Once We Met Read online

  Dan nodded slowly, unconvinced that the lodge could host a wedding in any capacity. But his words had stopped her tears, and anything was better than having a crying woman in his office.

  The lodge host a wedding . . .

  Who was he kidding? There was no “lodge.” No staff, unless you counted Peyton MacLuckie, who was only here doing odds and ends. So really, no one. Just him. He was the lodge. The construction crew.

  But as she looked up at him, he remembered a younger version of himself. One that couldn’t say no. Who had spent every dollar he’d saved that summer on little trinkets and a date to the county fair.

  Nice guys always finish last.

  And Avery could be difficult when she was mad.

  He didn’t even know how he’d start, or whether he’d be able to fix this place in time for her wedding. He’d need to get the furniture from storage, move it all in, get the sitting room insulated and dry-walled and painted, do some painting and power-washing outside, and get the landscaping looking like . . . less of a wild jungle. And that didn’t include all the things he’d need to do to make the place run like a bed-and-breakfast should.

  But he didn’t want to tell her no. She didn’t have to know he hadn’t amounted to much. He wanted to be a competent, successful business owner. One who would solve problems for his customers, even pain-in-the-ass ones like Avery.

  She whipped out her phone. “This is what Mr. Harrison told me the cost would be of renting the place for all next week, plus hosting the event, plus my room stay this week. This is what I’m prepared to pay, even with the lodge in this condition. Maybe this will help sway you?” She showed him the screen.

  He let out a low whistle, feeling his chest lurch.

  Almost eighteen thousand dollars.

  Money to help get him on the right path again.

  And a reasonable incentive to help her.

  The words should have stayed deeply buried, not have passed his lips. But they came out anyway, a deep, throaty gurgle that he regretted as he said, “Yeah, I think I can do that. We’ll make the lodge work for your wedding. Somehow. But I don’t have all the mechanics of the lodge together yet—no staff or guest services or things like that. And it’s going to take time for me to get the furniture out, so I don’t have anywhere for you to stay tonight.”

  Avery’s features relaxed.

  “Yeah, well, there’s nowhere to stay in this whole town. My guests have been telling me what a hard time they’re having booking lodging around here. There aren’t reservations in any of the towns within forty minutes.”

  “There’s been a boon in the tourist industry lately—and a movie is being filmed in town this summer. Lots of tourists.”

  “Yeah, there’s no place to stay. I’ll keep looking, but in the meantime, I just flew across the country with my best friend, and we need to sleep somewhere.”

  Dan stared at her in stony silence, feeling as though his arm was being twisted behind his back. Like Warren used to do when they were kids. His brother always had the advantage of being bigger. Do I really want to go out of my way for Avery Moretti?

  And weirdly, he wanted to impress her. Show her she no longer affected him.

  Yeah, you’ve done a good job with that already, hothead.

  If he could find the damn key to the storage unit—Brenda hadn’t exactly been organized about transferring things to his care—maybe he could get some furniture for them in the next couple of days.

  “Fine,” he gritted through his teeth. “I have an air mattress you can borrow.”

  His air mattress. From his room. He’d figure out where to sleep later.

  Relief filled Avery’s face. “Thank you.” She gave a conciliatory nod. “I appreciate you being so willing to work with me. It really means a lot to me.”

  Anger curled in his stomach. Whatever excuse he had for deciding to ignore reason, he didn’t want Avery to mistake his intentions. The past was in the past, and he was determined to leave it that way—especially with the girl who’d hurt him so much as a teenager.

  “It’s not for you. I’d do the same for anyone else in your position. Understood?” Then he walked back toward the front door, hoping she’d follow. “I’ll help get your bags.”

  Chapter Three

  Avery

  12 Years Ago

  * * *

  The toad in the boathouse with Avery either hadn’t seen her or was cheerfully oblivious. Either way, the croak sounded off the wood slats that made the walls. Avery shifted her weight, tucking her bare feet in a little closer as Mom’s voice drew near. “Avery! Come on, sweetheart. We’re going to be late for dinner.”

  Would Mom think to look in the boathouse? She hugged her legs to her chest, ducking beside the kayaks.

  “She probably went for a walk, Maria. It’s fine. Let her cool off.” Dad’s voice wasn’t too far away.

  “Avery!”

  God, she’s relentless.

  The side door to the boathouse creaked open, and Avery held her breath. She wanted to slip into the water and disappear under the dock. She’d tread water there until Mom went away. But it was too late for that now.

  Except it wasn’t Mom or Dad who came into the boathouse. It was a guy, about her age, the tall one who’d helped carry their luggage up to their room when they’d arrived the day before.

  She’d recognized him from the year before. He worked at the Sports Shack, helping guests at the lodge get sporting equipment for the outdoor activities around the lake. Avery had noticed him because he’d been one of the few other teenagers around the Serendipity.

  And because he’s really cute.

  He blinked in the dark, but despite that, his eyes found hers.

  His hand rested on the door, and she raised a finger to her lips, begging him not to give her away.

  “You! Excuse me. Over here.”

  Oh God, is Mom actually snapping to get his attention?

  “Have you seen our daughter? She’s about your age. About five-three. Auburn hair.” Mom couldn’t be more than a few feet from him.

  Avery’s heart pounded in her chest, and she gave the guy a pleading look, which she was sure he didn’t see because he was still staring at her mom.

  The guy shook his head. “Nope. Haven’t seen anyone. But I’ll keep an eye out.”

  “What about in there? She loves to take those boats out.” Mom’s voice came closer.

  The door to the boathouse shut as the guy stepped back out. “No, ma’am. All the boats are there. I’m locking up the door for the night.”

  “If you could let me—”

  “Come on, Maria. Give the kid a break. He already said he was locking up. Avery knows the grounds around here better than we do. We’ll grab her some takeout and bring it back. If she’s not back by then, you can send out the FBI.”

  “Not funny, George. You know, this is exactly why she wants to go with you. You let her get away with everything.” Mom and Dad’s voices faded as they left the vicinity of the boathouse, taking their arguments with them.

  Avery released a relieved breath, her heart still pounding. She palmed her cell phone, turning it off before her mom got the idea to locate her device. As the blue light from the screen faded, the door to the boathouse opened again, and she startled. The guy stepped in.

  He closed the door behind him. “You okay?” He came a few steps closer, then squatted in front of her.

  Avery moistened her lips, searching his blue eyes. His pupils were large in the dim light, but he had a gentle look.

  A few fat tears slipped onto her cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her hand. “Not really.”

  “I think they’re gone now. They said something about going to dinner. Your parents?”

  Avery sniffled, stretching her feet out in front of her. “Yeah. My parents.” Her fingers tightened around the case of her cell phone. “They told me an hour ago that they’re getting a divorce. And I’m moving. My mom wants to live in Tampa, so I have to go wi
th her instead of staying in Miami, where I’ve lived my whole life. I’m supposed to start my senior year in two weeks. With all my friends. Not go to some new stupid school in stupid Tampa with a bunch of stupid people I’ve never met before and—” A sob shook her chest as the crushing reality of it came hurtling back to her.

  The words had poured out of her easily enough. Accepting them was an entirely different proposition.

  The guy said nothing, watching her silently.

  She wiped her cheeks. “God, you probably think I’m so dumb. I mean, who doesn’t figure out her parents are on the verge of divorce? Sure, they fight, but all parents fight. And maybe things aren’t perfect all the time, but they work together. They do everything together. Why in the heck would they get a divorce?”

  “I don’t think you’re dumb.” He shifted. “But it could be anything. Parents have a way of hiding their problems sometimes.”

  “Not my parents. We tell each other everything. They’ve never hidden anything from me. We’ve always been really close.” She chewed on her lip. “Or at least until a couple years and Mom started worrying I was going to be a rebel.”

  “So you never hide things from your parents?” Surprise registered on his face.

  She barely heard him. “Ugh . . . this sucks. Divorce is the stupidest thing on the planet. Why get married at all if it means you still have to worry about someone breaking up with you? Doesn’t that make it sort of pointless? Isn’t the whole reason you do the marriage thing is so that you have someone to love you forever?”

  “I don’t know,” the guy answered after a beat. Then he gave her a wry smile. “But my parents are divorced, too.”

  “Really?” She searched his gaze. “Is it awful? Do you have to go from house to house? Ugh, this is horrible. We’re never going to be all three of us together for Christmas again.” Her voice sounded nasally and whiny, even to her, but the reality of it was overwhelming.

  The guy sat next to her, then dangled his legs off the side of the dock. “I don’t go from house to house. My dad left my mom before I was born. Had a family with someone else and pretended my brother and I didn’t exist. Then he got arrested for trafficking narcotics, and now he’s in prison.” He leaned back on his hands, looking out toward the water. “And you might be the first person I’ve ever told that to.”

  “Oh.” Avery studied his profile. Wow.

  Now she felt like a jerk. Bitching and complaining about how terrible she had it.

  At least her parents got along well enough to do one last family vacation at the cabin for “old time’s sake.” Even if they were sleeping in separate bedrooms.

  She scooted over next to him and wiped her nose with her sleeve. “I’m sorry.”

  The guy shrugged. “Divorce sucks. You’re right. Luckily, my mom married my stepdad, and he’s my real dad now.”

  They sat together in silence, staring at the water, where the occasional dive of an insect caused a ripple. The sound of the toad filled the space again—it must have thought it was safe to sing when they weren’t talking.

  “I’m Avery, by the way.”

  The guy looked over his shoulder at her, a smile hinting at his mouth. “I figured. You know, with your mom hollering your name like she was.” Then he added, “I’m Dan.”

  She considered telling him she’d noticed him the year before but had been too shy to introduce herself. She sighed, releasing a long breath.

  “I don’t know how I’m going to face them this week. I really don’t want to walk around pretending everything is great and I’m happy when I’m miserable.”

  “So don’t pretend.” Dan rubbed his neck. “I mean, screw that. What’s the point of it? Don’t pretend.”

  She raised a brow. “So just mope around?”

  “Or you could have the best week of your life. Just to spite them.”

  Have fun to spite her parents? It didn’t exactly sound like a good way of getting back at them. They wanted her to have fun. “And how do you suggest I do that?”

  Dan checked his watch. “I’m just getting off my shift. Feel like taking a boat across the lake to go get snowballs?”

  She blinked at him. Was he asking her out?

  Then her heart did a funny thing in her chest, growing tight and fluttery all at once, reminding her of her crush on him the year before and that her parents had a strict rule about “no dating in high school.”

  But as he’d said, screw that.

  This could be the last time she ever came to Serendipity, so she’d never see him again anyway.

  She stood, dusting off her shorts. “Sure. Let’s go.”

  Chapter Four

  Avery

  14 Months Ago

  * * *

  Avery adjusted her heel, nearly tripping as she tried to buckle the strap in midair. She checked the time on her cell phone, her ankle twisting. “Oomph.” She tumbled to the floor of her apartment, almost landing on a pizza box. She caught herself at the last minute against the trash can.

  Or maybe she’d tripped on the pizza box. Damn things never fit in the trash can and then took up most of a new can if you put them in a fresh bag. Most of the time, they stayed on top of the lid until she took the trash to the chute.

  The doorbell rang, and she hobbled over toward it, then checked through the peephole. The guy on the other side of the door matched the profile picture from the dating site. “Dammit.”

  Why is he here so early? Punctual people were bad enough, but twenty minutes early? Ugh. Thank God I’ve at least finished putting my makeup on. Clearly, he knew nothing about “Latina time,” what Erika teasingly called Avery’s sense of punctuality. Though she’d grown up in Miami around other Latinos, Avery never had noticed what Erika was talking about until college.

  Her hand hesitated on the door knob, then she glanced around. She hadn’t even had time to tidy up the apartment. Not the best first impression.

  “One second,” she called, then tripped her way back to the kitchen. She threw the pizza box in the pantry, tossed the dishes from the sink and counter into a pile in the dishwasher, then made her way past the couch, straightening the pillows as she walked. She stuffed a few articles of clothing under the couch, then went back to the door.

  As she opened the door, she smiled. “Hey, sorry about that.”

  He’s even cuter in person.

  The slightest dimple showed in his cheek as he held out a hand, his dark brown eyes twinkling. “I’m Bryan.”

  She clasped his hand. “Avery.” He had a nice, firm grip, something she liked in a man. “Come on in for a second. I’m just going to grab my purse.”

  As she reached for her purse from the coffee table, it occurred to her she had broken the cardinal rule of Internet dating without a second thought. She’d invited a random stranger to her apartment instead of asking him to meet her at the restaurant.

  Erika’s going to be so mad at me when I tell her.

  Hopefully, Bryan’s credentials would help her here. She tried to look confident as she slung her shoulder strap over her shoulder. “Did you have any trouble getting in? I thought I might have to ring you up.”

  “No, someone was coming out when I got here and let me in.” Bryan nodded toward the sunset outside her window. “Sorry I’m so early. It’s such a pleasant night out, I figured we could walk. I hope you don’t mind, but I made us reservations at my favorite spot around here. Thought it might be smarter than having to face a long wait time.”

  Walk? She wouldn’t have worn stilettos if she was planning on walking. Still, it was a sweet idea—and spur of the moment, too, which she loved. “Sounds fantastic.”

  They left the apartment, and Avery let him lead the way, noting how he held open the door. Mom would smile at that one. Not to mention the fact that he was a doctor. Check and check.

  Bryan wasn’t the type of guy she normally swiped right on. But then, she had been making the worst choices with men for a while now. So when she’d promised Erika to give s
omeone “different” a shot, Bryan had seemed to be a good fit.

  “I was thinking,” Avery said as they headed out into the balmy night in the Gaslamp District. “There’s this cool new nightclub right around the corner from here. It might be fun to check it out after we eat.” He’d had something about dancing in his profile, right? She couldn’t keep all the profiles straight these days.

  Bryan flinched as a cyclist whizzed past them, his hand darting out in front of Avery to hold her back from getting hit. Avery stopped just in time, but the gentle pressure of his open palm against her midsection caused her to glance at him in surprise. And then a small flush of pleasure replaced any fright she might have had from the contact or cyclist.

  He’s protective. And has good reflexes, too.

  “Asshole,” Bryan breathed in a low voice, his eyes narrowing at the cyclist. “Don’t know what the hell he’s doing on the sidewalk.” Then his gaze snapped back to Avery and the darkness to his features faded. He grinned. “Sorry about that.” He dropped his hand and held his palm up, gesturing them forward. “Dancing, if you don’t mind my two left feet, sounds great.”

  Avery bit her lip, hiding her smile. The self-deprecation was sort of sweet.

  By the end of the night, Bryan had not only proven to be sweet and protective, but extremely interesting, too. He was a good listener, attentive, and Avery wondered if she might have found the man of her dreams.

  Chapter Five

  Now

  * * *

  The door to the balcony creaked open, and Avery looked up from the cup of coffee she’d grabbed in town. The guy who had driven them over from the airport, Ben, had done them the favor of taking them into town to get Erika to a pharmacy and then driven them back. By the time they returned, Dan had swept out a room and set them up temporarily with an air mattress and clean sheets.