The Magnolia Sisters (Magnolia Sisters #1) - Michelle Major Page 0,27
walked by her and out the door.
* * *
WHEN THE KNOCK sounded on the door the next morning, Avery glanced at the clock on the nightstand, then groaned. “Go away, Violet,” she called, but not loud enough for anyone to hear.
She might not be a morning person, but she also wasn’t as heartless as she wanted the girl to believe. Seven o’clock was early for any sort of eye-hand coordination, even the rudimentary amount it took for braiding. She hoped like hell Gray was awake and had sent his daughter over with coffee.
Or that he was with Violet, preferably shirtless. Possibly even sans pants. She gave herself a soft smack on the cheek as she headed to the door. She did not want to see Gray Atwell without his clothes. Right. Just like she didn’t have a monthly craving for a huge bowl of rocky road ice cream.
The comparison actually gave her some comfort. Avery was a master of willpower. She could withstand the temptation of chocolate and sugar so surely she could keep her hormones in check when it came to her sexy neighbor.
She’d told him their kiss was a mistake. Avery didn’t like making mistakes, especially since her last one involving a man had resulted in several lives being destroyed.
Focus, she told herself. Braids. Braids and coffee she could handle.
But it wasn’t Violet standing on the other side of her front door. Or Gray.
“What took you so long?” Meredith asked, adjusting her grip on the animal wriggling in her arms.
“I was sleeping. It’s what normal people do.” Avery raised a brow. “Is that a miniature cow?”
“It’s a dog.”
“Nope. It’s a black-and-white spotted sausage.”
“Can I come in?”
“Do you have coffee?”
“I’ll make a pot.”
Avery stepped back to allow her youngest half sister to enter.
Meredith kicked the door closed behind her, then lowered the tiny cow dog to the floor.
“It’s as wide as it is long.”
“She,” Meredith corrected, crouching down to unclip the dog’s leash, then giving it a quick scratch behind the ears. The animal immediately rolled to its back, stubby legs high in the air like it was playing dead. “Her name is Spot.”
“Spot needs to cut back on the kibble.”
“I knew you’d want to help.” Meredith pointed a finger at Avery before moving toward the kitchen. “This place is cute. What do you think about Gray?”
“He’s fine,” Avery said, making sure her tone remained bland.
Meredith snorted. “He’s fine, alright.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. He’s not my type.”
“Are you a lesbian?” Meredith asked conversationally as she filled the coffeepot with water from the tap.
“No, but—”
“Then he’s your type. A man that gorgeous is everyone’s type.”
“Have you dated him?”
“He doesn’t date.” Meredith dumped some grounds in the filter, hit the button to start the coffee brewing and turned to face Avery. “Grayson Atwell does relationships. He’s a serial monogamist, or he used to be. He was older than me but all the girls knew Gray. I don’t think he’s gone out with a woman since his divorce. Word on the street is his ex did a real number on him.”
“Oh.” Avery tried to sound uninterested but based on the smile Meredith flashed, she wasn’t doing a great job of it.
“A man like that could bring all the o’s,” Meredith said with an eyebrow wiggle.
“Enough about Gray.” Avery nudged the dog still sprawled on the hardwood floor with her toe. “What’s the deal with Snort?”
Meredith took two mugs from a cabinet as the scent of brewing coffee filled the air. “Her name is Spot.”
The dog turned to her belly at the sound of her name but didn’t get up.
“You’re a good girl,” Meredith cooed.
“Wow,” Avery whispered at the look of unabashed love that came into her sister’s eyes. The softening was instantaneous and transformed Meredith from a cute pixie to ethereally beautiful. “Having a heart agrees with you.”