Shock beat anger in his book. He only hoped the anger didn’t return when the shock wore off. “Erin’s nine. She’ll be ten in the fall. Her mom and I met in graduate school, but it didn’t work out. Our relationship ended not long after Erin was born. Two years ago, Amber accepted a position in Rhode Island, and they moved there.”
Leah rubbed both hands down her face. “Sorry, I’m trying to digest all this.” Standing, she took a few steps away from the sofa before stopping and shaking her head. Then she turned and faced him again. “You have a daughter and that’s who you were visiting when Courtney saw you.”
He nodded, wishing he’d told Leah about Erin long before tonight. “If it was on Friday, I was picking Erin up. I have a place in Providence so I don’t waste the time we have together driving back and forth to New York. During the summer and over school vacations when our visits are longer, she comes and stays with me in Manhattan.”
“And Amber, your ex-girlfriend, called this morning to tell you she got engaged.”
Time to come clean about that too. “Actually, it was Erin who called to tell me. She’s down in Florida with Amber and Todd, Amber’s boyfriend. She was really excited about getting to be in a wedding and couldn’t wait to tell me.”
“We’ve been spending time together for three months, Gavin. Even when I was dating Harry, we hung out together. Why didn’t you ever tell me you have a daughter?” Leah asked, sounding both hurt and disappointed but at least not angry.
He understood her experiencing both emotions. Even anger he would understand. “I was a little younger than Erin when Dad met his third wife. Joy formed a relationship with us so Dad would propose. Once she got what she wanted, she didn’t want anything else to do with us. Vivian especially was crushed. I never want Erin to be in a similar situation, so I don’t tell anyone about her until I know them well,” he admitted, and although she might push him away, Gavin walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “And I figured avoiding the topic of my family in general was the best way to keep from reminding you Harry and I are related. We share some of the same DNA, but we’re nothing alike. I didn’t want you to think I was anything like him or our father.” He hadn’t told her anything about his dad, but his father’s infidelity during his first three marriages was well known.
Some of the tension in Leah’s shoulder disappeared, but she kept her hands down by her sides. “I figured out you two are complete opposites when Harry and I were dating, Gavin.
A person couldn’t spend time with the two of you and not realize it.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” he joked, hoping to lighten the atmosphere. Leah cracked a smile. “And I planned to tell you about my daughter soon. When Erin gets back, she’s going to spend time with me in New York. I want you to meet her.”
“Does she have you wrapped around her little finger the same way Reese has my brother?”
She hadn’t agreed to meet Erin or to even spend any more time with him. Still, he took the fact Leah hadn’t walked away or asked him to leave as a good sign. Pulling her in closer, he pretended to consider her question.
“Worse.”
“Worse? This I’ve got to see,” she replied, slipping her arms over his shoulders and clasping her hands behind his neck. “When will she be with you?”
“The end of the month.”
“I look forward to getting to know her.”
He wanted to tell her how pleased her comment made him. She didn’t give him a chance. Before his brain could finish getting the thought to his mouth, she touched her lips to his, sending a jolt of joy straight to his heart.
Sounds in the hallway caught his attention, and although his body was telling him to not let go of her, his mind suggested he end their kiss before someone came inside. It was a difficult decision, but in the end his brain won out.
After pulling away, he brushed one final kiss across Leah’s forehead and watched her eyes slowly open. “Sounds like the fireworks are over.”
“Yeah, people will be leaving soon.” She reached up and brushed her fingers against his cheek.
“And I should too. I still need to check in at my hotel.” When he’d booked the room, he mentioned he’d be arriving on the late side. “What time should I come back in the morning?”
“Whenever. Curt’s not expecting us until around noon, so whatever works best for you.”
What worked best for him was taking her back to his hotel room tonight and waking up with her in the morning. Telling her that was out of the question. “How does ten sound?”
“Perfect,” she answered, right before the door opened and Curt poked his head inside the room.
“Sorry for interrupting.” Curt’s expression suggested he was anything but sorry. “I’ve been looking for both of you. Reese wants to say goodbye before we leave.”
Curt pushed the door open wider and Reese entered. At some point she’d changed into pajamas, and she was holding a stuffed tiger. Despite the late hour and the busy day she’d had, the girl didn’t look tired at all. When Erin had a day as full of activity as Reese’s had been, she looked the same way when the fun came to an end. Then she’d insist she wasn’t tired—at least until she finally sat down long enough and then sleep usually took over. Gavin had a feeling the same would happen once Reese was sitting inside Curt’s car.
Reese said goodnight to them both before dashing back out the door in search of Leah’s parents.
“See you both tomorrow,” Curt said before walking away and leaving the door wide open.
“A little protective?” he asked, even though the answer was already crystal clear to him.
Since Vivian and he were the same age, he didn’t act the protective brother often. Yes, he gave her his opinion about the guys she got involved with, but it rarely went much further than that. With his younger sister, Piper, it’d be a different story. When the time came for her to start dating, a concept that already set his nerves on edge, he’d be acting much more like Leah’s brother. Probably even worse, considering the age gap between him and Piper. Forget about it when Erin was old enough to date. Already he was considering locking her up in a tower like a princess from one of her favorite fairy tales when the time came.