AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Inseparable,” Rafferty said with a laugh, the deep rumble of his voice making Ginny sigh softly. “It’s impossible to get him to school every day and I’m holding you responsible.”
Gavin laughed, holding his hands up. “It’s the power of a loving dog, man. Neither of us had any hope when those two met.”
“Ahem.” Ginny stepped forward and smiled when Daisy blushed, then held a hand out to Rafferty. “These two usually have better manners, I’m Ginny,” she said, shaking his hand and with her free one gestured to Gavin. “I’m with him.”
“Fuck, sorry, babe.” Gavin at least looked sheepish as he glanced at her. “Remember I told you about the father and son that adopted Boots? This is Rafferty.” Gavin then flashed Daisy one of his sweet smiles as he said, “Hi, Daisy, this is an incredible place.”
“Thank you,” Daisy said softly, the blush spreading further across her dark skin before she gestured to herguest. “Uh, Rafferty is an old…friend. He just moved to town, so we were…your flowers…big bouquets, right? They should be ready for you.”
“Yeah.” Ginny grinned at Daisy’s embarrassed lip bite after all that fumbling. “You two catch up, we’ll handle this. Nice to meet you, Rafferty and welcome to Wildes.”
“Thanks and good to meet you too,” he told her before turning to Gavin. “Cal wants to come by the shelter to hang with Bronte, so I’ll see you soon.”
“Sounds good,” Gavin told him, exchanging a fist bump as Ginny tugged him to the back. One of Daisy’s employees was already stacking bouquets into an empty box, so Ginny positioned Gavin in front of her and peered around him.
“What are you doing?”
“He’s hot, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
Ginny looked at Gavin with a grin. “You didn’t even flinch at that.”
“Got over the insecure jealousy thing,” he said proudly, puffing out his chest. “Besides, you should have seen Bronte trip over herself when she met him. Anyone with eyes can see he’s hot.”
Chuckling, Ginny looked past Gavin again and watched as the gap between Daisy and Rafferty closed, their mouths moving in a silent conversation. Daisy’s hand landed on Rafferty’s bicep and he brushed her hair back slowly; the whole thing making Ginny squeal.
“Nia.”
Ignoring him, she said, “She called him anold friend, do you think that’s like code for former lovers or something?”
But then Gavin’s hand was on her jaw, pulling her attention back to him and Ginny melted with a sigh. “Like us?”
“We’re currently lovers, so you’re not an old friend.”
“No? Then what am I?”
“Mine,” she whispered, forgetting all about Daisy and Rafferty as she stretched up to kiss him. Gavin’s arm slid around her waist, holding her close to him and she felt his lips curve into a smile against her mouth. It was only when someone cleared their throat that Ginny pulled away.
“Your flowers are ready, Ms. Thomas.”
“Thank you,” she told the kid at the counter. Turning to Gavin, she grinned. “Wanna put those muscles to good use and carry them out for me?”
Gavin rolled his eyes, but smiled as he picked up the box. “Yes, ma’am.”
There was something about the way he said that that always got her riled up, and she wondered if he was still doing it because heknewhow it affected her.
* * *
They’d been walking around for an hour, Gavin dragging an old school pull-along cart—she didn’t think those still existed—that contained the box of flowers and their picnic basket. Cedar was having the time of her life, running up and down, coming back every few minutes to get one of them to throw her ball. Ginny was carrying Copper in the backpack styled cat carrier which had a durable plastic bubble that allowed her to admire the park as they walked.
“This could work,” Ginny announced as they came across a section of the park that was thick with trees, streams of sunlight coming through the canopy of leaves providing shade.
“All right, you set up your camera and things. I’ll get these two settled.” Gavin swapped Copper’s cat carrier for the backpack filled with her equipment and then whistled for Cedar to come back from wherever she’d gone. Ginny watched him for a moment—as he spread a blanket and set bowls out, filling them with water and snacks—smiling at the realization that this is exactly the kind of dad he would be. Organized and ready to feed the kids while everyone else did the fun stuff. The thought startled her, but didn’t scare her. The image of little kids that were a perfect mix of the two of them flooded her mind and she suddenly wanted that.
Blinking the thought away, Ginny walked around the open space and using the toe of her sneakers marked Xs in places she thought would work for the shoot. She worked quickly, opening up her tripod and setting up the camera. She wanted to get a bunch of pictures in different poses and angles, and if the sun continued to cooperate, then she’d get exactly what she envisioned.
When she turned to ask Gavin to bring the flowers, he was already there, turning his ball cap around, a tuft of hair spilling out through the opening.
