T/W: Minor innuendo.

***
When Avery awakes the following morning, she gets the shock of a lifetime. Her cell is loaded with text messages from Everly, Nolan and two of the executives at the news channel. Plus a couple of voicemails as well.

"Avery, this segment was pure gold!" Danni Meyers, one of the executives, say in their voicemail. "I haven't seen this much excitement about a video blog in months! Keep up the amazing work!"

"Avery, you need to call me back, stat!" Everly says in her voicemail. "Your blog is blowing up!"

Avery sits on the edge of her bed, and calls Everly, who answers after the first ring.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, Avery!" Everly shrieks in Avery's ear so loudly that she has to hold the phone away from her ear.

"I just woke up," Avery informs her friend. "So could you kindly tone it down, please?"

"Sorry! But hot damn! Your blog has so many new views and followers, it's crazy!" Everly bubbles.

"That's great," Avery says. "I have a voicemail from Danni, over at the news channel. She's pretty pleased herself."

"I knew this idea would be awesome." Everly sounds smug.

"Yes, please," Avery says sarcastically. "Do take all the credit for my hard work."

"Oh, yes." Everly matches Avery's sarcastic tone. "Because kissing Nolan Wright's ass was so difficult.

"I did not kiss Nolan Wright's ass." Avery's tone is now belligerent. "I simply asked him if I could tag along and he agreed."

"He didn't agree to it until after saw your beautiful face." Everly's tone is cheeky.

Avery sighs, running a hand through her tangled and disheveled hair. She yawns. Her mind drifts to Nolan, wondering if he's thinking about her as well.

"I gotta go," Avery tells Everly. "I need to get ready and then, I'm heading down to the paranormal society."

"I'll meet you there!" Everly exclaims.

"Why?" Avery frowns. She's not sure she's quite ready for Everly to meet Nolan.

"Because I want to meet Nolan Wright,"  Everly replies. Avery sighs again. There's no point in trying to discourage Everly. Once her friend makes up her mind about something, she wasn't changing it.

"All right," Avery agrees reluctantly. "I'll text you when I'm on my way over there."

"Great!"

****

An hour later, Avery and Everly are walking into the paranormal society. Lennox is out front and Avery notices how his gaze rakes over her friend. She hides a smile, especially after Everly seems somewhat smitten with Lennox as well.

"Good morning!" Lennox greets the two women. Avery smiles.

"Good morning, Lennox. This is my best friend, Everly Lynn. Everly, this is Lennox Bell, one of Nolan's team," Avery says.

Lennox leans forward, shaking Everly's hand grinning charmingly at her. Everly giggles, her cheeks going pink.

"Pleasure, Miss Everly," Lennox says.

"Same," Everly says, withdrawing her hand and smiling prettily at Lennox.

Nolan, Sid and Lola join them and Avery makes more of the introductions. She notices how Everly's really sizing Nolan up, taking in everything about him.

"It's so nice meeting you, Nolan," Everly says, grinning and shaking his hand. "I've heard so much about you."

Nolan gives Everly a tight lipped smile, his gaze drifting over to Avery's. She can only imagine what he's thinking. He's probably wondering what exactly she's told Everly in regards to him.

"Likewise," Nolan says to Everly.

"Is there a specific reason you dropped in?" Nolan asks, addressing Avery.

"Yes," Avery replies. "I have awesome news."

"Your blog is blowing up, isn't it?" Sid asks. Avery nods.

"I received a voicemail from one of the executives and she was really pleased with how everyone reacted to my latest blog," Avery tells everyone.

"That's fantastic," Lola says, smiling at Avery. "Congrats."

"Thanks." Avery looks at Nolan. "Have you had a chance to watch it yet?"

"I have," Nolan replies. "It was good. I appreciate how honest you were and making sure to keep it like we wanted it."

"Of course." Avery smiles. Nolan just nods. She frowns. Is something bugging him? He's acting kinda weird.

"Nolan, can we speak privately for a minute?" Avery asks, leaning closer to him. He nods, taking Avery by the hand, as they disappear down the hallway, slipping into Nolan's office.

"What do you suppose that's all about?" Everly asks.

"I have a vague idea," Lola murmurs. "But I'll just keep my mouth shut."

***

"All right," Avery says crisply to Nolan. "Why are you acting so weird? Are you really okay with what I posted?"

"It's not that," Nolan mumbles. He's staring at the floor. Avery steps closer, gently placing her fingers on Nolan's face. He lifts his eyes, looking into hers.

"Tell me, Nolan," Avery whispers. Nolan seizes Avery, drawing her nearer and kissing her. Avery's arms come up, wrapping them around Nolan's neck, returning the heated kiss.

"How long have you been thinking about that?" Avery asks, smiling. Nolan chuckles breathily, enjoying the feeling of Avery's body, flush against his. He never wants to let go.

"Since the last time we kissed," Nolan murmurs in Avery's ear. She laughs, shaking her head.

"Real subtle."

"I've never been much for subtlety," Nolan says, caressing Avery's back. She snuggles against Nolan's chest, just holding him.

"I never would have guessed," Avery teases, touching Nolan's lips. His eyes grow serious and dark with desire. Avery decides its time to hit the brakes on this before things escalate into something she'd rather not deal with at the moment.

She wriggles out of Nolan's grasp, much to his disappointment. He sighs.

"You don't want to continue?" He asks softly, touching Avery's hair.

"I do," Avery murmurs. "I just don't think this is the appropriate place or time."

Nolan nods, scrubbing a hand over his face. Damn. He knows that Avery's right, but he'd sell his soul just get inside her right now.

"Right," Nolan agrees.

"Besides," Avery adds. "I'd kinda prefer if we went on a proper date first." Nolan grins.

"That does sound quite appealing," he remarks. "Then the other thing, huh?" Avery nods, leaning in and pressing her lips to Nolan's.

"So ask me out already, Wright."

"Miss Greer, would you like to join me for dinner tonight at six thirty?" Nolan asks, sounding incredibly formal.

"I'd be delighted to, Mr. Wright." Nolan grins again.

"Awesome. I'll pick you up a little bit before that."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

***
"You really liked the response to my latest blog?" Avery has returned Danni Meyers phone call.

"I do," Danni replies. "It's beyond belief. Everyone is talking about it. This is beyond a doubt, your best subject yet."

"Well," Avery says. "A lot of people are obsessed with the paranormal."

"Aren't they! It's insane how many new people have tuned in for this one."

"I'm pleased," Avery murmurs.

"You should be," Danni says. "You've outdone yourself with this topic."

"Thanks."

"I should be thanking you, " Danni says. Avery chuckles.

"No problem. I'm just glad that I'm getting back to the top."

"So are we."

***

Avery is ready a little after six o'clock for her date with Nolan. She'd be lying in she said she wasn't nervous. She sincerely hopes that she and Nolan can find something to discuss besides the supernatural or paranormal.

Avery spots a black SUV pull into her driveway and she quickly exits the house, closing the door and hurrying over. Nolan jumps out of the driver's side door, quickly pulling open the passenger side door for Avery.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." Avery climbs inside and gets herself buckled, while waiting for Nolan.

"You look beautiful," Nolan tells Avery. He means it, too. Avery's wearing a silky, black dress. Black definitely suits her.

"Thank you," Avery says, blushing. "You look wonderful, too." Nolan's wearing some nicer jeans and a dark blue button down shirt.

"Thanks."

"So where are you taking me?" Avery asks.

"Do you like Italian?" Nolan asks.

"I love it."

"Then that's where we're going."

"What?" Avery feigns shock. "You mean we aren't gonna go hang out at the paranormal society and split a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos and a chocolate cupcake?" Nolan laughs.

"Sorry to burst your bubble."

"Oh well." Avery shrugs. "Guess I'll just have to console myself with some fattening Italian food instead."

"Me too."

***
Dinner goes surprisingly well. Avery is having a wonderful time. While she and Nolan do discuss other topics besides the paranormal, she finds herself becoming more and more interested by Nolan's ghost stories.

She's truly fascinated by his outrageous experiences and all the places he's has an opportunity to investigate. At one point, though, Nolan tells Avery that if he's boring her, she needs to interrupt him.

"You're perfectly fine," Avery assures Nolan. "I'm enjoying listening to you talk about everything you've had an opportunity to investigate."

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Nolan says. "I do have a bad habit of rambling."

"You do," Avery teases. "But I don't mind."

"Thanks. So tell me about how you ended up doing this video blog stuff," Nolan says.

So Avery recounts the story of how she ended up doing her video blog, professionally.

"I know it's not as cool as what you've experienced," Avery jokes and Nolan laughs.

"I wouldn't say that," he jokes. They fall silent for a few minutes. "I don't want to sound too forward, but would you like to come back with me to my place?"

Avery reaches across the table, her fingers grasping Nolan's fingers.

"I'd love to, Nolan."

***
Nolan isn't sure what he was doing, inviting Avery home with him. He begins to grow nervous the closer they get to his place. He glances over at Avery, who seems as calm as can be.

When they reach Nolan's place, they get out of his SUV and Avery slips her hand into Nolan's, clinging. He smiles tenderly at her, leading her up the front steps and unlocks the front door, leading Avery inside and turning on the hallway light.

As soon as Nolan has the front door shut, Avery is slipping off her jacket and setting her purse aside and turning to latch on to Nolan's arms, heatedly kissing him.

Something unfamiliar explodes inside Nolan as he kisses Avery back, cradling her body against his. He holds Avery's face in his hands, just gazing into her eyes. Damn. She's breathtaking.

"Shall we take this upstairs to my bedroom?" Nolan asks softly. "Or do you want to wait?"

"Let's go upstairs." Avery takes Nolan's hand and they hurry up the stairs, where Nolan leads Avery into his bedroom. As they begin kissing again, it dawns on Nolan that's he's way in over his head with Avery Greer and he doesn't regret it.