Garrett studied the picture closely. He recognized Avery immediately; her long, dark hair flowing around her shoulders from beneath a knitted stocking cap. The attractive woman next to her shared the same, wide smile, but her hair was cut into a straight bob, her features were sharper and more defined, and her eyes were a tad smaller than Avery’s.
Pretty, for sure. But as far as Garrett was concerned, Alex didn’t hold a candle to the woman sitting across from him.
“We both have my dad’s dark hair and eyes,” Avery explained. “But I definitely look more like our dad, and Alex took after our mom.”
“You said you and your sister were opposites. How so?”
“Alex is a free spirit, and I’m more of a homebody. She’s the social butterfly. Me, not so much. Alex likes going out dancing with friends on the weekends, and my idea of a fun night is to cuddle up on the couch with a good book and a glass of wine.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” And he meant it.
In fact, Garrett rather liked knowing Avery didn’t spend her nights in bars or night clubs surrounded by a bunch of drunken, horny assholes.
Not ready for the evening to end, he rested his elbows on the table and linked his fingers together. “Tell me more about this list Alex made for you.”
Avery snorted. “You don’t really want to hear about that, do you?”
“Sure, I do. And who knows…maybe I can help you cross off a few things.”
Garrett wasn’t sure what he’d said to make her blush, but Avery’s neck and cheeks turned almost crimson at his suggestion.
Now Ireallywant to know what’s on that list.
“It’s nothing big.” She seemed to read his mind. “I checked off the first three things before we’d even left the port. And, as a matter of fact, youdidhelp with some of those.”
“I did?”
“Yep. The first thing was to get on the damn ship.” Avery giggled. “Like, literally…that’s exactly how my sister wrote it.” She shook her head. “But after that, there was talk to someone I didn’t know, which I did when I met you and Colt. Another was to share a drink with someone I didn’t know. You bought me my first drink of the trip. Let’s see…” She thought for a moment. “Then there’s the food. I’m supposed to try at least one thing new to eat every day.”
“Shouldn’t be too hard since there’s food everywhere you turn around.”
“Right?” Avery agreed.
Finding himself more and more interested about this list, Garrett asked, “Was there anything else I was able to help you with?”
Aaand, there it was again. That flushed, flustered look that made him think of sex.
“Um…you went swimming with me, so that sort of counts,” she answered with a bit of a rush. “Number six was to swim in the ocean, so…”
“Yeah, but you’d already did that before we met up.” He playfully narrowed his gaze. “Not that you bothered to tell me that…or that the water was as cold as a freaking icebox.”
Biting her lip, Avery shot him an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not,” he scoffed with a smile.
“No.” She shook her head and laughed harder. “I’m really not.”
Staring back at her, Garrett realized the more time he spent with this woman, the more time hewantedto spend with her.
So he kept the conversation going.
They discussed the list further, Avery sharing more of the items she had yet to check off. Things like singing karaoke, dancing a slow dance, making a new friend, trying something scary…
With karaoke being the exception—no one in their right mind wanted to hear him sing—he had the sudden urge to help her do all those things…and more.
“Come on.” Garrett stood and pushed in his chair.
Following suit, Avery did the same. “Where are we going?”