“And does this friend intend to be here for you and the baby?”
“He is a foreman at a construction company during breaks until he graduates from school; he is the main source of support for his family. He works part-time while going to school too. His dad left when Brooks was like twelve and he has a younger brother and sister who count on him. I wouldn’t ask him to leave them. We agreed that the baby would stay here with me and he would stay there. He had never really planned to have children of his own, so he will be as involved as I want or need him to be. He will, of course, support the baby financially, but he is not sure about being a father.”
“And you are okay with this?”
“Yeah, I am. I want the baby. He said he would have supported me whatever decision I made, but I wanted to keep the baby.” She stepped away from him. “Who knows if I’ll ever have the chance to have another without…,” she tapered off as she turned and looked at him.
“Audree,” her mother called from the doorway, where she had been eavesdropping, but Audree knew she was there. “We are getting ready to serve dinner.” She stepped up to her daughter and gave her a squeeze while eyeing Gavin.
“Okay, I’m going to freshen up and I’ll be right down.” She smiled at her mother and disappeared into the bathroom.
“If you had made her yours years ago, and she wouldn’t be in this mess, alone.” Talia put her hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “And I don’t want you sleeping with my daughter anymore. I won’t tell Spencer or Clint; I will leave that to you if it becomes necessary. But it is not fair to lead her on,” she said before turning and walking down the hall.
“I’m not leading her on; I love her,” Gavin whispered. Talia smiled, pretending she didn’t hear him. “But I sure as hell don’t deserve her.” He looked back toward the closed bathroom door before he dropped his head and followed Talia’s retreating shadow down the hall.
***
Brooks was true to his word; he fell in love with Eva the moment she was placed in his arms. Although he wouldn’t be moving in with Audree, remaining in Fresno with his family, he visited once a month and video chatted with Eva and Audree every night. Eva spent one month of every summer with her father. Audree used to stay for the whole month too, but as Eva got older, she knew they needed their own time together. Although he was not always physically present in Eva’s life, he was very much a part of her life and very much her father.
Gavin had met Brooks at the hospital the night Eva was born. He tried his best to hate the man, but couldn’t when he saw the love Brooks had for Audree and Eva. He knew they were friends and that they would always have the bond of Eva to join them. But Gavin had known he was jealous of Brooks giving Audree the baby that he had always wanted to give her. Gavin fell in love with Eva the moment he held her and swore from that day on that he would be a part of her life, even if it was only as her Uncle Gavin.
He loved her like she was his own and knew he would lay his life down for her and her mother. If he could only convince himself that he was worthy of Eva’s mother, he’d marry her in a heartbeat and make them a real family. Unfortunately, Gavin knew Audree deserved better than the ruthless man Malcolm Montgomery had created. Without Gavin’s ‘silent partnership’ in the ranch and rehab Audree risked losing the ranch all together. The startup of the business put a financial burden family with the land itself used for collateral. Gavin knew his father was chomping at the bit for Audree’s investment to fail so he could swoop in and take the land. Much to Gavin’s delight Audree was very successful, her business was growing every day, and he would continue any and all financial support to keep Audree’s dream alive and operational. And to keep the land his mother wanted Audree to have away from the scheming grasp of his father.
Present…
Eva stayed at the party for about an hour; she danced with everyone, except Gavin, who still hadn’t shown up. Eva was upset he hadn’t come to dance with her and put up a fuss for about two minutes until Audree threatened to take her horse riding privileges away from her. With a kiss and hug to her mother, Ruby and Travis she pouted all the way to her grandfather’s truck. She apologized to Audree for her behavior and Audree promised to have Gavin call her and say goodnight. She kissed her daughter and her parents goodnight and waved until they disappeared from view.
Audree returned to find the barn party in full swing. About fifty people were spread out on the makeshift dance floor, crowding the bar and sitting on the stacks of hay spread around for just that purpose. This party had gotten Audree thinking she could make some improvements and make this a more permanent rental place. She would have to talk to Ruby later about her new business venture idea. The new barn over at the rehab center housed the ranch’s horses; this ‘old’ family barn has become more of a storage area after the partying ended after Clint and Audree had grown up. There had been a few parties for friends and family, but nothing significant. Yet.
“Hey, you, another great job. Everything looks fantastic.” Audree offered Ruby a red plastic cup and hugged her shoulder.
“Everyone has been coming up to me and asking for business cards.” Ruby smiled gleefully.
“We are so talking about that tomorrow.” Audree smiled, imagining the success they could have. “I was just thinking…” She stopped talking when she saw Ruby’s eyes grow large and a smile so big – like she’d just seen a naked Matt Bomer walk toward her spread across her face.
“Who are they?” Ruby asked as she pulled her cup from her lips. “Holy crap, there are two of them; I have never seen them before.” She boldly turned around to watch the two dark haired men walking into the barn.
“They are certainly not from around here, maybe they are friends of your cousin’s fiancé? It is their party; we can’t know everyone.”
“Nope, they are with me. Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Travis grabbed Audree’s hand, and she grabbed Ruby’s as he pulled them behind him.
“Travis, wait, ouch.” Audree almost tripped behind him when he stopped short, but a strong hand wrapped around her waist and kept her from falling face first onto the floor.
“Travis, if you have to drag them,” a deep voice sounded, as he placed her back on her feet. “It usually means they’re not interested.” His laugh rumbled from deep in the chest that Audree’s back was currently pressed against.
“What the hell, Travis?” Audree pulled away from the arm that was wrapped around her waist and shoved Travis.
“Should we save you or just let her kick your ass,” another voice laughed behind her.
“Save him; she could do damage.” Ruby laughed, grabbing Audree’s hand as she went to swing at Travis’ head again. Travis laughed, pushing himself up as Audree spun away from him.
“Travis, are you going to introduce us to your beautiful friends? You are friends, right? He isn’t just dragging beautiful women around to torture the rest of us?” The man who stopped her from falling moved his eyes from Audree’s purple canvas sneakers, over her denim cut-off shorts, up her purple and white tank top, and finally rested his gaze on her eyes and blushing cheeks, his hazel eyes meeting her blue ones.
“Scotty, this is Audree.” Travis stepped up next to her, putting a protective arm over her shoulder. “Audree, this is Scotty.” he laughed when Ruby nudged his rib with her elbow. “And this beautiful woman is Ruby.” Travis winked at Ruby.
“Hello? Still here,” the man standing next to Scotty sighed. “I’d like to meet the beautiful women, too.”
“And this charmer is Harry. Harry, Audree, and Ruby,” the four said hello to each other.
“So, this is the famous Audree and Ruby. We have heard a lot about you.” Scotty smiled at Audree. “The way Travis always goes on about you, we didn’t think you really existed.” He winked. “Four years of school with this guy and hearing about you, but he never actually produced you in person.”
“Having a kid takes priority over hanging out at college football games.” Travis laughed and then stopped when Au
dree glared at him. “What?”
“Your daughter is as beautiful as her mother. She is going to be a knockout when she’s older.” Scotty looked into Audree’s shocked eyes. “Travis has pictures of you guys all over his apartment.” Scotty shrugged with a smile watching as a blush spread across Audree’s face.
“I need a drink,” Ruby interrupted.
“That sounds like a good idea. Audree, would you like a drink?” Scotty asked.
“Come on, let’s get a drink.” He grabbed her hand and started making his way through the crowd. Audree turned and looked at Ruby, was who grinning from ear to ear. Audree grabbed her hand again and towed her while Travis and Harry followed them, laughing.
***
Gavin stood at the back of the barn trying his best to stay away from Audree, mainly so he wouldn’t be tempted to throw her over his shoulder, drag her back to the house, and have his way with her. He tried to be social; he knew some of the people here, so he was able to keep his mind away from Audree for a few minutes at a time. He talked to guys he hadn’t seen in years, he fended off a few advances from woman he didn’t want when he lived here and sure as hell didn’t want now.
He knew he had to talk to Audree and he was not looking forward to it. He was still trying to figure out his next move. The same thoughts crossed his mind again and again…Do I stay, do I go? Do I tell her how I feel about her? Do I call Clint first and ask his permission? What if she doesn’t want this to be permanent? What if she does want it to be permanent? What if she wants it to stay the way it is, just sex?
All of this shit going through his head was exactly why he didn’t want to think about it, but Travis got it started today with his comments about using Audree; the last thing he had ever wanted to do. He knew she had stayed down at the barn preparing for the party longer than she’d needed to just so she wouldn’t be alone with him. He was both annoyed and relieved that she hadn’t come back, because then they would have just ended up in the same place they always did when they were alone, with him inside of her.
He took another drink from his bottle of beer and looked around the barn for Audree. He had seen her earlier talking to different groups of people. He liked watching her move around the crowd. He never really got to see her working her social magic; he knew she was social and loved being around people, especially kids. Except when he was around, then it was like she was a different person, much more guarded. He didn’t like it, but he understood it. She was doing the same thing he was, guarding his heart and keeping his distance-everywhere- except in bed.
Who the fuck is that! Gavin was instantly pulled out of his thoughts when he finally caught sight of Audree again. She was with some guy and he was holding her hand as they walked to the bar. He put his hand on her lower back while they stood at the bar with Ruby, Travis, and some other asshole who was eyeing Ruby like she was going to be his last meal. Good for Ruby, she is a great person and hasn’t had a guy in her life in a while. But his friend was touching Audree and that was not a good thing.
What the fuck is going on? I turn my head for a second and some asshat has his hands on my girl. My girl? Audree is not my girl, is she? She said it herself the day she left me standing in the barn. I didn’t claim her then and haven’t claimed her as mine since. We've never made a commitment to each other. We have a shared history, we have sex, but no real relationship. I don't have to explain myself to her or anyone else for that matter. Even without exclusivity she is the only woman I've been with in the last two years, but I'm sure as hell not going to tell her that. No one has asked my relationship status, if the did I probably wouldn't answer anyway. Let them think what they want.
She sure as hell wasn’t thinking of me when Brooks knocked her up. I don’t even want to think about her with another man, so I choose to be blind to the fact that … fuck, who am I kidding? It would kill me knowing she was with someone else. I would never claim to be celibate; there have been a handful of women in my bed, a couple in college after that night with Audree, and one after I found out about Eva. I stopped sleeping with her after Eva was born; I just couldn’t do it anymore. I realized I was only fucking her because I was mad at Audree for getting pregnant by someone else, but I sure as hell haven’t stepped up, so I figured I didn’t have a right to be mad at her. I can’t have her but what? I don’t want anyone else to have her? As wrong as it may be, no, I don’t want her to belong to anyone else but me.
We only started screwing around after she broken up with some idiot who let her get away after dating her for over a year and a half. I hated that guy. Travis said he was a good guy, but hardly ever around. Then he up and choose his career over Audree. Eva never even mentioned the guy except to say he was nice. I think Audree was just hanging with him to try to get me out of her mind. Just like I had done with Betty. Seemed it didn’t work any better for her than it did for me. So I came home. Eva was visiting Brooks for his or his girlfriend’s birthday. Leaving Audree and I alone. Audree was single, I was single, and we ended up fucking each other against the wall in the living room. Then we spent the weekend fucking in pretty much every room in her house, except her bedroom, a room I never took her in or spent any time in. A room no other man will ever have her if I have anything to say about it. Eva and Ruby’s room had been off limits too, but everywhere else was free range of them.
Gavin made his way around the room to get a better look at the group standing at the bar. Travis was chatting with a redhead wearing a black shirt with “Bride” in big letters written across her chest. Ruby was flirting with one of the guys that had come in with Travis and the hand holder that had his hands all over Audree. Well, his hands weren’t all over Audree, but they were certainly on her and she was doing nothing to remove them. But if that hand on her hip moved any closer to her ass Gavin would be removing that hand and the man attached to it very quickly. Mr. Hands moved closer to Audree and whispered something in her ear. Gavin watched as she threw her head back and laughed. God, she was beautiful when she laughed.
Another girl came up to Gavin, ran her hand across his chest, and flashed a wide smile at him from her red lipsticked lips. Gavin had never been much into the overly made up faces on women. He was a farm kid and liked a more natural look on his women. Audree never really wore make-up that he knew of, maybe some eyeliner and lip gloss, but other than that, she was just a natural beauty. He started to remove the woman’s hand, but noticed Mr. Hands was pulling Audree to the dance floor. And thankfully, Audree was pulling Ruby with her.
He moved around to get a better view of the dance floor and was relieved to see Audree and Ruby dancing with each other instead of the two guys dancing next to them.
“It is nice to see Audree let loose a little.” Travis stepped up behind Gavin and handed him a fresh bottle of beer. “We’ve tried to get her to go out with us, but she is always the designated driver and never really gets to let her hair down.” He smiled at the tension he saw in his brother’s jaw while he watched Scotty pull Audree close to his body. “Nothing stopping you from cutting in, man.” He tipped his bottle toward the dance floor.
“Who’s the guy? He’s not from around here.” Gavin gritted his teeth as Mr. Hands started to grind his body against Audree.
“Couple of friends from school.” He shrugged. “What? I keep in touch with some of the guys from the Fraternity.” He saw Gavin roll his eyes. He knew that Gavin hadn’t approved of his college life, too much partying and grades that allowed him to graduate by the skin of his teeth. Travis didn’t care; he hadn’t wanted to go to college anyway, but his father made him, saying that he needed a degree to make something of himself. This might explain why Travis got a job working with Audree’s father doing carpentry work. “Scotty and Harry are coming to work the ranch with me for a bit. Uncle Lou,” Audree’s uncle who owned a part of the family’s land on the far side of the property, “is talking about expanding and Scotty might help design and build some new equipment.” Travis almost choked on his beer as he laughed
at Gavin’s reaction to Audree now grinding her ass against the front of Scotty’s pants. “Down, boy.”
“Fuck you, Trav.”
“Harry is the one all over Ruby.” Travis pointed to Ruby dancing behind Audree. “They are trying to get their foot in the door…”
“I really don’t care.” Gavin glared at his brother.
“Sure you do. They will probably be here all summer, just working the farm. A farm that Audree drops her daughter off at couple of days a week, so Eva can spend time with her cousins while Audree has people at the ranch.” He laughed when Gavin glared at him and then back at the dance floor. “Kid is a born cattle woman.”
“Just like her mother,” Gavin mumbled.
“Yup.” He tapped his brother’s shoulder. “I’m going to find myself a cowgirl to dance with.” He laughed and walked behind Gavin.
“Don’t you have a fiancé?”
“She didn’t show up again,” he shrugged his shoulders. “She told me to have a goodtime, but not too good a time. So I can dance; just can’t touch or take home.” He held his hand up to his brother in an air salute. “Enjoy the show, just remember she and Ruby love to dance, they will be at it all night.” He smiled toward the dance floor.
I am not enjoying the show. I’m going to rip his fucking hands off. Gavin stormed toward the dance floor just as the music stopped.
“This is your DJ Marx Man; I’m going to be taking a half hour break. While I’m out please enjoy the music of this local band The Jenx Brothers.”
Gavin watched Audree lead Ruby back toward the bar, followed by Mr. Hands and his friend.
Thank God, she stopped rubbing up against that fucker.
***
“You realize you are driving Gavin absolutely nuts?” Ruby asked. She stood next to Audree at the bar as they sipped new bottles of beer.
Love Unclaimed (The Red Truck Series) Page 8
