Chapter 33
Shane was arguablythe happiest he had been in his entire life as he stood on his sister’s doorstep with Avery. All those songs written about love? Turns out there was a good reason. It was fucking awesome to love somebody. It was hitting the jackpot at Vegas to have Avery look at him, love shining out at him. They were doing this, together.
Jolene and Chance’s new house was a rambling country house, rustic and charming. He liked it better than the giant Tuscan-style villa Jolene had lived in before. Jolene had never been to Italy. She didn’t even like pasta. It wasn’t her at all. This suited his sister and his buddy much better. They were in the process of building a pond on the property, and they were always joking about it—some inside joke he didn’t understand.
Giving Avery a smile, he knocked and tried the door. It was locked. Jolene had general security concerns because of her fame and he was glad she was vigilant about it now that she didn’t live in a gated community.
“I’m nervous,” Avery said, wiping her free hand on the front of her jeans. “My palms are sweating. Yesterday was pretty damn dramatic.”
“Everything will be fine.” He still couldn’t quite believe it had turned out his little country cutie was actually Buck Rivers’ secret baby. It made a hell of a lot of sense though, given her looks and her musical talent. She had the genes for songwriting.
Jolene opened the door, glanced down at their clasped hands, and smiled. “I’m glad to see that all got sorted out, good Lord. Come on in.”
He grinned at his sister. “So you approve?”
“Not at first. I saw the way you were looking at her that first meeting and I actually warned her off you.” She reached out and hugged him. Then she hugged Avery as well. “But no one ever listens to reason when they’re falling head over heels.”
“You warned her off me?” He felt like he should be offended, but couldn’t muster any negative feelings.
“You are notoriously afraid of commitment.” She gave him a wry look. “Or were, anyway.”
“That’s all the past, Jo.”
“Glad to hear it.”
They went into the kitchen and he saw Elle there, popping an olive into her mouth. “Hey, Elle Belle. Didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Hi, big brother.” She observed his hand firmly in Avery’s and said, “Oh, wonderful. More people that are not me having sex. Just what I wanted to see today.”
“Ignore her,” he told Avery, and let go of her hand to give his other sister a hug. “Elle, this is Avery. My girlfriend.” Damn, that felt natural.
Elle grinned. Jolene was grinning. Chance had wandered in and he was grinning as he waved to Avery. “What?” Shane asked. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“Shaney’s got a girlfriend,” Elle sang. “Shane and Avery sitting in a tree—
“Stick an olive in your mouth,” he said, cutting her off. “What are we, ten? Yes, I have a girlfriend.”
Avery watched the dynamic of Shane with his family and realized that they were genuinely, truly thrilled for him. She could see that they had been concerned that he would never commit to anyone, and that they were happy he was happy.
She was pretty damn happy too. Hearing him refer to her as his girlfriend gave her a shiver of delight.
“Is this true, Avery?” Chance asked, looking pleased for her.
“It’s true.” She winked at Shane. He was the king of winking. Time for payback.
“Why are you winking at me?” Shane said with a laugh. “Do you want a drink?”
“I’d love a water.”
“By the way,” Chance said. “I was up all night thinking about how many times I wished I wasn’t an only child. I’m kind of excited about having a sister.”
“Oh, my God, why?” Shane joked. Elle punched his arm.
Avery was touched. “I always wished I had a sibling too. Thanks for being open to it, Chance, I appreciate it.”
Jolene set a platter of vegetables and fruit onto the kitchen island. “So, Avery, did you lose your job because of my numb-nut brother?”
It made her want to groan out loud to admit it, but there was nothing for it. “Unfortunately, yes. It wasn’t Shane’s fault, though.”
“Well, we’ll give you a recommendation or whatever you need to find. You’re too talented to have your career stall out.”
“Thanks, Jolene.” It meant so much to her that they were being so accepting, without question. They had welcomed her as Shane’s girlfriend and as Chance’s half-sister. It was more than she had expected. “I have some ideas brewing.”
“What, a new song?” Shane asked. “’How I Met the Most Perfect Man Ever?’”
That made her laugh. “Nah. The title is “’Thanks For Being Decent.’”
He gave her an amused look. “Nice. It sounds platinum.”
She felt her expression soften. He saw it too and moved to her. Shane kissed her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Yep. He was always the one she reached for.
Always her final note.