“Logic,” he said with a tsk, but he pulled away, his face turning to profile as he gazed into the snowy wood beyond.
“You really think this could convince him?” asked Rowan.
“I think it has a chance,” said Gavin. She knew that was as much as he’d offer. He would never simplify a complex issue for her comfort.
“Have you had a chance to talk to him at all?” she asked. “Get a sense where his head’s at?”
He wrinkled his brow. “We talked a bit…Obviously he’s still pretty bullish about Goshen’s offer. But he doesn’t like that they’re pushing hard for the trust land as part of the deal. He’s really only been open to selling his in-town properties.”
“If it came down to it, would he do it? If they insisted and it was the only way the deal went forward?”
Gavin frowned. “He won’t sign any deal that ends up with the old growth being cut down.”
“Are yousureabout that?”
A flicker of frustration passed over Gavin’s face. “Yes, I am.”
She hesitated but pressed on. “It’s just that when it comes to him, you kind of…”
“I kind of what?” he asked, his brows knitting.
“You take a lot of what he says at face value.”
He took a step away from her. “And I guess you think he’s lying.”
She raised her hands. “I didn’t say that. I only wanted to make sure that you were considering the possibility that he…might not be sharing the whole truth.”
Gavin shifted a step away, turning his face from her. “I recognize that my father is as capable of deception as anyone. I just don’t assumeeverythinghe says is a lie.”
“I don’t do that,” protested Rowan.
“I know you don’t trust him, but trustme.”
“I do trust you, but…”
“But what?” he pressed. She hesitated. “I would really like to know what you were about to say.”
“You just let him walk over you sometimes,” she shot back.
It took him a moment to respond. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She crossed her arms. “Oh, I don’t know, like maybe how hecompletely took over our date the other day? Pushed me to ski through a dangerous snowstorm?”
“You asked to come down the mountain with us.”
“Because I wanted to be with you! The way I’d planned to, before Dennis McCreery decided he couldn’t let his son fraternize with the Midwinter girl.”
He shook his head. “It’s not like that. He and I had plans. It was my fault for being late.”
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Always covering for him.”
His dark eyes flashed. “Is that your opinion? Or your mother’s?”
She shook her head in disbelief. “What?”
“I know your mother thinks of my father as her personal antagonist, that your family has always looked at mine that way. It makes it easy, doesn’t it? Having a villain in your story? Someone to point to and say that if they hadn’t stood in your way, everything would be perfect. Because it’s that simple, right?”
He shook his head and pulled away from the railing. “I have to go.” His voice was quiet. “I’m sorry to leave in the middle of the planning, but I’ve got a family thing. And in case you think that’s my father interfering again—he and I had plansfirst.”
