

“Told you that one had a mind of her own.” Andy gave him a sympathetic look. “Can I give you some advice?”

“Sure.” He had nothing to lose at this point. “Lay it on me.”

“Apologize.”

“What?”

“Apologize,” he repeated. “For whatever it was that you did.”

“How do you know I was the one in the wrong?” Theo asked indignantly. Andy just gave him a look. Theo slouched in his seat. “I need a beer.”

“Damn right you need a beer.” Andy pulled a frosty glass out from behind the counter and began to fill it from the tap. “But you best drink it quickly. I’m closing up early tonight for the concert.”

“Concert?”

“You’re in such bad shape you don’t even know she’s performing tonight. Episcopal Church. Seven o’clock. If I were you, I’d stop by Martins’ Market to get some flowers for afterward. Nice ones.”

“Nice ones, huh?” Theo said, his lip curling up.

Andy put his elbows on the bar and looked Theo dead in the eye. “Real nice ones.”

That night Theo changed into corduroy pants and a collared shirt before pulling on a sweater and his jacket. He went down to the first floor of the Inn, taking the steps two at a time. As he walked through the foyer, he ran into the Southern couple.

“Howdy, T. R.,” the man said to him. “You headin’ out tonight?”

“Yes, I am. Going to the holiday concert at the church. Are you planning to go?”

“We’d forgotten the concert was tonight,” Bess said.

“You should come,” Theo said. “Avery is playing.”

“Her playin’ was wonderful. What time does the concert start?”

“Seven.”

“Oh, we’re going,” Bess said to her husband. “It’ll be a real treat. As it is, we’re just thrilled that we’re goin’ to have a white Christmas.”

“See you there,” Theo said, leaving out the front door. He couldn’t linger; he had a few stops to make before concert time. First he stopped in at the LMK to grab a bite to eat. The place was crowded—everyone probably had the same idea—so he wolfed down a sandwich at the
counter. Laying his money down next to his empty plate, he gave a quick wave goodbye to Lexie and Buster before making his way to Martins’ Market. Andy was older and sometimes crotchety, but he did have some good ideas. Theo wanted to win Avery back, and flowers were a good place to start.

To her credit, Joanne Martins didn’t say a word as he paid for the luscious bouquet of deep-red ranunculus flowers. She must have known who they were for, but she just smiled and told him to have a nice evening. He was sure he’d see her at the concert later, but she hadn’t even mentioned it. Despite their tendency to gossip, Star Harbor folks could keep their mouths shut when the situation warranted it.

The dull, gray day had shaped up to be a gorgeous, clear night, and he lightened his step. Theo felt a true sense of belonging as he joined the small groups of people walking toward the church on the far side of the Green. The old building, with its snow-covered roof, was decked out for the holiday. Wreaths were hanging on every window and two huge ones covered the double front doors. A couple of older women he didn’t recognize were outside taking donations for the concert. Handing one of them a bill, he climbed the worn, wooden steps.

The bottom floor of the church was already packed full by the time he got inside. Spotting Cole, he gave a wave. Unfortunately, there weren’t any seats available near his brother, so Theo headed up to the balcony. That was almost full too, but he managed to snare a single seat near the back.