“Are you crying?” he asked through a deep and disapproving frown.
Avery dashed her knuckles under her eyes and gave her gaze to the wall. Her stomach growled loudly. She would’ve been embarrassed, but she felt too numb to be. It was her body reminding her why she was here and why she was desperate for this job, no matter who owned the company. There was little risk in taking a position here because it was clear as day there would never be anything between her and this man. No spark of familiarity, no reminiscing on letters from their youth. She had needs—food and shelter—and a job here could give her those. And she was so damn tired of living in complete uncertainty. She needed stability so her animal would feel more settled. So she could stop wondering if she was really strong enough to leave Raven’s Hollow. Maybe the Novak Raven didn’t need her for this job…but she was at the end of her resources, the end of her savings. Avery really needed this to work. “How much is the hourly pay?”
“Ten an hour to start out, and paychecks come out every two weeks. Why do you want to work a job like this?”
Defeated, she inhaled deeply and explained in a soft murmur, “My whole life I was supposed to stand still, be quiet, and look pretty. Only I was born plain, and I got tired of standing still and being quiet. I have nothing, Mr. Novak. I will put everything I am into getting your business off the ground. Give me a chance, and I’ll be here early every day and leave late if you need me to. I want independence, and I can’t have that without a steady job. I’ll be a good employee because I’m ready. Ready for this, ready for the responsibility, ready to be a part of something bigger than myself, ready to see Big Flight ATV Tours thrive.” She’d meant every word, but she felt nauseous when she’d said them. Admitting she had nothing to a man who had shunned her friendship all those years ago was hard.
But what did she have to lose now? She was sleeping in her car, and soon she wouldn’t have money for food or gas, and her only option then would be to go back to Raven’s Hollow and marry Benjamin. She would be a broodmare for a man with cold eyes and no affectionate feelings for her. She would be broken slowly there if she couldn’t build a life here. Because ravens—female ravens—didn’t just escape Raven’s Hollow or the reach of the council. The last time that had happened was over twenty-five years ago when Aviana King had chased down Beaston Novak, claimed him as her mate, and cut ties with her people.
This was Avery’s stand—however pathetic it might be.
“Honestly, Avery, I don’t think you’re right for this job—”
“Wes! I need you, man,” Ryder called from outside.
Weston’s nostrils flared in irritation before he yelled, “What do you need?”
“You! I already said that!”
“Mother fucker,” Weston murmured as he stood. “Look, I need a strong back who will be able to juggle and manage a lot here—”
“Wes!” Ryder yelled again.
Weston growled a terrifying sound and strode toward the door. “I’ll be right back,” he muttered over his shoulder.
But what difference did it make if he came back or not? Weston was denying her the job. She’d laid it all out there for him, and now her ticket to freedom was fading to nothing.
Chapter Four
When Weston strode out onto the porch and into the sunlight, the tension in his chest finally eased.
Avery. Goddammit, he knew he’d recognized her! She had the same shade of deep brunette hair with sun-washed highlights that said she liked to be outside. She’d piled it on top of her head in a tight, painful looking bun. She wasn’t much taller than he remembered and still frail looking with hunched shoulders, as if she was trying to make herself even smaller. She’d grown curves in the years since he’d seen her, but did a damn fine job of hiding them under that baggy sweater she was wearing. A sweater! It was eighty-five degrees outside, and she was covered up completely. Her dull clothes couldn’t hide that striking face of hers, though. Plain? Ha. She was clearly fishing for compliments he wouldn’t give. Her eyes were a vibrant aquamarine blue, made even brighter by her thick, dark lashes, and she’d obviously forsaken the make-up today because her stark freckles stood out on her cheeks and nose. Her nose was just as tiny and pert as he remembered from the pictures she’d sent. She’d slathered her lips in some cherry-scented gloss that made him even angrier. Tempting little temptress, but he saw right through that shit.
The memory of the day they’d finally met made him want to rip a fucking tree out of the ground.
The girl who had ruined everything was here, begging a job from him? Fuck! He couldn’t breathe. Weston pulled at the collar of his T-shirt and jogged down the stairs. He needed to get her out of here as fast as possible. Out of Nantahala, out of Bryson City, out of his life.
Today had sucked. First the dream, and now Avery freaking Foley was back to demolish him the rest of the way. He wanted to Change. No…he needed to Change. Desperately, he pulled off his shirt, tossed it to the ground, and bolted for the woods.
“Where are you going?” Ryder asked, appearing from nowhere and hooking his immovable hand onto Weston’s bicep. He had his phone up to his ear. “It’s ringing.”
“What?” Weston asked, confused.
Inside the building, the landline trilled a long ring. Ryder waggled his eyebrows and mouthed, I’m testing her.
“Um, Mr. Novak?” Avery called timidly from inside. “The phone is ringing!”