Reed (The Love Family Series Book 4) (8 page)

Chapter 13

The private airport on the Island was nice and deserted, leaving them with a quiet lull. The torrential rain that had passed through had left everything fresh and alive. The smell of the surf and trees nearby reminded him why he loved this place and had never left.

Reed shoved his key in the ignition, and for a brief moment, enjoyed the lack of apprehension that had been riding him the last few days. “You know your snores sound like thunder.”

Avery’s mouth parted at the audacity of his accusation. “I don’t snore.”

Reed leaned over, in his car on the Island, and kissed her. “It’s okay. I sleep better when there’s a storm.”

“You’re trying to butter me up.” Avery’s smile lit up her face.

“Well, you are meeting my family this weekend, and there’s no telling what horrid stories they’ll come up with to share.”

He tossed the gear into drive and drove out the gate. “So what are the plans?” he asked, glancing her way. “You staying at my place this weekend, or are you going to tease Nonnie that you’re in a relationship and we stay there?”

“Definitely your townhouse, but I do want to see Nonnie. So how about we spend a day with her?”

Reed went to his house, showered and changed clothes before they drove to Avery’s house. Nonnie was at the door when they pulled up. Her face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.

“I see you found her and persuaded her to come home.”

Reed paused at the door and kissed the woman’s cheek. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” Nonnie gave a terse nod and headed back toward the kitchen.

“I’m going to shower and change,” Avery announced following Nonnie to the kitchen.

“I’m going to step out back and make a couple phone calls to the family and check in,” Reed said stopping at the counter.

Nonnie patted his cheek. “You’re a good boy.”

“Don’t let him fool you, Nonnie.” Avery chuckled and turned to head upstairs.

“You know better than that, child. I may be old, but I don’t fool easily. He is a good boy. I can see it in his eyes.”

She watched Reed as if reading him like an open book. “Go, make your calls.” She nodded again and turned to work on the dough she had laid out on the counter.

Reed stepped out the patio doors and continued down to the beach, where he kicked off his shoes and sat down on the sand, watching the waves crash against the shore.

He dialed his brother-in-law first. Luke picked up on the third ring.

“I hear you made it back.”

“I did. Actually, we did. I’m with Avery.”

There was a pause on the line. “Did Landon come with you?”

Reed had known the question was coming, and try as he might to come up with a plausible excuse for the family on why Landon stayed away, he failed miserably. “No, he’s in the middle of something. Is Sky around? I need to talk to her.”

“Sure.” Luke’s voice was muffled as he hollered for his wife.

“Hello?” Skylar answered.

“Hey, squirt.”

“Reed.” Her tone rose an octave. “How did it go? Did you talk him into coming home?”

“I’m sorry, Sky. I tried, but you know how stubborn Landon can be.”

“Oh.” Reed heard the disappointment in her sigh.

“But that’s not why I’m calling. I need help.”

“Help?” she asked, her voice perking up. “I’m good at help.”

Reed grinned. “There’s this girl…”

“Ahh. You need
that
kind of help. I can do that. Where are you?”

“I’m at Avery Malone’s beach house.”

“Avery, huh? I wouldn’t have paired you two, but stranger things have happened.”

“Well, she apparently doesn’t do relationships, so any pairing on your part would have been a waste of time.”

“Every girl longs for a strong, loving relationship, so anyone telling you differently is blowing smoke up your butt.”

Reed rose and dusted the sand off his shorts. “Tell me more.” 

“Show interest in the things she likes. Connect with her on a level that makes her feel special. Just be yourself.”

“Show interest, make her feel special. Got it. Any other advice?”

“Get to know the real her, what makes her tick, what makes her smile, and do more of that. Reed, relationships are hard, but it’s the people that make them worth working at. Is she worth the effort?”

“Yeah.” He smiled, and his heart clenched. “She is.”

“Perfect,” Skylar answered excitedly. “Bring her to lunch tomorrow.”

“I will.” Reed turned to head back toward the house. “Oh, and Sky, thanks.”

“That’s what family is for. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before he hung up, he stopped her. “Could you do me one more favor?”

“You’re pushing your limit,” she teased.

“I need some lilies tomorrow. I’d like to surprise her.”

“Anything else? Maybe an engagement ring?”

Reed chuckled. “I’m not trying to send her running. Just the flowers for now.”

“You’ve got it.”

“Thanks, Sky. Love you.”

“Love you too,” she answered before the line went dead.

Reed glanced up to find Avery on the porch. “Love you? Is there something you’re not telling me, lover boy? You got a girlfriend I don’t know about?”

Reed stepped up beside her. “Is that a hint of jealousy I hear?” His lips twitched as he pulled her into his arms. “You’re the only girl for me, Avery. It would be easier if you’d just accept that.”

He lowered his lips to hers in a soft and sensual kiss. “Why don’t you go surf? I’m sure you could use a break from me.”

“Really?” she asked and glanced longingly at her board. “But…”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to hang out with Nonnie. Go.” He grinned. “Have fun. Maybe when my arm is better, you can teach me how, and we can do it together…when you’re in town, of course.”

“Of course,” she echoed before disappearing into the house.

Reed made his way into the kitchen to find Nonnie kneading dough. “Whatcha making?”

“An apple pie for dessert tonight.”

“Would like some company?”

Nonnie looked at him as if it was a trick question.

“Avery’s going to surf for a while.”

“She’s leaving you to go surf? I thought I taught her better than that.”

“It was my idea. She’s put up with me the last few days. She’s due for a break, and besides, if I’m going to win her over, I should know how to do more than boil water, right?”

Nonnie grinned. “You can cut the apples.”

They worked in easy banter as an hour passed, first one and then two. The pie was in the oven, and she’d moved on to teaching him everything he needed to know about how to make homemade meatballs, including sharing the recipe to her special sauce.

She’d asked about the bandage peeking from beneath his shirt, and he’d deflected the question by asking one of his own. She’d poked and prodded for information about his life and what he did for a living. How many brothers and sisters he had and his family life. This woman wasn’t shy about anything. She reminded Reed of an older version of Avery. She was saucy, extremely keen and perceptive. There would be no fooling this woman.

“Do you love her?” she asked while putting the meatballs in the oven.

Reed paused, grabbing the spices from the cabinet. “I like Avery, but I haven’t known her long enough to love her,” he answered as honestly as he could.

“When I met Frank, God rest his soul, I was the same way. Do you know what made me realize that I loved him back?”

Reed leaned against the counter, all thoughts of what spices she needed were gone. “What?”

“He was willing to walk away in order for me to be happy. It wasn’t until he did that I knew I couldn’t live without him.”

“You’re a wise woman,” he answered and grabbed the spices. “Although Avery strikes me as the kind of woman who would just let me leave.”

Nonnie chuckled and patted his good arm as she took the spices out of his hands. “Her heart is as big as the sun, my boy. She gets her smarts from me.” Nonnie winked and added some spices to the crushed tomatoes in the pot.    

Chapter 14

Avery toweled off the salt water from her face and glanced up at the house. The sun was high in the sky, and her time in the water had been worth whatever embarrassing stories her Nonnie might have told. She’d needed the peace. She needed to get her head back in the game, and the water was where she found her solitude, most days.

What had she done by letting Reed into her life? She liked Reed. Even if he was a delicious temporary distraction, he was still a distraction. The way he watched her, his gentle touches, and his hot kisses, would she ever be ready to give all that up?

“Crap,” she mumbled to herself and grabbed her board. She sat the board on the patio and hosed off the sand sticking to her legs and feet. She stepped into the house and paused.

Reed was in the kitchen with Nonnie. They were both laughing and cooking together, a sight that made Avery’s heart clench. She never brought anyone this close to Nonnie, afraid of what her grandmother might say when they disappeared out of her life.

“What’s so funny?” she said as she approached.

“Nonnie was just telling me about the first time her mother tried to teach her to cook.”

Avery’s heart expanded. She knew that story, all too well. Nonnie had burnt the lasagna, including the bread. “Is that what’s for dinner?” Avery asked, lifting the lid on the pot. “Did you let Reed cook?”

“We cooked it together,” Nonnie answered, grabbing water out of the fridge and handing it to Avery. “You two can take the leftovers when you go back to his house. It makes an excellent midnight snack.”

Avery met Reed’s gaze. He’d told Nonnie they wouldn’t be staying. She didn’t know whether to be mad or impressed. Most men wouldn’t have been as honest and would have hemmed and hawed about their situation.

“We’re going to be working,” Avery explained. “Please don’t make more of us spending time together than what it is.”

“Working, right, dear.” Nonnie pulled the pie out of the oven and turned to Reed. “Could you give us a minute?”

“Sure,” Reed answered and gestured with his thumb toward the living room. “I’ll just go and make another call.”

Nonnie waited for Reed to leave the kitchen and step outside. She planted her hands on the kitchen counter. “I see the way he looks at you. I’d be blind not to.”

“Nonnie, it’s not like that.”

“Avery.” Her tone gentled as she stepped around the kitchen island and rested her hands on Avery’s arms. “Honey, he’s a good man, so I’m going to give you a little piece of advice that my mother gave me.”

This should be interesting. Avery’s brow rose.

“You can travel the world and do everything your heart desires, but wouldn’t it be that much better doing those things with someone you love at your side?”

“Nonnie, Reed’s life is on the Island,” she said, trying hard to hold the woman’s knowing gaze. “We’re too different.”

“Like the sweet taste of cinnamon and the acid taste of tomatoes.” Nonnie grinned. “They are on opposite sides of the spectrum but still find a way to work when put together.”

Avery’s mouth parted, the comeback stifled in her throat.

“Just keep an open mind, Avery. Men like him are worth experimenting with to see if the flavors mix.”

“Nonnie,” Avery gasped.

****

Avery carried the plastic container of leftovers into Reed’s house. Their late lunch had been delicious, and she had no doubts the leftovers would be just as good. “You made an impression.”

Reed shut the door and locked it behind them. “I had fun. Nonnie is a wise woman. And don’t worry, I didn’t tell her to start planning the wedding.”

“You two looked chummy.” Avery walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, moving stuff around so the containers would fit.

“Someone needs to keep an eye on her while you’re off saving the world.” Reed slid up behind her and put his arms around her waist. He placed a kiss on her neck. “You do it for me every time you see Landon. It’s the least I can do in return.”

Avery turned in his arms and laced her fingers behind his neck. “You’re not supposed to be this perfect.”

“I’m far from it, Avery.” He smiled. “I have an ulterior motive.” He leaned in to kiss her. “I’m saving up brownie points.” He winked. “For when you get the full Love experience tomorrow with my family.”

They spent the rest of the evening together, watching television and talking. Only once did Reed log onto his computer to send out a few emails about projects he’d been working on. The rest of the time he devoted to her and making her feel at home.

The night went by with no threats looming over their heads, no guns pointed in their direction. Just the two of them relaxed and carefree. It saddened her to think of what she’d been missing as she pondered Nonnie’s earlier advice. Would this make her happy? Only she could answer that, and she wasn’t ready to concede. Not even for Reed.