She made a noncommittal noise.
“My mom…she can be such a bitch to him. She basically said he’d be better off not going to Paris since he doesn’t know the meaning of romance and wouldn’t know what to do with himself.”
Was that why Gavin had asked her? To prove his ex-wife wrong?
“I know he asked you to come with him. I know you said no. I don’t understand why you’d say no. I mean, you’re already with him and it wouldn’t be like you’d be doing anything different there than you’re doing here.”
Insightful little thing.
“I think you have the wrong impression of him. I mean, since he’s got money you’d think he’d be going cool places all the time. But he’s always working and he’s never taken a two-week vacation.”
“Never?”
“He’s never taken a vacation with anyone besides me either. So it’d be a big deal if he did go, especially if he went with you. And just so you know, if you don’t go, he’ll be there by himself. I’m not saying that to make you feel guilty, I’m telling you because I think he deserves to have fun. He should get to be in Paris with someone he cares about. So I’m just asking you to think about it.”
“Sierra?” Gavin’s voice echoed in the kitchen. He held his phone to his ear. “Your mom is on the line. Come up to my office so we can talk about a few things and get this finalized.”
That’s when Rielle knew it was too late. Her pride was keeping her from experiencing something amazing. Her pride was also making her question the motives of a man who meant more to her than she’d ever imagined and who needed her support, not her suspicion.
Rielle, you are a stubborn, arrogant fool for treating Gavin like you did. Buck up and apologize.
She heated another cup of tea and peeled a tangerine, arranging the crescents around a slice of pumpkin bread. She headed upstairs and waited in the family room as she sussed out what she intended to say.
Ten minutes later Gavin’s office door opened. Footsteps faded down the hallway to Sierra’s room and her door closed. She hadn’t slammed it. That was a good sign.
Rielle took a deep breath and knocked. She expected to hear, “Come in,” but Gavin answered the door.
He peered down the hallway almost as if he was disappointed to see her. “Ree? Hey. What’s up?”
“I thought you might be hungry so I brought you a snack. And tea.”
“Oh. Well. Sure. I could eat.” He grabbed the tray from her, and slid it on his desk, but didn’t invite her in.
She followed him anyway and shut the door behind her. Her heart hammed like crazy when he turned around, surprised to see her there. No excuses. Just say it straight out. She marched up to him. “I’m sorry for the way I acted earlier. It was wrong, I was wrong and I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Gavin rested his backside on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms over his chest in a go on posture.
“I don’t want to explain because I’m afraid it’ll come off sounding like an excuse. There isn’t any excuse for the defensive way I acted and the accusations I made. I was shocked by the invite. Of course because it’s me, I wasn’t immediately thinking of all the fun and romantic things we could do together. I immediately thought, I don’t have a passport. I’ve never been on a plane. You would be so cool and sophisticated and I’d stick out like a country bumpkin. During the panicked stage, I only thought of myself and how I’d feel. I shoved aside the thoughtfulness and sweetness of even being asked to spend two weeks with you in Paris.”
He stared at her. “And?”
“And what?”
“And what about your comments about the differences in our financial situations?”
Rielle twisted her fingers together.
“What about that pride of yours that can fill an entire room?” Gavin stood up and stalked her. “What about the fact we’re lovers, we’ve been lovers for several weeks and you still won’t let me do things for you.”
“I, umm, let you buy pizza the other night.”
“Any other time, that would make me laugh. But the fact I have to explain to you just how ridiculous that statement is, is a big part of the problem.”
“I’m used to splitting costs—”
“With your daughter. With your friends. Not with a lover. And as your lover, I’ve earned the right to do some things for you. Things that will make me happy.”
Her back hit the door. How had that happened? “Like what?”
Gavin braced his hands beside her shoulders. “I want to take you out for dinner tomorrow night and you’ll let me pay. For everything.”
She started to shake her head but stopped when he made that growling noise. “Um. Okay.”
“I want you to turn over the log splitting and wood hauling duties to me.”
“Gavin. I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” He waited and then answered, “Because you’ve always done it by yourself, right? Well, guess what? No more. It will now fall under the realm of my household responsibilities. And the first time you ask me if I’ve filled the wood box? I will put you over my knee and paddle your ass.”
Holy shit.
“We clear?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now there will be more things that occur to me, and we’ll discuss them, just as long as you understand some of the no thanks, I don’t need your help bullshit is gonna stop.”
“Does it really mean that much to you?”
“Ree. It means everything to me. I’m tired of waiting for your permission to let me be the man you need. Accept that if we’re together things are going to change.”
Gavin was so close his body-heat-warmed cologne drifted into her nose until her entire being filled with his scent. She wanted him. No niceties. No foreplay. Just thinking about him yanking her jeans down and driving into her made her wet. Wet and achy. Wet and achy and wanting.
“Rielle.”
He’d drawn out her name to three syllables. Her gaze snapped to his. “What.”
Those blue eyes glittered. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what? You said you wanted to do things for me.”
His focus dropped to her mouth as she licked her lips.
“Prove it. There’s something you can do for me right now.”
“Name it.”
She turned her head and sank her teeth into his bicep. Then she rubbed her face against that smooth, hard flesh. Her tongue traced the crease in the crook of his arm. “Fuck me.”