One of Us
Chapter 6
AVERY
Avery woke up on Sunday morning with a craving for a hearty breakfast that she didn’t have to cook herself. She knew just the place—a cozy diner not too far from her apartment.
She relished the fact that it was January, yet she was comfortably warm in just a light jacket, basking in the sunshine. She grabbed her book and headed out, her mind set on French toast topped with strawberries.
Twenty minutes later, she was engrossed in her book and her breakfast when she heard a familiar voice. “Miss Harper!”
Looking up, she saw Alexis bounding towards her table, a huge grin on her face. Her devilishly handsome father, Justin, was trailing behind her, wearing a similar smile. Both smiles stirred different feelings within her.
“Hi, Alexis! How are you today?” Avery asked, trying to keep her nerves at bay 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!” Alexis was practically buzzing with excitement.
“What’s a cut?” Avery asked, puzzled.
“That’s what my vest is called,” Alexis explained.
Avery felt a bit silly and blushed slightly. “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 on earth?
JUSTIN
“Come on, Lex, let’s let Miss Harper eat her breakfast,” Justin urged, not wanting his daughter to spill all the beans to Avery before he had a chance to talk to her. He wanted to ease her into this life.
“But, Daddy! Can we eat with Miss Harper? PLEASE?” Alexis pleaded.
Avery swallowed and nodded, gesturing to the other side of the booth. “If you’d like to join me—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Alexis had already hopped into the booth next to her, leaving Justin no choice but to sit across from them.
He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy that his daughter got to sit so close to the beautiful woman.
“Have you ever been on a motorcycle?” Alexis asked as soon as the waitress took their order.
Avery shook her head. “Nope, I’ve never been on one. So you have more experience than I do!”
“Wow…” Alexis seemed to struggle with the idea that the woman sitting before her had never done something that was second nature to her.
Justin quickly steered the conversation towards places they’d like to visit someday. Lex shared about her trip to England when she turned eight.
AVERY
Avery was taken aback and glanced at Justin in surprise. He just shrugged and smiled.
Avery realized that there was nothing this man wouldn’t do for his daughter. It reminded her of her own father, and a pang of longing hit her.
“Where do you want to go, Miss Harper?” Alexis asked.
Their food arrived, and Avery waited until they had started eating. She jumped slightly when Justin repeated the question, “So, Miss Harper, where do you want to go?”
“Oh, well,” she licked her lips nervously, “there’s this beach in the Bahamas with pink sand. I’ve always thought it would be a really cool place to visit.”
“PINK SAND?” Alexis asked, her mouth full of blueberry pancakes.
“Oh yes. It’s very beautiful and quiet. They say it’s very romantic,” Avery answered, blushing slightly.
“So you would have to take a boy?” Alexis asked, making a face.
Avery suppressed 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’m thirty, so I can’t go to the pink beach for a while.”
Avery turned her head to hide her laughter.
“Anywhere else, Miss Harper?” Justin asked.
She turned back to face him. “Well, there’s this place in Indonesia, actually in Bora Bora, called Matria Beach. You can only get there by boat.
“It looks incredible and I would love to explore there. But on a teacher’s salary, I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.” Avery chuckled.
Alexis excused herself to go to the bathroom, leaving Avery alone with Justin.
“So, a private, secluded beach?” Justin asked, his voice heavy with implication.
Avery swallowed. “It was listed as one of the most romantic beaches in the world.”
“I’m sensing a romantic streak in you, Avery.”
She nodded, blushing. “What woman wouldn’t want some romance in her life?”
Justin’s smile was warm. “Some women aren’t into that. Others, they can’t get enough. It’ll be fun to see how much romance you’re up for, Avery.”
“Why? You don’t seem like the kind of guy who’s big on romantic gestures,” Avery shot back, her tone frank.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m a man of many talents, Avery.” His smirk made her cheeks heat up.
She licked her lips, a nervous habit. “I’ve heard about your talents.”
“I bet you have, probably from Will. But how will you ever know for sure until you experience them yourself?” His grin was infectious, and the way he was rubbing her hand was downright seductive.
“I’m back, Daddy!” Lexi bounded back to the table.
“Okay, Princess, let’s wrap this up so we can get going. I’m sure Miss Harper has things to do at home,” he said.
Avery felt her cheeks flush and a familiar warmth spread through her. What is it about this man that gets me so worked up?
Ten minutes later, Avery was rummaging through her wallet for cash when Justin handed the waitress both checks and some bills.
“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’re with us, so he has to pay,” Alexis reasoned.
Avery couldn’t argue with the earnest look on the little girl’s face and finally gave in. “Okay, you win. Thank you for breakfast.”
They stepped outside and Alexis wrapped her arms around Avery’s waist, hugging her tight. “Thank you for having breakfast with us. I love you, Miss Harper!”
Avery’s heart felt like it might burst. “No, thank you for joining me, Alexis. I love you too. Now go have fun on your ride with your dad.”
“Hey, maybe you can ride on my Daddy too!” she suggested innocently.
Avery’s face turned beet red.
Her knees nearly gave out when Justin leaned in and whispered, “Oh, baby, you can definitely ride Daddy if you want. I’ll even make you breakfast.”
Avery stood frozen in place outside the restaurant, watching them walk towards his massive bike.
She watched as the little girl expertly strapped on her helmet and Justin slid on his sunglasses, looking even more attractive, before mounting the bike. He started it up and effortlessly lifted his daughter onto it.
He positioned her between his legs, his arms forming a protective cage around her. Alexis waved, and Justin shot Avery a grin before he slowly pulled out of the parking spot and onto the road.
Avery couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be held in those arms and quickly scolded herself as she started the walk home.
“Enough already. He’s just messing with you. He couldn’t possibly be interested in you, not when you’ve seen the kind of women he attracts.”
She headed home to unwind and call her aunt for their weekly catch-up.
Continue to the next chapter of One of Us