Right Where We Belong (Silver Springs #4)(85)

Savanna wished the same, except, if she hoped to get any information on Emma Ventnor, she needed to keep up a relationship with him. That he’d sent a letter came as a bit of a relief, since he hadn’t called in so long. She hoped it might give her a better idea of what to expect when she paid him a visit in two days.

She put his letter in her purse for later, when she wasn’t around the kids, and was about to shift into Drive when her phone beeped. Since she was already stopped, she took a moment to look at the text.

Can I bring you and the kids dinner tonight?

It was from Gavin.

Savanna felt her heart pound as she stared down at his message. She wanted to see him in the worst way, but she knew it wouldn’t be wise. She was complicating her life when it was already complicated enough.

And where will Heather be? she wrote. I know I was the one who insisted on remaining friends. I wanted to hang on to some small part of you at least. But it’s getting too confusing for me. You’re such a great guy, and I appreciate all you’ve done for us, but at this point in my life I don’t have the emotional resilience to deal with the ups and downs. The kids and I will be okay now. You’re free to do what you feel you should with Heather, and I wish you both nothing but happiness. Honestly. You deserve it. Thanks for helping us get a solid start here. And please know, especially for when you leave, I’ll always remember you fondly.

She stared down at that text for a long time without sending it, so long that Alia and Branson grew impatient.

“Mom, come on!” Alia said.

“What are you doing? Aren’t we going to go to the store?” Branson added.

“Yeah. We’re going.” After briefly closing her eyes, Savanna forced herself to hit Send, even though it felt like she was running her heart through a shredder, and dropped her cell in her purse. She hoped what she’d done would finally release her from the constant preoccupation she had with Gavin. She had to do something; he was all she could think about.

But as the day progressed and she got no response, sending that text only made her feel worse.





24

Gavin walked to Savanna’s door and, three different times, turned away without ringing the bell. He had no idea if his involvement in her life would turn out to be a positive thing, and he didn’t want it to be a negative. If they wound up in a serious relationship, he could easily imagine Heather being unkind whenever she and Savanna bumped into each other. And if Heather would soon be the mother of his child, they’d bump into each other on a regular basis.

It could get difficult; he had to acknowledge that.

He also had to acknowledge that he wasn’t simply choosing between two women. There was more at stake than that. If he didn’t get back with Heather, there was a possibility that he wouldn’t be able to move to Nashville. He couldn’t leave if he had a child here in Silver Springs. He’d owe it to that child to stick around and help raise him or her.

Bottom line, he and Savanna were both in such complicated situations. He couldn’t imagine a relationship between them would work—and yet he felt something that was hopeful and promising enough to make him risk his best chance for a successful music career.

That, more than anything, told him he might as well ring the bell, see if she’d refuse to have any more to do with him, or if he could change her mind.

She answered wearing those cutoffs he’d taken off before, the ones that showed her legs to perfection. She had her hair down, too, which he also liked. But he was determined not to focus on the physical. He needed to slow things down, make sure they weren’t letting sexual attraction cloud more rational thinking. The sexual attraction had been so instantaneous and strong...

Instead of acting excited to see him, she bit her lip, so he quickly lifted the bottle of wine he’d carried over. “It would be rude to turn away a neighbor who’s bringing you a peace offering.”

“And I wouldn’t want to be rude.” Although she spoke those words with a slight smile, she sobered almost immediately. “But I’d better not invite you in. The kids are in bed.”

Still hoping to get her to soften, he winked at her. “That’s okay. I wasn’t going to offer them any.”

She laughed in spite of her general reluctance to be welcoming. “I meant they wouldn’t be around to make sure you and I didn’t...you know, do anything you might have to explain to Heather later.”

“You mean like yesterday.”

“Yes, like yesterday.” She raked her fingers through her thick, curly hair. “What was that, anyway?”

“I was a jealous ass yesterday. Seeing Roger chat you up and follow you around drove me nuts. I’m sorry.”

“Roger was only being nice!”

Gavin gave her a knowing look. “He was being more than nice.”

“Even if he was, it doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in him.”

“You’re sure?”

“Without question! Do you think I’d make out with you upstairs if I had even the slightest attraction to him?”

“Jealousy isn’t always logical or trusting. But I’m glad to hear you’re not that into him, because what happened when you came out of the bathroom was totally honest.”

“Honest,” she echoed.

“Yes. Real. Spontaneous.”