Chapter 24
A/N: Thank you to the master of editing for adding in the last few lines at the end and for always editing for me. There are only going to be a few more chapters left and then maybe I'll do a sequal when i get back from vacation. Please review I love hearing what you guy's think.
Avery peeked into her parents' bedroom. After making sure the coast was clear she walked into her mother's closet and began to look through the racks.
"What are you doing?" Rebecca asked leaning against the door of the closet.
Avery jumped and hit her head on a shelf. "Becca, don't scare me like that! I thought you were mom."
Becca laughed. "Sorry I didn't mean too. What are you looking for?"
She continued to look through the closet. "I want to borrow mom's black heels with the crystal buckles."
Becca raised her brow. "You mean her favorite black heels? The pair she practically keeps under lock and key?"
Mackenzie Allen was not a vain person, but like most women she had a fascination with fashion... and shoes in particular. Whenever she would find a pair that she felt were, timeless, and classic she found it difficult to part with them... even if only to allow her older daughters to borrow them. So the girls usually resorted to "borrowing" without asking permission.
Avery glared at her younger sister. "Yes, her favorite pair. She hasn't worn them for months and they will go great with my dress... She won't even know they're missing."
Rebecca just raised her brow at her sister.
"Well, are you going to help me look for them or just stand there?" she asked wryly
Becca shook her head and began to help her look for the shoes.
"How do you plan on getting out of here without her seeing them?"
Avery shrugged. "If I'm lucky she'll be down in her office and if I'm not, I can just hope she doesn't notice."
"Hello, Manolo's." Avery said proudly finding the shoes in one of the boxes.
Rebecca stopped looking and turned to her sister shaking her head. "You would think she would be a bit more creative after we found the Jimmy Choo's in a Nike box."
"She never learns and let's hope it stays that way."
The two nodded in agreement and made their way out of the room and back into Avery's room so she could help her finish getting ready.
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Rod walked into the living room and dropped off his golf clubs.
Horace, who had been sitting on the couch watching TV, looked up, "Hey, dad. Good game?"
"Yeah, great game. Next time you'll have to tag along."
"I think I'll pass on that one,." he quipped. "You know, Nora's been looking for you all day."
Rod grinned mischievously, " I know, and if she asks I forgot my phone in the limo. Has she been by here recently?"
"Yeah, she walked by to see if I'd seen you about ten minutes ago. When I said I hadn't she walked out of here muttering something about and place-setting emergency and how she should just give up, get a bottle of wine and take a Valium."
"Great," Rod smiled, "that means I still have time to head up to the roof and catch up on some reading until she gives up and goes home... if she comes by again you haven't seen me."
"Got it, dad," he waved him off.
Just as Rod left the room, Joshua was escorted in.
"Hey, Horace." He shook the younger man's hand.
"Hey, you here to pick up her highness?"
Josh laughed. "Yeah, do you know if she's ready? If we don't get out of here soon, we'll be late."
"She should be. I know Rebecca was helping her. Why don't you go check, she's in her room."
"You sure that's okay?" Josh questioned. He didn't want to do anything to cause a regression on the recent progress he'd made with Rod.
"Yeah, dad's up on the roof," Horace chuckled. "Nora's been looking for him all day, so he's hiding out up there."
"And that actually works?" Josh asked amused.
Horace shook his head. "Only for a little while. Dad's lucky if she doesn't follow him into the bathroom when her idea of a 'crisis' comes up."
"I better get your sister before all hell breaks loose then."
Josh walked down the hall about to knock on the door that was slightly ajar.
"So what kind of party is this?" Becca asked while zipping up Avery's dress.
"One of Josh's college buddies got engaged and his parents are throwing them an engagement party. He asked Josh to be a groomsman so it's basically mandatory we go."
Rebecca took a seat on the bed. "I bet all this wedding stuff will get Josh to propose."
"What?" Avery turned away from the mirror and looked at her sister confused.
"Well, you know how they say weddings usually plant the idea in men to propose. You just might be next."
Avery rolled her eyes. "Becca, don't start looking for bridesmaids dresses yet. Josh and I aren't getting married anytime soon."
Dismayed by what he just heard, Josh walked out into the living room once again.
"Is she ready?" Horace asked.
"Uh, no she was talking to Rebecca. I didn't want to disturb her."
"Have a seat, man, you'll be here a while." Horace moved over on the couch making a spot for Joshua. "Chip?' he offered.
"No thanks, I'm not very hungry right now."
"Hey, guys." Mac greeted walking into the room.
Josh stood up to greet her. "Madame President."
"Hey mom." Horace replied not taking his eyes off the television.
"Where's your dad, Horace?"
"Hiding from Nora up on the roof."
Mac grinned. "Wonder what she's after him about now?"
"I think it's about napkins again."
Mac turned to Josh who was amused by the situation. "Rod might get annoyed by her a lot of the time, but he does like her... he just doesn't want her to know that."
"Probably a wise choice."
Mac laughed and looked up past Joshua. "You look great, honey," she said smiling at her oldest daughter.
Avery walked over to them. "Thanks, mom." Turning her attention towards Joshua, she said, "I didn't even know you were here. I would have been out sooner."
"Don't worry about it. Horace and I were catching up. You look great." He smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you," she smiled back and adjusted his tie. "You don't look so bad yourself. We should get going though or we'll be late."
Josh stood and helped her on with her jacket.
"Uh, Avery?" Mac looked at her daughter questioningly.
Avery winced. "Yeah, mom?" she answered quietly.
"Are those my shoes?" Mac raised her brow and crossed her arms against her chest.
"Uh...yeah. Thanks for letting me borrow them... gotta go now. I'll see you later." She said hurriedly as she dragged Josh out into the hall.
"They better be back in on piece," Mac called out trying to sound firm.
"Sorry about that she's a bit protective about her shoes," Avery said as they walked down the stairs.
"Your family is interesting that's for sure."
Avery noticed he really wasn't acting like his usual self. He seemed distant. She placed her hand on his arm. "Are you mad I was late? You seem upset."
"No, I'm fine." he smiled and squeezed her hand. "That dress really does look great on you, worth the wait."
"If you think the dress is great, wait till you see what's underneath," she quipped.
"And what's that?" Josh asked amused.
She leaned into his ear and whispered softly, "Nothing." She placed a lingering kiss on his jaw and moved away smirking in triumph.
Following her to his car that was parked on the circular driveway, Josh grinned widely. He'd been confused and hurt by what he had overheard her say to Rebecca, but at that moment all he could do was feel filled with love and attraction for her. He decided that tonight wouldn't be the night he would worry about marriage and their future. He would simply enjoy the present.
After opening the car door for her, Josh traced circles with his fingers on her shoulder. "Wanna skip the party and head to my place instead?"
Avery grinned and got into the car. Once he, too, was seated, she told him provocatively, "Everything is better with a little anticipation, Dr. Templeton... and we wouldn't want me making a bad first impression with your friends by having you miss their party."
Josh sighed in mock disappointment. "Fine, but after the party you're all mine."
"Try and get rid of me," she said as she leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. "Now get to driving or we'll never make it."
"Yes ma'am," he responded with a wink and a mock salute.
"I do love it when you do as I say."
Josh laughed in recognition that life with this woman would never be dull. No matter how much time it took to convince her to truly be his, it would be worth the wait.
