I glance at the dining room table, silently counting the place settings. I count again before I turn to glance at Sean. “There are only four of us here, but there are five…”
A knock at the apartment door sends my brother in that direction in a sprint. “Hold that thought, Ava.”
Anxiety nips at me because I wasn’t in the mood for a surprise tonight. Since Declan and I arrived an hour ago, both of my brothers have asked me if I’m seeing anyone in London. I answered with a shake of my head.
Declan seemed pleased with the answer, but it was Sean who took it to another level. He told me that there is a man two years older than me who works at Wells that he wants me to meet.
My brothers have never set me up before, and I’m happy to keep it that way.
If Richard, the accountant that Declan hired four months ago, is standing on the other side of the door, I might make a run for it. I don’t want to spend my time in Manhattan with a guy my brother thinks is perfect for me.
I keep my gaze trained on the door, hoping with everything that I am that the person on the other side of it is someone who doesn’t want to get in my pants.
As Sean nears the door, he calls out. “Secret knock, or you don’t come in, Harry.”
My stomach drops.
I glance to my left to where Callie is standing. She shoots me a megawatt smile that at any other time would be comforting, but she has no idea I almost slept with the man waiting to enter this apartment.
“I need to use the washroom,” I say quickly before I turn toward the hallway.
A familiar series of knocks sound behind me as I follow the direction of Callie’s pointed finger and her whispered, “first door on your left.”
I stand in the washroom with the door slightly ajar so I can hear Harrison’s voice as he enters the apartment. “It’s great to see everyone. Thanks again for the invite, Sean.”
“You’re in for a surprise, Harry.” Sean’s laughter bounces off the walls. “Ava is here. It’s been forever since you two saw each other.”
I suck in a deep breath as I softly close the door. I walk over to the vanity and glance at the large mirror that is hung above it.
Hearing the muted sound of voices, I stare at my reflection. “It’s just Harry,” I whisper. “Don’t make it awkward. Just eat, drink, and scram as soon as you can.”
It’s not the best advice I’ve ever given myself, but it’ll do. It has to.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Harrison
I have no fucking idea what the expression on my face looked like when Sean announced that Ava is in this apartment.
She has to be hiding because I haven’t gotten a glimpse of her yet.
I shove the bottle of wine in my hand toward Sean. “Here.”
He takes it, his gaze dropping to the label. “You’re a fucking show-off, Harry. Seriously. Why the expensive wine?”
I huff out a laugh. “Because I like it?”
Callie approaches and leans in for a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you, Harrison. We appreciate the wine and the food. Oh my god, the food. I had a little bite, and it’s divine.”
Callie has become a friend since she got engaged to Sean. Her interest in Food Harmony has given me another outlet for honest feedback. Whenever Jos has a new vision for a meal kit, she’ll put it together and send it Callie’s way. There are several other people she does the same with because she trusts their honest feedback.
This morning she had several boxes of one of our possible future seafood offerings delivered here, along with preparation and cooking instructions. When Sean invited me over to taste test, I couldn’t refuse even though I sampled each dish two weeks ago in our food lab.
“I’ll pass that on to Jos.” I smile. “I asked her to join us, but she had plans.”
“With Ross?” Sean perks both eyebrows.
“Russ,” I correct him. “She dumped him yesterday.”
“Good.” Sean pats my shoulder. “He wasn’t right for her.”
He’s right, even though he never met the guy.
I nod, searching the room for any sign of Ava. I come up empty again.
“I’ll pour the wine.” Callie takes off toward the kitchen. “I’ll have sparkling water. Ave can have my portion because I know red wine is her favorite.”
Apple martinis are a close second.
“What’s going on with you, Harry?” Declan pats the center of my back.
I thought I was overdressed for this casual dinner since I paired a gray V-neck sweater with my black pants. Declan’s gone all out in a three-piece suit.
“Were you working today, Decky?” I smirk.
He hits my back with some force. It’s not enough to send me forward, but it’s enough to warn me not to use the nickname he pretends to hate. He’s become like a brother to me over the past few years.