"In this wind? No."

"d.a.m.n."

Gavin laughed and pulled onto the highway. "I imagine Charlie let you drive?"

"Every day. I practiced parallel parking, which he says I rock at. Then we had hot chocolate and pie at the diner before we drove home on the back roads. He's so sweet and funny."

"So it's not awkward?"

Sierra frowned at him. "What? Spending time with Charlie?"

"Yeah."

"No. At least he wants to spend time with me."

Gavin shot her a sharp look. "Was that a dig at me?"

She rolled her eyes. "G.o.d, Dad, paranoid much? I just meant if it wasn't for the McKays, I'd never get to see anyone or do anything. It sucks being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no way to get around."

Never failed-she found a way to poke at him about the fact she still wasn't driving on her own. He knew better than to take the bait. "How was school this week?"

"c.r.a.ppy. I got a hundred percent on my math quiz and blew the curve for the rest of the cla.s.s so my cla.s.smates are p.i.s.sed at me. Which is probably why I'm spending another another Friday night alone. Yay." Friday night alone. Yay."

"Never feel guilty for using your brain, Sierra. I'm proud of you for getting the top grade."

"Did you see anyone I know when you were home?" she asked.

"Just the people in the office."

"I wouldn't even mind listening to Manny complain about the heat and everything else." She sighed. "Can I go with you next time?"

"I don't know when that'll be." He glanced at her again, seeing that brooding look settle on her face. "Back up. Why don't you have plans for this weekend? Is there something going on?"

"Besides the fact I don't have any friends except Marin and she's busy all the time? Besides the fact the weather always sucks so I can't drive? No. Besides that, everything is awesome."

And...there was the sarcasm. He counted to ten. "But didn't you just say if not for the McKays-"

"Read between the lines, Dad," she snapped. "As much as I try to convince myself everything is fine, it's not. When you're gone it just reminds me that I want to go home. I hate it here."

She hated it today. Didn't mean she'd hate it tomorrow. Or next week. She changed her mind as often as her nail polish color.

Gavin parked in front of the house to unload his luggage, which included a token he'd picked up for his daughter. Surly girl would probably throw it at him, so he'd save it.

"So what? You're not talking to me now?" she demanded.

"It's pointless to argue with you, when you'll pick apart anything I say."

"That's because you know I'm right. Not that you ever listen to me." She scrambled out of the car and...yep. Slammed the door hard enough to rock the entire frame.

Welcome f.u.c.king home.

Screw that. He wouldn't let her s.h.i.tty att.i.tude sour the fact he was was glad to be home. glad to be home.

Gavin left his suitcase in the entryway and hung up his coat. He loosened his tie on his way to the kitchen, searching for Rielle.

He pushed open the swinging door and there she was.

His d.a.m.n heart skipped a beat. His stomach performed a happy flip. His c.o.c.k stirred. He needed to wrap himself in her warmth, softness and light.

"G.o.dd.a.m.n, Ree, you're looking mighty tasty today."

She flashed him an unsure smile. "I thought you'd be here later."

"I couldn't wait to get back." He stalked her until her back connected with the refrigerator.

Rielle's eyes softened. "Really?"

"Really." He pressed his body to hers, curling one hand around her face and the other around her hip. He whispered, "I missed you," against her lips.

"Gavin. Wait."

"I can't." Then he took her mouth. Kissing her with pent up need, proving his desire for her with every hot and hard stroke of his tongue. Losing himself in the rush of her lithe body arching against his. Filling his senses with her taste, her scent. Swallowing her s.e.xy little I-want-you-now moans that drove him f.u.c.king insane.

"Bed. Now."

"But-"

She needed convincing? Fine. He'd convince the h.e.l.l out of her. He growled, cranking up the intensity of the next kiss. Sliding his hand into her hair and pulling slightly, angling her head, to dive deeper into the soft draws of her mouth.

The sound of a loud, pointed throat clearing came from behind him.

Gavin froze. Then he lifted his mouth and his gaze collided with hers.

She bit her lip.

His hands fell away and he slowly turned around.

A blonde amazon version of Rielle gave him a little finger wave.

His eyes narrowed. Or was she just giving him the finger?

"Gavin. This is my daughter, Rory," Rielle said behind him.

He'd just attacked Rielle in front of her daughter? Cla.s.sy.

Wait. Did Rory know about them?

Rielle slipped her arm around his waist and rested her head on his chest. That move shocked the heck out of her daughter.

Guess that answered that question.

"So, you two are...dating?" Rory asked incredulously.

"Yes, we're involved."

"Have you been involved-together, dating, whatever-since he moved in with you?"

"Technically, I'm living with him," Rielle said evenly.

Annoyance crossed Rory's face. Her posture remained belligerent. "Oh, we're playing the word definition game. Fine. So, technically what you're really doing is sleeping together."

"That is none of your business."

"Is it Sierra's business? Should I ask her if you two share a bed every night? Or is she in the dark too? Or maybe that's why she was making you over? So you'd be what he wanted?"

"I cannot believe you just said that. What is your deal, Rory?"

"My deal? Really, Mom? You don't understand why I'd be upset that you didn't tell me you're having s.e.x with Gavin Daniels? And apparently it's more than s.e.x? It's some kind of...relationship?"

Rielle stiffened, but she didn't move away from him. "I don't tell you everything that goes on in my life, Rory."

"Bulls.h.i.t. That's because there's nothing to to tell since I've never known you to be involved with anyone." tell since I've never known you to be involved with anyone."

"Or maybe I don't tell you because you blab any d.a.m.n thing that pops into your head, regardless if it's my personal business," Rielle shot back.

Rory had the grace to look embarra.s.sed, but it didn't last long. "Ouch. All this secrecy does is make me wonder if you didn't tell me about you and Gavin because you're ashamed about what this really is."

"And of course, you know what it really is."

"A convenience."

Gavin ground his teeth together, understanding how difficult it must be for Rielle to hold her tongue when Sierra got mouthy with him.

"Wrong. You want to know why I didn't tell you?"

"Let me guess. Because it proves me right? That he's-"

"Don't say it," Rielle warned.

"Just like the rest of the McKays," Rory finished. "He'll f.u.c.k anything that walks like it's his due and then he'll walk the f.u.c.k away. That's really the guy you want to have a relationship with?"

"That's enough," Gavin said to Rory. "I don't know what chip you have on your shoulder about the McKays, and frankly, I don't give a s.h.i.t."

"Big surprise there," she interrupted with a sneer.

"But I do care that you think you can waltz in here and pa.s.s judgment on your mother, when to be blunt, you don't know f.u.c.k-all."

Rielle didn't chastise him, nor did she jump in and apologize for his harsh response.

"This is just f.u.c.king great. He's already got you under his thumb." Rory pushed off the counter. "Screw this. I'm outta here."

That's when Rielle planted all five feet five inches in front of her six foot tall daughter. "Cool off that hot head of yours, Aurora Rose. You don't get to go off on a tear, do you hear me?" Rielle drilled Rory in the chest with her index finger. "I slaved making your your favorite supper at favorite supper at your your request, so you d.a.m.n well better have request, so you d.a.m.n well better have your your b.u.t.t parked at the dining room table at six-thirty, wearing a G.o.dd.a.m.ned smile." b.u.t.t parked at the dining room table at six-thirty, wearing a G.o.dd.a.m.ned smile."

"Will it just be you and me? Or will they be here too?"

"Yes, Gavin and Sierra will be here, since it's a family dinner in their house."

"Whatever." Rory tried to sidestep Rielle.

But Rielle wouldn't budge. "You will be here."

"I said I would, all right? Jesus. Move. I gotta get my dog." Rory all but stomped off.

Gavin wasn't aware he held his breath, waiting for the door to slam, until it actually did-with enough force to rattle the dishes in the cupboard. He chuckled.

"Glad someone sees humor in this."

He circled his arms around Rielle. "I don't know whether to be impressed that Rory can slam the door harder than Sierra, or scared my daughter won't outgrow this stage and she'll be testing door hinges for the next seven years."

Rielle smiled wanly. "It's been a while since Rory has reminded me of her door-slamming expertise."

Gavin ran his hand down her back. "Are you okay?"

"No. I hate fighting with her."

"Must be the day," he murmured. "Sierra lit into me the second she got in the car today."

"I wondered what triggered her her spectacular door slam. And why she'd ignored me when I called out to her, after we'd had so much fun last night." spectacular door slam. And why she'd ignored me when I called out to her, after we'd had so much fun last night."

"Doing what?"

"Sierra insisted on making me over. Rory showed up and the two of them conspired against me. They got along surprisingly well."

"Were you expecting Rory this weekend?"

She shook her head. "She hasn't gotten around to telling me why she showed up out of the blue, which is probably why she acted so bratty."

He sat on a barstool, bringing Rielle between his legs, close to his body. "What can I do?"

"Nothing. You know what it's like to have an only child. They expect immediate attention. That hasn't changed even when she's in college. Last night, she had to share me with Sierra. She a.s.sumed she'd have my undivided attention today, but Ainsley needed to talk so I met her in town for a long lunch. Then you show up and kiss the s.h.i.t out of me, throwing her mommy and me mommy and me world into turmoil. She won't have my total focus this weekend. That's never happened to her before." world into turmoil. She won't have my total focus this weekend. That's never happened to her before."

"Why didn't you tell her about us?"

Rielle smoothed her palms over his cheeks. "Not because I was embarra.s.sed. But..." She outlined his face with her fingertips, from his hairline to his jawline, to the curve of his lips. "You really are a handsome man. Such a McKay."

Gavin growled. "Answer. The. Question."

"I didn't tell Rory about you, because I have so few things that are mine. Not in an ownership way, but in a personal way. I've lived my life as an open book with her. I don't regret that." Rielle caressed his face. "So what you and I have? I've never had. I don't want to share it with her or anyone else, because it belongs only to us."