Page 2 of Trust Me (Rivers Edge #1)

Maddox

Nothing puts a smile on my face quicker than a win against the damn Eagles.

Well, except a gorgeous and eager woman who agrees to accompany me to bed.

At that thought, I contemplate making a phone call after I leave to one of the handful of numbers I have in my phone, for just such instances, which makes me fucking smile even more.

I catch sight of a smaller figure in my peripheral vision. Turning slowly, my eyes slam into the crystal-blue eyes of Avery Stevens, Jake’s little sister. The annoying little girl I’ve watched grow into the most beautiful woman.

Quit acting like a douche, asshole, I scold myself and try to turn my focus away from her endlessly long legs. She’s your best friend’s little sister, and she’s only twenty-two.

I watch her make her way around the room, hugging her brothers, Nate and Travis.

She’s listening to them give a recap of the football game with her arms casually wrapped around Travis’s waist. She must start telling them a story because suddenly her arms are flying around animatedly and the guys laugh.

She pats Travis’s chest and keeps moving, working the room.

She goes up on her tiptoes and kisses Travis’s friend, Clint, on the cheek, giving him a friendly hello. My gut tightens as she smiles up at Clint and chats openly. I want to punch him in his damn face just for smiling back down at her, which pisses me off even more.

Why am I having this uncontrollable urge to go apeshit on Clint? Why am I even upset about this? She’s nothing to me but Jake’s little sister. If she wants to kiss someone else, even if on the cheek, who am I to stop her?

I take a long pull from my beer bottle, just to keep myself from saying something stupid, and run my fingers through my hair so I don’t grab Clint by the shirt and kick his ass.

Avery finally makes her way to Jake, throwing her arms around his neck.

He picks her up and spins her around like a rag doll.

A very beautiful rag doll. When he sets her back down on the floor, my eyes once again collide with hers.

She gives me a small, shy smile, making my pants tighter in an instant.

I give her a quick, cocky grin and then turn my attention back to the television.

The last thing I need is to embarrass myself in front of the entire Stevens family.

Jake would kick my ass if he knew what just happened below my belt.

Hell, I want to kick my own ass right now.

“Hey, Avery,” I say casually over my shoulder and avoid further eye contact. Looking in her eyes is like looking at the sun. You’re blinded instantly by their sheer beauty. By their depth. By their utter sexiness.

“Hi, Maddox,” she replies in her sweet voice. It reminds me of sex: a little breathless mixed with a little need. There I go again with the wood. So, I turn back fully toward the TV and watch the start of the post-game show.

“Heard the ’Boys won,” she states to Jake as they both turn their attention to the television.

“Had us on the edge of our damn seats until the last minute, but they pulled it off,” Jake relays. “Where’s my niece?”

“She’s stuffing her face with cookies and candy in the kitchen with Mom,” Avery shares with a smile on her face. Whenever she talks about her little girl, I notice she smiles. You can hear it in her voice.

I know absolutely zilch about kids, but I have to admit this one is cute as hell.

Brooklyn is the spitting image of Avery with long blond hair, a beautiful heart-shaped face, and crystal-blue eyes that make the exotic waters of Hawaii look dull and uninviting.

I’m glad Brooklyn looks so much like her mom.

I’d hate for her to resemble her douchebag father, Drake Connor, in any way.

That dick doesn’t deserve to have anyone resemble him, nor does he have the right to look at Avery and Brooklyn and bask in their simple beauty.

“Hey, I thought on my next day off this week I would stop by and switch vehicles with you, so I can change the oil and do all the other maintenance you girls always forget to do,” Jake says.

“I don’t forget. I just know that you’re going to insist on doing it all yourself, Mr. Control Freak, so I sit back and let you to avoid the argument. Come and get it whenever you want. I’ll leave you some money.”

“I don’t want your damn money, Avery. I already have the oil and filters at my house. I’ll swing by your place before you leave for work or trade vehicles after you get to work,” Jake decrees.

“That sounds good to me either way. Just let me know when so I can get it cleaned out beforehand. Don’t want you yelling at me,” Avery says with a big grin on her face .

“Jesus, woman. Why do you insist on pushing all my buttons?” Jake asks with a stern shake of his head.

“It’s my job as little sister. Besides, it’s a lot of fun,” she replies with another smile and giggles.

“Speaking of jobs, how’s the new one going?” Jake asks.

“Good. Mr. Andrews is a great boss and is really flexible when it comes to Brooklyn. He understands I’m a single mom and allows me to take time to tend to her whenever I need to.”

“He’s a cool old bird, so I didn’t think he’d give you any troubles where Bean is concerned,” Jake says.

I turn back around and reenter the conversation. “Jake mentioned you started a new job a few months back. What are you doing?” I ask, even though I already know, making eye contact with her for the first time since the whole conversation started.

“I’m working at the Andrews and Levine Law Office in town.

I’m the administrative assistant to Mr. Andrews, making his coffee, answering the phones, managing his schedule, and plenty of typing.

Unfortunately, since he’s so close to retirement and will be turning the entire business over to his son-in-law, he’s not taking any new clients, so the days tend to be long. ”

“Sounds kinda boring,” I reply after taking the last swig from my beer bottle, hoping I don’t come across as a dick.

“Oh, it is,” she agrees with a laugh. “But he pays me really well and lets me leave if I need to take care of Brooklyn. Plus, he hired me with no experience whatsoever. He’s a sweet ol’ man.”

“I’m glad he’s taking care of you,” Jake chimes in.

Jake’s always been the protective big brother.

He goes apeshit if anyone hurts his baby sister, physically or emotionally.

I smile a little as I recall the last douchebag who hurt her.

Seeing Drake bleeding on the ground and gasping for air after the punch Jake landed to his stomach is one of my favorite memories.

Jake helped Avery get the job at the law firm a couple of months back.

She had been working as a waitress in the diner on Main Street and was struggling with the schedule to take care of Brooklyn.

All her brothers and parents pitched in, but her hours were sometimes unpredictable and made it difficult when she was called in last minute.

Jake and I went to school with the oldest Andrews boy, so when he heard that Mr. Andrews’s secretary quit, he called him up.

Avery was pissed for weeks. Once she realized she had a fixed income and set hours though, she finally let her anger go a little.

But, man, did she give Jake hell for interfering again.

Just then Mrs. Stevens comes into the family room with Brooklyn’s hand in hers and announces dinner is ready.

As all of the other guys start filing out of the room and heading toward the dining room for dinner, I take the opportunity to excuse myself from Jake and Avery and head to the bathroom to wash my hands.

Maybe a little cold water splashed on my face wouldn’t hurt either.