Love Unclaimed

by Jennifer Benson

  “Audree, come have a drink with us,” a couple of guys Audree knew from school said from the corner by the door.

  “Wish I could, but …” she rolled her eyes again when she felt Gavin’s hand at her lower back nudge her toward the door. “Night, guys.” She stomped off ahead of Gavin.

  “Pip, you know we are just protecting you from guys like that.” He caught up to her in two strides and laughed when she looked at him. “What? We’re guys and we all think about the same thing when we come across a nice beautiful girl like you.” She thought she heard a slight quiver in his voice when he called her ‘beautiful’, but he quickly covered it with a laugh and smile. “Clint and I are simply looking out for your well-being, just like any good brother would.”

  “You are not my brother!” She stomped away from him again. “And please stop calling me Pip.”

  Thank goodness for that, he thought, because the thoughts going through his head, as he watched her walk a few steps ahead of him, wearing cutoff shorts and a tiny ass t-shirt, were anything but brotherly. He’d known he was in trouble when it came to Audree when he was younger, because not only did he want to protect her from other boys, but he also wanted to protect her from the teasing and torment of her own brother. Not that Clint would ever physically hurt Audree, but he teased her as any good older brother would, making fun of her, calling her names and breaking the occasional toy.

  Although Gavin couldn’t stop Clint from making fun of her and calling her names, he did his best to take care of the broken toys. As far as he knew, neither Clint nor Audree nor anyone else ever found out that when he and Clint, mostly Clint, broke something of Audree’s, he would sneak into her room at night and either fix it or replace it. He remembered one night after sneaking into her bedroom, he’d caught himself just staring at her and noticing how peaceful she was when she slept. He kissed her on the forehead that night before slipping out of her room with a headless doll that Audree had just gotten.

  “So I guess I won’t be seeing you for a while after tonight,” Audree said as they reached the back door of the house, interrupting his thoughts.

  “Yeah, Clint is supposed to be picking me up tomorrow morning at nine.” He stepped up behind her.

  “Huh, good luck with that.” She laughed, looking back toward the barn. “Well then, you take care of yourself, keep an eye on the man whore and don’t knock anyone up while you are away.” She stepped forward to put her arms around his waist, but just to push her luck a little more, she put a hand on his chest. A smile spread across her face when she heard what sounded like a growl, come from deep within his chest, and she felt his body stiffen.

  “I promise not to knock anyone up and to keep an eye on him.” He inhaled deeply when she moved her warm hand against his chest.

  “Good, then we’ll see you guys back here for Thanksgiving.” She leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek, hoping to memorize everything about him in that moment. “Bye, Gavin,” she whispered, then deliberately brushed her hands over his hips as she pulled way and slipped through the door into the dark kitchen. “Holy shit! Go me.” She chuckled to herself as she started through the swinging kitchen door.

  “Audree,” he said as he took hold of her arm and spun her around to face him. “You didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye.” He slid his hand to the back of her head and pulled her face just inches from his own. Before she had a chance to respond, he pushed his body into hers, pressing her back against the wall next to the doorframe. Her mind couldn’t catch up to what was happening as he pressed his tongue against her lower lip. She had never been kissed, let alone kissed like this, and by Gavin of all people. She had dreamed about this kiss for years.

  She told herself that she had to stop thinking and let Gavin control the kiss. Knowing all she needed to do was relax, she opened her mouth to him and he slipped his tongue between her lips. As soon as Gavin’s tongue began to explore her mouth, she melted into him. A moan escaped her lips and he pushed against her harder, deepening the kiss. She moved her arms around his neck and curled her fingers through his short dark hair. Just as she was about to pull back and speak his name, the pressure of his body holding her against the wall was gone. She opened her eyes as he stepped back from her.

  “Audree, I... I’m sorry... I…,” and then he was gone. Gavin disappeared through the back door, leaving her shocked and her body chilled from the loss of his body.

  “What the fuck was that?” She ran her hand through her hair. “Well, here’s to a night of absolutely no sleep. Ugh.” She knocked her head against the wall and slid down to the floor.

  “Oh, Audree, what are you doing down here? You weren’t sneaking down to the barn were you?” Talia’s voice broke the dark silence of the room as she stepped through the kitchen door and flipped on the kitchen light.

  “Nope, I wasn’t sneaking down to the barn.” She lifted her head up to see her mother fill a mug with milk and pour it into a pot on the stove.

  “You know that doesn’t work, right?”

  “I know that and you know that, but it helps relax your father, so I just go with it.” She laughed. “Did you get a chance to say goodbye to your brother and Gavin?” She stirred the milk warming in the pot.

  “Yeah, I saw them earlier.” She brushed her fingers over her lips, still feeling Gavin’s pressed again them.

  “Gavin kiss you goodbye?” Her mother turned to her with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

  “Mom!”

  “What? That boy has been crazy about you since he was little, chasing after you in the yard. Hell, I had to stop your father from shooting him one night when we saw him climbing out of your bedroom window.”

  “You knew about that?”

  “Your father wasn’t happy until I discovered what exactly was going on. He likes Gavin and Travis. They are like his own sons, but you aren’t ready for…”

  “Stop.” Audree held up her hand. “He is leaving tomorrow and has made it pretty clear that he has no intention of hanging around here and that I’m like a little sister to him.” She didn’t realize she was brushing her fingers over her lips again.

  “That must have been one hell of a kiss.” Her mother kissed her on the top of the head as she made her way back to the kitchen door. “Goodnight, dear.” She laughed at Audree’s shocked face. “Make sure to turn the light off before you come upstairs.”

  Nine years ago…

  Audree had planned an amazing summer. She had graduated high school a couple of months ago and turned eighteen. This summer, she had every intention of going through with her plan to give her virginity to Gavin. Even if Gavin had pretty much stayed away from her for the last two years, she wanted him to be her first. She knew he wouldn’t miss coming home for this birthday. It was her eighteenth and her last one before she left for college. She never understood the concept of “losing” one’s virginity to someone. In her mind, if she knew who she was with, and it was what she wanted, then she couldn’t really lose it. She would freely give it, and she did not intend to give hers to some random college guy. There was only one man who deserved that honor, and she knew had devised an elaborate plan to give it to Gavin.

  Gavin had all but disappeared for his first two years of college. They shared the breath-taking kiss after that last summer party before he left for college, but he’d rarely come home since. He would even spend the holidays away from home. Audree was sure he visited his mother, but he never stopped by to see her. Lizzy never mentioned his visits, but Audree knew by the flowers in his mother’s home, that he’d been there. Clint would tell her that Gavin was working over the school breaks at some of the clubs to earn extra money, but Audree knew he was avoiding her.

  If Travis invited Audree and Ruby to hang out with Gavin and Clint, Gavin would keep his distance and rarely made eye contact with her. He avoided being alone with her at all costs. If Audree were the only one in a room, he would turn around and go look for something, and then walk back into the room when someone els
e arrived. He would only ride in a car with her if someone else were with them. He had only touched her once; he’d had to remove some guy at a bar from her personal space and he’d picked her up and moved her out of the way while he dragged the guy outside. Yes, he literally picked her up by her elbows and moved her.

  Audree had plans to change this, and she wasn’t going to let him get away. Tonight was the night of her eighteenth birthday. There wasn’t a huge party, just friends and family around the pool. The big surprise party had taken place in the barn the previous weekend. Audree was thrilled that Clint had made it home and was staying for the week. Gavin hadn’t shown up for the surprise party, but surprised everyone by showing up for the family party, on her actual birthday.

  Except for her mother, Ruby was the only one Audree had told about the kiss. Ruby was pissed that Gavin had left the way he had, but she was very much aware of his behavior toward Audree since. Ruby told her that she saw the way he looked at her and knew he wanted her, but that he was going to stay away from her because of his friendship with Clint. Audree knew Ruby kept her eye on Gavin. Ruby wanted to warn him to stay away from her best friend, because she knew Audree wouldn’t stay away from him. All she could do was wait to see what he did and make sure he didn’t hurt Audree.

  Anyone who had shared space with Audree and Gavin could feel the charge in the air around them. Ruby figured maybe Gavin was just waiting until Audree turned eighteen to make his move, so she would continue to keep an eye on him. Ruby knew that if he hurt her best friend, she would have to hurt him. This, of course, would be difficult to do without hurting Audree and without Clint finding out. If Clint found out, Gavin might lose his best friend. Everyone knew that, no one’s feelings came before Audree’s in Clint’s mind. Anyone who hurt her would have to deal with him.

  “Happy Birthday, Pip.” Gavin walked up, gave her a peck on the cheek, and hoped she didn’t notice him inhale her scent when he gave her a hug. He made every effort to make sure he didn’t press his body too close to hers.

  “Ugh, really, please don’t start calling me Pip again. I hated it when I was little and I hate it just as much, if not more, now.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Audree smiled when she heard him moan in her ear and felt his body stiffen before he could take a step back.

  “You may be eighteen today, but you will always and forever be Pipsqueak.” He smiled down at her.

  “No one has called me that in years.” She looked up at him.

  “That is because you finally got boobs,” Travis called from behind them and everyone laughed.

  “It’s nice of you to notice, Travis.” Audree’s father, Spencer, smacked him on the back of the head as he walked by, carrying a handful of plates to put down on the table.

  “Aw, well, it took them long enough to show up.” Travis laughed, still rubbing the back of his head.

  “Travis, really,” her mother chimed in from across the patio as she set a cake down onto the center of the table. “Gavin, when did you get here? Clint said you weren’t sure if you would be able to make it.” She kissed him on the cheek and pulled him in for a hug.

  “I had to wait to make sure my shift was covered. Clint has seniority so he gets to ditch whenever he feels like it. We grunts have to wait it out.” He smiled at Talia.

  “Well, I hope you’ll be able to stay for a couple of days, maybe go see your father.” She guided him over to the table where he shook her father’s hand and they nodded at each other the way men do.

  “Audree said she saw Malcolm in town the other day,” Audree’s father stated matter-of-factly, not noticing the looks shared among Travis, Clint, and Gavin or when all eyes turned to Audree, who just shrugged her shoulders.

  “He wished her a Happy Birthday,” her mother said, also oblivious to the tension radiating off Gavin.

  “We’ll talk about this later,” Gavin whispered to Audree, as he passed by her to stand next to his brother near the table.

  “Come on, honey. Come on over and blow out your candles, so you can make a wish and open your presents.” Her mother squeezed her shoulders and guided her over to the table.

  Audree waited until everyone had finished singing “Happy Birthday,” leaned down, and closed her eyes. She said her silent wish and looked up at the only person who could fulfill it. She smiled and blew out the candles. The tightening of Gavin’s jaw relaxed as he smiled down at her and shook his head ‘no’. She blushed at the realization that he knew exactly what her wish had been.

  “Presents, presents.” With a roll of her eyes, Ruby grabbed Audree’s arm and spun her around, breaking the stare between Audree and Gavin.

  “Audree, this is from your father and me,” her mother said as she handed her an envelope. Although Audree had a feeling she knew what was in it, her stomach knotted when her mother handed it to her. Clint had received a similar envelope on his eighteenth birthday.

  “I don’t think I’m ready for this,” she said, looking at her parents.

  “For now, it is in name only. You have to finish school first.” Her father kissed her on the cheek and sat down with his piece of cake. He was so nonchalant about handing Audree her half ownership of the Edwards’ land, as if he was handing her a ten-dollar bill and telling her to go have fun with it.

  “I really don’t know what to say,” she said, tightening her hold on the envelope. “Thank you,” she whispered then moved to hug them both.

  “Me next.” Clint stood up and walked over to his sister. “It took me a while to get a hold of this and to get it working, but… but it is yours.” He handed her a key dangling a keychain with a red capital ‘A’.

  “Clint, what did you do?” she gasped.

  “Do you remember old man Garver’s old red truck?” He laughed when he saw her eyes light up.

  “You didn’t!” she shrilled.

  “Took forever, but…” He laughed harder when she jumped into his arms, threw her arms and legs around him, and started kissing his face. “Every farm girl needs her own little truck to bop around the farm in, of course.”

  “Where is it? Where is it?” She jumped down from his waist and looked around.

  “Down at the barn, but …” He looked over at his mother.

  “You and your guests haven’t finished your cake,” Talia said, looking at her daughter.

  “Well, I already gave her my gift.” Ruby smirked devilishly at her and winked.

  “My gift kind of goes with the truck; I bought the tires.” Travis beamed proudly.

  “You knew?” She jumped at Travis, threw her arms around him, and hugged him. “You cannot keep a secret to save your life.” She laughed, pulling away from him.

  “I was threatened with having my balls…,” He stopped when he met Talia’s eyes. “Sorry, I was threatened with bodily harm if I told.” He took a step closer to Audree. “And I need my balls,” he whispered to her.

  “You can go after we finish our cake and you open Gavin’s gift,” Talia remarked, and all eyes turned to Gavin.

  “It can wait if she wants to go after we finish our cake.” He blushed and moved so everyone would stop looking at him.

  Audree thought she was going to die if she had to wait one more minute to go see her new/old truck. She had loved that truck since she was a little girl. She always said that when she had enough money saved, she would buy it. Mr. Garver owned the feed store in town and had the old truck parked out back for as long as Audree could remember. When their parents would go shopping, Audree and Clint would take turns pretending to drive it while they waited. Mr. Garver had never married and had no children so he’d said Audree could have the truck when she was older, but it would take her forever to save enough money to have it restored. She knew Clint, Travis, Gavin or even herself could rebuild the engine. They had all been working on cars, trucks, tractors and all the equipment and vehicles on the farm since they were kids.

  She couldn’t get over the fact that Clint had actually bought the t
ruck and restored it for her birthday. She couldn’t wait to go see it, and the suspense was killing her. Her mother made them all sit there for almost another hour eating cake, having coffee, and catching up with Clint and Gavin. Her eyes kept shifting between Gavin and the gift box that was presently sitting on his thigh. She knew he saw her looking at it, and every once in a while, he would shift it to the other leg or hold it between his hands and twirl it.

  Finally, after the dishes were taken into the house and cleaned up, her mother released them. Audree was the first to kiss her mother and father on the cheek, thanking them for her party and gift before she bolted through the gate toward the barn. She was halfway there when Gavin came up behind her and scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “You are taking too damn long.” He laughed. She screamed and smacked his ass as he ran, and the others ran behind them laughing.

  “So very not funny.” She smacked him harder and then he stopped and set her down just before they reached the barn. Clint and Travis went over to the barn to open the doors while Ruby held her hand and Gavin stood behind her with his big hands over her eyes. She was no longer sure which she was more excited about, the truck, or having Gavin touching her so much. It had been so long since he was so carefree with her.

  She didn’t realize she had been leaning back against Gavin’s chest until he leaned forward and whispered, “You’re not playing fair, Pip.” The spell between them was broken when Ruby tugged her hand and she heard the sounds of the tires rolling out of the barn in front of her.

  “Come on, little sister. Come start your truck,” Clint called from in front of her, and she could hear the smile on his face. Gavin kept his hands over her eyes, and he and Ruby walked her over to the front of the truck.

  “Ready?” Gavin asked.

  “Yes.” She laughed, answering both the question about the truck and then gently bumping her backside into the erection that had been pressing against her back. She giggled when he groaned and removed his hand from her eyes.