Page 39 (1/2)

"I won’t"

"And pro until you’ve talked todoor fro open "I should’ve eaten before I showered because the--" Gavin stopped and looked fro?"

"No I actually caet a chance yesterday Rielle insisted I eat while I waited, and well, I’ll never say no to good cookin’"

"Spoken like a bachelor" Gavin helped himself to a cup of coffee "But that doesn’t explain why it appears Rielle’s has been crying"

She laughed a tad too cheerfully "It’s fro for lunch"

Gavin looked like didn’t believe her, but he smiled at her anyway "Good to know I’d hate to have to pound on Ben if he soned your muffins"

Rielle rolled her eyes "Ben would never do that He’s a good guy, honest as the day is long"

Bennoise

"Plus, he knohat side hiselse, holler I’ll be in my office"

Gavin refilled his coffee and loaded his plate with awith Rielle," Ben remarked

"This is the third time I’ve stayed with her"

Like that explained it "So how long you staying?"

"I leave at six tonight on the direct flight out of Rapid City to Phoenix" He cut the banana into precise quarters "I’d like to stay longer, but hter for more than a weekend so I have to be back to take Sierra to school tomorrow"

"Don’t have a friendly relationship with your ex?"

Gavin separated his muffin into four equal sections "If friendly fire counts, then, yes, it’s friendly"

Ben laughed "Sorry, you probably didn’tabout the situation that I’ll take laughter when I can get it" He chewed and sed a piece of muffin, followed by a piece of banana

"Tell hter"

"Sierra is a typical teenage girl Lots of drast in her daily life Herto be Sierra’s parent--she prefers to be Sierra’s shopping buddy and confidante So when Sierra coues incessantly, breaks the rules and drivesschool"

"No offense, but I’lad I don’t have kids"

"Ah Therein lies the rub After a couple days, Sierra is back to being , typical daughter"

"At least she isn’t bratty all the time"

Gavin ate a third bite of the muffin and banana combination "That’s what Rielle tells hter’s teen years, I’ to survive it too"

Ben couldn’t help but stare at Gavin as he shoved his hand through his short hair That was the most obvious difference between him and his brothers--they all had the almost black hair color frohtly curly, like their mother’s And it was sort of freaky, to realize he had facial characteristics of Quinn, Chase and their father, almost in a perfect blend, so he didn’t look exactly like any of them, but like all of theht"

"Sorry Hoas your portion of the dog and pony shoay?"

"Chase was the Thoroughbred and I was the ed home that everyone expected to do awesome tricks I was most likely a severe disappointhed and looked at Ben "That was uncalled for It’s just… Can I be blunt? I don’t knohat the fuck I’ here It’s all still pretty surreal, this, hey, you’ve got a whole ’nother fa in front of one of those s out, and I’m somehow related to all of therown up around theive you a hard time?"

"Not really Keely was the most obviously curious But she disappeared fast when Jack and I started talking business"

"Keely , but she’s fiercely loyal to all her McKay cousins Just because you don’t have the same last name, you have the same blood, so she considers you hers too now"