His Love Read Online Free Page B

his chair and stretched his legs in front of him. “Not since the day she came and got her things. No emails, no nothin’. Better that way.”
    “Trash,” Anna said, shaking her head.
    “Heard through mutual friends,” Gavin said, “that now she’s got herself a new boyfriend. Power to her.”
    “But you’ve dated since you broke up,” Anna said. “Haven’t ya?”
    His cheeks flushed a little and he looked down into his cup, as if something interesting was in there. “Nah. And work keeps me busy, so…” He shrugged again.
    “She never deserved ya,” Anna growled. “Selfish, nasty bird.”
    Gavin waved her off and took another sip of his coffee.
    “She didn’t,” Anna pressed. “I say good riddance. You’re good to be rid of her.”
    Then Gavin said, so quietly Toni almost didn’t hear him, “I didn’t get rid of her, Anna. She got rid of me.”
    Toni’s heart did a little squeeze at his somber tone and his soft-spoken words.
    “Which shows she’s a flat out tool,” Anna spat. “Well. We won’t talk about her again. You’re a free man, you’re on holiday for a whole month… you know what? It’s long past time for you to get out there again. I’m gonna find ya someone drop-dead gorgeous, and easy as can be, and get you laid while you’re here.”
    Toni dropped the whisk with a clang into the big glass bowl. Whipping her head around, she saw Gavin was even more surprised than she was… and horrified.
    “I—you—” He sputtered, staring at his younger sister. She laughed, taking obvious delight in his stunned embarrassment. “I don’t need your help meetin’ girls, thanks very much. Jaysus, you’re a lunatic.”
    “Hey!” she cried. “C’mon Gavvy, I’m just tryin’ to help.”
    “Just shut up already,” he said. As he swallowed coffee, she made a silly face that made him half-choke and almost snort it through his nose. He couldn’t help but grin. “You. I can never stay annoyed at you for long.”
    “Thank goodness.” Anna leaned in and smacked a kiss on his cheek.
    As they had breakfast, though Gavin thanked Toni for the meal and complimented her cooking, he barely met her eyes. Was he embarrassed by what Anna had said? Or just not a talker while eating? She hoped it was the latter.
    “What’re your plans for the day, Toni?” Anna asked as she slathered apricot jam onto her toasted English muffin.
    “Nothing much,” Toni said. “Already got my suit on under here. Figured I’d get some color, out on the deck or the beach. Jump in the ocean at some point. Read a book. Be lazy because I have five days off, so I can .”
    “Sounds similar to my plans,” Gavin remarked.
    “Why don’t we all hang together, then?” Anna said. “Make a day of it?”
    Gavin glanced at Toni, and she could swear a hint of a grin curved the side of his delicious mouth. “Absolutely. If you want to?” His eyes seemed to sparkle at her.
    Her heart skipped a beat, but she said casually, “Sure, sounds great.” So much for keeping a bit of distance between herself and Gavin.

Chapter Three
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    F riday and Saturday were spent as a holiday weekend by the beach should be—time on the beach, time in the water, time sitting out on the back deck, eating, drinking, and enjoying. Wren spent most of the weekend with her boyfriend, but promised she’d be there on Monday morning to help set up for their big Fourth of July BBQ. Joe had been too hung over to do the beach with Toni, Gavin, and Anna on Friday afternoon, but went out with them on Friday night and joined them for fun in the sun on Saturday.
    But on Saturday evening, Joe left to go out with other friends, and with Anna and Wren working, that left Gavin and Toni alone.
    While Gavin showered, Anna cornered Toni. “The two of you should have dinner somewhere other than the Nest before coming down, you were there last night. You know what? Don’t even come to the Nest tonight. Take him out so he can see some other things,” Anna