Chapter Two – Beck
Chapter Two
BECK
The moment Avery stepped onto the plane, I noticed her. It was hard not to notice. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and her eyes—Christ, she had the most beautiful sapphire eyes. I’d never seen eyes like that. The conversation flowed easily between us…or that could have been all the alcohol.
“So? Will you have dinner with us?” Avery asked, pulling her eyes away from my mouth.
Shrugging, I replied, “Yes, I’ll have dinner with your family. After all, I came here to meet mine, and if you know them, all the better.”
She beamed, and it made my body tighten with a desire I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
She’s too young for you, Beck. Nine years younger, so stop picturing her naked.
“Did you have transportation planned for when we’ve landed?” Avery asked.
“Yeah, I rented an SUV. Do you need a ride to Hamilton?”
She looked like she was thinking over her answer. “My brother is picking me up. Thank you, though. I would love for you to meet him. If you’re not in a hurry, maybe we can grab a drink. Well…maybe you should have water.”
I laughed. “I’d like that.”
Smiling once again, she said, “Thank you for sharing your story with me. I hope that I can help you in this part of your journey.”
“I do as well, Avery. It’s a crazy small world. I can’t believe you know the Shaw family.”
The only thing she did was smile and look away. “Hopefully it’s a smooth flight.” She leaned her head back against the headrest, and within minutes, she was sleeping.
I stared at Avery for longer than was appropriate before I reached into the seat pouch and pulled out the book I’d brought along to read. But the alcohol was kicking in, and I soon found myself fast asleep just like the sleeping beauty next to me.
“How many suitcases do you have , Avery?” I asked as I took off the fourth one from the belt.
“I was in France for a long time, and some of those are designer clothes that I was not about to give up. Oh…there’s a brown bag! Is that one yours?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I quickly turned and reached for the suitcase.
“Is that it? Just one small case?”
I smiled. “I travel light.”
“I texted my brother when we got the first suitcase, so he’s probably driving around waiting for me. Do you mind helping me with these?”
“Not at all,” I replied as I turned two cases around and held them by the handles.
“I’ll show you where the rental car company is as we’re walking out.”
I nodded.
Avery’s steps slowed, and she smiled. “Perfect timing! You didn’t have to come in.”
A man who was obviously Avery’s brother, and a pretty woman with light brown hair—whom I guessed was Mackenzie—made their way toward us.
“Who’s the boy toy? Someone you picked up in France?” Avery’s brother asked with a laugh.
Avery tossed him a look that should have knocked him back onto his ass. “No, and he speaks English, so will you please not be a jerk.”
Bradly looked past her and tilted his head. “Did you meet him modeling?”
Avery cleared her throat, causing her brother to focus his attention back on her.
“No, Bradly, I did not meet him in Paris.”
Now the brother was really looking me over with a narrow-eyed glance. “How do you know him then?” Bradly asked.
“Stop harassing them, will you?” Mackenzie stated.
Bradly looked at me, then Avery. “How did you two meet, if it wasn’t in France?”
Avery’s face slowly formed a grin that would give the Cheshire cat a run for his money. “You know how I love a good surprise. And to answer that question, dear brother…I think we’re going to need to stop at Forest Lounge so I can explain this one.”
I started to reach my hand out to shake Bradly’s and introduce myself. “Hi there, “I’m—”
But Avery stopped me. “Introductions will be at the bar. Bradly, could you take my luggage, and we can meet at Forest Lounge? I’ll ride with… I’ll meet you there.”
Bradly barked a laugh. “You think I’m going to let you just go off with this guy when you haven’t even told me who he is?”
“I can meet you there, Avery. It’s not a problem.”
She exhaled. “I just spent how many years in France on my own? I’m not a child who needs you to watch over me.”
Bradly’s eyes narrowed. “You’re eighteen. You’re a child.”
“Okay, let’s not do this.”
“Thank you, Mackenzie,” Avery said with a smile. “I’ll meet you both at the bar. We don’t have a lot of time if we want to make it for family dinner.”
Bradly folded his arms over his chest and glared at me.
Rolling her eyes, Avery said, “Fine, this is Mr. Dahlstrom.”
“Does Mr. Dahlstrom have a first name?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s—”
“Gotta run, big bro! Meet you at Forest Lounge.”
Avery grabbed my arm and started to pull me away from her brother and Mackenzie.
“Is there a reason you didn’t want to tell him my name?”
She glanced over her shoulder and said, “It will all make sense once we get to the bar.”
“Now I’m having second thoughts about going with you to family dinner night.”
Avery laughed. “Trust me, Beck. You want to go.”
It didn’t take long to get the rental car, and Avery typed the directions into her phone and connected it to CarPlay.
“Have you ever driven in snow?”
I shook my head. “No, so I’m hoping it doesn’t snow while I’m here.”
She laughed. “Your hope is highly unlikely. Not for February.”
“Well, it’s nearly March so.”
“Doesn’t make a difference. It could snow in May.”
“May?” I asked in a horrified voice.
She simply looked at me, winked, and said, “Yep!”
Once we got to the bar, I parked and followed Avery inside. Bradly and Mackenzie were already there and waiting at a table. There were a large number of people in the place. Avery bent down and kissed her brother on the cheek.
“I’ve missed you, by the way,” she stated, then she turned and hugged Mackenzie.
I pulled out the chair for Avery, noticing her brother glance at Mackenzie. Avery looked over her shoulder and thanked me.
“Okay, so, now that we’re at the bar, can you tell me who Mr. Dahlstrom is?”
Looking at Avery, and just as confused as Bradly was, I waited for her to speak.
The waitress walked up and asked if we wanted anything to drink. I went with water, and Avery ordered Diet Pepsi. Once the waitress dropped off the drinks, Avery cleared her throat and looked at me, then at her brother.
“Bradly, Mackenzie, this is Beck Dahlstrom; Beck, this is my brother, Bradly Littlewood, and Mackenzie Reeves, his girlfriend.”
Bradly gave me a head nod. “It’s nice to meet you, Beck.”
Reaching my hand across the table, I replied, “It’s nice to meet you both.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Beck. How did you and Avery meet?” Mackenzie asked.
“We met on the flight from Dallas to here.”
Bradly’s brows rose. “You just met?”
Avery nodded. “Beck and I started to talk, and he told me he was heading to Hamilton.”
Bradly sat up some. “Really? What brings you to Hamilton?”
“Um,” I said, uncertain if I really wanted to talk about this in a bar. “Avery, I’m not sure I want to discuss this here.”
“Fair enough,” she said as she took my hand and squeezed it. “May I give Bradly the shortened version? Trust me when I say he needs to know before we go to family dinner night.”
“Um…”
“Wait, he’s coming to family dinner? Avery! You just met this guy.”
“Bradly, Beck is here because he wants to meet his father’s family. He never met them—or his dad.”
Bradly’s brows drew down as his sister’s words sank in. Then his head snapped up, and he looked at me. “Beck… You said your name is Beck ?”
I nodded. “Yes. I was named after my father.”
Bradly’s eyes went wide as Mackenzie looked around confused.
When he turned to face his sister, Avery nodded. Bradly looked back at me and asked, “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
I shrugged. “I’m twenty-seven.”
Dropping back in his seat, he continued to stare at me. “Holy shit. Beck…you have no idea how much your world is about to change.”
“Um, for the good or the bad?”
Bradly smiled. “For the good. This is like a damn miracle!”
Avery squeezed my hand again. “I know. I thought Dad could be the one to help us figure out a way to introduce Beck.”
I looked between the two siblings. “Are you sure about this?”
Bradly laughed. “Yes! They’re like family, dude. I’ve heard stories about Uncle Beck my entire life.”
“Uncle?” I asked.
“We’re not blood-related. Our father, Dirk, is best friends with Brock. Well, all of your uncles, really. But they were on the circuit together, and they grew up together as best friends.”
“Circuit?” I asked.
Bradly laughed again, then looked at Avery. “You should’ve just had him drive to Hamilton with us. We have so much to tell you.”
“I didn’t want to overwhelm him, so I’m driving with him. I can fill him in. If you get home before me…”
Bradly held up his hand. “I know. You love a good surprise.”
“Fill me in on what?”
Turning to me, Avery smiled, her sapphire eyes sparkling. “I want to tell you all about the Shaws. From Grams to Ty Senior, all the way down to little Callie, who was just born. That way, when you meet them, you’ll know a little about the family.”
Mackenzie slowly shook her head. She’d been quiet during all of this. “Stella is going to take one look at you and know you’re Beck’s son.”
Her admission surprised me, my head drawing back in shock.
Bradly nodded. “Yeah, I honestly don’t know how I didn’t see it the moment I looked at you, dude…from your eyes to your build to the way you smile. You are a Shaw through and through.”