“Seems like Gavin’s eager to see you,” Colin said with a chuckle.
Crushing disappointment stole her breath. Gavin. Of course. They hadn’t lied. They wouldn’t be that cruel. Not that she wasn’t excited to see Gavin, but for a moment she’d hoped… She bit back a cry.
As the truck pulled to a stop, Gavin moved forward, coming around to her side. He opened her door, his gray eyes betraying his relief as he peered down at her intently. Lila’s breath caught in her lungs as she stared up at him. His face hadn’t changed much. He had a few more lines, a few gray hairs around his temple, which only added to his appeal. Gavin had a strong personality and his face reflected who he was—hard-working, dominant, masculine.
A smile curved his full lips. Damn, she missed that smile.
“Hello, baby girl.” Reaching across, he took her seatbelt
off and she fell into his open arms with a small cry. He caught her easily, holding her against his massive chest.
She clung to his wide shoulders. He was even larger than she remembered but she knew he would never use his strength against her. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, neither of them saying anything as they held onto each other tightly.
Gavin carried his slight, but infinitely precious, woman up the steps and into the house. He’d been waiting impatiently for his brothers to return with her. He’d longed to go with them, but he’d been needed here. None of them liked to leave Clay alone at the moment; even though he was getting the best care money could buy.
This ranch had been in Clay’s family for generations. Unfortunately, he was the last of the line. His sister had died when they were young and his other relatives were all distant cousins. When Clay had taken over the ranch from his father, it had been struggling. He’d turned it into a profitable business and Gavin was determined to carry on his legacy.
“I’m glad you’re home, baby girl,” he told Lila as he walked into the living room and sat on his recliner, perching her on his lap.
She stiffened and tried to hold herself upright, but he wasn’t going to let her away with that. It was too long since he’d held her. He tugged her closer, resting his hand on her head as he ran his hand up and down her back
Lila coughed, wheezing slightly, and he frowned, glancing up at Colin and Trace with a question in his gaze.
“She’s been sick,” Colin explained, stretching. “I’ve been keeping an eye on her temperature. It’s slightly high.”
“We’ll get her checked out in the morning then,” Gavin decided. Nothing was as important as her health and well-being.
“She is right here,” she said, struggling to sit up. This time he let her, wanting to see her face. She looked pale and tired, definitely thinner; they’d need to watch what she ate. He could see she needed some TLC and that’s what he intended to lavish on her.
With some loving care and a few ground rules, they’d get her back to full health.
Gavin brushed the dark curls off her face. “Did you have a good trip?” he asked. He’d waited so long for her to come home, now that the moment was here it felt kind of surreal.
She nodded. “How’s Clay?” she asked, wringing her hands together and looking so young. Was she old enough to handle what they wanted from her? Only twenty-three, still a baby, but then she’d always been more mature than her years.
“He’s as good as can be expected, baby girl. If you’re feeling all right tomorrow, I’ll take you to see him.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, ruining her protest with a cough.
“Hmm,” he said, not committing to anything. “Well, why don’t I run you a bath while we get your stuff in? Then you can have some dinner.”
With a tired nod, Lila followed him upstairs. He ran a bath for her, while Trace and Colin brought her gear inside. Gavin looked at the two bags with a frown.
“You left some of her stuff there?” he asked his brothers as they met for a drink in the living room, leaving her to soak in the bathtub.
Trace shook his head with a sigh as he sat back in a plush armchair. Colin slouched on the couch, a beer in his hand.
“Nope,” Colin said. “That was all she had. Well, she also had a mattress and an alarm clock but I figured we didn’t need to be bringing them back with us.”
“Her place came fully furnished then?” he asked. “She was always a bit of a tomboy but I figured she’d have more clothes than that.”
Trace and Colin exchanged a look. “Well, if it was supposed to be furnished she got ripped off.” As Colin explained where she’d been living, Gavin grew furious. He looked down at his clenched hands.
“So she was lying the entire time? To Clay?” Gavin knew for a fact that Clay wouldn’t have let her live in such dire straits if he’d known. “I knew I should have gone and gotten her earlier.”
“We couldn’t; we promised Clay we’d wait,” Colin reminded him.
“I know,” Gavin sighed. “But it’s been damn hard to stick to that promise and to think she’s been living on such a thin shoestring… Dammit.” He hit his fist against the arm of the chair.