Lone Star Baby (McCabe Multiples Book 5) by CATHY GILLEN THACKER Page A

wanted to have in front of his neighbors. Most of which were home, and thanks to the small acreage of their yards, within easy earshot on this beautiful fall evening.
    Gavin shut the door behind them. Peering down at her, he took in the tousled state of her chocolate-brown hair, and the flush in her cheeks. “When did they say this to you?”
    “Around seven-thirty.”
    Or in other words, an hour ago, Gavin thought, glancing at his watch. “What brought this on?”
    “I don’t know.”
    He figured she did. So he simply stood there and waited her out.
    Finally, she threw up her arms and began to pace the length of his small living area. “I think they’ve gotten the idea, from the amount of time we’ve spent in the nursery, that you and I are becoming too close to Ava.”
    He tore his eyes from the flattering dark denim dress she’d worn to work. It buttoned all the way down the front, tied at the waist and hugged her curves in all the right places. A pair of burgundy boots completed the outfit.
    He doubted they would be in anywhere near this much trouble if they weren’t attracted to each other. And hadn’t acted on it.
    “They may have a point about that.” Although he didn’t regret making love to her, he conceded the timing was not the best.
    She took a step closer, looking more beautiful and impassioned than ever before. “You’re siding with them?” she asked in astonishment, slipping the big leather shoulder bag off her arm and tossing it on the chair. Slender hands propped on her hips, she glared at him and waited for him to respond.
    Gavin sighed. The last thing they needed to do was to fight each other. He lifted a conciliatory hand. “I’m just saying that we have been put in a very unique situation. It’s hard not to feel for her.”
And each other...
    Especially with his body tightening this way.
    “That’s why we should keep Ava with us until we find a forever home for her,” Violet argued softly. “To do otherwise would mean moving her from our care to that of foster parents and then to a third home after that.” The corners of her lips turned downward. “That’s too much for a baby who never even got to know her birth mother!”
    Put like that...
    Gavin walked into the kitchen and poured himself a tall glass of water from the tap, then moved away. “You have a point.”
    Violet lounged against the sink, her hands clasped in front of her. She glanced up at him, her expression pleading. “So you agree with me?”
    “That we should remain co-guardians and not put Ava in foster care? Yes.”
    She released a quavering breath.
    Although he could see she was relieved, he could tell by the way she was acting he hadn’t yet heard the full story. He finished his glass of water and reached behind her to pour another. “What else did your parents say?”
    She watched him over one shoulder. “Nothing.”
    Right. Except she wouldn’t quite meet his gaze. Which meant it was
definitely
something.
    “Does it involve me?” he persisted.
    She stared straight ahead. “It’s foolish.”
    He put the glass down and moved so she had no choice but to look him in the eye. He braced his hands on either side of her. Close enough to smell her freesia perfume. Unable to help himself, he reached out to touch her cheek. As he felt the softness of her skin once again, another jolt of desire roared through him. “And yet you’re incredibly upset.”
    She leaned into his touch for one millisecond before pulling away. Her teeth raked across her lower lip. “Because they’re so far off the mark.” Averting her gaze, she eased out of his reach.
    Ignoring his instinct, which was to pull Violet back into his arms and hold her until her distress subsided, he followed her into the living room. “Are they worried about you and Ava staying here with me?” He studied her closely. “Are they worried that something will happen between us?”
    “We didn’t go there. Exactly. But they were clearly thinking in