Novak Raven (Harper's Mountains #4)(39)

“Quit,” she squealed. “The customers will see!”

Looking around, he released her and said, “Whoa, this place looks different.”

“Good different or bad different?”

“Looks great.” He fingered the edge of a purple T-shirt with the Big Flight lettering in bright pink across the front. “When did you order all this?”

“Ryder and I were working on it the first couple of days I worked here. We did rush shipping. I hope you don’t mind. Ryder said it was okay and cut the check.”

“No, yeah, that’s fine. This is a good idea.” Looking impressed, he nodded as he scanned the room. “You did good, Foley.”

She snorted. “Last names now? You sleep with me and then resort to calling me by my last name?”

Weston cracked a grin and leaned down, nipped her lip, and squeezed her ass hard. “Yep.” He waggled his eyebrows once and strode toward the office, his thick-soled boots echoing on the wood floors.

The letter! He was going to see her response to his letter. She hadn’t given it much thought while he was out for the day, but now a wave of nervousness blasted through her.

Act busy!

Avery turned for a stand of jewelry she’d just arranged and studied her favorite piece, a shiny turquoise ring set in sterling silver. It matched her eyes, and she considered purchasing it with some of her first paycheck, on the off-chance that Weston would think it was pretty on her.

She wasn’t really seeing it right now, though, as she touched the cold stone with her fingertips. She was imagining Weston’s face when he read her note. I love you back. Always have.

She’d never said or written that to a man before.

“Avery?” Weston asked from right behind her, and she could hear it. She could hear the crinkle of the paper in his hands.

Slowly she turned around. Too scared to look in his eyes, she looked at his dusty boots instead.

“I’ll keep this with my letters,” he murmured in that deep, rich baritone voice of his.

“You kept my letters?” she asked.

He lifted her chin and nodded. “Yeah. I asked my Ma to send them to me. They should be here in a few days.” His bright green gaze flicked to the ring on the jewelry stand over her shoulder. “You like that?”

Heat rushed up her neck and landed in her ears. Avery shrugged. “I think it’s pretty.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but the door swung open hard again and hit the wall.

“I’m gonna have to fix that,” he murmured as Ryder led the chattering, dust-covered tour into the shop.

Avery bustled behind the counter and began handing out surveys and answering questions while Weston charmed the masses right along with Ryder. Two of the couples handed them tips and shook their hands, and for a moment, Avery just took it all in. The clients were happy, Weston and Ryder were happy, and outside, the sun was sitting low in a cloudless sky over the vibrant green Smokey Mountains. She had her first paycheck sitting in her purse, the work day was almost done, and she would be spending the night in 1010 instead of the back of her car.

Life couldn’t get any better than this!

And now she actually looked forward to going back to the heart of Harper’s Mountains with Weston. Why? Because for some reason, she felt safe here, and that was a really big deal.

They said goodbye to the tour, and she closed up the shop while the boys took care of the ATVs out near the garage. When she locked the front door and readjusted her purse on her shoulder, a white diesel truck rumbled under the welcome sign. For a moment, she thought it was a late tour, but Harper was driving, and Lexi sat in the front seat. And behind that truck was a big black one on mud tires. Wyatt pulled his pickup in a wide loop around the yard as Ryder and Weston jogged up the dirt path toward them.

“What’s this?” Weston called over the noise of the engines.

“Obviously, it’s your birthday party,” Ryder said. “Since you broke our pancake bro-date this morning with your emotional constipation, I begged Lexi to make us pancakes so we can have them for dinner.”

Weston hooked an arm around Avery’s shoulder and hugged her close to his side. “Are we riding out somewhere?”

“We can!” Ryder said, his eyes going wide like that was the greatest idea on the planet. “ATV’s are all gassed up, we have shit for a bonfire, and enough booze to fill the Nile. We gettin’ wild tonight, old man?”

Weston snorted and explained, “Ryder is five years older than me.”

“Not according to maturity,” Wyatt said, leaning on the back of his truck.

“He’s got a point,” Ryder deadpanned.

“You want to finally get on an ATV?” Weston asked.

“Me?” Avery asked. “Like…my own ATV? One I get to drive?”

Weston laughed and nodded. “I won’t make you hang off the back of mine. You’re wearing the right shoes for it,” he said, looking down at her hiking boots. “It’ll be fun.”

“ATVs tonight?” Lexi asked. “Hell, yes. First, though…” She pulled down the tailgate of Wyatt’s truck. “I have a birthday surprise for you.”

A giant pile of water guns in all shapes and sizes sloshed forward.

“Oh. My. God. You are the perfect woman!” Ryder crowed, bolting for the arsenal. “You just gave me a boner!”