Chapter 6

AVERY

Waking up Sunday morning, Avery thought she owed herself a good breakfast that she didn’t have to make. She decided on a great place with a diner feel not far from her apartment.

She loved the fact that it was January and she only had on a light jacket and was comfortable in the sunshine. She grabbed her book and set out for French toast with strawberries.

20 minutes later, she was engrossed in her story and French toast when she heard, “Miss Harper!”

Avery looked up and saw Alexis bounding up to her table with a huge smile on her face. Her hot-as-sin father was close behind with the same smile, although they did different things to her.

“Hi, Alexis! How are you today?” Avery asked, trying not to be nervous with Justin standing right behind her.

“I’m so good! Daddy is going to take me out for a ride today. Look, I have on my cut!” She all but vibrated with excitement.

“What’s a cut?” Avery asked.

“That’s what my vest is called,” Alexis explained.

Avery felt foolish and blushed a little. “Where are you going to go with your dad?”

“Oh, I don’t know yet. Daddy said we have to see how I do. I haven’t been on a very long ride before, only little ones,” Alexis responded.

“I’m still little and have to ride in front of my dad. I can’t wait until I can ride on the back like Auntie Kiki and all the other old ladies!”

~Old ladies?~ Avery thought. ~What the hell?~

JUSTIN

“Come on, Lex, let’s let Miss Harper eat her breakfast,” Justin urged, not wanting his daughter to spill everything to the woman before he could talk to her. He wanted to ease her into this life.

“But, Daddy! Can we eat with Miss Harper? PLEASE?” she begged.

Avery swallowed and nodded, offering the other side of the booth. “If you would like to join me—”

Before she could say anything more, Alexis jumped into the booth next to her and Justin had no choice but to sit on the other side.

He couldn’t help but feel jealous that his daughter got to be that close to the beautiful woman.

“Have you ever been on a motorcycle?” Alexis asked as soon as the waitress came and got their order.

Avery shook her head. “Nope, I have never been on one. So you have more experience than I do!”

“Wow…” He could see Alexis trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the woman before her had never done something she had known her whole life.

Justin quickly changed the subject, and they talked about places they would like to visit someday. Lex told her about her trip to England when she turned eight.

AVERY

Avery was a little shocked and looked at Justin in surprise. He just shrugged and smiled.

Avery realized that there was nothing the man before her wouldn’t do for his daughter. It felt a little like growing up with her own father, and she felt a pang in her heart from missing him.

“Where do you want to go, Miss Harper?” Alexis asked.

The waitress brought their food, and Avery waited until they had started eating. She jumped a little when Justin asked again, “So, Miss Harper, where do you want to go?”

“Oh, well,” she licked her lips nervously, “there is this beach in the Bahamas that has pink sand. I always thought that would be a really cool place to go.”

“PINK SAND?” Alexis asked mid-bite of her blueberry pancakes.

“Oh yes. It’s very beautiful and quiet. They say it’s very romantic,” Avery answered shyly.

“So you would have to take a boy?” Alexis asked, making a face.

Avery fought with a smile. “You don’t have to, but that’s what I would like to do.”

“If you say so... Daddy says I can’t date boys until I am 30, so I can’t go to the pink beach for a while.”

Avery turned her head to the side so Alexis wouldn’t see her laugh.

“Anywhere else, Miss Harper?” she heard Justin ask.

She turned back around to face him. “Well, there is this place in Indonesia, Bora Bora actually, called Matria Beach that you can only get to by boat.

“It looks incredible and I would love to explore there. But with teacher pay, I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.” Avery chuckled.

Alexis jumped up to go to the bathroom, which was right by their booth, leaving the two adults alone.

“So, a private, secluded beach?” Justin asked, his voice dripping with innuendo.

Avery swallowed. “It was listed as one of the most romantic beaches in the world.”

“I am sensing a romantic streak in you, Avery.”

She nodded, blushing. “What woman wouldn’t want to have some romance in her life?”

Justin smiled. “Some women don’t want that. Others thrive off it. It will be interesting to see how much romance you want in your life, Avery.”

“Why? You don’t strike me as the romantic-gesture type of guy,” Avery replied honestly.

“It all depends on the woman. I am really a man of many, many talents, Avery.” He smirked, making her blush again.

She licked her lips nervously. “Oh, I have heard about your talents.”

“Oh, I can imagine you might have from Will. But until you really experience them firsthand, how will you ever know?” He grinned at her and rubbed her hand seductively.

“I’m back, Daddy!” Lexi returned and jumped on the bench.

“All right, Princess, let’s finish up so we can go. I bet Miss Harper has things to do at home,” he said,

Avery blushed and felt that she was wet again. ~Damn it! What is it with this man?!~

Ten minutes later, Avery was digging for money in her wallet when Justin handed both checks and cash to the waitress as she came by.

“Wait, you didn’t have to do that!” Avery protested.

“Don’t worry about it,” Justin insisted.

“But I could—”

“Miss Harper, my Auntie Kiki says that gentlemen are supposed to pay for dates. Daddy is taking me out on a date, and you are with us, so he has to pay,” Alexis reasoned.

Avery couldn’t argue with the look on the little girl’s face and finally relented. “Okay, you win. Thank you for getting breakfast.”

They walked outside and Alexis threw her arms around Avery’s stomach and hugged her tight. “Thank you for having breakfast with us. I love you, Miss Harper!”

Avery’s heart almost burst. “No, thank you for coming to sit with me, Alexis. I love you too. Now go have fun on the ride with your dad.”

“Hey, maybe you can ride on my Daddy too!” she replied innocently.

Avery almost died as she blushed profusely.

Her knees almost buckled when Justin leaned over and whispered, “Oh, baby, you can definitely ride Daddy if you want. I’ll even make you breakfast.”

Avery was rooted in her place outside the doors as she watched them walk to his giant bike.

She watched the little girl expertly put on her helmet as Justin slid on his sunglasses, making him even sexier, and sat on the machine. He started it and picked up his daughter easily.

He set her between his legs, caging her in with his arms. Alexis waved, and Justin grinned at her before he slowly rolled out of the spot and down the road.

Avery couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be held in those arms and scolded herself as she walked home.

“Stop already. He is just messing with you. He couldn’t possibly be interested in you when you have seen the women that vie for his attention.”

She walked back home to relax and call her aunt for their weekly chat.