2. Avery
CHAPTER TWO
Avery
“Do you need to stop for anything before we head out of town?” Will asks. “It’ll take us a couple of hours to get to Aspen Springs from here.”
Right. The town in the middle of nowhere that I’ve never seen other than in pictures I looked up online, where I agreed to nanny an eight-year-old girl for the summer.
I needed to get out of Texas, though. I couldn’t be there anymore.
Nope. Not another week, day, hour, or minute.
With my final session of classes for my master’s degree being online this summer, I had the freedom to leave. Without my dad, nothing is tying me to Austin anymore.
“Avery,” Will says in his deep voice that’s way to sexy for his own good, much like the rest of his handsome-as-fuck self.
I turn toward him. “No, I’m good.”
He nods once, keeping his eyes trained on the road.
I can’t help but sneak a glance at the tendons in his arm. They’re straining against the fabric of his flannel that’s rolled up just below his elbow.
Growing up in Texas, you’d think I’d be immune to the rugged, manly look. Sadly, I’m not because Will is making all the girly bits of me come alive that really should be dormant in the presence of my boss.
As soon as I saw him hop out of his truck at the airport, I knew I was screwed. I’ve always had a thing for guys who are older than me, and man if Will didn’t fit that box to a tee.
There’s the slightest hint of salt and pepper speckled into his facial hair. Pair that with his clearly muscular build, and you have a drool-worthy combination. At least in my book.
There’s no way other women aren’t all over this man, though. He’s hot. Period. End of Sentence.
He does a double-take, catching me staring at him when he glances in my direction. His grip on the steering wheel tightens even more, making his defined muscles even harder to miss.
Get your shit together, Avery. He’s your boss. I am me, though, so…
“Sorry, you’re nice to look at,” I say casually.
His eyes dart between me and the road four times in quick succession, like he can’t quite believe I just said that. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, but no words come out.
He’s probably going to yell at me or turn around and take me back to the airport. I’m shocked when his head falls back against the headrest, and he starts to laugh. It’s a deep raspy sound that sends a shiver up my spine.
There’s a smile on his face when he briefly locks his eyes with mine. “You’re a little rebel, aren’t you?”
I shrug because he isn’t wrong. That part of me has been put on pause for the greater part of the last four years, while I was taking care of my dad, but it’s still there.
Maybe that part of me can come out of hiding again.
“What did I get myself into?” he groans, running his hand over his trimmed beard.
He doesn’t sound mad, though. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say he’s apprehensive with a touch of amusement thrown in the mix.
“I’ll be good. I promise,” I say in my most innocent voice. It almost sounds believable, even to my ears. Almost.
There’s a slight shake of his head with his mouth upturned at the corner. “I’ll believe that when I see it. You being a good girl doesn’t really seem to fit all that well.”
“Good girl.” Fuck me.
It should be illegal for a man who looks like him to say words like that, especially when you’re in a small, confined space with him.
“Well, you don’t know me all that well, Mr. Kingston. Maybe I’m not a rebel in all... settings,” I say after contemplating the final word for a second.
He drags in a deep breath, closing his eyes for far longer than he probably should, since he’s still cruising the interstate that winds its way into the mountains.
He looks like he’s fighting a battle within himself. What that battle is, I’m not quite sure.
My head swivels from side to side as Will drives into Aspen Springs. It’s the cutest town I’ve ever seen. Quaint historic buildings with a few modern touches line the road.
I roll down my window, soaking in the smell of fresh mountain air. The peaks that seemed so far away from Denver are now right there, like you could reach out and touch them.
Will slows the truck, pointing to his left. “That’s the hardware store my family owns.”
There’s a big sign that reads Kingston Hardware above the building.
“You run it with your two brothers, right?” I ask.
He nods. “Yeah, Owen is there wrapping things up for the day. Miles is at home with Lyla right now.”
Owen .
I’ve only heard that name a few times over the last four years, but every time I can’t keep myself from thinking about the stranger I stumbled into in the Dallas airport all those years ago.
Wherever he is now, I hope he’s happy, no matter what his life looks like.
Will continues a little farther through town, driving into a more residential area. He turns into a driveway in front of a large brown house with white shutters.
“Home sweet home,” he says, shifting the truck into park. He points to the side of the house where a small building sits. “The guesthouse will be yours for the next few months. I’ll help you get your stuff out there later, but you can come meet everyone else now.”
“Okay,” I say, climbing out of the truck. A wave of nerves rolls through me. I hope Lyla likes me.
Will must sense my hesitation because he pauses on the porch. “Don’t be nervous. Lyla’s great. I promise.”
“Aren’t you obligated to say that? She’s your kid,” I say, smiling up at him.
He looks like he’s going to object to something I said but ends up just nodding before swinging open the door.
The house opens into a spacious living room with lots of wooden accents. The kitchen and dining room are on the far end of the open space. The house is homey and inviting.
The screen door on the opposite side of the dining room table slides open, and a girl with long brown hair storms into the house with a huge smile on her face.
“Uncle Will,” she shouts, running over to wrap her arms around the man at my side.
Why did she call him Uncle Will and not Dad?
“Hey,” he says with a laugh, hugging her back. “You act like I was gone for five years, not five hours.”
“Whatever,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Would you rather I act like a moody teenager instead and ignore you?”
He tightens his hold on her. “No, I definitely don’t want that. You aren’t allowed to grow up any more. You’re already too big.”
The look in his eyes when he stares down at her reminds me of my own dad, and it sends a stab of pain through my tender heart.
“Well, that’s not happening, so you’d better buckle up,” Lyla says.
I love this girl already.
Will laughs, shaking his head. “Lyla, this is Avery,” he says, pointing toward me. “She’s going to be hanging out with you this summer.”
She studies me inquisitively, her head cocked to the side. “You look more fun than hanging out at the hardware store all summer.”
I snort out a laugh. “I promise I’m more fun than that.”
The sound of the back door sliding closed draws my attention. Another man walks toward us.
His light brown hair is a mess on the top of his head, and he has a carefree attitude about him that makes me want to smile, even when he hasn’t said a word. He’s clearly younger than Will, but their resemblance is uncanny.
His eyes lock on me as he approaches. “Hot nanny indeed,” he says with a devilish smirk.
I quirk a brow at him with a smirk of my own.
“Miles,” Will groans. “Can we not do this?”
Miles looks like he’s contemplating the suggestion. “Nah, this is more fun.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
Miles extends his hand toward me. “Hi. I’m Miles.”
I slide my hand into his. My skin feels tingly from the contact, much like it did when I shook Will’s hand earlier. “I’m Avery.”
He gives my hand a firm squeeze before releasing it. “Are you sure you want to spend your whole summer with this rugrat?” Miles says, ruffling Lyla’s hair.
She smacks at his hand. “Stop,” she growls, glaring up at him. She turns to look at me. “My uncles are so annoying sometimes.” Her hand waves between Miles and Will.
“You love us, and you know it,” Miles says.
She takes a deep breath, planting her hands on her hips. My eyes roam between the two men standing before me. Who’s her dad?
“She’s our niece,” Will says. At his words, I glance up at him. “She lives here with my brothers and me.”
Oh… okay.
A car door slams shut outside, and booted feet pound up the front steps. The door opens. A man walks in.
Then he looks up—and every cell in my body freezes as my eyes lock on his familiar sky-blue depths.