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I nodded.
Avery’s steps slowed, and she smiled. “Perfect timing! You didn’t have to come in.”
A man who was obviously Avery’s brother, and a pretty woman with light brown hair—whom I guessed was Mackenzie—made their way toward us.
“Who’s the boy toy? Someone you picked up in France?” Avery’s brother asked with a laugh.
Avery tossed him a look that should have knocked him back onto his ass. “No, and he speaks English, so will you please not be a jerk.”
Bradly looked past her and tilted his head. “Did you meet him modeling?”
Avery cleared her throat, causing her brother to focus his attention back on her.
“No, Bradly, I did not meet him in Paris.”
Now the brother was really looking me over with a narrow-eyed glance. “How do you know him then?” Bradly asked.
“Stop harassing them, will you?” Mackenzie stated.
Bradly looked at me, then Avery. “How did you two meet, if it wasn’t in France?”
Avery’s face slowly formed a grin that would give the Cheshire cat a run for his money. “You know how I love a good surprise. And to answer that question, dear brother…I think we’re going to need to stop at Forest Lounge so I can explain this one.”
I started to reach my hand out to shake Bradly’s and introduce myself. “Hi there, “I’m—”
But Avery stopped me. “Introductions will be at the bar. Bradly, could you take my luggage, and we can meet at Forest Lounge? I’ll ride with… I’ll meet you there.”
Bradly barked a laugh. “You think I’m going to let you just go off with this guy when you haven’t even told me who he is?”
“I can meet you there, Avery. It’s not a problem.”
She exhaled. “I just spent how many years in France on my own? I’m not a child who needs you to watch over me.”
Bradly’s eyes narrowed. “You’re eighteen. You’re a child.”
“Okay, let’s not do this.”
“Thank you, Mackenzie,” Avery said with a smile. “I’ll meet you both at the bar. We don’t have a lot of time if we want to make it for family dinner.”
Bradly folded his arms over his chest and glared at me.
Rolling her eyes, Avery said, “Fine, this is Mr. Dahlstrom.”
“Does Mr. Dahlstrom have a first name?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s—”
“Gotta run, big bro! Meet you at Forest Lounge.”
Avery grabbed my arm and started to pull me away from her brother and Mackenzie.
“Is there a reason you didn’t want to tell him my name?”
She glanced over her shoulder and said, “It will all make sense once we get to the bar.”
“Now I’m having second thoughts about going with you to family dinner night.”
Avery laughed. “Trust me, Beck. You want to go.”
It didn’t take long to get the rental car, and Avery typed the directions into her phone and connected it to CarPlay.
“Have you ever driven in snow?”
I shook my head. “No, so I’m hoping it doesn’t snow while I’m here.”
She laughed. “Your hope is highly unlikely. Not for February.”
“Well, it’s nearly March so.”
“Doesn’t make a difference. It could snow in May.”
“May?” I asked in a horrified voice.
She simply looked at me, winked, and said, “Yep!”
Once we got to the bar, I parked and followed Avery inside. Bradly and Mackenzie were already there and waiting at a table. There were a large number of people in the place. Avery bent down and kissed her brother on the cheek.
“I’ve missed you, by the way,” she stated, then she turned and hugged Mackenzie.
I pulled out the chair for Avery, noticing her brother glance at Mackenzie. Avery looked over her shoulder and thanked me.
“Okay, so, now that we’re at the bar, can you tell me who Mr. Dahlstrom is?”
Looking at Avery, and just as confused as Bradly was, I waited for her to speak.
The waitress walked up and asked if we wanted anything to drink. I went with water, and Avery ordered Diet Pepsi. Once the waitress dropped off the drinks, Avery cleared her throat and looked at me, then at her brother.
“Bradly, Mackenzie, this is Beck Dahlstrom; Beck, this is my brother, Bradly Littlewood, and Mackenzie Reeves, his girlfriend.”
Bradly gave me a head nod. “It’s nice to meet you, Beck.”
Reaching my hand across the table, I replied, “It’s nice to meet you both.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Beck. How did you and Avery meet?” Mackenzie asked.
“We met on the flight from Dallas to here.”
Bradly’s brows rose. “You just met?”
Avery nodded. “Beck and I started to talk, and he told me he was heading to Hamilton.”
Bradly sat up some. “Really? What brings you to Hamilton?”
“Um,” I said, uncertain if I really wanted to talk about this in a bar. “Avery, I’m not sure I want to discuss this here.”
“Fair enough,” she said as she took my hand and squeezed it. “May I give Bradly the shortened version? Trust me when I say he needs to know before we go to family dinner night.”
