Page 34 of Searching for Love

ChapterTwelve

The following day, Avery had off work. Her parents were finally returning from their trip to Hawaii. For some reason he couldn’t explain, he was worried about running into them in town. It wasn’t as if a few kisses signaled that they were an official item, even though he deeply wished it did.

Avery had made her intentions clear, hadn’t she? As much as they could, they would try to keep things professional. Since she was the one making the move each time, he figured that this was her idea of not getting too close. Right?

God, he was so confused.

Lucas shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts as he entered the dining room. Today was about business. Since the moment he’d received the new tables and chairs for the main dining area, he itched to get them set up on the newly renovated flooring.

As he hauled each table and chair out of the storeroom in the back, his mind swirled with unanswered questions. With each piece he moved, he released some of the pent-up frustration that had built over the past few days.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Avery approaching until she was standing beside him, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Hey,” she said, her voice breaking through his reverie.

Lucas’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. “Hey,” he replied, offering her a small smile in return. “I thought you had the day off?”

“I drove by as I was heading to the store to get a few things for dinner tonight with my parents and saw you working in here.” She glanced around. “I wanted to be here to help arrange everything.” Avery’s gaze softened, and she reached out to touch his arm. “Are you okay?” she asked, her concern evident in her eyes. “You look tired. Or worried.”

Lucas ran a hand through his hair and realized that he was past due for a haircut. “Just tired,” he finally said.

Avery nodded understandingly, her fingers lingering on his arm. “Want some help?”

Lucas looked into her eyes, seeing the concern and kindness there. “Yeah,” he said, already feeling enormous relief, thanks to her presence. “If you want to help, that is.”

Avery smiled quickly and rolled up her sleeves. “Put me to work. I have a couple of hours before my parents are due home.”

As they worked side by side, he was grateful for her company. She immediately broke him out of his deeper thoughts with her cheerful conversation. She made him laugh more than any other woman he’d been interested in before.

When they finished arranging all of the tables and booths, the dining area looked inviting and welcoming, and his bad mood was completely forgotten.

After Avery left, he decided to head into Edgeview to meet his sister and mother for dinner. He’d sent them a text and told them he’d meet them at Sophia’s favorite restaurant.

Stepping into the Italian restaurant in Edgeview, he waved to his mother and sister and made his way to the booth near the front window.

He instantly compared the soft warm ambiance of the Italian place to the happy, cheerful one he was creating.

He kissed his mother’s cheek and sat next to Sophia. He flung his arm around his little sister’s shoulders.

“This is nice,” his mother said, shifting a little. “I’m glad you called. How is the place coming along?”

“I’ll be ready to open the doors in a few weeks, maybe sooner. There’s still a lot to do, plus I’m waiting for some of my kitchen equipment to get here. Oh, and I have to hire a staff.” He laughed.

His mother chuckled. “I’m so very proud of you.”

He glanced at his sister. “What’s up, squirt?” He pulled his arm tighter around Sophia’s shoulders for a makeshift hug.

“You’ll never guess what happened to me today…” Sophia started. His sister’s conversations always started the same way.

While she chatted animatedly about her day at school, her words punctuated by bursts of laughter, he hung on every word. Somewhere in the middle of his sister’s story, they had all ordered their drinks and food.

Their mother watched as they chatted about Sophia’s school drama with a slight smile on her lips. She looked happier than she had in years.

He wondered if it was due to Graig but didn’t want to ask how that relationship was faring.

“You two always know how to brighten my day,” she said, her voice filled with affection.

“Everything okay?” he asked her.

She sighed and then added. “I broke things off with Graig.”