“Yeah, Princess Squeaker. A squirrel led me to her and I rescued her.”

“That’s so cute.”

Our eyes met again and suddenly my tummy was a whirlpool. Why did I react to him this way? It was like he made my hormones go crazy.

“I should probably get back to my kitten.” He held up the book, his finger still marking where he’d left off. “Can I borrow this, though?”

“Really?”

“Don’t hold out on me, Sky. I need to know what happens.”

“Of course you can. You can keep it if you want. Let me get you a bookmark.” I found one in a box I had left over from a book signing and handed it to him.

“Thanks.” He tucked the bookmark between the pages, then closed it again.

I picked up his crutches and held them while he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood. “I can carry the book down for you.”

He went down first and I followed. I walked him out to his truck and waited while he put his crutches inside and hoisted himself into the front seat. Then I handed him the book.

“Thanks again for coming over.”

He grinned. “My pleasure. Glad it worked. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

We held there for a second, eyes locked, and I had the most inexplicable urge to rush in and kiss him. I could practically feel his lips pressing against mine. His hands pulling me close, finding their way beneath my clothes.

He looked away first, breaking the spell.

I stepped back before I made things more awkward than they already were. God, what was I doing? There was something seriously wrong with me.

He shut the door and started the engine. I took slow steps backward. It was like I was having a hard time pulling myself away from him. He winked at me and backed up out of the driveway.

God, that wink. It sent a tingle down my spine and made me want to giggle like a shy little girl.

I went inside, feeling rather bewildered. I wasn’t sure if it was the lingering effects of Gavin’s wink and dimpled grin combination, or all the writing I’d done today. Maybe both.

But a lot of it was Gavin.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten, so I went to the kitchen and poked around in the fridge. Before I’d settled on anything, there was a knock at the door.

My heart lurched and a heady mix of anxiety and excitement raced through my veins.

Was Gavin back? Had he forgotten something upstairs?

This schoolgirl-esque reaction was so silly, but the butterflies fluttering in my stomach didn’t seem to care.

I went to answer the door, but it wasn’t Gavin standing on the step.

It was my mom.

15

Skylar

Mom smiled and held her arms out. She was typically put together in a pretty white blouse, light gray slacks, and black stilettos. “Hi, honey.”

“What are you doing here?” I hugged her, smelling the familiar scent of her perfume.

“I thought I’d surprise you and see how you’re doing.”

“I’m definitely surprised. Do you want to come in?”

Her eyes darted around in a quick glance, like she was taking in the house. “I’d love to.”

“Dad’s at work,” I said, stepping aside and shutting the door behind her.

She followed me to the kitchen. “That’s probably for the best. Am I interrupting anything? Are you busy?”

“Not at all. It’s so good to see you.”

And it was. I’d always been close to my mom. It was strange to be far enough away that I couldn’t just pop over to her place whenever I wanted.

She looked around and I wondered what she thought of the home she’d once shared with my dad. She must have a lot of memories, although I assumed it looked a lot different from when she’d lived here.

“It’s good to see you too,” she said and took a seat at the table. “I’ve been worried about you.”

I sighed. Of course she was. That was what moms did. “I’m fine, Mom. Tea?”

“That would be lovely. So tell me how things have been since you moved.”

I put some water on and the first thing that sprang to mind wasn’t that I’d been writing or that Ginny was in town. It was Gavin.

I tried to push him out of my mind and focus.

“Things have been good. I’m pretty well settled here. There’s plenty of room and Dad just kind of does his own thing while I do mine.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. Do you have a place to work?” Her voice was hesitant, and I knew what she was really asking—are you writing again?

I got two mugs out of the cupboard. “Yeah, I have a desk upstairs and there’s a cute coffee shop in town. As for the question you didn’t ask, yes, I’ve actually done some writing.”

“Have you? That’s great.”

I decided not to mention the Gavin effect. Why was I able to write when he was around? It didn’t make sense, but I needed time to unravel that one.

“Yeah, more than I have in a long time. I’m kind of afraid to jinx it, honestly.”

“I think you were right about the change of scenery. How’s Gavin?”

The tea bag packet flew out of my hand mid-rip. How did she know? “What?”

“Gavin Bailey. He’s the one who stepped out in front of your car and broke his leg, isn’t he?”

“Oh, yes.” I grabbed the tea bag and took a breath to calm the fluttering in my stomach. “He’s okay. I’m sure it’s no fun to have a broken leg, but he’ll be fine.”

“Have you had the chance to talk to him since it happened?”

“Yeah, I have.” I poured the hot water, debating whether to tell my mom I’d been hanging out with him. I didn’t know why. Normally I told my mom everything. Well, not everything. Things like sex fantasies were outside the realm of our usual conversation.

Now I was just being silly. I could tell my mom I’d become friends with Gavin without mentioning that the mere sight of him ignited a flurry of arousing daydreams.

I brought our tea to the table. “Actually, I’ve hung out with Gavin a few times. He can’t work until his leg heals, so he has time on his hands. He showed me around town. And then… well, he kind of came over today.”

Mom raised her eyebrows as she pursed her lips around her mug. “Did he, now?”

“Mom. Stop.”

She put her mug down and her lips twitched in a subtle smile. “I just think it’s interesting that you made a friend so quickly. That’s unusual for you.”

“Gavin is… persistent. And I mean it when I say we’re friends. Don’t go getting any ideas.”

“The look on your face is giving me ideas.”

“What look?”

She smiled again. “The look that tells me I need to have a chat with your father about what kind of man Gavin Bailey turned out to be.”

I rolled my eyes. “Mom.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop pressing you about it. I’m just relieved.”

“About what?”

“The fact that the mention of another man is making you blush like that leads me to believe you’re not wallowing in distress about your breakup with the dipshit.”