Right Where We Belong (Silver Springs #4)(44)

“She didn’t want to wait?”

“I’m sure she would have, had I encouraged her. But I made it sound like it could be a while.” She studied him closer. “Should I have done something else?”

“No, definitely not.” He stared down at his work boots as he remembered how he’d touched Savanna last night, how easy and natural it had felt. He’d wanted to be with her, hadn’t had to talk himself into it...

His mother waved a hand under his face to get his attention. “You look completely dejected. What are you thinking?”

“I’m wondering what I’m going to do. I shouldn’t have left Heather hanging. It’s been two days since she told me about the baby. But every time I pick up the phone to call her, I put it down again. I mean...what do I tell her?”

“Why not tell her the truth?”

“That I don’t know if I can love her?”

She winced but doggedly stuck with her original answer. “If it’s true, what else can you do?”

“If I tell her that, she’ll go back to Scott.”

“Maybe she should go back to Scott.”

“You’re talking about a man who told me he’d never let my ‘filthy’ bastard grow up in his house. He’s jealous and angry, and that’s a dangerous combination, especially when there’s a defenseless baby involved.”

With a sigh, she sank into the fold-up chair across from his desk. “What about your next-door neighbor?”

“What about her?”

“Eli says she’s pretty.”

The image of Savanna taking off her shirt last night flashed through his mind. She was more than pretty; Gavin thought she was gorgeous. Sweet, too. Unassuming. Earnest. Underappreciated. But he did what he could to downplay the attraction. “She’s not bad.”

She arched her eyebrows. “He said that you two seem to really like each other.”

Gavin thought about sharing what Savanna had recently been through but couldn’t bring himself to do it. That would explain why he’d been trying so hard to help. It wasn’t just that he found her attractive; she deserved a break. But he’d told Savanna he’d keep her secret. “She’s just coming out of a relationship, isn’t ready for another one. And what I’ve got going is hardly something I’d feel comfortable dragging anyone into.” Which was why he felt bad for giving in to temptation last night...

“I hate that this has happened,” she said. “You’ve been through so much in your life. You deserve the chance to be happy.”

“Being a responsible parent comes first.”

She rose to her feet and walked over to hug him. “Somehow I knew you were going to say that.”

*

There was a woman at Gavin’s house.

Savanna stiffened when she saw her standing on his stoop.

Hearing Savanna’s footsteps crunch on the gravel road, the tall blonde turned and stiffened, too. “Who are you?” she asked, obviously startled to find someone else in an area with a normal population of one.

Savanna wanted to ask her the same. But she was the newcomer here. So she forced a smile. “I’m Savanna, Gavin’s next-door neighbor.”

“I didn’t know he had a neighbor,” she said.

“I haven’t been here long. Moved in last Friday.” Technically, she’d only arrived on Friday and moved in on Saturday, but that small detail didn’t matter enough to even mention it.

“Oh.” The woman didn’t provide her name. She still seemed to be processing the surprise. “Does Gavin know you’re here?”

“Yes. He was nice enough to help me move in. Are you his...sister or something?” She knew this woman couldn’t be his sister. When he’d told her he had seven brothers, he would’ve mentioned if he had a sister, too. But she hoped her question would lead to some explanation as to who this person was and what role she played in Gavin’s life. It was none of her business, even after last night, given the terms they’d agreed upon, but she couldn’t help being curious, especially because Gavin’s visitor looked about his age, which was also close to hers, of course.

“No. I’m...” She seemed to struggle to define the relationship. “I’m a good friend,” she finished, as if she’d have to settle for that. “Do you have any idea where he is?”

“I’m guessing he’s at work. He told me he works at New Horizons Boys Ranch.”

“I went by there, but his mother told me he was out running errands. I thought maybe he stopped by here to get something or grab a bite to eat.”

“Haven’t seen him, but that doesn’t mean anything. I probably wouldn’t have seen you if I hadn’t come out to get my mail.” Her mailbox was clear down the street near the turnoff, which meant she had to walk past Gavin’s house. “Have you tried calling or texting him?”

“No, but I will.” She stepped off the stoop. “My name’s Heather, by the way. Heather Fox.”

Savanna met her in the middle of Gavin’s yard to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Savanna Gray.”

It was easy to read the curiosity on Heather’s face. “You’re so pretty.”

“Thank you. So are you.”