“That’s too bad. It looks like it could have been a great place to grow up.”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“You say that like you know the feeling.”

“I do. If something happened to my parents tomorrow, I’d hire someone like me to do the work and get rid of that house as soon as I could.”

“That bad?”

“I never measured up to my parents. I didn’t follow the rules as a teenager, bucked the private schools they shoved me into. The therapist they made me see said I was looking for their positive attention. Which as an adult I can completely agree with, but it didn’t work. Eventually all I seemed to do was hurt myself instead of them.”

Liam reached a hand out and covered hers. “I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

“I can’t imagine not having parents who adore their children and shower them with affection.”

“One lunch with my parents and you’ll know what that looks like.”

Liam ran the pad of his thumb over the inside of her palm. “I look forward to it.”

“That wasn’t an invitation.”

He rubbed a little harder. “Sounded like it to me.”

It was distracting . . . this thumb rubbing, hand-holding thing he was doing.

“I already told you I’m not the kind of woman you date.”

He stopped rubbing until she met his eyes.

“And why is that, Avery? Are you afraid the affection you seek won’t be reciprocated, like from your parents?”

His words were uncomfortably accurate.

She pulled her hand out from under his.

Liam’s smile faded. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

One vertebra at a time, Avery’s spine sat taller and her defiant chin came up. “That would have hurt more if there wasn’t a sprinkling of truth.”

“Still wasn’t my place to say it. I’m sorry.”

He looked it.

It was time to make damn sure Liam knew who he was trying to date.

“I was married.”

He kept his eyes focused. “Are you now?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t care.”

“Even my ex-husband will tell you I married him for his money.”

Liam kept silent, eyes straight.

“When we split, I was given five million dollars and my condo.”

“Did your ex end up on the street?”

She smiled, not helping herself. The thought of Bernie on the street, wearing Armani and holding a cardboard sign, made her laugh. “Not hardly.”

“Everyone has a past.”

“I snore.” Which was once true, but after the nose job, not so much.

“Like a trucker. You told me.” Liam sat forward and placed both hands over hers and held them tight. “Now let’s talk about this friend’s wedding.”

It was Liam’s turn to scramble. “You sure you have Cassandra covered for your shift on Saturday?”

Michelle stood in the doorway of his bedroom, watching as he packed for the weekend.

“We’re good.”

Liam zipped up a garment bag carrying a suit. He owned two, one for the occasional wedding or funeral, and the other he used when meeting with the city or client functions required more than a shirt and jeans.

“Is it an outdoor wedding?”

“I have no idea.”

“Do you know the bride or groom?”

“Nope. Friends of Avery’s.”

Michelle crossed her arms over her chest. “How did you end up getting a ticket on the same flight?”

Liam closed the suitcase and zipped it up. “Avery said there were extra seats. I’m guessing that means they’d booked them for people that can’t come.”

“Sounds fancy.”

It did. But he wasn’t backing out now. Not when he’d finally managed to have Avery add him as her plus-one.

He looked at the time and pulled out his phone to order an Uber to the airport.

“I can drive you.”

“This is fine. You’ll get stuck in traffic coming back.”

He gathered his luggage and kissed his sister’s cheek. Out in the living room, Cassandra jumped off the couch to hug his leg. “Bring me back some cake.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Without any more fanfare, his niece peeled herself off his leg and returned to the dolls she was playing with.

“Have fun,” Michelle said as he walked out the door.

“I will.” Or at least he hoped he would.

Thirty minutes later, the driver dropped him off in front of terminal three. Even with the huge sunglasses covering her eyes, he recognized Avery standing outside the doors, watching for him. She wore a short, peach colored dress and white boots that went up to her knees. The outfit was like nothing he’d seen her in before.

The woman had many sides, each of them just as fascinating as the last.

Outside the car, he rolled his suitcase to her side and stopped. “Love the outfit.”

She hiked her sunglasses up to look him in the eye. “The short skirt or the tall boots?”

“Both.”

She tilted her glasses back onto her nose. “You sure you’re ready for this?” she asked him.

Liam ignored the people whizzing past. “The question is, are you?”

“No.” She shook her head. “But my friends wouldn’t shut up and you weren’t helping.”

“I like your friends.” They seemed to be on his side already.

Avery shook her head and turned toward the doors. “I don’t think you’re ready for this, but here goes nothing.”

He grasped her arm before she could take a step.

“Second thoughts?” she asked.

He moved his hand up to the back of her neck and pulled her in. “None.”

Liam kissed her doubting lips long enough for her to sigh and kiss him back. Only then did he let her go.

He pulled his luggage behind him and held her hand as they walked into the terminal.

Avery led them past the ticket gates and toward what looked like an exclusive lounge. “Are your friends here?”

“They’re already on the plane.”

“They’re what?” He must have got that wrong.

Liam couldn’t say he’d ever had the need for a private airport lounge, so this was a first. They walked through the double sliding doors to be greeted by a smiling hostess. “Hello, Ms. Grant. You must be Mr. Holt.”

Definitely a first. “I am.”

“TSA is ready for you. Do you have any more luggage?”

He shook his head. “No. This is it.”

“I’ll show him the way,” Avery told the woman.

Liam walked further down the rabbit hole.

They waltzed through the lounge and down a nearly empty hall. At the end was a metal detector and a conveyer belt for his luggage. The TSA officer stood by the metal detector with a smile. “ID?”

“Right.” Liam removed his wallet and presented his driver’s license while Avery walked through the metal detector.

He started to toe off his shoes.

“That isn’t necessary, Mr. Holt. Just put your phone through and any keys in your pockets.”

Less than twenty seconds later, Avery and Liam were being escorted out of the terminal and into a waiting car.

“Are we driving to Texas?”

Avery smirked. “You can back out anytime.”

Everything came into focus when the car stopped next to a private jet and Avery stepped out.

Holy shit.

The driver from the car took Liam’s luggage before he could grab it.

He stood looking up at the plane like it was a new invention.

“You’re serious.”

Avery took two steps up the stairs and turned toward him. “You coming?”

Avery took the final step into the private jet and wanted to glare at her friends, who had choreographed Liam’s being there. She noticed Shannon’s eyes light up when Liam stepped through the door and exhaled.

“You’ve met Lori and Reed.”

Reed stepped forward and shook Liam’s hand. “Nice to see you again.”

“I’m glad to be here.”

Lori smiled and shook his hand. “I’m still unsure if you’re a stalker.”

“Hopefully I’ll squelch that thought by the end of the weekend.”

Avery stood back. “And this is Shannon.”

Liam held a look of confusion. “Do I know you?”

“Shannon Wentworth. Former first lady of California, now making a name for herself in the world of photography.” Avery’s introduction made Shannon blush.

“I’m not sure about that world thing, but the rest of it is accurate.”

“A pleasure,” Liam said.

“Oh, the pleasure is all ours. Avery hasn’t invited a male friend into the fold, ever.”

Avery crossed to the bar and poured a glass of champagne. “Like I had a choice. First Trina drunkenly snags my phone and extends the invite, and then this one doesn’t let it go.” She pointed to Liam, who appeared pleased with himself.

“Avery frazzled is a good look,” Lori said.

“I am not . . .” Yes, she was. “Whatever. I hope you and Reed get along,” she said directly to Liam. “This weekend is about Trina.”