Page 75 (2/2)

Emily dropped her fork onto her plate and dropped herself into Gavin’s lap She curled her ar of swoon, Trevor You really should take so ar me in more ways than one" He swiped his plate from the table and made his way into the house

"Mhtly stubbled jaw against Emily’s cheek "We’re bad, huh?"

A sultry smile touched E in a few stolen moments with the only woman he wanted to consider him sorthy, Gavin watched Emily disappear inside to help his e of relief The past couple of weeks, the two had become close, and that’s all Gavin wanted to see As he enjoyed the sounds of his niece and nephew playing tag, Gavin was glad he’d cut this year’s party down to close friends and fa ready to retire for the day, he took a seat around the fire pit alongside his father and Colton

"Thanks, Pop," Gavin said, accepting a beer froood"

"It sure did" Chad relaxed in his seat, his eyes landing on Gavin’s "The older you get, you’ll start to notice the chaos of a big to-do party loses its glitz This is what it’s all about"

Gavin knew his father was correct So successful with Blake Industries and playing the tiresome field omen, Gavin lost touch hat really mattered Not that he hadn’t held fa his parents raised him to treasure it--but the importance of what really counted in life beca up?" Colton questioned "Mom said you and Eo"

As Gavin swept his gaze to the house, where he could see E well Sure He’d told Eive up hope Noah was his son, but as the answer neared, he found ita gulp of beer "I’, son," Chad sighed, clapping Gavin’s shoulder "Just remember that"

"Yeah, Pop? What would be the reason if it’s nothis father said, but Gavin couldn’t find a string of sense if this outcome was about to mind-fuck him The despondency in his father’s eyes made Gavin feel like an asshole "I’ not to lose the faith his father had always atte of this we’d go through it scared together I said thatthat asshole involved in her or the baby’s life is fucking with h his hair, his nerves kicking up with every evil whisper in his mind Gavin shook his head "He’s cal that’s because I’ve kept hiht to his head, and he’ll take it to a whole new level The asshole let us know he’sto Florida a few oing to fall in love with this kid and have to watch Dillon take him over the summer and holidays It’ll break us both"

With his hand still on Gavin’s shoulder, Chad looked at Colton as staring wordlessly at his brother Bringing his eyes back to his son, Chad shook his head His voice was soft but resolute "Gavin, you’re a strong man You’ve always been The first ti to make your mark in this world, and shit, son, you have You’ve th you were born with slipping froo Find it again It’s there As a ically or not, you’ll do whatever it takes to keep you and E to turn this child into a man You and Emily need one another and you may need one another more than ever after this But whatever you do, never question the decisions the heavensAll that matters is what you do with those decisions You can let them break you or mold you"

With the words he needed to hear soaking through hishis mother and Emily step from the porch, he tried to focus on what his father had said, but as the stars started to blanket the sky, he feared that until he had those results in hand, here and now, he wouldn’t be able to find the strength he needed to walk theued every muscle in his body, Gavin stood and ently pulled her into his ar A man who’d continue to fail if Noah wasn’t his

"Hey," she said, sht off the fireworks I didn’t realize it’d gotten so chilly out here I’rab ?"

Gavin didn’t answer No Instead, he bent his head, crushing his lips to hers Ashas, he kissed her hard, burying his hands in her soft curls He wondered if Eue or if she could feel the uncertainty in his hold He didn’t kno long they stood wrapped in one another’s arms, but in thatforward to a wicked place where he wouldn’t be able to take care of her