“This thing is harder to drive than I thought it would be.”
I laughed. “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you.”
“You’re totally laughing at me, but that’s okay.” He backed up a few inches, straightened the wheels, and moved forward again. “I think I’m getting it now. Do you want to ride with me?”
I had a sudden vision of straddling Gavin’s lap on the scooter. Sliding my leg over one side and settling on top of him. Feeling the pressure of the bulge in his pants pressing between my legs.
“No. No, I’ll walk,” I said quickly.
“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind. Your shoes are cute, but if your feet get tired, you can totally hop on.”
Hop on Gavin Bailey? God, why did that make me think of sex? That wasn’t what he meant, and I was sure he wasn’t thinking about sex. A little burst of tingles between my legs almost made me clench my thighs together.
I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear. “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. Tilikum town tour commencing.” He gestured to the coffee shop behind me. “That’s the Steaming Mug, of course. Grace runs it.”
“It’s nice. Good coffee.”
“Yeah, and it’s a great place to meet girls.” He winked, those dimples of his puckering in his cheeks.
“Good to know.”
He grinned and pulled ahead, so I took a few quick steps to follow.
“Across the street is Bigfoot Diner. They’re open for breakfast and lunch. Best pancakes in town.” He pointed to another restaurant a block over. “That’s the Copper Kettle Diner. We don’t go there.”
“Let me guess. That’s a Haven restaurant?”
“Yup. So it’s a no-go when you’re on the Bailey side.”
“And hanging out with you puts me on the Bailey side, I suppose.”
“The Stanleys have always been on the Bailey side. But yeah, hanging out with me does it too. Especially since we’re being seen together in public.” He lifted his hand and waved to two men standing outside the Copper Kettle. “Hey, Theo. Garrett.”
Both men scowled at him.
“Nice ride,” one of them said, his sarcasm clear as day.
“Thanks. Did you enjoy your donuts?”
“Fuck off, Gavin,” the other one said.
I took an involuntary step backward, although neither of them seemed interested in coming over here. They turned their backs on us and went into the diner.
“What was that about?”
Gavin gave an amused chuckle. “That was Garrett and Theo Haven. We sent them donuts filled with mayonnaise the other day. It’s the second time we’ve done it, but judging by the looks on their faces, they forgot to check before eating them.”
“Gross.”
“It’s a classic.”
We made our way up the sidewalk and Gavin pointed out businesses and places of interest. Like I’d told Ginny, there were two of most things. Some were near each other, like the two diners. Others had streets or blocks separating them, like the two beauty salons. There wasn’t any rhyme or reason to it. No dividing line that kept the two sides of the feud separate. Just places some people frequented, or didn’t frequent, according to their loyalty.
Gavin seemed to know just about everybody. He charmed his way through town with his easygoing smile. Waved to people across the street. Said hello to those who were close enough. We stopped for a moment so Doris Tilburn—a woman who looked to be in her sixties and owner of the Angel Cakes Bakery—could sign his cast.
A group of squirrels scattered outside Happy Paws, the pet supply store, when we approached. Gavin peeked in and waved to someone inside.
“You really do know everyone, don’t you?” I asked.
“More or less.” He jerked forward as he brought the scooter to a stop. “You sure you don’t want a ride?”
I’d have to sit on his lap, which was oddly tempting.
I settle onto his lap and drape my arms around his shoulders. He hooks an arm around my waist and his hand slides up to cup my breast while our mouths meet for a deep kiss—
Oh god, I was doing it again.
“You okay?” Gavin asked.
“Yes, fine. Sorry. This sweater is just a little warm. I thought it would be colder outside. Are you warm?”
He shrugged. “I’m comfortable.”
“It’s probably just me.”
He smiled, and for a half a second, I almost did climb in his lap.
“Shall we continue?” he asked.
“Yes. Lead the way.”
We kept walking and the large pinup girl statue outside the Dame and Dapper Barber Shop caught my eye. She was dressed in a skimpy red dress and fishnet stockings, and she had a large handlebar mustache and pointy beard.
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to her.
“Oh, that’s Lola. Haven’t you ever seen Lola?”
“I’ve seen her, although I didn’t know she had a name. But why does she have facial hair?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
The way he said that made me think he knew everything about it.
A man in a white apron stood in the Dame and Dapper doorway. Crossing his arms, he leveled a glare at Gavin.
“Hey, Bruce,” Gavin said. “I like Lola’s new look.”
He narrowed his eyes and shook his head, muttering something under his breath.
Gavin chuckled as we moved past.
A little farther down the street, we came to the Zany Zebra, a burger and ice cream place painted with white and black zebra stripes. For the first time since I’d gotten into town, a strong childhood memory came back to me.
“I think Dad used to take me for ice cream there,” I said. “It was back when he had an old convertible. We used to go for long drives and I think we’d come through town and get ice cream.”
“That’s awesome,” Gavin said. “They have great ice cream. We can get some if you want.”
“No, I’m good. But thanks.”
We kept going and Gavin stopped again, right across from the Caboose.
“And here’s where an unsuspecting firefighter, fresh off the front lines of a wildfire, was tragically injured.”
“Because he stepped into the street without looking both ways.”
He grinned. “Touché. Although my story’s funnier.”
“What’s funny about being hit by a car and breaking your leg?”
“What isn’t funny about it? I survived a fire shelter deployment only to get hit by a car. It’s hilarious.”
I laughed softly. “I guess that’s one way to look at it.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I am, actually.”
He gestured to the Caboose. “Should we go grab some food?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
He grinned again and that smile was not helping ease the tingling between my legs.
The scooter beeped as he backed up and maneuvered it so he could cross the street. “I think I’m getting better at this. Okay, you see me looking both ways this time, right?” He looked right, then left, then right again.
“Yes, I think we’re clear.”
“Can’t be too careful. There are some crazy drivers around here.” He glanced at me. “Although I guess I’m safe, since you’re here with me and not behind the wheel.”
I laughed again and it occurred to me I hadn’t laughed this much in… I didn’t know how long. After several years dating a man who almost never smiled, let alone laughed, the contrast was striking.
“Very funny,” I said wryly.
“I’m just messing with you.” He winked at me again. “Let’s go.
10
Gavin
Getting to a table in the Caboose wasn’t easy. Maybe I should have gone back for my crutches first. I left the scooter in a parking spot and managed to lean on things and hop my way inside, then to a booth. I’d figure out how to get back outside when the time came. No big deal.
She was really fucking pretty.
Smelled good too. Every time she got close, I caught her scent. It was sensual and warm. Made me feel a bit like I’d taken a long swallow of whiskey.
But that was the kind of thinking that was going to get me in trouble.
It wasn’t just that I’d told Chief I’d stick to being friends—that I wouldn’t sneak a cookie from the cookie jar. Skylar had her defenses up, big time. I had a feeling she’d been hurt, and maybe that was why she was here in town. As fun as it would have been to see what it took to get past those defenses, I was strangely reluctant to go there.
Which was very weird and unlike me. Normally I couldn’t resist a challenge. But it was like my danger instinct was telling me to chill out with her.
Still, I liked her. Which was why this be her friend thing was the best idea I’d had in a while. Even if my dick wanted different things.
“If you like onion rings, they’re really good here,” I said.
“I do like onion rings.”
The server came over and we placed our orders—cheeseburgers with a side of onion rings for both of us.
“What made you want to become a writer?” I asked after the server left.
“I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid. It’s just something I love to do. Although I guess when I was a kid, I wasn’t writing about serial killers.”
“Your parents might have worried if you were.”
She smiled. She was so pretty when she did that. “Yeah, they would have. What about you? Did you always want to be a firefighter?”
“Oh yeah, since I was little. I debated between this and the Coast Guard, but being a firefighter meant I could stay in Tilikum, so firefighter it is. What made you start writing about serial killers?”
“I guess it started as a way to cope with my fears. I’m a pretty anxious person, but writing lets me create worlds where I can face scary things in a safe way.”
“Why? What are you afraid of?”
She shrugged. “Everything?”
“Come on, you’re not really afraid of everything.”
“No, I guess not. I’m not even afraid of specific things, necessarily. I just get anxious a lot.”
“So you’re not afraid of something like heights?”
“No, I’m terrified of heights.”
“That’s a specific thing.”
“True. But being afraid of heights doesn’t impact my life very much. It’s easy to avoid.”
“Then what are you scared of that’s hard to avoid?”
“Why are you so interested in my fears?”
I shrugged. “Because I’m interested in you.”
Her dark eyes held mine for a moment. Made my heart beat a little harder. She was so intense. Like there was a lot more going on in her head than she let other people see.
“People make me nervous, especially if I don’t know them. I never know what to say and I worry about what they’re thinking and whether I look stupid or they think I’m crazy or weird. I get anxious when I go somewhere new. I worry about getting lost or something unexpected happening and being unprepared or not knowing what to do. I don’t like feeling uncertain.” She glanced away again. “What are you afraid of?”
“Nothing.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “Everyone’s afraid of something.”
“Maybe I am and I just haven’t found it yet. But so far, nope. I don’t get scared.”
“Ever?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You’re a firefighter. Haven’t you ever been in a situation that scared you?”
“No. I’ve been in dangerous situations plenty of times, but I wasn’t afraid. I get amped up on adrenaline a lot, but I don’t think that’s the same as fear. It doesn’t make me want to run away. It makes me want to dive in head first.”
“Into a fire?”
I smiled. “Not if I can help it. But if I have to, I will.”
“Without fear.”
“Yeah. When shit hits the fan, my instincts are sharp. Things get very clear. It’s almost like I know what’s going to happen, so I know I don’t have to worry.”
“You didn’t know you were going to get hit by a car.” Her mouth twitched in a smile.
“No, that one caught me by surprise. I can’t claim I never get myself into trouble, or never get hurt. I’ve probably broken more bones than all my brothers combined.”
“Well, fear does serve a purpose. It keeps us out of danger.”
“Sometimes. And sometimes it just gets in the way.”
“I’m afraid I’ll never write another book.” She clapped her hand over her mouth, eyes widening. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her hand. “I don’t know why I just told you that.”
“Why are you afraid you won’t write another book?”
“Because I haven’t written much of anything in months. Nothing usable. I keep going from idea to idea, starting new things and never getting anywhere with them.”
“Why?”
“That’s the problem, I don’t know. I’ve never been so blocked before. Writing was always challenging work, it wasn’t like it was effortless and suddenly it got hard and I can’t handle it. But I sit down to write and there’s just… nothing.”
“Is that why you moved out here? To see if it would help you write?”
She hesitated for a moment. “Mostly, yes. But I’m afraid that maybe this is permanent.”
“It’s definitely not permanent.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it doesn’t make sense that it would be. You don’t just forget how to write books when you’ve already done it… how many times?”
“Twelve.”
“You’ve written twelve entire novels?”
She smiled again, and man, I really liked making her do that.
“Yes. But my last book didn’t sell as well as the publisher wanted, so they dropped me. I don’t even have anyone to publish another book if I actually manage to write one.”
“Is that why you’re blocked? Because your publisher dropped you?”
“You’d think so, but no. It started before that happened.”
“That sucks.”
“I know, that would at least be an answer.”
Our food came and the conversation turned to other things while we ate. I asked her about growing up in Spokane and where she’d gone to college. And I told her some stories about working with her dad. She was so easy to talk to, it felt like we’d known each other forever.
After we finished, I hopped my way outside, back to the mobility scooter. This thing sure had come in handy. It was kind of a pain to drive, but it was better than walking all over town on one leg.
I tried to turn it on, but nothing happened.
“Uh oh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I think the battery died.”
Well this was inconvenient. We were all the way across town from Nature’s Basket. I couldn’t walk very far without my crutches, and I’d left those there.
“Do you want me to walk to my car and come get you? Or go get your crutches? Or go get help?”
“I don’t want to make you do that. I can call someone to pick us up.”
Evan had a truck. He could run into town, pick us up, and help me get the scooter back to the grocery store. I pulled up Evan’s number and hit send.
“What do you want, Gav?”
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“I’m working.”
“Cool, then you probably need a break.”
“No.”
“You sure about that? You work a lot.”
He didn’t reply.
“Look, I just
need a ride.”
“No.”
“Come on, bro. The scooter I took from Nature’s Basket ran out of batteries and—”
“Do you have an actual problem, or a Gavin problem?”
“An actual Gavin problem.”
“I have to get back to work.”
“But Evan—”
He ended the call.
“Such a dick,” I muttered.
Logan was on duty, so he was no help. I didn’t know what Asher was doing today. Probably coaching. But Levi was off. I didn’t really want to call Levi. He’d give me a harder time than Evan. But I was kind of out of options, so angry twin it was.
“Yeah?” he answered.
“Hey, bro. I have an issue.”
“What?”
“So you know how I’m hanging out with Skylar and showing her around town?”
“No…”
“Yes you do, I told you. Anyway, I borrowed one of the scooter cart things from Nature’s Basket and it kind of ran out of batteries and I’m on the other side of town and can’t get it back to return it. And I really need to return it. I left a note saying I would.”
“Jesus, Gav.”
“Can you come get us?”
“Why the hell did you take a scooter from Nature’s Basket?”
“Because I have a broken leg.”
He was quiet for a long moment. “Where are you?”
“Caboose.”
“Fine.”
“Don’t hang up yet.”
“Why?”
“You should probably bring a ramp. To get the scooter in the back of your SUV.”
“Why do you always do shit like this?”
“Like what?”
He groaned. “Skylar is stuck with you?”
“Yeah.”
“Fine. But I’m only coming down there because of her.”
“Whatever works, bro.”
He ended the call and I slid my phone back in my pocket. “Problem solved. Levi’s on the way.”
We hung out in the Caboose parking lot waiting for Levi. It didn’t take long for him to get here. He parked next to me and shot me a glare when he got out of his blue SUV.
I introduced Skylar to Levi and he said a polite hello. I knew the only reason he wasn’t giving me more shit was because she was here. He opened the back and pulled out a piece of plywood to use as a ramp.
Rushing In: A Small Town Family Romance Page 8
