It's Only Love(33)

“Oh please, you’re thirty, not eighty.”

“I felt eighty yesterday. Oh, and guess who’s in the running group?” Charley asked with a scowl.

“Who?”

“Tyler Westcott.”

“The one man under thirty-five in Butler that you haven’t dated?” Ella asked.

Charley rolled her eyes. “I never dated Gavin Guthrie, and he’s under thirty-five.”

“You better not have dated Gavin. And P.S., I like Tyler. He’s a nice guy, and he’s totally into you.”

“He is not. Why would you even say that? He’s so boring I fall asleep the second he opens his mouth.”

“He’s not boring. He’s quiet. There’s a difference, and I know he’s into you because he always watches you at the Grange dances.”

“He does not. Don’t make shit up.”

“If that’s what you have to tell yourself. Personally, I think he’s super cute.”

“Why don’t you date him then?”

“Sorry, I’m very busy with the guy I have. I’ll leave Tyler to you.”

“Don’t do me any favors. I’m out of here.”

Watching her sister jet out of the room like her ass was on fire, Ella smiled. She couldn’t wait to see Charley fall hard for her Mr. Right, even if Ella pitied the fool who took her on.

She got back to work, drafting some remarks for her father to share with the sales team, and then she sent them to him in an e-mail rather than walking them into his office the way she normally would. The last thing she needed today was Lincoln Abbott’s shrewd eyes taking in her disheveled state. It was more than enough that Charley had seen right through her.

A knock on her door had her saying a silent prayer for anyone other than her dad. “Come in.”

Hunter ducked his head in. “Can I have a minute?”

“Sure,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t notice the razor burn. Why hadn’t she seen that and done something about it before she left the house? Because she’d been too sex-drunk to take the time to look in the mirror this morning. “What’s up?” she asked when Hunter came in, closed the door behind him and took a seat.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“About?” Ella asked, though she suspected she already knew.

“Gavin.”

“I’ve already been warned by Mom and Hannah, so you can save your breath.”

“Could I just say one thing?”

“Can I stop you?” Ella asked with a sigh, crossing her arms and settling in to be big-brothered. That was something Hunter was exceptionally good at.

“I know you don’t want to hear it, El. I didn’t want to hear it when I first got together with Megan and people were telling me to watch out for her. Hell, she carried a torch for my brother for years before she went out with me. Nothing and no one could talk me out of being with her.” He looked down at the floor before returning his gaze to her. “That said, I need you to know . . . I love Gavin. He’s been my friend since I was a little kid, and he’s a good guy. But—”

“Why did I know there was a but coming?”

“He’s messed up on the inside, Ella. Messed up bad. He’s not the same as he was before.”

Hunter didn’t need to tell her what he meant by “before.”

“I know that,” Ella said. “What you saw at Mom and Dad’s didn’t just start yesterday. It’s been happening for a while now, and I’ve got my eyes wide open. Gavin told me himself that he’s a ‘fixer-upper.’”

“Are you sure you want to invest that kind of energy in something that might not be fixable?”

“If I recall correctly, you took on a bit of a fixer-upper yourself in Megan, and look at how that worked out.”

“Fair enough. I hope you know . . . I only say this because I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“And I appreciate the concern. I really do. But there’s no warning or concern or anything that anyone could say that will keep me from giving him an honest, legitimate chance.”

“I’ll hope it works out the way you want it to.”

“Could I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Are you going to Dylan’s wedding?”

“Megan and I were just talking about that last night. She’s trying to figure out whether the diner can get by for a few days without her, and if she can work something out, we’re going. Why?”

“I want Gavin to go, but he’s saying he can’t leave work.”

“He doesn’t go to Sultan things anymore. Unless they’re here. It’s one of the many ways he’s changed in recent years.”

“I know. Nolan told me that.” Ella chewed on the end of her pen. “What do you think he’d do if I bought tickets for us, made reservations and presented him with a done deal?”

Hunter tipped his head in thought. “I honestly don’t know how that would go over. Back in the day, I would’ve said he’d love it. Now . . . I just don’t know.”

“Hmm, well, thanks for your opinion and everything else. I appreciate that you care.”

“We all do, Ella.”

“I know. I wish you all cared a little less than you do.”