“So you’re Guns of Steel.” Piper entered and greeted Zoe with a kiss to the cheek.
“That would be me.” He glanced at Zoe to see her red in the face. Hmm. What had she been telling her aunt?
“Come sit by me on the couch, Gavin. Let’s chat.” Piper sat and patted the spot next to her.
Zoe sighed. “To what do I owe the honor of your untimely and unwelcome visit?”
“Is that any way to talk to your beloved aunt? I worry for you, being so alone on a Friday night. I was going to invite you out with me and a few friends. But you’re not alone, are you?”
Gavin grinned and sat by her. “So Zoe never dates, huh?”
“I wouldn’t say never, but it’s been a while. The men she works with are in love with her, but she’s too professional to ever make a move in that direction. And they’re doctors. Can you imagine?”
Gavin didn’t much like hearing that. “Doctors. Well, that’s some tough competition.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Let’s see those Guns of Steel.”
Zoe blew out a breath. “Piper, don’t—”
“It’s okay, Zoe.” Gavin flexed for them, mentally thanking Landon for the tight sweater. He did look more buff than usual. He offered his biceps for a squeeze, and Piper did it, delighting him while Zoe stood away from the sofa, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. “It’s part and parcel of being a trainer. People want to know if you can back up what you’re selling. I sell fitness, so I should be fit. What do you think?”
Piper nodded, still squeezing. This woman was who Zoe would grow to be some day. Beautiful, confident, sexually powerful. Granted, Zoe seemed like that now. But add in not embarrassed about anything, and you had a real winner. Gavin liked Piper on sight.
Piper Andrews had dark hair with a cool streak of white, a youthful glow, and a killer skirt and designer top that emphasized her lithe frame, accented with heels no one should be able to walk in without dying. She had to be in her late forties or early fifties, but she seemed more like an older sister than Zoe’s aunt.
“I have to know. How old are you?” he asked.
Zoe gaped. “Oh my God. You’re as bad as she is.”
Piper, who had finally quit squeezing his arms, patted him on the thigh, then leaned back. “I’m forty-eight.”
“No kidding. You look amazing.”
“For forty-eight?” She raised a brow—one of Zoe’s mastered mannerisms.
“Aunt Piper.” Zoe gritted her teeth.
“For anyone,” Gavin said, and meant it. “You resemble Zoe enough to be her mom, but you don’t look old enough.”
“Oh, now I really like you.”
“See, Zoe? Your aunt likes me. Now we have to get married and have babies. But not in that order.”
Piper blinked, and Zoe’s lips curled into that smirk of a smile he’d grown addicted to seeing.
“Oh, I don’t know, Gavin. Netflix and chill seems off the table now that my aunt is here.”
“What?” Piper stared back and forth between them. “Did you really invite him over here for that?”
Zoe snorted. “No. Seriously? Do you think I’d be talking this to death if we meant to get crazy all over the house? And how do you know what that means, anyway?”
“How do you not?” Piper huffed. “Well, I can see you two are busy. Not babies-and-marriage busy,” she said to Gavin with a nod and a smile. “Good one. But you’re busy all the same. I’ll get out of your hair. Call me for Sunday brunch, sweetie. I’m heading to New York on Monday and won’t be back for a while.”
Zoe walked her aunt to the door.
“Bye, Piper.” Gavin waved. “When you get back, come to the gym. We can always use the eye candy.”
She blew him a kiss. “I really like him, Zoe.” She said something else he couldn’t make out, laughed, then left.
