Page 8 of I Can't Help It

“I’m sending Ava with you.”

Well, never mind then.

“Ava?” My voice cracks as I stare at him. “You’re sending Ava with me?”

“She’s agreed to tag along just in case you need some extra support. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea?”

Do I think spending time with Ava at a cozy lodge without our coworkers around sounds like a good idea?

The irrational side of me wishes it were next Saturday already.

I know better though.

Of course, I’d love to have someone with me to make sure I don’t screw things up—but why Ava of all people? Spending time with her is going to be agony. And yet, I’m intrigued by the possibility. There’s no point in denying it.

Plus, this will be a work trip. It’s for your job.

“Should I take your silence as a no, that you don’t think it’s a good idea?” Colton’s eyebrows are creased now. “I just thought—”

“It is a good idea!” I blurt out before I can stop myself. And then I make sure to sound professional again. “I really appreciate it. Thank you, sir.”

“No problem, Luke. And even though adding Ava was last-minute, the lodge was able to find a room for her too.”

Well, that’s lucky. I know when I booked my room, they said everything was filling up fast.

“So, touch base with Ava and make sure you’re both on the same page about the trip. Okay?”

I echo his “okay,” but I leave his office feeling anything BUT okay. This is a horrible idea. I can’t take a work trip alone with Ava. I can barely handle being around her when we’re here at the office!

Speaking of…

I smell that fruity-fresh scent of hers before I actually see Ava, but then our gazes meet.

And just like that, Mount Luke is about to erupt.

“Ava.” I hope she doesn’t notice the breathless edge to my voice. “Hi.”

“Hey,” she says, tilting her head to the side. “Did Colton talk to you about the on-site visit?”

“Uh, yeah, he mentioned it.”

“And? What do you think?”

The spark of excitement in her eyes is impossible to miss. She’s hoping I’ll be just as glad about us spending time together outside the office. But one of us needs to be reasonable.

Even if he doesn’t want to be.

“It’s a good idea.” Thankfully, I don’t sound like an overeager maniac when I say the words this time. I even shrug to show my nonchalance. “Thanks for agreeing to help out.”

There. A perfect, boring, safe-for-work answer.

I hate seeing the look of disappointment on her face though. The change of emotion only lasts for a second, but it hurts like heck knowing I’m the reason for it.

“Of course.” She offers a small smile. “So, Saturday morning, right?”

I barely get the chance to nod, though, because she continues to talk. “Are we carpooling?”

We should drive separately.

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