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“Not interested, Mom. I have Connor. I’m very happy.”
Her mom glanced at her watch. “Where is he, by the way? Shouldn’t he be back from school?”
Brooke looked at the clock against the wall and frowned. Her mom was right. Connor should’ve been home by now. Her house was close to the school and he was usually here about ten minutes after the school day ended.
Before she could react, there was a knock on the door.
“You expecting anyone?” her mom asked.
Brooke shook her head while she walked toward the front door and opened it. She blinked, but she wasn’t hallucinating. On her porch, with Connor next to him, was Gavin Wilson holding two bags of what looked like groceries in his hands, if she wasn’t mistaken.
Speechless, she could only stare. Fortunately, Connor started babbling the minute she opened the door. “I told him we can just open the door, but he wanted to knock.” Connor hugged her legs. “Hi, Mom, I’m hungry. I’ve fetched Uncle Gavin to cook for us. Where is Grandma? I saw her car. Grandma!” he yelled and rushed inside.
Stunned, Brooke stared after Connor.
Gavin cleared his throat. “I found him at my front door.”
“What do you mean?”
“Connor. He came to the house.”
“I don’t believe it. But...why?”
Gavin grinned. “He’s told you.” He lifted the two bags of groceries he was carrying. “I’m happy to oblige.”
Brooke frowned. Had she heard correctly? Her son had gone to Gavin’s house to ask him to come and cook for them?
“But...it’s totally ridiculous; you can’t come and cook for us. Gavin, really...”
“It’s no secret in town you and your mother...how shall I put it? You don’t like cooking?”
“I cook,” Brooke began heatedly, but before she could finish her sentence, her mother appeared, all smiles.
“Yes, my dear girl, we cook, but nobody wants to eat what we cook! Come on in, Gavin, I’m on my way. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Gavin smiled. “Hi, Eleanor, lovely to see you.”
Beaming, her mom gave Brooke a quick hug. “I still have some things to do before I drive back to the ranch. Enjoy your dinner!” She stopped halfway down the stairs to look back at them. “Gavin, ask Brooke to show you her new painting.”
Brooke gnashed her teeth. “Goodbye, Mother.” She quickly closed the door before her mom could utter something even more embarrassing.
“I’m so sorry Connor bothered you. I’ll talk to him. You really don’t have to cook for us.”
“What about bourbon-grilled pork chops?”
Her tummy growled.
Gavin grinned. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
––––––––
For some reason, hewas never quite prepared for her. Gavin busied himself getting the groceries he’d bought out of the bag. Ever since he’d arrived to visit his sisters in Alisson during the middle of last year, Brooke Johnson had caught his eye.
Initially, he’d thought it was because of the sadness he’d noticed in her startling blue eyes, but the longer time he’d spent in the presence of the honey-blond widow, the more she kinda...what? Bothered him? Maybe. There was something in the air when he was around her. She was gorgeous, sexy and...off limits. He was very much aware of that fact.
Which, of course, begged the question: why was he here, in her kitchen, about to cook for her and her son?
Brooke was crouching in front of Connor. “What are you supposed to do after school?”
