Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Hey yourself. Tyler’s gone. Yelled good-bye. You didn’t even hear him go.”
He winced.
“He didn’t notice,” she said.
“More like he didn’t care, but don’t worry. We’ve come to an understanding.”
And she appreciated the effort they were both making even if Grey’s was more overt than her brother’s. “When do you want to go to your parents’?” she asked again.
“I figured after the day you had, you’d be exhausted and want to stay in tonight.”
She frowned and walked around the sofa, sitting down beside him. “Are you trying to avoid going there?” She knew he’d have to face his mom, and sooner was better than later.
“No, I just thought you wouldn’t want to deal with the paparazzi.”
She closed her eyes and pulled in a deep breath. “I thought we discussed this. I’ll deal with whatever I have to.”
“For now,” he tacked on, repeating her words from earlier. He didn’t seem to like or understand why she’d said them. More like he didn’t want to.
Instead of getting back on that topic, she picked up his cell phone and held it out to him. “Call your mom. Tell her we’re coming over.” She rose to her feet.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To change and get ready to leave.” She didn’t want to head over to his mom’s in the ratty jean shorts she’d changed into to hang around for the afternoon.
“You’re being bossy.”
“You like me bossy.” She spun and headed for the bedroom.
“I like you,” he called out, his words ringing in her ears.
* * *
After Avery disappeared into her room, Grey pocketed the sheets of paper from the notepad he’d been writing in. It had been awhile since he’d worked on new lyrics. Being with Avery again had opened up the creative side of his brain, which had shut down after Milo’s overdose. He’d channeled all the longing, the need, and desire into words that flowed onto the pages. Later he’d play with his guitar, putting them to the music floating in his head.
Being with Avery sparked his imagination. Of course, it was hell not touching her as he’d watched her help Tyler. She’d pulled her long hair into a ponytail that bounced against her back as she moved. Her sweet ass, enclosed in tight, denim shorts, had provided dirty thoughts and distractions, none of which he could act on with her brother in the room. But their banter and bickering had also helped his artistic expression. Anything she did, it seemed, brought out the best in his music.
When she finally rejoined him, she’d changed into a flowing lavender sundress with a halter top that was cinched at the waist, accentuating her sexy curves. It was a casual dress, perfect for his mom’s impromptu barbecue that she’d insisted on putting together when his mom heard that not only was Grey coming over, he was bringing Avery. The excitement in her voice helped quell Grey’s nerves and guilt, though he knew neither would go away completely until he apologized and explained.
For now, his focus was on his girl. He refused to think of Avery as anything less, and he whistled appreciatively as she entered the room.
She blushed, twirled, and curtsied. “Glad you like.”
Nothing not to like, he thought and grinned. “Are you ready to face the lions?”
The smile on her face fell a bit, and his heart squeezed at how easily he’d taken her happiness.
“Didn’t Tyler say they were gone from out front?” she asked.
Grey nodded. “They are. But one of them could be waiting on a public road, ready to follow us. They take pictures from cars too,” he explained, knowing she had to understand every part of his life.
She swallowed hard. “We’ll have Rick Devlin following us,” she said of the bodyguard her brother had assigned to her.
She’d objected to being driven around like a pampered princess, so Grey and her brother had agreed to let Rick tail her instead. Marco often doubled as Grey’s driver when going to and from venues for concerts and appearances, but he didn’t think things were that intense at the moment.
They’d be fine. He didn’t like the idea of needing protection, but he couldn’t expect Avery to accept things easily if he didn’t accept it himself.
“Good point,” he said with a forced smile on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Avery looked at him with concern in her pretty eyes.
Fuck that. He didn’t want to make her sad or have her worry unnecessarily.
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Not a thing. I’m actually looking forward to being alone with you in the car and taking a nice drive in my Aston Martin,” he said with an easier, more genuine grin.
She groaned. “Better than us slumming it in my BMW. Jeez, Grey, do you hear yourself?”
He laughed. “Only the best for you, Very. The Aston Martin it is.”