Page 23 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

“She’s working.”

“I’d like to meet her sometime.”

“Sure.”

He drew her close and brushed her lips once. He might’ve ended it there, but Laurel pressed closer and the kiss continued. The feelings he evoked were . . . she didn’t even have the words. Shejust knew that kissing Gavin was addictive. The more he kissed her, the more she wanted, as if she could never get enough.

When he ended the kiss, they were both breathless. “I should go.”

“You should definitely go.”

“One more.”

“Okay.”

He kept this one brief. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

As his headlights chased across the living room wall, Laurel’s lips tipped in a smile. He’d never said anything about her dilapidated house. Hadn’t even seemed to notice.

When their grades were published the next week, Laurel was thrilled her GPA had edged ahead of Gavin’s. She worried it would change things between them. But when they spoke on the phone that night, he seemed genuinely happy for her. He teased her about being a genius, but surely he realized she had to work twice as hard as he did.

As the weeks of summer passed, Laurel fell deeper and deeper for Gavin. For all that he seemed like such a tough guy, he had a softer side. He was empathetic when she mentioned her dad or her mom’s long work hours. As if sensing her need for family, he often included her in the Robinsons’ outings.

He wasn’t hotheaded like some of the other athletes. On the contrary, he was cool and collected, even when he had a bad game. She also liked that he was affectionate, always holding her hand or wrapping an arm around her shoulder. In his family, touches were doled out like candy on Halloween. It was a good kind of different from what she was used to.

She didn’t have to wonder what he liked about her because he told her. He praised her work ethic and determination. He liked that she had goals, and he loved the way she blushed. He didn’tseem to mind that she was sometimes socially awkward or that it took her a while to open up to people.

They had little in common outside of school, but it didn’t seem to matter. She taught him about plants and gardening, and he taught her about baseball and football and home improvements.

When Gavin noticed her porch rail was wobbly, he brought his tools and fixed it. Before she knew it, he’d repaired a leaky faucet, replaced some rotted roof shingles, and cleaned out the gutters. At first she was appalled—he probably felt sorry for them. But he had a way of putting her at ease.“Relax. You’re helping me build my résumé.”Then he flashed that gorgeous grin of his, and all the fight went right out of her.

One time he had confided that his mom had struggled to maintain their house because his dad was too busy getting drunk. Her heart broke at the thought of that little boy, too young to help his mother. He was helping Laurel now instead, and at the same time, reminding her she wasn’t alone.

Her mom liked Gavin well enough, but she warned Laurel not to lose her head over him.“Theyalways leave,Laurel. You’regonnaget hurt.”

And Laurel did try to temper her feelings. But despite her efforts she began to understand all the clichés about love. The sky did seem bluer, the grass greener. There were surely bluebirds fluttering around her head and happy tunes floating on the breeze.

One day late in the summer, they hiked up to Lover’s Leap to watch the sunset. Gavin leaned against a tree trunk, and she sat between the V of his legs, lying back against his chest. Laurel could hardly think about the stunning colors sweeping the skyline. In the comfort of his embrace, his heart beating against hers, all she could think was how perfect things were.

As the sun touched the horizon he tipped her chin up. Their gazes tangled for a long moment. Surely he could feel her heart thudding against his chest. But the way he was gazing at her, she couldn’t bring herself to care.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Her breath hitched. She took in his unusually solemn expression, the quick flicker of uncertainty.

She touched his face in wonder. “I love you too.”

His eyes softened and his lips curled up just before he took her mouth in a delicious kiss. She’d tried to be careful with her heart. But somehow Gavin had wormed his way right past her defenses. She’d fallen in love with him. How apt that term was. It did feel as if she’d lost her footing, was at the mercy of gravity.

But everyone knew what happened when you fell. At some point there was a hard landing. And despite the joy and giddiness his love evoked, Laurel couldn’t help but brace for impact.

Chapter9

Emma was definitely missing her parents. Gavin sat at the island, across from Laurel and Paul, watching Judy pace the back patio with Emma. The girl had been fussy since she’d woken from her nap.

“I’ve already reached out to the funeral home,” Paul said. “We have an appointment in the morning. But I was wondering if it might be a good idea to have a single funeral service for both Mike and Mallory.”

“That would be up to Mallory’s aunt, I guess,” Laurel said.

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