Panic rode through her nervous system like a runaway roller coaster on fire. Her pulse spiked—fight-or-flight without an exit ramp. Forget league. Forget ballpark. She wasn’t even in the same fucking universe anymore.
“I know it’s a lot,” he said as if sensing her fight-or-flight reaction kicking in.
You can do this. Just pretend you’re working a gig at a fancy hotel.
“I’m fine.”
“Uh-huh.”
As they neared the far side of the foyer, Melody stepped out of a door under the stairs with a bottle of wine, wearing a cream-colored sweater that complimented her dark hair and russet jeans. Her dark brown eyes widened before a smile of genuine welcome curved full red lips.
“Hi, Mel,” Avery bent awkwardly to kiss her cheek. “Everybody here?”
She nodded. “Except for Kate and Bryce. She called. They’re running behind.”
He chuckled. “I can guess why.”
“Behave.” Melody smacked his arm but winked her agreement. Bangly bracelets jangled at her wrists as she gave Jo’s forearm a light squeeze. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
The welcome was genuine, which made the pressure worse. “Me, too.”
But at the same time, she’d rather be anywhere else.
“Come on. Everyone’s back here.” She went ahead of them through a wide passage that opened into a smaller version of the living room.
Several brown leather couches and chairs flanked another stone fireplace that blazed, warm and welcoming. A wet bar lined the adjacent wall, and a buffet of chips, dip, crackers, and cheese was laid out behind the sofa facing a near-cinema-sized flat screen over the cedar mantle. The room radiated comfort the way money always did—quietly, without apology.
Dressed similarly to Avery, the Preston men dominated the room. Nick and Laine sat on one couch, watching basketball highlights. Spencer stretched out on another. Marcus sprawled in one of the oversized recliners.
“Look who’s here,” Melody announced. “And they come bearing gifts.”
They. It landed heavy and sounded weird, a tummy tingling weird, different than it had last weekend when she hadbarely known Avery and hadn’t known his family at all, not on a personal level. Which was pretty much still the case, even after their late-night taco run.
Theymade them sound more like a couple than before, when she and Avery hadn’t done more than text a few times during the week to work out scheduling details for today.
Oh, what a tangled, guilty as fuck web we weave.
Avery headed toward a long mahogany dining table that filled the other half of the room. He set his load of boxes beside a stack of dinner plates. “There’s a lot more out in my truck.”
Dumping her boxes next to his, Jo shot him a dirty look. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn’t contradict him. It would only bring more attention to an overzealous attempt to impress them.
Asshole just shrugged as Spencer, Nick, and Marcus stomped socked feet into boots and headed outside.
As soon as she turned around, Melody was right there with a hug. She pulled back. “Can I get you a drink? We’re having mimosas.”
“No, thank you.” She could use a drink, but her stomach rebelled at the idea of orange juice. Besides, she needed to keep a clear head.
Laine met Avery with a fatherly embrace. “How was the drive?
“Hardly any traffic.”
Laine smiled at Jo but didn’t come in for a hug, to her relief. “Connie hates the drive into Houston. Says it takes too long.”
“I don’t get up this way much, but it went by fast.” Too fast. Probably because she was nervous and dreading a less business-like setting. Or was it the company and conversation that made the trip go by so quickly? Avery was nothing if not entertaining. When he wasn’t being an asshole.
“You weren’t speeding, were you?” Laine said.
Avery laughed. “I drove like an old man.”
