Chasing Bailey, page 5
part #3 of Lake Harriet Series
Kristen laughed. “It is. If you give it a chance. I’m glad to see that you’re trying.”
He grinned. “So, does this make us friends? You’re not coming to my house to tell me off anytime soon?”
She broke out in laughter. “Is that what Ryan told you? I guess I was a little over-the-top yesterday. But as long as you’re nice to Lisa, I’ll refrain from yelling at you.”
Avery liked Kristen. She was funny and feisty, and just a good person. Both she and Ryan seemed like decent people. He suddenly wished he’d gotten to know them sooner instead of avoiding them.
“That’s good to hear,” he said. “And thanks for the lunch. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. I’d better get back inside. My daughter is napping then we’re going for a long walk to the park. I have to get my walks in before winter hits.”
He nodded, understanding how their weather could change quickly.
She waved and he did too. Then she disappeared through the hole in the bushes.
Avery decided to take a break. He walked over to the back porch and sat on the top step. Bailey ambled over to him and sat there, watching him.
“I suppose you want me to share,” Avery said.
Bailey grinned that goofy dog grin.
Opening the cooler, he pulled out the sandwich, which was wrapped in cellophane. “Looks like ham and swiss on rye,” he told Bailey. He unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite. “Perfect.”
After sharing a little of the ham with Bailey and eating the rest of his lunch, Avery went back to work. He figured he’d lay down the chicken wire in the trench he’d dug so far then cover it up. Tomorrow he’d dig the second half of the fence line and lay the wire.
Tomorrow. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually planned something for the next day, other than writing. Since Melissa had left him, he’d basically been floating. His writing had suffered, and he’d had no energy to try anything new. Every day had been the same. Get up, try to write, take a long walk, try to write again, go to bed. But now, he actually felt as if he had something to look forward to.
“Even if it is only digging a hole and laying chicken wire,” he said to Bailey. That was when it hit him. If it hadn’t been for the rambunctious dog, he wouldn’t be here now. He wouldn’t have met Lisa properly or even Ryan and Kristen. He cocked his head and stared at Bailey. “Is this what you planned all along?”
Bailey only smiled.
***
Lisa walked through her front door, exhausted from her busy day. She set Abby down and the little girl immediately tottered off down the hall calling, “Baywee!”
Lisa sighed, dropped her bags on the floor, and plopped down on the sofa. What a day! Half the children in the school seemed to have come down with a cold at the same time. She’d taken temperatures and called parents all day, praying she wouldn’t get whatever the children were passing around. That was the last thing she needed. She didn’t want Abby to get sick, either.
Abby. All of a sudden, she sat up, realizing she didn’t hear the little girl calling for the dog. And they hadn’t come back to the living room as they usually did. She flew off the sofa and hurried down the hall. “Abby!”
Stopping at the back door, she saw Abby on the lawn, trying to throw the ball for Bailey to fetch. How in the heck did she get outside? That was when she saw Avery standing over by the fence, watching Abby. She sighed with relief. She’d forgotten he was working on the fence today. She watched as he joined in on the game of fetch. He rolled the ball to Abby, then she rolled it to Bailey. Avery was trying to get Bailey to return the ball so he could roll it to Abby again. Her daughter was laughing and squealing with delight at playing ball with him and Bailey.
The sight of them playing warmed her heart.
Avery looked different today. He was wearing dirty jeans and a white T-shirt that clung to his chest, probably from sweat. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how muscular he was. He’d always hid it under a loose shirt when he’d come over to complain. Now, he looked absolutely hunky.
Sheesh. Get a grip on yourself.
At that exact moment, he glanced up and spied her standing in the doorway. He smiled and waved, and she felt guilty for having been standing there, ogling him. She walked outside to join them.
“Hi. It looks like you’ve accomplished a lot today,” she said, trying hard not to stare at his arms and chest. Up close, she could see the outline of his muscles.
“Yeah. I was just filling in the dirt on this half that I finished. I’ll rake the rocks back over it, too. I figured tomorrow I’d finish the other half.”
“That sounds good,” she said. When he smiled at her, she was suddenly self-conscious that she must look a wreck. Her ponytail had loosened throughout the day and she’d never had a chance to fix it. Strands of hair fell in her face. And make-up? She doubted the little she wore was still on her face after nine hours of rushing around.
Why do I care what he thinks? She smoothed the hair back from her face, but to no avail. It fell down again anyway.
“I hope you don’t mind my letting Abby out here to play with Bailey. She was at the door, calling him. He’s been by my side all day,” Avery said.
“No, I don’t mind. She loves playing outside with Bailey. And we might as well enjoy the nice weather while we still have it, right?”
He nodded. “Well, I’ll just finish raking the rocks here then be out of your way.” He turned back to his work by the fence.
As Lisa watched him move the rocks with the rake, she considered inviting him to stay for dinner. But she wasn’t sure what she’d serve. She still had the jar of soup that Kristen had given her, but would that be enough for the three of them? She could order something to be delivered, but that was costly, and she was watching her pennies.
Maybe I should just forget it and let him go home.
The more she thought of it, though, the more she wanted his company for dinner. It had been fun having an adult to eat with last night. Someone other than Abby to actually have a conversation with. And besides, he was fixing her fence. Shouldn’t she pay back the favor?
“Well, maybe I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, leaning the rake against the fence and grabbing his flannel shirt.
Without giving it another thought, she blurted out, “Would you like to have dinner with us tonight? I mean, it’s the least I can do after all the work you’re doing for me.”
Avery studied her a moment. “You don’t have to feel obligated to feed me. I don’t mind fixing the fence for you.”
She cringed, realizing that her offer had sounded more like an obligation than an invitation. “I didn’t mean it to sound that way. I’d be happy to have you over for dinner, if you’d like to come. It won’t be anything fancy, just homemade soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.”
He smiled. “I like grilled cheese sandwiches. Thanks. I’d like to eat with you and Abby again.” He looked down at his dirty clothes. “But I think I’d better go change first. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
She nodded. “That’s fine. See you in a bit.”
As soon as Avery left, Lisa scooped up Abby and called Bailey inside. “We have to clean up a little,” she told Abby. “We have company for dinner tonight.” The thought of Avery joining them made Lisa smile.
An hour later they were all sitting around the dining room table eating chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches along with a few cut-up veggies and dip. Lisa had hastily changed into jeans and a T-shirt and combed her hair, leaving it down. She’d also added a little concealer to cover up the dark circles under her eyes and a swipe of mascara. It was the best she could do in the little time she’d had. She knew she shouldn’t care how she looked around Avery, but despite that, she did care.
She was surprised when he’d arrived freshly showered and smelling delicious from a spicy aftershave. She wasn’t sure if she should be flattered he’d gone to the trouble to look nice or if she should be wary that he thought this was more than just an offer of dinner.
Oh, heck. Get over yourself.
“This soup is good,” Avery said. “You said it was homemade?”
“Yes, but I didn’t make it. I’d never have the time to do that. Kristen did. She makes a different soup almost every week and always gives me a jar. Everything she makes is good.”
“I believe that,” he said. “She was kind enough to bring me a couple of water bottles and make me lunch. I was stunned at her thoughtfulness. She’s pretty amazing.”
“Wow. She brought you lunch? That’s great. It just shows you why I love this neighborhood so much. Everyone helps each other.”
They ate their simple meal and talked about easy things like her day at work and how he was trying to teach Bailey to fetch and drop a ball. Avery asked Abby what she’d done that day and although Lisa doubted he understood half of what the toddler said, he was attentive and nodded like he did. She thought that was sweet. He seemed comfortable with children and definitely with dogs. She liked that.
After they’d eaten, Lisa was surprised that she didn’t want him to leave. But Abby needed a bath that night and she’d taken up enough of his writing time. She walked him to the door as Abby played with toys on the living room floor and Bailey watched.
“I’m glad you stayed for dinner. It’s nice having another adult to talk to for a change,” she said.
“Ah, so that was why you invited me. You used me for my ability to string words together.” He grinned, then said more seriously, “Thank you for inviting me. I’ve been eating too many meals alone. And too much junk food. I also enjoyed having someone to talk to.”
She smiled. It was hard to believe that just yesterday she couldn’t stand him. Now, it was like they were old friends. “Well, then. I’ll see you tomorrow after work.”
He nodded, waved, and headed down the sidewalk and across the street. She watched him go, a little longer than she’d meant to. Before he went inside his house, he turned and saw her watching him, waved again, and went inside.
Lisa quickly shut the door. “Crap!” He’d seen her watching him. What must he be thinking?
“Cap!” Abby said behind her.
Lisa laughed. “Come on, you little monkey. Let’s go play in the bath.”
Chapter Seven
Avery sat in front of his laptop trying to concentrate on his writing. After coming home from Lisa’s, he’d changed into sweats before heading to his office. His muscles ached from working all day, but it actually felt good. It was nice being outside in the sunshine, doing physical labor. He’d been sitting in front of a computer for too long, not getting the exercise he needed. But now, he had to get to work at his own job. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his mind on his fictional characters. Instead, he kept thinking about Lisa.
He looked across the street and saw her light was still on in the living room. Avery smiled. He’d had such a good time eating with her and Abby again. Abby was adorable and he’d enjoyed watching her try to manipulate her fork and spoon so she could be like a “big girl,” as she put it. But more than that, he was warmed by the look of pure love on Lisa’s face every time she looked at her daughter. She practically glowed with love and pride.
Had he ever loved anyone as much as Lisa loved Abby? Had anyone loved him that way?
“Well, maybe my mother,” he mumbled to himself. “But definitely not Melissa.” She’d never looked at him with that kind of adoration in her eyes. Maddie had looked at him that way, though. But then, she was a dog.
He truly missed his Maddie.
He’d found it cute how Lisa was still watching him as he crossed the street and turned at his door. Even at that distance, he could see her startled expression because she’d been caught. He didn’t mind that Lisa had been watching him. In fact, it had boosted his ego a notch—something he desperately needed.
Refocusing on his computer screen, Avery began to type. Then he hit delete. Then he typed again. Delete. Cripes! What is wrong with me? Writing love stories was his thing. Why was this one so difficult?
He looked over his notes, read the character descriptions, and tried to get a feel for the story again. It was about a successful woman whose husband had died ten years before. Then she meets a guy she feels she could fall in love with. He’s rich and charming, but the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes that she will never find another man she adores as much as her husband. Is she destined to be alone forever, never to have children of her own? What she doesn’t realize is her good friend at her office is really the man of her dreams. But she doesn’t see it. Because sometimes the thing you want most isn’t out in the distance; it’s right in front of you.
Solid story. So why can’t I just write it?
Glancing at the clock, he saw it was ten. He looked out the window again. Lisa’s lights were out. “I am stalking her,” he said aloud, disgusted with himself. He pulled the shade so he wouldn’t be distracted anymore and forced himself to type.
He gazed into her bright blue eyes warm brown eyes and watched as she pushed back her silky golden black hair from her face. Her full, pink lips were inviting as she raised her face to his.
“I’ve never met anyone like you,” he said huskily, drawing close enough to smell her sweet scent of lilacs and baby lotion. He gently touched the side of her face as he lowered his lips to hers. A delicious kiss. A satisfying kiss that he felt deep down into his soul and never wanted to end.
Avery stopped writing. He wasn’t thinking about the characters as he wrote, he was thinking of Lisa.
Frustrated, he closed his computer, turned out the light, and headed to bed.
***
Friday morning Avery once again went to Lisa’s yard to finish working. This time, he brought a cooler with water and lunch. When Kristen came outside with her little girl to get into her car, he waved and pointed at his cooler.
“Glad you remembered today,” she called. “I have a few appointments to run to. Have a good day.”
“You, too,” he called back.
He moved the rocks and dug a new trench along the other half of the fence. Then he cut the chicken wire and began laying it, making sure it overlapped with the chain link fencing. As he worked, he thought about his novel and tried to work out the details in his head. He knew exactly what he wanted to write, but it just wouldn’t come out that way.
“Maybe I should come up with a different storyline,” he told Bailey, who’d lain down in the shade near him. “This one might be too overdone, and that’s why I can’t get excited about it.”
The dog cocked his head but didn’t share any words of wisdom.
By noon, Avery was hot, and his muscles ached. He sat down on the steps to eat his lunch as he’d done yesterday. There was a big oak tree overhead and it shaded the area. Halfway through eating, he heard his phone buzz. He winced when he saw it was his agent.
“Hey, Jackson. How are you?” Avery said, sounding more chipper than he felt. He knew exactly why Jackson was calling and didn’t have a good answer for him.
“I’m just fine,” Jackson McAfee said. “What about you?”
“Can’t complain,” Avery said.
“Well, that would be a first,” Jackson said, then laughed. “You’ve done nothing but complain over the past year.”
Avery sobered. He knew it was the truth but didn’t like being reminded of it. “What’s up, Jackson?”
“I’m just checking on you. How is that new novel coming along? It feels like you’re pushing it close to the wire with this one. Usually, I’d have several chapters on my desk by now.”
Avery sighed. He wished he had several chapters completed. “I know. This one is giving me trouble. Quite frankly, this past year has been nothing but a pain.”
“I get it. It’s been tough for you. But you managed to finish your last novel and edit it on time during your breakup and divorce. What’s holding you back now?”
A crease formed between Avery’s brows. “Yeah, I did. But it was tough then, and it still is. I’m working as hard as I can.”
“I believe you,” Jackson said, his tone kinder. “I’m just a little worried about you and your new manuscript. You have less than a month to turn it in and I haven’t seen any of it.”
“I know.” Avery paused. He’d been thinking about this for a while but had really believed he could make the deadline. Now, he wasn’t sure. “Listen, Jackson. I was wondering if we could extend the due date by a few weeks. I know that’s not always easy, but I need more time.”
There was silence on the other end of the line. Avery knew that Jackson didn’t like the idea of an extension. But in the six years he’d been writing for this particular publisher, he’d never been late. Surely they could give him a break just once.
“I hate breaking a contract,” Jackson finally said. “Especially since your last book didn’t sell as well as expected.”
Avery stiffened. He hated when sales were thrown in his face as a way to control him. “Sales would have been fine if they’d advertised my book more. And even so, the sales weren’t as bad as all that. I’d think that after all the money I’ve made for them, and you, over the years, I should be allowed to have one extension.”
“I see,” Jackson said tightly. “You don’t have to get nasty about it. I’ll contact them and see what they feel will be appropriate. How much time do you think you’ll need?”
A year or two, Avery thought. But he knew he couldn’t say that. “Two months.”
Jackson let out a long breath. “Okay. I can always ask, but I can’t promise they’ll agree. If I were you, I’d work night and day to finish it as soon as possible.”
Avery gave a short laugh. “Yeah. As if it’s that easy. If the story was going that well, I’d be done with it already.”
They talked for another couple of minutes then Avery hung up. Agents! They just didn’t get it. Publishers didn’t get it either. Sometimes you couldn’t just push out a story on demand. If he could, he’d be a lot richer than he was.
