these gentlemen. I didn’t realize we would be inciting World War III.”
Sarah set her napkin on the table. “So, being a buffer was just a . . . lie . . . to get me to come?”
“No, no, no. That part was definitely true.” Gavin met his father’s gaze. His mother had gone still at his outburst.
Owen sighed. “Well, at least take everything into consideration. Pris, this casserole is amazing.”
Those words seemed to be the signal for everyone to start eating again. Except Sarah. She worked hard to keep her anger from spilling over and ruining the dinner Gavin’s mother had prepared. She made it through the apple pie, then stood. “Excuse me, please.”
Gavin made as though to follow her, and she shook her head. It wasn’t hard to find the bathroom, and she stood at the sink trying to convince herself that Gavin hadn’t meant anything by mentioning to his father that she might be in need of a job. And that his father was just trying to help by inviting the two men who obviously clashed on every level.
If anything, she should probably be grateful. Part of her knew he thought he was helping. But another part of her was screaming that it was similar to something her father might do, and all of the trust that she’d managed to build up had just been shattered.
“You’re overreacting,” she whispered. “Let it go. Just . . . don’t read anything more into it other than an attempt to help. That’s all it is. He’s not like the general, he’s not.” The pep talk helped somewhat, as she forced herself to remember all the things he’d done that were completely opposite of what the general would have done. “He’s different. He is. Don’t overreact.”
She got herself together and opened the door, only to find Kaylynn on the other side. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to take too long.”
“You didn’t. I was waiting for you. I overheard what happened in the kitchen.”
“Overheard it, huh?” More like eavesdropped.
“Gavin likes to be in control.”
“Hmm. Yes, I’d say that’s an accurate observation.”
“But he means well.”
Sarah raised a brow. “Really?”
A smile curved her lips. “Yes. He may behave like a bull in a china shop, but . . .” She shrugged.
Kaylynn went still and her face paled even while her eyes sharpened. “You’re a reporter?”
“I am. Well, a journalist, but I’ve done a lot of investigative reporting for the military. Why?”
“Interesting,” the girl almost whispered. “I heard them talking about you having a story, but I didn’t realize you were an actual reporter.”
She must have missed that part. “A currently unemployed journalist-slash-occasional-reporter, yes.”
“Sounds like you could be employed should you decide you want to be.”
“I don’t think I’d like to work for either one of them.”
Kaylynn actually smiled. “They’re not so bad. They huff and they puff, but they’ve never actually blown anything down.”
“When are you going to talk to Gavin?”
“When I feel like it. He made me mad, and I know avoiding him is the best way to get back at him.”
Brutally honest, wasn’t she?
“It’s working. He wants a relationship with you.”
Kaylynn fell silent, but Sarah could see she was thinking. “I like you, Sarah.”
“Well . . . thanks.”
“I’ll think about what you’ve said, but I’m not ready to talk to Gavin, yet.”
“I see. It’ll hurt him.” Like your actions hurt the general? The quiet whisper drifted across her mind.
Something flashed in Kaylynn’s eyes, an indecipherable . . . something that resonated deep within Sarah. “Could I get your phone number?” Kaylynn asked.
“Of course.” Sarah dictated it to her while Kaylynn tapped it into her device.
“Thanks.” And then the girl was gone, drifting down the hall in her silent wraithlike way.
“I’m sorry, Sarah,” Gavin said. He stood to her left at the end of the hallway. “I guess I didn’t think that all the way through.”
She sighed and shook her head. “No need to be sorry. I’m assuming you were trying to help?”
Relief flickered across his face. “Yes, I promise that’s all it was. I’m not trying to be controlling or whatever it is that would make you find similarities between me and your father. I just threw out an idea. A bad one maybe, but that’s all it was. An idea. An opportunity if you wanted it.”
“It’s okay.” She looked at her phone. “Mrs. Howard still hasn’t called me back and now isn’t a good time for