Page 74 of Hot Response
She knew they’d have to navigate those changes as their relationship progressed and it would be a part of making a future together. She just wasn’t sure she was ready to make those changes yet.
“I like this, too,” she finally said. “But I don’t want to rush into that kind of decision and mess things up between us. Do I get to think about it?”
“Of course you do.” He chuckled, his breath warm against her chin. “There’s no pressure. I just wanted to throw it out there.”
She knew him too well to believe it was just a random idea he was tossing out on a whim. But she appreciated that he was willing to give her the space she needed to consider it. And that he didn’t question whether or not her need to think about it was because of her mom, even though he probably suspected it.
His hand skimmed over her arm before sliding over to cup her breast. “How about we get out of the tub and, after we dry off, I’ll take you out to lunch. I’ll dry your back and you can dry mine.”
“I don’t know. Are you sure you have the strength to thoroughly dry me off after shoveling all that snow?”
He growled and nipped at her shoulder. “Oh, I’ll be thorough. Don’t you worry about that.”
* * *
Gavin stood on the doorstep of Diane’s house, waiting for somebody to answer the door. Maybe he should have felt at home enough to simply knock and then walk in, but he didn’t feel comfortable doing that yet.
When her brother opened the door, he grinned. “Hey, Gavin.”
“Hey, Carter. Long time, no see.”
They’d been together that morning, playing some basketball. The kid wasn’t a regular, by any means, but sometimes he managed to drag his nocturnal teenage self out of bed in time to shoot some hoops.
“Come on in. Mom and Cait are in the kitchen arguing about something.”
“Maybe I should wait outside,” Gavin said, only half-joking.
But Carter gestured for him to get in the house, so he did. He couldn’t hear any yelling or crying, so hopefully their disagreement wasn’t too bad. He’d grown up with a sister, so he knew mother-daughter fights could be really unpleasant to witness.
But then Cait was walking toward him, smiling, and he figured no tears was a good sign. “Hi, gorgeous.”
She kissed him hello, but it was a quick peck on the lips in deference to her younger brother being in the room. Gavin felt the quick rush of pleasure he always felt when he first saw Cait after being away from her, even for only a day.
He wondered if that would ever stop happening, and really hoped it wouldn’t.
“Everything okay?” he asked, and he tipped his head toward Carter when she looked confused. “I heard there was an argument in progress.”
“Oh, that. It wasn’t really an argument. I forgot to tell her you don’t like onions because it never really came up in conversation, and now her life is ruined.”
He chuckled. “I’m not a fan of onions, but it won’t kill me to eat them. Or I can pick them out and hide them in my napkin when she’s not looking.”
“She made a New England boiled dinner, and even though I told her she didn’t have to, she just finished picking and straining every last bit of onion out and putting it in a separate dish.” She laughed at his expression. “Don’t worry about it. She likes you.”
That was good news, so he shrugged off his worry about Diane being upset. “Did your brother tell you I kicked his ass on the basketball court this morning?”
Carter snorted. “As if. I ran you so ragged on that court, you probably couldn’t lift your foot high enough to reach my ass even if you could catch me.”
“Kid, I’m faster than you while wearing gear that’s half your weight.”
The friendly trash talk came to end when Diane walked out of the kitchen. “I thought I heard your voice, Gavin. I’m glad you could make it.”
“Thank you for inviting me. It smells delicious.” He pulled a candy bar from the pocket of his coat and held it out to her. “Cait told me these are your favorite.”
“They are and thank you. That’s so sweet.” Then she gave him what Gavin thought of as the affectionate-but-slightly-admonishing mom look. “You don’t have to bring a gift every time you visit, you know.”
He did if he didn’t want his dad kicking his ass and, unlike Carter, his old man could actually do it since Gavin couldn’t fight back. “It’s the least I can do when you’re letting me share meals as good as yours with you.”
Diane blushed and waved a hand at him before going back to the kitchen. “Carter, pour the drinks, please.”
