The Magnolia Sisters Read online

  “What do you mean?”

  Gray sighed. He wasn’t one to speak ill of the dead and didn’t relish getting involved in an already complicated situation. “Even after his art stopped selling, Niall held a lot of sway in town. He wanted things done a certain way, mostly in a way that made him look good. Any ideas for events or tourist campaigns that drew notice away from Niall Reed as the center of attention... Well, he managed to get most of them shot down by his cronies on town council.”

  “The more I learn about him, the less I like.”

  “He had his moments of bigheartedness, and he loved this place in his own way. At the end of the day, he was a narcissist. I don’t think he had it in him to see beyond himself.”

  “Carrie, Meredith and I inherited a veritable Poopapalooza.”

  “You’ll find a way to make it work.”

  “Like you have with Violet?”

  “Not the same thing.” He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking of Stacy and her skewed priorities. “But yes.”

  “Your daughter is lucky to have you.”

  “My ex-wife would disagree.”

  “Is it appropriate to use the word bi-otch for a grown woman who doesn’t do right by her kid?”

  He felt a muscle tick in his jaw. Normally he wouldn’t allow himself to think disparaging thoughts toward his ex. He didn’t want to color Violet’s opinion of her mom. His life was all about what was best for his daughter. Fostering a solid relationship with her mom was part of that. But in the quiet of this moment, with a woman who had no knowledge of his past or any reason to lie to him, he could admit the truth.

  “Absolutely,” he said, relief at being able to drop his mask for even a few moments cresting in him like a wave.

  Avery lifted her hand to his face, smoothing out the tension he held there with her soft fingers. Need tumbled through him as her gaze dropped to his mouth. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to brush his lips against hers.

  He expected the heightened jolt of desire and the yearning for more, but what surprised him was the emotional respite of touching her. The contact soothed him in ways he hadn’t expected. Kissing her was like finding a soft place to land at the end of a plummeting fall.

  Gray savored the sensation, nipping at the corner of her mouth and then tracing his tongue along the seam of her lips. It had been a long time since he’d kissed a woman this way. Had he ever experienced this kind of kiss? It could go on forever, and he’d never get enough of the teasing exploration.

  She cupped his face, then moved her hands to the back of his neck, gently pulling him closer. Oh, yeah. Avery was a woman who liked to be in control, and he let her take it.

  So much of his life was responsibility and managing things, from his life and Violet’s to ongoing custody negotiations with his ex. There was the work at the station and dealing with his family. So much.

  To give sway to someone else and let himself enjoy the ride was another kind of gift. He kept his hands at his sides, knowing that if he touched her, his need might get the best of him. This was too good to hurry.

  They kissed like people with no past or future, totally enveloped in the moment and the pleasure of each other. She smelled like shampoo, not expensive perfume, and tasted sweet and tangy from the margaritas and cookie dough. Their tongues mingled as she deepened the kiss, and finally Gray couldn’t stand it any longer. His whole body tingled with the need for more. He lifted his hands, first sifting his fingers through the long strands of her light hair before wrapping his arms around her back.

  A moment later she was in his lap, and the weight and warmth of her set him on fire. She fit perfectly against him, her soft curves dulling his edges. They’d grown and multiplied since the heartbreak of his ruined marriage until he didn’t recognize himself as anything but a flinty automaton. He’d forgotten how good it felt to hold a woman in his arms. Or maybe he’d blocked out the bone-deep knowing because it was too difficult given the bleak state of his love life.

  Avery was a revelation. How could a woman who looked so uptight kiss with such abandon? He never wanted this moment to end.

  As if she recognized the force of his desire, and how close he was to losing control, she wrenched her mouth from his and scrambled off his lap.

  “Mistake,” she whispered, her eyes wide and panicky as she moved away, tripping over one of the chair legs.

  He wanted to contradict her but couldn’t make his mouth form a retort. The word ricocheted through him like a bullet tearing through layers of flesh. Stacy had called their marriage a mistake on the night he’d moved out of the house they shared. But he’d known what she was really saying. He was the mistake. She’d been wrong to get involved with a man whose background and future were so different than the life she wanted for herself.

  Avery was new to Magnolia, but it was clear she didn’t belong in the close-knit town. Or his life.

  His bed might be a different story, but Gray had never been a fan of casual sex. He was wired for commitment. Too bad that intrinsic need came back to bite him in the ass every time.

  “It’s not a big deal,” he said, rising from the chair. “I’m a single dad with no social life. You’re drunk. We kissed.”

  She drew in a sharp breath. “Are you saying you used me?”

  “I don’t think we got far enough for a claim like that on either side.” He wanted to touch her again but forced himself to offer a casual smile. “Keep it in mind, though, the next time you go drinking with your sisters. You know where to find me.”

  “There won’t be a next time.”

  He could tell by the way Avery’s chin trembled that emotions were starting to get the best of her. He understood and couldn’t blame her. She wouldn’t want to break down in front of him, and he wasn’t going to push her over the precipice. As much as he wanted to offer comfort, he flashed a cocky smile.

  “Your loss,” he said as he walked by her and out the door.

  * * *

  WHEN THE KNOCK sounded on the door the next morning, Avery glanced at the clock on the nightstand, then groaned. “Go away, Violet,” she called, but not loud enough for anyone to hear.

  She might not be a morning person, but she also wasn’t as heartless as she wanted the girl to believe. Seven o’clock was early for any sort of eye-hand coordination, even the rudimentary amount it took for braiding. She hoped like hell Gray was awake and had sent his daughter over with coffee.

  Or that he was with Violet, preferably shirtless. Possibly even sans pants. She gave herself a soft smack on the cheek as she headed to the door. She did not want to see Gray Atwell without his clothes. Right. Just like she didn’t have a monthly craving for a huge bowl of rocky road ice cream.

  The comparison actually gave her some comfort. Avery was a master of willpower. She could withstand the temptation of chocolate and sugar so surely she could keep her hormones in check when it came to her sexy neighbor.

  She’d told him their kiss was a mistake. Avery didn’t like making mistakes, especially since her last one involving a man had resulted in several lives being destroyed.

  Focus, she told herself. Braids. Braids and coffee she could handle.

  But it wasn’t Violet standing on the other side of her front door. Or Gray.

  “What took you so long?” Meredith asked, adjusting her grip on the animal wriggling in her arms.

  “I was sleeping. It’s what normal people do.” Avery raised a brow. “Is that a miniature cow?”

  “It’s a dog.”

  “Nope. It’s a black-and-white spotted sausage.”

  “Can I come in?”

  “Do you have coffee?”

  “I’ll make a pot.”

  Avery stepped back to allow her youngest half sister to enter.

  Meredith kicked the door closed behind her, then lowered the tiny cow dog to the floor.<
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  “It’s as wide as it is long.”

  “She,” Meredith corrected, crouching down to unclip the dog’s leash, then giving it a quick scratch behind the ears. The animal immediately rolled to its back, stubby legs high in the air like it was playing dead. “Her name is Spot.”

  “Spot needs to cut back on the kibble.”

  “I knew you’d want to help.” Meredith pointed a finger at Avery before moving toward the kitchen. “This place is cute. What do you think about Gray?”

  “He’s fine,” Avery said, making sure her tone remained bland.

  Meredith snorted. “He’s fine, alright.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that. He’s not my type.”

  “Are you a lesbian?” Meredith asked conversationally as she filled the coffeepot with water from the tap.

  “No, but—”

  “Then he’s your type. A man that gorgeous is everyone’s type.”

  “Have you dated him?”

  “He doesn’t date.” Meredith dumped some grounds in the filter, hit the button to start the coffee brewing and turned to face Avery. “Grayson Atwell does relationships. He’s a serial monogamist, or he used to be. He was older than me but all the girls knew Gray. I don’t think he’s gone out with a woman since his divorce. Word on the street is his ex did a real number on him.”

  “Oh.” Avery tried to sound uninterested but based on the smile Meredith flashed, she wasn’t doing a great job of it.

  “A man like that could bring all the o’s,” Meredith said with an eyebrow wiggle.

  “Enough about Gray.” Avery nudged the dog still sprawled on the hardwood floor with her toe. “What’s the deal with Snort?”

  Meredith took two mugs from a cabinet as the scent of brewing coffee filled the air. “Her name is Spot.”

  The dog turned to her belly at the sound of her name but didn’t get up.

  “You’re a good girl,” Meredith cooed.

  “Wow,” Avery whispered at the look of unabashed love that came into her sister’s eyes. The softening was instantaneous and transformed Meredith from a cute pixie to ethereally beautiful. “Having a heart agrees with you.”

  Meredith stuck out her tongue. “I picked up Spot yesterday from the family of an elderly woman who’d died over in Winthrop. The kids don’t want to keep her, even though she was their mother’s constant and loyal companion in the last years of her life.”

  “But you run an animal rescue, so you’ll find a new home for her.” Avery flicked another glance at the dog. Spot’s eyes were lowered to half-mast and the tip of a pink tongue lolled out of her mouth like she was exhausted. Avery had yet to see the dog walk two steps.

  “Eventually,” Meredith said slowly with a sweet smile that looked awkward on her. “She needs to lose weight first.”

  “Don’t you have a whole ranch where she can run around?”

  “Sort of.” Meredith shrugged. “The property is twenty acres, and I have four separate fenced exercise enclosures.”

  “Why do I feel like Spot’s rear end isn’t the biggest ‘but’ in the room right now?”

  “She’s self-conscious.”

  Avery snorted. “She’s a fat dog.”

  “Don’t say that,” Meredith scolded. “You’ll give her even more of a complex.”

  Avery glanced down at the dog. Spot gave a lazy wag of her tail. “Is that possible?”

  “It’s like when a morbidly obese person starts a fitness program. Haven’t you watched My 600-lb Life?”

  “Not once.”

  “The Biggest Loser?”

  “Nope.”

  “Spot knows she can’t keep up with the other dogs, so she won’t try. She’s not very social. She needs to get in better shape on her own. It’s a self-confidence thing.”

  It said a lot about Avery’s life since coming to Magnolia that this was, in no way, the strangest conversation she’d had. “What does that have to do with me?”

  “I thought you’d make a good foster family.”

  “Wow,” Avery repeated. “That sounds great.”

  Meredith let out a relieved sigh. “Really?”

  “No,” Avery yelled, throwing out her hands. “Are you crazy?”

  Meredith crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out a hip. “Come on, Avs.”

  “No one calls me Avs.”

  “I just did.”

  “Don’t do it again.”

  “Say you’ll keep Spot.”

  Avery shook her head. “You said you needed a family. I’m one person.”

  “Good enough for Spot.”

  “I’m not keeping the dog.”

  “She’s great on a leash and potty trained. Hardly ever barks. She needs love and a lot of exercise.”

  “Also, less kibble.”

  Meredith gave her an awkwardly enthusiastic thumbs-up. “See? You’re already a natural.”

  “No.”

  “Just for a couple of weeks? She’ll be a distraction for you.”

  “I don’t need a distraction,” Avery answered. “I need to focus so we can get Niall’s estate figured out.”

  Meredith studied her for a long moment. “If you keep the dog, I’ll be more helpful. I’ll work on my attitude and pitch in cleaning out his house.”

  “It’s your house now.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “I thought you were going to work on your attitude.”

  “Will you foster Spot?”

  Avery looked at the dog again. Spot had fallen asleep and was snoring softly. “Can’t you find someone else?”

  “She’s a special case. I need a person I trust.”

  “You trust me?” Avery stifled a disbelieving laugh.

  Meredith took a step toward her. “You’re my sister,” she answered, almost reluctantly. “I don’t know why that means something since we’re practically strangers, but it does.”

  “It does to me, too,” Avery agreed, then laughed softly. “Have you always been this good at manipulating people?”

  “I grew up with older brothers. I’m a master manipulator.”

  “Two weeks,” Avery muttered after a moment. “I’ll keep her for two weeks.”

  “I’ll take it.” Meredith pumped her fist in the air. “She really is sweet. You can help her.”

  “I can barely help myself.” Avery rolled her eyes. “But I’ll do better if you pour me a cup of coffee.”

  “You pour the coffee,” Meredith said. “I’m going to my truck to get Spot’s supplies and the donuts I picked up.”

  “You’ve been holding out on me, sis.”

  “I wasn’t going to give them to you unless you agreed.”

  “You really are a master.”

  Meredith beamed like she’d been given a huge compliment, then walked toward the door, stepping over the sleeping dog.

  Avery poured the coffee and took a long swig, so desperate for caffeine she didn’t bother with creamer.

  She stared at the dog, wondering exactly what she’d gotten herself into. Her mother had never allowed pets when Avery was a girl. Too messy and too much work, she’d said. As an adult, Avery had taken much the same stance. But her life in Magnolia was different than it had been in California. She no longer had a seventy-hour-a-week job or a standing appointment with a personal trainer at the local gym. She no longer had much of anything.

  Except now she had a dog. Temporarily.

  Meredith returned with the donuts and a bag of dog supplies.

  “I brought enough diet dog food to last a week. I have more out at the rescue.”

  “Okay,” Avery said absently as she opened the box and released the sweet, doughy scent of the donuts.

  “Do you have any questions?”

  “Glazed or jelly?”

 
“Glazed,” Meredith told her. “I’m a purist.”

  Avery placed a glazed donut on a napkin and handed it to Meredith, then picked up a chocolate-iced one for herself. Suddenly the little dog sleeping near the front door woke with a start. Spot sniffed the air, then trundled over to the kitchen.

  “No people food,” Meredith told both Avery and the dog.

  Spot ignored her rescuer, plopping down at Avery’s feet with a plaintive whine. “You heard her,” Avery said. “It’s for your own good.”

  The dog barked.

  Avery raised a brow and glanced at Meredith. “I thought you said she didn’t do that.”

  “It’s the donuts.”

  “In that case,” Avery said to the animal, “I don’t blame you, but you’re not getting fatter on my watch.”

  “Thank you.” Meredith wiped her fingertips on the napkin. “For agreeing to keep her.”

  “Like you gave me a choice.” Avery took another bite of donut, then placed the remaining half on the counter. “I expect to see you Saturday at the memorial service.”

  “Weekends are busy at the rescue,” Meredith answered immediately.

  “You promised to be helpful,” Avery reminded her. “By helpful I assume you mean letting me boss you around.”

  Meredith sniffed. “Hardly, but I’ll try to make it on Saturday. Right now I have to get to the day job. The office opens at eight.”

  “I’m meeting with some of Niall’s tenants in town this morning. I’ll take Spot for a walk first.”

  “She’ll love it.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “Good luck with your tenants.”

  Her tenants. Avery’s stomach pitched thinking of the difficult conversations she was bound to have.

  After Meredith left, Avery put the remaining donuts in a resealable container and loaded the mugs into the dishwasher. Spot didn’t move but continued to watch her with baleful eyes.

  “New plan,” Avery said to the dog. “You’re coming with me to town. How upset can people get with me while I’ve got a furry, spotted sausage roll on the other end of the leash? Maybe a distraction isn’t such a bad idea after all.”