I wave to Mary, the store manager, and head out into the sunshine with my favorite guy, and a guy I am really starting to like.
“Want to hop in my truck?” he asks as he hikes Gavin’s duffle bag higher on his shoulder. “I can bring you back to yours later.”
“Sure.”
Between us, Gavin captures both our hands. “Swing me,” he says, and my heart does a funny little tumble as we swing him between us, like we’re a real couple, a family...like I always see in those chick flicks I watch. This is what Gavin deserves. A mother and a father, but not just any father. He needs a man who is going to stick around and love him unconditionally. I’m not saying Liam is that man or that I want him to be. I just met him, but someday, maybe it will happen. Once I stop being so afraid of putting myself out there.
We step up to Liam’s four-door truck and Gavin’s eyes go wide. “This is your truck?” he asks, as I take it in, knowing nothing about vehicles. Heck, Gavin knows more about them than I do. As the guys talk trucks, and I find it so incredibly amusing, Liam opens the back door, and that’s when I realize I need to run back to my car to get Gavin’s booster seat.
“He needs a seat. I’ll be right back.” I’m about to dart away, when Liam captures my arm, wrapping his big hand around me. Warm and wicked sensations race through me, and I take a little breath. “What?”
“I already have one. Got it from my sister.”
My heart misses a little beat. I honestly can’t believe he thought of everything. “Do you always come this prepared?”
“I guess so,” he says, and his gaze drops to my mouth and for a brief second, I can’t help but think of sex. Yeah, this guy is probably always prepared for sex. If I open his glove box, will I find a huge box of condoms?
“You’re a great big brother,” I tell him. “You’ll be a great dad someday too, Liam.”
He doesn’t respond. Instead, he turns, and lifts Gavin until he’s in the back seat. “I bet you don’t need any help buckling in, do you?”
“Nope.” Gavin grabs the seat belt and snaps himself in.
Liam winks at him. “So smart,” he says, and Gavin just beams under his compliment.
Liam opens the passenger door for me. “Do you need a boost up too?”
“I’m not that short.” He just snickers, because yeah, I am short. I lift my leg, struggle a bit, and the next thing I know, his big hands span my ribcage, and he helps me in. I settle into the seat, barely able to spare him a glance as the heat from his fingers careens through my blood and settles deep between my legs.
Maybe my friends are right. Maybe I should brush off the ‘beaver-can’t do’ and have a little fun with this guy. Would that affect his relationship with Gavin? Yeah, it probably would, and Gavin always has to come first.
When do you get to come first?
Oh, when I use my vibrator. That thought brings a small smile to my face, and I can’t seem to take my eyes off Liam as he circles the front of his big truck and jumps into the driver’s seat.
“This thing is huge,” I say, and bite my tongue before I comment on my own observations with something like that’s what she said.
“It’s not so bad,” he says and starts the ignition. “What do you drive?”
“Just a small car,” I say. One that’s been going for years and is held together with duct tape and a prayer. But he doesn’t need to know any of that.
He pulls into traffic and heads north. “My place isn’t too far from the rink. I’ll change fast.” I nod, and as he stares straight ahead, I take in his profile, and the scars on his face. It’s not fair for a guy to be that good looking. No, what’s not fair is a guy that good looking and I can never hook up. Right?
I sit back in comfort, as he adjusts the mirror. “Hey Gavin, there’s going to be some kids at the rink too, and maybe next time we can bring Holden.”
I don’t need to turn to know his eyes are wide. “That will be fun. Holden is my best friend.”
“I know.” He turns to me and winks, keeping the secret that Cole will be there. A few minutes later, we pull off the main road and head toward the expensive area of town. We pass by mansions and he pulls up to his house.
“Wow,” Gavin says from the back seat, mimicking what I feel inside.
“You live here?”
“Yeah, you want to come in for a minute?”
I reach for my buckle, wanting to get a glimpse into this man’s life. “It’s huge,” I say again, and bite the inside of my cheek, because suddenly no matter what I say, it sounds sexual in my stupid lust-induced brain. But that’s because I had to endure sitting next to a man oozing pheromones the whole drive here.
“Yeah, it’s big for one person.”
He goes quiet, a hint of sadness in his eyes as he pulls his key from his pocket. Gavin jumps down from the back seat. We follow Liam up to the door and he opens it and gestures for us to enter.
Gavin runs in. “This is bigger than my school.”
Liam ruffles Gavin’s hair. “Go ahead and look around if you like. I’m just going to get changed.”
He takes off upstairs, and I stand there, not knowing where to start. “Mommy, look. He has a huge TV.”
I follow Gavin into the living room and glance around. The place is actually cozy, pictures on the wall, and throw blankets on the sofa. It seems to have a woman’s touch to it. Was it professionally decorated, or did he have
