Page 18 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

“Doesn’t surprise me. She’s been through a lot. She’s strong.”

Cooper didn’t disagree. But he sensed Kate was kind of vulnerable too. Did Gavin see that? “So you really like her, huh?”

“Sure. It’s been nice having something good in my life again. Something to look forward to.”

It was about as close as Gavin ever came to mentioning Jesse. Or his ex-wife for that matter. “Can’t blame you for that.”

“How’s it going with, uh, Morgan?”

Actually it had been Megan. She’d worked the front desk at the Shady Pine Motel but had since moved on. “That was weeks ago. We only went out a couple of times.”

“That seems to be the case with every woman you talk to,” Gavin said in a dry tone. “What was wrong with her?”

“I caught her in a lie and things went downhill from there.”

“You called her on it?”

“I suspected it wasn’t the first one.”

“Yikes.”

They hadn’t clicked anyway. Actually, he hadn’t clicked with anyone in a while—and never with anyone like he had with Kate. He pushed the thought from his mind. “She moved to Mars Hill shortly after that.”

“Gotcha. Thought you were going to come over to the campground one night this week? You owe me a game of poker.”

“Work got in the way.”

A Braves player hit a fly ball that sailed over the outfield fence. The bar whooped and hollered as the team pulled ahead.

As soon as the noise died down Gavin said, “I’m thinking about getting back into the contractor business again.”

Cooper’s head snapped around. His family had waited more than a year for this. “You should. You totally should.”

Gavin’s gaze flickered his way. “Settle down, Sparky. I haven’t made any decisions yet. Just mulling it over.”

“So, you’d what? Move back to Asheville?”

“No.” Gavin’s tone implied he’d never go back there.

Cooper couldn’t blame him. Laurel was still there, as well as a lot of memories Gavin would probably just as soon bury.

“I’m thinking about opening up shop here. I could do it on the side for a while, see how it goes.”

“Sounds like a good plan. And there are always out-of-towners building up in the mountains. It’d be handy to have a contractor right here in town.”

“That’s what I was thinking. Might be nice to be my own boss this time, decide which projects I want to take on. Have some control over my hours.”

“You built a good name for yourself. I’m sure you have great references. Let me know if I can help with anything.”

“It’s just a thought for now. Maybe you could keep it to yourself. I’m not ready for the family full-court press.”

“Sure thing.” That was enough for Cooper. Miles ahead of where his brother had been mentally only a few months ago. And Cooper had a feeling this complete about-face had been single-handedly brought about by one Katelyn Loveland.

9

Katie shifted in the camp chair planted outside Gavin’s camper, the memory of last night’s dream hovering in her mind like a vulture over a carcass. The recurring dream happened all too often—she was outside a house and desperate to get in. The reason was never quite clear, but the fear and panic were palpable. She banged on the doors and windows, begging whoever was inside to be let in. She always woke, heart pounding, breaths heaving, eyes wet.

The fire popped, startling her from her thoughts. She breathed in the smell of wood burning and resolved to enjoy her Saturday evening with Gavin. Muffled voices from nearby campsites joined the warbling trill of cicadas and the high-pitched chirp of crickets.