by Marie Harte
Hope sat on the other side of Ava, talking about something, while Landon watched on with satisfaction. A big, lazy lion keeping watch over his pride.
Oh yeah. Big brother had gotten a piece of Ava, for sure. He had that “this woman is mine” look that meant he’d staked a claim. Plus, those little blushes Ava made when she caught Landon’s eye were telling.
She was beautiful. So smart and strong and independent. Gavin contained a laugh, just barely. Landon had no idea what he’d done by snagging the hot doc. She’d tie him in knots, no doubt.
“So dear. How’s your work going?” his mother asked him while his father regaled Hope and Ava with some story about a juggler downtown that morning.
“Fine.” Gavin tried to hear more, but his mom leaned closer.
She whispered, “Is this Landon’s girlfriend? The one he told us about?”
Why the hell was she whispering? “Yeah.”
Linda leaned back, her gaze shrewd. She turned to Ava and said, “Dr. Rosenthal, I am just thrilled you and Landon found each other. After all that work you did for my sister and her husband, I was hoping that wouldn’t be the last we saw of you.”
The table grew silent. Ava’s eyes grew round. “Oh my gosh. Now I know why you looked familiar. You’re related to Beth McCauley, aren’t you?”
Landon blinked.
Hope glanced from Ava to her mother.
Gavin tried not to laugh, now realizing why the name Rosenthal had rung a bell. “Ah, so Ava is Uncle James and Aunt Beth’s therapist? Oh man, the stories you could tell…”
“I had no idea.” Ava gave a strained smile and a subtle look at Landon that promised trouble later. “I haven’t seen them for a while, actually. I hope they’re doing well. Oh, and call me Ava, please.”
“They’re wonderful,” his mother gushed. “Did you know their son Cameron got married and had a baby?”
“I thought Vanessa had the kid?” Landon cut in. “Or did the genius somehow manage to reproduce all by himself?” Landon grinned. “Like a spore. I can see Cam doing the whole asexual reproduction thing.”
“He is kind of like a fungus,” Gavin agreed, always game to make fun of their annoying cousins. The McCauleys liked nothing better than to prove they were better at everything. Unfortunately, Gavin and Landon dove into the competition headfirst. To this day, the cousins still fought about who had been the best at sports in high school, though it was no contest who had gotten the best grades. Taking the brainy Cameron out of the equation, Landon and Hope had kicked some serious ass. But Gavin had to hand the wrestling win to Mike, not that he’d ever admit that out loud.
Linda ignored them, focused on her favorite subject lately. “They had a baby girl. Beth is a grandmother twice over now.” She sighed. “Not me. I’m still so far from having my own grandbabies.” That tone meant bad news.
Gavin, Landon, and Hope exchanged wary glances.
Landon straightened in his chair. “Uh, Mom? We’re just here for dinner. Not to repopulate the family tree.”
Ava blushed. “I had no idea you were related to the McCauleys. The subject never came up.”
“How did you two meet?” Linda asked, as if she didn’t already know.
“Landon and I met at Jameson’s Gym.”
“Technically, Landon was bothering her at the gym,” Gavin corrected. “Out of desperation, and to get him to quit stalking her, Ava gave him a pity date. Now she can’t shake him.”
His sister snickered. “That sounds like Landon.”
“Yes, Beth now has Colin and baby Eleanor.” Linda had departed reality for her own world, one in which nothing existed but babies and future progeny. “Such a gorgeous little girl.”
“James is so excited.” Van laughed. “Colin, their once one-and-only grandson, not so much. He’s still pretty anti-girl, the poor kid.”
“I feel for him,” Landon added, with a look at Ava. “Girls can be a real pain.”
Like Linda, Ava ignored him too. “You’re young yet, Linda. You have plenty of time to be a grandma. I still can’t believe Landon’s your son. You don’t look old enough to have Theo, let alone these three.” She looked around the table at them all.
Linda fluffed her hair. “It’s my stylist. She’s really good.”
“That and the thrill of victory,” Hope said while pushing her food around. “Mom drinks the blood of her victims, keeping her eternally young.”
Van hurriedly interrupted. “Actually, I’m wondering myself what you three are waiting for. I’d make a stellar grandfather.”
Linda gave her husband a wide smile.
Gavin scowled at his dad. Suck up.
“Exactly,” his mom agreed. “Ava, what do you think? Are my children afraid of commitment or of growing up? Or maybe both? Is that why I’m grandbaby-less? You’re a smart woman. In your professional opinion, what would you say?”
Man, Hope was right. His mother was totally out for blood tonight.
Everyone waited for Ava’s response. Gavin had to hand it to her. She didn’t seem intimidated by Linda’s toothy smile at all. But he wanted to hide somewhere, away from all those sharp teeth.
“Actually, Linda, I don’t know your family well enough to make even a guess. It seems to me they’re smart enough to wait until they’re ready.”
Linda turned to Landon. “Yes, but when will that be?” She looked from him to Ava, a big question in her cunning brown eyes.
For once, big brother was in the hot seat. And poor Theo was missing this! Gavin and Hope gave each other an air high five.
“I saw that.” Landon frowned, then turned to Ava. “This is the real Linda Donnigan. Don’t get taken in by the savvy professional eating up the competition. This crazy woman demanding babies is my mother doing her best impression of ‘unhinged and baby-obsessed.’”
“That’s a terrible thing to say.” Yet Linda laughed. “I’m teasing you, Ava, and at Landon’s expense. My sister thinks the world of you, and so do we. They were having some problems, but now they’re doing so much better.”
Gavin noticed Ava had yet to comment on his aunt and uncle. The woman took her job seriously, not spilling any beans. And knowing his aunt and uncle, he was sure plenty had been spilled in therapy.
“Have you helped Landon with his issues yet?” Gavin asked.
Ava turned to him, her green eyes bright and full of mirth. “You’ll have to be more specific. Landon has a lot of problems.”
“You got that right,” Hope muttered.
“Hope.” His father coughed to hide a grin. “Landon’s just fine. He’s managing Daniel’s company well enough. And every time I see Mac Jameson at the gym, he’s bugging me to get Landon to come work for him too since Gavin’s doing so well there.”
Landon snorted. “Yeah, right. Work for Mac and that ego?”
“Who’s got an ego?” Gavin asked.
“And working with my little brother?” Landon continued. “No way in hell.”
Gavin hated when Landon called him that. Theo was the little brother. Gavin was just younger by two friggin’ years. Big deal. “Yeah, because I could never work with you either. You’re too controlling. It’s all I can do not to plant you on your ass in self-defense class. You tend to take over, you know.”
Landon raised a brow, and Ava tried to suppress a grin.
“What’s so funny?” Gavin asked.
“You. You two are very similar.”
“Wait. Gavin and me?” Landon frowned. “Have you been drinking?”
Van grinned. “No, she’s right. Gavin might act like me a lot, very chill”—his father saying chill made Gavin want to cringe—“but they both like to control their worlds. Gavin’s just more subtle about it.”
“No way.” Gavin glanced at Hope. “Back me up?”
“Actually, you’ve all been bossy since the d
ay I was born.” Hope snorted. “Trust me, Ava, being around so many boys has its drawbacks. The smells. Dear God.”
Ava chuckled, as did Van and Linda.
“Nice, Hope.” Landon rolled his eyes. “I think we’re getting off track here. Ava hasn’t helped me with anything. Well, except for making me happy.”
“In bed,” Gavin murmured, loud enough so that Landon could hear him but the others couldn’t, he didn’t think.
“Don’t be a dick,” Landon warned in a low voice.
“It’s okay, Landon. I’m not ashamed of our relationship,” Ava said, quite clearly. “I enjoy Landon’s company, and I find him very attractive.”
“Well said.” His mother rubbed her hands together, and Gavin imagined her planning the pair’s nuptials as Ava spoke.
“He has his drawbacks, but then, we all do.”
Landon’s smug smile faded. “Drawbacks? Like what?”
“You do tend to be a little too bossy,” Hope said.
“And a little too rigid at times,” Van offered. “But I’m sure Ava can work around that. You two are dating, after all. You obviously find each other compatible. Landon, you truly lucked out. Ava’s not only pretty, she’s smart and well-spoken. A keeper, hmm?”
Ava blushed. “You must be where Gavin gets his charm.”
“You mean where I get my charm.” Landon frowned.
“Charm? Um, no.”
Gavin couldn’t help but laugh as she stymied Major Arrogant.
Ava returned to the topic at hand. “Yes, we’re dating. Landon’s intelligent and funny. I always enjoy myself with him.” That seemed to mollify the big bastard, until she added, “But he is somewhat emotionally distant, as he well knows.”
“What did I say about not shrinking me?” Landon growled at her.
Ava didn’t appear anxious in the slightest. “I’m not ‘shrinking you,’ Landon. Your personality is an open book to those who know you. And I’d think your family knows you best.”
“That’s true.” Van smiled and refilled Hope’s water glass, then Ava’s. “I think of Landon as Superman, with a heart threatened by kryptonite.”
“Not the superhero rhetoric,” Hope protested.
“Rhetoric?” Gavin was impressed.
“It’s on my Word of the Day calendar.” Hope sighed. “Forgive them, Ava. My parents aren’t used to us bringing people home.”
“Is that so?” Ava gave Landon an innocent look. “Not even Claudia?”
Gavin whistled. “And score! Three points, Ava. Field goal on that one.”
She sent a smile Gavin’s way while Landon hemmed and hawed under his mother’s twenty questions.
“Who’s Claudia?” Linda wanted to know for the fourth time.
“Not that redhead from the gym. Landon.” Van sounded disappointed.
Back to Linda. “I thought you were just going to the gym to work out. Not to meet women.”
“It wasn’t serious, obviously.” Van played peacemaker. “And he is a grown man. The boy has needs, honey.”
“Dad.” Landon glared at their parents.
Hope rolled with laughter until Landon turned that dark look on her.
“I’m sorry. Was that a secret?” Ava asked. “I just assumed you were close to your family and shared details of your life. I apologize if I shared too much.”
“You’ll pay for that later,” Landon promised. Then he turned to his parents and fobbed them off with a story about Claudia and him just being friends.
Gavin snorted. His parents were older but not stupid. Damn, son, learn how to lie, at least. Boy Scout that he was, Major Donnigan was shitty when it came to fibbing, and he always had been.
“Totally just friends, nothing more,” Landon emphasized. “Not like me and Ava, my girlfriend with the big mouth.” He smiled at her through his teeth, but she only smiled back.
Man, she really was hot. And brainy. And sarcastic. Just like Landon.
Gavin liked her a lot. He wasn’t used to liking Landon’s girlfriends. Not that he’d met that many since they’d joined the Corps, but the few he’d met never left a lasting impression. Ava was different.
“I was just teasing,” Ava said as Landon started to argue once more with their father, who was clearly poking fun at his son. She raised her voice. “But I did want to say one thing, and that’s thank you for inviting me to dinner. Linda, this pesto recipe is fabulous.”
That shifted the conversation to food and deflected both Van’s and Linda’s attention. Clever Ava.
Gavin raised a mental toast her way.
Linda smiled. “I’d love to take credit, but Van does all the cooking.”
Their father grinned, not too proud to enjoy a pretty woman’s flattery. “That’s true. I do.”
“Wow. You’re amazing.” Ava chewed another bite, just to prove it.
“That’s true too. I am.”
Ava swallowed then laughed. “Now I see where Landon gets his confidence. From his mom and his dad.”
“The confidence is all me,” Linda corrected her. “But the arrogance? That’s Van, for sure.”
“Ah. I see.” Ava then turned to answer something Hope said.
Gavin wondered if Ava was processing it all, making note of the family dynamic and assessing them. Was she even now counseling them internally, seeing the dysfunction that existed between mother and daughter, who hadn’t said much of anything to each other? Or did she concentrate instead on the warped middle son who couldn’t hold his liquor and had stupid nightmares because he was too much of a pussy to get over Afghanistan?
At the thought, images flashed in his mind’s eye. The sound of the grandfather clock in the other room boomed a bit too loudly. A mortar exploded. He could almost hear the whisper of wind through sand, the thuds of bullets hitting the ground, then bodies…
He sucked down his water, wishing for a beer right now. His father shot him a look, and Gavin forced himself to relax, to breathe deeply. He’d been getting better at putting it all away, enough that he could poke fun at Landon’s possessive arm over Ava’s shoulder.
“Damn, Landon. Afraid she’ll bolt for the door if you let her go?”
Hope snickered.
Van relaxed and winked, then leaned closer to whisper, “I like this one. I think Landon’s going to have a hard time handling her. Not the other way around, for once.”
Gavin chuckled. “No kidding. Big brother’s met his match.” He paused. “But I like her.” Maybe enough to talk to her later about getting some help. He didn’t want anyone else to know, though. Ava had helped Aunt Beth and Uncle James, and she didn’t share their secrets. Maybe she could unscrew his brain and help him, and since she was doing—dating—his brother, perhaps he’d get some kind of family and friends discount.
Gavin took a second helping of chicken pesto and wondered when he could get Ava alone to talk to her. Without looking suspicious…
* * *
Ava hadn’t enjoyed herself so much in a long time. Sure, her cousins and uncle could be amusing, but the loudness and constant back-and-forth barrage of trash talk and family fun in the Donnigan house was new and engaging. Landon was a lot like Linda. Ava had expected that from everything Landon had described about his mother. A go-getter, type-A personality, a barracuda in business and a blond to boot. Just like her son.
But Landon shared several traits with his father as well. The elder Donnigan seemed calm, unflappable, and he had a palpable protective demeanor. She could easily envision him as a commended Navy corpsman. So like his oldest son. Van Donnigan was dark where Landon was light, yet with classic good looks. Between Linda and Van’s genes, she knew Landon would age very, very well.
And time to stop thinking about sex around Landon’s family, you hussy.
“…if you’d like a copy.”
His father had
mentioned something about giving her the recipe?
For the chicken pesto. “Oh yes, please. I love to cook.”
“She makes a mean garlic chicken.” Landon sounded proud, and he kept his arm around the back of her chair. She supposed she should be glad he hadn’t peed around the base of it to prove she belonged to him.
Primitive, but kind of cute. Landon had labeled her his girlfriend, and he meant it.
She carried the conversation without forcing it, at ease with the Donnigans. But as always, she found it impossible to turn off her counseling hat. She hadn’t missed Gavin’s dark expression, the sudden shift to tense and anxious, or how fast he’d come back. Some issues there he’d have to deal with, but it wasn’t her place to interfere, she knew.
And Hope. Now that girl was interesting. A dynamo full of energy. Blond, pretty, even perky, she resembled her mother to a T—except for the eyes. Linda Donnigan had the eyes of a predator. A tough businesswoman, a protective mother. Hope, however, had a softer expression. A dreamer, perhaps, a woman still finding herself. Those comments thrown her mother’s way seemed to have gone ignored, yet Ava saw Linda watching Hope with…what? Determination? Exasperation? Worry?
Ava wanted badly to dive into that relationship and forcibly refrained. Her ties to Landon made personally helping his family a no-go. But she could recommend help if asked.
Not that they would. Linda might ask on Gavin’s behalf. But she was the type who’d handle her own issues herself. It hadn’t escaped Ava’s notice that Linda had sounded a bit holier-than-thou when mentioning her sister and brother-in-law getting help. Because Linda would never need assistance in fixing her family.
Ava glanced at Landon, noting the same confidence, the same arrogant tilt to his head. Oh yeah, she’d have her work cut out for her, dealing with him later. Intentionally needling him about Claudia had been childish, but so satisfying. He hadn’t given her any warning that they’d be coming to his parents’ for dinner until they’d been standing on the doorstep.
