“He seems to really like Logan, Bailey. And Logan seems like he would know who’s good people,” Ash whispers next to me.
I just smile at her then take a deep breath and make my way over to join them.
Chapter Nine
Gavin
It took everything in me not to kiss Bailey until we were both breathless. When I walked through the front door of Momma B’s Grill and saw her standing there, all flushed cheeks and pouty lips, looking so damn irresistible, all that was on my mind was tasting her again. The moment I got closer, I could tell from her tense posture that she would not have been happy with me if I had attacked her lips in front of her co-workers and the patrons. So, my next best idea was just holding her close and pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, which was the right move since she melted right into me.
Having lunch with Bailey and Logan was as amazing as our dinner date the night before. The only difference was that when it was just the three us, Bailey seemed a lot surer of herself. She joined in on the conversation and she would laugh out loud. She would flirt with me, and when I would touch her in any way, she would practically melt. In public, it was as if we were back to square one. She was much quieter, observing Logan and me and not engaging much in conversation. When I’d reach out to hold her, she’d practically pull back like I burnt her. That shit was not sitting well with me; she agreed last night that she was giving me a chance. There is no fucking way I’m letting her go back on her word. I paid for our lunch after a bit of a fight with Bailey over it, but thanks to Ash cashing us out, I won in the end.
“Hey, Gavin, can I see the drawings you put on people?” Logan turns to face us as we step out onto the sidewalk.
Before I can answer him, Bailey jumps right in. “Bubba, Gavin has to work, so we can’t be in his way. Plus, we have a date at the library, remember?”
“I almost forgot. What about tomorrow?”
“Tomor—”
“Tomorrow is a school night, bud, but I’m gonna figure out a day that works with your mom so that I can give you a tour. How does that sound?” He gives me a little pout, but for the most part, seems content with that answer. I walk them to her truck and give Logan a fist bump after he gets settled in his car seat.
Once we round the truck and are stopped at the driver’s door, I step into her space, but not enough to freak her out, and get straight to the point. I don’t want any confusion about where my feelings stand. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” She answers with the most adorable, confused look ever. Her brows are drawn in together and her lips are slightly parted. All I want to do is kiss this woman.
I step closer, to the point we’re chest-to-chest, and whisper in her ear, “Then why do I get the feeling that you’re trying to push me away?”. She lets out a little moan that I would have missed if I weren’t this close. Glad to know I affect her just as much as she does me.
“Umm… I’m not,” she stutters, locking her eyes on my lips.
Fuck, I won’t be able to hold off from kissing her much longer. What is this woman doing to me? I’m always in control when it comes to women, but with Bailey, she holds all the power without knowing.
“No? Then how come you were so quiet in there, and when I tried to hold your hand, you pulled away?”
I figure she will come up with some bullshit excuse or deny it, but when she locks those damn green eyes that just suck me in on mine, I know she isn’t bullshitting me with her next words.
“I’m uncertain of what Logan may think is going on between us and I don’t want to confuse him.” She takes a deep breath before continuing. “I wasn’t lying about giving you a chance, Gavin. But you also need to understand that I have a child that comes first, and the last thing I want is for him to get used to having you around and then having to explain to him why you’re not. There’s a lot you don’t know about me, and maybe when you do, you might change your mind about us.”
All I want to do is shake the shit out of her and tell her there is nothing in her past that could prevent me from wanting her and Logan. But I don’t say it. With Bailey, it needs to be shown through my actions, and that’s what I intend to do.
“You’re absolutely right.” I watch the disappointment in her eyes once those words are out of my mouth. The silly woman thinks I’m going to back down.
“I don’t know a lot about you and Logan, just as you don’t know a lot about me. It’s why we’re giving this a chance, so we can get to know each other. I know Logan comes first, but so do you, beautiful.” I slip my hand around her neck and press my lips against her forehead before stepping back and opening her truck door.
Once inside, I notice her taking in a deep breath, and then she rolls down her window and calls out, “Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? If you’re not busy, that is?” A light shade of pink spreads over her cheeks as she waits for my answer.
“What time, babe?” She gives me a half-smile and licks her lips before she answers. Fuck me, this woman is going to kill me.
“It’s Sunday, I try to get Logan in bed by eight thirty, so six thirty? I’m not sure what time you’re done work…”
“Babe, you’re adorable when you ramble,” I say as I lean my elbows on the driver’s side. She doesn’t respond, except that shade of pink on her cheeks growing darker.
“I’ll try my best to be there for six thirty. I have two clients this afternoon, both finishing pieces. If I see I’m running late, I’ll give you a call. Can I have your phone so I can put my number in?” I pull my cell out from my back pocket, and when I look up at her, I notice she still hasn’t pulled hers out and is now looking more unsure than ever.
“Umm…I…well…I don’t have a phone.” She looks everywhere but at me. Hunter’s voice pops into my head about her being on guard. Something tells me that the reason she doesn’t have a phone has to do with her past.
“Tell you what, beautiful, if by six forty I’m not knocking on your door, it means I won’t be there until seven, sounds good?” I see her visibly relax back into her seat, as I don’t question her about not having a phone. She looks over at me and grants me one of her shy smiles.
“Sounds good.” She places the truck into reverse, but before I let her pull away, I reach back into her space and place one more kiss on the corner of her mouth, and let Logan know I’ll see him later tonight for dinner.
As I make my way to the shop, all I’m thinking is how I can get some alone time with Bailey tonight so we can finally have a conversation without little man overhearing or interrupting us. Her past is a big part of her, and if I’m honest, I think it’s in a bad way.
Tread carefully, Gavin. For her to talk about her past, means you have to let her in and tell her about Travis.
Shit, am I ready for that? I guess I’ll find out tonight. Besides, I’m not expecting her to tell me everything off the bat. I just want her to get used to me being around and for her to know she can trust me. Everything else will fall into place.
With that in mind, I spend the rest of the afternoon doing what I love to do, and anxious to get back home to spend the rest of my evening with a green-eyed beauty and her adorable little boy.
Chapter Ten
Bailey
Logan chatted happily in the back seat about Gavin and Zeus coming over for dinner, and how we have to make mac and cheese since it’s the bestest food, and it’s Gavin’s too. I, on the other hand, although happy, was freaking out about having invited Gavin over for dinner. I mean, I want to spend more time with him, and I believe him when he says he wants to get to know Logan and me, but I won’t lie, I am scared shitless. There is so much he doesn’t know about me. Things that, once they come to light, he might not like or understand or want to understand—for instance, the fact I don’t have a phone. Well, I have a burner phone that I keep only for the sole purpose of contacting the police, if need be. I don’t hand out the number or use it. How do I explain that to him and make him understa
nd?
Okay, I need to calm my shit down. It’s not like I must spill my damn guts out to the guy. Start slow. I can always tell half the truth and build from there. Okay, so my inner voice has a damn point. I always do. Slow down, sister. Don’t get too ahead of yourself. But my inner voice is right, on some level. I can choose what to share and how I want to share it. I’ll start slow and see how things go. Besides, it’s not like I have to confess my whole life in one go. Okay, I can do this, I can do this.
As Logan helps me set the table for dinner, I figure I’ll get a feel about his opinion of Gavin, even though I already know what he will say.
“Hey, Bubba, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” He continues to place the forks beside each plate while I set the napkins.
“What do you think about Gavin?”
“I think he’s pretty cool.”
Figured as much.
“Yeah, I guess he is. When you’re around him, do you feel comfortable being yourself?”
He faces me and thinks for a minute. “I think so. I mean, I’m not scared of him or anything. He always talks to me and asks me questions like how school is doing or what my favorite stuff is. He colors with me and even told me I could go to his work one day and watch him draw on people. Plus, he has the bestest dog in the world.”
He finishes his speech with the biggest smile I have ever seen on him, and that warms my insides like nothing else. Not once did Logan hesitate when explaining why he likes Gavin, and that gives me hope. I just can’t come to terms with why he would want to be serious with me when I have all this baggage. I mean, everyone has said that he has never settled down, so why would he want to with someone who has a child to take care of and put first. You’ll just have to find out now, won’t you? My inner voice needs a damn day off and to give me some breathing space.
“Mom, what time is Gavin getting here?” Logan asks as he settles himself in his chair at the kitchen table.
“Well, we agreed on six thirty, but he said he had a busy afternoon at work, he might be a little late,” I respond while dishing out his food. I contain my laughter as I think of Gavin’s reaction when he gets here for dinner and it’s mac and cheese.
“What time is it now? I can wait until he gets here,” Logan asks despite the fact that he digs right into his food. The kid can say he’ll wait all he wants, but when it comes to mac and cheese, he waits for no one.
“It’s six forty, and today is Sunday, so you’ll need to be in bed at the usual time, eight thirty.”
“I know, but I can still hang out with him until my bedtime.”
“Yes, you can. But once it’s bedtime, it’s bedtime, no fuss, okay?” I give him a stern look so he knows I mean business.
“Got it.”
Just then there’s a knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, I open it to find a very sexy Gavin and an excited Zeus. Sweet Lord, this man just looks sexier by the minute. Tonight he’s wearing a black t-shirt that hugs his broad chest and showcases his muscular arms and his entire sleeves of tattoos. They’re all in black ink and seem to be tribal of sorts. I would love to spend hours tracing them, especially the ones on his chest. From the neckline of his t-shirt, I can only make out a tiny bit. He’s paired his black t-shirt with stonewashed jeans and black boots. I glide my gaze back up his body and am met with his sexy smirk. Damn, I was totally checking him out without a care in the world. I can already feel my cheeks burning.
“Like what you see, beautiful?” He winks and steps into my personal space.
“Sorry, we’re a few minutes late.” He leans in and presses his unbelievably soft lips against my forehead.
I move to the side to let him in. “Come on in and have a seat with Logan. He just began eating.” Zeus stops next to me and waits until I shut the door. I notice he’s decided to stick close to me, instead of searching out Logan.
“Hey, buddy. How’ve you been?” I kneel in front of him, taking this moment to calm my racing heart and hope the redness in my cheeks fades while giving him a good rub and a sweet kiss on his furry head. He takes that as an invitation to lick my face. I laugh as he continues to lick me.
“Seems I have some competition.”
I look up to find Gavin smiling down at us. I shake my head and straighten to my full height. “Maybe...” I shrug and make my way to the small kitchen table where Logan is.
Gavin is right on my heels, but before we take our seats, he whispers in my ear, “I like a little competition. I just hope you can handle it, beautiful.”
Oh my. Did the temperature just rise in the apartment or what?
We spend dinner chatting about our day. Gavin explains the tattoos he worked on and the next ones he has lined up for this week. Logan tells him about his visit with Mr. Henderson and what new book he got from the library. Gavin makes it a point to include me in the conversation, and I find myself sharing some stories from the diner. Zeus stays at my feet for most of the dinner, but once we begin to clean up, he follows Logan to the living area and watches him with Gavin. Before I know it, it’s time to put Logan to bed. I figured Gavin would take this time to end our night, but of course, he surprises me by offering to read Logan his new book.
I’ve just finished packing Logan’s lunch for tomorrow when Gavin’s arms come around me. At first, I tense and want to fight him and run. But then I realize that it’s Gavin, and not him, so I relax.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he whispers right against my neck.
Damn, his lips feel so damn good against my skin. He trails them along my neck until he reaches my shoulder and slightly moves my t-shirt to kiss more skin. My breath catches in my throat, and I forget that I’m not breathing.
“Breathe, babe.” He kisses his way from my shoulder back up to my ear and nips it before letting me go. I let out a shaky breath. Note to self, must stay a few feet away from Gavin to have a decent conversation.
“Did Logan fall asleep?” I manage to get past my dry lips.
“He’s still kind of awake. I told him I would come to get you.” He gives me his knowing smirk, the one that tells me he knows very damn well the effect he has on me. I shake my head slightly and make my way to check on Logan. After a dozen goodnight kisses and a pinky swear that his lunch is indeed mac and cheese, I step out of his room and leave the door slightly ajar, just in case he wakes up and needs me.
When I get back into the living room, I find Gavin sitting on the couch and Zeus at his feet. Once Zeus notices me, he gets up and makes his way over. I rub his head and slowly make my way to the couch and sit on the other side of Gavin. I know it’s silly, but if I want to get to know him, I need some distance. Zeus gets comfortable at my feet, and Gavin smiles at me as if I just hung the moon. And if I’m honest, I can’t seem to stop myself from getting lost in those dark chocolate eyes of his.
“I thought you would have left,” I whisper as I wring my hands nervously together.
“I wanted to have some time alone with you before we called it a night. I hope that’s okay.” He waits patiently for my answer.
I can see it all over his face, he doesn’t want to go but if I say it’s late, he won’t fight me on it. That right there is what scares me. I am not used to someone putting so much thought into what I want or what I feel comfortable with. This is all so new yet exciting. If I am honest with myself, I don’t want him to leave either.
“I’m glad you stayed. Would you like anything else to drink?”
“I’m fine, thanks. But there is something you can do for me.” He pauses slightly before continuing. “I’d like it if you would sit a little closer to me. Being ten feet apart is not working well for me.”
I let out a laugh as he moves closer to me. He then places his arm around me and lets out a content sigh.
“That’s much better. Now, tell me about yourself.” Before I can pull back a little to make eye contact, he places another soft kiss on my forehead.
“What do you want to know?” I whis
per. A tangle of nerves begins to build in the pit of my stomach.
“Everything, but I’ll take what you’re willing to share. Eventually, I want to know you inside out, and for you to know me. But there is no rush. You set the pace on us getting to know one another. The only thing I ask is that you don’t push me away if you get scared.”
I can’t tell you what exactly it is in this moment that makes me trust Gavin. Maybe it’s his words or how he says them, or how he sounds determined yet sincere. I’m not sure. All I know is, at this moment I give Gavin a little piece of my heart. Leaning in closer, I whisper, “Thank you,” then press my lips to his.
Chapter Eleven
Gavin
I had kissed Bailey before, and it was something out of this world, but having her push her lips softly against mine, and just keeping them there, is absolute perfection. That initiation tells me she has jumped on the same train as me, and I intend to keep her on it. I debate taking the kiss further but remind myself this alone time is about getting to know her. I press a little harder against her lips before leaning back and adjusting us on the couch to where she is laying her head against my shoulder and I can play with her hair. We fall into a comfortable silence until I decide this is the perfect time to share something about each other, as much as I want her to initiate the conversation about getting to know one another, I know that isn’t going to happen.
“What made you want to tattoo people for a living?” she whispers before I could open my mouth.
Well, I guess she proved you wrong, my inner voice pipes up. Hell, I guess she did.
“I’ve always been passionate about drawing. My mom always said I learned how to draw before I learned to walk,” I whisper as she did, trying not to disrupt the moment. I see the faint smile on her lips and continue.
Just Breathe Page 5
