More Than I Could (22)

“I don’t have another choice. What will I do—move in tomorrow when Chase doesn’t want my help?” I fiddle with the edge of my sandwich. “Besides, I have no interest in staying in Peachwood Falls anymore. I was only helping my mom. I mean, Maggie would pay me well, which helped my current state of unemployment, but I don’t need this job. And I sure as hell don’t need this headache.”

He sits up and rests his elbows on the table. “Maybe you should give this guy another shot.”

“What?”

“You know, maybe he was having a bad day.”

“Two bad days, you mean.”

“Okay, maybe he’s just an asshole every day, and that’s something you’ll have to get used to, but you can’t let Maggie down, right?”

I gasp. “Whose side are you on, Gavin?”

“Yeah. Whose side are you on, Gavin?”

My head whips to the side—to the grumpy voice I’ve become all too familiar with. His green eyes peer into mine.

What’s he doing here?





Chapter Nine





Megan




Gavin scoots his chair backward. “I think I’ll go—”

“Sit down,” Chase says, his tone unwavering.

“Yup. Sitting,” Gavin says, scooting back up to the spot he just held. He looks at me and grimaces before looking away.

I laugh in confusion. “What the hell is going on here?”

Gavin settles in as if resigned to what’s to come. On the other hand, Chase gives me a look like I’m a fool.

Words are on the tip of my tongue, and my lips part to launch them into the air. I turn to Chase … and then stop.

My head swivels back to Gavin, and I gasp.

Broad shoulders.

Green eyes.

Overconfidence.

My jaw drops. “Gavin, you little shit.”

He holds his hands out to the sides. “What?”

“How do you know her?” Chase asks, focusing his gaze on Gavin.

“Her?” Gavin nods toward me, his face paling. “I don’t really know her. She’s … a customer.”

“A customer?” I ask, making Gavin flinch. I point at Chase. “And how do you know him?”

“Him?” Gavin sneaks a look at Chase and then quickly looks at me again. “I don’t really know him—”

“Really?” Chase barks. “You don’t know me?”

Gavin cringes. Again.

The twinkle in his eye. His growing amusement …

“You’re related, aren’t you?” I ask, my blood pressure rising. “What are you—brothers?”

Chase drags a chair from a neighboring table to ours. It screeches as the legs dig into the laminate floor. Even in my state of shock, I can’t help but notice how his ass fills out his jeans.

Now is not the time, Megan.

“Will someone explain this to me?” I ask, ripping my eyes away from Chase.

Gavin sighs. “Well, Meg—”

“Meg?” Chase asks, screwing his face up like something is foul. “Meg?”

“What? We’re friends,” Gavin says.

“Were,” I say, pointing at him. “We were friends. Our friendship is on shaky ground right now.”

“Why? Because I didn’t tell you that Chase was my brother? In the spirit of transparency, I have two other brothers, Mallet and Luke. And a sister named Kate.”

I glare at him. “Cute.”

“What?”

I lean forward, resting my chest against the table. “You knew, didn’t you?”

Gavin looks offended. “I knew what?”

“Last night, you knew I was talking about Chase.”

“You were talking about me?” Chase asks.

Annoyed at the situation, I whip my head to him. “Can you please stay out of this conversation?”

“Hell no, I can’t.”

“Why are you even here?” I ask, desperately trying to hold tight to my annoyance. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll rob you or something?”

“Have you been drinking?”

“No, but you make me want to.” I roll my eyes and turn to his brother. “Yes or no? Did you know I was talking about Chase last night?”

Gavin bites his lip and watches me.

“Gavin …” I warn.

He sighs. “Maybe. Kind of. I put two and two together when you started talking about Mom.”

I throw my hands in the air.

“So that means you knew all about Megan when we were building the fence this morning,” Chase says.

“Oh, so you were talking about me?” I ask, throwing his question back at him.

Chase glares at me before leveling it at Gavin.

Gavin looks back and forth between the two of us. With each turn of his head, the smirk on his face grows wider.

“Careful …” Chase warns.

Finally, as if he can’t restrain himself a moment longer, Gavin bursts into laughter.

I lean back in my seat and shake my head. The men in this family are killing me.

Gavin stands and pushes his chair toward the table. “You two need to talk. This whole thing you’re doing is the most bizarre but entertaining thing I’ve seen in a long time—and Luke is our brother.” He walks backward away from the table. “I’ll see you both later. Enjoy.”