Chapter 5

The next morning at the office, Zoe couldn’t stop thinking about her night with Gavin or the fact that she’d agreed to a second date with His Annoyingness. Why had she agreed when she’d finally satisfied her curiosity about what a night out with him would be like? Oh right. Because he made her laugh, made her burn, and replaced her sad memories with bright, happy ones.

Who knew that the man who could bench press two-fifty, flex his ass to impress, and thought himself hilarious could also be sensitive enough to care about what she liked, going so far as to arrange a gardening date?

She hadn’t enjoyed herself with a man so much in ages. Maybe years. They hadn’t done more than talk about flowering plants and vegetables, and kiss and hug, with no hands in any inappropriate places. She’d learned little about him though, other than that he was one of four siblings and that his parents had a small garden tended by his father at their house in Fremont. That and the fact he lived with Landon in a suburban home that didn’t lend itself to much greenery. And that was just fine with him.

Though he’d protested he had no idea what to do with plants, he’d been careful about not killing them. His large hands had been gentle when patting the few transplanted bulbs she’d overseen.

The magic of the night had gotten to her. A little too much maybe, because she’d made plans for a second date, enjoyed kisses that had ended way too quickly, and wanted another shot at the gorgeous and addicting Gavin Donnigan.

Her friend Cleo stuck her head in the office door. “Hey, woman. FYI, Swanson has a bug up his ass about the latest version of BymaHealth. Ginny made the mistake of picking up line 2. He wants you.” Ginny, another of Zoe’s trainers, loved dealing with Swanson, but he wasn’t interested in a date with the young woman, to her dismay.

Now that Zoe was firmly grounded, thanks to Cleo and the tenacious Mark Swanson, Gavin fled her mind. “Right.”

“Oh, and another thing. Ginny said Bill stopped by. He had to head out to resolve an issue at one of the clinics, so he’ll need to make up his evaluation. In other words, he won’t be here for your meeting in”—Cleo checked her phone for the time—“ten minutes. Also, I suggested to Tina that she see you Monday, after our new director’s committee meeting. Because you’re busy now.”

“Wait. What Monday meeting?”

“All the department heads need to start standardizing work flows. You’ll be there too…seven a.m. sharp.” As operations coordinator for SMP Medical Group, Cleo handled the logistics for everything. When it came to scheduling, her word was final.

“Seriously? Tina at any time is frightening. But on a Monday morning?”

Cleo grinned. “Drink lots of coffee and deal.”

“Right. So why am I busy now, exactly?”

“Because you have a meeting with me. I want to know why you’re daydreaming when you should be creating the training plan for our new immediate care clinic, which opens in… That’s right! Three months!”

Zoe groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

Cleo smirked. “Yet I see you in here daydreaming about something far more important than work. Hmm. What could it be? I know. It’s that studly self-defense coach at your gym, right? I want details about your date. Stat! Well, after Swanson’s done lighting your tail on fire.”

“Thanks so much.”

“Anytime. I’ll be right back.” Cleo left the office bubbly and no doubt thrilled not to have to deal with Mr. Scary.

Where was Bill’s sick kid now, when Zoe needed to cover for the guy far away from the office?

Dreading the call blinking at her on hold, she picked it up and forced herself to think positive thoughts. “Hello, this is Zoe speaking.”

A deep voice answered. “Jesus H.… Lana, not now.” A woman’s voice rose in the background.

Zoe blinked. “Jesus H. Lana? Is this some new religion I’m not aware of? I thought that usually ended in Christ.”

She heard him snap at someone and considered herself lucky not to be on the receiving end. Despite his brusqueness, she liked Swanson. He was their top clinic manager. Wickedly smart, shockingly handsome, autocratic, and a total hard-ass who didn’t mess around when it came to his job.

He growled, “Look, Ms. York. Today is not the day to screw with me. I’m covering for one of our other managers because his head is so far up his nineteen-year-old girlfriend’s ass he can’t see for the rainbows and unicorns she still watches on Nickelodeon.” Zoe totally knew who he was talking about. Unfortunately, the manager, Dan Garrison, had friends in high places, retaining his job at the expense of others. “Then there are our medical assistants who”—he raised his voice—“apparently think it’s okay to go on strike because I forgot to bring the replacement for the damn hazelnut coffee creamer!” He muttered a few more choice words under his breath while Zoe winced, feeling for him. The MAs working with Swanson didn’t mess around. Especially not when it came to their caffeine habit.

“So, uh, Mr. Swanson, what can I do for you?” She pulled out her trusty problems notebook. Sometimes old school worked best when she’d have to be on the move later. She had a feeling she’d need to do a face-to-face with IT to get this handled. Ugh squared.

Lana’s diatribe in the background faded, so Swanson must have moved away from her before he said, “I need some remedial training for our two newest hires, because they’ve been fucking up the intakes.”

Swanson must have been seriously stressed for him to be swearing so much.

“Okay. I’ll talk to Lana to book their training time.” Zoe mentally selected her best trainer for the assignment. Lana was a top-notch MA who coordinated for all the medical assistants in Swanson’s clinic. She knew her stuff…and her coffee creamer, apparently. Zoe had to fight not to laugh.

“Good. You talk to Her Highness about scheduling.” He sighed. “We’ve also had complaints of laptops crashing when our people try to put in notes under the new patient template. Can you fix that ASAP? Oh, and the medication refills are slow. We’re getting a lot of pissed-off patient complaints from the pharmacy. And the patient demographics button sometimes has to be tapped three times before the data screen comes up. What’s that about?”

Zoe wrote it all down, asked him a few more questions, and was about to hang up when Swanson jarred her with a question she’d been hoping not to hear.

She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. What?”

“I asked if you’d meet me for lunch on Monday. I have a few more tweaks for our consult template, and I’d rather not harass you over the phone about them. You’re much easier to get a commitment out of when we’re face-to-face.”

Swanson could outstare Satan himself when he wanted something. And he had a habit of getting her to agree to fix his problems before everyone else’s, even when they were minor. Zoe still had no idea how he pulled off his Jedi mind tricks. But she’d smartened up. Lately, she’d dealt with him via phone calls and emails. Or sent Ginny. Apparently that wasn’t working for him anymore.

She sighed. “Fine.”

“Hey, it could be worse. I could ask our no-show manager to handle it. He’d spend the time pretending he wasn’t trying to see down your blouse, no doubt wondering how he could somehow justify having sex with a woman no longer in her teens. I just want to talk to you about work.”

“Funny, Mr. Swanson.” Though he had a point. She couldn’t stand Dan Garrison either.

He snorted. “I thought so. You owe me.”

“For what? Making your job easier? More like you owe me.”

“Please. I’m keeping Garrison contained and making myself look like the bad guy with Lana. So when you schedule that training, she’ll still be madder with me than with you for taking her people away.”

“Um, didn’t you piss off Lana all on your own? You know, by forgetting the creamer?”

“It was all part of a larger plan.”

Zoe laughed. “Someone needs therapy to take care of those delusions…and it’s not me. Okay, I’ll get on the software issues and meet you on Monday for lunch.”

“At eleven.”

“Better make that noon. I have a feeling the new directors’ meeting Cleo scheduled Monday morning is going to add a whole new pile of work for me.”

“Monday morning? What time?”

“Seven.”

“Seven? That’s when we have our providers’ meetings—at seven. I schedule our clinic’s meetings.” He sounded strangled. “You said Cleo Brewer scheduled it?”

“Yes,” she said, cautious. Swanson sounded ready to explode again.

“Damn it,” he barked, added, “Don’t be late,” and hung up without a good-bye.

Not too bad, considering she hadn’t been frozen by Swanson’s icy displeasure. He burned with a cold tongue. But he reserved his cutting remarks for those who deserved them. Fortunately, Zoe’s diligence had served her well. Her coworkers took her seriously, and she loved her job. She and Swanson rarely had run-ins, though she’d heard more than her fair share about him from Cleo.

And speak of the devil… Bright-green eyes peered at her from behind the doorframe.

“Might as well pop your head back in and have a seat.”

Cleo joined Zoe in the office once more. Handing over a cup of steaming coffee, she sat back and slurped her own. “So how’s Mark McDreary?”

Zoe took a sip of her coffee and grinned. “Don’t you mean Mark McDreamy?”

Cleo snorted. “Please. That man has no heart, no dreams, and nothing more than a handsome shell going for him. If it weren’t for his dark good looks, he’d be the epitome of a troll. Like the kind that lives under the Fremont Bridge. Hmm. Now I think about it, there’s a resemblance in that stony glare.”

Zoe chuckled. “He’s not so bad. He had some valid complaints. And Lana’s giving it to him for not replacing the coffee creamer.”

Cleo shared her mirth. “Oh man. I’d never get between Lana and her coffee. Not if I wanted to live. That’s like telling you that you’ll have to miss your exercise classes because Bill’s son got sick.” She gave Zoe a pointed glance.

Zoe flushed. Obviously Ginny had been telling tales. “I already apologized to Ginny for being bitchy. But you know how it is when your routine gets interrupted. I was cranky because I—”

“Had to miss gym time with Sergeant Studly. I know.”

“Smooth, the way you worked that in.”

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks.” Cleo placed her coffee down and rubbed her hands together with relish. “So what’s the deal? How did the date go?”

“Date?”

“Please. I know everything that goes on around here. Our own microcosm of reality, and I’m the reigning deity who sees everything.”

When Cleo got that all-knowing look in her sparkling green eyes, she spooked Zoe a little. “What? Are you reading my future again?”

Cleo had hinted once that the women in her family were highly intuitive. But the way she ran the administrative section of the medical group so smoothly was more than unnerving. No one should be that organized.

“Yes. I read your tea leaves…and your day calendar. You penciled in Gavin’s name yesterday.” She gave a wide grin. “Besides, I’m your best friend. It’s my job to know these things.”

Zoe sighed. “I tried to keep this quiet. Piper and my parents don’t know.”

“I get you not telling your mom and dad. But come on. Piper? She’s cool.”

“She’s on this relationship kick right now. It’s weird. For so long she was against marriage, and now she’s talking about joining at the hip with some guy because time is short.” She felt a familiar pang. “With my sister gone, everyone’s all shaken up.”

Cleo nodded in understanding. “I miss Aubrey too.” She gave a dramatic sigh. “Yeah. And I’m still not falling for the whole woe-is-me change of subject, woman. Tell me about Gavin. What happened last night? Did you two have sex?”

“Cleo.” Zoe’s cheeks heated as her gaze shot to the open door.

Cleo grinned, and honest to God, she totally resembled a feline in human form. Jet-black hair, green eyes, and if she’d had whiskers, they’d have been twitching.

“Well?”

In a low voice, Zoe stated, “We did not have sex.” Unfortunately. She cleared that thought right out of her head. “He took me to a place in Magnolia.”

“He lives out there? Nice.”

“No. His sister’s friends with the owner. So we’re at this house with the most amazing kitchen ever.” Zoe described it, familiar with the envious expression on Cleo’s face. She’d felt the same. “Yeah, marble countertops as far as the eye could see. And even better, they had amazing plant beds.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Zoe still couldn’t believe how fun the night had been. “Gavin bought me pink work gloves, and we played in the garden beds all night. He made me cocoa too.” And kissed the breath out of me.

“Wait. By played in the garden beds, you mean—”

“We weeded and replanted things. It was amazing.”

Cleo shook her head. “I feel so sad for you. You’re pathetic, and you don’t even realize how pathetic you are.”

Zoe flipped her off.

Cleo pretend-caught the gesture, kissed her fingers, and flipped it back to Zoe. “Now if you’d literally gotten down and dirty rolling in rose petals—”

“With all the thorns, roses would be a bad idea. But candytuft or geraniums would work if I didn’t care about crushing flowers. Which I do.”

“Hey, nerd girl. I’m trying to make a point. You had him all to yourself last night, and you pulled weeds. How is that romantic?”

“You had to be there.” Zoe frowned. “Come to think of it, he promised to take me to dinner.” Since she’d promised to keep quiet about his state of arousal at the gym. “Good thing I made that second date then. He owes me.” She grinned, pleased with herself that now she could rationalize her need to see him again. Because she missed him already. And that was too damn weird. Gah. She could feel his lips on hers as if he were still there, closing her in the warmth of his embrace.

Cleo stared at her, wide-eyed.

“What?”

“You look kind of weird. Smiley. Dopey.”

“Hey.” That took care of the smiley.

“Tell me exactly what happened last night. Leave nothing out.” Before Zoe could protest, Cleo moved to close the door behind them, then sat back down on the edge of her seat. “I told Ginny you needed her to cover the phone for a solid hour. I’m taking an early lunch break for this. You’re mine until eleven. So come on and share. My love life is nonexistent until Scott gets back.”

With her boyfriend deployed overseas, Cleo was at loose ends romantically.

Zoe groaned. “It was bad.”

“Bad how?”

“Bad in that I had to keep telling myself I don’t do one-night stands.”

“Yes.” Cleo fist-pumped in the air. “I knew you liked him.”

“So what? He’s likeable. Good-looking.” An understatement. “And he kisses like… Well, it’s like devouring a s’more in one bite.”

“That good, huh?” Cleo’s smile was way too wide for her face.

“Yes.” Zoe remembered the kiss and felt warm all over. “He kissed me under the moonlight. He took me on a gardening date, because he knew I liked plants. It’s like he’s thinking about more than just doing me. And it’s a little scary.”

“Because…?”

“Because I want to do him too.” How painful, yet freeing to admit. “Piper thinks I’m obsessed with him.”

“Um, you are. You’ve been talking about the cute jerk from the gym for months.”

“I have?”

“Yeah.” Cleo snorted. “Even I could tell you have a crush, and according to my brothers, I’m clueless about stuff like that.”

“Obsessed is a strong word.” At Cleo’s raised brow, Zoe amended, “I mean, well, I wasn’t exactly obsessed…until last night. The date was too good to be true, Cleo. So I’m giving him tonight to show his true colors.”

“If he’s smart, it’ll take him way many more dates than just two to expose himself.” She paused, then chuckled. “See what I did there? Expose himself?”

Zoe intentionally ignored her. “If he tries to get into my pants on date two, I won’t have to go any further.” And maybe she’d save herself some drama early on, because Gavin had trouble written all over him. She liked him. A lot. “Although I did tell Piper I’d try to be more like Aubrey.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “No, I want to be more like my sister. I want to have fun with life.”

Without warning, her eyes welled as grief intruded.

“Damn it.”

Cleo’s smile gentled and seemed to shift to shared understanding. She took a tissue from Zoe’s desk and handed it to her. “When my mom died, I was a basket case. Then my dad and uncle passed the next year. I’d be fine, then just break down for no reason. But that’s part of the healing process.” She pointed to her face. “Look at me. Just talked about my family. No tears.”

Zoe blew her nose. “How long did that take?”

“Ten years. But hey, no more crying about it. I’m still sad inside, but it’s a healthy, buried pain. I think. That’s what Matt and Josh tell me. Then again, they’re assholes.”

Zoe sputtered a surprised laugh. “Your brothers are not assholes. I like them.” And if she hadn’t been so busy with work before the mess with Aubrey, she might have asked one of them out. Cleo’s brothers were hot.

“Just because they wear badges does not make them good guys. Well, technically they are the good guys, but…you know what I mean. Now stop stalling and tell me about Gavin and his kisses.”

So Zoe told her everything. About Gavin’s charm at the gym, trying to get her to smile. About rolling around on the mats with him and getting tricked into “wrestling” before his brother looked in. And about the most romantic date she’d ever gone on that had ended in hot chocolate with real whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and a sweet kiss good-bye. Not one gropey instance where he pushed for sex.

Cleo kept nodding. “He’s into you. Really into you, not just for the wham-bam. I’m shocked.”

“That the man doesn’t want sex?”

“No, that you haven’t thrown him over yet. I like this new you, Zoe. Time to give a relationship a try. Look at me. Took me a while, but now Scott and I are tighter than ever. I think we might even get engaged when he gets back from his temporary duty in Germany.”

“Really? I didn’t know it was that serious.” Scott’s temporary duty had already been extended months longer than the six he’d initially been gone.

Cleo beamed. “I know. The last time he was back on leave, we had the best time. He was so sweet and attentive, more than he usually is. I don’t think he wanted to go back. And we’re talking about Stuttgart, Germany. The land of beer and blond chicks.”

Zoe laughed. “Beer and blond chicks, huh? Funny, I thought Germany was about more than that.”

“Not for Scott.” Cleo teased. “So what are you doing tonight?”

“I invited Gavin to my place for dinner and a movie. I thought we could watch something on Netflix together and hang out.”

“Seriously? I didn’t know Netflix and chill was your kind of deal.”

Zoe frowned. “What?”

Cleo sighed. “Like I said. Pathetic. So what are you cooking?”

“That’s not the point. Gavin passed the first test. Let’s see what he does on the second.” She frowned. “Now what’s this Netflix and chill business about?”

* * *

Gavin had no idea what to do about the upcoming evening. According to his sister, sex on the first date would have been bad. But the second should work, right? Except he didn’t think he could do it. And that freaked him out.

He could fuck a woman, no problem. Detachment—check. He was the king of meaningless sex. Of course, it meant something during the doing, but after, he and his partner would part ways without a problem. Also, the reason he’d been with those particular women at the gym was because they’d wanted nothing more than a few orgasms and clean sex.

But Zoe meant more than a mindless screw. The pleasure with her was in being with her. Not just being with her.

He groaned and covered his eyes with his forearm as he lay back on the couch in his living room.

“Seriously, Gavin. The whole patient lying back on the couch while confiding his problems is a stereotype. I don’t really use the couch in my practice except as a seat,” Ava said, her wry smile a testament to a terrific sense of humor in a shrink. “When you asked me for some advice about Zoe, I thought we’d talk. Sitting up. Like normal friends.”

“Is that what we are? Friends? You’re going to be my sister-in-law someday, if Landon doesn’t screw up your relationship. You’re a future sister. That means I can hang all out with you. Pick my nose, walk around in my boxers, include you in the prank wars…” He peeked from under his forearm and saw her grimace. “Too immature for you?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact.”

“Yeah, right. I know you encouraged my brother yesterday to switch out Mom’s toothpaste for that numbing agent you got from your dentist.”

She buffed her nails on her shirt and glanced away from him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He snorted. “Right. Hey, it was damn good. And Mom is still blaming Dad, which means we’re all safe from the wrath of Linda for a while. Now help a brother out.”

She sighed. “Fine. Continue to lie on the couch. Tell me about your problems, Gavin.”

He frowned. “Shouldn’t you have a notepad to write this down?”

“Gavin.” She tapped her fingernails in a rhythm that only someone with an interminable amount of patience could have. Of course, she was dating his brother. With Landon, patience was not just a virtue; it was a requirement.

“I’m kidding.” He sat up. “Tell me how to handle Zoe. I mean, we’ll eventually get to the good stuff. I hope. But I’m oddly reluctant to rush it, and I’m not sure why.”

“Because you care for her more than your other casual partners.”

“I was waiting for you to call them my conquests. Good on you for being a feminist and refraining.”

Ah. There. That tic in her forehead. And his job was done.

“Kidding, Ava. I respected those other casual partners. I think a woman wanting to have sex should go for it whenever she wants. I’m a forward-thinking guy.”

She blinked. “I’ll say. You have a much rangier vocabulary when we talk one-on-one. Interesting.”

“Yeah, I try to underwhelm at every opportunity. Gives me an edge.”

“But not with Zoe.”

“Nope.” He shrugged. “She rejected me for months. Last night we hung out at Hope’s rich friend’s place and dug in the dirt. And Zoe was into it.” He didn’t understand why he’d been having so much fun too. “I liked it.”

“And?”

“And it was kind of…I don’t know…close. When she and I kissed, I felt it here.” He tapped his chest. “Not just there.” He glanced down between his legs, saw her flush, and grimaced. “Sorry, that wasn’t me trying to embarrass you. I was being honest.”

“I know.” She sighed. “Forgive me. I need to readjust my mind-set. It’s different when I talk to an actual client than when talking to my brother.” She gifted him with a warm smile. “I think you like this woman, Gavin. So treat her with respect and go slow. There’s no timetable to keep, is there?”

“Ah, no.” Which he kept telling his cock. The damn thing refused to stay down in Zoe’s presence. And squatting to dig while erect? Not comfortable. Nope.

“Listen to your instincts. That’s my advice.”

“You’re not helping. I find myself wanting to… Never mind.” All of the sudden, confiding his sexual desires to Landon’s fiancée felt too much like talking to Hope. Gross. He rose from the couch and glanced around the pristine room in disgust. “You and Landon were made for each other. Did I see you dusting earlier?”

“Yes, and you should take note. Most women like a clean house. It shows you care about your environment.”

“Guess I’ll see if she cares about her environment tonight.” When he met Zoe at her place. She didn’t seem like the type to put out on even the second date. But she’d invited him to her place for dinner—and Netflix. He felt nervous again, not sure what to do or how to behave around her. Should he try for more gentle kisses that sent his heart racing? Or should he be all caveman and bend her over the couch and…

“Gavin?”

“Hell,” he muttered and hurried down the hallway toward his bedroom, trying to hide his newly sprouted wood. Frickin’ Zoe. “Yeah, Ava?”

“Landon said he’d told you about this weekend, but I don’t trust that he did.” He hadn’t. “Your brother and I are going away and won’t be back until Monday morning. So you have the house to yourself. And I heard Theo talking with an old friend of his, and they’re heading to Port Angeles for the weekend.”

“I know,” he called out, doing his best to focus on not being aroused around Landon’s fiancée. Once he could control himself, he stepped into his room, pretending he’d meant to really go in there, then returned after picking up his cell phone. A good enough excuse. He met Ava again in the living room. “Oh my God. Are you straightening up again?”

She groaned. “The magazines weren’t aligned. Oh, Gavin. It’s a sickness. Your brother is turning me into an obsessive personality type.”

He chuckled. “I managed to resist it for years until the Marine Corps got ahold of me. But now I’m back to being slovenly.”

The front door banged open, and Gavin hurried to lie on the couch and cross his arms over his chest. “So there I was, dreaming about you and me. Is that normal, Doc?” he asked her. “Because we weren’t wearing anything more than Oregon State orange stripes. Oddly enough, Landon was playing referee. He even had a whistle while we—Oh hi, Bro. What’s up?”

“You’re so not funny.” He glared at Gavin before planting a kiss on Ava that made her unsteady on her feet. She was gasping by the time Landon pulled away.

“Need…air…” She drew in large breaths.

“Wow. How romantic.” Gavin nodded. “Getting your woman all hot and bothered. And breathless. Nearly dying.”

Landon laughed. “She was swooning, weren’t you, babe?”

She glared. “I couldn’t breathe, you animal.”

“We’re so in love,” Landon gushed, then lifted her in his arms and twirled her until she laughed. “Now what’s for dinner? I’m starved.”

“Whatever you’re buying,” Ava responded a bit tartly. “The only thing saving you from an argument about the merits of men versus women in the kitchen is that you look amazing in that suit.”

Sadly, Landon did. The big guy worked for some business logistics firm managing people. Just what Landon needed. To be in charge. Gavin eyed his brother, those huge arms not in the least camouflaged by some expensive slate-gray jacket. Then he glanced down at his own jeans and T-shirt.

“So should I dress up, Ava?”

“I think you look fine. Be yourself, Gavin.”

“What? Another date for you? Who with this time?” Landon asked. “Not Michelle.”

Gavin made a face. “No, dumbass. It’s with Zoe.”

“Oh, the chick who secretly hates you. Go for it, man. She can’t possibly cut you off…again.” Landon snickered. “Kidding. Ava’s right. Be yourself. If she can stand you two nights in a row, she’s probably on her way to falling in love.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Gavin agreed. “Chicks. So easy.”

Ava shook her head and walked away, muttering under her breath.

He and Landon shared a grin.

Gavin stood and gestured down at himself. “So seriously. Would you dress this up?”

Landon considered him, glanced over his shoulder at Ava now puttering in the kitchen, and said in a low voice, “Wear my dark-blue sweater. It’s a little tight on me and will make you look even more buff than you are. Chicks dig that. And put on a little cologne. Look good. If you like this one, play it safe. Take nothing for granted. The women you really want take effort. Hell, look at my doc in there. She’s a handful…” He paused.

“Please don’t say it.”

“…in all the right places. Trite, but true. And she’s mine,” Landon reminded him.

“Whatever. I don’t have time for your macho head games. I have a woman to win over.” He blew out a breath. “She wants to watch Netflix and just relax over dinner. Does that mean what I hope it means?”

Landon blinked. “Zoe York? Nah. No way.”

“That’s what I thought.” He glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Well, gotta motor. Wish me luck.” He dashed to the fridge in the kitchen, took the flowers he’d been saving, and saw Ava’s startled gaze. “I’m not totally lame when it comes to wining and dining women, Ava. Geez. Hurt my feelings, why don’t you?”

“But I—”

He passed Landon. “Ava’s making me feel bad about myself, Bro. Give her a talking-to, would you?” he asked loudly enough for Ava to hear.

“Gavin, that’s not true.” She tried to exit the kitchen, but Landon’s wide shoulders blocked her.

“Doc, that’s just not right. You know Gavin’s got self-esteem issues.”

“But I wasn’t…”

Gavin laughed to himself as he raced to Landon’s room to borrow his blue sweater, then left. Yep. Landon owed him one. Now Ava and Landon could do their version of verbal foreplay. And he, bless him, would be far away while they got their shrink on.

He shuddered at the thought of his brother getting frisky. Now if it were Gavin and Zoe, that would be more than okay. The entire way to her house, he continued to tell himself she couldn’t possibly mean they’d be having sex tonight, all casual and hot. But what if she did? Should he do the gentlemanly thing and say no, or give the lady what she wanted? What he desperately wanted, despite wanting to go slowly with her.

Decisions, decisions…