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“Connor, sweetheart...”
“Mom kisses me all the time.”
Gavin grinned. “That’s because she really, really likes you.”
“Do you really, really like my mom?” Connor asked.
“I do. I really, really like her,” Gavin said.
“Okay,” Connor nodded. “Are we there yet?”
“Nearly.”
Connor began chatting about what he was going to do on the farm once they got there, talk of kissing all forgotten. Brooke exhaled slowly. This whole thing was spiraling out of control—she hated the feeling. Hadn’t she promised herself she’d never be in a situation again where she wasn’t in charge? But look at her. She had agreed to a fake relationship, of all things. She wasn’t even in charge of her own feelings, damn it. She should never have agreed; the whole idea was preposterous.
“It’s two weeks, babe,” Gavin said softly. “You’re going to be busy, and I can help you with Connor over the coming weekend. He loves spending time on the ranch. We’ll have a great time while you work.”
Irritated, she glared at him. “You don’t have to organize my life for me. I’m quite capable of doing that all by myself, thank you.”
Gavin grinned. “I know. I’m simply offering to help.” He glanced in the rear-view mirror. “When do schools close, Connor?”
“Friday!” Connor yelled. “And Saturday is my birthday.”
Brooke couldn’t help smiling. Connor was so excited about his upcoming birthday. “No, sweetie, your birthday is only next Saturday. Hopefully, by that time, we’d have moved into our house on the ranch.”
“Am I also invited?” Gavin asked.
“Can you barbeque?” Connor asked.
Gavin chuckled. “Back in South Africa we call it a ‘braai,’ and like any South African male, I learned to braai pretty much before I could walk.”
“Great! Because Mom...well, last time we had a barbeque, she burned the patties and we only had rolls.”
Gavin laughed, squeezing her hand.
Brooke’s face instantly went red. “It wasn’t that bad; you don’t have to give up your Saturday to—”
But Gavin interrupted her with a laugh. “I don’t mind.”
“Thank you!” Connor called out dramatically.
“So what about I come and pick you up this Saturday, Connor?” Gavin asked. “You and I can check on the progress of your house.”
“Can I, Mom?”
“May I,” she corrected him automatically. “I don’t think we should bother Gavin...”
But Connor was bouncing enthusiastically up and down. “I can’t wait to play with Bear and Sasha and Lucy.”
“I’m glad you’re not afraid of the dogs.” Gavin smiled.
“They’re my friends,” Connor said. “Oh, and I love the horses. The black one is my favorite. Blake said...”
As Connor chatted away, Brooke hardly registered what her son was saying. Her eyes were on her hand lying contentedly in Gavin’s. If she didn’t watch her poor heart, she was going to get into real trouble. She tried to pull her hand away, but Gavin held on tightly.
“No touching, remember?” she whispered.
“You said no touching beneath clothes—this doesn’t count.” And then he lifted her hand and kissed her fingers, a touch she felt right down to her very core. Oh, my. They had to make more rules, set more boundaries...
