Page 88 of Flirting Lessons

An invite list spreadsheet. Oof. Thank God she had Avery to help with this, otherwise she would be very bitter about losing this bet.

A few hours and many winery guests later, she heard the chime of the tasting room door and looked up, her customer service smile on. And then she relaxed.

“Did you hear that it was busy today and decide to come by to help out?” she asked.

Luke grinned back at her.

“No such luck, I’m here to pick up Margot. Her car’s in the shop so she’s borrowing mine.”

Taylor waved him toward the employees-only door.

“You know your way around; head on back to her office. Good to see you.”

Luke took a step in that direction, but stopped and came back over to her at the bar. The grin on his face faded into a tentative smile. Ah. Right.

“She told you,” Taylor said.

Luke nodded.

“She did. I think it’s great. She seems really happy.”

Taylor raised an eyebrow at him.

“But?” She liked Luke a lot, and she knew the feeling was mutual, but she could tell he had something else to say.

He shook his head.

“But nothing. Avery seems happy, and that’s the most important thing. The only important thing, really.” He paused for a second. “I really care about her, you know.”

“I know,” she said. “It’s nice.”

Luke smiled faintly, but went on. “Avery has been there for me…anytime I needed her, and a few times when I thought I didn’t need her but was wrong. She doesn’t ask for help much, but when she does, I’d do anything to help her. She’s a great person. A special person.”

This conversation should feel strange, but somehow it didn’t.

“I know she is,” she said.

Luke looked at her hard.

“I really hope you do,” he said. “She’s gotten pretty hurt in the past. I don’t want her to get hurt again.”

Why did he assume that she would hurt Avery? What had she done to deserve that?

Plenty of things, actually. Fine, Luke, that was fair.

It was very sweet that Luke cared this much about Avery to corner her for a little talk. If Luke were a different kind of guy, she’d call this a warning. But then, if Luke were that kind of guy, Avery wouldn’t be his best friend.

“I know you don’t,” she said. “I don’t want her to get hurt, either.”

Luke nodded once. Twice.

“Okay.” He took a step back. “I should go get Margot. I just…I just wanted to say that.”

Taylor grinned at him.

“Okay,” she said, slightly mimicking his tone of voice. She hoped it would make him smile, and it did. “Good talk.”

Luke nodded again.

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