ChapterThree
Bridger kept a bead on Avalyn as Britney led him up to congratulate Creed and Kiera and then dragged him along in the line for food. Britney was clingy and it made him uncomfortable, but then he noticed that Avalyn’s gaze kept darting to them and he could feel the jealousy radiating off of her. It wasn’t the intense love he dreamt of seeing from Avalyn, but maybe it was a step in that direction. If she was jealous, she must have some feelings for him, right?
Who was he kidding? Avalyn was the only woman he truly wanted, and the only woman who seemed impervious to his charms. Yet she had kissed him back yesterday. That fact alone gave him enough hope to keep praying for a chance with her.
He saw Avalyn talking to Lexi, Callum’s fiancée, and thought the two of them would be fast friends. He liked all of his new and future sisters-in-law. How perfect would it be if Avalyn became close friends with Lexi like she already was with Kiera and Cambree?
Avalyn glanced his way as Britney’s arms slid around him from behind. Avalyn’s eyes narrowed, and Bridger shot her a grin and a raised eyebrow.Come over here and claim me, he hoped his look said.
She glared at him and turned back to Lexi. Dang. How was he going to shake Britney and get another go with Avalyn before she walked out of his life again? He’d rarely seen her over the past eight years, since she’d graduated high school and left them all behind. He’d only been sixteen, and of course she hadn’t taken him seriously then. Her success and accomplishments made him proud and he knew she was out of his league, but why did she think they were so different? Every race, every crazy stunt he pulled was dedicated to some cause or charity. Everywhere he traveled, he tried to make a difference in the children’s lives, even if it was just a smile, a hug, or a picture. Couldn’t he and Avalyn change the world together?
Britney slid onto his lap, startling him. “Whoa,” Bridger said. “You’re making it a little hard to eat this delicious food.”
Britney’s lip came out in a pout. “I’ll give you something more delicious.”
Bridger chuckled, but his stomach soured. Britney was nice, underneath the innuendos. If Avalyn had said the same line to him, he’d be ecstatic. He’d dated women like Britney, but she wasn’t his type, no matter what the media broadcast about him. Avalyn was his only type. He glanced back at where Avalyn and Lexi had been standing. They were gone. Panic fluttered inside him. They couldn’t have left completely. Maybe they’d just gone to use the restroom or get more food. He strained to see the buffet table but didn’t spot the dark flowing hair and perfect shape he would know anywhere.
“What’s wrong, handsome?” Britney asked.
Bridger put his hands around her waist and lifted her onto her own chair. “Nothing. I’m just starving. Do you like yours?” He took a large bite of an egg casserole to prove his point. It was delicious.
Britney pushed her food around on her plate. “I can’t eat like you and look like this.” She gave him a forced smile.
Bridger wasn’t sure what to say. He couldn’t imagine the pressures she must deal with to have the perfect physique. It was interesting how Avalyn’s shape was much more appealing when most of the world touted Britney Nolan as the most desirable body in existence.
“Have you done shoots here in Cancun before?” he asked, taking a bite of watermelon and hoping he could distract Britney from climbing onto his lap again.
“Oh, yeah, several times.” She started talking about the different resorts, yachts, and adventure parks where she’d had professional pictures taken of her.
Bridger half listened as he ate and kept looking around for Avalyn. Maybe he should go look for her. No, that was stupid. She didn’t want him around, and if he did find her, all she’d do was tell him off or slap him again. He’d have to store the memory of yesterday’s kisses firmly in his mind. He doubted she’d ever let him have another taste of her perfect lips.
Emmett and Cambree strode up to them. Cambree’s dark eyes looked troubled.
“Hey,” Bridger greeted them. “Everything okay?”
Cambree nodded too vigorously. Then she shook her head, and her eyes brightened like she was going to cry. “Lexi left with Ava. They said they wanted to go home and be with their families for Christmas. Nothing is working out right! Have you seen Callum?”
Avalyn had really left? Bridger’s stomach felt sick, and he wished he hadn’t pounded his food so quickly. “He was going to California for a deal. I thought Lexi was waiting here for him.”
Cambree lifted her shoulders. “I don’t think she was too happy at being left behind.”
Emmett wrapped his arm around Cambree’s shoulders. “They’ll work it out, love. You don’t have to take care of everybody.”
“Oh really?” She pushed at his chest. “And who do I have to take care of?”
“Only me.” He bent down and kissed her.
Bridger had to look away. He didn’t need to see another passionate display. It wasn’t fun being the only Hawk brother left standing. If Avalyn would only give him some indicator, he’d be begging her to marry him. He rolled his eyes. Avalyn Shaman couldn’t settle for a man who wasn’t a superhero. Bridger shouldn’t have kissed her like that yesterday, but she was just too irresistible to him.
“Aren’t they cute?” Britney snuggled against his side. “Do you think you’ll ever settle down, Bridger-boo?”
“Bridger-boo?” Emmett snorted. Apparently he was done with his public make-out session.
Britney grinned. Bridger needed to explain to her they weren’t dating. Women always hated when he explained that he wasn’t the guy to settle down, but they had to know it was inevitable. His reputation was to never have a relationship, even a short-term one.
Cambree steered Emmett away. “Have fun, you two. I’m going to try to find Lexi.”
Fun? Bridger had fun when he leapt off a cliff in a wingsuit or executed a double backflip on a wakeboard. Sitting next to Britney as she tried to corner him into something more intimate than he wanted was not any kind of fun in his book. He’d dug his own grave by flirting with her the past few days.