Gavin had made it very clear that he intended to pursue her romantically. A secret part of her was thrilled at the thought, while another part wanted to run as fast as her two legs could carry her.

What was wrong with her? Other women seemed to handle these things so easily, switching from one boyfriend to another like they were changing clothes. Yet here she was in her old room, fighting the urge to burst into tears as if she were five years old again and had skinned her knee playing ball.

WTF?

Her mother came in a few minutes later, and Jessica sat up in bed, wiping quickly at her eyes. She didn’t want either of her parents to know what was going on, how confused she was. But keeping a secret in this house seemed hopeless, a fact confirmed when her mother began to speak softly.

“Are you okay?”

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?” she lied through her teeth.

Her mother smiled, and Jessica was touched by the understanding and warmth she saw in her gaze. “I have a slice of the cake that Gavin brought here for you. You didn’t get a chance to eat much. I thought you might be a little hungry.”

“Thanks.” She accepted the dessert, even though her stomach was churning. But she didn’t want her mother to worry about her. This was a mess of her own making.

“Gavin seems nice,” her mother commented, sitting on the edge of her bed. She wasn’t leaving. “And he obviously cares about you.”

Jessica sighed, putting the plate on the nightstand. She might as well confess. “I know. He is nice. And…he made it clear that he wants to be with me. But I’m not sure that’s a great idea. After all, he is my client. It’s important to remain professional.”

“I see. But is it a violation of any kind? After all, you don’t work for the Sonics.”

“No, you’re right. As an outsourced company, we don’t have to abide by the same rules. And I know Phil won’t care one way or the other, as long as it doesn’t create a problem in our work environment.” Her eyes closed and she rested back on her pillow.

“It’s what happened to you with Zach, isn’t it?”

She nodded, more than a little surprised that her mother was so tuned in to her emotions. “Yes. And I’m concerned Gavin is on a rebound. He had been dating a model and they broke up after he came here. I don’t know how he’s going to feel when he gets healthy.”

“Listen, I know that Zach didn’t turn out to be the kind of person you deserve. He was also very young, and in an environment that he couldn’t quite handle yet. I think at some point he may grow into the kind of man you saw in him, and then again he may not. But Gavin is very different. I’ve only met him tonight, but he is very mature for his age. And I don’t think you need to worry that he’s carrying a torch for someone else. He is head-over-heels about you.”

Jessica looked at her mother in bewilderment. “How do you know for sure?”

“Oh, there’s no doubt.” Her mother chuckled. “His eyes follow you everywhere. He was trying to hold a conversation with your brother, but at the same time was continuously distracted by you. And rightfully so.” Her mother squeezed her hand.

“But there’s something else.” A buried fear wormed its way to the surface. “I’m not sure that he will fully recover. I haven’t told him, but with the kind of injury he has, it’s fifty-fifty.”

“I know that would be devastating for him,” her mother said softly. “I have a house full of men who are athletes, and sports mean everything to them. If he doesn’t get well, he will need you more than ever. It will take him some time, but he’ll find another way to succeed. He is that kind of man. And you are an amazing woman, and deserve only the best. I don’t know if Gavin can make you happy, but I think you should find out before you shut that door.”

Her mother rose, taking the plate with her as she left. Jessica washed her face, brushed her teeth, and then snuggled beneath her old quilt, feeling much more settled. Her mind went back to the day they were car shopping, when the salesman had told them he, too, had been injured once playing ball. That man had made it back, found another way, and was now happy and successful.

She hoped that didn’t happen to Gavin, but if it did, he would do the same thing. He wasn’t the kind of guy to quit.

So maybe her parents were right. They were not entangled in the same emotional morass, but they had both managed to let her know that she was loved, and that they approved of Gavin.

For some reason, it made a big difference.

Chapter 27

“So how about dinner?”

Gavin waited until they had finished their walk before broaching the question. Jessica had gone out of her way to make sure everything was the same as always; they talked about the Memorial Day picnic, compared notes on her brothers, and even discussed how great the food was.

He found it amusing.

“Dinner?” She glanced at him beneath red-gold lashes, her expression inscrutable. “I’m ready for breakfast.”

As they entered the physical therapy room, she poured a cup of coffee for herself, and then one for him. He watched her with a wry smile, aware that she was dancing around the topic. It wasn’t that she was being coy; she was still afraid of getting hurt again. And he knew exactly how to deal with that.

“Chicken?” The smirk deepened as he accepted the steaming mug, and his eyes met hers with a twinkle.

As predicted, she snorted. “Hardly,” she said over her coffee cup.

“Okay then.” He challenged her. “Tonight. I’ll pick you up at your place.”

“Sure. Why not?”

He had to fight to keep from offering a high-five. Actually, he thought as she returned to her desk and he began his workout, it wasn’t a big deal.

It was a HUGE deal.

And if he weren’t so certain she would shut him down, he’d like to have dinner for breakfast. Starting with dessert.

—

He made a reservation at the Princeton Cafe, a well-known restaurant in town that featured fantastic food and a cozy atmosphere. Utilizing an online app, he found parking nearby and made a note of the cross street where he would find the garage. The weather wasn’t cooperating: the forecast called for rain throughout the evening, so he did not want to leave anything up to chance. He figured he would drop Jessica at the door, park the car, and then meet her back at the restaurant.

What else?

Flowers. Even though her brother warned him against it, he decided to bring her a bouquet just like they did in the old days. After leaving the therapy room early, he headed to town to locate a florist and find something unique just like her.

He found a shop close to where he lived. When he walked in the door, Gavin saw a bewildering array of choices: there were tulips and other spring flowers, gladiolus and calla lilies. There were roses in every imaginable color, along with baby’s breath, ferns, and fillers.

None of them were right. While all of the blooms were beautiful, they all seemed too formal for Jessica. His eyes shifted back to the roses with a frown.

“Can I help you?” A woman peered up from a table where she was cutting ivy for a wedding bouquet.

“I’m looking for something for my girlfriend. I mean, she’s not my girlfriend yet. This is kind of a first date, and I want to make a good impression…”

“How sweet!” The woman beamed at him, and Gavin felt like a total idiot. “So are you thinking the roses? Red is considered more serious, when things are farther down the line. But since you are just getting to know her, maybe peach or yellow?”

“They are very nice, but she isn’t the traditional type. She’s kind of sporty and athletic, but I want to do something romantic.”