“I don’t want to impose, Gavin.” Sutton crosses her arms over her chest and stares me down.
“Not imposing. I invited you. Adult conversation will do me good.”
Sutton giggles and shakes her head. “Fine, but do you have an extra rod? I don’t exactly have things here.”
Nodding, I smirk. “Abbie has one you can borrow. We’ll grab her fishing wader, too.”
After agreeing to go with me, I call Abbie while Sutton orders her coffee and ask if we could borrow her things. She squeals into my ear and then murmurs an I’m sorry before saying we can go over to grab whatever we need. Knowing her, she’s already planning double dates based on a mostly platonic fishing day.
With an awkward hello when Abbie skips out of her house to deliver the rod and wader, Sutton and I drive toward Arrowhead River. I know I’ll be getting the fifth degree from Abbie tomorrow when she’s sure I’m alone, but the twinkle in her eye and the bright smile were obvious indicators that it made her happy to see me do this with Sutton.
For as long as I can remember, Abbie has had my back, like an older sister would. Being only two years younger than her, I’ve also been protective of her. I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s always been there for me, and besides being family, she’s also my best friend. If there’s anyone I can trust, it’s Abbie, and I know she’ll always have my best interest at heart.
“You said it had been a while since you’ve gone fishing, but exactly how much experience do you have?” I tilt my head and ask Sutton as we step out of my truck.
“Oh, well…” Sutton blinks up at me. “My daddy always baits my hook and removes the fish I catch because they’re slimy and move a lot.”
“Huh.” I scratch my beard as I stare at her, thinking of how to respond.
Sutton drops her head back in a loud guffaw, clutching her stomach. “You believed me,” she snorts. “Let it not be forgotten, cowboy, I’m a country girl through and through. Ranch work, fishin’, huntin’. Hell, I even clean the guts myself. You did get live bait, right?” Her southern drawl is heavy.
She arches a brow and places her hands on her hips, cocking to the side. Her chest still shakes with laughter as she moves her head from side to side. Wiping under her eyes, Sutton looks at me with amusement. She taps the brim of my cap and saunters over to the bed of my truck.
I stare as she sways her hips, wondering what the hell I got myself into by inviting her to fish with me. I’m pretty sure Sutton is going to prove me wrong on many levels, beginning with the idea that once a broken-hearted man, always a broken-hearted man.
I shake away my daze and meet her at the back of my truck, pulling down the bucket full of water and minnows for bait and the rods followed by the cooler. Sutton holds the fishing waders as she waits for instructions.
We stand on the edge of the river in ankle-deep water. Silence fell between us after her outburst, and now we remain quiet as we focus on our task of casting lines into the river. I’m impressed by her ability to hook bait and get her hands dirty.
The sun shines down on us despite the chill in the air. Enclosed in a valley of rocky mountains and boulders that loom over us, the breeze moves through us, and the mountains near the riverbed keep this area of the river more secluded. The swooshing sound of the water is the only noise we hear.
“Tell me about your rough morning,” I break through the silence.
Sutton looks over at me with a frown. “Ugh, I’d almost forgotten all about it,” she sighs.
After a beat, she explains, “Long story short, I got fraud on my debit card, and someone went for a joyride. I called the bank this morning as soon as I realized it, but since it’s Sunday, they could freeze all the transactions, but it will take a couple of days for the money to return to my account. Not to mention, I have bills withdrawn automatically tomorrow, and those companies weren’t open to let them know about my situation. It’s a shit show.”
“I’m sure it will all get worked out.” I look at her eyes, the hazel gloomier as she speaks.
“Yeah, that’s what the bank said. I’m not the first or last person this happens to.” She shrugs and looks out into the river. “Fortunately, Averly was understanding and is going to hold off on charging my stay at the bed and breakfast until it’s all resolved.”
“Oh, you’re leaving back to Nashville?” I could’ve sworn she said she was moving to Everton.
“No.” When she looks back at me, a softness in her gaze moves over me until it locks with my eyes. “I’m renting the guest house, so I need to pay for my stay as a bed and breakfast guest, then give her a security deposit and first month’s rent. It sounds more complicated than it is.”
“You’re renting the guest house?” I furrow my eyebrows. Now I understand why she had met with Averly yesterday before Penny and I ran into her.
“Yes,” Sutton smiles. “I pitched the idea to Averly, and we were able to work something out. I’ve heard real estate in Everton is tricky to find, so I figured I’d go straight for the best idea I could come up with.”
“That’s great,” I nod. Sutton living in Everton—that thought brings a smile to my face.
Silence falls between us again, but this time it’s comforting as we both focus on our line and any bites. I glance at Sutton out of the corner of my eye every so often. I smirk as I watch her hold her own out here.
“I got one,” she calls out, reeling in her line. Sure enough, a decent trout flaps around, caught in her hook. She beat me to it.
I shake my head and move closer to help her. Like a pro, she holds the fish and unhooks it. Before she can put it in a smaller cooler full of ice, it flaps wildly out of her hands and back in the river.
“Fuck,” she curses under her breath. I chuckle at her honest reaction and cock my head with a smirk.
“I thought you were a country girl,” I tease her. The honest truth is that she handled that like a seasoned fisherman.
She glares at me but says nothing, baiting her hook and casting it back into the river, damn well determined to catch another fish.
As we wait for more fish to bite, Sutton tells me about growing up in Mississippi and helping her dad on his small ranch. She was right when she said she’s a country girl.
“My parents and my brother and sister still live in Oxford,” she explains with a nostalgic smile. “It’s a great small town. Everton reminds me of it, minus the southern hospitality and a lot more cowboys here,” she giggles.
“We’re definitely the Cowboy State,” I agree.
“Oh, I got another one.” She narrows her eyes where her line is tight. This time I grab the net to help her keep the fish.
As she reels, I scoop the fish in the net and help her unhook it.
“Thanks,” she breathes out.
“Teamwork is the best way to do this.” I stare at her for a beat and then clear my throat, moving to put the fish on ice.
“You let me help you with the braids, so it’s only fair I accept your help.” A gorgeous smile grazes her lips, and I’m captivated by the light she shines. Possibilities swim between us as our eyes remain locked.
I’m breaking away from my comfort zone by spending time with her. I’m moving past the hurt so I can get to know her. I’m allowing my mind to imagine what it would be like to hold her.
Every time Sutton shoots that blinding smile at me, I’m more of a man and less of a loner father. I take notice in her the way I haven’t noticed a woman since I met Hadley. However, the pain still lingers, and the doubt presses against my chest.
Sutton breaks the spell first, looking out into the water. When I see the shy smile she wears when she thinks no one is watching, I know that I’ll make it a point to spend more time with this woman.
I’ve used excuses throughout the years to keep women at a distance, but she stirs something inside of me that has been dormant for a long time—need, want, hope.
I have to decide if I’m ready to keep those emotions growing inside of me, or if I’ll once again crush
them with fear. With the way my heart rate spikes when I’m near her, I don’t think I really have a choice when making that decision.
Sutton
I throw my head back and laugh when Gavin almost slips on a rock as he tries to reel in the fish he caught. As soon as the trout is in the net, Gavin looks at me with a raised eyebrow and a tilt of his head.
“Something funny?” he asks as he steps off the rocks and toward the cooler to keep the fish fresh.
I bite down my smile and shake my head. I’m seeing a different side to Gavin today, one I knew had to exist. It’s only cementing my feelings for him more permanently.
“I don’t know. I believe I heard someone laughing.” Gavin grins crookedly.
“I’d never…” I place a hand on my chest and gasp.
“Yeah, yeah. Laugh now, but soon I’ll have caught more fish than you.”
I narrow my eyes, raising an eyebrow. “Game on, country boy.”
I reel in my line and make sure my bait is still hooked before stepping a little further into the river and casting my line. I focus on my task and ignore Gavin’s snickers coming from behind me. I feel a tug and begin to reel but lose the fish.
Darn it. Rule number one in fishing, be patient.
I let the line flow in the river and look around, amazed by nature here. When Gavin first parked the car, I couldn’t believe the way this river flowed in between such harsh-looking terrain. The mountains keep us secluded, interrupting the view of our surroundings and adding a peaceful quiet.
I glance at Gavin, now focused on the river, and smile to myself. After the mess of a morning I had, this has been the cure to my worries and stress. Being in nature, seeing more of the world than material things, allows me to realize that everything has a solution if we have patience and release the worry.
A tug on my line breaks up my thoughts, and I watch my rod, waiting for another bite. Sure enough, I feel another pull. I close my eyes and breathe, waiting for the fish to get caught in the hook. As soon as the rod bends, I reel it in. Before I say a word, Gavin is ready with the net.
I jump up and down, bragging about my catch when my foot slides on a rock below me. Unable to steady my feet, I land on my ass with a thud.
“Crap,” I call out.
“Are you okay?” Gavin’s wide eyes stare down at me.
“Yeah, yeah. The fish?” Heat prickles my neck and cheeks as his eyes scan my body. Could this be any more embarrassing? This is payback for laughing at him.
“It’s safe.” He holds up the net, and I sigh in relief.
“Here.” He leans down and offers his hand for me to take. Standing, I stretch my back and legs.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yup.” I purse my lips, avoiding his eyes. “I’ll have a bruise and probably a limp for a few days, but I’m okay.”
“I think we’ve done enough fishing for one day.”
I hide my frown and kick myself for cutting our time together short with my carelessness.
“And I do owe someone a lemon cupcake.” The smile that covers Gavin’s face makes my heart race. For once, I notice his eyes crinkle and brighten, and I can’t ignore the dimple on his left cheek. My insides melt.
“I won’t say no to a lemon cupcake,” I smirk and wink, recovering from my fall and picking up the rod.
…
“You didn’t get accepted into Music Unplugged?” Gavin’s eyes widen.
“Yup. I almost quit after that, too. I figured if I wasn’t good enough to get into a show like that, there was no way in hell a label would want me.” I shrug and look down at my half-eaten cupcake.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t.” Gavin’s genuine words move through me.
“I’m glad I didn’t,” I respond. “It’s been a challenge like any dream can be, but it’s definitely been worth it.”
“What does your family say?” His eyebrows pull together. I have a weird fascination with men’s eyebrows, and Gavin’s are perfect—full, manly, and dark. Kelsey always makes fun of me because it’s the first thing I notice in men.
“They’re happy for me. I’m lucky that they’ve supported me from the beginning.”
“Yeah, that means a lot,” he nods knowingly.
“Well, my little sister did say that when I became a famous singer, I had to pay her tallied up fees for making her listen to me sing and give me feedback when we were younger.” I laugh at the memory, snorting.
Gavin chuckles when he hears it, his shoulders shaking as he leans back on his chair.
“It was that or give her a job as my manager.” My laughter dies out, but a wide smile remains on my face.
“How old is she?”
“She’s seventeen. She was way too smart for her age growing up. I blame it on having older siblings.”
“That’s how Sienna is. She’s the youngest out of all of us and probably the wisest when it comes to getting what she wants.”
“It must’ve been fun to grow up all together.” I take a bite of my cupcake, moaning and wiping away the crumbs. These are seriously the best cupcakes I’ve ever tried.
Gavin swallows and nods, his eyes diverting mine.
“It was fun. When Emily and Sienna came along, it was like having two dolls to play with. Well, for Abbie anyway. I wanted to teach them to ride right away, and one day I almost put a six-month-old Emily on a horse. Thankfully, my mom was around to catch me before Emily got hurt.”
“No way! That would’ve been bad. Although…” I scrunch up my nose.
“What did you do?” He narrows his eyes.
“In my defense—”
“Uh, oh. I’ve learned when someone begins with that, they’re guilty.” Gavin smirks.
“Oh, I’m totally guilty.” My head moves from side to side, and I shrug. “I can’t even deny it. But, in my defense,” I repeat on a giggle. “My brother was sitting on top of a slide, and there were a bunch of us behind him on the ladder and ground below, but he wouldn’t slide. He wanted my mom to watch him go down. I tapped his shoulder, urging him to slide and telling him she’d see him next time, but I must’ve shoved too hard, because he slid down and off the side, breaking his leg.”
Gavin covers his mouth with his hand, his chest shaking lightly.
“I’m not a horrible person,” I call out, and some of the people at The Mad Batter turn to look at me. Sliding down in my seat and hiding my face, I glare at Gavin, who is now full-blown belly laughing.
“You pushed your brother off a slide?” His amused grin makes me chuckle.
“Ugh, I did. I totally did. I felt terrible after. I didn’t mean for him to fall, but he was such a momma’s boy.” I roll my eyes.
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with us momma’s boys,” Gavin defends, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Oh,” I tilt my head. “Did I touch a nerve?”
“You’re gonna regret that.” He points at me.
“Really?” I bite my lower lip, mocking him. “Are you gonna push me off a slide?” I don’t even attempt to hide my smile.
Before I know it, he reaches for what’s left of my cupcake and shoves it in his mouth.
“Hey!” I lean forward, but it’s too late.
Gavin bursts out laughing, tipping his head back. I watch him as his body relaxes completely, and joy fills his face.
“That was not nice, cowboy.” I point at him and then hold my finger up. “Lesson número uno: Don’t get in the way of Sutton and her cupcake.”
“That was in defense for all the momma’s boys out there.” He stands from his chair, and I look up at him.
“Where are you going?”
“To order you another cupcake. I don’t need the Sutton Cupcake Monster getting revenge.”
I smile and settle my elbows on the table and placing my chin on my hands. Today has been amazing. What started as a shitty day has become unexpectedly perfect. The normally-shy Gavin is carefree and sharing pieces of himself with me. He isn’t holding hi
mself back or carefully calculating his words.
“Here you go.” He places a plate in front of me with a new cupcake.
“You didn’t have to do that, but thanks.” I eye his plate. “What did you get? That’s not red velvet.”
“I got the carrot cake this time.”
“I bet that one’s really good, too.”
“Do you want to try it?” He offers up the cupcake.
“I have a better idea.” I peel the liner off my cupcake, Gavin watching intently, and cut off the bottom half like I always do. Instead of placing it on top of mine, I hand it to Gavin.
“Switch?” I lift my eyebrows.
“Interesting. If it tastes like shit, you owe me a cupcake,” he mocks.
“As if the cupcakes here can ever taste like shit.” I cock my head to the side.
“You have a point.” Gavin hands me the bottom half of the carrot cake, and I place it on top of my frosting, creating a lemon-carrot cupcake sandwich.
I take a bite, nodding in satisfaction.
“That’s really good,” Gavin says after he’s tasted the new creation.
“Yeah.” I take another bite before asking him, “Besides fishing, what else do you like to do?”
“Anything outdoors, hunt, ride my horse, watch football. I haven’t had much time to do some of those.” His lips turn up the tiniest bit.
“I’m sure Penny requires full-time attention.” I lean forward and place my hand over his.
Gavin takes a deep breath and nods, keeping his eyes on mine. “She does. She’s great and adapts to almost any situation, but I want to make sure she has a childhood she loves.”
Smiling, I move my hand and say, “I’m sure she does. She’s a happy girl, Gavin.”
“Thanks. When do you officially move?”
“Well, I have the most amazing friend who is going to pack my things and ship them over. Between practicing for the sock hop performance, the actual sock hop next weekend, and work, I don’t really have time to fly to Nashville and pack.” My hands wave all around as I talk.
“That makes sense.”
“Yeah. Kelsey, that’s my friend, she’s also going to come visit and see Everton. I’ve been begging her to come for weeks.”
Then I Met You: A single dad romance (Love in Everton Book 6) Page 10
