gaze. “We’re too different.”
“Like the sweet taste of cinnamon and the acid taste of tomatoes.” Nonnie grinned. “They are on opposite sides of the spectrum but still find a way to work when put together.”
Avery’s mouth parted, the comeback stifled in her throat.
“Just keep an open mind, Avery. Men like him are worth experimenting with to see if the flavors mix.”
“Nonnie,” Avery gasped.
****
Avery carried the plastic container of leftovers into Reed’s house. Their late lunch had been delicious, and she had no doubts the leftovers would be just as good. “You made an impression.”
Reed shut the door and locked it behind them. “I had fun. Nonnie is a wise woman. And don’t worry, I didn’t tell her to start planning the wedding.”
“You two looked chummy.” Avery walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, moving stuff around so the containers would fit.
“Someone needs to keep an eye on her while you’re off saving the world.” Reed slid up behind her and put his arms around her waist. He placed a kiss on her neck. “You do it for me every time you see Landon. It’s the least I can do in return.”
Avery turned in his arms and laced her fingers behind his neck. “You’re not supposed to be this perfect.”
“I’m far from it, Avery.” He smiled. “I have an ulterior motive.” He leaned in to kiss her. “I’m saving up brownie points.” He winked. “For when you get the full Love experience tomorrow with my family.”
They spent the rest of the evening together, watching television and talking. Only once did Reed log onto his computer to send out a few emails about projects he’d been working on. The rest of the time he devoted to her and making her feel at home.
The night went by with no threats looming over their heads, no guns pointed in their direction. Just the two of them relaxed and carefree. It saddened her to think of what she’d been missing as she pondered Nonnie’s earlier advice. Would this make her happy? Only she could answer that, and she wasn’t ready to concede. Not even for Reed.
Chapter 15
Reed placed his hand on Avery’s back and guided her across the lawn to the front door. He leaned into her ear. “Are you nervous?”
“Nope. I’ve dealt with hitmen and mob bosses as part of my job. The Loves will be a piece of cake.”
Reed grinned at her misguided confidence but kept his comments to himself as he pushed the door open and guided her toward the voices in the backyard.
His sisters-in-law, Olivia and Mia, were sitting with Skylar and his mom at one of the umbrella tables. Their easy banter ceased the moment they spotted Reed and Avery closing in.
“You must be Avery,” his mother said by way of greeting as she rose and pulled Avery into a hug.
Avery’s brows dipped, her body stiff under his mother’s assault.
“Come join us.” She guided Avery away from Reed and glanced over her shoulder at him. “You can help the boys while we get to know your friend.”
“Play nice, ladies.” Reed gestured with his fingers from his eyes to theirs as if he would be watching. Reed grinned at Avery’s wide eyes which pleaded for him to stay. He winked and left her to fend for herself.
****
Avery sat on the edge of her seat while all the women at the table stared at her.
“You know Reed’s sister, Sky.”
Sky nodded and smiled.
“This is Olivia, Declan’s wife, and that is Mia, Flynn’s wife.”
“It’s nice to meet you all.” Avery smiled, ignoring her fight-or-flight feeling. She’d met strangers before, including killers and assassins, but Reed hadn’t been joking. These women were in a whole different ball game.
“So.” Sky leaned forward and clasped her hands together. “Reed and you?”
Avery’s mouth parted.
Oliva nudged Skylar.
“Give the woman a second to breath,” Mia said with a smile. “You guys can be a little intimidating.”
Avery cleared her throat and glanced
“Like the sweet taste of cinnamon and the acid taste of tomatoes.” Nonnie grinned. “They are on opposite sides of the spectrum but still find a way to work when put together.”
Avery’s mouth parted, the comeback stifled in her throat.
“Just keep an open mind, Avery. Men like him are worth experimenting with to see if the flavors mix.”
“Nonnie,” Avery gasped.
****
Avery carried the plastic container of leftovers into Reed’s house. Their late lunch had been delicious, and she had no doubts the leftovers would be just as good. “You made an impression.”
Reed shut the door and locked it behind them. “I had fun. Nonnie is a wise woman. And don’t worry, I didn’t tell her to start planning the wedding.”
“You two looked chummy.” Avery walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, moving stuff around so the containers would fit.
“Someone needs to keep an eye on her while you’re off saving the world.” Reed slid up behind her and put his arms around her waist. He placed a kiss on her neck. “You do it for me every time you see Landon. It’s the least I can do in return.”
Avery turned in his arms and laced her fingers behind his neck. “You’re not supposed to be this perfect.”
“I’m far from it, Avery.” He smiled. “I have an ulterior motive.” He leaned in to kiss her. “I’m saving up brownie points.” He winked. “For when you get the full Love experience tomorrow with my family.”
They spent the rest of the evening together, watching television and talking. Only once did Reed log onto his computer to send out a few emails about projects he’d been working on. The rest of the time he devoted to her and making her feel at home.
The night went by with no threats looming over their heads, no guns pointed in their direction. Just the two of them relaxed and carefree. It saddened her to think of what she’d been missing as she pondered Nonnie’s earlier advice. Would this make her happy? Only she could answer that, and she wasn’t ready to concede. Not even for Reed.
Chapter 15
Reed placed his hand on Avery’s back and guided her across the lawn to the front door. He leaned into her ear. “Are you nervous?”
“Nope. I’ve dealt with hitmen and mob bosses as part of my job. The Loves will be a piece of cake.”
Reed grinned at her misguided confidence but kept his comments to himself as he pushed the door open and guided her toward the voices in the backyard.
His sisters-in-law, Olivia and Mia, were sitting with Skylar and his mom at one of the umbrella tables. Their easy banter ceased the moment they spotted Reed and Avery closing in.
“You must be Avery,” his mother said by way of greeting as she rose and pulled Avery into a hug.
Avery’s brows dipped, her body stiff under his mother’s assault.
“Come join us.” She guided Avery away from Reed and glanced over her shoulder at him. “You can help the boys while we get to know your friend.”
“Play nice, ladies.” Reed gestured with his fingers from his eyes to theirs as if he would be watching. Reed grinned at Avery’s wide eyes which pleaded for him to stay. He winked and left her to fend for herself.
****
Avery sat on the edge of her seat while all the women at the table stared at her.
“You know Reed’s sister, Sky.”
Sky nodded and smiled.
“This is Olivia, Declan’s wife, and that is Mia, Flynn’s wife.”
“It’s nice to meet you all.” Avery smiled, ignoring her fight-or-flight feeling. She’d met strangers before, including killers and assassins, but Reed hadn’t been joking. These women were in a whole different ball game.
“So.” Sky leaned forward and clasped her hands together. “Reed and you?”
Avery’s mouth parted.
Oliva nudged Skylar.
“Give the woman a second to breath,” Mia said with a smile. “You guys can be a little intimidating.”
Avery cleared her throat and glanced
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