Relief tinged Erin’s voice. “Just making sure. You’ve stayed away this long, I thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”
Gavin cradled the phone between his shoulder and ear as he fastened his watch around his wrist. “Never. But, this time was important to me, I told you that.”
“You did, but it doesn’t mean I’m not dyin’ to see your face.”
“Same goes, honey. I’ve got a few things to take care of, then I’ll be headed your way.”
“Sounds good. So, how goes things with the move?”
Gavin went back into the closet in search of his belt. It had been so damn long since he’d worn actual pants, he felt out of practice at getting dressed in anything except board shorts. “I think it’s all in order. I had everything shipped to Mom and Dad’s. They’ll store my stuff until I decide if I’m keeping this place or not.”
He cringed as those words slipped out. He rarely kept anything from Erin. He hadn’t mentioned his thought about selling the house to anyone, not even her.
“Wait a minute. You’re selling the beach house?”
If Gavin didn’t know better, he’d swear Erin was concerned about losing her favorite beach spot. He thought about the bed, remembering the things he and Lauren had done there. He thought about the times he’d held her as she slept, the showers they’d taken, the meals on the deck. He’d be hard pressed to give up the place that had given him those memories.
“Maybe, I don’t know. It’s an option I’m looking at, but I haven’t decided anything concrete. It’s too far to live here full-time when I’ll be at the ranch every day.”
“Mom and Dad want you to move back to the ranch.”
Yes, he knew. Lord knew the house was large enough, but there was something about living in his childhood home, under the same roof as his parents, that didn’t sit right with him. “Not happening. Although I might take up residence in the cabin for awhile.”
The cabin being a four-bedroom, two-bath, fishing cabin his grandfather had built. It was within the borders of the ranch, but only a fifteen-minute drive to the office instead of the hour and a half from Galveston. Truth was, he wouldn’t be making any permanent residence decisions until he knew where he stood with Lauren.
“Clay will be devastated to lose his love shack,” Erin said dryly.
Gavin matched her tone. “I’ll bet.” It was no secret Clayton used the cabin for more than fishing. “Anyway, there should be one more shipment from London this week, and then I’m officially a Texan again.”
“Thank God,” Erin said. “Have you talked to Lauren yet?”
Leave it to his twin to go straight to the heart of the matter. He’d told her about Lauren a few days ago, and Erin had dragged the whole story out of him.
“Not yet. This morning.” He finally found his belt under a pile of clothes he hadn’t put away and bent to pick it up.
“Do you know what you’re going to say?”
He straightened and blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m not sure there’s a good way to tell her my decision to move back to Texas caused her job to be eliminated. Goddamn, Erin. No matter what I say, or how I say it, she’s gonna be pissed.”
“But not at you.”
God, he hoped not. Her job search frustration level was high, so he wasn’t optimistic. She’d loved her job with Clearwater and had been blindsided by the loss. “No way to know until I tell her.”
“Gavin, it wasn’t your fault,” Erin said reassuringly. “If she’s half the woman you told me about, she’ll get it.”
He walked out of his closet and stopped dead. Lauren was standing in the doorway, watching him through amber slits.
She’d heard.
Fuck. That was not how he’d wanted her to hear that information.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. “Erin, look honey, I’ve gotta run,” he said into the phone, his gaze locked firmly on Lauren.
“Okay, but don’t dawdle. I’m not the only one waiting to see you. Drive safely. I love you.”
“Yeah, I will. I love you, too.” The color drained from Lauren’s face. He hung up the call and tossed his phone to the bed. “Lauren, honey, I—”
“Stop,” she snapped. “I’ve heard enough.”
He supposed she had, but he wasn’t giving up. “I was going to tell you.”
“Yeah?” She crossed her arms, eyes fierce with anger. “When?”
Shit. After what she’d overheard, he knew it would sound as though he was lying. “This morning,” he said slowly.
“I see. And had you planned this talk for before or after you fucked me? Not that it matters at this point, since you’ve been fucking me for two weeks.”
Founded or not, her insinuation plucked at his temper. “Whatever you’re thinking right now, I never meant for this to happen.”
“For what to happen? Us?”
What the hell was she talking about? “What? No. That’s not what I meant.”
“Who the hell is Erin?” The sound of his twin’s name being spat from Lauren’s lips fired his anger right up. “Are you fucking her too, honey?”
“No,” he said, his voice deadly calm. Goddamn it. This was getting out of control. “Erin is my sister. Jesus Christ, Lauren. What the fuck?” His voice gained power. “Do you really think I’d do that? Have a woman on the side while I’m with you?”
Infidelity had almost destroyed his brother. Married or not, when Gavin was in a relationship, he was monogamous. He’d never cause his partner the pain his brother went through. Ever.
He thought he saw her shoulders relax a little. “How am I supposed to know? Up until a few weeks ago, I rarely saw you outside of work. We hardly know each other.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“Do I? I know you have brothers and sisters, but you haven’t talked about them or given me their names. You haven’t talked about your family much at all. So, how in the world would I know Erin was your sister and not your lover?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. He hadn’t mentioned his family because he’d been focused on her. On them. “Because you know me, whether you want to admit it or not.”
Her voice shook, as if she were trying to keep from breaking down. “And yet, ten minutes ago I would’ve sworn you’d never lie to me.”
“Lauren,” Gavin fought to keep his own tone smooth. He took a breath. They wouldn’t get anywhere with them both pissed off. “Sweetheart, I’m so fucking sorry. I wanted to tell you, tried to tell you but then…” He hadn’t wanted anything to ruin their time together.
“You came to my office that afternoon,” she said, less angry now, although the hurt that replace it tore at his heart. “You knew then, didn’t you? Is that why you came by?”
“I told you I’d talked to Sullivan. I was in town to sign some papers. I’d asked for a meeting with you and your team to discuss how things would be handled until they named my replacement. Up to that point, they’d insisted I keep my move quiet. At first, I think they’d wanted to announce my predecessor at the same time they announced my departure, to ensure a smooth transition. I’m not sure when things changed. When I got to New York a few weeks ago, it was the first I’d heard about the reorganization. Sullivan and I had words, but the damage was already done. He said they’d let you go over lunch.”
“So, you came by to check on me because what? You felt guilty?” She took on a faraway expression. “Oh god, you did. I remember the look in your eyes. It’s the same look you get whenever we talk about my job search.” Tears filled her eyes and Gavin wanted to punch something. Preferably his own face. “Did you invite me here out of pity? Was that what all this was about?”
Gavin stifled a curse and pulled her into his arms. She didn’t fight, so he took that as a good sign. “Of course not, sweetheart.” He kissed her hair. “I’m so sorry about your job. I swear to you—”
She pulled back. “Swear what, Gavin? That you would’ve made a different choice had you known the outcome?”
; He didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t that simple.
“Come to the ranch with me,” he blurted. “Let me show you around, introduce you to everyone. Let me show you what we have here.” Because he wanted her to be a part of it. Something told him if he said that now, she wouldn’t believe him.
“No.” Her half smile didn’t do much to soften her response. “I’ve got some things I need to do, and frankly, I could use a bit of time on my own.” Her gaze traveled from his head to his boots. “You go. It looks like you’re all ready.”
Maybe giving her some space would be good, but he didn’t relish the feeling she was slipping through his fingers.
“You’ll be here when I get back?” He needed to hear it.
Half smile still in place, she patted his chest and turned away. Well, that can’t be good.
“I’d really like it if you were still here, Lauren,” he amended as she pulled open the slider.
Lauren nodded and slipped outside.
Chapter Ten
By the time Gavin pulled up to the main house at Shadow Maverick Ranch, he felt somewhat better. In truth, the simple act of driving through the gates gave him peace.
He’d missed this place. He couldn’t wait to bring Lauren here.
The house itself was a huge, two-story spread. His dad had added on to the original structure when it became obvious Gavin’s mother got pregnant whenever his dad so much as looked at her. There were plenty of bedrooms for Gavin and his five other brothers and sisters, plus several others for guests. State-of-the-art kitchen. Enough living space for them, and—according to his parents—any grandchildren that came along. They’d turned the original office space into a private den for his dad, while Gavin had helped build the new office between the house and the horse barn.
Shadow Maverick Ranch sported well over three-hundred-thousand acres, spread over several counties. A huge amount of territory for his brothers to cover. And if Gavin secured the Nelson ranch, the number could more than double overnight. Not to mention the head of cattle it would add. His family needed him. They had hired hands—would need more— but the Mathis family weren’t the sit-on-the-sideline kind of folks. First ones out, last ones in. That was how they did things.
He’d made the right decision to come home. It sucked Lauren’s job had been a casualty of his choice, but he’d be damned if he’d let it be the end of their relationship. He’d make it right. No way he’d let her go without a fight.
He prayed she’d still be there when he got back. If she wasn’t, then he’d find her and drag her ass back.
As he stepped out of the truck, his dad and two of his three brothers walked from the house. Gavin bit back a grin at the imposing group. All over six feet tall, skin darkened by the Texas sun, and hair as black as his own. Except for his dad, whose hair had gone almost entirely gray in the six months since Gavin had been home.
“Son,” his dad said and wrapped him in a bear hug.
“Hey, Pops.” Gavin was surprised by how much his dad had aged. He held the look of a man who’d worked too hard for too long.
Clifton Mathis didn’t know the meaning of the word rest. He’d married his high-school sweetheart, raised six children, and had never missed a day of work in his life. Cliff had picked up where his own dad had left off, and built Shadow Maverick Ranch into a legacy to be proud of.
A legacy Gavin was determined to keep going strong. As the oldest son, it was his responsibility to see to it.
Standing nose to nose, Gavin wrapped his hands around his dad’s shoulders and held his gaze. “You’re looking tired, Pops. Have you lost weight?”
Cliff rolled his eyes. “Now don’t you start, boy. Your momma is bad enough, harpin’ on me to slow down like I’m old or somethin’.”
Clayton clapped Gavin on the shoulder. “Watch yourself, big brother. Stubborn runs in the man’s veins. Every time Mom tells him to stop doin’ somethin’, he does it that much more.” Clay looked him up and down. “Damn, it’s good to see you, Gav.”
Gavin grinned like an idiot and slapped palms with Clay, pulling him in for a one-armed hug. “It’s good to be seen.”
“When you girls are finished,” Paxton grumbled beside him.
“What was that? I’ll show you…” Gavin’s retort died away. Jesus, it’d been two years since Pax had walked into the barn and caught his wife fucking not one, but two, of their ranch hands. The shadows still shrouding his brother’s expression made Gavin want to bring those bastards back and kick the shit out of them all over again.
“Show me what?” Paxton asked and poked at his stomach. “That livin’ overseas has made you soft and squishy?”
Soft and squishy, my ass.
But now wasn’t the time to get into his brother’s problems. They’d have plenty of time to talk later. Gavin would make sure of it.
“Aw, Pax. Don’t be jealous,” Gavin teased instead and pulled Pax into his hug with Clay.
The three of them slapped each other’s backs and Gavin felt the pieces of his life clicking into place. This was where he belonged.
“Where’s Erin?”
“And just like that, we’re chopped liver.” Clay said to Pax.
Gavin smirked, having had this conversation his whole life. “Well, she is my twin.”
“And you have some sort of special connection, yada yada yada,” Pax joked. “We get the same bullshit from Jared and Jade. Poor Clay and me, bookended by twins. Lone wolves, caught between all your special connectedness.”
“You’ve got plenty of special to go around, Pax.” Erin laughed as she shouldered her way through the throng surrounding Gavin.
Gavin swept her into his arms. “Goddamn, Erin. You get prettier every time I see you.”
Erin laughed and hugged him hard. “Always the sweet-talker. You don’t look half bad yourself, you know, for a foreigner.” She popped her fist against his ribcage. “About time you found your way home.”
Erin had given him the most grief over the years about his move to London. Even though he hadn’t lived in Texas for years, she’d resisted the idea of an ocean separating them. No amount of explaining could convince her a plane ride was a plane ride, no matter if it were to New York or London.
He rubbed the area she’d hit. “I’ll remind you about that in a month or so when I’ve done something to piss you off. Where are Trevor and Amber?”
Like their parents, Erin had married her high school sweetheart, Trevor Liles, shortly after graduation. Gavin didn’t know all the specific details, but it had taken fifteen years for Erin to conceive their first child. Amber had recently turned two. In Gavin’s opinion, his beautiful little doe-eyed niece was more than worth the wait.
“Trev’s repairing fence along the western border today. Amber is finally taking a nap, and I swear Gavin, if you wake her up, you’re taking her back to the beach house with you.”
As much as Gavin wanted to see the little sprite, he didn’t want to test Erin’s threat. He had enough on his plate with Lauren to thrust a wild two-year-old on her.
“Speakin’ of fences, we’ve got work to do.” Pax said.
Clay nodded in agreement. “You gonna hang around?”
Gavin shook his head. “Nope, sorry. I’ve got a few more things to take care of, but I’ll be around this weekend.”
A few shoulder punches later, Gavin watched his brothers head toward the four-wheelers parked at the edge of the driveway.
Erin gave him a quick hug. “I’ve got work too.” She walked backward a few steps, her smile brightening his day. “Wait’ll you see what Jade and I have been doing.” She spun on her boots and all but skipped away.
Gavin hooked a confused thumb in her wake. “What’s that about?” he asked his dad.
“I’ll let her and Jade tell you about it. We’ve got other things to talk about.”
“They at school?” The youngest Mathis twins were juniors in high school.
His dad smirked. “Yep. They told me to make sure you kn
ew they tried to get out of it. Jared has football practice this afternoon and Jayden has work to do with Erin. You’ll see them this weekend.”
They headed into the office and Gavin dropped onto the worn-out, leather couch that sat under a set of windows, overlooking the paddock. The desk was in shambles—papers, files, and binders covered the surface, piled in stacks that looked ready to nose-dive at any second.
Gavin had no doubt his dad knew where everything was, but if he was going to take over this office, organization was going to be high on his list of priorities. Lauren was extremely organized, but more than that, she could help him put together the deal he had brewing in the back of his mind. If she agreed to take the job he was prepared to offer her.
There were so many things he wanted to talk to her about. He glanced down at his phone. Damn it, he must have forgotten to plug it in last night, because it had shut itself off. It beeped in protest when he tried to power it back on, the screen going dark once again. Great.
His dad popped him on the leg and sank into a chair across from him. “It’s good to have you home, boy.” Concern creased his brow. “Although, I’m not happy you had to sacrifice your job to do it.”
Gavin frowned. “Come on, Pops. I didn’t sacrifice anything I wasn’t ready to give up. And by the looks of it, I’ll have plenty to keep me busy around here. Which reminds me, I had Tom look into Nelson’s ranch.”
His dad wiped a hand over his mouth and chin. “Pretty big undertaking, don’t you think? You don’t want to start small? Like getting your arms around what we already have before you try to double it?”
Gavin smiled with pure enjoyment. “Go big or go home.”
“You are home,” he said dryly.
“Not the point.” Gavin slid to the edge of the couch and rested his arms on his knees. “Listen, Pops. We have an opportunity here. Nelson left the ranch to his niece, who is ill-equipped to handle a spread that size. Hell, of any size. She’s got no experience, and she’s got no family, as far as Tom has been able to find. She’ll be taken advantage of. If we don’t make an offer, someone else will. Or worse, someone will sneak in and take it out from under her.”
Shadow Maverick Ranch Box Set Page 7