by Brenda Novak
“It’s just dinner,” he muttered. It wasn’t as if she’d invited him back into her bed. They’d agreed that last night would be an isolated incident. Besides, it was early, so her kids would be up and interacting with them. Surely, Branson and Alia’s presence would keep him from doing anything he shouldn’t. Why sit here, angry and morose, waiting for Scott to arrive and make his night even worse?
He could always deal with Heather’s former boyfriend later.
The absurdity of fighting at all hit him as he showered. But he knew he might not have much choice in the matter. He wouldn’t allow Scott to push him around. If his childhood had taught him anything, it was how to deal with a physical threat. Scott seemed to believe that brute force could get him what he wanted, which proved that he was as big a fool as Gavin had first thought.
It was six-fifteen by the time Gavin was ready. He didn’t see Scott’s Camaro out front, though Scott had had plenty of time to drive over. Was he not coming?
Gavin checked his phone. There’d been no further word from him, either.
Hoping Heather’s former boyfriend would just let it go, Gavin pulled his hair back. He wouldn’t need his car keys, since he’d be walking over. But he was tempted to slip a condom in his wallet...
“See?” he said, disgusted that he’d even have the thought, and forced himself to leave without one.
He wasn’t going to sleep with Savanna again.
* * *
Savanna had splurged while she was in town earlier and bought a new blouse as well as a nude-colored bra and panty set. She figured she owed herself something after so much scrubbing and cleaning and unpacking. It was the first thing she’d bought beyond absolute necessities since Gordon had gone to jail, and it felt like Christmas. She loved being able to make such a purchase without having to account for it later, after Gordon got home. It was especially exciting to wear her new clothes knowing that Gavin might be coming over. He made her feel so desirable. And that was a rush, especially after going so long feeling as though she was merely an afterthought to her husband.
Still, the house needed repairs. She had no business buying sexy underwear. But she wouldn’t splurge again, and she was slowly improving their living situation. She’d removed all the junk and trash, knocked down the spiderwebs (the hardest job yet), cleaned out the closets and emptied at least half the boxes. In another day or two she’d have herself and her children completely moved in. Then she’d be able to tackle the list she’d been making of the things that needed to be repaired or replaced, get some bids and pull together a budget.
As she set the table, she kept glancing out the front window to see if Gavin was coming up her drive.
When she spotted him, her heart jumped into her throat. One night was never going to be enough, she realized. She supposed she’d known that when she bought the lingerie. But she wasn’t willing to get into another serious relationship, wasn’t ready to introduce another man into her children’s lives. Anyone who felt relieved just to be able to buy a bra, a pair of panties and a shirt needed to retain her freedom for a while. But she and Gavin could continue to enjoy each other physically, if they wanted to. They lived close, had the privacy and were extremely attracted to each other. At least, he’d seemed every bit as interested in her body as she was in his...
It would depend on whether they’d be able to keep the physical side of things in perspective, she decided. That alone was a big question mark. But, in case they continued to see each other in that way, she was glad she hadn’t thrown out her birth control pills. She could easily start taking them again.
The moment Gavin knocked, Branson jumped up from where he and Alia were sprawled out on the floor in front of the TV. “I’ll get it!”
As he raced past, Savanna went back into the kitchen, where she could hear Gavin greet Branson and tease him a little at the door.
“Come on in. Dinner’s almost ready,” Branson told him. Then he squealed and began to laugh as Gavin came around the corner carrying him by his ankles.
Savanna’s breath caught in her throat as she met Gavin’s eyes. She’d been worried that seeing him might be awkward—part of the reason she’d taken a moment to collect herself while Branson got the door. What they’d shared had been so intimate, yet they didn’t know each other that well.
She shouldn’t have worried, she told herself. Gavin could make anyone feel comfortable.
He smiled as he put down her son. “Thanks for the invite.”
The new bra and panty set she was wearing seemed to be burning her skin. “I’m glad you could come.”
The way his gaze swept over her made her wonder if he was thinking about last night, too. If so, he didn’t give any other indication. He gestured at the table. “What can I do to help?”
She pointed to a pitcher of lemonade. “If you could pour us all a drink, I’ll ladle out the stew.”
“You got it.”
As he slipped past her, she was tempted to lean toward him. She craved contact.
Fortunately, Branson had stayed to tell Gavin about the black widow he’d found in the old woodpile, so that kept her from acting on the impulse.
Gavin told him he had to be careful around woodpiles, that snakes liked them, too. Then Alia called out to tell Branson that his favorite cartoon was coming on, and Branson hurried back to the living room. Savanna thought maybe Gavin would touch her—if only briefly on the elbow—or show some other sign of the familiarity they’d enjoyed, but he didn’t. Although he was kind and polite, he seemed afraid to get too close to her.
“Is everything okay?” She eyed him curiously after she put the last bowl on the table.
“Fine.” He spoke as if he was surprised by the question, but he avoided her gaze, suggesting there was something wrong, so she lowered her voice.
“You don’t regret last night, do you?”
He scowled as he looked up at her. “Of course not. I loved last night.”
“So did I,” she admitted, but there was still something wrong. She could feel it.
She didn’t get the chance to press him. She wasn’t sure she would have, even if she’d had the chance. They’d agreed that last night would be what it was. She didn’t have the right to expect anything. So, doing her best to maintain a smile, she served dinner.
Fortunately, the kids were excited about a snail they’d put in an old aquarium they’d found in the barn, so they kept up the conversation by talking about that. Savanna could feel Gavin’s eyes on her occasionally, but whenever she looked back at him, he’d glance away. And as soon as they were finished with dinner, he said he was exhausted and heading home to bed.
Savanna couldn’t blame him for being tired. They’d been up for much of the night. She was tired, too. But it was a good kind of tired, one that came with a sense of satisfaction. She hoped last night wouldn’t prove to be the isolated encounter she’d insisted on, but Gavin was acting so remote she doubted anything would happen between them this evening.
What was he thinking?
She toyed with the idea of asking but lost her nerve. Last night, even before he touched her, she’d been sure of where she stood with him. Tonight...she was confused. Sometimes she thought she detected a hint of desire—especially when he’d first arrived. But if she searched his face to try to determine what he was feeling, he shuttered his eyes and feigned interest in the mundane.
“I’m sorry if you had a hard day,” she said as she walked him out. The kids wanted to join them. They stuck to Gavin like glue. But she promised them another cookie if they’d go inside and let her have a few minutes to talk to their neighbor alone.
“I didn’t have a hard day,” he said. “Well, I did. But not for the reason you might think.”
“You weren’t too tired?”
“I didn’t mind that.”
“So..
.what happened?”
She got the impression he had something important to say, but then her phone went off. It was Detective Sullivan. He’d told her he’d check in one final time to be sure she was ready for Gordon’s call, should it come tomorrow. He wanted to coach her on a few things—like how to get Gordon to say something he wouldn’t have had any way of knowing unless he was involved in Emma Ventnor’s disappearance.
She frowned as she stared down at caller ID, but she didn’t hit the talk button. If she was going to do as Sullivan asked—purposely try to get Gordon to talk about the missing sixteen-year-old—she could wait to call him until after Gavin went home.
“Your mother-in-law again?” Gavin asked.
“Not this time,” she said as she silenced the ringtone.
“I thought you only looked that troubled when she called.” He offered her a smile she could tell was specifically engineered to cheer her up.
“It’s the detective who searched my house in Nephi,” she explained with a grimace.
“They need you to come back and testify?”
“When he called this morning, that was my guess, too. But this is about something else.”
Concern registered on his face. “Don’t tell me he thinks you know something you’re not saying...”
“No. He knows I’m innocent of all that. At least, I think he does. The police are hoping to tie Gordon to another case.”
“A rape?”
“Possibly more than that.” She explained what the detective had told her.
Gavin ran a finger and thumb over his beard as he listened. “Wow.”
“Right? I really hope he isn’t responsible for this one. None of his other victims were so young. And he eventually let them go.”
“Why would she be different?”
“That’s the question, and what makes me think it has to have been someone else.” Unless there’d been extenuating circumstances. Maybe he’d beaten her too severely, without truly intending to kill her. Or someone was coming, and he’d had to silence her quickly.
All kinds of gruesome thoughts had filtered through Savanna’s mind...
“For you—and Alia and Branson—that would be a welcome break,” Gavin said.
He sounded supportive but not convinced Emma’s attacker was someone else. “So I should do what I can.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
She leaned on the porch railing and gazed out at the tranquil night. “Why? Sullivan—the detective—insists it’s my duty to help in whatever capacity I can.”
“He’s concerned about putting Gordon away for life. And while I’d like to see that happen, too, I’m more concerned about you. I’m guessing Gordon’s a psychopath, since he seems capable of compartmentalizing to the point that you and the kids had no idea what he was doing. Provoking a man like that could be dangerous.”
“Not as long as he’s behind bars...”
“That’s the problem. Even if he’s found guilty, we have no idea what kind of sentence he’ll get, or if something will happen later where he’s released for good behavior, overcrowding, whatever. And his mother, who’s his fiercest defender, is able to move around at will. What if she gets angry enough to come out here and start trouble?”
Savanna had been trying not to worry about that possibility. Dorothy was twenty-two years older. It seemed silly to fear being physically attacked by someone’s mother. And yet... Dorothy was willing to go further than most people. She didn’t have a lot of control or restraint. The night she’d shown up at their house in Nephi and started screaming and kicking the front door had been unsettling, if not downright frightening. Savanna had fully believed that Dorothy would attack her, given the chance.
Even if Savanna could overcome her, she didn’t want her children to be subjected to another emotional episode like the last one. Watching the cops drag their grandmother off had been a difficult thing to see.
“She has a temper,” she admitted. “You should hear some of the stories Gordon told me over the years. Sometimes I wonder if all the alcohol she’s consumed has destroyed her brain.”
“You have my number,” Gavin said. “All you have to do is call me if you need anything. It doesn’t matter what time. I’ll come as soon as I can.”
“Thank you.” She felt a measure of relief. He seemed to care about her safety, so maybe last night hadn’t destroyed their friendship, as she’d begun to fear. “With any luck I won’t need to bother you.”
“I’d rather you call, even if you’re only frightened.” His hand accidentally brushed hers, and the same spark she’d felt last night zipped through her, making her wish he’d mention the possibility of returning after the kids went to bed. But he didn’t. Pulling his gaze away from her face, he thanked her for dinner and told her good-night.
“’Night,” she murmured as he stepped off the porch.
* * *
Why didn’t he tell her?
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Gavin put his head down as he walked home. He’d nearly mentioned Heather, would have done so if the detective hadn’t interrupted. But after he heard everything Savanna was dealing with, he’d figured he could keep his problems to himself. She’d already let him know she wasn’t a romantic option, so he didn’t need to explain why he couldn’t sleep with her again.
Or did he? Was he just using that as an excuse, holding out hope that something would change?
As soon as he crossed the creek and knew he was out of sight of her house, he kicked a rock down the road and cursed under his breath. The good news was that he didn’t see Scott’s Camaro in his drive. The bad news was that he saw Heather’s Pathfinder—and found her sitting on his front step.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
She stood as he crossed the lawn. “Scott called me earlier. He was so angry. I was afraid he might come over and start a fight, if not with me at my place, with you over here. I came to make sure he couldn’t surprise you.”
“It wouldn’t have come as a surprise,” Gavin said. “He texted me earlier, trying to start something.”
“What’d he say?”
“Just a bunch of bullshit.”
She hugged herself against the cool night air. “I’m sorry. He’s not making things any easier.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t plan this. How long have you been waiting?”
“At least thirty minutes. Where were you?”
He jerked his head toward Savanna’s. “Next door.”
Heather pressed her lips into a straight line.
He knew that look well. “Is something wrong?”
“Not if... I mean, you told me you were going home to bed.”
“Heather, stop.”
“I’m just wondering what you were doing there, that’s all.”
He considered mentioning dinner but didn’t want to kindle her jealousy when he’d managed to back away from Savanna so successfully. It hadn’t been easy, but he’d kept his hands to himself and he’d said almost nothing about last night. “Just helping out a little.” Although that was stretching the truth a bit, he didn’t have it in him to try to reassure her tonight.
“Savanna’s pretty, don’t you think?”
Recognizing that as the trap it was, he sidestepped the question. “You’ve met her?”
“I stopped by earlier, when I was looking for you. She was out getting her mail.”
He pulled his house key from his pocket. Typically, he didn’t bother to lock his doors, not if he was in the area. But he’d locked them tonight. He hadn’t wanted to come home to find that Scott had trashed his belongings. “Why didn’t you call me?” He held the door so she could precede him into the house. “Let me know you were waiting?”
“I tried,” she replied.
He pulled out his phone to see why he hadn’t been alerted and discovered that it’d run out of battery. He’d been so engrossed in fighting his attraction to Savanna he hadn’t checked it since he’d left the house. “Oh. Sorry. It’s dead.”
“So what did you do for your gorgeous neighbor tonight?”
Gavin gave her a pointed look. It was her possessiveness that had broken them up the last time—because an ex-girlfriend had come to town and had wanted to see him. “Heather, please. Let’s not start that again.”
She lifted a hand. “I won’t. I’m just a little insecure, considering our history and the situation I’m in right now.” She looked close to tears when she slipped into his arms. “I guess I need a little TLC. It’s been a rough week.”
“I bet.” He rubbed her back, trying to give her that TLC. If he was going to be her significant other, he had to fulfill her somehow—couldn’t care only about the child. But when she took that as a sign that he might be amenable to more and turned her face to kiss him, he had to pull back.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m not ready.”
14
After she’d returned Detective Sullivan’s call, Savanna carried her laptop to the couch in the living room. She was exhausted and needed to sleep, but she also needed to prepare for the next time Gordon tried to reach her, which could easily be tomorrow morning. She hadn’t heard from him or his mother today, which was a little odd given how often they’d tried to reach her in the preceding weeks. She assumed they were both angry over how she’d handled their last conversation. She doubted they’d let her go on her way that easily, however. They’d contact her again, and while Dorothy could do so whenever, Gordon had access to a phone only while he was out of his cell and in the day room, or general area, where the inmates spent most of their time.
Her stomach cramped as she typed the name “Emma Ventnor” into a search engine. Although she hated to put a face to that name, she thought a picture might tell her more than she knew. At the very least, the accompanying articles could provide information Detective Sullivan had not. The police had been so calculating with her in the past, revealing certain details while keeping others hidden, that she didn’t trust them much more than Gordon. She understood the reason for the games they’d played with her, of course, but she also preferred to go into this phone call prepared, didn’t want to help them tie Gordon to a murder if he wasn’t responsible for it.
