Chapter 6

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?"

Cade tore his gaze away from where Avery was playing darts with Brent, Zoe, and Gabby across the room to look at Drake. His older brother was in a mood. When wasn't he? "I don't know what you're talking about."

Except he did know. Playing dumb seemed like a better option.

The jukebox inside Shooters blared hard rock, the peanuts on their table were stale, and there wasn't a face in the crowd Cade didn't know. Same ole, same ole. Since when was he restless? Typically he rolled with the punches, let the night play out how fate intended. He shrugged, suddenly tired of the mirror scene, the same cheese-ass décor and come-on lines.

Was he getting...bored?

Flynn paused with his beer halfway to his mouth, watching them closely to read their lips. Normally Cade wouldn't exclude him from conversation and would use sign language, but the bar was busy and Cade had a suspicion this was a conversation he didn't want the gang listening to.

Drake crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair at their high-top table. "You cock-blocked Avery today when someone asked her out."

As if he didn't feel like a big enough ass. "I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a cock."

Flynn snorted.

Drake's brows lowered. "This isn't a game. Whatever you're thinking, unthink it. She's not your usual good time."

Translation: She's too good for you.

Cade ground his jaw and slammed the rest of his pint. Never mind he knew that. He didn't need his brother pointing it out. Besides, who said he couldn't offer someone more than a little fun? He was getting sick of people underestimating him and putting him in a box. The label was getting old quick.

And just when, exactly, had that happened?

Flynn must've picked up on Cade's tension. "Maybe he really likes this one."

Cade chanced a peek across the crowded bar, but the group wasn't paying attention and Flynn's back was to them.

Drake shot out a laugh that had little to do with humor. "He likes all of them. That's not the issue." He leaned forward, glare digging into Cade's patience. "She's the best thing to happen to our clinic since before Dad died. If your dick screws that up-"

Cade slammed his glass down. "I haven't done anything. And if I do, it wouldn't be before properly thinking it through." Except Avery had a way of shutting down thought.

Drake shook his head, a sound of disgust rolling from his throat.

"You know, I graduated from college, never miss a day of work, own my own home-"

"And never sleep with the same woman twice." Drake shifted his glass on the table, studying him. "There are levels and types of responsibilities, little brother. She has a kid. She doesn't need to date one."

He was sick of this conversation, too. Cade didn't know what more he needed to do to prove himself. What the hell difference did it make who got between his sheets? His sex life had nothing to do with his family or Animal Instincts.

Yet his gut twisted because he'd basically told himself the same thing Drake had not so charmingly spewed, and he was still thinking of making a play for Avery. She tied him up in knots. He wanted to dissect that, find out why.

"They're coming back to the table." Flynn sipped his beer.

Cade's gaze tracked Avery until she climbed onto the stool next to him. "So who won?"

Zoe grinned, the curve of her lips reminding him of her gypsy heritage, seductive and mysterious. "Gabby, of course. When doesn't she win?"

Zoe's once light brown hair was dyed blue this week. For more than a year, she'd colored it a different unnatural shade, changing it every week or two. No one knew why. She'd walked into the clinic one day with bright orange hair and never said a word as she'd set up in the back for her grooming appointments.

They'd all wondered. No one had asked.

Gabby took a healthy gulp of her ale. "Gotta be good at something. At least Brent didn't maim anyone."

Brent's aim was notoriously bad when it came to darts. Cade had a scar on his bicep as proof.

Brent waved off her comment. "Only because everyone scurried away, refusing to play with us." He turned in his seat and yelled to the bar over the noise. "All pussies!"

Gabby shoulder-bumped him. "How would you know a pussy if you saw one?"

Flynn choked on his beer.

Cade looked at Avery to see how she was taking the light banter at Brent's expense, but the curve of her lips said she was amused by the conversation. She was quiet, but comfortable. He guessed he just wasn't used to quiet women. Come to think of it, if not for Avery, he'd swear they didn't exist.

Avery dropped her chin in her hand. "I'll bet he's been with at least one woman."

Brent's eyes narrowed to catty, but he said nothing.

She shifted in her seat, crossing her long legs wrapped in skinny jeans that Cade would love nothing more than to peel off her. The knee-high black boots could stay.

"Are all of you from Redwood Ridge? You seem to know each other very well."

Most of them had grown up together. Brent was a recent Seattle transplant from five years ago. Gabby had been in Flynn's graduating class, Zoe in Drake's. Cade and his brothers were only a year and a half apart, Drake being the oldest, but they were close. At the clinic there was a respectful working relationship, but after hours it was like being back in the sandbox again. A guy couldn't ask for better friends.

Gabby readjusted her ponytail. "I can give you all the dirt."

Zoe laughed, a rich smoky sound that seemed to wind Drake tighter. His shoulders tensed as he swallowed the last of his whiskey neat and stood. "I'm out. Avery, thank you for everything. Seriously."

They all lifted their glasses. "To Avery!"

Her cheeks flushed as she stared at the table. "Thanks."

Gabby winced and set down her glass. "Damn, Cade. Cougar at twelve o'clock."

Judging by her gaze directed over his shoulder, he assumed she meant her twelve o'clock, not his. He turned in just enough time to catch Cynthia's perfume before she sidled up next to him, plastering her double D's in his face. Cynthia had been a lapse in judgment about four years back, but she didn't seem to take that personally.

He looked to Flynn for help, but his jerkface brother grinned. "Just put her over your knee and she'll leave you alone."

Why did he tell his brother anything? Yes, it was true Cynthia liked to be spanked, and yes, it was true she'd liked to scream out Daddy when in the throes. To each her own. It just wasn't his thing. In fact, he was pretty sure he was still traumatized.

Avery lifted her brows. "Do I want to know?" she signed to Flynn.

Gabby shook her head, eyes wide. "Not unless you've got daddy issues. Keep your eyes down. Don't engage."

Flynn laughed, wiping a hand down his face.

Cynthia shoved her tongue in Cade's ear and purred. Except she was so drunk it came out more like a tin drum roll. "Let's go back to my place."

He resisted a shudder and set his hands on her waist. "Ah, thanks for the offer, but I've got an early morning tomorrow. Besides, you know you're too much...woman for me to handle." Her curly red hair, courtesy of Clairol, tickled his face and barred him from seeing his friends laughing at his expense.

Cynthia licked his throat.

Avery made a strangled sound of shock.

Cade always found it difficult rejecting women. One would think he'd become a Master Jedi at by now, but alas, "no" was not in his Webster. He'd beaten around the word, teased at it, and siphoned his way out of messy breakups, but rarely had to hurt feelings in his diversionary tactics. On the off chance Cynthia would remember this moment after she sobered, he'd hate for her to be humiliated in front of everyone at Shooters because the town manwhore had turned her down.

Another freaking term he couldn't stand. It wasn't as if he'd slept with every woman. He was actually more selective than people gave him credit. His reputation had been embellished greatly through the years, through no fault of his own. Not that he'd minded much. Not until recently. Hell, he'd been on a dry streak long enough to briefly-perhaps punishingly-consider Cynthia again.

Nope. Scratch that. He'd stay celibate.

Brent, bless him, decided to save his ass from being swallowed whole. "Cynthia, honey, retract your claws. Cade's with someone else tonight."

Cade pinched his eyes shut as Cynthia stilled halfway into her climb up his body. He held his hands out, not touching her, hoping the lack of contact wouldn't set her off. She'd been known to be a hothead.

Slowly, she eased back to look at his face. Mascara smears shadowed the puffiness under her eyes, and her mouth hung open in shock, breathing stale beer in his face. She looked from him to Avery and back again. "Who's she?"

"Cynthia, meet Avery, our new office manager." Thinking fast, he tapped Cynthia's ass to cue her to get down. "I think I saw Jared staring at you from the pool tables earlier." Jared being the ex high school football star whose life peaked ten years ago. No harm, no foul sending her Jared's way. "I think he's interested. I'd hate to come between you two."

"Yeah?" Her unfocused gaze scanned the room. "Thanks, Cade. You're a helluva guy."

As she sauntered away, and the entirety of their table busted out into hysterics, he blew out a breath. "And you people call yourselves friends."

Gabby swiped her eyes. "I warned you she was coming."

Brent held out his hand, wiggling his fingers. "Zoe, hand over your purse. Quick." She passed it over and Brent dug through the contents, removed a small package of antibacterial wipes, and tossed it on the table in front of Cade. "Use them. Hurry, before infection sets in."

With air being in such short supply, Gabby thunked her head on the table and wheezed through a round of giggles.

Avery set her glass down. "You knew she had wipes in her purse?"

After what just went down over the past five minutes, that was what shocked her?

Zoe patted Gabby's back and slid a glass of water in front of her. "He's in my purse more than I am."

Brent nodded in mock seriousness. "True, dat."

Cade sighed and turned to Avery. "You ready to go?" He was so over this night.

Amusement still shone in her eyes as she nodded.

They drove back to her cabin in silence, but a comfortable one. He parked in front of the porch and got out to open her door. She looked up with round eyes as if no one had been so courteous before and then avoided his gaze. As they climbed the porch steps and he wondered how to end the night, Justine opened the front door, rushed past them, and headed for her car.

"Hailey's asleep. There were no issues. You two go on inside. Together. Alone. I'll see you tomorrow, Avery." With that, she got in her car, sped out of the drive, and disappeared onto the main road.

They stood staring after the taillights had faded and Avery pressed a hand to her forehead. "What is wrong with everybody?"

"Subtlety is not her strong suit, I take it?" He was used to his meddling family, but being the victim of matchmaking seemed new to her.

Her gaze landed on his chest and suddenly he was aware of her closeness, of the summer and berries scent of her rising over the pine and snow. Her breath hitched, her lips parted, and her lids grew heavy.

One step, one step and his body would be flush with hers and he'd know what she tasted like. He'd thought of little else this week, and he was starting to forget the reasons why he shouldn't make a move.

"Um..." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "The woman at the bar, you're not...together?"

"No."

"But you used to be?"

"Yes. One night, years ago."

She nodded. "You were really nice about letting her down tonight."

"No sense in being an asshole about it." He shrugged.

Finally, her gaze lifted to his. Part shock, part admiration lit the brown depths. He couldn't recall when, if ever, someone had looked at him and seen respect. His chest swelled, giving him the false impression he could do anything.

The porch light caught the golden flecks in her irises to add to the punch of dark brown. She had clever eyes, expressive, with long lashes that framed all that pretty color. Avery wasn't a stunner, but she had an unmistakable natural beauty not found often anymore. The freckles lightly dusting her nose only added to her charm.

Her gaze dropped to his mouth and back up, telling him she was thinking of being naughty, too. "You should stop looking at me like that. I'm not dessert. I'm not even an appetizer."

He stepped into her space and cupped her cheek, cool from the air. "I disagree."

Cade wondered how long she'd been married to the dick who put those ideas in her head and how long it would take to undo the damage. She hadn't outright said anything, but he knew insecurity when he saw it. She was confident in work, with her daughter, in everything else, until he acted on impulse and got closer. Then her oh-shit meter went off.

She wasn't ready to be kissed, but he was going to pursue this chemistry to see just how combustible they were together. His mind was made up, if for no other reason than to show her just how desirable she was.

"I'll see you on Monday." Leaning in, he kissed her cheek, letting his lips drag across her smooth skin and graze a path to her temple. Her breath shuddered out, expelling puffs of air in the cool, damp night. "For the record," he said quietly into her hair, "I think you're sweeter than any dessert I've had."

And he'd had a lot of dessert.

* * *

Squawk. "Highway to hell."

Cade muttered a curse.

Avery looked up from the billing statement she'd been going over with him, glancing first at the cockatoo and then Cade. The muscles in his forearms flexed as he leaned into his hands on the desk next to her. Large hands. They'd felt good cupping her cheeks the other night.

She shook her head. Focus. "What's wrong?"

"The Battleaxes are here." He jerked his chin at the front door. "All three of them at once. This can't be good."

Cade's mother and two aunts strode into the clinic. The three women couldn't be any more different. Rosa was in jeans and a T-shirt with a leather bomber jacket, her unnatural red hair plastered in place and not a stitch of makeup. Gayle's light blond bob moved freely as she walked. She was wearing a pair of khakis and a light blue sweater under a peacoat, sporting a natural look with a swipe of gloss and a little mascara. The mayor, Marie, was in professional mode in a tweed suit, her dark brown hair swept up in a twist and war paint in full operatus.

Avery's gut twisted. Cade turned to leave, but she grabbed his wrist. "Don't you dare leave me alone with them." She'd only met them a handful of times since moving, but they were intimidating as individuals. Together they could take down the Taliban.

"Mom, Aunties, what brings you out?" He leaned over the desk to kiss their cheeks. "Taking candy from babies? Solving the budget deficit and telling no one?"

Avery's pulse thrummed as heat pooled in her belly. There was nothing sexier than a good sense of humor.

"Har, har. Avery, dear. So good to see you." Marie took off her gloves and unbuttoned her coat.

"You, too, Mayor."

"Oh, please. Just Marie is fine."

Avery chanced a peek at Cade, but he was pretending to read the billing statement in his hands. Wimp. She cleared her throat and smiled. "What can I help you gals with today?"

"Well," Gayle started, but was interrupted by Gabby who walked up front with her attention on a chart.

"Avery, have you seen the..." Gabby's eyes rounded when they landed on the visitors. "Hey there." She moved around the desk, hugging each in turn, not the least bit afraid of the trio. "What a great surprise. Have you met Avery? Look at the wonderful job she's done in organizing us."

Cade tried to step behind Avery and leave, but she moved her chair back, blocking his exit. Stuck, he pasted on an affable grin. "I've got patients, so..."

He tried stepping in front of Avery. She stretched out her legs. "No, you don't. Your schedule's clear for twenty minutes."

"I have paperwork."

"You don't."

"I do. I'm sure of it." His jaw ground, but amusement lit his eyes. Obviously he was enjoying the game. His expression implored her to release him.

"Nope," she sang.

Rosa cleared her throat and looked at her sisters. "Told you."

Gayle's smile could've melted the arctic. "I do see. You were right."

Cade tensed. "See what? Right about what?"

The trio, complete with Gabby, stared between her and Cade, a mischievous gleam in their eyes over an inside joke.

Instead of answering, Marie nodded. "We've heard about the wonderful job you've been doing, Avery. That's why we're here, actually. We have a proposition for you."

Oh God. "Um...okay?"

Cade chuckled. She kicked him in the ankle.

Ever since last Friday night, when they'd all gone out to Shooters and Cade almost kissed her, there'd been a jovial atmosphere at work. Like crossing the line between strangers and friends. They'd bantered, joked, teased. Even Drake had cracked a smile or...well, just the one time. But it had been fun. She loved working here, and she was beginning to gain a sense of purpose again.

Gayle took the lead, leaning on the counter with her big doe eyes. "We're in need of someone with your organizational skills. You see, Jessica was put on bed rest and she normally runs the event committee-"

Cade barked out a laugh. Paused. Looked at each of the ladies. Held up a hand and laughed again. "You want Avery to head the Redwood Ridge event committee?"

Rosa nodded. "Exactly." She looked at Avery, who was too confused to move. "For now, it would just be the Valentine's dance, but we can see how that goes and then you could chair more things if all goes well."

Marie nodded. "The St. Patrick's pot luck, Easter egg hunt..."

Gabby bounced on her toes. "She'd be perfect. I mean, Avery's got great ideas, and you know she's super organized."

They kept chattering about her as if she wasn't there. She pressed a palm to her forehead.

Cade leaned down to whisper in her ear. "This is how Jessica got roped into the job. I'd run. Run far. Run fast."

"Who is Jessica?" She didn't even know this person and they were-

"Oh, Jessica runs the nursery." Marie waved her hand. "That's not important. She's stepped down and we need someone to replace her. We pick you."

"I...um." Avery sighed. God. "That's very flattering, but I don't know the town very well, and I've never done anything like that before." There. That should get them to-

"Nonsense. The meeting is tonight at the rec center. Be there at seven." Marie donned her gloves.

"Wait. I can't." Avery stood. "My mom has book club and there's no one to watch Hailey. Besides that, I'm just too busy."

Gayle smiled as if this had all gone according to their crazy plan. "The meetings are only ninety minutes once a week. Every two weeks if there's not an event coming up. Cade can watch Hailey while you're away."

Cade flinched. "I what?"

Avery's temples started to throb. "No. Hailey has special needs, and I'd need someone responsible who knows-"

"Are you saying I'm not responsible?" Cade crossed his arms, his brows lifting.

Dang it. "No, of course not. It's just-"

"I am responsible. And for your information, I could handle a kid for a couple of hours."

"Perfect." Marie moved to the door before Avery could even blink, her sisters following. "Cade will babysit Hailey, and we'll see you at the meeting. I knew this would work nicely."

They walked out with the same flair as when they'd strode in, leaving Avery's mouth agape. She stared at the door, trying to figure out if she was pissed off or freaked out.

Gabby grinned and slung an arm around her shoulders. "You'll do a great job." With that complete statement of non-help, she went back into Flynn's office.

Slowly, Avery turned to Cade.

"I walked right into that." He shook his head. "Twenty-eight years and you'd think I'd know when I was being trapped. Don't look at me like that. They're sneaky. Tricky. You were standing right here, too."

She sighed. "What did I just get myself into? And don't think you're off the hook. I can double book you on 'depressed' cats for the next three months."

Cade sprawled into the extra office chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. His dark blue scrubs stretched over the lean muscles of his thighs and biceps, momentarily distracting her.

He slapped his hand on his leg. "Redwood Ridge does several community events throughout the year. Mostly holidays, but the funds raised go to causes like the rec center, the fire department, the library. The event coordinator kinda oversees all of that."

Avery had spent a good amount of her time planning parties for Richard and his law firm. But it had been more than two years since they'd separated and she'd done nothing on this grand a scale. For a whole town? She was just beginning to get settled into the new job, new home. And Hailey wasn't accustomed to this many strangers around. She'd been doing really well in school and the rec center, but to leave her one-on-one with a man she barely knew was not something Avery was comfortable with, even if Cade was trustworthy.

Heck, none of this was what Avery was used to. For ten years, she'd been isolated from others in the Stowe mansion, raising Hailey with no assistance and little more than herself for company.

Avery sat in the chair across from Cade. She needed to give him an out. "About you babysitting, I'll just take Hailey with me, or find someone..."

She trailed off as his gaze met hers. Something like hurt flashed in his eyes, twisting his mouth, but then it was gone. He stared at her for a beat as if trying to calculate her reaction or his own. All she could think was, why didn't he want an out? Single, attractive man, Friday night-surely he didn't want to babysit.

It was hard to get a read on him. Usually he was charming and playful. A few times, he'd teetered on irritation, but always he was good with the animals. Patient. Kind.

Her breath caught. She could've sworn it was interest looking back at her, like the other night on her porch, but without the heat, the desire. Swallowing, she forced herself to look away when her cheeks flamed.

Scratching his jaw, he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. "I can stay with Hailey for a couple of hours." His gaze bore into hers, not a trace of humor in them. "I get the impression you don't lean on people often. It may seem like I got roped into it, and maybe I did, but that doesn't mean I don't want to do it." A moment passed, then two. "She's a great kid, Avery."

Cade had spent a few hours with Hailey and thought she was a great kid. Richard had been her father and never saw it. Coming from any other guy, it might've sounded like a line. But no. Cade was genuine, from the inflection in his low voice to his direct gaze to his actions when around Hailey. A person couldn't fake sincerity.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. "I'll drive you batshit with instructions. Blow up your phone with texts."

He rose and walked past her. "I can take it."