Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(31)

“I promise. But understand that you might not like my methods of ensuring that won’t happen.”


“Someone’s gotta be the taskmaster hardass in our family.” She kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”


“No problem. So I came up with a surefire way for you to learn your anatomy terms.”


A horrified look crossed her face. “No. No way. Don’t even say it.”


He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “Flashcards.”


“Dad!”


“I’m serious. Making a set of flashcards will help you.”


“I am not in third grade trying to memorize my multiplication tables,” she retorted.


“True.” He tugged on her hair. “But it worked. And it worked when you had to memorize all the state capitals. And it worked when you had to memorize musical terms. It’s a tried and true method.”


Sierra sighed. “Fine. But I don’t have any index cards. And I doubt the stores in Sundance are open.”


“They do roll up the sidewalks early.” He stood. “I’d bet Rielle has recipe cards. I’ll go ask her.”


Rielle scrambled away from the swinging door. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. She’d been heading to her bedroom and stopped outside the door when she heard Sierra talking about her mom and hadn’t wanted to interrupt.


Gavin strode in, lost in thought. But his focus changed the instant he set eyes on her. “Just the woman I was looking for.”


“What can I do for you?”


“This first.” He crowded her, bent his head and kissed her in that sure and steady way of his. And just like every other time he’d kissed her, her stomach bottomed out.


How long before these randomly stolen kisses pushed them to the next level?


Almost as if he’d read her mind, his mouth drifted over her ear and he whispered, “Soon.”


“Like how soon? Because I’m not busy right now.” She sank her teeth into his earlobe.


Gavin groaned softly. “If my daughter wasn’t sitting in the other room, I’d take you up on that.” Another whisper-soft kiss across her ear. “I’ve started carrying a condom in my pocket, just in case.”


“Better put one in each pocket.” Rielle gently pushed him back. “Was there something you needed?”


“Ah. Yeah.” He scrubbed his hands over his face as if he was trying to remember. Good to see she wasn’t the only one sexually frustrated. “Oh. Right. Do you have extra blank recipe cards we can use?”


“I’m sure I do.” She grabbed her recipe file box from the pantry, rummaging through the mishmash of papers until she found an unopened pack of plain index cards. “Here you go.”


“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”


“Happy to help. If you don’t need anything else, I think I’ll head to bed.”


Gavin set his hands on her shoulders. “You mad at me?”


“No. I’m just…” Horny. Which is a totally foreign feeling. “Antsy.”


“Me too. But I don’t want to rush this, Rielle. With the construction guys around during the day I get interrupted, or you get interrupted by your customers, or Sierra is under foot and we’re hardly ever alone. Might sound corny, but I don’t want anyone around or any distractions the first time we’re together. I want it to be just you and me. Completely focused on each other.”


This man was too good to be true. But had he come up with those parameters because he could tell how skittish she was? How little experience she had?


He stroked the side of her cheek. “You okay with that?”


“Very okay.” She lightly pecked him on the mouth. “See you in the morning.”


Chapter Twelve


“So Vi suggested something to me yesterday and I immediately dismissed it.” Gavin refilled Rielle’s cup and Sierra’s before topping off his. The kid had kicked her addiction to Starbucks, but she was still a morning caffeine junkie. “But then I got to thinking about it and I realized it’s not a bad idea.”


“What was her suggestion?”


“That I have a family housewarming party.” He knocked back a slug of coffee. “Here.”


Rielle’s hands tightened around her mug. “When?”


“I think we should get it out of the way tomorrow night.”


“Tomorrow night?” Sierra repeated.


“Yeah, why? Is there something else going on?”


She paused. Opened her mouth. Closed it. Then shook her head.


“And get this—Vi believes I ought to invite all the McKays.”


“All the McKays?” Rielle repeated. “At one time?”


Sierra snickered.


“What’s so funny?”


“The look on Rielle’s face as she’s thinking about Ky, Anton and Hayden playing football in the living room.”


Gavin scowled at her. So much for his daughter backing his play.