Once they’d put enough distance between them and the hut, Avery loosened his grip on her shoulder but still held on as they walked toward the hotel. “I’m so sorry. I thought I’d caught him in time.”

  “It’s not your fault. And I’m grateful all I got on my chest was a beer and not his sleazy hands.”

  Avery’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “He should be too.”

  He’d always been on her side and Lia believed he would have fought for her if he’d felt the need. It was nice—more than nice, to know he still would.

  Lia held her shirt an inch or so from her chest with one hand and wrapped the other around Avery’s waist. The second her hand gripped his side she had to willfully keep herself from stroking his tight-as-hell obliques.

  “They’re a labor of love but well worth it, don’t you think?” he asked.

  “What?”

  He tapped her fingers gripping his waist a little too hard.

  “Oh…” Apparently, she hadn’t been as restrained as she thought.

  At that moment, she had two choices. Let go. Shy away and make a stupid excuse for touching him like that. Or go with it.

  “Not great for tickling.” She poked his side and he leaned into it a little. “But I’m sure they have their uses.”

  He chuckled. Those muscles flexed under her hand like they had something to prove. She’d have been fine letting them prove whatever they wanted.

  Jesus, God, what’s wrong with you, Lia? This is Avery, not some random rebound guy. He’s here to help but not like that. Get yourself together.

  But he could have been. He’d already made his attraction to her clear. And that he was willing to act on it. All she had to do was ask.

  No.

  Whatever he said. However he made her feel. This was Avery. Her childhood best friend.

  Don’t fuck that up, Lia.

  The cool breeze through the air-conditioned hotel lobby chilled Lia’s chest, bringing her back to her senses. Also, giving her a good excuse to take her arm back without bringing undue attention to it and putting an end to the awkwardness of the entire situation.

  Or so she thought.

  As soon as the elevator doors clicked shut, Avery stripped the shirt off his back and pulled it down over her head, shoulders, arms and all. She’d kind of expected a joke or a jab, something about no shirt, no service maybe, which was most likely why he hadn’t done it earlier. Hotel management might not have looked too kindly on him walking around the lobby with no shirt. But that was it. He’d just given her the shirt off his back and stood there like it was nothing.

  “Thank you,” she said hoping to break a bit of whatever this tension was building between them.

  “You’re welcome.”

  The elevator doors opened. Avery held a hand on the door waiting for her to pass then followed her out and down the hall.

  What’s going on? Why was he so serious all of a sudden? Had it embarrassed him to take his shirt off for her?

  Looking like he did? She couldn’t imagine being the slightest bit embarrassed. If she looked a million times better than she had in high school she might have made any excuse she could to strut around half-naked too. Unfortunately, she hadn’t aged nearly as well as he had.

  Oh, God…

  Ice formed inside her chest. Threatening to freeze her heart until it shattered.

  Was he embarrassed by her? Or maybe he’d been embarrassed for her. Specifically for the little roll over the waist of her skirt made visible by the beer-soaked shirt clinging to it.

  Feeling foolish and wanting nothing more than to clean up, crawl into her pajamas, and disappear into bed, Lia thumbed over her shoulder after they entered their room. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”

  “You hungry?”

  “Umm…” Her head went to war with her stomach. She’d worked up an appetite walking the half-mile from the beach but after the revelation she’d just had, she didn’t think she should eat again.

  “French fries and ice cream?” he asked with a wink.

  How could she say no to him remembering her favorite snack? Lia nodded. “Vanilla?”

  “Of course.”

  And just like that, the tension faded.

  “Make sure you order enough for you too. Because I’ll be damned if you’re going to eat any of mine.”

  After getting an affirmative salute from Avery, Lia ducked into the bathroom with a bit more spring in her step.

  CHAPTER 13

  When Lia came out of the bathroom, once again in the knee-length robe and nothing else, she was pleased to find room service had already delivered their snack. Even more pleased to see Avery looking even more delicious than the fries and ice cream in a pair of gray sweatpants and matching ribbed tank.

  She just couldn’t get over those shoulders. Wanting so badly to find an excuse to touch them. If he’d gone through this transformation when they were teenagers, she wouldn’t have hesitated. It wasn’t all awkward for them to be hands-on back then. Now, she wished it wasn’t again.

  “Your ice cream’s melting.” Avery palmed one of the two bowls of vanilla ice cream and dipped a thick steak fry into it before popping it into his mouth.

  Was it normal to be jealous of food?

  Lia rolled her eyes at herself before making her way across the room and sat on the couch next to him.

  He handed her the other bowl from the cart. Lia plucked a fry from the plate on the coffee table in front of them. “I haven’t had this for so long.” She savored the salty-sweet, hot and cold. Both the potato and the cream melting on her tongue. “And now I remember why.” Once she started she couldn’t stop. The fries didn’t last long. Avery let her have the lion’s share and they had to finish off their ice cream with spoons like normal people.

  “That hit the spot.” She put her bowl on the table beside Avery’s. “Thank you for suggesting it.”

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to anticipate your needs. Good to know I still got it.”

  “To be fair, you can’t go wrong with French fries and ice cream.”

  They both chuckled at that and how true it was but when the laughter faded the room fell silent. Lia became aware again of how odd the situation was. She had to know. “Why are you here, Avery?”

  “My best friend needed me. Why wouldn’t I come?”

  “That’s all well and good but is that it?” It didn’t feel like that was it. He’d changed so much on the outside, it was hard to believe he hadn’t at all changed on the inside.

  “You’re right. I lied to you, Lia.”

  Her heart stopped as she caught her breath in a lump in her throat.

  “I told you I didn’t come here with an ulterior motive. The truth is, I did. And I didn’t realize how stupid and selfish it was until we were in the elevator on the way up here.”

  So, that hadn’t been her imagination.

  “What motive?” She probably could have guessed but she still couldn’t believe it. Avery wanting her in a sexual way? That’s not who they were to each other. But if she were being honest with herself, she’d been leaning toward hoping it could be that way.

  “Don’t be naive, Lia.” Avery turned in his seat to face his whole, broad body toward her. Like he’d done when the wind had caught her hair and he'd brushed the lock behind her ear. “You know why I’m here.”

  No. Lia refused to believe he’d come all this way for a hook up with his old friend. There was more in his touch than lust. Though, lust was certainly a key component. It had Lia’s heart racing. Fluttering against her ribs like wild birds in a cage desperate to escape.

  “Avery.” She leaned into his palm and held his hand to her cheek but he slipped free.

  “Seven years, you were with him, Lia. The pain of such a loss doesn’t leave you overnight.”

  She wanted to argue that Grant was no great loss but then she realized he hadn’t been referring to losing Grant. He’d been referring to the time she’d lost with Grant.

  But he could have taken that pain away in no time at all. She’d pretty much forgotten all about what Grant had done after asking him to let it go. She’d felt like she could let it go too.

  “I wasn’t lying when I told you I came here to show you a good time. I still want to help you have fun but I think I see now, I should do that as I always have. As your friend.”

  The fluttering birds halted as Lia’s heart twisted.

  Why? Wasn’t this what she’d been wanting? Hadn’t she been telling herself, since she found him sitting next to her in the airport, she didn’t want to do anything to ruin their friendship?

  “I’ve missed you, Avery. I’m just glad you’re here.”

  “Me too.” His hand found hers and gently squeezed her fingers. She squeezed back.

  The mood threatened to turn awkward again when Avery swooped in to save the day. “You ready to get back out there? Still plenty of fun to be had and several hours left to have it.”

  Lia took a deep breath. “I’d rather stay in if you don’t mind. Tomorrow’s most likely going to be filled with even more stress than today and I’m half expecting to get a call tonight yet from Haley telling me her sisters have done something else to piss her off. I should get plenty of rest for whatever is ahead of me.”

  “That was something I was wondering.”

  “Hmm?” Lia sat back against the arm of the sofa and stretched her legs across Avery’s lap making sure not to let her robe fall open.

  “Why aren’t you one of the bridesmaids? I mean, you’re doing the maid of honor’s job but not getting any of the recognition or the title.”

  Lia couldn’t help smiling at the protective tone in his voice. “It’s tradition. All of her sisters only had them as their bridesmaids. As much as her sisters piss her off, Haley didn’t have the heart to break that tradition.”

  “That’s pretty cool.”

  “Yeah. Plus, I still got to be involved and got a pretty kick-ass vacation to boot.”

  Seemingly, without thinking about it, Avery began massaging her feet. Taking his time with her toes. Rolling the end of each between his thumb and finger. Lia hummed with satisfaction as she relaxed further into her seat. “I forgot how good you are at that.”

  He chuckled and pressed his thumbs along the arch of her foot.

  A hot thread ran up the inside of her leg stopping abruptly at the V between her hips.

  Whoa.

  A quick breath escaped her lips.

  Avery stilled his hands. “Are you okay? Did I rub too hard?”

  “No. I just…” She couldn’t tell him the foot massages he’d once given her to help her relax after a stressful performance now turned her on. He’d never rub them again. “I’m fine.”

  “Shall I continue?” Avery asked. His words deeper. So full of grit and gravel. She had to know.

  “What happened to your voice?”

  Avery froze.

  “I’m sorry,” Lia said realizing she may have tread on a sensitive subject. “You don’t have to talk about it. It’s just… the music teacher in me has been dying to know.”

  A sad sort of grin curled one corner of his mouth. “I’m surprised you lasted this long, to be honest.”

  Silence stretched between them again. He might have been expecting the question but it seemed he still wasn’t ready to answer.

  “It’s okay. I don’t want to talk about Grant. It’s only fair to understand you don’t want to talk about whatever this is.”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. There’s just a chance, if I tell you now, it won’t be as easy to have fun afterward.”

  “Well, now I have to know. You can’t just say something like that and expect me to let it go.”

  Avery squeezed his eyes shut and Lia realized her mistake. “Sorry. I’ll shut up now.”

  He shook his head and after a moment he said, “Things didn’t go so great for me after graduation. The stress of being away from home. Classes. Work. Basically, being an adult.” He lay a hand on the top of her right foot petting her gently as he spoke. “And on top of it all, I didn’t know anyone. And had no idea where to start looking for new friends. Not to mention, I didn’t want them. I missed you. So much.”

  “I missed you too.” Lia sat up, swung her legs to the side and took his hand. “God, I did such a shit job keeping in touch. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. I was just as neglectful. More so.”

  “No—”

  “Lia… If you start taking the blame, I can’t finish telling you this story. I got into a lot of trouble and it was not your fault. I need you to believe that.”

  Her grip on his hand tightened. “Oh. Okay.” She didn’t want him to stop telling his story but she couldn’t help still feeling a little guilty for letting their connection drift apart. She would have visited him but she hadn’t been able to afford it. She’d always wondered why he’d never visited her but figured it was because he was as busy as she’d been. She’d had no reason to think it was anything else.

  “I’d barely been in school a month before I started drinking,” he said and Lia gasped.

  “I know. Insane, right? Well… Not long after that, I started smoking. And the cocaine came in handy when I was too hungover to take my exams.”

  The world had stopped completely. Lia wasn’t entirely sure she inhabited the right dimension anymore. “Avery, why?”

  “Stupidity. Plain and simple. I went hard for all of my freshman year. Failed most of my classes. Mom and Dad intervened when they found the letter about me being on academic probation.

  “They’d known about the smoking. They’d guessed about the drinking. But when they found the letter, they also found my stash. That summer, I went to rehab. My dad worked some magic and got me back in school without taking the mandatory summer courses. Probably a medical excuse.

  “In the fall, I kept to myself. Still smoked like a chimney because it kept me from lapsing into the other habits but I made it through. I finished school. Got an amazing job and the rest is history.”

  “Do you still smoke? I haven’t seen you.” Or smelled it on him. Just that sweet citrus she loved so much.

  “I finally kicked that habit about a year after college. Nothing like having to walk half a mile to your car in sub-zero temperatures in Minnesota winter to convince you something isn’t worth the trouble.”

  “I’m not blaming myself, but I feel terrible for not knowing. If I’d called more…”

  Avery’s hand found her cheek again. “It’s not your fault.”

  It was sweet of him to say but she still felt like he’d never have gotten into all of that if she’d been there for him. Even in a limited capacity.

  “Oh, Lia. Don’t cry.”

  The tear had barely escaped her lashes before she lunged forward wrapping her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. “I should have been there. I was your best friend. I failed you.”

  Avery’s body had been tense but as she sobbed he sighed and took her in his arms. “It’s over now.” He rubbed circles on her back holding her closer with each turn. Pressing her soft breasts against the hard plane of his chest.

  “I wish I’d been there.” She sniffled and dried her eyes on the back of her hand but refused to let him go. She needed him to know how sorry she was and that she was here for him now even if she hadn’t been when he needed her most.

  “You had your own life to live.”

  “Yes, but…” Lia sat back resting her hands in her lap. Now she had a confession to make. “I could have lived it closer to you. I was accepted to more than one school. One not too far from yours. But it came after I accepted the other offer.”

  “No. You went to your dream school. Got your dream job. If you’d done anything differently, you might not be where you are.”

  “Would that be so bad?” Her words came out on the waves of a nervous laugh. “There’s a chance I’d still have gotten my job and I wouldn’t have met Grant and wouldn’t be living with that pain. And then maybe we—” she cut herself off.

  “Maybe we what?” Avery’s eyes searched her face. From her eyes to her lips, not far from his.

  She’d never thought about it before now. Maybe she never would have thought of it then. But maybe…

  Avery’s hand firmed against her cheek. His fingers played in the hair over her ear. Their faces were so close now she felt his breath against her lips.

  “Did you ever think about this?” The tip of his nose brushed her own. “When we were kids?”

  Lia was ashamed to shake her head. She asked, “Did you?”

  “All the time.”

  His breath came more quickly but not as hot and heavy as her own. “Why didn’t you?”

  “I didn’t want you to give up your dreams for me.”

  Lia let out a breath full of need before crushing her lips to his.

  He tasted sweet and salty, like their desert. Only better. Darker and completely masculine. Firm. His tongue pushing past her lips claiming her mouth with long luscious strokes.

  Completely consumed by wanting to count every point at which their bodies touched, Lia lost herself along with the pain of losing Grant and failing Avery. It wasn’t until his hand dipped beneath the lapel of her robe as his teeth closed around her bottom lip drawing a gasp from her lungs that she realized just how far she’d allowed herself to go.

  Lia pulled back.

  “Oh, God. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He took his hand from her breast and touched his fingertip to her lip.

  If he only knew how good it hurt.

  “No. No. I’m the one that should be apologizing. After everything you said about doing things as friends and then I do this.” Lia clutched her robe closed over her chest.

  “I don’t know if you noticed but I wasn’t in a hurry to get away,” he said, smirking.

  “Still. I shouldn’t have done that.” Lia stood and made her way to her suitcase. Rummaging through she found her pajamas, a pair of satin shorts and matching chemise.

  A groan rumbled in her chest. She should have packed more modest sleepwear but, of course, she had no idea she’d have a roommate.

 

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