Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Avery
The door clicked shut behind us, the sound echoing in the quiet of the empty inn. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure Reid could hear it, but when I turned to face him, his eyes were already locked on mine.
The air between us was charged. The unspoken tension we’d danced around all night—or, more specifically, for the past few weeks—was now impossible to ignore.
He stepped closer, his hand brushing mine, and I forgot how to breathe. This wasn’t part of the plan—none of this was—but right now, I couldn’t bring myself to care.
“Finally,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, making my pulse skip.
My palms slid up his chest, lingering over the firm muscles beneath his shirt. “Are we doing this?”
His mouth curved into a dangerous grin that sent a shot of desire straight between my legs. “Fuck, I hope so, Avery.” His fingers tightened on my waist. “Because it is long past time we consummate this marriage, don’t you think?”
“Mmm.” I exhaled slowly. “Definitely.”
And then he kissed me.
It wasn’t tentative or slow. It wasn’t for practice or for the benefit of anyone who might be watching.
This kiss was just for us. It was the kind of kiss that left no room for doubt, all heat and intent, his hands framing my face like I might slip away if he released me. But I wasn’t going anywhere. Not a chance.
My body was on fire. It had been way too long since I’d been kissed like that. Had I ever been kissed like that?
A sigh slipped from my lips as Reid’s hands moved up my back to the zipper of my dress. His fingers lingered and teased over the zipper while his kisses moved from my lips to the sensitive spot just behind my ear. He kissed and sucked until I was groaning.
A loud knock on the door behind me shattered the moment. I stumbled backward, but Reid caught me before I could trip.
“What…who? Are you expecting someone?”
I shook my head. The very few people I knew in town were likely still at the wedding.
The knock sounded again. Sharper this time. “Avery. I know you’re in there. I saw a vehicle.”
Shit.
Reid’s gaze snapped to mine, his eyes dark with an unasked question.
I took a step away from him and did my best to straighten my dress and smooth my hair. “It’s Jacob.”
“Who the fuck is Jacob?” Reid’s nostrils flared. His fists clenched at his side as he glared at the door, clearly ready for a fight. “You didn’t tell me you had?—”
“He’s my cousin.” I put my hand on Reid’s arm and squeezed. “I don’t have anyone.”
I waited until Reid looked at me again and I could see the realization in his eyes as he understood. I couldn’t help the small smile that crossed my lips, knowing he was jealous, even for a second. But the smile was short-lived when another knock reminded me of the bigger problem waiting on the porch.
“Why is your cousin here?”
“He’s mad.” I glanced at the door and back at my husband. “I told you he was going to contest the will.”
Reid nodded.
I had told him some of the details, leaving out a few—like my cousin’s actual name—and the fact that ever since the news of our wedding had reached him, he’d been blowing up my phone, threatening to prove that I was a liar. “He’s still challenging our grandfather’s will,” I told Reid in a whisper. “He doesn’t believe that our marriage is real.”
“What? Why didn’t you?—”
“I don’t really think this is the time, do you?”
He closed his mouth and pressed his lips together before giving me a curt nod. “Want me to get rid of him?”
It was tempting. Very tempting. But it wasn’t going to solve the problem.
“No. Let me see what he wants.” He didn’t look convinced as I moved past him to the door, opening it to reveal my cousin on the porch.
I don’t know why I expected it to be any different, but Jacob looked just the same as last time I’d seen him, at the funeral. Smug and self-satisfied. He’d always considered himself to be better than me, and judging by the smirk on his face, that hadn’t changed in our years apart.
“It’s about?—”
“Can I help you with something, Jacob?” I stopped him before he could berate me for not answering the door quickly enough for him.
“Are you going to let me in?”
It was the last thing I wanted to do. “It’s late. You should probably?—”
“We need to talk.” His eyes darted to Reid as he joined me in the doorway. I watched his eyes widen for a moment before he focused on me once more. “About our grandparents’ will.” He softened his voice a little, but I saw right through it. I knew he was trying to come off as caring and concerned, or even that he gave a shit that both of our grandparents were gone now.
It was bullshit. All of it.
“We can talk in the morning, Jacob. Like I said, it’s late and I?—”
“I’ve been waiting,” he interrupted. “I got here hours ago but no one was here. That’s not the way to run an inn.”
Was he serious right now? He had to know we weren’t actually open for business. If the No Vacancy sign hanging off the porch wasn’t convincing enough, the piles of construction materials behind me and the ever-present smells of sawdust and paint should have been enough. “We’re not open yet, Jacob. You know that.” I didn’t even try to keep the exasperation from my voice. “We were out at a?—”
“It really doesn’t matter where we were,” Reid interrupted. He moved closer to me until we stood side by side, blocking the door completely. “Avery’s right,” he continued. “It’s late. Why don’t you come back in the morning, and we can talk properly.”
“We?” Jacob raised his eyebrows and gave Reid a sidelong glance. “This is between my cousin and me.”
“Avery is my wife .” Reid emphasized the word, and it sent a tingle down my spine. “In case you didn’t get the wedding announcement.”
I almost laughed. Almost.
Jacob made a snorting noise, shifted his body a little and stared directly at me. “I have nowhere to stay,” he said. “And this is still a family house until this is settled.”
That wasn’t entirely true, but he did have a point. No matter what I thought about Jacob, he was my cousin, and my grandparents would be horrified if I turned him away.
Reid moved to step forward, but I put my arm out to stop him. “It’s okay,” I said to my husband. “Jacob is family.” To my cousin, I said, “You can stay.”
Reid looked like he was going to argue, but I gave him a look that I hoped he understood. It wasn’t worth fighting about tonight. Jacob was infuriating, to be sure. But I had a lifetime of dealing with my cousin, and aggravating him further wasn’t going to help this situation. Besides, I knew exactly why he was here.
No doubt, he was coming to check on my marriage to Reid for himself. We’d already had some practice perfecting our act as a married couple at the wedding all day. It looked like that was just the dress rehearsal.
It was time for the main event.
I took Reid’s hand and squeezed as we took a step back and let Jacob in.