“That’s what you get for marrying a cop.”
Pepper rolled her eyes at Rowdy. “Cop is not a dirty word, you know, no matter how you say it.”
Their banter never failed to make Avery smile. “I always enjoyed mindless work, but I know what you mean. When I want to be distracted, playing bartender does the trick. I get so busy I don’t even have time to think.”
“I should learn to do that.” Reseating herself at the table, Pepper picked up her coffee. “I could help out at the bar and—”
“No.” Rowdy fished a doughnut out of the bag. “Get that thought out of your head right now.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want you hanging around a bar, that’s why.” He pointed the doughnut at her. “And I can guarantee Logan will feel the same.”
Mulish indignation straightened her spine. “If it’s okay for Avery, why isn’t it okay for me?”
Rowdy didn’t look at Avery—a very deliberate move, she knew.
“It’s not great for her, either,” he grumbled.
“Don’t go there, Rowdy.” Though he wasn’t ready to admit it, Avery knew he was starting to care. Not as much as she did, but enough that he saw things differently now. “I love my job and I’m keeping it.” Until you break things off, and then I’ll go to mend my broken heart elsewhere.
He hooked a chair, turning it so he could straddle the seat. “I’m still the boss.”
“And you’re fair.” She wouldn’t let him start making her decisions for her. “That means you won’t fire me unless I deserve it, and we both know I don’t.” Please tell me I’m right, that you wouldn’t do that to me.
“You’re a good worker,” he agreed. Taking his time, he sipped his coffee, took a bite of doughnut. “But I was thinking you could just work an earlier shift—”
She sat up a little straighter. “I need all the hours I can get.” And she wanted to be there with him. “All the hours I’m used to getting.”
“You’re staying with me now.” He threw that out as if it made perfect sense, as if they’d somehow committed to each other when they both knew that wasn’t the case. “That cuts back on your bills, right?”
But for how long? She wouldn’t put him on the spot by asking. “I still have my apartment, still have the bills associated with it.”
“So cancel your lease.”
Her heart nearly jumped into her throat. What was he suggesting? She searched his face, but she couldn’t tell. He could be so damn enigmatic when he chose. “I like my independence, Rowdy. You know that.” But if you tell me you care, that you want me to stay with you, I’d risk it all.
What he said instead was, “It’s not safe for you there.”
Her heart sank again. She wanted him to want her, not just feel a need to protect her. “Maybe not right now,” she agreed. “But once we deal with Fisher—”
“Once we deal with him, there’d be no reason for you to stay away from your folks.”
Hurt stole her breath. “You’re telling me to go back home?”
“Wow.” Pepper’s timely interruption kept Rowdy from answering. His sister bounced her gaze back and forth between them. “What’s going on? Who’s Fisher?”
Rowdy gave her a very abbreviated explanation. Protecting her privacy, he made Fisher sound more like an annoyance than anything else.
“Sounds like a real dirtbag.”
“A wealthy dirtbag,” Rowdy agreed.
“The worst kind.” Pepper wrinkled her nose. “I agree with Rowdy. Don’t go back there alone.”
“And speaking of Fisher...” He slid his cell phone across the table to her. “Give your mom a call, see if you can set up that visit. I’d as soon not wait around for him to make another move.”
She’d just promised Pepper that she wouldn’t cause a scene or kick up a fuss. But the timing was all wrong, coming out of nowhere. Somehow she’d expected to sense when Rowdy started to pull away.
Instead, he’d blindsided her.
Pepper didn’t seem to realize that Rowdy was setting up an exit plan, but Avery saw the signs loud and clear. She just didn’t know what to do about it—except to give him what he wanted.
She picked up the phone and rose out of her chair. “I’ll make the visit for as soon as I can.” Quietly, she walked out of the kitchen, going to the couch for a modicum of privacy to talk.
* * *
ROWDY COULD HEAR Avery on the phone, but not exactly what she said. She sat with her back to them, her head bowed, her shoulders showing defeat.
Pepper kept talking to him. She had a hundred questions about Fisher, and he answered as succinctly as he could without giving away anything important—like how much he loved Avery. How important she’d become to him.
How, in such a short time, she’d impacted his life.
He needed some time away, right now, before he cracked.
Avery rejoined them. “Mom is busy until next weekend. Is that too far away for you?”
Like a stay of execution, he was glad for the additional time with Avery. “That’ll be fine.” He pushed to his feet. “I’m going to run to the security store to get some stuff.” Before either woman could ask, he detailed the measures he’d take. “I want to put up some more security cameras at the bar, but also here at my apartment.” He reached out to touch Avery’s hair, letting a long corkscrew lock glide through his fingers. “At your apartment, too.”