Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Gavin
My phone pinged with a message. When I looked at my screen, it was the group chat.
Nikki: Everyone be here for ten.
I didn’t message back, I just left it and in the same instant, Karen’s phone pinged too.
I knew it was the same message as I’d had.
I glanced across as she slept while I drank my coffee.
She looked so peaceful. The sheet laid across the middle of her back as it covered her naked body. She was stunning.
Last night, I made an excuse for water because I needed space.
Space to get my head on straight. She’s the first woman in years to share my bed all night.
She’s the only one I didn’t kick out after I’d sowed my wild oats, and in my twisted mind, I didn’t know if that was good or bad.
I glanced back at the bed, then the watch that hung around my wrist and I knew I had to wake her.
It was already almost nine and I assumed she wouldn’t want to show up to Romans in last night’s clothes and answer questions or even probing looks.
I pushed myself up to my feet and leaned over, my hands braced my weight as I sat softly down on the bed at her side.
“K, wake up.” I nudged her shoulder, but she didn’t budge.
My gaze stayed on her for a beat, but she still slept, no idea that I was stood over like some leery perv.
If the truth was known, I could gaze at her all day.
The way her smile lit up her eyes, I could quite easily lose myself.
My fingers gently swept the hair from her face, I smiled at the way her lips were parted slightly, A slight blush tinged her cheeks, and her lashes lay against the rise of her cheekbones.
She was stunning. A soft sigh escaped my lips.
With a gentle shake of her shoulder, I kept my voice soft.
“Karen,” I called out quietly, “you need to wake up.” I leaned down and kissed her shoulder briefly, her skin was warm beneath my lips.
As she murmured incoherently, I lifted my head, her eyes squinted as they opened.
She tried to focus and as she woke, a small smile formed on her lips.
She blinked and shuffled her body closer to the edge.
I leaned forward without another thought and kissed her briefly with a small peck on her lips.
She rolled her tongue between them and a small sigh sounded.
I was in unfamiliar territory. “You need to check your phone; Nikki wants a meeting.”
“Oh, okay.” My eyes stayed on her, gaze dropped to my legs, her pinkie finger wrapped loosely around mine and I tensed. I didn’t mean to; it was a natural reaction. I didn’t want to be a bastard, but this was me. I diverted my gaze as she sat up.
“We need to be at Roman’s for ten.” I stood from the bed and pocketed my phone before I grabbed my wallet from the bedside table.
“Is there any chance I can borrow something to wear? Just a hoody or something? I don’t want to go back out in just that dress, you know doing the walk of shame, it’s not really me.
” She pulled the sheet with her as she stood and hid her body from me.
If I was more of a man, I’d tell her to drop the sheet and I’d already be undressed and back in there with her. Meeting be damned.
But I’m not.
I was a coward.
I said nothing and I did even less. Instead, she wrapped the sheet tightly around her. “Yeah, I’ll grab you one.”
“And maybe some boxers or something. I feel a little…exposed.” I nodded and left the room.
As I dug into my drawers and grabbed her some of my Calvin Klein’s, I found her one of my hoodies that I didn’t wear often.
To be honest, I barely wear jumpers being here, they’re not bloody needed.
I left the clothing on the bed while she was in the bathroom and went to the kitchen to pour her coffee.
I wasn’t that much of a wanker that I couldn’t make her a drink.
I remembered how she took her coffee after the meeting in the park the other day, with it free of everything I went back through to the bedroom and placed it on the bedside cabinet.
The door opened and she appeared fresh faced, her blonde hair swept up into a small ponytail and wearing my L.A.
Dodgers hoody. The first thing we did when we came here, was to go to a game.
She stopped in the doorway and pulled the material from her body.
“Honestly? Dodgers. You couldn’t support a better team?
” Her nose screwed up, it was quite adorable and made me smile.
The more worrying thought was that it was so natural.
“What do you mean? They were the first team we watched when we moved here. It’s nostalgic.”
She started moving further into the room until she was nearer to me and poked me with her finger, “I need to educate you.” She smiled a knowing grin. She turned away, her steps moved a little quicker when she saw the cup on the cabinet, “Ooh, coffee. You’re amazing.”
She dropped her arse back onto the edge of the mattress and sipped her coffee, “So I didn’t think you’d be into sports. Who do you support?” I asked.
“Yankees.” She shrugged, “It was drummed into me by my dad. He was born in New York. Die-hard fan.” Her lips pursed as she lifted the coffee to her mouth.
“Well, it’s not like I’ve supported them all my life, I might be able to be swayed.” I muttered, as I smirked. “If it’s you that’s doing the coaxing, anyway.”
Our gazes locked, her head tipped back slightly as she stared up at me, “I think I can manage that.” A smile worked its way to her lips, “So what sports do you like? Soccer?”
“You mean football?” I challenged with my brow cocked.
“No, I mean soccer.” She smirked back.
“No, you mean football,” both brows now raised, “I never understood why Yanks call it soccer, we kick a ball with our feet, not throw it like a rugby player.”
“Because here we have football, so soccer separates it,” she answered, little know it all.
I shook my head, “Fucking strange. But your footballers play with their hands.”
She lifted her shoulder as she lifted her cup a little higher again, “They kick it as well, it is what it is.” She shrugged as she unfolded her body from the bed, I watched carefully as she made her way slowly over, stopped in front of me and tipped her head back slightly.
A smile appeared on her luscious lips as I stared softly, relaxed.
I knew we had to get out of here, and now.
I needed to get her out of my space before I did something I shouldn’t.
“We need to go if I’m dropping you home first.”
She looked at the LED clock on the side. “Shit, yeah.” She drained her cup and held it out for me. “Thank you for the coffee.” I took it back and gave her a quick nod before I sighed and turned away to take it through to the kitchen.
The soft footsteps alerted me to her presence, but as I turned back around, the way she looked at me had me backing away. “We should go.” I moved for the door and opened it. “Let’s go.”
We made it to her building in no time. She lingered in her seat for a second and turned her head to look at me, “Thanks, Gav.”
“No problem.” I nodded and looked from the side of my eye. She looked nervous. The air thickened around us as she leaned across and kissed my cheek.
“Is everything alright?” She asked carefully, not taking her gaze from mine.
I wanted to mention last night. I wanted to voice what I was thinking, but I couldn’t.
Like how we didn’t use protection. Stupid fucker that I am, but she felt so good around me, I didn’t want to spoil the moment.
“Gav?” Her small voice was loud as my thoughts swirled around. “I really enjoyed last night.”
“So did I,” she looked away, “I better go because I’ll never make it to Roman’s otherwise.
” I wasn’t sure what she expected, a kiss, a thank you…
maybe a statement that I wanted to do this again - I did, but I wasn’t about to shout it from the rooftops, or even make that known.
She didn’t even know me properly, and when she did, she’d more than likely run as far away as she possibly could.
A little distance was the best idea. Still, something niggled at me, something about her that had me wanting to stick around.
And I needed to deal with that without her crowding my space.
“I’ll see you soon.” I quickly nodded. God, I was a bastard.
She did her best to hide the disappointed sigh from me, but I heard it anyway.
She exited the car and closed the door, swiftly putting space between us, and without even a slight glance back she walked across the tarmac to her building door.
Her shoes hung from her fingertips at her side and her handbag hung from her other hand.
I waited until she disappeared inside, and as soon as she did, I pressed the accelerator and revved the engine before I joined the traffic, heading for Roman’s.
I needed to shake whatever this feeling was before I went in there, because he’d pick up on it straight away.
He always told me he knew me better than I knew myself, and he was right.
I’d lost the ability to pull the wool over his eyes a long time ago.
Even Paisley knew how to read me now, that was more dangerous.
I couldn’t shout at her and tell her to leave it like I could Roman, he’d put me on my arse.
I parked up and stepped out and as I shoved the car door, it slammed shut.
I didn’t mean to slam it, but I was irritated with myself.
My eyes closed as I breathed in and out, I needed to get rid of this weird feeling before I got in there.
I found the key from the bunch and let myself in.
“Morning, party people.” I shouted through the house.
I knew there’d be some hangovers around here this morning, and by some, I meant Nikki.
My mood changed completely; it was a talent I had.
It was the only way I could hide things.
Roman greeted me first with a fist bump. “Hanging?” He asked as he looked at me closely.
My head shook. I wasn't, because even though there was a woman taking up most of the bed, I slept well. “Maybe a little niggle in my brow, but that’s it.”
“Good. We’ve got some planning to do.”
“Okay, but couldn’t you have just told me later?” I answered as my brow tightened. “You don’t need me for this.”
“You're joking aren’t ya? This is Nikki’s idea.” His head cocked as a dark brow lifted, “Get you all in one place so it doesn’t have to be repeated.”
I rolled my eyes but nodded my acceptance anyway. I was going to find coffee as Nikki sidled up, “Karen is running late. She obviously stayed on after all of us.”
“We can wait for her.” Roman added. A cough from the top of the staircase had me turning my gaze upward, and I saw Paisley. My elbow found its way to the banister, I leaned on it and smiled. Paisley waved before she took slow steps down towards us. “Morning, guys.”
As she reached the bottom I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Morning. You’re looking swell,” I joked. Her lips pursed and the back of her hand found my chest as she smacked me lightly. “Okay, you look fabulous.” I corrected myself and she smiled then.
“Now I know you’re lying, but thank you anyway, I appreciate it.” She stepped off the bottom step and rounded us. Roman turned and kissed her, then carried onto the kitchen.
‘So, what’s this about. What’re we planning for?” I asked.
“The casino opening, moron.” Nikki interjected.
“Thanks.” I forced a tight grin and my eyes rolled pretty much up into my head. I didn’t say anything else though, I couldn’t be fucking arsed with a slanging match this morning, which was very unlike me. “I need coffee before I have to deal with you.”
“Pfft, there’s not enough coffee or alcohol in the world to deal with you.” My eyes rolled but I didn’t come back.
“Now, now children. Let’s have a civilised discussion. I might have to put you both in timeout.” Roman moved between us, glanced at us both, and acted as referee.
I needed fucking coffee. The one cup I’d had at home wasn’t anywhere near enough for me to function, or deal with her shit.
Or deal with anything it seemed. As the front door knocked, my stomach flipped.
What the fuck is that about? I knew it was Karen because she was the only one not here.
I swallowed down whatever was going on with me and turned back to the door and waited.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Nikki greeted Karen as she opened the door.
The trip into the kitchen was put on hold for just a minute as I turned around and gazed at her.
She had on leggings and a Yankee’s hoody.
I had to hide the smirk as I remembered our conversation from earlier.
She was fucking stunning, in a way that she didn’t even have to try.
She looked damn fucking good in my hoody this morning, her face clear of makeup and her hair swept away from her fair skin.
“Gav. How are you?” Her polite tone had me smiling, I noticed a glint in her eye. A spark that I missed when I’d dropped her home.
“I need coffee.” I mumbled and spun away from them.
“Ignore him, he’s always a grumpy fucker on a morning.
” I heard Nikki pipe up from behind. I lifted my middle finger above my head.
“See what I mean. He probably didn’t get any last night.
” I sighed heavily and paused, still my hand was in the air, how the hell was I supposed to answer that when Karen was stood right there?
“You’ll learn Gavin is a man of very few words. ”
“Yeah, I much prefer actions.” I added as I made it to the coffee pot ready to take in all this bullshit. I stood at one side and Karen stood directly opposite, and just to make me feel even more awkward, Nikki stood next to me.
Why I got myself into these predicaments, God only knew.