Page 28 of Close to Heaven

Ten

Acouple of hours later, Avery and Dakota stood outside on the porch of Avery’s cabin, waiting for their ride.

“I’m surprised Jax agreed to come,” Avery said.

Dakota rolled her eyes. “It’s only so he can keep an eye on us.”

Avery smiled. “I think it’s sweet how he looks after his siblings.”

“It’s not just us anymore. Now that you work here, it’s you too.”

Avery was starting to realize that, but she found it oddly comforting, just like Jax’s hug earlier. In all fairness, she’d hugged him first, but still, he gave good hugs. At first, he’d been reluctant, but when his arms came around her and she felt the heat of his hands on her back…

“So, what was really going on in Jax’s office earlier?” Dakota asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“What do you mean?”

“I felt like I was interrupting something.”

Avery sighed. “The only thing you interrupted was me being a blubbering idiot.”

The sound of Jax’s truck rumbling down the road stopped her from expounding. “I’ll tell you more about it later,” she promised.

Dakota nodded as Jax’s truck came to a stop in front of the cabin. Cody quickly hopped out of the front passenger seat and greeted them.

“Ladies, your chariot awaits,” he said in a fake British accent.

“Some chariot,” Dakota grumbled.

Avery laughed while Dakota scrambled into the back seat.

“Would you like to sit up front?” Cody asked.

Avery took one look at Jax, who seemed annoyed with his brother’s antics, and shook her head. “That’s okay. I’ll sit with Dakota.”

Cody extended a hand to help her up, and she accepted it. As they drove away, she realized that his touch hadn’t caused the slightest reaction in her. Sure, he was handsome, charming, and friendly, especially in contrast to his surly brother, but she’d felt nothing.

In the meantime, she caught Jax glancing at her in the rearview mirror, and she squirmed in her seat. Something had shifted between them, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it. Of course, it was entirely possible she was imagining the whole thing.

Cody turned the radio to a country station and sang along with Keith Urban while they drove into Pigeon Forge.

“I can’t believe I let you guys talk me into this,” Jax grumbled.

“You’re only here because we needed a designated driver,” Dakota replied, “although we could have just called an Uber.”

Avery giggled at the siblings’ interaction. Growing up as an only child, she’d sometimes felt lonely and wished for a sibling. In later years, her mom had explained that complications from childbirth had prevented her from having more children. Luckily, Avery had always been adept at making friends, and that helped ease her loneliness. Still, if she were able, she wanted a whole brood of kids someday—a complete family, just like the Sawyers.

“I’m not staying past midnight,” Jax proclaimed as he pulled into the parking lot of the country bar.

“Why? Do you turn into a pumpkin at midnight?” Cody teased.

“Worse. He turns into a grumpy ogre,” Dakota said.

Jax parked the truck, and everyone hopped out. Once again, Cody was right there to give Avery a hand.

“You look great, by the way,” he said.

Just then, Jax rounded the front of the truck, and she saw him stiffen.