Chapter 14 #2
He was still a little sensitive remembering how Austin had originally thought Kari should go for Nick.
Luckily, neither Nick nor Kari had seemed inclined to the other, and he’d been watching closely.
He was tempted to tell her that Nick had been secretly in love with Mary Coulter in high school, and call up Mary and beg her to move back from Boston and capture Nick again.
It was actually Gavin’s fault they’d never gotten together.
He’d been so bitter about Janielle’s betrayal he’d strongly cautioned his younger brother against a high school relationship.
He’d wondered over the years if he’d given his brother bad advice and now it meant he couldn’t follow up on his idea of insuring Nick would stay away from Kari.
Yet he knew Nick would never steal his girl.
“I just love to hear stories. You know me.”
He liked that he did know her. “Okay.”
“So.” She leaned slightly forward. “How did he get the scars?”
Gavin smiled slightly. With anyone else, that line might feel a little pushy.
With Kari, it was just cute, and he knew she simply wanted to hear the story, not pry into gruesome details.
Gavin’s smile fell away quickly as he thought of his brother being disfigured, and almost a lot worse. “An IED,” he said.
Her face filled with concern. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to … pry.”
“It’s okay. It just happened a month ago.
Hopefully, the scars will fade with time.
” He wondered if his brother had internal scars, as he knew he’d had friends killed by the explosion and he’d heard him scream out in his sleep sometimes, but Nick still seemed like his teasing, easygoing self.
He’d shown Gavin his right shoulder, chest, and arm.
They weren’t pretty anymore with puckered, angry red skin.
“I’ll pray he doesn’t have internal scars too,” she said.
“Thank you.” Gavin appreciated the faith that was apparent in Kari’s life. Just another thing that drew him to her.
The waiter brought the dessert menu. Kari ordered the molten chocolate cake, and he got the caramel pot de crème.
She leaned forward, and he thought that flirty V-neck of her dress was just about perfect. It didn’t show cleavage or anything, but it did have him dreaming of trailing his lips down her neck and …
“I haven’t heard your story either,” she said in a quiet but determined voice.
“What?” Gavin’s gaze snapped up to hers. Her blue eyes lured him in, but they also made him wary. What part of his story did she want?
She didn’t clarify, just stared steadily at him, patiently waiting for him to spill his guts.
His throat got dry and his palms got sweaty.
“Well, you know my story. After Papa broke his back, I gave up my football scholarship to stay here and help Mama manage the resort and take care of everyone.” The timeline was a little off.
Papa breaking his back had changed everything for their family, but it wasn’t until Gavin saw Austin that summer as a newborn that he gave up his scholarship without any hesitation.
“Then a few years ago I started buying Mama and Papa out, and now my life’s pretty much ideal.
” He forced a smile. “Living in the best valley on earth and spending all my free time with Austin.”
“You’re an incredible big brother.”
“Thanks.” The collar of his button-down shirt felt suddenly too tight, and he tugged at it.
She’d been so insightful when they’d first met, and she’d seemed to instantly sense that he and Austin were father and son.
Should he tell her the truth? That would show trust in her and their relationship, right?
But how could he tell her the truth when he hadn’t even told his own son or siblings?
“What about love?” she asked quietly, breaking effectively into his thought stream.
“Love?” His voice squeaked. He grabbed his glass of water and downed a large swallow.
Her brows drew together as she watched him. “Have you ever been in love?” She bit at her lip as if worried she was overstepping.
Gavin set his glass down but didn’t release it, his fingers gripping the cool glass. “I leave the girlfriends to Austin,” he tried to joke. He’d thought he was ready to open up more but this was torture.
Her gaze was far too perceptive. “You’re an incredibly appealing man in every which way. Are you telling me that women don’t chase you? That you’ve never wanted to chase one of them back?” There was a hint of jealousy in her voice now.
Gavin should’ve focused on that jealousy and maybe tried to tease her, but he had cold sweat on his back and was trying to figure out if he could keep developing his relationship with Kari without ever telling her about Janielle.
Was that wrong? Maybe if she’d only been a high school fling it would be okay, but Janielle was the mother of his son.
“I, um …” He blew out a breath, then plunged—well, as deep as Gavin could handle plunging. “I had a girlfriend in high school.”
She relaxed into her chair and all hints of jealousy disappeared from her face. “High school?” It wasn’t disdain in her voice, but definitely dismissal, no concern about a high school girlfriend. If only she knew. “Not since then?”
“No.” He shook his head, wondering if he’d just dodged a machine gun hailstorm of bullets.
She’d asked, and he’d answered. If she chose not to delve deeper, that couldn’t be on his head, could it?
He went with it, relieved and only feeling a little guilty that he wasn’t divulging his secrets even as in his mind he claimed to want a relationship with her.
She tilted her head and studied him. “Crazy. You’ve truly never fallen in love, never had your heart broken?”
He was sweating again, but he could answer the first question truthfully. “No, I’ve never been in love.” He’d fancied himself in love with Janielle but knew now it was all shallow and physical.
“I made you out to be this tragic hero.” She gave him a soft, but conflicted smile. “I guess I was wrong about that, huh?”
He thought he returned her smile, but he couldn’t be sure.
It wasn’t lying because he had definitely not been any sort of hero regarding Janielle.
“I know it probably sounds lame, that I haven’t …
been in love,” he rushed to say, “but I’ve just been so focused on my family and business, and years really fly by quickly when you’re busy and driven, you know? ”
Her brow relaxed and her smile was more genuine. “I can definitely relate to that. I can’t believe I’ve been out of college for four years now.”
“And you truly haven’t dated since college?” he clarified.
She shook her head shortly. “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?”
He reached for her hand. “A good pair,” he managed to get out in only a slightly husky voice.
The waiter brought their desserts, and he pulled back. This night was going fabulously. He’d shared, she’d shared, and they were really bonding. Maybe the great oak really had fallen. Maybe he could have a lasting relationship with Kari.
As he took a bite of the creamy pudding type dessert with rich caramel and hints of banana and pumpkin, he knew he was deluding himself.
If he wanted a relationship with her, the story of Janielle and Austin would have to come out.
The dessert turned too sweet and sticky in his mouth.
That revelation was not going to be fun. He’d avoid it as long as he could.
Kari loved the night in Vail with Gavin.
They’d chatted easily, shared significant glances, and she felt closer to him than ever.
She had to admit it was nice to know that he hadn’t dated every woman within driving distance and she was the one who had captured him.
Better than nice. Yet she still wondered if there was something in his past he wasn’t sharing.
Maybe it didn’t have to do with a woman, but she’d been so certain he’d been hurt somehow.
She forced the worries away as he walked her up to the door of her suite. “Do you … want to come in?” she asked.
Gavin’s gaze dipped, then rose again. He resolutely shook his head.
Kari’s stomach plunged. “Oh. Okay.” She swallowed and pulled her key card out of her dress coat pocket, waving it in front of the sensor.
The door beeped and Gavin pressed it down and swung it open, holding it for her.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said, far too brightly.
He’d claimed they were a great pair, but he didn’t even want to come inside and give her a goodnight kiss.
That stung. It dug deep into her insecurities.
He nodded, still not saying anything. His dark eyes looked stormy.
She gave him a radiant but fake smile, then walked through the door.
There was still tomorrow and Sunday to hopefully grow closer and maybe kiss more, and they definitely needed a firm commitment on more time together.
Maybe he was just worn out tonight. It had been a big day.
Yet she’d stay up all night if it meant one simple kiss from him.
Gavin followed her through the door. Her head whipped up, and hope sprang inside of her. He let the door swing closed and then turned to her. His chest was rising and falling quickly. He looked simply incredible in a dusky blue dress shirt, black pants, and a black coat.
“I don’t know that I’m strong enough to come in here,” he admitted in a gravelly voice.
“Strong enough?” she repeated. “You’re stronger than any man I’ve ever met.”
He gave her his half smile and then lifted his hand and slowly trailed his fingers along her collarbone.
Warm shivers erupted at his touch. Kari tossed her coat at the nearby coach.
Gavin slid out of his coat and set it down.
He eased in closer and bent his head, and his lips caressed the spot his fingers had just vacated.
Kari moaned and leaned her head back, making sure he had full and complete access to her neck and throat.
Gavin slowly, achingly kissed his way out to where the dress met her shoulder and then back up, along the side of her neck, and across her jawline.
Kari was panting for air, hot all over, and regretting spending any time in her imaginary world.
Who knew being close to an inspiring and perfect man could feel like this?
Gavin’s lips moved up her chin until they hovered at her cheek, centimeters from her lips. “Kari,” he sort of groaned out.
Kari dug her fingers into his hair and tugged their lips into alignment. “Kiss me,” she begged.
“Ah, Kari.” He didn’t kiss her, but he stayed right there, a breath away. His dark eyes were full of desire for her, and his strong arms wrapped around her lower back, holding her tight against him, but he didn’t capture her mouth like she was longing for him to do.
Kari didn’t know how to convince him, short of pushing herself on him. She thought of something she’d used in a book once, and what had worked the first night they’d kissed. Parting her lips, she carefully—and, she hoped, seductively—ran the tip of her tongue along her top lip.
Gavin’s breath came out hard and fast and he groaned, “Kari.”
“Kiss me, Gavin,” she murmured.
He rested his forehead against hers, breathing in short gulps. “What if … I’m not strong enough?”
“I don’t understand.”
Gavin’s lips pressed together. “You’re so innocent and beautiful. I want to hold you and kiss you until the sun comes up tomorrow.”
She smiled, thinking that was a perfect idea.
“But I don’t know if I’m strong enough … to stop.”
Kari felt heat rush through her that burned so hot, she knew it was as dangerous as it was alluring.
Not stop? But he wouldn’t, she wouldn’t, no matter how appealing and enticing the idea of not stopping could be.
Now she was the one unable to catch a full breath.
“I’m not worried,” she said decisively. “You’re too good of a man, and you care too much about me to not stop. ”
Gavin’s eyes still looked conflicted, but his mouth softened. “Really?”
“Yes. You’re going to give me a kiss for the history books, and then you’re going to say good night and leave me longing for you until I see you tomorrow.”
“Is that right?” He smiled. It wasn’t his full smile, but she knew how hard those were to earn. It was a tender and incredible smile that she loved to see on his handsome face.
“Yes, sir,” she murmured, pulling his head toward hers.
“I think I’m falling for you, Kari Love,” he murmured.
Kari’s eyes widened, but she had no chance to respond as he bowed his head, captured her mouth with his own, and gave her a kiss that no history book could accurately record. The kiss was pure and beautiful, full of adoration that made her certain nothing would ever come between them.
He pulled back, stared broodily at her, and murmured, “Good night. I’ll be longing for you until tomorrow.”
Kari sighed with a mixture of happiness and longing.
Gavin let out a low growl in his throat, and she was ninety-nine percent certain he was going to pin her against the wall and kiss her until the sun rose again.
His dark eyes burned into hers, and his hands were warm and perfect as they slid to her hips.
Suddenly, his eyes shuttered and his jaw tightened. Gavin pulled back and was out the door before she could whisper her own goodnight.
Kari deflated, leaning against the wall for support. She was falling hard for that man, but no matter what he’d said at dinner, there was absolutely no way her tortured hero didn’t have secrets to share. How was she going to pry them out of him without pushing him away?