Free Inked by Everly Drummond Page A

over a week. Brody could’ve turned tail and ran the second he found out about Parker, but he didn’t. Instead, he stood in the middle of her kitchen surrounded by mountains of Sam’s Club bags, trying to do what was right and take responsibility for a son that up until a week ago he didn’t even know existed.
    Avery relaxed her stance and walked over to where Brody was unpacking the last of the groceries. “Let me give you a hand with those.”
    They worked in silence, Brody unpacking the groceries and Avery putting everything in its proper place on the shelf. She looked down at the box of frozen chicken in her hands and sighed. “This is going to go bad before I can cook it all.”
    “That’s why I bought you frozen instead of fresh. It’ll last a lot longer.”
    “We usually eat dinner at my sister’s house. It’s rare that we ever eat here, unless it’s breakfast or lunch. I guess I could always make a casserole and bring it over there.”
    “Or, you could stay home and cook. Chicken parmesan is my favorite.”
    At Brody’s suggestion, Avery’s head snapped up. The look on his face was one of hope and expectation, and even though she’d shared her bed with him only days ago, Avery didn’t want to lead him on or get his hopes up. “Listen, Brody, about the other night…”
    “Please don’t,” he choked out. “Don’t tell me it was a mistake.”
    “No, it wasn’t a mistake. It’s more complicated than that.”
    Brody turned towards Avery, infuriated by her words. He’d waited almost four years to find her again, and he wasn’t about to let the woman of his dreams, the mother of his child, and the only person to ever touch his soul, slip through his fingers. “There you go using that word again. Life is complicated, Avery. That’s just the way it is. So let me uncomplicated things for you.”
    Without another word, he moved in front of her, and using the weight of his body, pinned her against the counter. His hands swiftly moved to her back, tangling in the tendrils of her golden brown hair and tugging her head backwards until she was forced to look back at him. “There is nothing complicated about this.”
    His mouth pressed down on hers, his lips forceful and unforgiving as his tongue demanded entrance to the warmth of her mouth. Brody felt Avery’s lips part beneath his, granting him entry. Her teeth scratched against his flesh as she drew his bottom lip between hers and began playfully biting it. But to Brody’s dismay, what he felt next was not the softness of Avery’s lips moving against his. It was the distinct feeling of two petite hands pushing him away. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss, his body gasping for air that would not come.
    “What is it, Avery? What’s wrong?”
    “I’m sorry, I can’t do this,” she whispered, and tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder. “It’s not you, it’s me.”
    Brody took a step back, breaking all physical contact with her.
    “Brody, let me explain,” she began, but his harsh tone cut her off mid-sentence.
    “What’s there to explain? I kissed you. You said no. End of discussion.”
    “It’s not as simple as that.”
    “Let me guess, it’s complicated?” Brody turned on his heel and stalked off, not wanting his frustration to get the better of him and ruin any chance he might have of getting her back. Slamming the door behind him, he bypassed the elevator and headed straight for the stairs, already plotting out his next move. No way was he about to give up on her that easily.

Chapter 6
     
    “So, who’s the new guy?” Chloe looked at her sister curiously. “Have you slept with him yet?”
    “Not in front of Parker,” Avery scolded, and glanced over her shoulder at the little boy sitting in the booster seat. Parker was staring intently out the window at the passing cars while his two cousins giggled at the cartoon playing in the overhead DVD player. Avery wished he’d interact more with other children. She’d even