Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“I wouldn’t,” he insisted without any of the steam and anger he’d shown before. “I would never do that, Suzie Q. Not to our baby, and not to you.”
I wanted to believe him. Again. There was just something about Gavin that lent an air of credibility to his words, but I knew my desire to believe him was colored by emotion.
I nodded and closed my eyes against the anguish burning in his. “I can’t take that risk, not now when I’m pregnant and emotional.”
Gavin’s nostrils flared and his face slowly turned an alarming shade of pink before he turned away from me, served the omelet, and stormed out of my house in total silence.
I didn’t know if he was gone for good, or simply licking his wounds and regrouping. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I cared all that much. Gavin was a runner, and I wouldn’t let myself be surprised that he’d run.
Gavin
I did everything I could think of to make Suzie’s life easier, determined that she would forgive me—at least—before I was due back in Los Angeles. For two days, I made sure she didn’t have to worry about anything but her job and basic self-care, and between making phone calls, I spent my time in the studio.
Granddaddy and Zola had already settled into the fabric of Jackson’s Ridge, leaving me the odd man out in my own home.
Until a loud knock sounded at the studio door.
“Gavin Ross, open up this damn door!”
I smiled at the sound of Suzie’s voice. Her angry voice.
“I know you’re in there, so open up right this minute.”
I took my time, setting my guitar to the side so it rested on the side of the plush sofa before I got up and slowly walked over to the door. Wiping my hands on the thighs of my jeans, I sighed and opened the door.
“Suzie. This is a nice surprise.”
She rolled her eyes, which were filled with fire behind her wine-colored eyeglasses, and she gave my chest a giant shove. “Don’t give me that wide-eyed innocent look. I’m immune to it, and more importantly, I know better.”
I refused to even touch that. “What brings you by, Suzie Q?”
She whirled at the sound of her nickname, fire blazing in her eyes.
“Gavin,” she sighed, “you need to stop.”
I blinked. “Stop what?”
“All of this… whatever it is you think you’re doing by sending me flowers and food and housekeepers.”
“Ohhhh,” I said, drawing the word out to about five syllables. “You want me to stop making your life easier in any way that I can. Got it. Why?”
“Because I don’t need you to do this stuff. I can’t get used to you stepping in to help while you’re in town.”
“Because you think I’m on the next train out?”
Suzie blinked and notched her chin high in the air, defiance radiating off her as she folded her arms across her chest. “Yes. I need to be able to stand on my own, to do this on my own. I appreciate the gestures, but they’re counter-productive and completely unnecessary.”
“Completely. Unnecessary.” I uttered the words back to her. They were bitter on my tongue and I wanted to shout at Suzie, but she looked tired and pregnant. Exhausted, really. “I disagree. I get that I screwed up and it’s partially my fault that you’re too scared I’ll leave to let me help you. I really do get it. But the thing is, Suzie Q, that’s your problem. Not mine.”
She reared back with a scowl. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” I told her, with more attitude than was probably wise when dealing with a hormonal and fed-up pregnant woman. “You knew what my job was when our relationship started.”
“Affair,” she chimed in quickly. “It was an affair, not a relationship.”
“Whatever it was,” I shot back, “it produced a child, and we now have a relationship, however you want to define it. Yeah, sure, my job requires me to travel so I’m gone a lot of the time, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help. Can’t be here for you and our kid, whenever and however I can.”
Suzie mulled over my words and nodded. “Okay, fine. You do what you have to, Gavin. Do what makes you feel good, but I refuse to play a part in any of this.”
I sighed and shook my head. “Things were good between us, Suzie. We got to know each other, and we became friends. Why does it feel like you hate me now?”
She smiled and let out an exhausted sigh. “I don’t hate you. Life would be easier if I could just hate you, but I can’t.”
That was promising and I took a step forward, smiling.
Suzie took a step backwards. “Oh no, you don’t. Don’t think you can romance me, either. Don’t try to make me fall for you when you know it’s impossible for you to build a life in Jackson’s Ridge. It’s cruel, and you’re not a cruel man, are you?”