Chapter Seven #3
“When you and Avery showed up, I immediately recognized you from Marcus and Charlotte’s party, and I’m not sure if Avery told you, but I’m aware of what transpired that night.
I just didn’t know you’d been terminated.
” Her disapproving gaze shot to Avery, then softened as it returned to Jo.
“So, when you told us you were between jobs, I read between the lines, and all I could think of was that my son was responsible, which makes his family responsible, and… Well, in my clumsy way, I was trying to assess what your circumstances were without embarrassing you. I did that anyway, and I just want you to know how very, very sorry I am.”
Jo laid a hand on hers, closing the gap between her and a woman she’d assumed would be snooty and unwelcoming. But Avery’s mother was neither.
“I should be the one apologizing, for overreacting.” For so many things, lying not the least of them. “I’m afraid my pride and my nerves got the best of me.”
“And rightly so. I was rude.”
“You were concerned. And I was nervous.”
“And you thought I was accusing you of dating my son for his money.”
Heat bloomed in Jo’s cheeks.
Avery chuckled. “Can’t get anything past you, Mom.”
“And don’t you forget it,” his mother said, encompassing them both with a wink. “Actually, Melody and Charlotte figured that out. They were horrified and embarrassed. They’ll tell you all about it next Saturday.”
“Next Saturday?” Jo hadn’t seen anything for next Saturday on the event schedule Avery had sent. In fact, she was sure the weekend was open.
“We’re gathering to discuss the wedding. I’m preparing lunch and Laine is barbecuing for dinner. We’re making a whole day of it. Please say you’ll come.”
That sounded like a family thing. He never mentioned family things. “I’m not sure that I won’t just be—”
“It’s a date,” Avery piped in from behind, his warm breath teasing her ear and promising another big fat payout.
—in the way remained unsaid. But she would be because he really hadn’t wanted her there. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left it off the list. Had he changed his mind? Or was he adding another enticement to close their deal?
As if she could sense Jo’s hesitation, Connie said to Avery, “Kate and Bryce will be there.” She turned a conspiratorial smile on Jo. “You need to meet Kate. She’ll be planning her own wedding soon, and she and Melody fought over your petit fours. She could potentially become a future client.”
Jo had to hand it to the woman. She sure knew how to bait a hook. Between Avery padding her bank account and his mother dangling clients, Jo didn’t stand a chance. “Are you sure? I hate to intrude.”
“Nonsense. We’d love to have you.”
She turned around to look at Avery. “Are you sure?”
For his mother, the question probably came across as asking whether their fledgling relationship was ready for an entire day at his home, with his family.
But the clarity in his dark eyes told Jo he understood exactly what she was asking.
If she was committing to five weeks, he had to as well. “I’m all in.”
A simple yes, would have sufficed, especially at the excited “oh” his mother tried to stifle, which said she’d read way too much into his answer.
Still knowing she shouldn’t, Jo turned to Connie. “Thank you, but I’ll only accept under one condition. You’ll let me take care of dessert.”
“Of course,” she agreed, her smile thoroughly contagious as she rose from her chair. “Wonderful. I’ll let you get back to your evening.”
Avery captured Jo’s hand as his mom left them alone. “Thank you for giving her a chance. She’s one of the best women I know.”
“And you know a lot,” Jo said, partly teasing but mostly busting his balls because he made it so easy.
“I do.” He stood abruptly, pulling her up with him. “So let’s go meet a few before we leave.”
She lifted his tux jacket off the back of the chair and handed it to him. “You want me to meet your hos?”
He laughed. “I’m not sure the junior league would appreciate being called hos, but they do host a lot of dinner parties.”
“Oh, but I haven’t even had any business cards made yet. I’ve been focused on getting a job first, not going freelance.”
“Business cards are only good if they’re unsolicited,” he said, stuffing one arm into his jacket. She helped him with the other side without thinking but stepped away as a sexy grin curled his lips. A grin she felt all the way to her core. “Thanks.”
“Cunning is the fox; beware his wily ways,” her grandma’s voice sing-songed in her head.
Yep, I get it. Replace fox with wolf and wily with smiley, and that’s Avery.
She pursed her lips. “Stop.”
“What?” he said laughing. “I’m merely thanking you.”
“I swear, every time you smile, every woman in the room drops her panties. And let me tell you, I won’t be one of them, so just stop.” She tsked at him and shook her head. “You probably have millions of little Avery-smile-made babies running all over Texas.”
“God, I hope not.” He shuddered as he hooked her hand in the crook of his arm. “Where was I before you had me fathering unintended brats?”
“Unsolicited business cards.”
“Don’t expect them to ask for one. They’re not going to, not on a first intro.
Maybe not for a while. Let them get used to seeing you first.” He strolled her forward.
“But you’re making a mistake not focusing on freelancing.
Once you’re stuck in a job, you’ll be a slave to someone else’s dream. Now’s the time to build your own.”
“Easy for you to say. A girl’s gotta eat.”
“In five weeks, you shouldn’t have to worry about that. You’ll be rolling in dough.” He chuckled at his own joke.
She rolled her eyes. “Who’s the comedian now?”
As promised, Avery introduced Jo to a half dozen society matrons.
What struck her was that he didn’t have to choose who to talk to.
They chose him, pulling him in as he passed.
They gushed over his speech, saying things like, “You were inspiring,” and “I never thought of having a company-wide drive.” And they were curious about her because he’d “never brought a date before.”
By the time they’d made a full circle, it was another glass of wine, one more trip to the ladies’ room, and a blister on her pinky toe later.
He checked his watch, another Rolex, this one dressier, sleeker, black. Did he have one for every occasion?
“You ready to go?”
“Yep.” Still arm in arm, she bumped him with her shoulder. “Thank you for doing that.”
“Of course.”
“No, really. I’m sure you have plans with— What did you call her?”
“Curves.”
“Right, anyway, tonight turned out to be all about me. I don’t feel like you got anything out of it.
He waggled his brows. “I still could.”
She smiled. “Rules!”
“Ha! Those were shot to hell and back hours ago, don’t you think?”
“Nope, securely in place, but if you want to go out…you know, to wherever you go to pick up girls, I could be your wingman.”
“You’d go to Pulse?” He perked up a bit.
She’d never been there before. Too upscale. Brooke had done the research once, but at twenty-five bucks a pop, one drink ate up a tank of gas and wouldn’t even give her a buzz. “If that’s where you go.”
He seemed to consider it for a moment, then lowered his head. “Thanks for offering, but you’re looking too hot in that dress. I’d be too busy beating off guys trying to hit on you to focus on getting laid.”
Heat bloomed in her chest, but she ignored it.
“But if you don’t mind,” he added, “I’m starving, and I don’t really want to eat by myself.”
“Then let me buy you dinner.”
“Or I could eat you instead.”
She laughed, even as the heat in her chest spread to her lower belly. “Don’t even think about it, fuckboy.”
He grunted. “You were quick on your feet earlier when I forgot your name, Jo, but I’d like to see you explain fuckboy to my parents.”
Nick stepped away from a group of men. He held up his phone. “Marcus just sent this. Seems someone in the lobby took it, and it’s making the rounds on socials.”
Jo wasn’t sure what to make of his expression, whether he was angry or indifferent. She peered down at the screen of his phone. Hers had been blowing up again, so she’d silenced it completely. Now, she knew why.
A picture of her and Avery on the hotel’s grand staircase made her moment of panic appear intimate.
His hands cupping her face. Her staring up at him as if he hung the moon.
The caption read, “Preston Playboy OTM: Hearts Are Breaking.” The article began with, “Who is the ravishing redhead? Where did she come from? And how has she brought down Houston’s billionaire bad boy? ”
Fuck. If one could believe social media, she’d just been promoted from Avery’s fake date to his fake girlfriend.