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Because it wasn’t just hers, no matter what was on the title. It was theirs.
Tears welled in her eyes as she moved into Clay’s office. She hadn’t been in here since Clay’s death. As far as she knew the only one who came in here now was Gavin, and then only to get something he needed for running the ranch.
It still smelled like Clay. Every year she’d bought him the same cologne. She’d never really known if he liked it or not, but he’d always worn it.
“Oh, Clay, why didn’t I tell you how much I appreciated you every day?” she whispered, lying down on the couch. When she’d first arrived, she’d lain on this couch at night, waiting for Clay to finish up his paperwork. Afterwards, he’d pick her up and carry her upstairs, tucking her into bed.
The big, gruff rancher had never once lost his temper with her, or told her to leave him alone.
“I love you so much, Clay. Thank you for giving me my family.”
*****
Gavin walked into the house to find Trace and Colin sitting in the living room having a beer.
“Hey, where’s Lila?” Gavin had been worried about leaving her alone earlier, but Trace had been close by and they’d all figured she needed some space. In fact, they’d kind of felt the same way. The letter from Clay had reawakened the loss and to say they’d been surprised by the way he split the ranch up would be an understatement.
Trace glanced up from the game they were watching on TV. “She’s asleep in Clay’s study. Poor thing looked so tired that I didn’t want to wake her. But you probably should or she’ll never sleep tonight.”
With a nod, Gavin headed into Clay’s study. For the first time since his foster father’s death, he wasn’t stabbed in the chest with pain upon entering the room. Reaching the couch, he smiled as he found Lila sprawled on the large, leather couch, looking so tiny against the very masculine furniture.
He moved an arm under her legs and back, lifting her gently, before sitting back on the sofa with Lila held on his lap.
“Lila, baby,” he crooned softly, running his hand over her head. “Time to wake up.”
She sighed. “Too early, don’t wanna.”
“Baby girl, wake up for me now.”
She turned her face into his chest and rubbed it against his t-shirt like a little girl.
“Why’d he do it, Gavin?” she suddenly asked, opening her eyes to look up at him. “Why’d he split things up that way?”
“Because he wanted to show us that he loved all of us and that we were meant to be together.”
She nodded, nibbling at her full lower lip. “I wish I had told him more often how much he meant to me.”
“He knew it.”
Lila looked down at her lap. “I always held part of myself back. I was always a bit scared of being rejected, but he really did see me as his daughter, didn’t he?”
“Yes, baby girl.”
A smile crossed her face and she relaxed against him. “So I guess I own this house now. You better not upset me, huh, or you guys could find yourselves out on the street.”
Gavin grinned. “That so, brat? And what would constitute upsetting you?”
“Well, definitely spankings.”
He placed a hand over her mouth, laughing. “Baby girl, you could own the whole of the USA and I would still roast your ass if I thought you needed it.”
Tugging his hand away from her face, she pushed her bottom lip out. “Well, that hardly seems fair. My house, my rules.”
“I think it’s more, our house, our rules, don’t you?”
With a sigh, she gave him a kiss. “Yeah, I like the sound of that.”
Chapter Eight
