Page 13 of Pinch
“Yay!” Gigi does a fast air-clap. “You love her already.”
“I don’t want her to get stepped on.” I pretend to be so stoic, but when she does two little circles in my lap then curls into a little ball, I know I’m in trouble. “As long as she doesn’t barf in my bed like the last one.”
“Something was wrong with that dog,” Maverick calls from the other end of the table. “He was always humping my foot.”
Gavin nearly chokes on his milk, and Gigi sits back in her chair, crossing her arms. “He might’ve had a urinary tract infection. It’s hard to know when dogs come from bad situations.”
“Alls I know is that couch pillow will never be the same again.”
“Ew! Which one?” I drop my fork, ready to throw them all in the garbage.
“The one with the big red flowers.”
Gigi clutches her cheeks. “That’s my favorite pillow! Did you clean it?”
“Why would I do that?” Mav shakes his head like she’s being ridiculous.
“Thanks for the warning,” Gavin manages to say through his coughs.
“Are you okay?” Gigi reaches across the table to touch his forearm, and my stomach tightens, which is ridiculous.
“Yeah, thanks. You guys gotta warn me.” He gives her a wink, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin.
My eyes narrow, and I’m not hungry anymore. Pushing away from the table, I tuck Patsy under my arm. “I’ll load the dishwasher."
“You’re not finished?” Gigi frowns up at me.
“You can’t load the dishwasher and hold a dog. Give me Peepee.”
“We’re not calling her that.” I walk over and hand the tiny poodle to Mav. “Dinner was delicious, thanks.”
I walk to the table to start collecting the serving platters when Gavin’s chair scoots away from the table. He stands and starts helping me, which is not what he’s supposed to do.
“It’s okay!” My voice is too sharp. “I have it. Just enjoy your dinner.”
“Don’t be prickly, Princess.” He dares to give me that cocky grin. “I’m a guest. It’s good manners to help out.”
“It’s nice to see you’ve picked up manners along the way. What’s that like?”
“I guess you’ll have to let me know.” He takes the cast-iron meat platter from my hands. “Don’t worry. I won’t break it.”
A hint of sarcasm is in his tone, and it’s like a brand of fire.
I take the remaining items off the table and start for the kitchen. “Unlike the hearts you’ve broken in the past.”
4
Gavin
My jaw tightens as I watch Hayden standing at the sink in those track pants and cropped tee.
Her back is turned and she’s doing her best not to acknowledge my existence, like she’s been doing all evening. It seems wrong that a woman so damn prickly should have a body that fine.
Still, she didn’t veto me staying here, so I decide to extend my own olive branch.
“You never told me about your sneezing study.” I place the heavy iron platter on the counter beside the sink.
Her blue eyes flash at me, and it’s like a punch in the gut.Gorgeous.
