Zoe had just closed the door and leaned back against it when the bell chimed again. She turned to open it, only to have the pizza guy standing there.
“Ah, now this one I can handle.” Gavin hurried to the door to pay. “Milo?”
He made small talk with one of Theo’s friends before taking the pie and handing Milo his payment with a big tip. Gavin closed the door on the younger man’s thumbs-up in regards to Zoe.
“You know everyone in town, don’t you?” She took the box from him and headed into the kitchen.
“Just about, because at one time or another, they’ve all worked with my younger brother.”
“Landon’s the oldest, right?”
“Right.” Gavin stood with her at the counter while she divvied up slices and served a decent beer, still chilled and bottled. “Um, could I get some water or something else to drink?”
She nodded, not making a big deal of it. “How about a home-style root beer?”
“Outstanding. Thanks.”
“So, Landon?” she prodded. “And before you ask, I’m not interested in your brother except as how he pertains to molding you into that charming personality you have.”
“Okay then.”Good.“You know Landon. Bossy, big, and blond. Takes after Mom.”
She took a few bites and nodded, so he continued.
“Then there’s me. I’m like my dad—dark-haired, laid-back. But I have my mom’s focus. Linda Donnigan is sharp, let me tell you. Hope is my sister. Not sure if you met her or not, but we used her to demo some of the self-defense moves in class. Sometimes she comes by the gym. She’s three years younger. Then Theo. He’s the spitting image of Dad, a late addition to the family. Not sure, but maybe a mistake.”
“I’m sure you delighted in telling him that while growing up.”
“Well, yeah.”
She shook her head.
“I was twelve when he was born.”
“So he’s how old now?”
“Twenty. I’m thirty-two. You didn’t have to do the math. You only had to ask.”
“Whatever,” she said around a mouthful of cheese.
He liked that about her. She wasn’t trying too hard to impress him. Just being herself.
“Tell me more about the Donnigans. You were pretty close-mouthed yesterday.”
“Only because you wouldn’t stop talking about dirt.” He ate some pizza, disturbed to find his appetite off. Being so close to Zoe, all he could taste was the memory of her lips. Man, what a crock. Had he told Ava he didn’t want sex with Zoe? Right now he had a difficult time concentrating on anything but her fine, fine body. Her scent, the sound of her strong voice. The mouthwatering breasts pressed against the thin T-shirt she wore.
Zoe put the pizza back down on her plate. “Is that right? As I recall, you wouldn’t stop asking me stupid questions about what to do with that dirt. I mean, who doesn’t know what a trowel is?”
“It’s a mini shovel. Why make things complicated?”
“Because they just come that way.”
“Huh?”
“Complicated.” She shrugged and ate, so he continued talking before she blasted him for being ignorant about zone types.
“What about your family?”
“We’re not done with yours yet.”
