Chapter 12
Shane wasglad Avery had stood up, her shoulders going back, her chin up in an angry defiance. She had almost looked afraid of him before and that really kicked him in the nuts. That was the last thing he wanted. He didn’t exactly know what he wanted, but he did know that he was really damn pleased to see her standing there in front of him considering he hadn’t ever expected to see her sweet face again.
He had spent far too much time over the last three months pondering her puzzling eyes and why the hell she had bolted without at least saying goodbye. He had also been completely celibate, not really able to muster any interest in other women. This was probably the longest dry spell he’d had since he was sixteen, and now that he was standing two feet away from Avery, he wanted to end it. Immediately.
The sound of her voice was like fingers stroking his cock and all he could think about was her naked, very eager body opening up for him. It was a problem.
Because the last thing he had ever expected was to hear her singing, and while he hadn’t realized it was her when he’d been down the hall, he had been transfixed immediately. She had something special, and even though her voice wasn’t the strongest, it was honest, the melody haunting. It was a song about betrayal and he had instantly heard Jolene singing it, making it her own. It had number one potential. But now he was wondering if she’d written it about Ben.
It made him realize he needed to stop being selfish and ask her how she was doing.
So he ignored her question and asked one of his own. “How are you doing, by the way? Everything okay? It seems like you landed on your feet.”
Her eyes softened. “Yeah, things are fine, thank you. I got a place with three girls who needed a roommate and I found this job almost right away. I was really lucky.”
“I think it’s called talent, not luck.” Shane reached out and brushed her hair back off her face, unable to resist. “I’m really happy for you. So no Ben?” He needed to know that for his own peace of mind.
Avery snorted. “No Ben. That was done right then and there. I didn’t even see him again after that night. I went and got my stuff from his aunt’s house when he was at work.”
“That’s good. He doesn’t deserve any of your time.” Shane glanced back at the door. “Play your song, before Pat comes back. I want to hear it again.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
That made him smile at her, easily. “I know. I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. I liked the song before I knew it was you. Kind of how you felt about me when you had no idea I was Jolene Hart’s brother.” He gave her a wink.
For the first time since he’d entered the room, she smiled back. “Fair enough.” She raised her guitar and started strumming.
He watched her, only half listening. He’d already decided he was going to put a hold on it to run by Jolene later. He almost never scouted songs for his sister, but this one seemed like it was written specifically for Jolene’s sweet voice. So instead he just focused on Avery, on watching her fingers move so delicately over the guitar strings. She was wearing jeans, an olive green T-shirt, and those baby blue cowboy boots he remembered quite well. Her hair was less wild than the night he’d met her, combed and smooth, but that beautiful auburn color was neither flashy nor ordinary.
She was singing in a softer voice than she had been earlier, but in a way, it was more effective. There was so much emotion in her words, in the defiant tilt of her head, it was intoxicating, beautiful. He wasn’t lying—he wanted her. He had to see her again. They just weren’t done with each other. He knew it deep down in his gut, and hell, in his dick, too. He could admit that.
He wondered if she had dated any boys in Nashville. Country boys in town who had blindly pawed her in a dark corner. Or savvy city-slicker types who might charm her out of her jeans. The thought made him jealous. He wanted to be the only one who had touched her, and that right there should be reason enough for him to turn tail and run.
But he didn’t. Quite the opposite.
“Go to dinner with me,” he said suddenly, as she trailed off and stood staring at him expectantly.
Avery’s jaw dropped. “What? Are you trying to get me in trouble? No. I’m not going to dinner with you.”
Now that he’d made up his mind, he wasn’t going to be swayed that easily. “How would dinner get you in trouble? We can discuss business. If you’re scared, Pat can join us.”
“I’m not scared!” She looked indignant at the very thought.
“Then say yes.”
She chewed her lip in a gesture that was familiar to him. It was odd, but maybe there was something about getting to know Avery in the middle of the night, in the midst of a crisis that leant itself to greater intimacy. Aside from sex, that is. Because even though he really knew nothing about her, he felt like he did in fact know her on some important level.
“No,” she said again, her expression stubborn.
He smiled the smile that usually got him what he wanted. “No problem. I’ll just go get Pat then.”
“Why? For what?” Avery looked panicked.
Shane opened the door without responding. “Hey, Pat, would you mind stepping on in here?”