Free Accidentally Hers (Sterling Canyon #1) by Jamie Beck Page A

the victim. You’re the one whose business is at stake. Andy’s criminal behavior is the sole cause of any loss experienced by his family.”
    “Maybe, but it doesn’t feel right. It’s complicated.” Hadn’t Grey identified Bambi as being a complication the instant he’d seen her? “Let’s hope he has some other assets, so I don’t need to hurt his sister just to get what I need.”
    “I’ll get back to you once I have a full report.”
    Grey pitched the phone onto the coffee table. Business loans, living expenses, therapy and medical bills, new programming and marketing budgets—real obligations that were piling up quickly.
    If only Avery’s interests weren’t tangled with her brother’s. Then again, if her parents were rich enough to give their kids a house, maybe they had money to cover their son’s debts, too.
    Adler was right about him deserving adequate compensation. This injury limited every part of his life right now, and disrupted his sleep to boot. And as much as he couldn’t allow himself to even think it, it could keep him from the out-of-bounds ski areas for quite some time.
    Grey laid his head back and closed his eyes, recalling the unspoiled minute of his day when he’d held Avery’s hand in the park. That had been nice.
    Uncomplicated.
    Real.
    Maybe, if he were very careful and brave, he could end up with everything he needed and everything he wanted.

Chapter Five
    The sun was peeking over the trees when Avery turned onto her street, her feet padding along to the beat of an old Justin Timberlake song. She entered the house whistling, thanks to the invigorating four-mile run and the fact she’d be working with Grey today.
    “You’re awfully chipper.” Andy sat at the counter, drinking coffee and reading the paper. “Mind sharing your secret?”
    “Spring is finally arriving. Mom and Dad have gone back to Arizona for a while.” She set her phone and earbuds on the counter and poured herself some water, conveniently omitting any mention of Grey. “Life is good.”
    “Maybe for you.” Andy raised his coffee mug toward her, silently requesting a refill.
    Frowning, she refilled his cup and sighed. Andy’s legal troubles were never far from his thoughts. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”
    “It’s okay. Not your fault my life’s a mess.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Just got a lot on my mind. If I’m convicted of the felony, I’ll lose my job as a ski instructor, which I understand because of the background checks they do to protect clients. But I didn’t think these charges would cost me my off-season job, too.”
    “You won’t be painting?” Avery picked a strawberry off his plate and popped it into her mouth. Surprisingly juicy for this time of year, so she stole another.
    “Rob’s wife is a MADD volunteer. She doesn’t want him to keep me on the payroll.”
    Avery’s eyes closed briefly.
    “I’m sorry. I know things look bleak now, but it will get better.”
    “Before or after I go to jail?” His sarcasm failed to conceal his anxiety.
    Instinctively, she reached out and stroked his arm. “Can’t your lawyers negotiate a reduction of the charges?”
    “Not yet, apparently.” Andy slid off the stool and took his empty cup to the dishwasher. After staring at the drain for a few seconds, he looked at Avery, his brow furrowed. “They’re telling me to go to AA, and to talk to kids about the dangers of drinking and driving. So, I’ll do that and hope Grey Lowell doesn’t want to see me fry.”
    “He won’t go to the DA with guns blazing.” Avery gulped the rest of her water.
    “Why not?” Andy turned toward her, his eyes scanning her face. “You think he’s your friend now because you’re his PT?”
    While she wouldn’t admit it aloud, she couldn’t ignore the truth. She did feel friendship and more for Grey, and she suspected it was mutual.
    “A little bit, maybe. Just trust me; he’s not the type who’s out for blood.”