Gavin agrees. “Just having coffee.” But his eyes, which are burning into mine with fire, seem to say otherwise.
“Oh, okay,” Mindy says. “Well, excuse me. Didn’t mean to rouse the snake.”
I shoot her a murderous scowl, but Gavin only laughs.
Grinning, Mindy asks, “So what can I get the two of you?”
“Let’s see.” Gavin flips through the menu for a moment before looking up at Mindy. “Any suggestions?”
Mindy screws up her face, thinking. “We’ve got a pretty good patty melt if you’re looking for something real to eat. If not, we’ve got some awesome pecan cinnamon rolls.”
“I’ll take two of those and two lattes,” Gavin says before pausing to look at me. “Unless you want something different?”
Of course not. Mindy recommended my favorite. At least she did one good thing.
I shake my head, although a part of me thinks he’s arrogant for ordering for me. But the other part of me likes it. “That’s fine.”
Mindy nods after scribbling on her notepad. “Okay, your order will be coming right up.” Tossing me another playful grin, she walks over behind the counter and starts messing with the machine.
Gavin watches her for a moment and then turns his piercing gaze on me, a slight smile playing across his lips. “A friend of yours?”
I nod, trying to relax but failing. I’m trembling with anxiety. And I’m not sure if it’s because Gavin is a celebrity or if it’s because I know I shouldn’t be here with him. Or both. “My bestie. Though she gets on my last nerve sometimes.”
Gavin chuckles, a knowing look on his face. “I kind of figured that when I came in here to ask about you the other day.”
It takes a moment for what he says to register. “You knew?” I accuse.
Gavin nods. “I didn’t know if you were best friends, but I know she knew exactly where you were.”
“She was just covering for me,” I try to explain. “Didn’t want me to get into trouble.”
Gavin waves away my worry. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. I understand. You were worried about your job after what happened. And I don’t hold it against you. Now . . . you running away from me though . . .” His voice trails off as his eyes bore into me and I literally squirm in my seat.
I avert my gaze, my blush now furious.
Thankfully, Mindy rescues the awkward moment by coming back with our rolls and lattes, setting them down in front of us. “Do you guys need anything else?” she asks, looking back and forth between us, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “A super-size banana split for dessert, perhaps?”
I almost roll my eyes at her emphasis on super-size. “No, I think we’re good,” I say almost stonily, wanting to smack her upside her head.
Mindy nods, seeing my growing irritation. “Okie dokie. Holler if you need me. It’s my absolute pleasure to serve.” She walks away with a wink and a twirl of her skirt, her heels clicking across the floor.
Gavin chuckles when Mindy’s gone, shaking his head at her antics. “She must be a trip to hang out with.”
I roll my eyes. “Trust me, you’d get tired of her within five minutes. And that’s only if she didn’t talk for the first two.”
Gavin laughs. “You crack me up.”
I shrug, picking up a roll and taking a bite. The sweet cinnamon and icing melt in my mouth like butter and I’m forced to hold in a groan. At least Mindy can do one thing right. Her rolls are always slammin’. “Just kidding. I love her.”
Gavin takes a sip of his latte. “So how long have you been working here?”
I freeze for a moment, suddenly wary. I’m finding it hard to believe that Gavin is really interested in my boring ass life. He’s a huge sports star who can have any woman he wants, for God’s sake.
This is why he’s here, a voice in the back of my head says. Because I ran from him and his ego can’t handle it. He doesn’t really care about getting to know me. He just wants to pretend to be nice so he can get my guard down along with my panties.
I almost get up and leave, but when I see the way Gavin is staring at me with such intense interest, I stay in my seat.
Just answer, I reason. What harm can it do anyway? It’s not like he can do anything with the information. And maybe after he sees how boring I am, he’ll leave me alone.
“A couple of years part-time,” I finally reply, washing some of my roll down with a sip of latte. “I’m hoping to quit soon, though. After I finish school.”
With how crazy Vandenburgh gets, it can’t happen soon enough.
Gavin toys with the rim of his cup, his gorgeous eyes never leaving my face. “I see.” He slowly takes another sip. “You grow up in this area?”
“Born and raised,” I reply proudly. “Always been a small-town girl.”
Gavin chuckles. “Can’t say that I’d love living in a place like this, but I admire your hometown spirit.”
“What about you?” I ask. “How’d you get into football?”
Gavin sits back in his seat. “Well, I’ve had a knack for playing ball for as long as I can remember,” he says, his eyes growing distant. “I remember I used to play so much when I was little I got blisters from throwing and catching the ball. Eventually, it paid off. I got drafted, left school pretty early . . . and the rest is history.”
I take a sip of latte. “What position do you play?” I can’t remember what I’d read about Gavin when I looked him up. The only thing that stuck in my mind was the size of his . . .
Gavin arches an eyebrow.
I blush yet again, shaking my head. “I honestly didn’t know who you were until Mindy told me.”
Gavin doesn’t get angry at my admission like I expect him to. I figure he has an ego bigger
