| |
––––––––
The trip to the ranch was silent. Gavin had Brooke’s hand in his, his teeth clenched tightly together. There was a hole inside of him the size of the wide, open spaces of the Karoo back in South Africa, and his heart seemed to hover somewhere outside of his body.
He probably should’ve said something during the night, but he hadn’t wanted to waste any time yapping when he could’ve been making love to her. They’d hardly slept. Each time she’d turned or he’d moved, they’d ended up touching one another, and each touch ignited the embers of desire that had never quite died during the long, dark hours. He simply couldn’t get enough of her—not something that would change anytime soon. In the end, she had to send him out of her room that morning so she could get dressed; otherwise they’d probably still be in her shower.
Since they’d left her house, she’d become quiet.
He didn’t want whatever it was between him and Brooke to end, but he was leaving for Seattle next week, she had work to do. Life continued even if he wanted to hold on to every minute he could spend with her. He didn’t have anything to offer her she didn’t already have, he knew that, but maybe they could be together for a little while longer.
Taking the turn-off to the ranch, he glanced at her. “I can stay with you for the rest of the week.”
Her head whipped in his direction. “So, we’re back to the eight-night stand? Or how long would it be now? Seven days? Six?”
Before he could open his mouth, though, she continued, “I don’t want to confuse Connor. He likes you a lot. It’ll break his heart if he thinks you’re staying and then you up and disappear after a day or two when you have to leave for Seattle.”
“I was hoping after last night you might have changed your mind.” He parked in front of Eleanor’s home on the ranch.
“Last night we scratched the itch. If I remember correctly, that was exactly what you proposed.”
He grabbed her hand. “It was way more than scratching an itch, and you know it!”
She didn’t look at him—only smiled vaguely in his direction. “Do I?” Before he could react, she’d opened her door.
Connor was already racing toward his mom with Eleanor a little bit behind him.
“Mom! Gavin!” He threw his arms around his mother before he ran toward Gavin. “I’ve been waiting and waiting for you. Come on, I want to show you the horses.”
Gavin looked down at the little boy with his mom’s beautiful blue eyes. He smiled. “Let me say hi to your grandma, and then I’m all yours.”
“Eleanor.” He nodded and bent down to give her a hug.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed slightly before they moved between him and Brooke. “Something happened...?”
But Brooke grabbed her mother’s arm. “Come on, Mom, let’s go to Lindsay. I want to see the baby’s room before I go and check how my house is doing.” And with a wave, the two women started down the short path toward the house where Lindsay and Blake lived.
With a last glance at the gorgeous woman who’d managed to turn his world upside down within a week, Gavin took Connor’s hand. “Lead away. I can’t wait to see the horses.”
His thoughts chaotic, he tried to listen to what Connor was saying, but he kept looking back over his shoulder, and the hole inside of him got bigger.
He should leave for Seattle sooner, rather than later. What he’d experienced with Brooke last night had been so much more than merely scratching an itch, but she obviously didn’t feel the same way. Maybe he would stop thinking about her all the time when he was in another state, another city.
––––––––
By late afternoon, the men were barbequing outside. Brooke was in the kitchen with Charlie and Lindsay, making a salad.
She’d been aware of the way Gavin’s two sisters and her mother had been watching her and Gavin all afternoon. Hopefully, they wouldn’t say anything because she was afraid she might just burst into tears if anyone were to ask about yesterday.
Last night had been magical, extraordinary. She’d never been good with words, but she knew she’d be able to express with her brushes and oils how deeply she loved Gavin, how intensely she wanted him. In her mind’s eye, images, shapes, and colors were already forming, pressing her to pick up her brushes.
She needed him, not just to find her phone or to step in when she was struggling, but because he somehow got her, accepted all her foibles in his stride. Even the fact that she couldn’t cook didn’t seem to bother him at all.
And she’d also discovered he was the only man who’d ever be able to bring her the kind of pleasure she’d experienced last night. He’d taken her to heights she’d never experienced before.
No wonder she’d been painting kissing him, way before she’d even known how she felt about him. She’d loved him all along. Probably since the day she’d met him. Her heart had known long before her brain had caught on.
What still blew her mind was that they’d been so in tune with one another: her body had instinctively known how to respond to his every touch, while her hands had been strangely familiar with every nook and cranny of his muscled body. Her intuition showed her what he’d wanted, what he’d needed.
Making love with Gavin had been a life-changing experience.
And his only take from the night? I can stay with you for the rest of the week.
As it was, it would break her heart to let him go. Spending more time with him would only prolong the agony, make saying goodbye so much harder.
But how was she supposed to carry on with a normal life after last night? How was she supposed to...?
“So, you wanna tell us about the hickey on your neck?” Charlie teased.
Blushing, Brooke folded her hand around her throat. She’d tried to soften the clear indication of an ardent kiss with makeup, but she’d forgotten these two never missed a thing.
“It’s just a scratch,” she said vaguely. “What can I do?”
“You and Gavin—come on, spill the beans.” Charlie grinned. “We’re leading dull, married lives in comparison to yours; we need some juicy details.”
“There’s nothing to tell. We’re together. Now. But he’s leaving for Seattle soon.” Brooke shrugged. “Not sure what will happen then.”
“Oh, yes, I’ve forgotten about that,” Charlie said. “I remember now Logan talking about it. He and Gavin will be taking turns to be at the office in Seattle,” she explained to Lindsay. “But there’s nothing that says you can’t join him there, Brooke. Schools are closing, your mother would love to have Connor here to stay, and next week, you’re moving to the farm anyway. If you go with Gavin...”
“Don’t be silly. We’ve barely been together a week. This is all very new, and there is no guarantee it would last. Anyway, I have so much to do before Connor and I can move in next week. And once I’m here on the ranch, there would only be about two weeks left in which I have to finish at least another three paintings. So, there is no way I can go away now.”
“You paint anywhere, don’t you?” Charlie asked. “Logan has a huge apartment, as you know. There are more than enough rooms to choose from to use as a temporary studio. And then you’re right there in Seattle when your exhibition opens. Why don’t you...?”
“Not this time,” she cut Charlie off. “I’ll work faster here, even with the move. Anyway, I’ve already made arrangements to stay at an Airbnb closer to the gallery, for the exhibition, months ago; it’s just easier for me.”
The salad was done, and picking up the bowl, she motioned to the back porch. “I’ll take this out.”
The silence behind her followed her all the way to the table. She should never have agreed to this silly idea of a fake relationship.
––––––––
They’d just finished dinner when Logan slapped Gavin on the shoulder. “So, have you decided when you’ll be leaving for Seattle?”
Everybody else stopped talking and looked at Gavin and Brooke. Brooke was sitting next to Gavin but when all eyes moved in their direction, she pulled her hand out of his, stood up, and began picking up empty plates.
Gavin cleared his throat. “Actually, I’ve been thinking I may leave earlier than I’d originally planned. Maybe even before next weekend. I’ll check flights with Anna on Monday.”
Because he was so close to Brooke, he heard her soft gasp. Without looking at him, she grabbed some plates and started walking toward the kitchen. Well, hell. He’d mentioned he might be leaving earlier. He’d thought she’d be happy about it.
Logan frowned. “Your meetings are only scheduled from the week after next—you do realize that?”
Gavin shrugged. “I know, but I thought it would give me time to see more of the city, get a feel of the office. I’ve never been to Seattle and I’d like to explore the city for a few days.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Logan said. He looked in the direction of the kitchen. “What about Brooke? I thought you two...you know.”
“She...she’s packing and working for her exhibition in July. At this point, I think she’d prefer not to have me under her feet, as well. So, tell me about Anna? From what I’ve picked up here and there from emails and phone calls, I believe she’s quite a character.”
Logan grinned. “I can try, but trust me, nothing I say will be able to prepare you for Anna.” He launched into a description of his PA.
Gavin looked toward the kitchen door, where Brooke had disappeared minutes before. It just made sense to leave sooner than he’d planned. There was no way he could stay away from her when he lived only a few blocks away, and she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in prolonging whatever was going on between them.
Besides, it was temporary, until he left for Seattle. That she didn’t want him around shouldn’t have been surprising. The lines had been very clear right from the start. He couldn’t change the rules now, halfway through, because he couldn’t get enough of the beautiful widow.
––––––––
Gavin turned his car into the street where she lived. Brooke focused on her breathing. In and out. In and out. Connor had pleaded to stay on the ranch with her mother until the move next week, and she didn’t have the heart to tell him no. Besides, she desperately needed alone-time to figure out how she was going to say goodbye to Gavin, soon, without falling to pieces.
He was leaving earlier than planned, something he’d mentioned in passing, but she hadn’t thought was serious. It was obvious he’d decided if he couldn’t stay for the sex, he wasn’t staying.
She was not going to cry; he didn’t have to know how much last night had meant to her, and he definitely should never find out she’d lost her heart to him.
The moment the engine came to a halt, she opened her door and sprinted for the front door.
“Brooke!” Gavin called out behind her, but she ignored him.
Frantically, she searched for the keys to the front door in her bag, but she couldn’t find them. Behind her, Gavin’s footsteps came closer.
“Let me try,” he said.
“I can get my own damn keys,” she grumbled.
“Of course you can. You don’t need me; you’ve made that abundantly clear. I’ll stay out of your way until I leave. Once I’m gone, you can tell everyone we’re not together anymore.”
“See if you can find the damn key.” Upset and angry, she shoved the bag into his hands and crossed her arms. He found it immediately and unlocked the door.
Quickly, she stepped inside and held out her hand. “Thank you. The key?”
“It’s best that I leave earlier.”
“So you say.”
“I’m...it’s just...” He rubbed his face. “Babe, I’m no good to you...”
“Don’t you dare say that! I don’t understand how you can believe someone who has lied to you and cheated on you, but you can’t see how much you mean to your sisters and...and to everyone else.”
“Everyone else?”
“You keep using someone else’s words to explain why you want to leave. It doesn’t work, okay? Just...go.”
Her eyes were bright. Tears? It couldn’t be, could it? Taken aback, he stared at her. Why was she crying? He never could stand tears, something his two sisters used to their advantage time and time again while they were growing up.
“Goodbye, Gavin. I’ll ...” One tear spilled onto her cheek, but she wiped it away quickly. “I’ll...”
And then he noticed it—the slight tremor of her lower lip. She quickly bit down on it, but he’d seen it. With a groan, he stepped inside her house, kicked the door shut behind them, and pulled her closer. “Babe...” was all he managed before his mouth found hers.
The moments his lips captured hers, the chaos inside of him subsided. This was where he wanted to be. Here. With her. And yes, he couldn’t make any promises to her—he wasn’t any knight in shining armor—but damn it, right now, he needed her to rescue him.
Her arms snaked around his neck, and she clung to him. Without taking his mouth from hers, he picked her up and staggered up the stairs to her room. Besides the burning desire to become a part of her as soon as possible, there was another feeling he couldn’t quite define, egging him on.
In her room, he let her slide down onto the floor, his hand finding its way to a silky leg underneath the short skirt of her dress.