Saved by Love (Bachelor Billionaire Kids #1)

by Sharon Cummin

He moved out, Gracie thought. That sure was fast.

  “I think it's good that he's moving on,” her dad said.

  Gracie made a huff sound and her dad looked over at her.

  “It wasn't his fault,” her dad said.

  “Whatever,” she whispered.

  “You know damn well your brother went on his own, Gracie,” he said.

  “Not today,” Gracie said. “Everything is good. I don't want to talk about him.”

  She heard her mom open the front door and could hear Becky talking.

  “I guess I should get this over with,” Gracie said, as she put down what was in her hand and walked out to greet Gavin's family.

  “He's not coming,” Becky said, just as Gracie walked into the room. “His furniture was delivered today. He wanted to get it put together before work Monday.”

  “How's it going with him and his dad at work?” Gracie's mom asked.

  “Okay,” Becky answered. “Gavin is super excited to have his son there.”

  “Where's Nate?” Gracie's mom asked.

  “At a friends,” Becky said.

  “He's too cool to hang with us,” Big Gavin said, as he walked in and put his arm around Becky.

  “Josh said he tried to text Gavin Jr. the other day,” Gracie's mom said. “I think he wanted to do something with him.”

  “He got a new phone yesterday,” Becky said. “I have no idea how he broke it into so many pieces. He said he didn't want one, but I told him if he wasn't living at home, he had to get one. I'm paying the damn bill just so I can talk to him.”

  Gracie stepped forward to say hello and hug Becky. Then she turned to walk back to the kitchen. She couldn't help feel disappointed that he wasn't there. Gracie shook her head at herself. She didn't want him there, she thought. Why was she sad that he'd actually not shown up?

  “It's only Becky and Gavin,” Gracie told her dad. “The other two aren't coming. One is too cool and the other is putting furniture together.”

  Gracie sat through dinner without paying a bit of attention to what was going on around her. She couldn't wait to get out of there. Between hearing about Jack and hearing about Gavin, she couldn't take it. The first moment she could, she excused herself. She used the laundry excuse and got the heck out of there.

  On her way home, she pulled into the bar parking lot just as she had so many times that she'd lost count. The moment she sat down at the bar, she had a drink placed in front of her and some pleasant conversation. By her second drink, a guy she hadn't seen before sat down next to her and began talking. He asked what she did for a living, talked about what he did, and they chatted back and forth for a bit. He bought her a drink while they talked some more. She was laughing at a joke the lady behind the bar made and could feel her normal pain fade. Her body was beginning to numb. Everything was perfect.

  Gracie had been there for a couple of hours and knew she needed to get home. She moved to stand and wobbled a bit. The guy next to her reached out and grabbed her arm to steady her.

  “Thanks,” she said with a laugh.

  How many drinks had she had, she wondered? The guy's hand was still on her arm moments later. She turned toward the door laughing at something he'd just said when the door to the bar opened. Gracie stopped laughing the moment her eyes landed on the tall, sexy man in a helmet and leather jacket. She couldn't see his face and could only imagine what he looked like. It was the first time she'd ever thought about getting on the back of a bike and riding off into the sunset.

  “Damn,” she whispered, as her eyes moved down to his boots and back up his body.

  She was staring up at him, as his gloved hand moved up to remove his helmet. Please be hot, she thought to herself. His helmet came off fast and she was met with narrowed eyes and a tight jaw. Instantly, her eyes widened and her hand moved to cover her mouth.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” he growled out. “Who the hell is he?”

  Gracie immediately felt the hand on her arm drop and the one on her waist, that she hadn't even realized was there, fall as well. Bullshit! Gracie planted both feet on the floor, straightened her back, and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “That would be none of your fucking business.”

  Chapter 26

  Gavin

  Gavin had just finished putting all of his furniture together. He'd had just enough time to shower and make it to Jack's parents' house for dinner, but there was no way he was going. He couldn't do it. There were pictures of Jack, Gracie, and even him all over the walls. He'd made sure to avoid any that had Jack in them at his own parents' house. There was no way he could walk into Jack's house without losing his shit.

  He didn't feel like sitting home either. Gavin reached into the back corner of his closet and got out his boots, jacket, gloves, and helmet. Then he put them all on. There was no way he wanted his mom coming over, going through his stuff, and finding any of it, not yet anyway. He'd gotten the bike the day after he moved into his own apartment. Neither of his parents would approve. He didn't need their permission, but he also didn't want to send them over the edge. They were backing off, and he wasn't about to ruin that. They had no idea he rode. It was something he'd learned not long after being stationed. Jack rode too. His family didn't know either.

  Gavin laughed as he swung his leg over the bike. They were both grown men, but if someone even mentioned their moms knowing about them riding, they both turned into pussies. The guys at the base thought that shit was hilarious. Them, not so much.

  Gavin pulled out onto the road, ready to clear his head. Riding helped so much. He'd gone out every night since he'd gotten the bike. Some nights he stayed gone longer than others.

  He'd been gone for three hours that night. Gavin had stopped by a river and watched the water slowly flow by. He'd gone to eat as well. On the way back to his apartment, which was in the same complex as Gracie's, he rode by a bar. It was the same one he'd ridden by each night, but there was something different that night. He turned his bike around, pulled into the bar parking lot, and parked right behind Gracie's car.

  He hopped off his bike and felt his blood instantly boiling. She had no idea they lived in the same complex. He'd seen her car each night and knew exactly which apartment was hers. He had always known. She didn't need to know that though. Gavin had gone by her place each night since the night he'd seen her at his parents' house. She had no idea, and he wanted it to stay that way.

  Gavin leaned up against her car fighting with himself on what to do. He could say fuck it and go home. Then he could go by and check on her later. He could wait until she came out and follow her the whole mile home without her knowing. Shit! What he wanted to do was storm through that door and drag her out by her damn hair. She had no business being in a bar in the first place, he thought. Then he looked up into the night sky.

  “This is all your fault, Jack,” he said. “If you hadn't taken her to the damn bar when we came home, she wouldn't have known what it was like. She wouldn't be here.”

  Gavin was so pissed. He stood up and began pacing between her car and his bike. He couldn't leave her there. If he went in, she'd know he was checking up on her. There was no way he wanted that. He didn't give a shit. He was only doing it because he promised Jack he would.

  The door of the bar opened, and he caught a glimpse of her standing next to some guy. Then the door closed, and she was gone.

  “Shit!” he yelled out. “I did not sign up for this.”

  He took a deep breath. Leave, he thought to himself. She's not your damn problem. You have enough of your own. He moved to walk back toward his bike. Then he stopped and turned back toward the bar. Could he just leave her in there? Who the fuck was that guy? How often did she do that? He was so pissed. Gavin stood tall, walked to that door, swung it open, stepped in, and stopped the second her eyes traveled down and back up his body. He could see her sway and noticed the ass next to her put one hand on her arm and one around her waist. Gavin felt the heat move through his b
ody. His eyes were hidden behind the front on his helmet. In that second, he was so damn glad she couldn't see his eyes glued to that punks hand on her waist. It took all Gavin had to stand there and not pummel the guy.

  “Damn,” he heard her whisper.

  What the fuck was she doing checking him out, he thought? The part of him that wanted to smile knowing she thought he was hot was betraying him. You don't care about her, he thought to himself. She deserves better than you. You are nothing to her. It is your fault she doesn't have her brother.

  Gavin lifted his hand, removed his helmet, and narrowed his eyes at her. The second she realized it was him, her eyes got all big and she covered her mouth with her hand. He could see so many emotions cross her face one after the other.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” he growled from deep in his chest. “Who the hell is he?”

  The guy dropped both hands from her the second Gavin had finished his sentence. Pussy, Gavin thought. That guy definitely didn't deserve her if he was going to cave that quickly.

  Gracie was barely standing, but she pulled her shoulders back and crossed her arms over her chest. She was ready for the battle that was definitely coming her way.

  “That would be none of your fucking business.”

  It took all Gavin had not to laugh at her lame attempt at showing him she was the boss. If he wasn't so pissed that she was drunk with some guy touching her, he would have turned and walked out of there. It was taking all she had not to wobble over.

  “Gracie,” he snapped.

  “You do know my name,” she said in a snotty tone.

  Gavin took a deep breath in.

  “Fuck you,” she said, staring right into his eyes.

  “Why are you here?” he asked, trying to keep his temper in check.

  Gavin didn't have a bad temper, but Gracie seemed to be the one bringing what he did have to the surface.

  “Isn't that obvious?” she asked. “To get drunk, or get fucked.”

  “Which is it?” he asked, as his arms crossed over his chest and his helmet hung from his fingers.

  “You asshole,” she snapped.

  Gracie stormed toward him on unsteady feet. Gavin moved forward and caught her just as began to fall. He pulled her to her feet and could feel her chest against his jacket.

  “Who's this?” the guy who was sitting next to her finally asked.

  “He's my brother's,” Gracie began.

  “It's none of your fucking business who I am,” Gavin cut her off.

  “Stop being such a potty mouth,” she said, as she looked up at him.

  Gavin heard a loud rumble leave his chest, and Gracie growled back at him.

  “You piss me off,” he said, as he looked down at her, unable to stop from seeing through her act.

  “Oh yeah,” she said. “You piss me off too. I can't stand the sight of you.”

  “That makes two of us,” he said without thinking.

  “You,” she began. “Wait! What?”

  “Nothing,” he said, as he stood her up and pulled away from her. “Get your ass outside.”

  “No,” she said. “I don't know who you think...”

  He leaned down, stepped forward, and threw her over his shoulder with one hand.

  “You haven't wanted a damn thing to do with me since you've been back. Put me down, and leave me alone,” she yelled out.

  Gavin walked toward the door and swung it open. Gracie smacked at his back and felt him flinch. Then she reached down the back of his pants for his boxers. Her hand landed on bare ass instead. She pinched as hard as she could. Gavin stepped through the door as he smacked her ass so hard she yelped and reached back to rub it. Once he was next to his bike, he put her down on her feet.

  “This is yours,” she said, as he watched her eyes move over the bike.

  “No,” he said sarcastically. “Of course it is. Now get your ass on it.”

  “No,” she said.

  “What?” he asked, as he narrowed his eyes down at her.

  “I said no,” she said sternly, as she got up on her toes to get closer to him.

  “And I said, get the fuck on now,” he yelled.

  “Noooooo,” she said, stretching the word out.

  “He wouldn't want you here,” Gavin said.

  “That doesn't really matter, does it?” she asked. “He's not here.”

  Gavin took a deep breath and slammed his helmet down on her head. Then he swung his leg over the bike. He turned, grabbed under her arm with his good hand, and lifted her onto the bike. She pushed against his shoulder to stop him, but he was stronger than she was.

  “Asshole,” she mumbled.

  “Hold on,” he said. “It's bad enough your drunk ass is on the back of a bike.”

  “Take my car,” she said.

  “I'm not leaving my bike in a bar parking lot,” he told her.

  “Do your parents know about this?” she asked, sounding like she knew a secret and it was a threat.

  “Do your parents know your ass is drunk at a bar instead of at dinner?” he asked, as he grabbed her hands, pulled them around his waist, and held them in front of him. “Hold on.”

  The second he took off, she wrapped her arms tightly around him. Gavin couldn't help the warm feeling that moved through him when she held onto him.

  It didn't take long to get to her apartment, so that feeling didn't last nearly as long as he would have liked. Gavin quickly got off the bike. There was no way he could let himself feel anything for her. Knock that shit off, he thought to himself. There would never be anything between them. His only association with her was going to be keeping her safe. He had the feeling that it wasn't going to be as easy as he'd originally thought.

  Chapter 27

  Gracie

  Gracie sat on the bike looking up at him. She could tell he was upset, but she wasn't sure why. In that moment, as the first tear slid from the corner of her eye, she was glad he couldn't see her face. There was no way she was going to let herself be crazy enough to think he actually gave a shit.

  “What are you waiting for?” he asked.

  “What?” she asked.

  “We're here,” he said. “Get off my bike.”

  He shoved his gloved hand out, and she took it. When she was safely off the bike, she pulled her hand back from his. He doesn't care about you, she silently reminded herself.

  “I live here,” she said.

  “You can't be that damn drunk,” he said. “Of course you live here.”

  “How did you know that?”

  Gavin shook his head and let out a grunt.

  “Come on,” he said, as he turned and walked to her door.

  Gracie quietly followed behind him.

  “Keys,” he snapped, as he held out his hand.

  She reached into her pocket, pulled out her keys, and handed them to him. He unlocked her door and walked in ahead of her. She saw his eyes move around her living room, but he didn't say a word. Gracie saw his jaw tighten the moment his eyes landed on a picture on the wall of her and Ethan.

  “Does your boy know your drinking and that some asshole had his hands on you?” he asked in a harsh tone.

  “He's not my boy,” she said. “I don't even like him.”

  Gavin jerked his head toward the picture.

  “Since when?” he asked.

  “Since,” she began but stopped herself. “Nevermind. You can go now.”

  “Give me my helmet and I'll gladly go,” he snapped.

  Gracie reached up, pulled the helmet from her head, and smashed it into his chest. She heard him suck in a fast breath and saw his eyes close the second the helmet connected.

  “Sorry,” she said, as she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. “Shit!”

  “No problem,” he said, before turning and grabbing the door to leave.

  “It's your fault,” she said with a shaky voice.

  Gavin stopped but didn't turn back to face her.

  “You were supposed to bri
ng him home.”

  “I know that,” Gavin said in a defeated tone. “Don't think for one second that I don't.”

  Then he was gone and the door closed behind him. Gracie walked over and peeked out the edge of her window. She watched Gavin swing his leg over his bike. Then she saw his face as his hand went up to wipe something from it. He pulled his helmet over his head. She saw his hand slam down against his bike before he backed up and took off with a spin of his back tire.

  Gracie walked into her room, fell onto her bed, and cried. She felt bad for what she'd said, but she felt even worse at his response. For the first time since finding out about Jack's death, instead of thinking of Gavin as a giant asshole, she felt bad for him. Maybe she wasn't the only one hurting and blaming him, she thought.

  Chapter 28

  Gavin

  When Gracie took his helmet off and shoved it into his chest, he felt like his skin was on fire. It fucking hurt. That wasn't why he turned away though. He did it because he couldn't take it. The tears on her cheeks were too much. Gavin wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her, but he knew he couldn't. He was the reason she was suffering in the first place. If he'd just worked at his dad's company, everything would have been okay. He wouldn't have gotten those letters from her. He wouldn't have cared for her. He wouldn't have ever had feelings for her. They would have carried on just like always, but Jack would have still been there. The craziest part of the whole thing was that he was working for his dad anyway. It was such bullshit. He knew Jack would have kicked his ass for that one.

  When she said it was his fault, it felt a thousand times worse than he'd imagined in his head. He felt like she'd kicked him while he was already down. He already knew that. Being reminded wasn't making it any easier to deal with.

  There were tears in his eyes before he'd even gotten to his bike. He tried to wipe them away without anyone seeing. His hand slammed down, and he took off out of the parking lot. It was time for another ride. There was no way he wanted her to know he lived one building away from her. She would've been pissed. It was bad enough she figured out that he knew where she lived. He didn't need her thinking he cared at all. He didn't care. He never would, not ever again.