“Bullshit. You love the money, the prestige, and the power. You don’t give a shit about your clients. And you sure as hell don’t give a shit about me, Elizabeth.”
Mick picked up his bag and shifted his gaze to Gavin. “Give me a ride to Mom and Dad’s? I’ll take a later plane home. Figure I should stop by and visit.”
Gavin nodded. “Sure.”
He headed toward the door, stopped in front of Elizabeth.
“According to my contract I have to give you thirty days’ notice. Consider it given. You’re fired, Elizabeth.”
Liz gasped.
Mick walked out, leaving Gavin alone with Liz.
She sat on the bench, her chin at her chest.
Gavin didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. Hell, she probably didn’t deserve to feel better. She’d screwed over his brother and Tara and Nathan. She deserved this.
She lifted her head, and tears shimmered in her eyes.
Elizabeth was the toughest woman he’d ever known. Nothing rocked her. In all the years he’d known her, he’d never seen her cry.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. Gavin wasn’t sure she was even talking to him.
“No, I imagine you didn’t. You’re going to take a hit losing Mick as a client.”
She shook her head. “Not that. I didn’t mean to hurt him, Gavin. He’s not just a client. He’s my friend and has been for a very long time. Or ... was my friend. He isn’t now. I’ve lost clients before. Losing his friendship will hurt me more than anything.”
She lifted her gaze to his, the shimmer of tears making his gut clench.
“I don’t have many friends.” She let out a soft laugh. “I think I’m beginning to understand why.”
She stood and came over to him, her eyes liquid pools of blue. Her body came so close to his her br**sts brushed against his chest. She lifted a shaky hand to his face and swept her fingers across his jaw, then traced his bottom lip with the tip of her finger.
“Just in case,” she whispered, then lifted up on her toes and brushed her lips to his. Her mouth was soft, and the tip of her tongue touched against his. It was a light kiss, with the promise of more.
He had to resist the urge to pull her against him and crush her to him, to deepen the kiss. A sudden need to have her, to fully taste her, rocked him back on his heels.
Oh, yeah. He wanted more. He reached for her, but she stepped back and her lips lifted.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” she said, then turned and walked out the door.
Well, hell. What was that about?
And why did he want to go after her? Why did he want to pull her into his arms and take that kiss a step farther?
Why did he care?
He blew out a breath and went to catch up to Mick.
MICK FIGURED HIS PARENTS WOULD BE IN BED WHEN HE and Gavin came in.
The house was quiet and dark.
“You staying?” he asked Gavin as he used his key to open the front door.
Gavin shrugged. “Maybe. For moral support.”
Mick arched a brow. “You never stay here. You have your own place.”
“Didn’t say I was spending the night in my old room or anything. You know how it is. Too much hearth and home is smothering.” Gavin pushed past him and headed down the hall. “I need a beer.”
Mick shook his head and followed Gavin into the kitchen. “What do you want? Soda or water?”
“Soda.”
Gavin tossed him a can.
Mick tapped on the top of the can while Gavin twisted the top off a bottle of beer and took a couple long swallows.
“So you fired Elizabeth. You’d better get the word out that you need a new agent pronto.”
Mick popped the top off his soda can and sipped it. “No hurry. I’m good for awhile. I don’t need any vultures knocking down my door while I’m busy trying to play football. Besides, I need to get my personal life sorted out first. The agent thing can wait.”
“I guess it can. Liz looked devastated.”
Mick shrugged. “She’ll get over it.”
“Want me to fire her, too?”
“Not unless she pisses you off.”
Gavin took a long swallow of his beer, then a smile lifted his lips. “Pissed-off isn’t the description I’d use.”
“I thought I heard voices down here. Oh and look, it’s both my boys.”
“Hi, Mom.” Mick stood and wrapped his mother up in a bear hug.
She went over and hugged and kissed Gavin, then sat at the table. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d have to fly back to San Francisco right after your game.”
“Girl trouble,” Gavin said.
Mick shot him a scathing look.
“Well, it’s true, isn’t it?”
“Oh, dear. Haven’t patched things up with Tara yet?”
“And he fired Liz, too.”
Mick rolled his eyes. “What are you—eight?”
Gavin gave him a smug grin. Mick’s mother’s eyes widened. “You fired Elizabeth? Why?”
Gavin opened his mouth, but Mick raised his hand. “Shut up. Let me talk.” Gavin clamped his lips closed.
“She did something I didn’t like. Something that hurt Tara and Nathan. It was the last straw.”
“I see.” His mother crossed her arms. “Want to talk about it?”
Mick looked up at Gavin, who made no move to leave.
“Gavin, let me talk to Michael alone.”
“Oh, fine. I miss all the good stuff.” He kissed his mother on the cheek. “I’m heading home.”
She snatched the bottle of beer from his hands. “How much beer have you had?”
“Jesus, Mom, I’m twenty-nine now, not sixteen. Just a few sips.”
“Then you can go. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” Gavin slugged Mick’s arm on the way by. “Call me if you need me.”
“Thanks, Gavin.”
“So what happened with Tara?”
Mick filled his mother in on the details of what went down at the carnival and what happened with Tara after.
“Do you think she loves you?”
“Yes.”
She laid her hand on top of his. “She’s afraid.”
“I know.”
“What are you going to do about it?”