Venture Forward (16 page)

“
I HOPE KEARNEY AND
Evan didn’t scare you off.” Paul handed her another glass of champagne.

“No, they’re harmless.” Avery’s tone was light but forced. She looked distracted, nervous almost, tapping her fingernails on the table.

“You seem preoccupied.” Why wouldn’t she look at him? What the fuck happened?

“No, I’m good.” A thin smile appeared. “So they gave you a reprieve, huh?”

There was a trace of apprehension in her voice, despite the weak attempt at humor. “Yeah, although I’m sure they’ll be back soon enough to hassle me again. It’s their thing. But in my defense, I
did
give you fair warning.”

“It’s nice that they care enough to give you a hard time.” A faraway look crept into her troubled eyes, amplifying the pang in his chest, a harsh reminder he would be yet another disappointment in her life.

“I told you, they aren’t used to seeing me with women.” Not one of which could hold a candle to Avery. She was exactly the type he’d avoided for all the reasons he rattled off to Evan. But, despite everything, he couldn’t drag himself away.

“Platonic or otherwise?”

“There really haven’t been any platonic ones.”

“Other than me.”

“Other than you.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t do relationships well.” If
that
wasn’t the understatement of the millennium. “Women usually want more than I can give.”

“So that’s why your family was so excited. They thought someone had finally broken you.”

“Yeah.” Broken indeed, in so many more ways than one.

“You don’t like being tied down?”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

“Isn’t it always?” Avery leaned closer, a thick blonde wave grazing her shoulder. His fingers itched to tangle themselves in those shimmery strands. “Paul, I—”

“How’s the champagne flowing over here?” Steve and Pamela were back, and, judging from the looks on their faces, they were anxious for answers. Perfect timing. He’d sleep really well that night wondering what the hell she’d been about to say, and if he’d get another chance to hear it.

Avery recoiled, a guilty smile on her face. “Sorry, it’s long gone.”

“No wonder Kearney disappeared.” Steve laughed and waved his arm in the air. “Rochelle, come on over here. I’d like to introduce you to one of my sons.”

No. This wasn’t happening.

Paul’s gaze slid to Avery. The look of panic etched onto her face gave him pause. She couldn’t possibly know that he and Rochelle… right? Shit, had Rochelle cornered her and said something?

Rochelle sidled up to the table, eyes wide. “Paul Emerson! What a small world. You’re about the last person I’d expect to see here. It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, it has
.”

He shifted under Pamela’s curious stare, fists clenched in his lap. “Sweetie, how do you know Rochelle?”

“We used to work together. She was part of the PR team for Blue Coat.” This wasn’t an accidental run-in. The girl was bat-shit crazy and equally conniving, vindictive, and vengeful. When it came to Rochelle Harrison, there were only two questions to consider before running like hell in the opposite direction. What the hell did she want, and how far would she go to get it?

“Oh, really.” Pamela flashed a smile at Rochelle. “How did you get into book publicity?”

“I took a leave of absence for a while and moved to London. When I got back, I took my career in a different direction and applied my network to books. It’s been great, and I haven’t looked back once.” She turned to Avery. “I apologize for my rudeness. Rochelle Harrison. I handle PR for Steve.”

The color had all but drained from Avery’s face, and her response came out sounding as rattled as she looked. Rochelle could easily have that effect. “Hi, it’s really nice to meet you. Avery Hunter.”

Rochelle clasped her hands, ignoring Avery’s stricken look. “I don’t want to take up any more of your family time. Congratulations again, Steve. I’ll speak to you a bit later this week, and we’ll schedule the rest of those interviews.” She turned to Pamela, making a big production of a double-air kiss before sauntering to another table. “It’s always such a pleasure. Enjoy your evening.”

It was hard to ignore their inquisitive stares, but at least they had enough tact not to ask the questions burning their tongues in present company.

“Paul, Steve and I are leaving. We have a late dinner.” Pamela gave Avery a quick hug. “It was so wonderful to meet you. I hope we’ll see you again very soon.”

“Thanks, it was incredible to meet you both.” Avery held up her signed copy of Steve’s book. “I will treasure this
always
.”

Steve snaked an arm around Pamela’s waist. “Have fun, you two.” They walked off, stopping to chat with another group near the exit.

“Your family is wonderful. You’re really lucky.”

“Thanks. They’re pretty great.”

“How old were you when your mom and Steve got married?”

“Eighteen.” It felt like a lifetime ago. Steve had been determined to make them a family, undaunted by Pamela’s eldest, emotionally stilted, and obstinate son. Persistence eventually wore him down, and Paul finally accepted Steve as the father-figure he’d been lacking his whole life. But it could never replace the emptiness, and it never eased the resentment and anger, baggage he’d never have the freedom to check.

“It’s nice she was able to find someone so terrific.”

“Yeah…”

“So you and Rochelle worked together?”

“That was some segue.” He looked at her, eyebrows raised. “It might have been a little more than that.”

“Uh-huh. I guess things didn’t end well?”

“Are you taking over for Evan and Kearney?”

“Sorry. I was just curious. She seemed a little, um, transparently fake. And she definitely knew you were one of Steve’s stepsons.”

“You caught that too?”

“It was kind of obvious.”

“Things between us weren’t serious. She built it up to be something much more in her twisted mind, and when I tried to end it, she went a little crazy.” Fucking insane was more like it. Like the devil incarnate. “I’d heard she moved to London a few months later. It was a mistake to get involved in the first place. I figured I’d never see her again.”

“Big headaches?”

“Blinding and debilitating migraines.”

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure.” He tapped his fingers on the glass, watching the expression on her face, curiosity mixed with something else he couldn’t quite decipher.

“Why don’t you do relationships?”

Christ, that was a loaded question.

“Is it a control thing?”

Control was always the underlying reason, or rather, the fear of losing it. How ironic she’d asked, when each passing second with her made him fall harder and with less and less of that precious control to bolster the inevitable crash. “Maybe.”

“I’m not really one to criticize. I’ve had my own issues, although I’m glad not all of them have been as public as my most recent disaster.”

“Yeah, you and Albright had a pretty good run as America’s sweethearts.”

“So much for responsible journalism.”

“Ever look back?”

“All the time. But not to lament, more to question. Like what the hell I ever saw in him in the first place, and why I wasted so much of my time on a relationship that was a guaranteed dead-end.”

“Old habits die hard?” His stomach clenched at the thought of her with another man, especially one who’d hurt her so deeply. There were a few choice words he’d have for that tool Albright, if given the chance.

“If only it was that simple. But I learned from my mistakes, and next time, I’ll make better choices. See all the fun you’re missing?”

“The anguish and aggravation make it sound really tempting.”

“I guess one day I’ll figure it all out.” Her lips curved upward. “Maybe it’s just easier to be friends.”

One problem. Friendship was the last thing on his agenda. He wanted no less than all of her, but it still wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.

“
HEY, CAN YOU GRAB
me another board from the shed?” Paul wiped his forehead with a t-shirt. “Jesus, it’s hot out here.”

The blistering sun seared his skin as he and Darryl prepped equipment for the next group of kids. Even a slight breeze didn’t do much to relieve the heat exhaustion resulting from running boards up and down the beach.

“Yeah.” Darryl dropped another board on the sand and tossed Paul a can of wax.

“What’s going on, man? You’re pretty quiet today.”

“Just thinking, I guess. What’s the plan for the next group?”

“You guys will pair up with them on the community service activities, refurb work, and surfing lessons. Kind of like mentors.”

A swift nod. Darryl drummed his fingers on the surfboard and stared at the water.

“Are you going to tell me what’s up, or do I have to beat it out of you?”

“I just don’t know how I’m gonna be able to swing this whole thing, you know? I managed to get a break from my part-time jobs for the past couple of months, but my ma, she’s been hassling me lately. She’s gonna need my help again, and I-I don’t know if I can stay with the program. It’s been real hard, and money is mad tight. I’m the man of the house now. I need to provide for my family.“

“Hey, I get it. I’ve been there. I know things have been rough, but I’m going to help you get a real job so you won’t have to worry about taking care of them, okay?”

“They need so much, and I’m the only one who can help.”

“Why is this coming up now? Is it because of the program, or did something happen?”

“It’s, um… it’s Miguel, he made me an offer—”

“Don’t you
ever
speak to that scumbag again. His offers will get you killed. What good will you be to your family then?” Paul pressed his fingers to his forehead. “Listen, I know the money’s tempting, but you escaped. If you get caught up with those guys again—”

“You don’t get it. Every day I struggle with what the hell I’m gonna do next, how I’m gonna get out of this shithole. Where am I going? Who’s gonna hire me? At least if I was part of Miguel’s crew—”

“You’d end up dead or in jail. The whole reason you got into this program was because you wanted to start over. You think working for Miguel is the easy way out, but it’s the worst decision you can make.”

“My dad is such a fucking bastard for leaving us.”

“Trust me, you’re better off. You don’t need him around, poisoning your life and hurting you and your family. You’re a smart kid with a lot of talent. Think about it. Don’t you want to go to college, play ball, maybe get a scholarship?”

“Yeah…”

“Tell me how working for Miguel is going to get you there. Oh right. It
can’t
. He can get you a first-class ticket all right… either to prison or a morgue. I want to help, but I can’t do much if you get yourself mixed up with that shit again. You’ll be on your own, and I think that’s a really big fucking waste.”

“It’s easy for you to—”

Paul threw down the cloth, eyes narrowed. “Don’t even say it. It’s never been easy for me. When Evan and I came out here, I wasn’t exactly a model citizen. But I got my head screwed on straight before I went down the wrong path. That’s what this program is all about. We’re here to help you guys — to give you a purpose, hope for the future, a glimpse of what your life can become. But you have to make the right choices.”

“I’m sorry. I know you had it rough too. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything stupid. I don’t want to fuck up my life any more.”

“Just stay away from that asshole, okay? You need
anything
— money, whatever — you come to me, got it?”

Darryl smiled. “You’re not really as much of a prick as your brother says, you know?”

“I have my moments, just like everyone.”

“Hey!” A high-pitched female voice jolted Darryl out of his funk.

“Whoa…”

Paul’s head popped up, and he glared at Darryl. “You can stop drooling. It’s my sister.”

Avery appeared at Kearney’s side. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, Chanel sunglasses perched atop her nose. A slow smile pulled at Paul’s lips, eyes trained on the denim-shorts-clad legs that went on for decades. Another ploy by his meddlesome sister, no doubt. Why couldn’t everyone just accept that they weren’t meant to be more than friends?

“Hey yourself. What are you doing here? I thought you were back at school.”

“I told Evan I’d stop by to help prep for the new kids. I’d hug you, but you’re all sweaty and gross.” She glanced at Avery with a smug smile. “Your
friend
here just took some time out of her crazy schedule to give me some career tidbits and a lift down here when my car got a flat.”

His pulse sped up as the smile brightened Avery’s sun-kissed face. “I needed to decompress anyway.”