When Gavin stopped the bike, she was lost in her own world with her thoughts.
“Gracie,” he said. “We're here. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes,” she said, as she pulled away from his back.
The confident feeling she'd been having about her decision left the instant she lost contact with him. She looked up at the fire station but didn't move to get off the bike.
“Maybe we should do this another day,” he said.
“No, I'm fine,” she said, as she finally got off the bike and removed her helmet.
He took her helmet from her once he was off the bike and lifted her chin so her eyes were looking into his. The spot his fingers touched was so warm.
“They loved him like a brother, Gracie,” Gavin said. “Are you sure?”
Gracie nodded against his touch. He reached down, grabbed her hand in his, and began to walk.
“I'll be right there,” he said. “If you need to go, let me know.”
Gavin moved to pull his hand from hers to open the door, but she reached her free hand up instead and squeezed his hand that was holding hers tighter.
“You're okay,” he said. “They're good guys. I wouldn't bring you here if I thought they weren't.”
Gracie nodded, and Gavin took the first step through the door. She looked around at the guys moving around. When one of the guys looked over, she recognized him right away. He'd worked with Jack from the beginning. Gracie had been to enough events at the station over the years, and not much had changed. Her family had been a part of them even when neither her father or brother worked there. It was her mom, she had a soft spot for the station and the guys. They'd helped her out when Gracie's dad had gotten hurt, and she'd always visited, had parties, and done things for them and their families.
“No way,” she heard the guy say the second he realized who she was. “Gracie?”
She nodded, and he hurried toward her, wrapped his arms around her, and hugged her tight.
“You look amazing,” he said. “I can't believe it. We haven't seen you in so long.”
“Thanks,” she said, never letting go of Gavin's hand, even through the hug. “It has been a while.”
“I hear you're kicking butt with the restaurants,” he said.
“My mom must have been here,” she said.
“Gavin told us all about it,” he said. “He's a great guy. We can't wait to have him on our team.”
Gavin told them, she thought to herself. She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. He'd told them about her. When she turned and looked up at Gavin, he quickly looked away.
“Gracie asked me to bring her by to see the place,” Gavin said. “I told her you guys would make her feel right at home.”
“Of course,” he said. “She's Jack's little sister. We're getting ready to eat. You two can join us.”
“Oh no,” Gracie said. “We can't do that.”
“There's plenty,” he said. “Come on.”
They walked through to the kitchen area, and Gracie remembered everything about the place. She recognized some of the guys, but others were definitely new.
“Damn,” one guy said. “Who's this?”
Gracie noticed Gavin's hold on her hand tighten. She looked up to see his eyes narrowed at the guy.
“Your woman?” the guy asked.
“That's not his woman,” the first guy said. “This is Jack's sister.”
The second guy nodded and looked from their hands back to Gracie.
“It's nice to have you here,” he said. “I've heard amazing stories about him. You're the one running restaurants. I hear you make a mean cheesecake. Maybe I can get you to make me one sometime.”
Gracie heard the rumble in Gavin's chest, but she didn't say anything.
“I don't make those often,” she said. “That was something I saved for my brother.”
“Then why does this guy know so much about them?” the guy asked. “He mentioned just having one a few weeks back.”
Gracie looked up to see a huge smile on Gavin's face.
“I'd be happy to come to the station and cook dinner for you guys,” she said.
“Just be honest with your opinion of her food,” Gavin said. “I hear she likes to experiment.”
“I wouldn't do it to them,” she said, as she smacked his arm with her other hand.
“You did it to me,” he said.
“And you were honest,” she said with a smile.
They sat down with the guys, and one after the next started telling stories about Jack. Some were silly and some were serious. Before long, Gracie felt the tension leave her body and she was laughing right along with them. She even found herself telling some stories of Jack's childhood as well.
Gavin was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't say a word about it. It felt good knowing he was watching out for her. She knew he'd be there if she needed anything. That took away more stress than anything. Just knowing someone was there meant so much more than she thought it would.
“You ready to go?” he asked, after they'd helped clean up.
She looked up and smiled as she nodded.
“Would you guys mind if I came by again sometime?” she asked.
“I sure wouldn't,” the flirty guy said.
Gracie didn't miss Gavin take a step closer to her. Then he took her hand that he was holding and pulled it up by his side.
“You sure you have time?” Gavin asked. “You already work every waking moment.”
“I'll figure it out,” she said. “I'll make dinner. It will give you guys a tiny break. I know it's not much but...”
Gracie's voice trailed off when the door behind Gavin opened.
“Lisa,” the original guy spoke.
Gavin instantly dropped her hand and took a step away from her. Gracie felt her body tense and a weird feeling pull at her chest.
“Gavin,” Gracie's mom said. “Gracie.”
Gracie turned to face her mom and had no idea what she was going to say. Then Gavin turned. Her mom's eyes moved down to his hand, and her eyes grew wider than Gracie had seen in a long time.
“It's not what it looks like,” he said quickly.
Gracie wasn't sure exactly what he was talking about. He'd dropped her hand like it was on fire.
“You don't own that bike out there, and those two helmets don't belong to you and my little girl?” she asked.
“Busted,” the guy behind Gavin said. “Don't wuss out now man.”
“Really?” Gracie's mom asked. “I've seen you have that same look on your face too.”
The guy quickly turned and walked away.
“Let me take what you brought, mom,” Gracie spoke up.
“You're not getting out of this either,” her mom said.
“The bike is mine,” Gavin said.
“Then it is exactly what I'm thinking,” she said. “I didn't know the two of you were hanging out. It's nice to see you somewhere besides a restaurant or family dinner, Gracie.”
“You're not mad?” Gracie asked.
“No, I'm not,” her mom answered. “I think it's great that you came here. I'm here all the time. I trust Gavin. I know he wouldn't let you get hurt.”
Gracie felt Gavin take two steps away from her and knew what her mom said had hit him hard.
“I didn't mean anything by that,” her mom said, obviously seeing it too. “I mean it. I know you're safe with him. Just don't let your dad see you near that bike, Gracie. You'll be scraping poor Gavin off the ground. I didn't know you had a bike, Gavin.”
“Neither does my mom,” Gavin said.
“Really?” Gracie's mom asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I've been riding since I first left for the service. Jack rode with me. We learned together.”
“It's amazing, mom,” Gracie said without thinking. “You should let him take you out for a ride sometime.”
“Your dad would love that,” her mom said with a smile. “I better
get this stuff to the guys.”
Gracie felt a huge relief when her mom began to walk away.
“Lisa,” Gavin said.
“I'm not going to rat you out, Gavin. You're a grown man. I'm proud of you,” her mom yelled back over her shoulder.
Gracie saw something in Gavin's eyes when her mom said she was proud of him, but she couldn't tell exactly what it was.
“I need to get you home,” he said, as he looked down at Gracie.
Then he pushed the door open and hurried out to his bike. He handed her the helmet without a word. They both got on the bike, and he took off. Something had definitely changed with him, and it had happened the moment her mom walked in that door. He was stiff and crabby. He was right back to the Gavin she'd seen when he'd gotten back, before the sex of course. Gavin was shutting her out, she felt it.
He stopped the bike in front of her apartment, and she quickly got off and moved away.
“Way to bail on me back there,” she said.
Chapter 38
Gavin
Seeing Lisa was all he needed to know he was making a mistake getting close to Gracie. He was supposed to be watching out for her and that was it. The second Lisa's eyes landed on their connected hands, he moved away. It was what he needed to do. He'd already told himself that he needed to stay away from Gracie, but getting his heart to join his brain on that was another story all together. He didn't miss Gracie's reaction either, that would have been impossible. Gavin didn't want to hurt her. He wanted so many things with her, and hurting her was not one of those things. He needed to go home or go out by himself, but he needed to get away from her. She got off the bike as fast as she could. He was surprised she hadn't fallen on her ass in the process. Then she spoke, and he felt like she'd just punched him in the stomach.
“Way to bail on me back there,” she said with hurt mixed with anger in her tone.
“Gracie,” he said, feeling so damn bad.
“What was that?” she demanded, as she looked into his eyes. “Were you embarrassed that my mom saw you there with me?”
“No,” he said, as he got off the bike. “That's not it.”
“You said you'd be there for me,” Gracie said, as she took off for her apartment and walked in.
Gavin hadn't planned on staying. He knew he needed to get out of there, but he couldn't walk away after what she'd just said. He did say he'd be there for her, and he was, until her mom showed up.
“I was there,” he said, as he followed her in and shut the door.
“Until it mattered,” she replied. “I had no idea what she was going to say or think of me being there. You dropped my hand the second she looked down at it. It's not like she thought we were together, Gavin. You were there to support me, but you bailed. Is that how?”
She stopped without finishing her sentence, but Gavin knew what she was thinking.
“I need to go,” he said.
“Bullshit,” she snapped. “If your not embarrassed, then what was that?”
“I already told you,” he said. “I can't have feelings for you. It was your mom.”
“But you do,” she said.
“That doesn't matter,” he said right back.
“It does,” she said. “Last night.”
“We can't let that happen again,” he said.
“Because?” she asked, waiting for his answer.
“You're his sister,” Gavin said, as he shook his head.
“That's all you got?” she asked.
“What do you think he'd say?” Gavin asked.
“He told you to take care of me,” she answered.
“Take care of you, not fuck you,” he snapped.
“Fine,” she said, as she walked to the door and opened it for him to leave.
“Fine?” he asked, as he walked toward her and stopped only inches away.
“Yes, fine,” she said. “If you don't want me, that's fine. I'll walk away and never look back. If you're doing it because you don't want anyone to be mad, because your embarrassed, or because of Jack, then fuck you. I must not mean that much to you. I'll see you around.”
“Wait, Gracie,” he said, as he reached out for her, but she backed away.
“No, Gavin. I can't do it. I have so much shit swirling through my head on a daily basis. Some days, I feel like I'm not going to make it through. You're a huge part of that. I can't do it. If I do, I'm going to break. I don't want my parents to have to deal with that. I'll see you at dinner tomorrow. If you're not there, my mom will come looking for you. It's not their fault. You mean a lot to them. They need you. I'll even make you a damn cheesecake. Goodbye.”
Gavin didn't move for a moment, but Gracie pointed to the door.
“Thank you for taking me there today,” she said. “I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I'll see you tomorrow.”
Gavin nodded and walked out. He got on his bike and headed around to his own apartment. When he set her helmet next to his on the hook in his closet, he took a deep breath.
He sat down and tried to watch a game that he'd recorded, but he couldn't concentrate on it. All he could think about was Gracie and her body beneath his. He'd been with other women, but not one of them compared to that night with her. The feel of their skin touching and her wrapped in his arms got to him. He'd actually gotten a bit of sleep, and that never happened. She was the only one that had been with him through a dream. Nobody else even knew he had them. She didn't run, and she should have. Gracie sat right there and did everything she could to help him through it. It was the first time he'd been able to go back to sleep. When the sight of her body naked on his bed popped into his head again, he shut off the television, grabbed his keys and helmet, and took off. On the way by her place, he looked up to see total darkness. Had she gone to bed, or had she left? Her car was still there, but he remembered what she'd said about walking.
“Pain in the ass,” he said, as he watched the side of the road on his way.
He pulled into the parking lot of the bar, got off his bike, and walked in. The girl behind the bar, Gavin couldn't remember what her name was, looked up and shook her head. He turned around and walked right back out. It was time for a little therapy.
He was only gone for a couple of hours, but he made sure to stop at the bar again on his way home. It was the same. He walked in, the girl shook her head, and he left. It took all he had not to laugh as he got back on his bike and headed home. Gracie was everywhere, and there was nothing he could do to get her out of his mind. He thought about the woman at the bar flirting with him, but he shook that thought away as quickly as it came. The thought of being with anyone else didn't interest him. That was one more reason he needed to stay away from Gracie and move on. It would never be between them. He needed to face that.
The next day, Gavin walked into Gracie's parents' house, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. Josh threw his arm over Gavin's shoulder.
“You're really going to do it?” he asked. “Lisa said you've been to the station a lot lately.”
“I am,” Gavin said. “I like being there. The guys are awesome. They've already welcomed me in and made me feel like one of them.
“Good to hear,” Josh said. “I'm proud of you.”
Gavin saw Lisa looking at him from the corner of his eye. As soon as Josh dropped his arm, she was right there pulling Gavin in to hug him.
“We love you,” she said.
“I love you too,” he said, as he hugged her back tight.
“Gracie's in the kitchen cooking,” she said, as she released her hold on him. “Go say hello.”
Gavin looked down at Lisa to see her smiling up at him. He shook his head and walked toward the kitchen. He stepped quietly through the door and watched her move around in silence. She knew what she was doing, and she looked damn good in her tight jeans and t-shirt, he thought to himself.
“Stop watching me,” he heard her say without ever turning to see him.
“I wasn't,” he said.
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“You were,” she said. “I can feel it.”
“Was not,” he replied. “I just came to say hi.”
Gracie stopped and turned to face him. Her eyes moved to the sleeve of his shirt, and he quickly pulled it down.
“Hi,” she said, as her eyes stayed on his arm. “When?”
“Last night,” he answered. “Therapy.”
“It helps,” she said.
Gavin nodded.
“Anything else you needed other than to say hi?” she asked, as she pulled her eyes away and turned back to what she was doing.
What the heck was that, he wondered? She'd been right there. Suddenly she was moving on. His eyes moved down to the skin just below her t-shirt as she reached up to grab something off of a shelf in a cabinet. Gavin knew he needed to stop thinking about having her body beneath his again, and it took all he had not to tell her just what he really needed. That would've been a bad idea, so he turned away. Lisa walked into the kitchen, and he was thankful for the distraction.
“Your parents are here,” she said.
“Great,” he said.
“Get your ass out there before I tell your mom on you,” she said with a smile.
“You wouldn't,” he said.
“I will if you don't get moving.”
“How long are you going to hold that over my head?” he asked.
“As long as I can,” she answered with a smile on her face. “Come on.”
Gavin walked out after her and sat down at the dining room table next to his mom. She began asking him what he'd been up to. He was still working at the company, but his dad had backed off on the whole taking over the business thing. Josh had just walked away from Gavin's dad, and Gavin wanted the conversation off of him.
“How's Julie and Jessie?” he asked. “I bet Nate's not looking forward to going back to school.”
Saved by Love (Bachelor Billionaire Kids #1) Page 17