Lila's Loves (Haven, Texas 1)

“So no one will be that surprised by our relationship. Now, have some pie. The doctor said you’re too thin.”

She snorted. “That’s because he took a litre of blood from me.”

“He’s just checking to make sure you’re well.”

“I’m fine,” she protested, but took the mouthful of apple pie. “He said I fainted from a combination of too much sun and fatigue.”

“I know,” Gavin said, he’d insisted on coming into the doctor’s office with her. “But it doesn’t hurt to get you all checked out. He said you refused the tests last time I took you.” Gavin scowled. “I knew I should have gone inside with you.”

She sighed but had to smile. Gavin was incredibly overprotective. And she loved him just the way he was.

“When was the last time you had a proper check-up?” he asked.

Lila squirmed on her seat. “Before I left for college, Clay took me to get some, umm, pills.”

Gavin raised his brow. “Pills for what?” he asked.

She wished she could refuse to answer him, but he had that look on his face that told her he wasn’t going to allow her to refuse him.

“The Pill. For birth control.”

He nearly choked on the sip of coffee he’d just taken. “Say what? Clay took you to get birth control pills?”

A grin curved her lips up. “Yep, I’m not sure which one of us was more embarrassed when he brought it up. Of course, that wasn’t as bad as the conversation we had about periods.” Now her cheeks were bright red. “Lord, that was bad. And when he had to explain about tampons, I thought we’d both self-combust we were so embarrassed.”

Gavin just looked at her and shook his head. “Christ, I never even thought about that stuff. He was an amazing man.”

“He sure was,” she agreed.

Gavin looked at his watch and sighed. “I suppose we better head back. I’ll just go pay the bill and go to the bathroom.”

He squeezed her hand and slipped out of the booth. He laughed with Peggy as he paid the bill. As he moved into the bathroom, she stood and went to speak with Peggy.

“Hey, Peggy, don’t suppose you have any jobs going?” she asked.

Peggy screwed up her face. “I’m sorry, sweetie, I’ve got a full roster. Don’t know of anyone hiring, either.”

“That’s okay,” she said, disappointed. Maybe she’d have to try further down the road.

“I’ll be sure to keep an ear out, honey.”

Lila smiled. She loved the way this town worked, how they all took care of each other. They didn’t suffer fools, but they knew how to look out for their own.

“Thanks,” Lila replied.

She turned to find Gavin standing behind her. He grabbed hold of her hand, pulling her along with him as they left the diner. He opened the passenger seat and helped her into his truck.

He started up the truck, pulling it out of the parking lot. “What is Peggy keeping an ear out for?” he asked her casually.

“Hmm? Oh, for a job. She doesn’t know of any but she’ll let me know if anything comes up.”

Gavin scowled, glancing over at her. “Why do you need a job?”

“Ahh, because I need money?” she said, she’d have thought that fairly obvious.

“We have plenty of money.”

“That’s your money,” she told him. “I want my own money.”