Chasing Shadows (First Wives #3)(49)

Carlos looked at him like he was dense. “I’ve been married for five years. Women put meaning into everything.”

Liam had lived with his sister and niece long enough to know that truth.

“I already ruled out roses. Overdone.” He tossed his phone to the side. “Everything looks overused and under-thought-out.”

“Is this Avery a jeans and T-shirt girl or dress and fancy shoes?”

Liam blinked. “Yes.”

Carlos laughed. “Both. That’s good. Simple or exotic?”

“I think she tries to be simple, but she’s really exotic.” Hadn’t she mentioned something about a trip to Paris to go shoe shopping?

Carlos tossed a hand in the air with a flip of his head. “Well, then. Orchids. But not cut. Buy a plant. They last forever. Since you’re buying ‘awesome sex flowers,’ she will see them all the time and ask you around more often.”

Liam liked the idea, snatched his phone off the desk. “It’s a little scary that you know so much about the subject.”

“What my sisters didn’t teach me, my wife has. Besides, if I didn’t move you along with this, I’d be looking at the top of your head for the next two hours, getting nothing done.”



Avery answered the knock on her door without looking through the peephole. Why her condo even had a peephole had always boggled her mind. No one could get through the staff downstairs without their name being on a list or the concierge calling her to see if she was expecting visitors . . . but still. Peephole.

She swung the door wide. “Hey, Lori. Thanks for coming up.”

Lori’s condo was a few floors down from hers. No name needed on a list, and no call from downstairs.

“I brought wine.” She lifted a bottle.

Avery turned her back to her friend and crossed to her kitchen. “How did you know I needed wine?”

Lori paused, her mouth dropped open. “Are those from Liam?”

Avery took in the flower shop that now lived in her home. Six orchid plants were awaiting her when she arrived from work.

“Yes.”

Lori absently handed the bottle to Avery and stood in front of the flowers. “Why so many? It’s lovely, don’t get me wrong . . . but six?”

Avery handed Lori the card that came with the field of flowers.

“‘I’m thinking about you and wasn’t sure the meaning behind the colors of orchids. So here are the six the florist had. I’m sure whatever the colors mean, I’m feeling it for you.’” Lori dropped her hand holding the card and stared blankly. “There’s meaning behind the color of orchids?”

“Apparently.”

Lori pulled out a kitchen stool and had to push one of the plants away to look at her. “I take it you and Liam finally went all the way.”

Avery had to laugh. The night before Trina’s wedding, the topic of discussion was how long it was taking for Liam to go there. Somewhere between eleven and one, the four of them had reverted to high school and used the term all the way.

“Yes, he did, and twice on Sunday.” Avery paused. “Actually it was three times on Friday, twice on Saturday, and once on Sunday before I let him go home.”

“So you spent the whole weekend in bed?”

Avery poured them both generous portions of wine and motioned toward her sofa.

She shrugged. “There was the kitchen counter, the shower . . . and yeah, a bed was involved.”

Lori laughed as she kicked her shoes off and tucked her feet under her butt. “That’s fabulous. Good for you.”

She looked over at the flowers and sighed.

“Is that why you wanted me to come up?”

“Partly. He’s freaking me out, Lori. I’m not sure what to do with him.”

“I think you have that covered.”

“I’m not talking about sex. Yes, I know what to do there. Now that he’s finally putting out, he’s complicating me even more.”

Lori chuckled.

“He’s falling for you.”

Avery shook her head.

“It’s obvious to everyone but you.”

“It’s all moving too fast.”

Lori sipped her wine. “Two weeks ago you were whining because he wasn’t stripping you. Now he’s too fast?”

“He wants me to have dinner with his family. There are flowers with notes that make me giddy.”

They sat in silence, drank their wine.

“Have you ever been in love?” Lori asked.

“No.” Avery’s answer was immediate.

“Not even close?”

“What’s close?”

Lori looked at the ceiling. “Close would be the man sneaking into your thoughts off and on. Wondering what he was doing at odd hours. Worrying about him when he doesn’t text back . . . and not an Is he into me? worry, but an Is he hurt? Did something happen to him?”

“The only people I worry about something happening to are you and the girls.”

“Not Liam?”

Avery considered the thought. “He hasn’t really left me alone long enough for me to worry. There is a lot of texting. Even if it’s just a wave or a silly emoji. We’ve spent a lot of time together in the past few weeks. He’s my first real relationship.”