Finding Gavin (Southern Boys #2) by C.A. Harms Read Free Book Online Page B

horrible about lying to him. I only nodded my head in reply. “Maybe we can make plans for that dinner we never had.”
    “I’m actually housesitting for Kori and Reed. I’ll be helping out with Rhett, too, while they’re on their honeymoon.”
    He was silent for a moment. “Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to avoid me?”
    With that I turned my head and looked back at him. “I’m not. I want to have dinner with you. After they return next weekend, we’ll make plans. I promise.”
    “What about tonight? Can I spend time with you tonight?” he asked, his breath fanning out over my face and neck. There was nothing more I wanted than to lose myself in Gavin and forget all about everything else. I nodded my head, and he kissed me just behind the ear.
    I knew I needed to tell him, but I wanted to verify everything with the doctor first. My appointment was on Monday, so maybe I should wait until then. After that, I would go to him and lay it all out. My stomach bottomed out instantly with the thought of it all.
    As the reception went on, Gavin continued to watch me. Every chance he got, he would touch me in some way—whether with a brush of his hands against mine or a possessive grip on my waist. Of course, that only happened when another man approached me. Inside I was warm and fuzzy with the thought of him claiming me.
    Things had finally begun to wind down, and Gavin approached me from across the room. His gaze held mine until he was standing before me. With a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth, he lifted his hand out to me. “Can I have this dance?”
    Smiling up at him, I whispered a breathy, “Yes.”
    He led me to the dance floor, where we joined the other couples. He held me close, and I rested my head against his chest. I savored the feeling of our closeness.
    I melted against him even more when I felt his fingertips skim over the skin of my exposed back. Tilting his head down closer, he whispered against my ear, “I think it’s about time we stop running from this, don’t you?”
    I couldn’t look at him. I only nuzzled into his chest a little closer. I buried my face in his neck and kissed him gently.
    With the touch of my lips, he groaned and pulled me against him tighter.
    “Running from what?” I asked.
    I knew what he was talking about; I’m not dense. I just wanted to hear him say it out loud.
    “From us, what we both feel. I don’t want to stay away from you. I’ve tried to, but I just can’t anymore.” He leaned back, forcing me to look up at him. Bracing my face in his hands, he stared intently into my eyes. “I’ve pushed you away. I know this is all on me. I just don’t want to keep you at a distance anymore. I have a mess going on in my life right now but, damn it, I want you.” He looked down at my lips as a grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. “I need you, baby.”
    I closed my eyes just before his lips touched mine. A whimper escaped me as his tongue brushed my lower lip. I let go of everything else and just concentrated on the feelings he invoked in me.
    Gavin was my weakness, the one person I lost all the ability to control myself around.
    We stood in the center of a dozen different couples, but it felt as if we were completely alone. It was as if everyone else had faded away, and this had become our moment.
    The news I held was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to tell him so badly, but then again, the fear of his reaction hit me. I had suffered a lifetime of rejection, and for one night I wanted to feel needed. I wanted to know what it felt like to have someone want me so badly in return.
    So for tonight, I would tuck my little secret deep down and bask in the joy of Gavin’s touch.
     
    ***
     
    We stood in the living room of Kori’s old house. Everything looked so different now. Gavin had made it masculine and rugged. The entire place smelled like him, and it made me smile. Yes, I was one of those girls who secretly sniffed the yummy man when he