Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Kari listened hard for any movement in the hallway, hoping and praying for Gavin to appear and quiet all of her fears. Finally, finally, there was a rap at the door and a call of, “Kari?”
She stood quickly, straightened her dress, and wiped at any errant makeup under her eyes.
Crossing to the door, she swung it halfway open.
She hadn’t turned any lights on, just using the light from outside the two-story windows and the gas fireplace.
Light from the hallway and the delicious scent and sight of Gavin Strong overwhelmed her.
She wanted to beg him to come in, but things felt really off right now.
“Hey,” he said quietly. “You okay?”
Kari shrugged. “Crazy night, eh?”
“Yeah. You could say that.” He looked past her like he wanted to just walk in, but he was too much of a gentleman to even ask. “I’m sorry about all of this, not telling you about my past, you seeing all that ugliness down there. Can you … bear with me on everything?”
Kari met his gaze and asked, “For how long?”
“I don’t know.” He jammed his hand through his hair. “Mama doesn’t seem worried, but we might have an ugly legal battle. All that matters is protecting Austin. Janielle can take everything else for all I care.”
Kari still loved how devoted he was to his son, but it felt like he didn’t care if Janielle took away what they had between them. She prayed she was reading garbage into his words. “So you want me to just go back home and wait until you get it all settled?”
“Um … I guess that would be best.”
Her heart sank. That was the answer of a man trying to get her out of the way.
“But hopefully it’ll be quick. I …” He licked his lips and then said, “I really want you with me, Kari. I wasn’t lying that I’ve fallen for you.”
She appreciated that, but it didn’t seem like enough. “The timing is just rotten, eh?”
He shrugged. “For sure.”
“I’m thinking I might catch a flight tomorrow instead of Monday.
” She waited, praying he’d tell her no. He wanted her around.
He wanted her to be his support with this battle with Janielle.
He wanted her to stand by his side and help him navigate the waters of now being a parent, not just an amazing older brother. He wanted … her.
His eyes looked conflicted, and he studied her as if trying to see past her words. She kept her expression neutral. He was in a mess and she didn’t want to make it harder on him, but she ached to stay by his side, to be part of his life.
Gavin muttered, “If that’s what you want, I can run you to the airport.”
She swallowed hard to keep the tears at bay. “Your uncle Vince and aunt Jamie? I overheard them saying they were flying out in the morning. I’ll catch a ride with them so you don’t have to be away from Austin and your family.”
Again, he simply studied her. “If that’s what you want.”
She nodded and stepped back from the door.
“Did Trey and Ella tell you I’m not feeling well?
Sick to my stomach.” That wasn’t a lie at all.
Her stomach was so upset she was barely able to not clutch it to try to quell the pain.
Gavin cared for her, she knew that, but their connection wasn’t strong enough to hold up or take priority when his life was imploding around him.
His son came first, and that was as it should be.
She’d leave so he didn’t feel so conflicted.
“Sorry you’re sick,” he murmured. “Can I get you anything?”
“No. I just need to sleep.”
“Okay.” His dark eyes seemed to penetrate through her. “I’ll call you as soon as we get everything settled.”
Kari forced a smile. “Sounds good.” It sounded horrible. He’d put her on hold until he worked everything else out. She was on the back burner.
She stepped back and let the door fall closed. The tortured look on Gavin’s face was going to stay with her for a while.
Kari got a ride to the airport early Sunday morning and a flight home late Sunday afternoon.
She didn’t even see Gavin for a quick farewell.
It was a miserable day waiting in the airport, but that fit her mood and her present circumstances.
She never worked on Sunday, so she couldn’t even have the comfort of her laptop and her friends’ stories.
She read chapter after chapter of the Bible as she sat in the uncomfortable airport chairs, hoping for inspiration and light.
She felt more peaceful as she read, but there were no light bulbs or voices telling her to run back to Gavin and Austin.
Did that mean that was the wrong solution?
The flight was quick and the Uber ride home uneventful.
She finally crashed in her condo and cried herself to sleep.
On Monday morning, she woke early and went on a longer than usual run, but her friends in her head weren’t talking.
Even with music playing and her running as fast as she could in the dry, warm spring air, she couldn’t outrun the demons making fun of her for leaving Gavin and telling her how selfish and petty she was.
She should’ve phrased things better, asked him if he wanted her to stay, offered to stay and prove she’d be there for him—but no, she’d gotten selfish and scared and she’d left.
Yes, he’d hidden the truth, but shouldn’t she have forgiven him?
As she finally ran back to her condo, she saw a tall, broad figure waiting in the shade of the overhang. She stopped short and studied him. “Gavin?” she whispered.
He turned at that moment, lifting a hand in greeting and offering her a tight-lipped smile.
Kari slowly approached, her heart thudding. He’d come? Gavin had come for her?
Gavin looked nervous and uncertain. He didn’t rush to her and swing her off her feet, but she didn’t really want him to while she was all sweaty and red-faced from her run.
This wasn’t how she’d write this scene, ever.
The heroine should feel confident and beautiful when the man of her dreams came for her.
Had Gavin come for her? Was he truly the man she’d always hoped for?
“Hey,” he said by way of greeting. “How are you?”
“Fine.” Everything felt stiff and uncertain between them. “How’s Austin?”
“He’s awesome. The best.” His face softened as he talked about his son.
“He is,” she said, agreeing to both statements. “Did you already resolve everything with Janielle?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“No.”
“No?”
“We’re scheduled to meet with the lawyers later today, but I …
” He took a small step closer, and his eyes traveled over her slowly.
“I spent most of yesterday keeping Austin close and praying for direction. I finally believe the Lord has forgiven me for the mistakes of my past, and now I’m more than ready for a future …
with you.” He gave her a fleeting smile.
“So I chartered a plane to get here as early as I could this morning.”
He’d chartered a plane to get to her? He’d come without resolving the issues with Janielle? He wanted a future with her? “But what about Janielle getting Austin?” That was the last thing she wanted to talk about, but she needed to know.
He pushed a hand through his hair, looking like he didn’t want to talk about it either.
“Of course I’m worried, but I think she’s only after money, and Mama is brilliant.
She recorded our conversation with Janielle on Saturday in my office, which was plenty incriminating as she demanded money and Austin in alternating breaths, but even better, Mama recorded Janielle almost eleven years ago agreeing to take a payment of a hundred and twenty thousand dollars to be a surrogate mother.
Mama had all the proper papers signed and documentation of the transfer of funds. ”
“A hundred and twenty thousand dollars?” Kari gasped.
“Apparently that’s not an outrageous fee for a surrogate mother, and it’s a completely legal way to get a baby.”
“That was really smart of Mama.”
“It was, and like I said, I think it’ll all work out, but I don’t want to talk about that right now.”
“What do you want to talk about?” She’d love to go back to the part of the conversation where he said he wanted to focus on a future with her. Please, please, please.
He stepped closer. “You and me.”
She pulled in a breath, full of hope, but then she caught a whiff of herself and said quickly, “I’d love to … but can I shower first?”
He gave her his appealing half grin and looked her over. “You look perfect.”
“I stink.”
He let out a soft chuckle but didn’t refute her. She’d run long and hard in the heat. Of course she stank. Maybe it was silly but she didn’t want to discuss anything that might lead to a future with him—and lots of kissing in the present, at least if she was lucky—while she was stinky and sweaty.
“I surprised you. Of course I’ll wait while you shower,” he said.
“Thank you.” Kari walked past him, barely able to resist giving him a tight hug no matter how smelly she was. She opened her door with the keypad and gestured him inside. “I’ll hurry. Help yourself to a drink or food in the kitchen.”
“Thanks.” He watched her but didn’t say anything as she rushed for her bedroom.
She made it through a shower in record time, then hurriedly put minimal makeup on and dressed in a flattering blue floral sundress. Her fingers were a little unsteady and her stomach was hopping as she hurried out into the living area.
Gavin was sitting on the couch, drinking a bottled water. He stood when he saw her, set the bottle on the end table, and hurried toward her. “You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you.” She tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear.
Gavin took a long breath. “I should never have let you leave Sunday morning.”
“It’s okay. You had a lot going on, and I didn’t want to be in the way.”
“You could never be in my way, Kari.” He took both of her hands in his. “I want you by my side. I want to figure out how to put you first in my life.”
She tilted her head, her heart thumping quicker and quicker. She loved that he’d come to her before even meeting with the lawyers and settling everything with Janielle, but she knew where his loyalties lay. “Austin is first. He has to be.”
Gavin smiled softly. “We talked about it yesterday. He thinks you two can be tied for first.”
Kari bit at her lip. “I might be okay with that.”
Gavin squeezed her hands. “Kari, I realize we haven’t known each other long.”
“Two and a half weeks.”
“Yeah, and you’ve probably figured out I’m not a fast mover.”
She smiled at that. “There’s an understatement.”
He gave her his half of a smile. “I’d like to propose that you move into a suite at the lodge and see if we can get to know each other well.
And see if you can fill the huge, bottomless hole that your leaving created in mine and Austin’s hearts.
Or, if you want to, you can ditch both of us and break us forever. ”
“That was a pretty dramatic speech for a non-dramatic, stoic hero.” She blinked quickly to clear her vision.
Gavin’s smile grew fractionally. “I can be non-stoic. Especially if it will give me a chance with you. I told you I’ve been reading your books.”
Kari tilted her head, considering. She loved that he read her books. “Can my suite be one of the two-story beauties on the sixth floor?”
Gavin’s smile became even bigger. “It can.”
“Done.”
His full smile appeared, and the breath whooshed out of her.
Before she could fling herself at him, he swept her off her feet and against his chest. Then he didn’t waste any time on flowery speeches, instead kissing her long and thoroughly.
She’d take a gorgeous kiss like that over words any day of the week.
As the kisses continued, she was grateful she’d fallen for a stoic hero. Words were overrated anyway.