Free Baby Stetson (Love and Music in Texas #1) by Nikki Lynn Barrett Page A

her.
    And Avery liked it!

Chapter Seven
    The hours seemed to fly by fast. Avery glanced at her watch. Already five, and her shift was over. Once she found her mother, Avery let her know she was off for a little while, and that she was going to go grab a bite to eat. Hopefully, tonight wouldn’t be the night that her mom would want a family meal at home. Those were rare these days, since all three of them busied themselves with the inn, and Avery with her music, but there were still times the three sat down together to eat.
    “Have a good evening, honey. I’ll see you when you get home later,” Mom said, smiling.
    Alice walked in for her front desk duty, so Avery took that moment to duck out, so she could get ready to meet with Rodney.
    Avery ran to the house to shower and change. In record time, she was ready. It felt good to be in comfortable shoes and jeans, instead of the slacks she wore when she was on the clock at the inn.
    At least Avery didn’t have to go through the front of the inn to meet up with Rodney. Prying eyes like Alice’s would be watching, and if that girl saw her leave with an older man, the rumors would be flying. Hell, she thought by now the whole inn would know about her kisses with Lucas.
    And speaking of Lucas ... how did he always end up on her radar? There he was, walking down the hallway as Avery stepped out from the elevator. His eyes lit up when he noticed her.
    “So, you took that invitation after all?” Lucas gapped the distance between them in a heartbeat. He leaned in, teasing her neck with soft kisses.
    “Lucas...” Avery moaned. She wanted nothing more than to give into him. But she regained her composure, and pushed him away gently. “I didn’t come up here for you,” she blurted.
    Okay, not the best way to say that. But there it was.
    Lucas reeled back as if he’d been slapped. “Okay.” His voice trailed off. Damn it, there went that look of his again.
    Avery sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “It’s complicated.”
    “You’re seeing someone?” Lucas raised his voice.
    “No! No, nothing like that.”
    He looked relieved as he blew out a breath.
    “I haven’t told anyone this, but my possible biological father is in town, and he wants to meet with me. He’s up on this floor, too.”
    “Your biological father is in town? Do you know it’s him for sure?” His hand lingered on her shoulder. Why was it that his touch, even the lightest one, sent chills down her back?
    “Well no, but we both agreed to a DNA test. I know it’s not much to go on, but I look a lot like him.” Looking like someone didn’t mean a thing, really. To some degree, everyone had some of the same features.
    Her hopes were already set so high.
    Lucas seemed genuinely interested in this.
    He still stood so dangerously close. Avery could feel his body heat. “Did you go looking for him?”
    “No. He actually sent me a letter, then showed up.”
    “Ah.”
    Ah? Just ah? What did that mean?
    “So if you’ll excuse me ... I’m late to meet him already.” She shot Lucas what she hoped was an apologetic look.
    “Why don’t I walk with you? You never know who this man could be. I just want to make sure you’ll be safe.” Lucas took her hand.
    Wait. Do what? Seriously?
    “Lucas, I’ll be fine!” Avery protested. His gesture was sweet, but this was something she should do on her own, right? “I don’t know you really, but yet I’ve already been kissing you and have an open invitation to your room,” she pointed out.
    Lucas sighed. “Exactly. We’re strangers. As is this man. Humor me. Once I see him and get a good reading of what kind of guy he is, I’ll leave you alone. What could it hurt? I bet your mom and dad don’t know. That’s kind of dangerous, and not the smartest move, Avery.”
    Wow. Who did he think he was? The nerve of this man.
    What could it hurt? Lucas actually did have a point.
    Still, Lucas’s attitude could stand to be knocked down a few