by L. Wilder
“About time you got back,” she teased.
“If it were up to me, I would’ve been back days ago.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “If we don’t hurry up and get inside, Levi and Conner are going to eat all the turkey.”
“You think?”
“Did you see how much they ate last year? I don’t know where they put it all.”
“Okay, we’ll go inside, but first…” Every fiber of her being vibrated with anticipation as he slowly lowered his lips to hers. He held her close as he savored the minty taste of her breath and the warmth of her mouth. A soft, low moan escaped her lips as he lowered his hands to her ass, letting them roam freely as he deepened the kiss. There was no denying their connection. From the moment they touched, an electric charge encircled them, forcing them closer. Just as Sunny’s fingers tangled into Gavin’s hair, Katelyn stuck her head out of the back door and shouted.
“Move it or lose it, grandma! Your mom is waiting for you!”
Sunny’s face flushed red with embarrassment as she quickly pulled from Gavin’s embrace. She took Gavin’s hand and started pulling him towards the house as she shouted, “We’ll be right there!”
“Just so you know, I wasn’t done with those lips of yours,” Gavin teased.
“Hmph,” Sunny muttered as she continued to tug him along. “Well, just so you know, mom saved you a seat with us.”
“That’s fine. Your mom is cool.”
“She knows,” she told him as they started up the stairs.
“About us?”
“Yep. So consider yourself forewarned.”
“Ahh, it won’t be that bad,” he tried to assure her.
Sunny stopped when they got to the top of the front porch steps and then turned to face him. “Mom is cool, but she’s always been protective. After everything that happened with Drew, things have been hard on her. She worries about everything.”
“Can’t say I blame her there, but she’s got nothing to worry about where I’m concerned.”
“I know that, but it’s going to take some time for her to warm up to the idea. I haven’t even thought about dating anyone, and now I’ve got the hots for one of Bishop’s brothers. To say she’s worried is an understatement, but she’ll come around. Don’t worry.”
Sunny placed her hand on the doorknob, and just as she was about to turn it, Gavin said, “So, you’ve got the hots for me?”
Without turning to face him, she sighed dramatically and answered, “Don’t go getting all cocky about it. Now let’s go eat.”
Before he could tease her further, she opened the door and started walking towards her mother. She and Gavin had barely had time to sit down when Doc stood up to say the blessing. As soon as he was done, the large platters of food were slowly passed from one person to the next until everyone’s plate was piled high. The room fell quiet as everyone started to eat, but the silence didn’t last for long. Soon, the low rumble of voices grew louder and louder as everyone finished eating and finally had a chance to talk. It was Sunny’s favorite part of the meal. She loved listening to the guys’ stories about being out on the road and all the places they’d seen, especially Sheppard’s tall tales. He never failed to have the entire room laughing. Once all the stories started rolling in and the laughter ensued, Sunny looked over at her mother and smiled. It was good to see her mother happy. It had been a long time since she’d seen a smile on her face, and she prayed that it would stay there.
When her mother noticed her staring, she asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Yep. Everything is good… really, really good.”
Glenda leaned forward and looked at Gavin. “It was awfully sweet of you to get that precious kitten for Sunny. She has gone on and on about her.”
“Glad she likes her.”
“She loves her!” She smiled, then looked over at his empty plate and asked, “Did you get enough to eat?”
He patted his flat, muscular abdomen. “Oh yes, ma’am. I’m as full as a tick. Couldn’t eat another bite if I tried.”
“I was hoping you would’ve saved room for some of my Cherry Delight. I remembered how much you liked it last year, so I made a batch special for you.”
He quickly twisted in his chair and turned to study the dessert table. “I can always make room for Cherry Delight.”
“I’ll go fix you some,” she offered.
“No, ma’am. I’ll get it. What about you two? Do you want some?”
“I’m too full right now. I’ll get some later,” Sunny answered.
“I’ll get mine later, too.”
“Suit yourself.” He smiled as he stood and headed over to the dessert table. After he served himself a helping, he walked back over to the table and sat down. When she noticed the large serving on his plate, Sunny gave him a mocking look and asked, “Really?”
“What?”
“I thought you were full.”
“And? Have you tried your mother’s Cherry Delight?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay then. Enough said.” With a big smile on his face, he took a large spoonful and shoved it in his mouth. “Hmmm. Better than I remembered.” Sunny shook her head and laughed as she watched him gobble up the dessert. Her mother gleamed with pride when she noticed his empty plate. “Thanks, Ms. Glenda. It was incredible.”
“You are more than welcome, sweet boy. I’m so glad you liked it.”
When Tessa and Courtney started taking some of the dishes off the table, the guys got up and headed into the living room. After Sunny and Gavin put their things away, they started for the back door. Before they stepped outside, Glenda called out, “Gavin? Can I talk to you for just a minute?”
Sunny’s eyebrows furrowed as she fussed, “Mom.”
“It’ll just take a minute,” she assured him.
“Sure thing, Ms. Glenda.” He looked over to Sunny and said, “I’ll meet you out by the pond. The boys are out there fishing.”
Sunny knew better than to argue. Her mother had something that she needed to say to Gavin, and whether she liked it or not, she was going to say it. “Okay. I’ll be out at the dock.”
Once she started down the steps, Glenda led Gavin over to the corner of the porch. She leaned against the back rail and said, “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see that look on my daughter’s face.”
“She seems happy.”
“She is, and a lot of that has to do with you. I know how you’ve been looking out for her, and it means a lot to us both.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her,” Gavin assured her.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Glenda smiled. “You know that she starts school at UTM in the spring.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You also know things haven’t been easy for her, but she’s getting her life together. She’s found her path, and I don’t want anything to get her off track.”
“What are you trying to say here? Do you want me to stop seeing your daughter?”
“No. Not at all. I’m saying that if you care about Sunny like you say you do, then you will help her follow her dream. Push her when she gets discouraged, be there when she needs someone to listen, and don’t make her feel like she has to choose between you and her career.”
“I’d never make her choose. I want a future with her, and you can trust that I will always do whatever it takes to make sure she has whatever she needs. Always.”
“You know, some people have it easy. They graduate high school and go off to college. They meet someone, they fall in love, have a family, and never have a single bump in the road. For others, it’s not that easy. They have to work for it. They have to get past all the obstacles that stand in their way. They have to fight to stay on the right path, because it’s a long road home. But once they get there, they know how good they’ve got it, and it’s so much sweeter.”
“I don’t mind taking the long road home as long as Sunny is there in the end.”
“Good. Now, you better g
et over to the dock before Sunny comes hunting us down,” she scoffed.
Gavin leaned towards her to give her a quick hug. “I’ll never hold her back. You have my word on that.”
“Thank you. That’s all I’m asking.”
It was already getting dark when Gavin started down the steps towards the dock. He hadn’t gotten very far when he heard Sunny and the kids playing basketball at the front of the house. He followed the sound of Sunny’s laughter over to the basketball net, and he arrived in just enough time to see her zigzag past Tyler and Myles to make her shot. When the ball dropped through the net, she threw her hands in the air and started to dance around as she taunted, “And that’s how it’s done, boys!”
“Stop braggin’, Sunny,” Tyler pouted. “We were kicking your butt a minute ago.”
“That was a minute ago,” Sunny sassed. “Right now, I’m kicking yours!”
Myles walked over to Tyler and put his hand on his shoulder. “Come on, Tyler. We can still get her.”
“Need another player?” Gavin offered.
Sunny’s lips curled into a wide smile as she said, “Absolutely.”
She’d barely gotten the word out of her mouth when Tyler and Myles started to gripe, “No! That’s not fair!”
Gavin looked at Myles and asked, “So two against one is fair?”
“Then let’s divide up. You and me against Sunny and Tyler.”
Sunny bumped her hip against Tyler’s as she said, “Come on, little brother. Let’s show them how it’s done.”
“I’m in! We’ll cream you guys!” Tyler boasted.
Sunny twirled the ball in her hand and looked over to Gavin with a playful smile. “You sure about this?”
“Bring it on, lucky girl.”
Without any further hesitation, she dribbled several times and then charged for the net. The ball flew through the air and swooshed through the basket. Her hands shot up in the air as she shouted, “Two points!”
Myles grabbed the ball. As he started to advance, Tyler slipped in front of him, stealing the ball from his hands. Like his sister, he stormed forward and tossed the ball towards the net. When he scored, he ran over and gave his sister a high-five. “We got this, sis.”
“Oh yeah, we do.”
She laughed as she scurried over to Gavin, waving her hands high in the air as she tried to block his shot. His nose crinkled as he lifted his arms above her and aimed for the net. The ball bounced off the rim which gave Tyler his chance to snatch the ball back. Tyler quickly scored again, giving them a lead that continued throughout the game. When it was over and Tyler and Sunny had won, Myles looked over at Gavin and pouted. “Dude, seriously?”
Gavin shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands in defense as he smiled. “What can I say? It’s been a while, man.”
“You’re, like, six-two. How’d you let us lose to a girl?” Myles groaned.
“We’ll get ‘em next time,” Gavin assured him.
Sunny walked over to Myles and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “You played a good game, bud. You’ve really gotten better over the past few months.”
“I started the last two games,” he bragged. “Coach says I have real potential.”
“I totally agree.” She smiled and gave him a tight squeeze. “I’ll bring Gavin to your next game. Maybe he can pick up some pointers.”
“I’ve got one Monday night.”
Gavin smiled as he said, “We’ll be there.”
“Awesome.” His attention was suddenly drawn to a rumble of laughter coming from the backyard. He turned to the others and said, “Let’s go check out the fire.”
They followed Myles around the house and over to the large bonfire where everyone had gathered with their families. They were all nestled in their lawn chairs with thick blankets thrown over their legs. When Tessa noticed the boys walking in their direction, she smiled and motioned over to their chairs she’d put out for them. Once they were settled in their spots, each of them grabbed an old coat hanger and placed a marshmallow on the end before putting it over the flame. Making s’mores was one of Bishop’s favorite traditions, and he always made sure there was plenty to go around. Sunny and Gavin joined their friends and spent the next few hours talking and laughing with no worries about the past or the future. They were living in the moment, enjoying their time with their loved ones, and neither of them had any idea that the tides of change were rolling in.
It was after eleven when Katelyn pulled through the gate at the clubhouse. As soon as she stopped the car, Gavin parked his bike and walked over to them. He opened the door for Sunny and asked Katelyn, “You coming in?”
Her eyes quickly darted over to Levi and Conner when she spotted them walking into the bar. Just like they’d done all night, both Conner and Levi looked over at Katelyn with yearning. It was obvious they all had something on their minds, but no words were ever spoken. Knowing how Katelyn felt, she wasn’t surprised when she started shaking her head. “No. I think I better just head home.”
“You sure?” Sunny asked.
“Positive. Besides, it’s Black Friday! I have some online shopping to do.”
Sunny stepped out of the car and stood beside Gavin. “Okay, have fun. You know where I’ll be if you need anything.”
Katelyn leaned forward and laughed as she whispered, “So… your room or his?”
Sunny rolled her eyes as she shut the car door and followed Gavin to the back. Once they were inside, Gavin asked, “You want to go to the bar for a drink or something?”
“I would, but I’ve got to get up early to meet Mom.”
“Then I’ll take a raincheck.” He kissed her lightly on her temple and led her down the hallway to her room. Before she opened the door, he pulled her close and kissed her, slow and long. Even though it was brief, when Gavin’s mouth touched hers, Sunny felt a jolt down to her bones. When he released her, Sunny’s mind started reeling, and she was tempted to ask him to stay. Before she could form the words, he pressed his lips to her forehead and then said, “Good night, lucky girl. I’ll see you in your dreams.”
Once he was gone, Sunny stepped inside her room and shut the door. She undressed and headed to the bathroom. After turning on the hot water, she stepped inside the shower. As the warm water cascaded down, her mind was filled with thoughts of Gavin and the day they’d spent together. She’d had a really good day with him and enjoyed getting to know him even better. She’d always known he was a good guy. She’d seen how he was with his brothers and JW, but after listening to his stories about his family and his past, she realized there was even more to him than she’d thought. He carried his own scars, deep and hidden, but they were a part of him and made him who he was. She’d always liked him, but now there was something more. That tingling feeling she’d always felt when he was around had changed to a deep longing, longing to see him and be with him. The quick glimpses had become soulful stares that touched her in ways she couldn’t even begin to explain. She was falling in love with him—and she was finally starting to see that he loved her, flaws and all.
She turned off the water and got out of the shower. After quickly drying off, she got dressed and headed down the hall towards Gavin’s room. With a sense of determination, she knocked on his door and her chest tightened with nervousness as she waited for him to answer. She tried to be patient, but when he didn’t answer after several seconds, she pounded on the door again. Seconds later, the door flung open and Gavin stood behind it dripping wet with a towel wrapped around his waist. “Sunny?”
Sunny’s eyes dropped to his chest and quickly roamed over his six pack. Her breath quickened when she noticed the defined V hidden beneath the towel. She was completely focused on the wonder of his physique and didn’t realize that he was waiting for her to tell him why she was there.
Seeing her standing there with her wet hair and just a t-shirt made Gavin worry that something might be wrong. With concern in his voice, Gavin prompted her again. “Sunny?”
Her
eyes shot up to his, and her brain froze. So many thoughts bombarded her mind and she couldn’t think of what she wanted to say.
Gavin finally stepped towards her and placed his hands on her shoulder. “Is everything okay? Did something happen?”
Before he could finish his question, Sunny cut him off. She eased up on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth against his, silencing him with the heat of her kiss. She wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as his hands curled around her. When he heard the guys coming down the hall, he gently lifted her off the ground and carried her into his room, kicking the door closed behind them. As he lowered her feet to the floor, his mouth dropped to her shoulder. He trailed kisses along the curve of her neck to her ear as he whispered, “Sunny… you’re gonna have to say the words, baby.”
Without hesitation, she looked up at him and declared, “I want this, Gavin. I want you. I’ve never wanted anything more.”
His towel dropped to the floor and he stood before her in all his glory. She was motionless and in complete awe. She’d never dreamed that a man could look so perfect, but there he was and he was all hers. Her mind was suddenly filled with wonderful, wicked thoughts. There were no doubts or insecurities about her body or experience. Her mind was completely on him as his mouth covered hers with a kiss that was hungry and demanding. A moan of pleasure filled the small room as his hands drifted to her ass, pulling her tightly against his muscular frame. She felt herself being led backwards as his strong hands slid up her back, pulling the soft cotton t-shirt over her head. When the back of her legs touched the edge of the bed, he slowly lowered her down onto the mattress and tossed her shirt to the side. Her breath became ragged with anticipation as her body begged impatiently for his next touch.
He looked down at her, watching hungrily as her breasts rose and fell with each heaving breath. She gasped as his fingertips gripped her thighs and parted her legs to sink between them. His soft lips hungrily dropped to her breast, raking his tongue across her sensitive nipple. Her ragged breaths echoed through the room as his hand slowly slid between her legs. He ran his thumb along the edge of her lace panties, teasing her and touching her where she wanted him the most. He took his time caressing her while his free hand cupped her breast. The rough, calloused pad of his finger stroked her as he growled, “So fucking perfect.”