Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Reid
The kitchen was too small for three people, especially when one of them was Avery’s unwelcome cousin, Jacob. I lingered in the doorway for a moment, freshly showered, but nowhere near relaxed or ready to face whatever it was this asshole wanted.
Spending the night in Avery’s bed was…well, it was equal parts amazing and torturous. At some point, I rolled over and wrapped my arm around her. I’d woken up to the scent of her hair and the warmth of her pressed up against my body. My dick was rock hard and aching, and ultimately what drove me from the bed before dawn.
I’d spent longer than I should have in the shower, but dammit, I’d needed that extra time with thoughts of Avery and my right hand. There was no way I was going to be able to navigate another day pretending to be something I wasn’t, but more and more wanted to be.
I watched Avery now, moving about the kitchen, shifting her attention between the bacon on the stove and her cousin sitting at the table.
She was working hard to appear casual, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. The way her brow was furrowed just a little bit and how forced her usually easy, bright smile was.
And the smug son of a bitch, lounging in the chair with his arms crossed behind his head, was the reason for all of it.
The cocky grin on his face set my teeth on edge.
I didn’t know his story. But I didn’t need to know the details to know that whatever it was he wanted, it wasn’t good. If he was looking for a hole in our story, I sure as hell wasn’t going to give it to him.
“Good morning.” I crossed the short distance to my wife at the stove and pulled her into my arms for a deep and completely inappropriate kiss. “You slipped away before I could wake you up properly, sweetheart.”
Avery sucked in a breath but before she could say anything, I kissed her again. This time, I slipped my tongue between her lips, pulling a sweet groan from her that hit a spot deep in my belly. My hands slid down her sides, to her hips.
Without taking my mouth off hers, I lifted her easily and set her on the counter. Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer as I shifted my body between her legs.
I was so lost in her, that I’d almost forgotten the entire reason for the kiss in the first place.
Behind me, Jacob cleared his throat loudly. “Bacon’s going to burn.”
“Oh!” Avery pulled back, and I instantly missed her lips on mine.
So much for trying to get my raging desire for this woman under control. My dick was once again fully awake.
I took the opportunity to give her one more kiss before stepping back and turning my attention to the bacon—which was not, in fact, going to burn—on the stove.
“Sorry, man,” I said over my shoulder. “Forgot you were here.”
“Uh-huh.”
I grinned to myself. Hell, maybe I was going to like this little game after all. Pretending to be Avery’s husband, first at the wedding and now, right here at home, definitely had perks. A whole lot of perks.
Avery had recovered from my unexpected greeting and had hopped off the counter. “Coffee, Reid?”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” I turned to take the cup from her and gave her another kiss. “I just can’t keep my hands off her,” I said to Jacob. “You know how it is, right? When you find that person you just can’t stay away from.”
Judging by the look on his face, Jacob did not know what it was like. I leaned up against the counter and sipped my coffee for a few minutes, letting the silence grow.
After a few minutes, Avery moved past me with a platter of toast and bacon. “Breakfast is ready.” She set the food on the table and looked at me expectantly.
The last thing I wanted to do was leave Avery alone with this asshole, but I had a busy day ahead of me. Besides, I knew she’d be able to hold her own. “I’ll take mine to go, sweetheart.” I gave her an apologetic smile. “I promised Grayson I’d be at the store first thing to pick up our lumber order. And then I’m going to head over to the shop and get a few things set up there this afternoon. I was hoping to take you over and…”
“Sorry.” Her lips dipped down, but I stopped her before it could turn into a frown.
“It’s not your fault.” I winked at her. “Unexpected houseguests are just that— unexpected. ” I moved to the table and built myself a breakfast sandwich with two pieces of toast, some bacon, and a fried egg from the plate. “How long are you planning to stay, Jake?”
“It’s Jacob.”
“Whatever.” I shrugged and took a bite of my sandwich. “The airbed can’t possibly be very comfortable.”
Truthfully, it wasn’t terrible. But compared to the warm coziness of Avery’s bed, it might as well have been a slab of concrete.
“It’ll do,” Jacob said. “For now. But we’re going to have to order some guest beds if we plan on?—”
“ We don’t plan on anything.” The spatula still in her hand, Avery crossed her arms and glared at her cousin.
Oh yes, she’d be able to handle herself just fine.
“Reid and I have a plan to finish the renovations and get ready for a grand opening,” she continued. “You don’t need to concern yourself with any of it, Jacob, because the inn is mine and not yours.”
“For now.”
“No.” She jabbed the spatula in his direction. “Forever.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Grayson. Shit. The order had arrived early.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry.” I held up my phone. “I can tell him?—”
“No. Go. I’ve got this.”
I gave her a questioning look that I hoped told her I would change every one of my plans if she needed me to.
“Really, Reid. I can handle this.” She waved the spatula, which was starting to look like a weapon. “Besides, there’s nothing to handle. The inn is legally mine whether he likes it or not. Jacob probably just wanted to come to see it one last time before he accepted that as fact. Isn’t that right, cousin?”
Damn, Avery was good. She knew what buttons to push, and she’d done it with that sweet smile on her face.
He was trying to stay calm, but Jacob’s face was red when he finally sat back in his chair. “Not at all, cuz. There is no way in hell that you met and married a total stranger in under three weeks. And I’m here to prove it. This marriage is a total sham. Which means that you are in violation of the terms of the will. And the inn will be going up for sale by the end of the week.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides, and I took a step toward the asshole, before Avery’s hand on my chest stopped me.
“Go.” She gave me a look. “I’ll see you later.”
I hated leaving her with him. Hell, I hated leaving her at all. A truth that was getting harder and harder to deny. But she was right. It would be better for everyone if I got some space.
For now.