Lila's Loves (Haven, Texas 1)

Lila jumped up and ran out, nearly colliding with him in the hallway.

“Whoa,” he said with a laugh, grabbing her and lifting her up against his chest. She held on tight, pressing kisses all over his face. “If I’d known I would get that sort of greeting I’d be home for lunch every day.”

“I wouldn’t complain,” she told him with a laugh. She took his lips with a deep kiss, playing, teasing. His hand crept beneath her skirt, massaging her buttocks.

She moaned. Damn, she needed them soon.

“Hungry, baby girl?”

“Oh yes,” she purred. But not for food.

Gavin carried her towards the kitchen as she nibbled on his neck teasingly.

“Minx,” he said, slapping her butt before he set her on the kitchen bench. She sat, swinging her legs as she told him about Laken’s phone call and their plans for this weekend.

He handed her a sandwich and they moved over to the table to eat their lunch. Gavin touched her often, running his hand over her head and squeezing her thigh.

“Sounds like the three of you will be having fun,” he said.

She sighed. “It’s been so long since I saw Laken. She sounds kind of sad at the moment, like she needs cheering up.”

“I’m sure you can help her with that,” Gavin told her. Finishing his food, he stood and placed his plate in the dishwasher. Coming back he leaned down to kiss her lingeringly on the lips.

“Gavin, have you been getting any funny phone calls?”

He pulled back and frowned at her. “Funny how?”

“Well, I’ve had few phone calls when no one answers on the other end. I can hear them, but they don’t talk.”

“How many?” he asked sharply.

“Just a couple,” she replied. “At first I thought it was a wrong number or maybe a kid.”

“Could be,” he mused. “Has anything else been happening?”

“No, nothing other than that horrible woman that other day.”

“If it happens again, I want to know.”

She nodded.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he told her, kissing her softly. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

She finished up her work then did some tidying up before settling in to watch some television for a while. The slamming of a door woke her some time later as Trace strode into the house.

“Hey, Lila. Shit, I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” He sat on the coffee table opposite the sofa and pushed a curl off her face. “You okay?”

“Uhh, yep, huh, didn’t mean to fall asleep. Shoot, is that the time? I was going to start making dinner.”

Six p.m.? How long had she been asleep for?

“Don’t worry about that, shorty. I’ll get something started. You just lie quietly for a bit more. You must be a bit worn out.” He looked around. “Probably from all the housework you’ve been doing lately.”

“You guys are the ones who go to work each day,” she said, trying to sit up. He pushed her back down gently. “The least I can do is the housework and cooking.”

Trace chucked her under the chin. “You don’t need to wear yourself to the bone looking after this place. Sure, we appreciate it, don’t for one second think we don’t. But you are not our housekeeper, understand?”