Page 43 of Say Yes

CHAPTER 9

FOR MOST OF HER LIFE, Sara had felt hollow. She hadn’t realized that until now, when she felt ready to burst with an incredible wealth of emotion. She’d lived with emptiness so long, it was almost alarming to acknowledge the difference now. But feelings she’d never encountered before filled her, making her whole. She wanted to cry, she wanted to laugh.

She wanted to tell Gavin that she loved him.

But she didn’t dare.

This was all too new and too fragile to put to the test so soon. As she sat through the dinner that Gavin had prepared, on the tablecloth he’d spread on the ground, she couldn’t help but smile. He coddled Maggie, he calmed Tripod and he reassured Satan, all without thought. Simply because he was that kind of man—so different from any other person she’d ever known.

That, too, was frightening. How could a man like Gavin ever really care about her? She was so used to people turning away, or in Ted’s case, running away. She wanted to surround herself with things that would be permanent. Like her house, her pets. But she couldn’t make Gavin permanent. He would only stay if he chose to.

He looked up and caught her staring. She smiled, a sappy smile, she knew. Then she leaned over the food and kissed him. “Thank you.”

He didn’t question her sudden gratitude, or want an explanation for what she was thankful for. He merely nodded. “You’re welcome.”

“You’re too good to me.”

Gavin shot her a look, growled low enough to startle all three animals, then hauled Sara over the food, scattering plates and chicken and knocking over drinks. She found herself facedown over his lap, with his hand hovering over her backside.

“Gavin! What in the world…”

“What did you say, Sara?”

“Uh…” She wasn’t certain what had prompted this barbarian mood of his, so she didn’t know how to answer. But she did giggle.

His palm thwacked lightly on her upturned derriere. She tried, but couldn’t quite stifle another giggle.

“That was what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“My backside?”

“No, this damn habit you have of thinking I’m being too good to you.”

“Oh.” Her tone softened. “You really are—Ouch!”

“Did that sting?”

“You don’t sound the least bit remorseful.” She tried to rub her bottom, but he caught her hands and held them away.

“I’m not remorseful. Now let’s try this again. Repeat after me.”

“Yes, sir.” She started to giggle again. She doubted, in her present mood and her newly acknowledged love, that Gavin could do anything to dampen her spirits or make her angry.

“Say, I deserve the very best there is.”

“You are that, Gavin.”

“My palm is itching, Sara. I think I may have a propensity for this type of thing. Don’t tempt me.”

“I deserve the very best.”

“Much better.” He began to massage her bottom. “Now say, I will stop keeping track of every nice thing Gavin does and accept his affection without remorse.”

His roving, caressing hand made speech difficult. Sara squirmed over his knees. “Yeah, what you said.”

“I want you to be happy, Sara.”

All the teasing had gone out of his tone. When she tried to turn over, he helped her until she was cradled in his arms. She kissed his chin, his cheek. “I am happy. Very happy.” She kissed his mouth, and the next thing she knew, she was lying on her back on the soft grass, with Gavin’s weight pressing into her.

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