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“Braves winning?” she asked.
“Up by two. Their offense looks great. I think they have a real chance at the World Series this year.”
“You say that every year.”
“Well, eventually I’ll be right then.” He filled his glass at the refrigerator dispenser and lowered his voice. “Hey... I stopped over at your place on Monday and checked out the work in your backyard.”
“Wes mentioned it.” She couldn’t resist adding in a snarkytone. “And does his work meet with your approval, O mighty contractor?”
Gavin gave her a mock scowl. “He seems adequate enough.”
“High praise coming from you. Does that mean you’re done checking up on him?”
“You can’t fault me for looking out for you.”
“Sure about that?” Maybe she should be grateful he cared. But after having been handled with care all her life, it only annoyed her. Everyone outside her family viewed her as a strong woman—intimidating even. Why could her family only see her through the lens of that wretched disease?
Gavin turned from the fridge and took a sip of water. “I guess I feel a little guilty for not doing the work myself. I should’ve made time.”
“It worked out. I know you’re busy with the cabin right now. And have no fear, there’ll be plenty of work left when he leaves.”
He wandered over to the island and leaned on it. He obviously had something to say. Avery dried the grilling tools and put them in a drawer. She wiped her hands on the towel and leaned back against the sink, facing Gavin.
It didn’t take him long to spit it out. “From what I hear, you two are getting pretty cozy over there.”
Avery held back a sigh. “We’re just friends. He’s fun to hang out with.”
He studied her for a long minute. Her brother made her feel he could see right down to her bone marrow. Right down to her stem cells. Her left eye twitched again.
“I only mention it because I came up on him while he was on the phone with someone—obviously a woman.”
“And?”
“And he sounded kind of, I don’t know... tender.”
She blinked at him, keeping her expression purposefully blank because Gavin was well aware she wasn’t in the market for a man. And even though that was true, her mind spun with the question: Who had Wes had been talking to? He didn’t have a sister. As far as she knew he had no living family at all. Was it possible he actually had a girlfriend in Albany? Was that why he was planning to put down roots there?
Gavin scowled at her. “Like he was sweet on her or something. Don’t be obtuse. You know what I mean—stop making me sound like a teenaged girl.”
Unbelievable. Avery shook her head. “Does no one around here listen to me? Were you not present last week when I announced I was permanently opting out of the whole dating scene? Why do I have to keep explaining that Wes and I are just friends? He’s going to be on his way in a matter of days, for heaven’s sake.”
“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t getting in over your head with a guy who sounded very much taken.”
The words soured in her ears. And her stupid eyelid wouldn’t stop twitching. She straightened, crossing her arms. “Believe it or not I can take care of myself, Gavin.”
He held up his hands, lowering his tone again. “I didn’t mean to butt in—just wanted to make sure he wasn’t trying to pull the wool over your eyes or something.”
She gave him a withering look. “As I said, he’s afriend.He can talk to whomever he wants, in whatever tone he pleases.”
“All right, all right. Sheesh. Try to do a person a favor. I seem to recall you withholding information last year that might’vegiven me a heads-up. I wouldn’t have minded you butting in at that point.”
Her bluster faded at the memory. Avery had noticed the sparks between Cooper and Katie long before Gavin caught on. “You know I regret that—and I already apologized for it.”
“And I’ve forgiven you. But I also learned that sometimes butting in can save a person a little heartache.”
“Point taken. Sorry I got a little snappy.”
“It’s all right.”
