“As long as you think Erin will be okay with it, I’ll stay with you,” she responded.
She considered his comment about giving her a key to his condo. Even though she’d never given a boyfriend a key to her home, she’d been considering it since before he left for California, had even pulled a spare one from her desk drawer. In the end she’d decided to hold off another week or two before saying anything, worried Gavin might interpret the gesture to mean she wanted more of a commitment from him.
“I dug out a spare key to my house for you too,” she admitted. “I don’t have one for here, but I’ll talk to hotel security about getting one for you.”
For the next half hour or so, Gavin shared the plans he had in mind for his daughter’s stay. He’d included everything from a trip to the Above The Trees Adventure obstacle course and Paradise Fairway, to a concert at Madison Square Garden by one of Erin’s favorite musicians and a baseball game. Considering everything he had planned, the young girl might sleep for a month straight once she returned to her mom in Providence. Heck, Leah was tired from just listening to the list. And although she thought it might be a little too much, even without asking she understood why he wanted to get as much in as possible. His time with Erin was limited, and he wanted to make it as memorable for both of them as possible.
Eventually, Gavin finished explaining his plans for Erin’s visit, and she took the opportunity to inquire about his time with Vivian. Other than the fact that the woman was ten minutes older than Gavin and lived in California, Leah knew very little about his twin sister.
“It shocked the hell out of me when Jeffrey Moore showed up.”
He said the name as if she knew who the man was, but it didn’t sound at all familiar to her.
“Is he an actor?” she asked. Since his sister lived in California, the home of Hollywood, it was a plausible guess.
Gavin shook his head. “Soccer player. He plays for Bay City United. He was also on the US soccer team in the 2016 Summer Olympics.”
Except for baseball and the occasional New England Rebels football game, she didn’t follow professional sports. If he watched enough soccer to know the players who’d competed for the United States in the Olympics, he did more than watch an occasional game. She’d have to brush up on the sport. Maybe she could enlist Reese’s aid.
“Viv stays away from athletes,” he continued. “She turned down both Drew McKenzie and CJ Major.”
Now those were two names she recognized. Star players on the New England Rebels football team, they’d both appeared on numerous commercials and genuinely sounded like nice men. Drew McKenzie was married now, but if either he or CJ had asked her out prior to meeting Gavin, she would’ve agreed.
“Sometimes the type of person you’re attracted to changes,” she suggested. “And nothing against soccer or Jeffrey Moore, but he doesn’t fall in the same category as Drew and CJ. Maybe your sister just didn’t want to be involved with someone so well-known. Neither of them can probably go anywhere without being recognized. Trust me, being with someone so recognizable can get annoying. And the media loves to use their pictures and whoever they’re with on magazine covers.”
She’d inherited her dad’s Sherbrooke blue eyes and light hair, but otherwise she took more after her mom, so most people didn’t immediately recognize her as a Sherbrooke. It also helped she’d gone out of her way to stay off the media’s radar. Her brother Curt and several of her cousins, especially Trent and Jake thanks to their reputations before they both married, weren’t as fortunate, and people recognized them everywhere. She loved her family, but on occasion, going anywhere with them wasn’t worth the hassle.
“Last year Vivian dated Anderson Brady for a few months, and before him she was with Malcolm Stewart,” he explained, referring to two well-known A-list actors. “The attention doesn’t bother her. But ever since sophomore year of college, she doesn’t get involved with athletes. Or she hasn’t until now.”
If Vivian had sworn off an entire group of men, something significant must have occurred in college. Although curious, Leah didn’t ask for specifics because it wasn’t any of her business.
“Every August, Vivian comes for Piper’s birthday. This year she’s going to try to get here a littler earlier since Erin will be here. She told me to make sure you’re around when she visits. She wants to fill you in on all my most embarrassing moments.”
Leah rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “I can hardly wait.”
Chapter Eleven
If a person’s mood could be improved by simply touching another human being, every soul inside the airport having a bad day should shake Gavin’s hand. Happiness radiated off him tonight. It had actually been there since they woke up this morning. While they shared their first cups of coffee of the day, Leah thought his mood couldn’t get any more jubilant.
She’d been wrong.
If this morning he’d been as excited and happy as a child about to meet Santa Claus, tonight his mood reflected that of a child about to meet Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny all at once. Leah didn’t think she’d ever been quite as happy as he was in her entire life, and she’d had some wonderful and exciting experiences over the past thirty-two years.
The arm around her waist tightened as they entered the airport. As usual, it was bustling with activity. Gavin guided them through the crowd toward the large screens listing the arrivals and departures. The airport was a great place to people watch, so while he checked for information regarding Erin’s flight, she focused on everyone around them.
“First they charge me twenty-five dollars to check my bag, and then they lose it,” a woman to Leah’s right said to her companion. The couple had two preteens with them, both of whom wore earbuds and were staring down at their cell phones, completely ignoring their parents. “I’m starting to wish we’d gone camping again instead of coming here,” the woman grumbled.
Too bad Gavin couldn’t transfer some of his happiness, because this woman needed a large helping of it.
“Before we pick up the rental car, I need a coffee,” the unhappy traveler said.
“There is a snack stand over there,” her companion replied.
Leah watched the family head toward the stand. Considering the woman’s attitude, the evening facing her companions looked unpleasant, and Leah was glad she wasn’t part of the small group.
“Looks like their flight is expected to arrive on time,” Gavin said, and the word their in his statement immediately caught her attention.
Children could fly without an adult. When she traveled on commercial airlines rather than private charter flights, she occasionally saw a child alone. An airline employee usually escorted them on and off the plane and then a family member met them somewhere in the airport. Since Erin was coming directly from Florida and her mom lived in Rhode Island, she’d assumed Erin was traveling alone while Amber returned home.
She let him lead her away from the screens and toward one of the busy coffee shops inside the airport. “Is Erin’s mom with her?”
“Both Amber and her fiancé are with Erin. We don’t let her travel alone. Todd, Amber’s fiancé, has family in the city. They’re going to visit with them before returning to Providence on Sunday.” They entered the coffee shop and headed straight for the last empty table. After pulling out a chair, Gavin waited for her to sit. “What would you like?”
“Whatever you’re having,” Leah replied, her thoughts focused solely on what he’d shared. She had prepared to meet Erin today, not Amber. While meeting new people never bothered her—actually, she enjoyed it—the thought of meeting the woman Gavin had at one time loved enough to have a child with set her nerves on edge.
It doesn’t matter if she likes me. Even as she thought it, Leah realized the statement was only partially true. While Amber’s feeling regarding her wouldn’t affect her and Gavin’s relationship, it could cause problems between her and Gavin’s daughter. Growing up, she’d had enough friends with divorced par
ents to know that the other parent often influenced a child’s opinion of a new boyfriend or girlfriend. If Amber didn’t like her, her opinion could easily rub off on Erin, causing some very uncomfortable situations during future visits.
Gavin set a covered paper cup and a blueberry scone in front of her. “You look deep in thought. Everything okay?” Rather than sit across from her, he pulled out the chair next to her.
“Yep.” Afraid he’d see the truth, she uncovered the cup without meeting his eyes. “Just lost in thought.”
He did the same and added two packets of sugar to the mocha-colored liquid in the cup. “Did you get a hold of your cousin?”
“I’m going to spend the day with her.”
With tomorrow being Gavin and Erin’s first day together in weeks, it seemed only right they had the time alone. Since they’d be gone most of the day, she’d made plans to spend time with Callie and her family.
Lifting the cup, she paused with it near her lips. “Do you and Amber’s fiancé get along?” If the man was at Amber’s apartment more than his own, Gavin must have run into him often. Even if he didn’t spend so much time there, Gavin would’ve made a point of meeting the man who spent time around his daughter.
“Todd isn’t someone I’d call to go hang out with, but yeah, we get along. He’s a decent guy. Amber and he are a good fit, and he treats Erin like a princess. I think he spoils her worse than I do.”
Gavin checked his watch every two seconds as they enjoyed their coffees and chatted about their day—or at least it seemed like every two seconds. Finally after what had to be the twentieth time, he stuffed his napkin in his empty coffee cup and pushed back his chair. “Ready?”
Half her latte remained, so she put the cover back on the cup and stood. Reaching out, she laced his fingers with her own. “I’ll finish on the way.”
They waited near the terminal exit as travelers walked past them, some alone and others in small groups. She’d not only seen the pictures Gavin had of Erin on his cell phone, she’d also seen the ones he kept in his home office and the one in his bedroom of them together. So she immediately recognized the young girl headed in their direction.
“She’s a mini you,” Leah commented.
She thought the girl resembled Gavin in pictures, but in person it was even more evident. From here she couldn’t tell the exact shade of Erin’s eyes, but her hair color matched Gavin’s to a T, and the shape of their faces was the same. She shared Gavin’s height as well. If Leah didn’t know any different, she’d easily assume Erin was eleven or twelve years old.
Leah switched her gaze to the two adults accompanying Erin. Amber was tall like her daughter and willowy, with light brown hair and a heart-shaped face. As they walked, she held Erin’s hand and listened to whatever her daughter was saying. Todd, Amber’s fiancé, looked vaguely familiar, but from where remained just out of Leah’s reach.
Everyone in the airport terminal knew the exact moment Erin spotted her father.
“Dad,” the girl shouted, and sprinted away from her mom. Her smile radiated so much happiness it was almost blinding.
Erin launched herself into Gavin’s arms and he picked her up off the ground. The smile on his face matched his daughter’s. “How’s my girl?” he asked before kissing her on the cheek and setting her back down.
Although he no longer hugged her, Gavin put an arm over Erin’s shoulders.
“Hungry. Can we get pizza on the way home? Or Chinese?”
He’d warned her that Erin would happily live on only pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Chinese food if allowed. She hadn’t told him, but when she was about Erin’s age those had been her favorite food groups too. Even now pizza with a large helping of ice cream afterward were her go-to dishes when she needed some comfort food.
“We’ll see, Bug,” he replied as Amber and Todd reached them.
Gavin’s fingers wrapped around hers and gave them a quick squeeze before he stepped forward and gave Amber a brief friendly hug. After releasing her, Gavin turned toward Todd. “Congratulations on the engagement,” he said, shaking Todd’s hand before he moved back to her side, his arm immediately going around her shoulders.
Quickly Gavin went through introductions before they all started toward the baggage claim area. As they walked, he kept her hand locked in his right hand while his left held his daughter’s. Erin entertained them with details of her vacation, starting with the flight down to Florida weeks ago. By the time they reached the baggage area, she’d only made it through the first two days of the trip.
Leah stood by his side and his daughter was within arm’s reach. The only thing that could make the moment better was if they weren’t standing inside the airport. But at least they wouldn’t be here much longer. He had Erin’s two suitcases in hand, and Erin was in the process of saying bye to Amber and Todd.
Erin gave first her mom and then Todd a hug before turning and skipping back to his side, the unicorn-shaped backpack Todd had carried off the plane for her slung over one shoulder.
“Do you need to use the bathroom before we go?” She’d insisted she didn’t have to when her mom had asked on their way to get their luggage. Since the ladies’ room was right across from them now and he’d rather not have her announce ten minutes after they got in the car that she needed to go, he asked again.
“Nope. I went on the plane.”
Some things he could force her to do; using the bathroom wasn’t one of them. “Okay, this way then.”
Erin spent a lot more time at his apartment in Providence than here, but she knew her way around. When they walked in, she immediately dropped her backpack on the floor and zipped down the hall to the bathroom.
The anticipated announcement that she needed to go had come fifteen rather than ten minutes into their ride home, but it had still come. It had taken considerable effort not to remind her that he’d asked before they left the airport.
While Erin used the bathroom, he brought her bright yellow suitcases and backpack down to the guest bedroom she used whenever she visited. Unlike her room at his other home, which she’d helped decorate, this one was an identical copy of the one across the hall, right down to the dark gray comforter and bare hardwood floor. During her last visit in April, she’d asked if they could make this room more like her one in Providence. He’d promised they could, but they’d been so busy with other activities they never got around to shopping.
Until now, he hadn’t thought about her request since.
Gavin made a mental note to get some shopping in while she was here so she could change things up in the room and switched off the light.
He met up with Erin in the hallway as she came out of the bathroom. “Where’s Uncle Harry?” she asked.
When it came to romantic relationships, Harry could be a first-class bastard, but he was a good uncle, and the last time Erin stayed here, Harry was living with him. During that week Harry had been on his best behavior. He hadn’t brought home any women, and he’d spent several hours playing video games with Erin.
“He’s not living here anymore. His new house is done.”
She slipped her hand into his, a gesture he never tired of, while they walked back to the living room. “When will we see him?”
Unless away on vacation, Harry always made a point to see Erin at least once when she was in New York. Two months ago Gavin would’ve reminded his half brother Erin was arriving today. Given his relationship with Leah, he’d kept silent about Erin’s upcoming visit, hoping to avoid an unexpected visit from Harry while Leah was around.
“Not sure, Bug. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“I made him a bracelet. I made one for you too, and it looks just like mine.” She held up her wrist so he could see the black and yellow friendship bracelet tied around it. “They’re in my backpack.”
Erin left him with little choice. “I’ll call him later and see if he’s around.” And if Harry did visit, Gavin would make sure Leah knew beforehand so she could go else
where if she wanted.
Satisfied with his response, she moved on to another topic. “Can we get pizza tonight?”
They did need to eat, but he wasn’t in the mood for pizza. Honestly, he didn’t know what he wanted, but he knew it wasn’t pizza. “Let’s see what Leah feels likes and then decide.”
Erin flopped into an armchair across from Leah and folded her legs up like a pretzel. “Are you and Leah going to get married like Mom and Todd?”
You had to ask me that now. Part of being a parent was embarrassing questions from your child. And he’d gotten plenty of them from Erin since she first learned to talk. This one got the gold medal, though.
Leah cleared her throat, and when he shot a quick look at her, she had a hand over her mouth. When their eyes met, she merely shrugged and remained silent.
Thanks for the help.
“Your mom and Todd have known each other a lot longer than Leah and me.” The reply didn’t answer Erin’s question, but it wasn’t a lie either. Before she could point out he hadn’t given her the information she wanted, he spoke again. “Bug wants pizza. I’m leaning more toward Thai or Indian. What are you in the mood for, Leah?”
When Leah dropped her hand into her lap, a smile tugged at her lips. “Pizza gets my vote.”
***
During dinner and as they played a friendly board game, Gavin found himself mentally stepping back and watching Leah and Erin interact. Somehow Leah seemed to ask his daughter all the right questions. In no time they were chatting away as if Leah had known Erin since birth and completely ignoring him.
The Billionaire's Heart Page 14
