It's Only Love(75)

“Ella!” Amelia rushed over to hug and kiss her. “Happy Thanksgiving and congratulations on the new nephew.”

“Thank you. He’s beautiful.”

“I’m sure he is, and I love his name.”

“I do, too.” She hugged and kissed his dad and gratefully accepted the pie his mother offered.

Gavin fixed her a cup of coffee the way she liked it and brought it to the table, which now seemed less empty with that fourth seat filled by someone he loved. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked so good, but then again she always did. From her shiny hair to the rosy glow of her cheeks to her gorgeous brown eyes and delicious pink lips, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known—inside and out.

He couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t been drawn to her. She was so kind and sweet and always thinking of others before herself. He’d recognized those qualities in her long before the time they’d recently spent together and had probably been in love with her for years, if he were being honest with himself.

Every time he’d laid eyes on her, he’d wanted her. Never more so than right now when she chatted happily with his parents about their upcoming trip while enjoying her pie and coffee. She seemed to be in no particular rush to get out of there while he was on the verge of spontaneously combusting from the desire that coursed through him.

Running her fork through a dollop of whipped cream, she brought it to her mouth, her eyes catching his across the table.

He covered his moan with a cough that didn’t fool Ella. Standing so fast he nearly knocked over his chair, Gavin took his plate to the sink, rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher. “We’ve got to get going.”

“So soon?” his mom said. “Ella just got here.”

“Yes, Gavin,” Ella said. “I just got here.”

The glare he sent her was met with a grin that told him she knew what he wanted and was enjoying making him wait. Well, two could play at that game. As soon as he had that thought, he had to squelch it or risk walking around with an embarrassing bulge in his pants.

Rather than indulge in thoughts about his plans for later, he continued to load the dishwasher, making as much noise as he could to vent his frustration.

“Go easy on my plates, Gavin,” his mother said sternly, making Ella laugh.

It was nice to hear laughter in this house again, even if it was at his expense. He’d happily take the lumps to bring some light back into his life and that of his parents. Ella was all light and joy and peace. He was drawn to her like a magnet to steel, the pull impossible to deny or resist, not that he wanted to do either of those things. Not anymore.

Right in that moment, standing at his mother’s kitchen sink, he became acutely aware of the fact that he needed to marry her to ensure she’d never be anywhere other than with him, where she belonged. If one night away from her had left him reeling, the thought of the whole rest of his life without her was like imagining a return to the barren wasteland of nothingness where he’d been stranded for far too long. After the taste of heaven he’d had with her, he had no desire whatsoever to return to that life.

Filled with irrational fear of all the many ways he could still screw this up, he resolved to act sooner rather than later to make this relationship permanent. Once she had his ring on her finger, she wouldn’t be able to get away. She’d be stuck with him, for better or worse. And he’d be gloriously, blissfully stuck with her.

He couldn’t wait for that.


*

Ella decided an hour with Amelia and Bob was enough to be polite, enough to make Gavin suffer a little and enough to get her nerves under control before the reveal of the big surprise. He’d had nothing to add to the conversation about his parents’ trip other than to wish them safe travels and a good time and to give Dylan his best.

He’d never once said he wished he were going, too.

But she refused to let that omission derail her. Of course he wouldn’t say that because he had himself convinced he couldn’t go. She was about to prove otherwise.

“You ready?” he asked from his spot next to her on the sofa.

“If you are.”

He glared at her, letting her know how ready he was to leave—how ready he’d been for some time now.

“It was so nice of you to cut short your holiday with your own family to spend some time with us,” Amelia said when she walked them to the door.

“It was well worth it for that pie of yours,” Ella said. “I need your recipe.”

“I’ll write it down for you. It’s Gavin’s favorite.”

“Thanks for a fabulous day, Mom,” Gavin said, kissing her cheek. “Have a great trip and be safe.”

“We’ll call you while we’re away.”

“Don’t worry about me. Just have a good time.”

“I will worry about you, and I will call you.”

“Thanks for the warning,” he grumbled with a good-natured grin for his mother.

“He’s all yours for the next week,” Amelia said when she hugged Ella.

“I’ll keep a close eye on him.”

“That sounds good to me,” he said. With his hand on Ella’s back, Gavin led her out of the house. “Your place or mine?”

“Mine.”

She could tell he was surprised to hear her say that, because they’d been spending most nights at his place thanks to her nosy landlady.