Right Where We Belong (Silver Springs #4)(73)

Probably. Heather was staying with him. Savanna had seen the Pathfinder parked in his drive. Sight of that vehicle made her sick, because she knew what it meant.

Fortunately, she hadn’t bumped into Heather in person since learning of the baby. Savanna purposely went to the mailbox before Heather could get back from work. She didn’t want to feel obligated to wave and speak to Gavin’s girlfriend. Just knowing she was there with him, and probably in his bed at night, was bad enough.

Realizing that she’d once again allowed her mind to drift back to her sexy neighbor, she sat down with her computer at the kitchen table and forced herself to focus on searching the classified ads for the Silver Springs area. She was tired of ordering out or making dinner in a slow cooker; she needed to find a good deal on a stove so that she could at least fry eggs in the mornings.

Although there wasn’t anything nearby, she saw several options in LA. Problem was, she no longer had a vehicle with which to transport such a large and heavy object. She’d been hoping to use Gavin’s truck, but, thanks to Dorothy, it was in the shop.

She wondered if Eli would mind loaning her his. Borrowing a vehicle was a lot to ask of someone she didn’t know well, but he’d been so friendly and helpful. And she had his number from when he’d texted the address for the barbecue.

She tried to make herself reach out to him but didn’t have the nerve. And she couldn’t think of a better alternative. It wasn’t as if she could ask the seller to deliver to an address that was an hour and a half to two hours outside of LA. She doubted anyone would be willing to do that, not for a five-hundred-dollar stove.

She decided she’d just keep limping along without one and hope for a better opportunity later.

Because she’d decided to give up, for now, she was surprised when she received a text from Gavin as she was closing out of her browser so she could get dinner on for her kids.

How are you?

She bit her lip as she studied those words. It was difficult not hearing from him all week, always wondering what he was thinking and wanting him in spite of everything. But any contact only made the desire she felt more acute. Fine. You?

Hanging in. Any word from Gordon?

No. Nor Dorothy.

That’s a good thing, isn’t it? You want them to leave you alone.

I do, but it’s weird. They both backed away, went completely silent, as soon as I mentioned Emma Ventnor.

She saw his name come up on caller ID as she was waiting for his next text. “Hello?”

“You think that means Gordon did have something to do with Emma’s disappearance?” he asked.

The sound of Gavin’s voice was far too welcome to her, which just went to show how infatuated she’d become. “I do.” She told him about Sullivan’s request to have her meet with Gordon in Utah.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Savanna. Sounds like a long shot to me.”

“They have to try everything. And they think I might have some pull with him.”

“You don’t?”

“That’s the thing. I might. I have the money he wants, so he should at least talk to me. I’d say I have a small chance of getting something out of him.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“If you decide to go, when would you leave?”

She toyed with the hem of her shirt. “We haven’t discussed that yet. I haven’t even given the go-ahead. But I think I’m going to do it. I’ll call Sullivan after we hang up.”

“What about the kids? Would you take them with you?”

“Sullivan said he’d get a licensed caregiver to stay here with them while I’m gone. He claims it wouldn’t be a long trip, a night and a day at most.”

“I’ll help keep an eye on Branson and Alia. Bring pizza for dinner. Make sure they’re happy while you’re gone.”

“I’m thinking your girlfriend might have a problem with that.”

He hesitated briefly. Then he said, “She isn’t my girlfriend.”

She was staying at his house every night... “Then what is she? Your fiancée?”

He sighed. “There’s no label yet.”

When she said nothing, he added, “I’m sorry for the position I’ve put you in. I feel bad about it. I hope you know that.”

“Mom, when’s dinner going to be ready?”

Savanna whipped around to find Branson poking his head into the kitchen. He and Alia had been playing a board game in the living room. “Soon,” she told him.

“What are we having tonight?”

“Leftovers.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Oh.”

She covered the speaker on the phone. “I’ll get a stove soon. Then things can get back to normal.”

“That’s what you keep saying, but...when?”

She couldn’t mistake the complaint in her son’s voice. “The first chance I get. I promise.”

“Branson, are you coming?” Alia called.

“I beat her,” he stated with a proud grin. “Now she’s dying to play again.”

He hurried off, leaving her to her conversation with Gavin. “I shouldn’t come on Sunday,” she said. “It’ll only make things...weird, awkward.”