“Don’t ever say that about her again. It’s bullshit, and you know it. Understand?” Gavin nodded. “I didn’t mean it, Dex. I love her. God, I love her so much. I think she’s perfect.”
Dex pointed an accusatory finger at him. “You’re going to make it up to her. You’re going to treat her like a princess. You’re going to apologize, and if she wants you to kiss her feet, then you’re going to get down on the floor and kiss them.”
Slade cut in. “Exactly. And you’re also going to tell that f**king lawyer to stop whatever it is you have him doing.”
“Damn straight. I’m going to go find Hannah. We’re going to talk this out. You better be ready to grovel.” Dex turned and stomped out of the room.
Slade calmly got up and walked to the fridge. He came back with a bag of frozen peas and handed it to Gavin. “Put that on your face. Is anything broken?” Gavin moved his sore jaw. “I don’t think so. But it hurts.”
“Be glad you weren’t standing up. I’ve been in bar fights with our shitkicker baby brother.
He’s mean. He might have kicked you in the balls.” Slade’s head shook affectionately. “But he’s always quick to forgive when he gives a damn about you. I think you’ll find Hannah is, too.” He hoped so. Gavin put the frozen vegetables to his swelling jaw. Something had eased inside of him. Gavin realized he hadn’t taken a full breath in years. That guilt and fear had always been pressing down on his chest. But that ball of self-hatred had begun to ease with his brothers’ acceptance. Gavin hoped it would dissolve to nothingness under Hannah’s love.
What was he going to do if Hannah rejected him?
His lips curled up as the answer came to him. She could reject him all she liked, but he would win her in the end because he would wear her down with his love. He would always be there, opening the door for her, seeing to her needs, telling her how beautiful she is. He was f**king Gavin James. He had stared down a room of greedy executives at the age of twenty-two and beat them all back. He’d taken care of his brothers. He was stronger than he’d ever given himself credit for.
And he would take a page from his shitkicker brother’s book. When he found this little ass**le who threatened his family, he was going to beat the f**ker to death.
“I’m so glad that look isn’t directed toward me,” Slade said.
“You’re right. I am not stepping down as CEO.” Gavin needed to say those words—and more. “I am not giving Hannah up. And I’m not holding myself back anymore. I am done. I might be a shit, but I’m a member of this family.”
Relief was palpable on Slade’s face. “Thank God. Every now and then Dex just has to start a fight. You can be his combination babysitter slash punching bag, at least part-time. He’s exhausting.”
Gavin smiled. That sounded fun. He could fight with his brothers and they would still love him. Except…
He should probably tell Slade everything. “I didn’t use a condom with Hannah.” He wasn’t prepared for Slade’s fist to slam right into his cheek. The other side of Gavin’s face lit up. Crap, when had Slade learned to do so much damage?
“Mother f**ker!” Gavin yelled. He hoped there was another bag of frozen peas.
“Don’t you do that again until she’s right and properly married.” Slade frowned at him.
“Even then, we talk about that shit in this family. Are we clear?” They weren’t going to exclude him for that f**k up. Gavin breathed a sigh of relief that flooded his very soul. “I agree. Guess that means we have to get her to the altar soon.” The door to the kitchen swung open, and Dex ran in, his eyes wild with worry. “I can’t find Hannah. She left us a note on her computer that she’s gone. She left us. If we can’t find her, I’m going to break more than your jaw, Gavin.”
Slade raced to the kitchen drawer where the keys to all the vehicles were kept. “The keys to the limo and the Jeeps are still here. God, do you think she went on foot?” He doubted that. Hannah was stubborn, but she was also smart. Gavin stood, his face aching, and peered out the window. “One of the golf carts is missing. Depending on when she left, we might be able to catch up to her by simply running after her.” Dex started for the door, apparently willing to do just that. Gavin put a hand out. “We could run her down faster in the Jeep.”
“Oh,” Dex said. “That’s better.”
Gavin picked up the keys to the Jeep and handed them to Slade.
It was time to get their girl.
Chapter Eleven
Hannah stared at all the unfamiliar men at the Angry Moose crowding in on her with expressions ranging from curiosity to downright hunger. What the devil was she going to do?
“You boys take a big step back now,” a firm, feminine voice rang out.
An older woman, her steel gray hair in a braid that ran almost to her waist, stepped out. The roughneck who had stared at Hannah outside the bar stood at this woman’s side wearing a sheepish expression.
“Tobias, you little traitor!” The biggest cowboy in the group growled, but the woman hushed him with a single glare of her brown eyes.
“The first one to make a move on the young lady loses bar privileges.” Every man in the bar took a big step back. Hannah grinned. Apparently, her charms weren’t as coveted as a cold mug of beer.
She breathed a deep sigh of relief as the older woman walked forward wearing a friendly smile on her face. The woman was slender but built solid, a fact underscored by her no-nonsense blue jeans and standard flannel shirt.
“You, young lady, look like you could use a drink.”