Seducing Avery by Barb Han

glossed over the headline...her brain stuck on the picture.
    Kyle entered the kitchen in time to see Avery hovering over the tabloid.
    “Can’t believe everything you see in print, now can you?”
    “It’s not my business anyway.”
    “I have a message for you.”
    She’d faced enough rejection standing there. She didn’t need to hear the words too. “Well, I’m not interested.” She stomped out of the room and down the hall before he saw her reaction. She couldn’t afford to let anyone see how truly wounded she was.
    His footsteps sounded behind her, and she was surprised at his insistence. She picked up the pace. Heard something in the background about Ryker wanting to explain when he returned.
    She slammed the door.
    Kyle rapped lightly.
    When she didn’t answer, he tapped harder and said something into the wood.
    Avery didn’t listen. Didn’t care. Words would only stab her heart even more. “Go away.”
    But what should any of it matter? Did he really see the need to rub it in her face though? Or was he just being Ryker?
    ****
    By the time Ryker returned the following day, Avery had decided being all business would provide the appropriate protective shell she desperately craved. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to meet him in the front hall. Instead, she hid in her bedroom until she was sure she could handle whatever emotions seeing him brought.
    His expression was tense and his words terse when she finally located him in the kitchen close to lunchtime.
    “Your business trip went well?” she said holding back the raw emotion that felt like half the skin of her thigh had been scraped off and she stood there raw, exposed.
    His granite expression gave away nothing of his emotions. “It did.”
    “Good. I’ve been busy here too. The party’s in two days, and it looks like everything’s solid. In order. I’ll stay on in case anything goes wrong, but I’d be happy to find a hotel,” she said even as she remembered he would never allow a hotel chain on his private retreat.
    “Not necessary.” He shrugged, his gaze intent on her. “You belong here.”
    “Nothing special about me. I could be one of many...”
    “Have we rounded back to that again?” he asked, and his voice was angry.
    She lowered her gaze, unable to look at him. Because he appeared wounded somehow. And that wasn’t fair.
    Maybe the feelings she felt between them were only on her side. Wasn’t he still the same spoiled rich man who couldn’t be bothered to roll up his sleeves?
    “I saw the pictures. I know what you did in London. Or should I say whom?”
    “I didn’t do anything. Except business.” His gaze narrowed when he must’ve realized there were pictures.
    She let out a cough.
    “What do you want from me?” Ryker said indignantly.
    “Nothing.”
    ****
    He knew he owed her an explanation, but how the hell could he explain what he hadn’t figured out? “Look. I’m sorry about any photographs. But that is my life. It happens everywhere I go.”
    “Is there always someone on your arm gazing up into your eyes?”
    “It’s to a woman’s advantage to be seen with me,” he said not ready to explain further. But he would tell her something. “The event I lend my name for…”
    “The event I just executed? For orphans? What does that have to do with anything?”
    Frustration ticked a muscle in his jaw. “It’s the reason I don’t go.”
    “Convenient excuse,” she said flatly.
    “Then the story becomes about me and the speculation of who I’m dating. The message of helping orphans gets lost.”
    Avery stopped, looking like she let that sink in for a minute. The tension in her face muscles sent another ripple of guilt through him.
    “Makes sense, actually,” she conceded.
    “Nothing happened in London.” And he was still trying to figure out why not.
    Her gaze slowly rose to meet his. He pulled her into his arms. Never one to say more than needed saying, he surprised himself in the knowledge he wanted