Page 76 of Seduction in Spades

Yeah. Good question. One I’ve asked myself over and over. If it had been Ryder at The Club that night instead of me, would she be with him? Would she be happier with a guy who wants the same thing as her? No-strings sex.

I push my misery aside and join the party outside. The afternoon goes better than I expect it to, and Avery shows no sign of fear from what we left behind in Boston.

“I recognize that look.” My dad sidles next to me and offers me a beer. I take it and pop the top.

“What look?” I take a sip while watching Avery read to Theo, him nestled in her lap on the patio lounger.

“Love.”

I choke on my beer and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “Easy, Dad.”

“Mom and I have noticed you keeping watchful eyes on your woman all day. Haven’t talked to her much though. You two have a lovers quarrel or something?”

“Just because I’m watching out for her doesn’t mean I’m in love.” I ignore his question, unsure how to answer.

Are we quarreling? No idea. We talk in circles, neither of us bringing up our feelings, and as soon as the conversation starts to turn to something more than sex, or the threat to her life, Avery clams up.

Am I frustrated with the situation? With her? Hell, yeah. Do I blame her? No. Not exactly. Do I want to push her? Fuck. Yes.

“I’ve noticed how she glances your way as well, son.”

“She does?” Hell, I sound like a desperate teenager. “She’s surrounded by strangers. I’m sure she’s just making sure I’m around and don’t ditch her.”

Dad chuckles. “Keep lying to yourself and dancing around your feelings, and she’ll find someone else.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My dad is clueless about the complexities of our relationship. Or lack thereof. The issue has been with me telling her I want something more.

Not that I’ve come right out with the sappy stuff. She knows I want more than what we have. Avery’s a smart woman and can read between the lines.

“I see a longing in her eyes when she doesn’t think anyone is watching.”

“Shit, Dad. Mom has you watching too many Hallmark movies.”

“That she does, and it does wonders for our love life. Your father’s quite the stud. Too bad it doesn’t seem like your lady is as satisfied as mine.”

I choke on the final sip of my beer and shake my head at him. “Do notevertalk to me about your and Mom’s love life again. I swear, I’ll never come back and visit.”

My dad laughs and pats me on the back. “She’s a good one. Don’t let her slip away because you two are too afraid to confront your feelings.”

“My advice to you? Lay off the Hallmark channel.”

Katie runs up to me and grabs my hand, tugging me to the swing set. I push her for a while until she gets bored and asks—or rather, tells—me to watch her on the trampoline. I climb up and jump a little with her before the sun sets and we take the party inside.

After round two of leftover pizza, baths for the kids, and another slice of cake, we say goodnight to the kids, my sister, and Johnny.

In the driveway, my dad leans over and whispers in my ear. “If you two kids want the house to yourself for a bit, I can bring your mother up to the Cliff.”

“For crying out loud, Dad.”

“Unless you’d rather bring Avery up there and make out in the car. I can leave a signal in the house to let you know if your mother and I are—”

“Don’t even say it.”

My dad laughs at my discomfort.

“Well, spoilsport, guess your mother and I will see you two back at the house. Want to play some cards or something?”

“I’ll ask Avery if she’s not too tired. We have an early flight tomorrow.”

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