“I love kids,” he said. “Why? Are you a kid hater?”
“Of course not.”
“Some people think kids should be seen and not heard. I’ve never understood that. In Oak Falls we have Friday-night jam sessions every few weeks at my friends’ barn. People of any age can get up onstage and play an instrument. Sometimes there are twenty people up there, and it sounds terrible. But it’s fun. Kids are running around, spilling sodas and eating cookies, and people dance and sing. Everyone brings food. My mom usually makes her famous tuna-noodle casserole, which sounds really gross, but man, it’s the best. She makes it with buttery biscuits that melt in your mouth. And Nana’s everything cookies. Man, I miss those.”
“Nana? Is that your grandmother?”
“No, my friend’s grandmother. Everyone calls her Nana. Some of my best childhood memories are of those jam sessions. And as a teenager.” He whistled. “You don’t want to know.”
“Why? Did you sneak into the hayloft with your girlfriends?”
“Nah. Usually down to the creek. What about you? Where’d you sneak off to?” He wanted to know everything about her.
“I never really snuck off anywhere with boys. That was more Jana’s and Colton’s style. I hung around at home or at the beach with my girlfriends.”
“Aw, come on. You’ve got to give me something. How about your first-kiss story?”
“With tongue or without?”
He squeezed her tight. “You naughty thing. Let’s go innocent. The first kiss without tongue, because quite honestly, I’d like to pretend only my tongue has ever had the pleasure of dancing with yours.”
She blinked up at him and said, “There haven’t been many, I can tell you that.”
“Harper Garner, you have no idea what knowing that does to me, so even if you’re lying, please keep lying to me.”
“It’s the truth, but let me tell you about Charlie, my first lips-only kiss. We were in sixth grade, and we used to walk home from school together. One day when we got to my house, he was acting nervous, and he looked me in the eye and said, ‘I need to kiss you.’ I was about as clueless as a girl could be, so I asked why, and he said because he really liked me and his older brother told him if he didn’t kiss me, someone else would. So I puckered up and got my first kiss. I thought it was a pretty perfect first kiss, because I liked him, too. Unfortunately, Brock had stayed home from school that day and saw it. He stormed outside, looming over the poor kid, and proceeded to give him hell. Charlie never walked me home again.”
“Were you mad at Brock?”
“Heck yes I was mad at him. He was a bully.”
“He was protective. There’s a difference. I like knowing that about him.”
“Well, then you’d better watch your back, because not much has changed. Although, he does have a girlfriend now, so maybe he’s got less time to loom than he used to.” She giggled and rested her cheek on his chest again. “How about your first kiss?”
“I was twelve, she was thirteen, and I thought I was hot shit. Her name was Twyla, and it was at one of the jam sessions. We smashed teeth and I cut her lip. I wasn’t very suave back then.”
They both laughed.
“I’m glad to report you’re much better at it now.” She pressed a kiss to his ribs through his shirt. “You probably shouldn’t mention that to Chloe. You might never live it down. Hey, Gavin?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for tonight. It helped. I think I’m going to try to swing by my parents’ house this weekend and get in touch with my brothers and sister, let them know I’m home and try to see them, too.”
“I’m glad to hear it. At the end of the day, family is all that matters.”
“Mm-hm,” she said softly.
They fell into comfortable silence. If Gavin listened carefully, he could hear past the swishing leaves to the soft, peaceful sounds of Harper’s breathing, which had slowed to the sounds of slumber. Maybe she was jet-lagged, or maybe she was trusting her instincts again with him. Either way, he wouldn’t let her down. He tucked the blanket around her and closed his eyes, thanking the stars above for whatever magic had to have happened to bring her back into his life.
When it dawned on him that it wasn’t magic that had brought her back, but the cancelation of her show, guilt sliced through him, strengthening his resolve to help her find her next muse.
Chapter Six
A COOL BREEZE brushed over Harper’s cheek. She slowly became aware of Gavin’s heart beating against her chest, something hard against her belly, and a very large hand down the back of her sweatpants, holding her bare ass. Her eyes flew open, and his grip on her ass tightened. She was lying on top of him on the lounge chair.
He made a sad moaning sound, and the arm that was draped across her back pressed firmer, holding her in place. “Don’t move. You feel good.”
He felt amazing, too. He was warm and firm. Hard. Oh God!
“Gavin…”
“What? Nothing happened. You trusted your instincts and fell asleep. It was nice being close to you.”
“Your hand is on my ass,” she pointed out.
He pressed his warm lips to her forehead and squeezed her butt. “Commando. Nice.” He opened his eyes, and he groaned in the darkness. “It’s not even morning yet.”
“If the phrase ‘morning wood’ means anything, then your body disagrees despite the color of the sky.”
“That’s your fault, beautiful.” He shifted them onto their sides and put one thick leg over both of hers, trapping her against him.
She couldn’t suppress a smile. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“I’m not.” He pressed his lips to hers, like it was the most natural thing in the world. The strange thing was, it felt that way to her, too, and even more so when he said, “Morning, beautiful. Want to watch the sunrise?”
“I would love that, but you’ll have to move your hand.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He moved it lower, his fingers grazing very close to her privates.
“Gavin!”
She pulled his hand from her pants, and he rolled on top of her. His sexy, happy green eyes coasted over her face. His hair was spiky, and his scruff was thick, like his arousal. Heat darted through her. She quickly shifted her eyes away.
“What just happened?” he asked with a serious tone.
“Nothing,” she said, trying to stop an unstoppable smile.
“You’re an awful liar. You’re even more stunning when you wake up in my arms.”
“And you’re full of cheesy lines in the morning. You should move.”
He pressed his hips forward.
“Gavin!” She laughed. “I meant off me.”
“Sorry, I misunderstood.” He kissed her again, just a quick brush of his lips. “For a writer, you’re not very clear with your requests.”
She pulled the blanket around her as they sat up. “I’ll try to remember that. I can’t believe I fell asleep on you. I haven’t slept that well in weeks.”
“You should sleep with me more often, because you were out like a light. Did you know you snore?”