Sonya’s smile faded. “I’m not sure that’s the proper hold for a mere boss, dear.”
Rowdy felt like a damned spectacle. He looked past Sonya to where Meyer and Fisher stood aligned, ripe with animosity, bunched up with caution.
Then Sonya extended her tiny, delicate hand. “Rowdy, thank you for bringing my daughter home.”
And it was a home, Rowdy realized. A home of love and protectiveness and all the wonderful things that home should mean. All the things Avery deserved.
Why had she left?
And what the hell was he doing here?
Sonya’s hand was so small. He held it gently. “She brought herself, ma’am. I’m only along for the ride.”
“Will you join us for lunch?” She indicated a table set with more dishes than he’d ever seen.
“Thank you.” He saw fruit, tiny sandwiches, pickles and some type of fancy chips on the table.
Fisher pulled out a chair. “Ave, here’s your seat.”
She gave him a dirty look and stayed glued to Rowdy’s side. With an arm around her, he ushered her forward and pulled out a chair, but Sonya said, “Thank you, Rowdy,” and seated herself.
She patted the chair next to her. “Please. I’d love to talk with you more.” She twisted around. “And, Avery, I want you on my other side. We have so much catching up to do.”
Well, hell. He’d just been outmaneuvered by Sonya, Rowdy realized as he watched Fisher take the seat beside Avery, leaving him caught between Sonya and Meyer.
Talk about uncomfortable... He tugged at his ear but said nothing as he took his seat.
The minimal food—light lunch—was served, and then Sonya and Avery started a quiet, private conversation. From what Rowdy could hear, they were at odds about something. Not an outright argument, but definitely some displeasure.
A second later, Sonya said, “Please don’t wait for us,” and she and Avery left the table.
Rowdy watched them step away to a set of windows on the other side of the room, where they both gestured and whispered and occasionally embraced again.
“So, Rowdy.” Fisher cut a goddamned strawberry like he would a steak.
He defiantly bit one of the little sandwiches in half. “What?”
“Did Ave tell you why she’s been away?”
As if on cue, Meyer said, “Excuse me.” And he, too, left the table.
Alone with Fisher. Interesting. Rowdy had the distinct feeling he’d been set up in a big way.
“She didn’t go into details,” Rowdy told him.
“What did she tell you about me?”
“She didn’t.” Choke on that, you pompous ass. “In fact, she’s never mentioned you at all.” Which made Rowdy damned curious, given Fisher appeared to be a very accepted part of the family.
Fisher looked across the room at Avery, his gaze filled with tenderness. “We had a falling-out. When I wanted her to marry me and settle down, she said I was too controlling.”
Rowdy glanced at Avery. Her face stricken with worry, she held one of her mother’s hands and with the other she straightened the scarf. Her mother seemed to reassure her.
He remembered her talking about regrets, saying her folks had wanted her to marry. Obviously they approved of Fisher as the chosen one or he wouldn’t be here right now.
Rowdy said, “Win some, lose some, Fish.” See, he could do shortened names, too.
“I still love her,” Fisher said, all pretense at good manners long gone. “I want her back.”
Furious as it made him, Rowdy didn’t know if Fisher would have any luck with that or not. But he did know one thing. “It won’t be happening today, so I suggest you step back.”
Feigning amusement, Fisher gave a smarmy grin. “You think you have a chance, is that it?”
A chance to get his fill, yes. Beyond that? He was honest enough with himself to know the odds weren’t in his favor. That didn’t mean Avery would fall for an ass like Fisher. She was far too genuine, too sincere and real to fall for a guy in a gold chain.
“I know she came here with me, and she’s leaving with me. For now, that’s enough.” What a lie. It wasn’t even close to enough.
“I don’t know about that. As I told Avery, I’ve remained close with the family. I’ve consoled them in their grief over her behavior, her...abandonment. But she’s here now, and if her mother asks her to stay...” He left the words to hang in the air, the possibilities unspoken.
Shit. Rowdy hadn’t even thought of that. He glanced at Avery again and saw that both women were now smiling. They could be wrapping up that little chat real soon, so he might as well get it said. “I recognize the license plate, Fish. You’ve been hanging around, spying on her.”
For only a moment, Fisher looked surprised before he shrugged. “Watching over her, actually.”
Rowdy didn’t debate that possibility, because damn it, it made sense.
“Ave is not cut out for the seedy side of life. She’s rebellious right now, proving...something to her folks.” Fisher forked another strawberry with far too much precision. “When her father died, it devastated her. And then Sonya remarried, adding more changes to their lives, and Avery hasn’t been the same since.”
“How so?”
Fisher grinned. “Moving out. Working in a low-class bar.” He pointed the forked strawberry at Rowdy. “Bringing you home to flaunt her rebellion under their noses.”