“Wow.” She just stared at him. “I write about these hunky billionaires, but I didn’t think they actually existed.”
He grunted. “I’m no billionaire.”
Shoot. Had she upset him again?
Austin ran back to the table and squeezed in next to Kari. He still smelled like unwashed gear. If only she could get a nostril-full of his handsome dad’s delectable cologne. “Can I sit by you, pretty lady?” he asked.
“Of course.”
“I’m so glad you came with us,” Austin said.
“Me too.” It was much easier to focus on the adorable little boy. When she glanced at his hunk of a dad, she noticed his brows were dipping together. “Broody” wasn’t strong enough to describe the look in his eyes. “What?” she asked, worried she’d really said something wrong now.
“You didn’t know I was the owner, you didn’t even know who we were, and you got into my car?”
“Well, yeah. Austin asked and …” Maybe this guy was too grumpy to be a hero. What on earth could he be upset about now?
“You willingly got in a car with a man you don’t even know?” He passed a hand over his face. “I was so distracted by …” His voice trailed off, and then he said, “I didn’t even think …”
“Well, you had Austin with you.”
“I would kick either of my sisters in the rear if they ever did something so stupid.” He shook his head. “Thank the good Lord that Ella is married, and Cassie will be soon.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid, Kari,” Austin inserted. “You could just tell that we’re the good guys, right?”
Kari tilted her head to him. “Yes, thank you, Austin.”
“I didn’t say she was stupid,” Gavin clarified. “I said that was a stupid thing to do.” He stared so intently into her eyes that Kari wouldn’t have noticed a meteorite crash into the restaurant. “Please promise me you’ll never get in a vehicle with a man you don’t know again.”
Kari nodded. She would’ve promised him she’d tap-dance on this table every night with him looking at her so beseechingly.
“Thank you,” he muttered. “Oh, and never go to a man’s apartment, or go walking alone with some man at night, or don’t be alone, even if you think you’re safe …” He shook his head. “I can’t list all the things you shouldn’t do. Just basically don’t be alone with any man, or with the possibility of some man finding you alone and coming after you. Okay?”
Kari couldn’t help but laugh. He was being semi-ridiculous.
“Please, Kari, say okay.”
“Okay,” she said. She could tell him the only men she spent any time with were her father and brother, but then he’d realize how lame she was. “So I know you now.” She licked her lips and said, “So it’s okay if I go to your apartment, go walking alone with you at night?”
Gavin froze. His gaze was locked on her, and he didn’t move for a few beats.
“Bro?” Austin said. “You look really weird. You okay?”
Gavin swallowed and passed a hand over his face. “Do you have pepper spray?” he asked Kari. “I’ve got a case in my garage if you need some.”
A young man brought their food, saving her from having to answer that one. Had someone he cared about been attacked? She’d written the use of pepper spray into a few books, but her books weren’t heavy on suspense; she tried not to focus on women getting attacked. Sheesh. Gavin was intense and handsome and irresistible. She picked up her turkey sandwich, taking a small bite. The avocado, muenster cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and onions tasted delicious with the fresh-baked bread and savory turkey.
“I wish Mama could’ve come tonight,” Austin said between bites.
Kari’s head whipped up. So his mother was in the picture? That didn’t bode well for her, but she was happy Austin had a loving mother, somewhere. “Where was … Mama?” she asked Austin. She snuck a glance at Gavin, but his expression didn’t change and he seemed unconcerned by her question.
A horrific thought occurred to her. What if he was married? There was no ring, but some men didn’t wear them. Her stomach churned, and she swallowed hard to keep the last bite of sandwich down.
“At home with Papa,” Austin explained.
“My dad’s health isn’t great,” Gavin explained. “He was paralyzed from the waist down in a skiing accident, almost eleven years ago. Actually, eleven years ago next week.” He frowned.
Kari knew she should probably ask a follow-up question to the paralyzed comment. She didn’t want to be insensitive, but she had to clarify. “So Mama is your mother, Austin’s grandmother?”
Gavin’s dark eyes narrowed, and he pinned her with a look that was … uncomfortable. As if he were trying to see straight through her and was concerned about her intentions.
Austin laughed. “No, silly, Mama is my mama too. One of our grandmas has been in heaven my whole life, and our other grandma died, like … last year, right, Gav?”
Gavin hadn’t taken his gaze off of her. “Yeah, almost eighteen months ago now, bud.”
“So you and Austin are … brothers?”
Gavin nodded and spoke in a harsh tone that didn’t encourage follow-up questions. “Yes.”
“Oh.” She focused back on her sandwich. It just didn’t feel right. Brothers. Hmm. Why did it feel like Gavin was hiding something? She shook her head. Probably just her mind going to secretive angles because of her overactive imagination. Her mom used to gently instruct her to not share her crazy ideas or her friends in her head. She’d changed her tune when Kari had become a best-selling author, and she was super proud of Kari now.
“Gav’s my best bro,” Austin said, “and the oldest. Then there’s Heath, Nick, Cassie, Ella, Stetson, and me. Best family ever.” He took a large bite of his Oreo shake. “Your shake’s melting everywhere, Kari,” he pointed out.
“Oh, yeah.” Kari swooped some of the chocolate peanut butter shake into her spoon and sucked down the icy goodness. She should’ve just left it alone, but she glanced back at Gavin, who still didn’t look too happy with her, and asked, “So you aren’t married, have any children, anything like that?”
Gavin studied her, not answering.
“No, silly.” Austin spoke for him. “He doesn’t even have girlfriends like me.” He wrinkled his cute little nose. “Tons and tons of girls hit on him, but my best bro Gav always turns ’em down.” He shrugged. “His loss. My gain.” He gave her a broad wink where his right eye closed and his left eye squinted. Too cute.
Kari didn’t know what to make of this information. Why didn’t Gavin date? As attractive and successful as he was, she could just bet “tons and tons of girls hitting on him” was accurate. He had to be close to thirty, and it sounded like he took care of his little brother and had worked hard to take over and pay off the gorgeous resort she was staying at. That one still boggled her mind. He owned the resort. Wow.
They ate and talked more about the Strong family, Austin’s school, and hockey. Kari shared a little bit about her parents, her brother, and what it was like to live in Arizona without snow and write “smoochy” romance novels, as Austin called them. The night went well, mostly because of Austin. When they arrived back at the resort, Kari didn’t want to let the pair of them go. No matter how guarded and closed-off Gavin was, she couldn’t stop herself from being intrigued and far too drawn to him.
Gavin pulled up to the front of the resort, jumped out, and hurried around to get her door.
She paused to tell Austin, “Thanks for inviting me. It was the best night of my life!”
Austin grinned. “Told ya.” He extended his fist, and she bumped it with hers. “See you tomorrow? I could come do a few runs with you after school and before hockey practice.”
“Okay. What time?”
“Four, by the Little Falls lift. ’Cause you’re a newbie, right?”
“Definitely.” She slid out of the car, appreciating that Gavin waited for her, especially because she was still wearing his coat and he had to b
e freezing. Maybe tough Colorado men weren’t affected by the cold. Hmm. She didn’t write many stories set in the cold, but she liked the image this tough hero was creating.
Gavin gave her a tight smile and said to Austin, “I’ll be right back, bud.”
They walked side by side up the sidewalk and then the steps. Gavin held the door to the lodge and walked in with her, stopping just inside the tall double doors. The front-desk girl called, “Hello, Mr. Strong.”
“Hi, Alecia.” Gavin gave her a nod and his one-quarter smile, then turned back to Kari. She didn’t know if he was going to cuss her out for something or kiss her. Okay, she knew he wasn’t going to kiss her, but a girl could hope.
“Thanks for taking me to the game, and for dinner,” she said quickly.
“You’re welcome,” he said gruffly. Did he want to explain that it had been Austin’s idea to take her and not his? She already knew that and didn’t need it reiterated to her.
“Will I … see you tomorrow?” she asked, crossing her fingers and saying a prayer. If anyone in heaven loved her, she’d get to see him again.
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Well, I need to bring you some pepper spray.”
She laughed. “Thank you for being concerned for my safety.”
The smile disappeared. “I am.”
“I truly don’t put myself in ‘stupid’ situations. I rarely go anywhere with any man, unknown or not.”
His gaze sharpened on her. “Are you trying to tell me men aren’t knocking down your door to take you out?”
She laughed again, a surprised grunt. “Definitely not.”
Gavin’s gaze swept over her, and the look in his eyes was warm and delightful. Maybe she could make a hero out of him after all. “The men in Arizona are either blind or stupid.”
Coming from him, the compliment seemed like the highest praise. Her mom was always telling her what a beauty she was, but moms had to say stuff like that. Since she rarely left the house besides her runs in the early morning, she couldn’t remember the last man her age she’d even interacted with. “I’m kind of a hermit romance writer, so there is that.”
“Ah, that makes more sense.”
She hoped he’d say more, but he just studied her.
“Well,” she said, “I’d better go write down all this amazing … hockey knowledge I’ve got tonight.” In reality, she’d be writing exactly how it felt to be looked at, and touched, by Gavin Strong. He’d only shaken her hand and she’d put her hand on his that one time, but it’d given her enough. She shrugged out of his coat and handed it over. His hand brushed hers, and she shivered. Touching him sent sparks of excitement up her arm. She was thrilled to know that feelings like that actually existed somewhere other than in her imagination, her computer files, or her print, audio, and e-books.
Gavin pulled back quickly, making her sigh with longing. “What time is your ski lesson?” he asked.
Well, at least he cared enough to bring her pepper spray. “Ten.”
“Okay. Have a good night.” He pushed through the door and strode out, taking the stairs quickly. Before she knew it, he was racing away in his black vehicle.
Kari sighed and put a hand to her heart. One thing was for sure: her fingers were going to race across the keyboard tonight. If only she had a hope of getting more than a finger brush from that appetizing man.
She rolled her eyes at herself, gave the receptionist a friendly smile, and hurried across the lobby to the elevator. The real-life experiences she’d gotten tonight would be incredible resources for her stories. That was what mattered. This longing to spend more time with Gavin and Austin needed to take a back seat. Her writing was her life. No handsome man or adorable little boy could change that. Especially when the man didn’t seem like he wanted to.
Chapter Three
Gavin didn’t sleep well. Maybe the fact that he slept with his own coat, inhaling the incredible sweet scent Kari had left on it, was the problem. Maybe it was that he couldn’t get her voice, her smile, and her deep blue eyes out of his head.
He slid out of bed at four a.m. exhausted but ready to focus on work. He worked in his home office until six, when Austin came down for their morning workout. Austin was really too young to be lifting weights, but Gavin struggled telling the kid no, and he was impressed that someone so young would be so motivated. Austin had the drive to be successful in whatever he put his mind to.
They lifted in the garage. Gavin pushed hard, trying to forget about Kari, but wanting to go find her first thing this morning. Her lesson was at ten. Could he take her breakfast in bed before that? He grabbed heavier weights for his overhead press. No thinking of breakfast in bed with Kari. Good crap, what was happening to him?
He had so many questions for her, though. Was she really a hermit? Why didn’t she have a string of boyfriends at her beck and call? How long was she staying at the lodge? Could he talk her into staying longer? And how in the world had she pegged so quickly that Austin was his son? He glanced over at Austin as the little man pumped out a round of burpees. He was so stinking cute, perfect in Gavin’s eyes. He felt a huge responsibility to raise him right. Mama and Papa were very involved in his life, but with Papa’s health worsening lately, Gavin had taken over Austin’s care. The two of them lived at the huge house Gavin had built almost a year ago, and Gavin loved being involved in every aspect of Austin’s life.
“You okay, Gav?” Austin questioned, straightening up and grabbing some ten-pound dumbbells. Gavin regularly insisted that he not lift anything heavier than that, and thankfully, the little man trusted his knowledge.
Gavin smiled. “Yeah. I just like being around you.”
“Of course you do. I’m the coolest.”
“For sure.”
Austin finished a few sets of lateral raises and then shelved the weights. He crossed the distance and slammed into Gavin, giving him a fierce hug, then pulling away. “I’m going to shower, bro. See you soon.”
Gavin was still clinging to the weights as he watched Austin go. He wished he could set them down and go give his son another hug. He’d never really been comfortable with a lot of physical touch, but Austin broke through all of his barriers. Sometimes he worried, though. He was successful at running his lodge and professional in his conduct with staff and guests alike, but he knew he wasn’t overly warm or gushy. Did a kid need that in his life? Gavin had always contented himself with knowing that Mama, Papa, and all of his siblings gave Austin plenty of love, especially Cassie and Ella, but did the kid need a mom?
In the past, Janielle’s pretty face would flash through his mind when he thought about Austin needing a mom, even though he’d never forgive her for her betrayal. Today, all he could see was the beautiful Kari Love. He pulled in a quick breath and grabbed even heavier weights. He needed to stay far away from that gorgeous woman, or he’d be in a lot of trouble. Yet his mind was calculating that he would have Austin dropped off at school at eight-forty, be able to get into his office at the lodge and deal with fires, and maybe find out who her ski instructor was and join the lesson. If he allowed himself to do that, he’d officially know he was sunk.
Kari showed up early for her ski lesson. She was supposed to meet the instructor, Beau, outside the ski shop. She’d already been in the ski shop and got all outfitted with rented skis and a helmet. She’d bought winter gear before coming, but now, as she shivered slightly in the crisp Colorado morning, she wondered if her gear was good enough. What did somebody in Arizona know about Colorado and snow?
A well-built man walked in her direction. He wore a helmet and goggles, and his skis and poles were slung over his shoulder. His coat and ski pants fit him perfectly, and she found herself checking him out and trying to remember every detail for future novel reference. Some men just moved in ways that were tantalizing, and this guy was one of those: strong, confident, and king of his corner of the world.
She’d written until almost two a.m. last night before her eyes were so bleary and her
fingers so tired that she forced herself to go to bed. Austin, or rather Gavin, had just given her too much material last night.
She felt a little guilty checking out some other guy when she’d thought she was so taken with Gavin. Yet she was only doing it for research, and Gavin was definitely the closed-off hero. She sadly doubted that she was the woman to break through his hard, yet ultra-appealing shell. A frown pulled at her lips.
The man stopped in front of her, and she realized that she knew those lips and that beard and jawline; she’d been writing about them and then dreaming about them last night.
“Gavin?”
He gave her his quarter smile. “Hey.”
“What are you doing? Are you playing hooky from work and going skiing?”
He chuckled softly at that. “No, I’m filling in for a ski instructor. I was told Beau had an appointment with a Kari Love at ten a.m.”
Kari’s heart walloped against her chest. She got to have Gavin as her instructor? Oh my, this was awesome. She prayed that learning how to ski involved lots and lots of touching. She frowned then, realizing that since they were so bundled up with gloves, coats, and all the gear, she probably wouldn’t be able to feel his glorious touch. Dang it.
Gavin’s smile fled. “Is that okay?”
“Is what okay?” Was it okay she couldn’t feel his touch? No, it was definitely not okay.
“If I’m your instructor?”
“Oh, oh, yes, of course. I’d love to have you … instruct me.”
A part of his smile returned. Dang, the goggles covering up those intriguing eyes.
“Was Beau sick or something? How did I get blessed with the top dog as my instructor?”
His smile disappeared, and his jaw looked like it was carved from granite. Dang. What had she said wrong now? It was interesting that the owner would volunteer to take a ski lesson, or maybe that was how it worked at this intimate resort. She loved everything about this resort, and the owner only added to the appeal.
“Beau’s fine,” he said shortly. Sweeping her skis off the ground, he tilted his head to the side. “We’ll start you out on the magic carpet.”
The Strong Family Romance Collection Page 62