LITMIR.BIZ

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concerned about you. And let’s be honest. She assumed you’d tell me eventually,” Eli added with a grin.

      “I’m sure I would have.” Although Gavin struggled to get along with a couple of his brothers—not too shocking given that they all came from such difficult backgrounds and some were more damaged than others—he was totally devoted to Elijah. They couldn’t be closer if they were related by blood.

      “So?” Eli said. “How do you feel about the news?”

      Gavin felt sick about the pregnancy—and then he felt guilty for reacting so negatively. Despair wasn’t what Heather needed, and it wasn’t fair to the baby, who wasn’t to blame for Gavin knocking up a woman he liked but couldn’t seem to love. “Do I need to spell it out for you?” he asked with a wince.

      “There must be something about Heather. You keep going back to her.”

      Gavin shot him a look. “You know it was finally over for me.”

      Eli frowned as he sat on the foot of the bed. “Yeah. It did feel pretty permanent this time.”

      “That’s what makes this so ironic.” He shoved a few pillows behind his back.

      “She’s been with Scott Mullins for a while. Are you sure it’s not his baby?”

      Gavin wanted to reach for the hope that possibility evoked but didn’t dare. “I’m not sure, but...she doesn’t think so.”

      “She could be wrong.”

      “She would know better than we would.”

      Eli scratched his neck. “She’s always had a thing for you. Could saying the baby is yours be nothing more than wishful thinking?”

      Gavin had considered that. He didn’t think she’d get pregnant on purpose. Or that she’d tell an outright lie. But he could see her using a bit of doubt to get him to reconsider their relationship. “I honestly don’t know.”

      “What does that mean? Are you going to give her another chance, or wait until—”

      “I’m going to support her through the pregnancy and then decide about anything more permanent. If the baby’s mine, I’ll marry her.”

      “You will.”

      “Yes.”

      Resting his elbows on his knees, Eli stared at the rug covering the hardwood floor. “What if you two get close over the next several months and it turns out that the baby isn’t yours?” he asked when he spoke again.

      Gavin immediately thought of his new neighbor and the opportunity that would provide but pushed Savanna from his mind. Even if he wasn’t facing this problem, she’d made it clear that she wasn’t interested in pursuing a romantic relationship. So he wasn’t losing anything, even though it felt like he was. “If I could fall in love with her, that would be a good thing.”

      “Regardless.”

      “Isn’t that what commitment’s all about?”

      “You’re saying you’d love Scott’s baby. Help raise it.”

      “Of course.”

      Eli got up and began to pace. “Okay. Playing devil’s advocate here...what if you two can’t make it work, and she goes back to him?”

      Gavin kicked off the covers. “I hope that doesn’t happen. Scott already resents me. No doubt this will make him hate me all the more.”

      “No man likes living in the shadow of a former lover.”

      “I get that. But I didn’t put him there. I’ve always been honest with Heather, told her my feelings aren’t as strong as hers.”

      “You couldn’t tell by the way you treat her. Maybe that’s the problem.”

      “I’m supposed to treat her badly?”

      “I’m not suggesting that. It’s just... I don’t know. Frustrating for me to feel as though you’re being railroaded. If only she could love Scott half as much as she loves you, you’d be off the hook.”

      “No. I don’t want her to go back to him now, don’t want my child to be raised by a stepparent. Not after what I went through. Especially when we’re talking about this particular situation. The last time I was at the Blue Suede Shoe, Scott and Heather were there, too. Heather couldn’t take her eyes off me. Every time I looked up, there she was, and Scott didn’t miss it. They got into an argument before the night was over. Then Scott insisted they leave.”

      “I see your point. Given her history with you, he’d always be jealous.” Elijah scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry, bro. She’s really got you cornered.”

      “She didn’t do it on purpose.”

      Eli stopped moving and propped his hands on his hips. “I hope not!”

      “She didn’t! At least, I can’t imagine why she would. She’s got to be as panic-stricken as I am. A kid makes life real, you know? Anyway, we’ll figure it out.” Although, at this point, Gavin had no clue how. He’d never been able to force his heart, wasn’t sure anyone could.

      A knock sounded at the front door.

      “For living in a remote place, you’re getting a lot of visitors this morning,” Eli said.

      Gavin barely refrained from grimacing. “That’s got to be her.” When he’d asked for some time to think, he’d been hoping for several days. But maybe she couldn’t give him that. She had to be upset and eager to reach a resolution...

      “Should I get it?” Eli asked. “I could say you’re in the shower or something to buy you more time to come to terms with this.”

      “No. I might as well reassure her that I won’t leave her holding the bag.” He got out of bed, pulled on his jeans without bothering to button them and went out to talk to her. But it wasn’t Heather. Branson stood at the door. Savanna was in the moving van with Alia, letting it idle in front of the house while her son ran up to the door.

      Feeling a twinge of guilt for not getting up earlier and taking over some milk and cereal or eggs, Gavin quickly buttoned his pants. “Hey, little buddy. What’s going on?”

      “We found a fridge for sale in Santa...Santa Something,” Branson said. “But not Claus.”

      Gavin chuckled. “Santa Barbara?”

      “That’s it. We’re going to pick it up while we have the truck. My mom was wondering if you’d help us unload when we get back.”

      “Sure, I’ll be here. My brother’s visiting, too, so he can help.”

      “I’ll tell her.” Branson spoke over his shoulder as he ran back and opened the truck door to convey the message.

      “Who was that?” Eli asked, but before Gavin could respond, Savanna called out a thank-you.

      Although Gavin felt slightly self-conscious that he hadn’t yet combed his hair, and he didn’t have on a shirt, he strode out to have a word with her. “You don’t need me to go with you and help you load it in the first place, do you?”

      “No,” she replied. “The guy I’m buying it from said he has friends who can help. I was just worried about how I’d get it off the truck once I returned, wanted to make sure you’d still be home and wouldn’t mind lending a hand.”

      “I don’t mind at all,” he assured her.

      Her gaze lowered to his bare torso before shifting to a spot behind him, and he turned to see that Elijah had followed him out. “This is my brother Eli. Eli, Savanna, my new neighbor.”

      “Did you say neighbor? Out here?” Eli gestured at the wide expanse of raw land.

      “I’m currently moving into the ranch house—or what’s

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