Page 51 of Close to Heaven

Fifteen

There was nothing quite like pounding nails into wood for relieving stress. Jax was outside, helping Cody string up holiday lights on the resort office building. He’d been finding every excuse to work outside rather than be inside the office alone with Avery.

Ten days had passed since they’d kissed, and yes, he’d been counting them. Ten days since her ex had accused him of cavorting with his employee. Ten days since he’d felt her gaze upon his naked body when she’d come to his cabin to apologize. Ten days since he’d turned her away.

He took another nail out of his toolbelt and pounded it into the wood.

Thanksgiving was two days from now, and he should have been feeling grateful. Instead, he was grumpy and frustrated, and he hadn’t bothered trying to hide it.

“Since when do you help put up Christmas decorations?” Cody asked.

“Shut up and be glad for the help.”

“I would be if you weren’t such a grump. What’s with you lately?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

Jax just shook his head.

“A bunch of us are going out tomorrow night. You should come.”

He’d never bought into the Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving tradition of going to the bar. However, he was curious if “a bunch of us” included Avery.

“I’ll pass.”

“So, you’d rather sit home alone instead?”

He’d rather spend the evening with Avery, but since that wasn’t going to happen… “Yep.”

Cody chuckled. “I don’t understand you, man. You could have any woman you want, yet you’d rather be with your dog.”

“He’s a good dog. Besides, my love life is none of your concern.”

“What love life?”

Exactly. Jax picked up the ladder and started hauling it to the opposite end of the building.

“Avery’s going to be there,” Cody said, stopping him in his tracks.

Luckily, his back was to Cody, so his brother couldn’t see his reaction. “So?” he said over his shoulder.

“So, I just thought you might like to know.”

“What my employees do in their free time is none of my business.” Jax quickly walked away and got back to work.

It made sense that Avery would go out with Cody and his friends. Why wouldn’t she? She was young and single. He recalled the first time they’d gone to the bar together, and he’d intervened when some guy had tried to pick her up. Since Jax wouldn’t be going this time, would she be more open to hooking up with someone?

The very thought of it caused him to strike the nail extra hard, and the hammer slipped and hit his thumb on his opposite hand. He let out a stream of curse words that would have made his mother cringe.

“You okay?” Cody called.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” His thumb would be fine. It was the rest of him that was messed up.

The front door of the office opened, and Avery walked out.

Cody let out an obnoxious wolf whistle from up on his ladder, and Avery laughed.