Page 9 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

He found a folding chair in the closet and carried it downstairs, the steps creaking in all the familiar places. Old framed photos stairstepped down the wall. His mom and Jeff on their wedding day, photos of the kids opening gifts at Christmas, Cooper in his baseball uniform, Avery graduating high school, Gavin and his son, Jesse, frozen in time on his third and final birthday.

“You hear what happened, Coop?” Jeff called as Cooper took the last step.

A knock sounded on the front door.

“I’ll get it.” Cooper turned and grabbed the knob, then pulled open the door and stilled at the sight of the familiar woman on the porch.

5

“You.”Katie stared unblinking at the deputy. What was he doing here? At Gavin’s house? Did she forget to fill out some form back at the accident site? But how did he find her here?

“Katelyn.” His eyes softened and his lips lifted in a bemused smile. “What are you doing here?”

She blinked. “What areyou—?”

“Katie.”The voice came somewhere from the deputy’s right. “Thank God you’re all right. You are all right, aren’t you?”

She pulled her gaze away from the deputy and saw Gavin striding toward her.

She glanced back to the deputy—Gavin’s brother.It was all making sense now. But for some reason her stomach bottomed out at the realization.

Understanding also dawned in the familiar brown eyes that had offered her such comfort back on the cliff. The smile wilted from his lips.

Gavin nudged his brother aside and pulled her into the house. He surprised her with an embrace. Yes, they’d shared six dates, three kisses, and two tubs of popcorn. But Gavin wasn’t a particularly affectionate man. Then again shehadnearly died.

It was his lack of physical aggression that had gotten him a second date. Not that he hadn’t been a perfectly good date. A little sad, a little cautious, but given his fairly recent divorce, who could blame him? She gave him a hug.

Gavin pulled back and gripped her arms. He stared at the bandage on her forehead. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

For some reason her gaze slid automatically to his brother. Somehow she felt closer to him at that moment than Gavin. They’d just been through a catastrophe together. Of course it had... bonded them.

“I’m—I’m fine. Just a mild concussion.”

Gavin glanced between his brother and Katie. “Do you and Cooper already know each other?”

Cooper cleared his throat. “I, uh, stumbled across her while I was out riding.”

“He’s the one who flagged down help for me. I had no idea until just now that he was your brother. He sat with me while we waited and basically kept me from losing my mind.”

Her gaze met and held Cooper’s, and her belly gave a low, tight squeeze.

“I didn’t do much.”

“Oh man.” Gavin reached out a hand, and the brothers did that man handshake that ended in a shoulder bump. “Thanks, Bro. I owe you one.”

“No problem.”

“Katie.” A blonde woman approached—had to be Gavin’s mom, but she looked too young for that. She had a kind smile, blue eyes like Gavin, and a dimple in her left cheek. “Oh, you poor dear.Come and sit down. Avery, can you get her something to drink? I’m Lisa, by the way. This is my husband, Jeff.”

“Nice to meet you both. I’m so sorry I’m late.”

Lisa led her to the sofa. “Don’t be silly. We’re just glad you’re okay.”

Gavin settled beside her and took her hand. “Sure you’re all right? You seem a little shaken.”

“Of course she’s shaken, poor thing,” Lisa said. “What a terrible experience. Avery, come check her head.”

Katie smiled at her friend and boss. “I’m fine. I promise. The paramedics checked me out thoroughly. Just a mild concussion.”