Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(87)

Then she whapped him on the arm. “So sneaky, just like your father. Do you know one time he let me think he’d forgotten to buy me a birthday present? Then as I got ready for bed I found a wrapped box in my makeup drawer next to my cold cream.”


“Grams, that’s such a sweet, romantic story.” Sierra put her arm around her shoulder. “Is it time for pie yet?”


“Sierra, is that all you can think about?” Gavin asked, exasperated. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she hadn’t just stuffed her face with an entire plate of homemade candies.


“It’s fine. I remember teenagers’ stomachs being bottomless pits. And that’s what grandmas do best right? Fill you with sugary treats and send you home all hyped up on extra sugar.” She patted Sierra’s cheek. “I’ll even put extra whipped cream on your pumpkin pie, punkin.”


Sierra shot him a smug look. “Grandma makes the best homemade pie crust. You could learn a thing or two from her.”


He caught Vi’s eye and grinned. “You know what? I already have.”


They didn’t get home from Charlie and Vi’s until nine o’clock. Sierra hauled her presents into her room, leaving Gavin at loose ends. He paced in front of the windows, too restless to even find a classic sports game on TV.


Then Rielle walked toward him, looking like a damn dream, holding a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Care to join me in a glass of Christmas cheer?”


“Mmm-hmm. But this first.” Gavin kissed her. Hotly, sweetly, teasingly, pouring everything he’d been feeling into one long kiss before he eased back to stare into her eyes. “Merry Christmas, honey.”


“That was a helluva Christmas kiss, tycoon.”


“I missed you.”


“Same here. Been a long two days.”


“I’ll say. I’m glad you tracked me down.”


“Where’s Sierra?” she asked.


“In bed, tuckered out from Christmas festivities.” He nuzzled her temple, and her honeysuckle scent teased his nose. “Where’s Rory?”


“At a movie. A Christmas night tradition with her friend Addie.”


“So I can invite you to drink that wine in my bed?”


“Yep.”


“Good. Because I have another present for you in my room.”


Rielle looked him. “You already gave me a kick-ass gift.”


“The extra-large electric honey separator wasn’t too boring?”


“No. I’ve wanted one for so long. It’s perfect. Thank you. I’m sorry; I probably should’ve waited to open it until you were there.”


“No need to apologize. I loved the sweater by the way. It fits perfectly.”


“I thought the color would bring out your eyes.”


Gavin led her into his bedroom and locked the door behind her.


She settled against the headboard, setting the wine and glasses on the nightstand.


He tossed a package next to her on the bed. “Open it. And not with, Gavin you shouldn’t have, or Gavin I thought we agreed on one gift.”


Rielle pulled the silver ribbon free from the green tissue paper and a red bikini rolled out. “A swimsuit?”


“I didn’t know if you had one and the house we’re staying in has a pool. To be completely blunt, this bikini is as much a present for me as it is for you. Because you will look fantastic in it lying on a chaise in the sunshine.”


She laughed.


“The day after tomorrow I’ll have you all to myself for two weeks. I cannot wait.”


“Me either.”


Gavin pressed a kiss in the hollow of her throat. Then on the side of her neck. Then on her jaw. He murmured, “Can we be done talking for now?”



“Yes.”


Chapter Twenty-Six


As they deplaned in Phoenix, Rielle decided her first plane ride hadn’t been that bad. The whiskey Coke had helped.


Sierra had been bouncing off the walls since dawn. She jabbered a mile a minute, reminding herself out loud of things she wanted to tell her mom. She could scarcely sit still and as they pulled into the circular driveway, Sierra leapt out of the car and raced up the cobblestone-paved sidewalk and barged right into the house through the gigantic front door.


Rielle didn’t get a glimpse of Ellen, but then again she’d been too busy gawking at the house and landscaping.


The sprawling stucco structure was enclosed by a six-foot-high fence on all sides, save for the wrought iron gated entrance. The front area didn’t have grass, but reddish-colored stones bordered by larger flat white rock. Bushes were spread out along the base of the house and disappeared around the side. Off to the left were half a dozen fruit trees, the bottom of the trunks painted white, which was weird. She didn’t see cacti but groupings of different varieties and sizes of palm trees.


Mind boggling to consider that Gavin had lived here at one time and that he could afford to just give this ostentatious house to his ex-wife.


Gavin didn’t stay inside long. His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes when he returned and said, “Ready?”