Chapter 5 #2
Molly lifted it to her lips and blew on the steam.
“I’m back,” Gavin called, followed by a door closing.
Molly’s cheeks heated. What was she doing here? She should go. She set down the barely touched tea and reached for her purse.
“I should…” She tilted her head toward the door. “Where are you going, dear?” Evelyn asked. “We haven’t finished discussing bingo.”
“I didn’t realize I was hosting a party,” Gavin said from behind Molly, all wry like he was ready for Molly to toss out a zinger.
She forced herself to sit taller and threw what she hoped was a saucy look over her shoulder. “We weren’t sure you were invited.”
“Molly.” He pinched his mouth in a thin line. “Always a pleasure.”
Funny, he didn’t sound like that was true. And it sort of stung. Well, not quite a sting… More like a dull ache. Still, though—uncomfortable.
“I was just leaving, actually.” Molly slid from the stool. “Don’t leave on my account.” Gavin strode into the kitchen, setting the latest thriller novel du jour on the counter with his keys.
“I don’t want to intrude,” Molly said, softer than she’d intended and with none of the oomph she’d hoped.
“You’re never an intrusion.” Evelyn brushed aside the thought like a fleck of dust.
Gavin moved to the refrigerator and removed a bottle of water. “It’s true. Mom’s the only intruder in my life.”
“Funny guy.” Evelyn sipped her tea. “Tell us all about your date.”
“Nothing to tell.”
Evelyn turned her eyes to slits. “Even my cat doesn’t believe that.”
They were at the fake feline portion of the evening.
Things just got interesting.
“I had a great time. Think I’ll do it again next week.” He grinned, a subtle dimple showing at the edge of his right cheek.
Funny, she’d never noticed that before.
“Where did you go? Who did you see?” Evelyn asked, clearly having no issue prying into her son’s life. Molly wanted to take notes for when Ollie got older.
Gavin, however, didn’t answer the question. He turned the force of his gaze to Molly. “Thank you for taking the boys to dinner. They’ve been talking about it all day.”
“Hamburgers will do that.” Molly fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Also, ice cream.”
She pointedly looked at the book he’d dropped with his keys. That was a trick she’d suggested—taking a book along, in case the date was a bore and ended early.
A crash and a thud echoed in the backyard. Gavin glanced around Molly. “I should probably go see—”
“Nonsense.” Evelyn shushed him. “You have a guest.
I’ll go see what they got into.”
“Should I be worried?” Molly asked, not really worried. The sound wasn’t of the variety that made her motherhood hairs all raise on end.
Gavin shook his head. “Only if you’d like to go check on them.”
Evelyn hurried toward the sound of the boys laughing. “Does it mean I get to escape?” Molly asked, leveling her stare at him.
“Only if you’re a coward.” His eyes twinkled in a way she’d never noticed before. “But we both know that isn’t the case.”
“So…good date?” she asked, when what she should have done was get up and leave.
“They all are.” That godforsaken twinkle was still present in his eyes.
And she knew damn well he hadn’t been on much of a date. Not if he took his novel along.
“Stimulating conversation?” she asked.
“I was there, so of course it was.” He smirked. Her palm itched to whack him with the book.
“But sometimes—” He leaned against the side of the counter. “Words don’t need to be spoken.”
Uh-huh. Like, for example, when one was reading a book.
“Where’d you go?” she asked.
“A little coffee shop in Cherry Creek.”
“Is that so?” She tilted her head to the side, just the teeniest tiniest of bits.
He cleared his throat. “It is.”
“I am just wondering”—she cleared her throat just as he did—“why you have to lie about a date?”
“Am I so easy to read, then?” he asked.
“Mm-hm. I’m not even in the top reader group and I can see it. That’s how you know you’re easy to read.”
He leaned in, right into her space, his breath barely brushing her exposed collarbone, but he might as well have run his fingertip along the skin there. She shivered, totally involuntarily.
Dead serious, he said, “Don’t tell my parents.”
“Still hanging out in Club Single?”
He shifted. Stood back a touch. “The dating pool just doesn’t look so appealing.” He gave her a smile that she’d just bet had women dropping at his feet daily. “Don’t want to get all pruney.”
“God forbid.” She lifted her tea. Sipped. “Not much worse than that.”
“This must be the first time we’ve agreed.” He grinned. “How should we celebrate?”
“By not telling your mother you’re a Cheater McCheater Pants when it comes to her sending you on dates?”
He barked a laugh.
“Besides, that can’t possibly be right. We’ve agreed on things before.”
They had. She was certain. Nearly. Mostly.
She trailed her fingertip along a vein of marble in the countertop. Maybe they hadn’t?
“I guess it really is a celebration then.” She lifted her
mug. He tapped his water bottle to the edge, the barest of slivers of his finger touching hers.
She stilled.
The low purr that came from him radiated through her nervous system. This didn’t feel like two people talking. And it didn’t feel innocent.
It felt like…foreplay. Which meant—
“Really, I have to jet. I’ve got dinner for my neighbor in the car.” Everyone knew fast-food hamburgers had a shelf life of decades, but they only tasted good for a small period after preparation.
“Stop by again sometime,” Gavin said with a wave. Not likely.
“Thanks. Will do,” she said, instead of what she was actually thinking.
She grabbed her purse. Hustled to the spacious backyard where Evelyn laughed with the boys. Grabbed her kid. And scooted right the hell out of Gavin’s house and straight to her car.
The car smelled of fast-food, French fries, and escape.
She did her best to calm her mind and slow her heart rate after the race from the house. The attempt failed, but she tried.
Key in the ignition, she turned it. Nothing happened.
She eyed the temperature gauge. It hadn’t moved. Of course it hadn’t. She didn’t have the car on.
“No.” She hit the steering wheel, hoping the trick might work a second time. Turned the key again. Nothing.
“Mom?” Ollie asked. “Should I go get Mr. Gavin?”
“No.” Molly tried again.
Nothing. Ugh.
Of all the things she needed? This was not one of them. She dropped her forehead to the steering wheel.
Counted to ten.
One more try. She turned the key. Nada. Nope. Nothing.
A quick look in the rearview mirror and her gaze met her son’s. She heaved a sigh. Resigned. “I guess let’s see what Mr. Gavin knows about cars.”