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Despite having driven herself to work that morning, Ginny didn’t hesitate to climb into Gavin’s truck so they could go to dinner. Cedar sat between them on the bench seat, her head in Ginny’s lap the whole drive. Instead of filling it with meaningless conversation, Gavin let the radio do the talking and Ginny was grateful for it. She needed the time between seeing Gavin in her office and going out for dinner with the man to get her head on straight. Being in this close proximity with Gavin was wrecking her will power. So while the soft sounds of Hozier filled the cab of the truck, Ginny stroked her fingers through Cedar’s fur, her eyes focused on the passing scenery.
When they pulled up at the food truck, Ginny hopped out and smiled when Cedar charged towards the open back door with a loud bark. An older Latina appeared in the doorway and then carefully climbed down the stairs to greet an overly excited Cedar. Even though she’d heard of Mama Renata’s food truck, Ginny had never been there or seen the truck before. The foodies in Wildes claimed that Mama Renata kept her location a secret.
“I take it you’re regulars here,” Ginny said, glancing at Gavin as he came up beside her.
He chuckled and nodded. “Soon after I adopted Cedar, I came here to eat my feelings and Mama Renata bonded with her instantly. We come by at least once a week and the two of them ignore me for hours.”
“Ah, so that’s why you brought me. For the company.”
“Knowing Mama Renata, she’ll take you away from me too,” Gavin said softly, his eyes meeting hers and Ginny smirked.
“She does have the food, Little Rhodes, and she looks like she gives good hugs.”
His eyes narrowed and before Ginny could react, he had her wrapped in his arms, warm breath brushing against her neck. It took her a split second to relax, but she did, sliding her arms around his waist as she pressed into Gavin. Sighing softly, she smiled to herself and then pulled back to look at him.
“Okay, maybe your hugs are good enough too.”
Gavin snorted and released her, but made sure to brush his lips over her forehead in the process. Ginny followed him as he walked over to Cedar, who was tap dancing as she watched the open doorway. Mama Renata appeared again and looked between her and Gavin with a frown.
“Did you force her to spend time with you?”
Gavin scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest, making Ginny laugh. “He did promise me the best Mexican food ever, so a littlecoercingmight have happened,” Ginny said, proud of herself for making Mama Renata smile.
“I tell him that just because he’s handsome doesn’t mean all the pretty women want to be with him.”
Ginny shook her head and reached for Gavin’s arm with a smile. “He’s a pretty great guy too.”
Mama Renata nodded, her eyes looking between them again and Ginny blushed. Gavin uncrossed his arms and she didn’t stop him from linking their fingers as he came up beside her. The affection wasn’t false and she wasn’t putting on a show. Ginny did think Gavin was a pretty great guy. Under all that frustration and anger, he was still the boy she’d admitted to liking all those years ago. Her feelings might not have been intense like his, but there was a certain amount of tenderness when it came to Gavin. That’s what had prompted her to put on the necklace, what pushed her to agree to dinner. It was also why she let her fingers slide between his, sealing their palms together.
Sentiment.
“Mama Renata, this is Ginny. She’s an old…uh…”
“An old flame,” Ginny offered as Gavin stumbled over his words, giving his hand a squeeze. “And if you’ve met the other Rhodes boys, Spencer’s my best friend.”
“Spencer is a good egg, you’re not interested in him?”
Ginny snorted at Gavin’s scoff. “Never been interested in any of the other Rhodes boys. Just this one,” she said, smirking at Gavin as he watched her with his mouth open and close in shock.Affection.
“If you insist,” Mama Renata said and this time, Ginny saw the smile she was trying to hide. “Now, what do you want to eat?”
CHAPTER19
Since their first meeting,Mama Renata had roasted the heck out of Gavin. In the beginning, he took offense to the stuff she said, taking it far too personally. But the more he got to know her and spent time with her, Gavin realized that it was one of her ways of expressing love for people in her life. He’d never tell his mother this, but spending time with Mama Renata was one of his favorite ways to unwind when things got shitty.
He’d come here the day after the almost kiss in his office, and also swung by when Ginny offered to help him out with the event. He’d even shown up the day before the event, because for some reason he thought Mama Renata’s no nonsense attitude would help him unclench. So being back there, with the primary reason why he’d been visiting her of late was a little odd.
By Mama Renata’s expression, she thought the same thing.
Mostly because Gavin didn’t often bring anyone with him to the truck. Once during what he jokingly called their hang-out sessions, a Rhodes Brothers Huddle he’d suggested the food truck. All his brothers fell in love with Mama Renata’s food and attempted to steal her heart too. As far as he knew, they hadn’t come back without him. Which was good, because Gavin considered Mama Renata’s food truck his safe haven. The same way he didn’t personally introduce Cedar to everyone he met—except for earlier when he set her loose in Ginny’s office—Gavin didn’t bring everyone to the food truck. Not even Milo and Jackson.
Ginny, however, had unintentionally found a way to make him do all the things he normally wouldn’t do with someone else.
It was made even better when Ginny turned that gorgeous smile on him and defended Gavin as Mama Renata laid into him.“Never been interested in any of the other Rhodes boys. Just this one.”Gavin had been so caught off guard, he was sure he looked like a fish with his mouth flapping open and shut. When he’d hugged her earlier and she sank into him, Gavin had felt pretty fucking good. Then there was the necklace. He was trying so hard not to ask her about it, or stare at it for too long. Shining against her radiant brown skin, accentuated by the tattoos along her shoulders, the tiny gold heart gave him hope.
He didn’t want to assume that all of this meant something, but he also didn’t want to pretend like it didn’t make his heart race. Whether it was all real or not was still up for debate. But he was going to enjoy it. Cautiously.
