“Even if I did want it, which I most certainly do not,” I said, hoping I sounded authoritative, “sex cannot happen.”
“It already did.”
“It cannot happen any more than it already did,” I amended. “Sorry. I guess you’re just going to have to suffer.”
A smirk spread across his face. “You’re the one who’s going to suffer. Watch, you’re going to come begging me for sex.”
I poked him in his rock-hard abs. “Not a chance.”
41
Blade
The week before the engagement party passed quickly, though being in the same house as Avery and sleeping next to her without being able to have her was excruciating.
She had refused my advances, and at night as I lay next to her. I barely slept, because visions and memories of how she smelled and the noises she made when I made her come kept beating against my skull. I barely did any work over the next few days either and spent an inordinate amount of time staring at Avery through the glass wall of my office.
We had a tour of Harrogate scheduled with the Schultzes on Friday then the engagement party the next afternoon. Avery had spent the majority of the week on the phone or sending emails organizing the tour. She’d even spent one night in Harrogate, and I hadn’t realized how much I had grown accustomed to having her in my bed until she wasn’t there.
The next night, when she returned, I slept wrapped around her. She only protested a little bit. But then when she thought I was asleep and she was still scrolling through emails on her tablet, she absently stroked my head, combing her fingers through my hair.
That Friday morning, we stopped by the ThinkX office briefly to check in.
“You should have gone to Harrogate last night,” Weston told me as I was reviewing a proposal.
“I don’t want to be around our brothers that much,” I replied.
“Garrett’s still convinced you’ve been abducted by aliens or are a robot plant or something.”
I shook my head. “He’s out of control, honestly.”
“Complain to Hunter,” Weston told me.
* * *
Hunter did not lookas if he was going to entertain any complaints from me. My older brother was arguing with Meg in the middle of City Hall. People on their way to pay property taxes or file paperwork had stopped and were gawking at them.
“Except that it was a good thing I ran a background check on him,” Hunter was saying.
“He ran a stop sign!” Meg screeched at Hunter. “People have traffic tickets; that doesn’t mean they’re ax murderers.”
“You’re the deputy mayor! I’m just looking out for your reputation,” Hunter declared.
“And what about you going out with some thirsty underwear model? Honestly, one would think you of all people would have higher standards and be smarter than to try and make me jealous with someone like that,” Meg scoffed. “As if I would feel jealous of someone who begs on Instagram for money from her followers to get a tattoo and pay for her vacation.”
“But it worked, didn’t it?” Hunter said smugly. “Admit it; you do care. You had to have stalked her on the internet to figure that out.” He smirked.
I pulled Avery over to them before Meg could slap Hunter.
“All ready for the tour?” Avery asked. “We have a few talks scheduled—we’re going to meet with the Harrogate Foundation, then the Rural Trust, then tour the building where ThinkX will have its offices. Afterward, we have a late lunch scheduled at the Gray Dove Bistro. Then we’re going on the art walk and to look at the convention center and have a meeting with the mayor.”
The Harrogate Foundation had its offices in the city hall on one of the upper floors. The Schultzes arrived a few minutes later, and after introductions, we took them upstairs to the big conference room with several large windows overlooking the square.
“This is the building where you two are going to be married, isn’t it?” Mrs. Schultz asked as I poured her a cup of coffee. “What a lovely venue. Your grandmother is so excited.” She patted Avery on the arm. “She and I have been emailing flower arrangement ideas.”
“You have?” Avery said, smiling tightly, her glass in a vise grip. I took it out of her hand before she could break it.
“Oh yes. She’s thinking of huge columns of flowers and then gold urns with large bouquets every few rows. The place will feel like a royal palace.”
