“One-ten.” He rushed for the male locker room.
Kari panicked. She hurried out of the pool but didn’t catch him as he ran through the door and disappeared. She stopped in her tracks but then hurried for the women’s locker room and the showers. Rinsing off as quickly as she could, she reasoned that yesterday he’d offered to have her go with him to pick up Austin and would still want her. She slipped into her underwear and sweats and ran through the spa.
“Everything okay?” asked Shanna, who’d been so sweet with her all day.
“Um … Gavin?”
Shanna’s blue eyes filled with uncertainty and a bit of compassion. “He rushed out of here half a minute ago. Maybe you could catch him?” Her voice didn’t sound as if she believed that.
“Thanks.” Kari ran out the door and searched the parking lot. She couldn’t see his sport utility anywhere, and she swore she saw a black vehicle disappearing down the road toward town.
Her shoulders slumped, and the cold bit her cheeks and seemed to freeze her wet hair. He’d asked her to come with him, but apparently he’d … forgotten her? That stung, and she wasn’t sure what to do. Slowly, she turned back to the spa. She might as well get cleaned up properly and use the fabulous products Shanna had set out for her.
Forcing a smile as she reentered the open area of the spa, she said, “Guess I missed him.” Her voice only cracked slightly.
“Sorry.” Shanna apologized as if she were responsible for her boss not wanting Kari.
“It’s fine.” She walked with her head held high back to the locker room. What had she done to upset Gavin enough to ditch her? She had to believe he was just concerned for Austin. So why did it hurt so badly?
Chapter Seven
Gavin showered and dressed in record time, raced to his car, and sped down the hill to the grade school. He’d forgotten about Austin; he’d forgotten about his own son. What kind of a dad did that? The time with Kari seemed mystical, almost magical. He’d loved being around her and would’ve kissed her if the alarm on his watch hadn’t gone off. He had the alarm set for every school day because he was so busy with work and didn’t want to risk being late, but he’d never really needed it. He looked forward to three-thirty Monday through Thursday and one-thirty on Friday. Being with Austin was his happiness, and he’d let Kari replace that for him. He’d promised himself he’d never put anything before his son. He’d given up his dreams and enjoyment of football, and he’d missed opportunities for investments that Heath would’ve done in a second, but he was happy and content raising his son and being close to Mama and Papa. He also took a lot of pride in running his resort, coaching youth football and hockey, exercising, and doing plain and simple hard work.
He pulled through the circle drive for elementary school pickup. Only a few children were left waiting. Austin spotted him, and Gavin saw his son give a shout and then turn back to say goodbye to the teacher on duty and the other children. He was such a friendly, fun kid. Gavin wondered sometimes if he could do a better job of inviting other kids up to the house and planning late-nights or sleepovers, but Austin didn’t seem to mind. Besides hockey and football, he didn’t do much with kids his own age.
“Hey Gav,” he called out as he settled into the Lexus.
“Sorry I was late.”
“It’s chill. Where’s Kari?”
“Um … I left her at the spa.” He suddenly felt like a complete jerk. He had left her at the spa, running off without really explaining, and he’d asked her yesterday to come with him to pick up Austin so they could all go ice skating. Shoot. Yet he was conflicted. Could he pursue her without taking away from time with Austin?
“Gav! Let’s go find her.”
Gavin forced a smile. “You want another girlfriend?”
Austin shook his head. “Gav,” he said, as serious as Austin had ever said anything. “I saw you holding her hand last night at dinner. You like her.”
A horn beeped behind him. Gavin put it into gear and drove out of the circle, but pulled into an empty parking stall nearby. He turned to Austin. “I do like her, but I don’t want to take away time from you.”
Austin smirked at him. “Big bro. We say sticks before chicks with hockey, but that’s not the whole story, right?”
Gavin raised his eyebrows. “It’s not?”
“No. You tell me all the time that I can have all my girlfriends, that I can have lots of buddies too, but when I find the right girl, it’s time to settle down and focus on her.”
Gavin swallowed hard. “You think Kari might be my … right girl?” Heat flushed through him.
“Yeah, I do. You’ve never even touched another girl, and you were holding her hand. I say go for it, bro. What’ve you got to lose?”
Gavin thought it was adorable that he was getting advice from his ten-year-old son, but he had to ask, “But what if she takes time away from me being with you?”
Austin shrugged. “She seems pretty chill with hanging with both of us, so that’s cool.” He gave him a questioning look. “But Gav, it’s not like you’re my dad or something.”
Gavin sucked in a breath. “What do you mean?”
Austin put a hand on his arm. His dark eyes looked very mature and serious. “You’re the best big brother in the whole world, Gav, but it’s not like you’re my dad and need to give up being with your dream girl for me.”
Gavin wanted to tell him so badly in that moment. “But if I … were your dad, I should put you first.”
“True.” He twisted his mouth. “But dads got to have wives, right, and they put them first but still love their kids, right?”
Gavin stared at him.
“So like Mama loves all of us, me the most—” He flashed an endearing grin. “—but Papa’s sick, so she puts him first. But it’s not like any of us think she loves us less, right? Mama has lots of love, and we all get enough. If you love Kari and she’s your wife, you’d still have lots of love for me, and then I’d have Kari for another awesome sister-in-law, right? Like Hazel. More people to love me.”
Gavin mulled over Austin’s words. Were they words of wisdom from his son, inspired by heaven, or words from a child who couldn’t understand Gavin’s responsibility? He didn’t quite know, but Austin was crazily mature to even have these thoughts. The result of being raised around teenagers and adults, he guessed.
“There’s lots of you to love, eh?” Gavin finally managed.
“Oh, for sure.” Austin grinned. “Plus I’ve got lots of love to give away.”
“Yes, you do, my boy. Yes, you do.”
“So let’s go find Kari,” Austin said as if it were a done deal.
“I did tell her we could go ice skating this afternoon.”
“Ooh. You could hold hands and get all smoochy on the ice.”
Gavin rolled his eyes and put the Lexus into gear. “I’m not going to get all smoochy.”
“Yeah, you wouldn’t be like Trey, all over Ella all the time.”
Gavin gave a fake shudder. He knew Trey and Ella were a great fit and loved each other, but sometimes it was still weird that his best friend had married his little sister.
As they drove up toward town, though, something was sticking in his mind. Austin had said “wife” and “sister-in-law” in relation to Kari. Gavin felt hot all over even thinking the words “wife” and “Kari” in the same sentence. Austin was just a child and jumping way ahead of himself—Kari didn’t even know him that well—but Gavin knew he wanted to be with her more, and Austin had just given him the green light. He’d be an idiot not to at least pursue the idea of him and Kari.
Gavin might have been a closed-off, broody man like Kari accused him of being the first time she’d met him, but his mama hadn’t raised any idiot.
Kari’s embarrassment and sense of rejection mounted as she got showered and used all the spa’s products to get ready again. They’d left a makeup trial kit next to her locker, and like Shanna had said, there were all kinds of beauty products in the locker
room bathroom. She took her sweet time, concentrating on the experience.
Yet Gavin had left her. Austin was really important to him, and she didn’t want to come between them. Why couldn’t she spend more time with both of them? Ice skating had sounded like a lot of fun. She’d pictured her and Gavin holding hands as Austin entertained them with his antics and they shared secretive smiles over how cute he was. Almost like a family. She hung her head. She was besotted with Gavin, but even with the near kiss and how cute he’d been with her in his spa, she was doubting he felt the same.
She thanked the ladies at the spa, trying to hand a hundred-dollar bill to the receptionist who had been so cute with her. “Can you split that for tips for the therapists and you?”
Shanna laughed and waved it away. “Oh no, Mr. Strong took care of that. He wouldn’t like us taking your money.”
Kari thanked her again. Gavin had taken such good care of her this morning, and she loved that he’d spent almost an hour and a half with her in the therapy pools. So why did she feel deflated, almost rejected, as if she wasn’t going to see him again?
Walking out of the spa into the bright sunlight, she squinted. She should head over to her room and get some writing done. That was what she’d normally do, what she always did. What if she sat in the lobby for a while and just waited to see if Austin or Gavin appeared? Was that screaming desperation, or would it show that she was daring? Gavin made her want to do desperate things, and that wasn’t smart for any heroine.
“Kari!” A yell echoed across the parking lot. Whirling, she saw Austin waving madly at her, hanging his head out of the window of Gavin’s black sport utility.
“Austin!” she hollered back, relief and happiness rushing through her. She didn’t have to wait to find him, or his big brother. Would Gavin apologize for ditching her? Would Shanna have called him to report how Kari chased him out of the spa? How embarrassing would that be?
They parked the vehicle and popped out. Austin trotted happily to her, while Gavin followed more slowly, seeming apprehensive and a little troubled. His dark eyes were giving her a beseeching look that made her want to forget that he’d ditched her. She longed to run to him, hug him tight, and tell him it would all work out. What would work out, she wasn’t sure, but something. She hoped it was a something that meant they’d be together.
“How was school?” Kari asked Austin, struggling to keep her eyes off of Gavin.
“It was okay. You wanna go ice skating?”
Kari wanted to, badly. She raised her eyes to Gavin. “Sure. If it’s okay with you?”
Austin also looked up, smiling broadly at his brother. “Of course it’s okay with him; it was his idea.”
“Really?”
Gavin nodded. “I’m sorry I rushed out of there so quick and didn’t …” He cleared his throat and looked awkward and uncertain. “Wait for you.” He put his hand on Austin’s shoulder. “I’ve never been late for the little man and just reacted.”
Kari loved him a little bit more. He hadn’t meant to ditch her, but he’d never been late for his brother. She swallowed her pride and reminded herself that she couldn’t come first to him now, or maybe ever. Gavin’s devotion to family and fulfilling responsibility made her think highly of him, even if it meant he’d rushed off without her. He was apologizing now, and she didn’t like holding grudges.
“Best bro ever,” Austin chirped.
“For sure,” Kari agreed, but she wanted to say something to Gavin. “I’m sorry I almost made you late. I’d never … want to come between you two.”
Something flashed in his eyes, and she thought that he agreed, that he didn’t want anyone to come between him and his brother either. That was some loyalty. She liked her brother, but she wouldn’t have put time with him before time with Gavin.
Austin pushed out a disgusted breath. “Gav and I talked about that,” he said. “That’s stupid. To worry about you coming between us.” He pumped his eyebrows and tried to wink, but he ended up blinking instead. It was adorable. “I told him you like chilling with us, and if you’re his wife, that’s just more people to love me.”
Kari’s eyes widened, and heat rushed through her. Her mouth flapped open, but nothing came out.
“Austin.” Gavin’s deep brown eyes held hers. “Kari hardly knows me. Don’t try to make her my wife already.”
But Kari noticed he didn’t seem violently opposed to the idea. He’d said “already,” not “ever.” Her heart thumped quicker and quicker. She hardly knew him, that was true, but she wasn’t opposed to getting to know him.
“Ice skating?” Austin asked.
“Sure. What do I need?”
“A coat, gloves, and a hat. Mama has a whole bucket full of ice skates,” Austin said.
“Okay.” She looked to Gavin. “Do you need to … get more work done?”
He shook his head. “I always take Friday afternoon off to be with Austin.”
“Do you take Friday midday off to be in the spa?” She couldn’t help but tease him a little bit.
“No.” He gave her a half of a smile.
“Was it worth it?” She put a hand on her hip, reminding herself of some of her feistier heroines.
Gavin’s eyes dipped to her lips, then came back up to meet hers. “Yes, ma’am,” he said in a husky tone that was almost as incredible as the warm look in his dark eyes.
Happy bubbles erupted in Kari’s stomach.
“Go get your coat,” Austin demanded.
“Bossy, bossy,” Gavin said gently. “Ask her please.”
“Please go get your coat,” Austin said. “No practice or game today, so ice skating, then dinner, then you can watch a movie at Gav’s house with us. His house is awesome.”
“You want me with you the whole day?”
“Yes,” Austin said, “I just said so, didn’t I?”
She smiled at him, but then her gaze sought Gavin’s. He wanted her with him as well. Maybe. The look in his eyes said yes, but why couldn’t he verbalize it like Austin did? Still, she wouldn’t complain if they spent more time together.
Ten minutes later, they drove up to a gate and fence that was framed by a beautiful slot canyon. Kari craned her neck and looked up the almost sheer gray walls. “This is so cool! I couldn’t see it last night.”
Austin and Gavin both gave her such similar patient smiles that she couldn’t help but laugh. “You two look like twins,” she said.
Austin grinned bigger, but Gavin looked uncomfortable. “Thanks,” Austin said. “You know the ladies love us both.” He pumped his eyebrows.
Kari laughed, but the comment hit her square in the gut. Austin had also claimed that Gavin didn’t date the ladies, so she knew he wasn’t a womanizer, but even the thought of women constantly pursuing him, as she was sure they did, made her a bit sick.
The gate swung wide, and they proceeded up the drive. The canyon widened into pine and snow-covered mountains that were steeper to the right and the left, but not as steep as the slot canyon. She could see that beyond the houses and yards to the north, the mountains were more gradual.
They pulled up to the smaller house. Austin jumped out. “Let’s go get skates!” he yelled. Rushing for the house, he flung open the front door and ran inside.
Gavin hurried around and opened her door. Kari stood and was surprised when he didn’t back away. He was right in her space, and she loved it. He didn’t smell like his usual Tom Ford, probably because he’d showered at the spa. He smelled clean and appealing, though.
“I wanted to apologize again,” he murmured, his deep voice like velvet against her ears, “for running out of the spa so quick, especially after I’d asked you to come pick up Austin with me yesterday.”
“I was surprised, but I understand you didn’t want to be late to get Austin.” She smiled. “You probably thought a girl would take too long to get ready.”
His eyes swept over her face. “You’re saying you get this beautiful without any effort?”
&nbs
p; Her smile grew. “I’m pretty quick, but not today. I used all the products from your lovely spa.”
Gavin leaned closer, and her heart picked up its beat. “You look … lovely.”
Kari thought the word “lovely” sounded foreign on his tongue, but she didn’t care as he leaned closer and closer. Anticipation and heat swirled inside of her.
“Gav! Kari!” Austin’s voice came from the house. “I found some of Ella’s and Mama’s skates. They’re different sizes, so hopefully one of them will fit.”
Kari’s gaze swung to the front door. Austin was indeed holding two pairs of white skates. Behind him appeared an absolutely beautiful middle-aged woman. She had dark, curly hair about shoulder length, smooth olive skin, and deep brown eyes exactly like Austin and Gavin’s.
“Mama,” Gavin murmured, stepping away from Kari.
Mama clutched her sweater to her as she came out onto the porch. Gavin gestured for Kari to walk with him, but he didn’t take her hand or put his hand on the small of her back. Did he not want his mom to have questions about the two of them? From the questioning look in her deep brown eyes, she had plenty.
They walked to the porch and Austin said, “Mama, this is Kari. I was going to make her one of my girlfriends, but …” He dropped his voice and whispered, “Gav really likes her, so I gave him dibs.”
Gavin stiffened beside her, but he said nothing.
Mama’s eyebrows went up, but she gave Kari a welcoming smile and put out her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Kari.”
Kari shook her hand. It was feminine but callused as if she were no stranger to hard work. “It’s nice to meet you too …”
“Oh, pardon me. I’m Ruth, or Mama Rue, most people call me.”
“Ruth.” Kari didn’t dare use the more intimate name, especially with Gavin acting so awkward. Had he not wanted her to meet his mom?
“Papa’s resting,” Mama said to Gavin, “but I’m sure he’d love to meet Kari after you skate.”
Gavin grimaced. “I’m sure he would too.” He gave Kari a pained smile. “Papa’s a huge tease. I won’t put you through that, unless you want to meet him.”
The Strong Family Romance Collection Page 67