by Carmen Cook
“Gwen?” Regan’s best friend from high school, the one person who knew her secrets—all but one of them—and stood by her through it all. But—
Regan unexpectedly felt light-headed and staggered to sit on the now-vacant sofa. Her heart leapt into her throat just as her stomach hit her toes. She looked at her sisters in disbelief. “So, these kids, they’re…?”
“Their dad is Gavin McCabe,” Chloe told her, wrapping her arm around Becca and shoving her toward the door. “Enjoy your evening.”
Chapter Two
Gavin’s fingers ached as he gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. The mountain road wasn’t overly treacherous, but the wind had knocked several tree limbs into the road, making him swerve to avoid the debris. Being outside of town, it was likely one of the neighbors would be out here picking things up before an official county crew managed it. These little things set Sapphire Creek apart from other areas of the country. It was purely Montanan and he loved it.
What he didn’t love was the delay in getting home. The only thing he could hope now was that he’d make it there before his ex-wife got there to pick up the kids. He didn’t need a lecture about how he wasn’t making them a priority. Not from her. Not anymore. And that didn’t even take into account that the one babysitter they both agreed never to use again was the one currently sitting in his house.
The throbbing behind his eyes intensified and he gritted his teeth. He needed to get Chloe Sinclair out of his house before Kathy arrived. Gavin would walk over broken glass to avoid dealing with her when she was pissed off. And she would be if she arrived to find him still at work and Chloe babysitting.
Keeping his foot on the gas, he took the corner into the older neighborhood on two wheels. Thankfully, the frost from the morning was long gone, so there was no ice to send him sliding into the lake or plowing into any of the trees that lined the mountain road.
A red Mini Cooper, not the dilapidated Oldsmobile Chloe drove, was sitting in front of his house. No sign of Kathy’s car. Thank God for small favors.
Gavin jerked the truck into park and charged into the house, ready to give the babysitter-from-hell the bum’s rush out the door and slap some type of dinner on the table so it would at least look like he had his shit together when Kathy arrived.
“I’m home!” he called out, tossing the duffle with his still-damp clothes onto the bench by the front door. The delighted squeals of the kids made his heart clench, just as they always did. He turned the corner to head into the kitchen, eager to see them.
There was just enough time to note the sparkling clean countertops and delicious aroma of what he hoped was dinner when the first little body slammed into his legs, nearly taking them both to the floor.
“Daddy! Becca had to go home because she almost throwed up!”
“And I helped make dinner!”
“I helped too!”
“But I helped more!”
Separating the two before a full-scale brawl broke out, Gavin stood, hefting one twin under each arm. Their immediate shouts of delight settled him and soothed the stress that had pulsed in his ears for most of the afternoon. Now that he was sure the kids were okay, he could get the demon babysitter out the door and sit down to have a meal with his children. A meal that had his mouth watering and reminding him that he hadn’t had lunch before being called into work.
He looked up, ready to thank Chloe for everything when he missed a step, nearly taking them all to the ground again. His mouth started watering for a whole different reason as the kids continued to chatter about their day and their efforts with dinner.
Strolling into the kitchen from the dining area, drying her hands with a towel and a soft smile on her face, was not Chloe Sinclair. Honeyed hair pulled back into a ponytail drew his eyes to her elegant neck and sun-kissed skin. Her eyes sparkled. Long legs encased in some soft-looking pants that cupped every curve and her long-sleeved T-shirt was just snug enough to shoot all his blood straight to his balls. Words failed him.
This was most certainly not the babysitter he’d been expecting.
Thank God.
Before he could close his mouth and think of what to say, she gestured to the kids. “Hi, Gavin. They’ve been anxious for you to get home so you could try the dinner they made.”
Her voice hit him, softer and more melodic than he’d remembered. He couldn’t help but stare, knowing he needed to say something, but his mind was blank. Words, he ordered himself. Anything. Say something, dumbass. “Um, smells good.”
She was studying him with an eyebrow slightly raised, a soft grin tugging at the corner of her luscious lips and Gavin stumbled, nearly dropping the kids again.
When had Regan Sinclair gotten back into town? Wasn’t she married or something now? Living the perfect life with a doctor husband back in the Midwest? His gaze dropped to her hands. No ring. Not married.
Instead of asking the questions that burned his tongue, he bent and put the kids on their feet and followed them deeper into the kitchen.
“We made the bobs,” Savannah announced proudly. “The whole thing is a different type of bob. There’s even some fruit bobs, but Miss Regan said those are for dessert.” She nodded to emphasize the word around her missing front teeth, making him grin.
Regan laughed and Gavin felt his skin tighten as the sound washed over him. “Kabob,” she corrected, tapping Savannah on the nose. “Don’t forget the ‘K’ sound.”
Straightening, she turned to him. She was more beautiful now than she’d been in high school. Still blond and athletic, but something else. Something she hadn’t had when he’d known her before. “I wasn’t sure what time to expect you home, since I didn’t think to ask Becca before she took off. I hope you don’t mind that we raided the fridge. Once it hit four o’clock the kids started to get hungry.”
“Of course not,” he assured her, his brain finally kicking into gear. “Sorry I didn’t call to let you—well, Becca—know I’d be late. Nothing about today went as planned.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything. Her smooth skin begged to be touched, and the tiny wisps of hair that had escaped her ponytail tantalized him where they laid against her neck. That and the fact there wasn’t a tan line on her ring finger. She looked beautiful without any makeup on, smelling like soap and spices. Soft and lovely.
He was caught off guard, a sort of parallel universe where his fantasies from nearly a decade ago had come true. He cleared his throat and fought the urge to fidget like an untried teen under her stare. Conversation, he ordered himself. Say something. He’d never had this much trouble coming up with small talk. But the only thing coming to mind was, Why did you leave without saying good-bye?
The corner of her mouth kicked up again. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it was close. When he still didn’t say anything, she finally let out a little laugh and broke the silence herself. “Am I making you nervous, Gavin?”
“Knock-knock!” The shout came from the front of the house, followed immediately by footsteps. Gavin blew out a breath and ran his hand through his hair. Of course Kathy would show up now, before he’d fully recovered from the surprise of finding Regan Sinclair in his house.
His stomach was twisted in knots. Yes, he was nervous. And a little pissed off, the old hurt rearing its head whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not. He thought they’d had something—the start of something, anyway—all those years ago, but before he knew what was happening, she was gone.
There was a lot to be said, a lot that needed to be said, but he didn’t have time to think about how to handle it as his ex-wife strolled into the room. The kids ran to greet her with the same enthusiasm they’d shown him only moments before, repeating the tales of their day in high, excited voices while dragging Kathy over to see their culinary masterpiece. Gavin reached out and grabbed Regan’s hand, pulling her a bit closer when Kathy slid them a side-eyed look while listening to the kids’ story. He didn’t want Regan to leave until he had a chance to talk to
her.
“Becca thought she was going to get sick, but she didn’t.” Gavin couldn’t help but grin at his son’s disappointment. “Miss Regan said that maybe she throwed up on the way home.” He said this last part with a joy that could only be sparked by a child who thrived on the disgusting.
Kathy sent the kids off to get their shoes on, waiting until they were out of the room before she rounded on Gavin. He felt Regan’s hand tighten on his before she pulled it loose and extended it to his ex-wife.
“Hi, I’m Regan Sinclair. Your children are wonderful.” Her smile was sincere and lit her face. Gavin couldn’t take his eyes off her. There was no way he was going to let her disappear on him again. Not yet, anyway.
Kathy crossed her arms, rebuffing Regan’s attempt at an introduction. “Gavin, we agreed that you wouldn’t introduce the kids to any of your women,” she said, her tone sour. “It’s not healthy for them to see a revolving door coming and going from their lives.”
In response, Gavin lightly gripped Regan’s arm and pulled her back into his side and slid his arm over her shoulder. “Is Shane waiting for you in the car?”
At the mention of her live-in boyfriend, the man she’d left Gavin for three years before, Kathy gritted her teeth. “It’s not the same thing,” she told him. “Shane and I are in a committed relationship.”
“The level of our commitment is none of your concern,” Gavin responded, swallowing the grunt when Regan’s elbow hit him in the ribs.
“Your ex is just about as nice as mine,” she murmured, settling against him.
Kathy’s eyes narrowed again, putting a look on her face he’d seen often in the past few years. She’d been supremely unhappy when he’d decided practicing law wasn’t for him. She claimed to support his decision to accept the funding from his Department of Defense connection and open the property security firm he’d dreamed up, but it became very clear that she’d had an image of their lives together that didn’t include him being anything other than an attorney.
Their relationship had already been on the downward swing when she’d realized she was pregnant. With twins on the way they’d decided to give it another shot, but the writing had been on the wall. By the time the babies had turned one, Kathy had been examining her options. He hadn’t made the short list.
They’d somehow managed to pull it together enough to make some semblance of a family for the kids, and up until now he was happy to know that Kathy had chosen a good man to be in the kids’ lives. But seeing her in front of him with her arms crossed and refusing to even shake the hand of a woman who’d watched her children this afternoon, all because she thought it might be his girlfriend, set his hackles rising.
“Regan watched the kids when Becca got sick today. You don’t have to like her, but you do have to respect her, and the fact that the kids had a great day with her.” Kathy’s jaw started twitching and he could tell that she was about to dig her heels in. Not giving her the opportunity, he cut off whatever she was about to say. Lowering his voice, he pulled Regan in a little closer, enjoying the way she felt against him. “She didn’t say anything to them about anything but being Becca’s sister. If you have a problem, it’s your problem. Don’t make it theirs.”
Regan had gone completely still in his arms. He was glad she’d played along, but he had a feeling he’d catch hell about it before she left.
Masochist that he was, he couldn’t wait.
Before anything else could be said, the kids came running back into the room, with all the finesse of a herd of elephants. “Daddy!” Savannah exclaimed, sliding to a stop in front of him. “I need help with my shoes.”
“Can we take some of the kay-bobs with us, Miss Regan?” Jackson was still tugging his coat up his arms as he bounced on the balls of his feet.
Regan cut her eyes to where Kathy stood, unmoving. “Sure, if it’s okay with your mom. We made plenty,” she offered with a small smile.
Kathy dropped her gaze to the boy, taking in his expression before she finally nodded, her eyes suspiciously bright. “That would be nice,” she finally said, eliciting a whoop of joy from her son before he ran to the cupboard and pulled out a take-home container. “We’re going to drive to Shane’s parents’ house tonight, rather than wait for the morning.”
“You’re going to the city for trick or treating?”
“Yeah,” Kathy breathed the word out on a sigh and shook her head. “His sister and her family are coming too, so we wanted to get there a day early and claim the good guest room. I’ll be sure to text you pictures of them in their costumes.” She sent an apologetic look Regan’s way. “We’ll be back Monday.” She paused and cleared her throat. “Thank you. For taking care of them today. They obviously had a great time with you.”
Regan smiled again, not quite as bright as she had before, but sincerely. “I’m glad. They really are great kids.”
Kathy nodded stiffly and turned back toward the front door, collecting the kids’ bags and other essentials. Regan gave Gavin a small pat on the chest and stepped out from under his arm, helping Jackson gather enough kabobs to feed a small army. Gavin swooped down and looped his fingers in the pink laces of his daughter’s shoe.
“Is Miss Regan your girlfriend?” she asked in a sly stage whisper.
He couldn’t help but smile. Nothing got past these kids. “Were you listening at the door, Savy?”
“Maybe.” She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling. “You never had a girlfriend before.”
Ouch. From the mouth of babes, he thought ruefully. “I’ve had girlfriends,” he told her. “None important enough to meet you, though.”
“So Miss Regan is important?” His girl was a scary mix of stubborn and smart. There was no way she was going to give up without an answer, not when he’d inadvertently implied Regan was important to him.
He shook his head and gave her shoe a pat. “Not yet.”
Not yet? What the fuck was he thinking? Regan Sinclair wasn’t important to him. There had been a time he thought she could be, but that was a long time ago.
Savannah interrupted his thoughts by smiling up at him, a blinding smile of sheer happiness that made his heart lurch every time he saw it. She threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck like she had from the time she was tiny. “I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too, baby girl.” Gavin wrapped his arms around her and boosted her into his arms, giving her a gentle squeeze. Jackson tackled his legs to get in on the action. With a grunt Gavin swooped down to pick him up, too. “And you too, buddy.”
All too soon, Kathy was shepherding the kids out the door and into the waiting car. He was very aware of Regan standing next to him, waving good-bye as the kids shouted their farewells to her too.
He was still standing there, watching the taillights disappear, when he got socked in the arm.
Regan, her hands planted on her hips, looked entirely too edible for his peace of mind. And something else too, something he hadn’t expected. She was trying not to laugh. “Just what the hell was that?”
Chapter Three
Regan bit her lip to keep the inappropriate laughter from breaking free. She should be offended or horrified or embarrassed or something over what just happened, but she couldn’t get past how funny it was. Flat-out, belly-laughing, pee-your-pants funny.
Who would have thought that Gavin McCabe would need to invent a pretend girlfriend?
Or that he would pick her to be that pretend girlfriend? With the way she’d left things years before, she wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d tossed her out of his house without a second thought. Chloe’s reason for being blackballed had nothing on what Regan had done to him all those years ago.
Of course, there hadn’t been another option in his kitchen as far as fake girlfriends went, but still.
“You haven’t seen me in years,” she said carefully, unable to keep the laughter from creeping into her voice, “and now we’re going steady?”
“And why is that?
” he asked softly, pushing the hair that had fallen from her ponytail back behind her ear. “You didn’t answer my calls when you left, then avoided me when you came back to town. I missed you.” His voice sent shivers through all her favorite, and recently most neglected, places. Or maybe it was his touch. Either way, she was shivering and she didn’t like it. Much.
She’d convinced herself that she’d exaggerated the way he could make her knees go weak with the simplest of touches, but tonight was proving that wasn’t the case. “I didn’t avoid you,” she mumbled.
“You did.”
“And you didn’t miss me.”
“I did.”
“Prove it,” she demanded impulsively, her heart racing.
What the hell was she thinking? Prove it? She didn’t want him to prove anything. She needed to head back to her house to unpack some of the boxes that finally arrived and find that damn corkscrew. She needed to call Gwen, her best friend for as long as she could remember, and vent about the crazy left turn her day had taken, the way her younger sisters had cajoled her into babysitting.
Except she couldn’t. Not really. Because Gwen was Gavin’s sister and had no idea that they’d hooked up before Regan had left for college. She had to find a way to tell Gwen about that before she found out for herself. It wasn’t something she’d even considered when she decided to come back to Sapphire Creek, thinking that door was firmly closed.
Undeniably, they’d had something. Maybe it could have been something special. Maybe it was just teenage hormones. Either way, it was certainly electric. But it had been a brief fling because of her softball scholarship, and training for her college team starting a mere week after they got together. She hadn’t had time to explore whatever it was.
Plus, she admitted now as she stood close enough to feel the heat rolling off him, she hadn’t realized how rare that thing between them was.