CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

DOMINIC

The YP event must"ve been a turning point in our relationship. Because even though Avery initially denied her feelings, she doesn"t refuse my advances anymore. In fact, she"s even initiated things a few times.

Life seems to be getting back on track for me as we continue to outfit the office with new furniture and decor. I have Avery, and the company is growing in this new environment. Everything is great which means I"m in for a fall soon.

Avery would tell me to stop being so pessimistic, but I"m a realist and understand how things work in the world. What goes up always has to come down. Nothing ever grows in a steadily increasing line.

"Pick it up, slacker!" Avery yells at a player on the field. This is a new side to her—the rambunctious heckler—and she's damn good at it. A moment doesn"t pass where trash talk isn't flying out of her mouth. She likes to say I'm unfriendly, but my girl has a secret mean streak, and I can only laugh in shock at some of the insults her mind comes up with.

We decided to take a break from work and spent the day in Seattle ambling around the mall—where she"d refused to let me buy her anything—and now we're at a professional baseball game. Avery bought the tickets, mentioning it being our thing after the incident at the rec league game. Apparently, surprising me with tickets was the only way she could guarantee I didn"t pay for everything while we were together.

My head shakes again at her stubbornness. The few women of my past loved when I spent money on them, in fact they insisted on it. Of course, the one woman I want to spoil tries to derail me at every turn.

A trait that's cute and generous, but frustrating when this is officially our first date.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. The screen shows Matt's name, but I ignore the call—something I never would have done before Avery. Guess she's gotten me to relax a little.

The phone goes off again, and my thumb taps the red button. Matt can wait. I'm spending time with my girl.

"You can answer it. You"re not missing much here." Avery waves at the green field below where players toss the ball around before the next inning. A protest is on the tip of my tongue when another call comes in. "Answer it. It might be important."

Doubtful, but her tone brooks no argument, so I hit the green circle as I scale the stairs to the concourse, hoping it"ll be marginally quieter.

"What?"

"Is that any way to greet your friend?" I don"t respond to his comment, just wait to hear the reason for him harassing me on my date with Avery. "Fine. I"m checking to see if you finished the Holbrook report yet. Kessler sent an email."

On a Saturday.

Of course, he did.

Prior to Avery, it wouldn't have bothered me because I'd still be working, but that's changing now that I have someone more important in my life. "Ignore it until Monday. Frankly, I'm surprised you're even checking your email today. That's not like you."

"Yeah, well, maybe your crazy workaholic ass is rubbing off on me." He laughs, and a chuckle wells in my chest, too. "Damn, Avery really has done a number on you, huh? Your sense of humor has been found."

"Shut it. We'll talk Monday." With that, the call ends, and I shove the phone back into my pocket. Matt isn't far off. I feel lighter than I have in years, thanks to Avery. Not because she's all rainbows and butterflies—Avery is as grounded as me—but she's got just enough of a rebellious spark inside to trigger my own, brightening my life a little more each time we're together.

"Did something happen?" Avery asks once I return to our seats. She places a hand on my forearm in comfort, and the knots that usually tense my muscles slowly ease, melting away under her touch.

Avery soothes me so effortlessly, yet I guarantee she has no idea the power she wields over me. Covering her smaller hand with mine, I shrug. "Just Matt. He thought about being productive today."

Avery hums in her throat. "Uncharacteristic of him." Cheers blast through the stadium, and she takes that as her cue to move on, leaning back to explain the crazy double play I missed.

***

"I don"t know how you sleep so much." We're on our way back to Suitor's Crossing after the game, and if there's one thing I've learned in traveling with Avery, it's that she almost always dozes off while I drive.

"It"s because all you listen to is talk radio. That and the motion of the car are like a straight shot of melatonin."

"Talk radio is informative and interesting. You should try listening more."

Avery scoffs. "Definitely not. As long as you"re listening to people debate the merits of different investment accounts or whatever, I"m going to sleep. Especially since your car is the one magical vehicle I can actually do that in."

She goes to pop her earbuds in, preparing for another nap, when I stop her with a hand to her wrist.

"Play it over the speakers." I motion toward the touchscreen on the radio. A few seconds later, her phone is connected to the speakers, and a cacophony of drums and guitars blare through the interior.

"What is this?"

"One of my car playlists. This is If These Sheets Were the States by All Time Low."

The trip progressed with her playing different songs and informing me of all I"ve missed with my talk radio habit. I don"t mind, though. I like hearing her voice, and the excitement that washes over her when one of her favorite songs comes on is adorable.

The windows are dark as I park in front of Avery's apartment. A porchlight is on, but that's it.

"Did Elsie go to bed already?"

"Nah, she's gone this weekend. Went home to see her parents."

Our seat belts unbuckle with loud clicks, then I escort her to the front door, wishing she'd invite me in. I'm not going to push because Avery is setting the pace of our relationship now that she's finally agreed to be in one with me, but there's no denying the desire flaring under my skin.

As if she heard my internal thoughts, Avery swings the door open and motions into the shadowy living room. "Do you want to come inside?"

"Is that what you want?" I ask, unsure if this is a nightcap situation or if she craves more like I do.

"I wouldn't have asked otherwise, Dom." Holding her gaze, I step over the threshold and wait for her to lock the door. She doesn't flip the light switch, keeping us in the dark, so I feel more than see her turning to face me.

My heart races at the inquisitive press of her palm to my chest, and the exploratory slide of her lips along my jaw wrests the air from my lungs.

"What are you doing, firebrand?"

"Surrendering," she whispers, and it's a lightning bolt straight to my cock.