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“I’m not keeping anything from anybody. It’s just the way things are. In a couple of weeks, Gavin won’t need a babysitter anymore, and I’ll need to leave to write a book. It’s not like my personality or my profession is a huge secret. In truth, I don’t know that he’ll be all that shocked.”
“Sloane.” Carly’s voice was one notch above whisper territory. “Is it possible that maybe Gavin is your swan?”
“No!” The word made Sloane flinch in both its intensity and its volume, even though she’d been the one to deliver it. Nowaywas Gavin her happily ever after. As good as he made her feel in the moment, they wanted completely different things in the long run.
And what he wanted, she couldn’t deliver.
Sloane cleared her throat. “No. He can’t be. I mean, he’s not. He’s got his life here, and I’ve got to go my own way. This thing between us is just temporary.”
Carly tipped her head, and years of best friendship told Sloane that she was about to push the issue in her typical, no-nonsense way. But then Carly shocked the hell out of her by giving in. “If you say so.”
Sloane blinked, but stood firm. “I do.”
“So, do you want to watch some TV? I don’t know about you, but this girl could use an hour of quality vegetation. As a special treat, I won’t even make you watch The Food Network.”
As Sloane slapped on a smile and watched Carly dig for the remote, the sensation running through her was way more impending dread than relief at being let off the hook. Everything Sloane had said was true, and yet the words had left her mouth with the hollow feeling of a lie. She wasn’t afraid Gavin would be mad at her for not divulging her plans sooner, although he likely wouldn’t be thrilled. No, it was the alternative that had Sloane’s motto switched firmly intonothing to see here.
If she told Gavin everything, there was a chance he’d try to convince her that the unexpected book—the one pouring from her heart—was worth the risk. That she should trust herself because she was good enough. And there was part of her that wanted so badly to believe him, the way she had when he’d held her in the kitchen. But if it turned out he was wrong, she wouldn’t just lose her job.
She’d lose everything.
* * *
Gavin shota gaze of total disdain at the coffee table before darkening his expression and lifting it toward Sloane.
“I think I deserve handicap points, like in golf. Playing Scrabble with a writer is unfair.” He gestured to the board, but his stalwart frown was slipping by the second. “I mean,zealot?Really? You’re killing me, here.”
Her deep, from-the-toes laugh made it impossible to keep the feigned irritation on his face. She folded her long legs as she knelt, her voice as sweet and simple as maple syrup over pancakes as she said, “Triple letter score on theZ,just so you know.”
He tossed his pencil down with an exaggerated groan. He might not give a shit about Scrabble, but a guy had to defend his pride. “You’re awfully pretty for a cheater.”
“And you’re awfully cute for a sore loser.” Sloane placed her palms on either side of the board and leaned over to plant a quick kiss on his lips. On second thought, this might not be so bad.
His frown returned when she pulled back. “Hey, where are you going? I was just about to use my charms to try and earn bonus points.”
“Please. You’re too honest for bribery.” She flicked a glance down at the board. “And good as you are, all the charming on the planet won’t save you. Admit it, Wine Boy. I totally stomped you.”
Gavin opened his mouth to protest, but one look at the score sheet told him he needed another angle. He rounded the coffee table from his seat on the couch in a matter of seconds, looping an arm around her to hold her close. Damn, her body felt good on his. “You totally stomped me. I don’t know how I’ll survive.”
Sloane’s pulse fluttered beneath his mouth as he kissed the curve of her jaw. “I’m sure you’ll think of…oh, God, that feels good.”
Oh, yeah. This tactic wasmuchbetter. “If you like that, then you should see—”
The squeal of the storm door riding its rusty hinges sent them in opposite directions in about two seconds flat. The familiar creak-and-bang combination coming from the foyer told Gavin that either a tornado had touched down at the front of the house or Bree was home from school. How a kid of her size and stature could make so much noise was beyond him, but hell if he wasn’t grateful for it right now.
“Hey, you guys.” Bree made her way into the living room, the sight of her flushed pink face and longer-by-the-day form catching him with a bittersweet pang. Damn, she was going from gangly to graceful in what felt like seconds.
He grinned from his regained position on the couch. “Hey. How was school?”
“Riveting.” She made a face that suggested otherwise, swinging her backpack to the floor with an ungainly thud. Her eyes lit a path over the coffee table and she let out a small laugh. “Oh, she whipped you at Scrabble, too? Nice.”
Gavin arched a brow at Sloane, who blinked sweetly, the picture of innocence. Oh, how he could call her bluff ten ways to Sunday. If only Bree wasn’t standing right there to wonder how exactly he’d gathered that kind of intel.
“I thought you said you didn’t play that often,” he said instead.
“I don’t. It’s not my fault I’m good without practice.” She lifted one shoulder in a demi-shrug and started to clear the board, glossy wooden tiles clicking in her hand. But the wink she snuck in Bree’s direction didn’t escape his notice.
Gavin knew his frown didn’t stand a chance, so he didn’t even bother. He tipped his chin at Bree, switching gears. “I was thinking of heading into Riverside this afternoon to do some shopping since I’m off work. You interested?”
