Gone Country (13 page)

Several long moments passed before she spoke again. “And wanna know what I really hate? That I know sometimes I act just like her. No wonder I’m not making friends at school.”

Another prickly situation. Sierra became defensive when he offered suggestions or even tried to talk to her about her problem making friends. He didn’t understand why it’d always been so hard for her.

She shivered. “I don’t want to be like her. Ever.”

“You won’t be. I won’t
let
you be.”

She raised her head and looked at him. “Promise?”

“I promise. But understand that you might not like my methods of ensuring that won’t happen.”

“Someone’s gotta be the taskmaster hardass in our family.” She kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”

“No problem. So I came up with a surefire way for you to learn your anatomy terms.”

A horrified look crossed her face. “No.
No way.
Don’t even say it.”

He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “Flashcards.”

“Dad!”

“I’m serious. Making a set of flashcards will help you.”

“I am not in third grade trying to memorize my multiplication tables,” she retorted.

“True.” He tugged on her hair. “But it worked. And it worked when you had to memorize all the state capitals. And it worked when you had to memorize musical terms. It’s a tried and true method.”

Sierra sighed. “Fine. But I don’t have any index cards. And I doubt the stores in Sundance are open.”

“They do roll up the sidewalks early.” He stood. “I’d bet Rielle has recipe cards. I’ll go ask her.”

Rielle scrambled away from the swinging door. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. She’d been heading to her bedroom and stopped outside the door when she heard Sierra talking about her mom and hadn’t wanted to interrupt.

Gavin strode in, lost in thought. But his focus changed the instant he set eyes on her. “Just the woman I was looking for.”

“What can I do for you?”

“This first.” He crowded her, bent his head and kissed her in that sure and steady way of his. And just like every other time he’d kissed her, her stomach bottomed out.

How long before these randomly stolen kisses pushed them to the next level?

Almost as if he’d read her mind, his mouth drifted over her ear and he whispered, “Soon.”

“Like how soon? Because I’m not busy right now.” She sank her teeth into his earlobe.

Gavin groaned softly. “If my daughter wasn’t sitting in the other room, I’d take you up on that.” Another whisper-soft kiss across her ear. “I’ve started carrying a condom in my pocket, just in case.”

“Better put one in each pocket.” Rielle gently pushed him back. “Was there something you needed?”

“Ah. Yeah.” He scrubbed his hands over his face as if he was trying to remember. Good to see she wasn’t the only one sexually frustrated. “Oh. Right. Do you have extra blank recipe cards we can use?”

“I’m sure I do.” She grabbed her recipe file box from the pantry, rummaging through the mishmash of papers until she found an unopened pack of plain index cards. “Here you go.”

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Happy to help. If you don’t need anything else, I think I’ll head to bed.”

Gavin set his hands on her shoulders. “You mad at me?”

“No. I’m just…”
Horny. Which is a totally foreign feeling.
“Antsy.”

“Me too. But I don’t want to rush this, Rielle. With the construction guys around during the day I get interrupted, or you get interrupted by your customers, or Sierra is under foot and we’re hardly ever alone. Might sound corny, but I don’t want anyone around or any distractions the first time we’re together. I want it to be just you and me. Completely focused on each other.”

This man was too good to be true. But had he come up with those parameters because he could tell how skittish she was? How little experience she had?

He stroked the side of her cheek. “You okay with that?”

“Very okay.” She lightly pecked him on the mouth. “See you in the morning.”

Chapter Twelve

“So Vi suggested something to me yesterday and I immediately dismissed it.” Gavin refilled Rielle’s cup and Sierra’s before topping off his. The kid had kicked her addiction to Starbucks, but she was still a morning caffeine junkie. “But then I got to thinking about it and I realized it’s not a bad idea.”

“What was her suggestion?”

“That I have a family housewarming party.” He knocked back a slug of coffee. “Here.”

Rielle’s hands tightened around her mug. “When?”

“I think we should get it out of the way tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow night?” Sierra repeated.

“Yeah, why? Is there something else going on?”

She paused. Opened her mouth. Closed it. Then shook her head.

“And get this—Vi believes I ought to invite all the McKays.”

“All the McKays?” Rielle repeated. “At one time?”

Sierra snickered.

“What’s so funny?”

“The look on Rielle’s face as she’s thinking about Ky, Anton and Hayden playing football in the living room.”

Gavin scowled at her. So much for his daughter backing his play.

“This is your house. If you want to have a party, have a party. But I will remove all my breakables out of the great room and any other areas the wild McKay clan might vandalize.”

Vandalize? That was a harsh assessment.

“Will this be a potluck?” Sierra asked.

“Hell if I know.” He looked hopefully at Rielle.

She threw up her hands. “No way. I don’t want any part of this party.”

“I’ll help you, Dad. I’m sure Vi will pitch in and bring food since it was her idea. We’ll just have munchies and drinks. Paper plates, plastic cups, easy stuff. Pick me up after school today and we’ll hit Wal-Mart in Spearfish.”

Why was Sierra being so helpful?

Stop looking for motives. You should be overjoyed she’s pitching in and wants to be around her family.

“Sounds like a plan.” He glanced at the clock. “Better get your stuff. It’s about time to leave.”

As soon as Sierra was out of the kitchen, he leaned closer to Rielle. “I’ll help you move anything you want out of the great room. And I’ll try to keep everyone in the kitchen and dining room.”

“That’s…thoughtful. Thank you. But if it’s all the same, I won’t stick around tomorrow night.”

Gavin laid his hand on the side of her face. “I’d like it if you’d stay. Not to keep the appetizers supplied, or pour drinks, or even to run herd on unruly McKay munchkins.”

“Then why?”

“Honestly? Because I’m related to the McKays, but you know them way better than I do. I’ll probably need you to prompt me on some names.”
Such a lie. Why don’t you tell her the truth?

“So I’d be a crutch.”

His gaze fell to her mouth. The woman had the most enticing lips. He adjusted his hand and his thumb followed the swell of her lower lip. “Fuck. I want to take you to bed in the worst way.”

Rielle shivered delicately.

The sound of heavy equipment rattling up the drive broke the moment.

Gavin retreated. Or tried to. Rielle wrapped her fingers around his wrist, holding his hand in place.

“I asked you a question. If I stay for the party tomorrow night, will I just be a crutch for you?”

“No. You’d be a lifeline.”

Rielle offered him a shy smile and pressed a soft kiss to the base of his thumb before she released his hand. “Then I’ll stay.”

Sierra yelled, “Dad!
Come on
. I’m gonna be late.”

Gavin kissed Rielle hard. “Later.”

What the fuck had he been thinking, having a fucking party?

There were approximately ten billion people in his house and the majority of them were less than two feet tall. And yelling. Or crying. Or doing both.

In the kitchen, Vi sidled up with another veggie plate. “Scoot a cheek, son, so I can put these down.”

“Sorry. Have you seen my co-host?”

“Rielle?”

I wish
. “No, Sierra.”

“Last time I saw her, she was looking for Keely.” Vi tugged him down and whispered, “Maybe you’d better track her down. Who knows what kind of wild ideas Keely is putting in her head. That girl was hell on bootheels from the time she was two years old.”

“Thanks for the tip. Can you keep an eye on this for a few minutes?”

“It’d be my pleasure.” She smiled at Ben and Ainsley. “Look at all this food! Isn’t it great Gavin and Sierra did this all themselves?”

Ben caught his eye and mouthed, “Run.”

Just inside the dining room, something smacked into Gavin’s leg. And held on. The dark-haired boy looked up and him and grinned.

Jesus. All these kids looked the same. He couldn’t remember this kid’s name. “Ah, hey there, little guy. Thanks for the hug, but you gotta let go now.”

The kid didn’t budge. He grinned wider and held tighter.

Gavin figured if he started walking the rugrat would slide off.

No such luck. This kid had an iron grip. Like a bull rider. Had to be one of Colby’s sons.

Maybe he could bribe him. “I’ll give you candy if you let me go.”

He shook his head, wiping his wet mouth on Gavin’s jeans.

“Beau,” a male voice said sharply. “Let him go.”

The kid dropped his arms, looked up at Gavin and said, “Now gimme candy.”

“What? No way.”

Cord scooped the boy up, cocking him on his hip. “Sorry. He’s a little ornery tonight.”

Ya think?

Cord’s focus dropped to the wet spot on Gavin’s knee. “Did he bite you?”

Bite him? What the hell? “No.”

“Good. This one’s a biter, much to his mama’s dismay.”

Gavin had no idea what to say to that.

“Anyway, AJ wanted me to relay her thanks for the invite and she’s sorry she couldn’t make it tonight.”

“Is everything all right?”

“It will be when she has the baby. I wanted to tell you to swing by for a beer sometime. Our door is always open and if you need anything, just holler.”

“Thanks, Cord. I appreciate it.”

He skirted two girls chasing each other and a third twirling in place like a ballerina. He saw Dalton, leaning against the wall, a baby cradled in his arms while Brandt and Jessie were eating.

Dalton smiled. “Great party, cuz.”

“Thanks. Glad you could make it. Where are Tell and Georgia?”

Jessie answered, “Cheerleading tryouts for winter sports are at the school tonight. And of course Tell had to go and help, since he and Georgia are joined at the hip.”

“Tonight?” Vi said from behind him.

He turned around. Why was she following him everywhere? Then he saw her wiping down the opposite end of the table.

Don’t be an ass. She’s just being helpful
.

“I thought Sierra wanted to try out for cheerleading,” Vi said.

That surprised Gavin. Sierra hadn’t even mentioned it.

“It’s too bad,” Jessie said. “Georgia would’ve loved to have her on the squad.”

Why hadn’t his daughter said something? Did she think he’d say no? Just another reason he needed to track her down. Before he made it to the hallway, he was stopped five times. Once by Colby, who said pretty much the same thing Cord had. Ditto for Kane and Kade. Colt managed to repeat the offer before the girl child in his arms screamed like a banshee and he hot-footed it outside.

His gaze swept the great room where the McKay wives were clustered with still more kids. Libby winked at him and he smiled back. He’d gotten to know her a little better in the last few months and she was such a sweetheart.

Carson and Carolyn each had their hands full with a dark-haired grandchild, but Carson invited him over to skeet shoot, which was unexpected. Calvin called out to Carson and he wandered away.

Gavin must’ve looked overwhelmed because Carolyn reached over and rubbed his arm.

“You didn’t know what you were in for with this bunch, did you?”

“Not really. The McKays are…a fertile lot.”

She laughed. “And a loud lot. Just think, Cam and Domini aren’t here with their six kids. Neither are Carter and Macie and their four kids.”

“You have ten
more
grandkids?”

Carolyn kissed the sleepy, dark-haired girl’s head. “Yes, we are very blessed. And we all feel the same way about you, Gavin. Blessed to have you as part of the family.”

“Thanks. Have you seen Keely? I heard she was with Sierra.”

“No.” She scanned the room. “Hmm. I don’t see Jack either. Those two probably snuck off somewhere. They’re trying to have a baby and I swear Keely wants bragging rights that she got knocked up in the bathroom or something.”