Book Boyfriends Wanted 5: His Curvy Gift
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Mary E Thompson
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Piper, a bartender in the quaint town of MacKellar Cove, meets Gavin, a visitor staying at his aunt's inn. As they navigate the holiday season, Piper and Gavin agree to a "friends with benefits" arrangement to make his aunt happy. However, as they spend more time together, their casual relationship becomes complicated by deeper feelings and town gossip. With the backdrop of festive events and family dynamics, Piper and Gavin must confront their pasts and decide if they can build a future together.
Chapter 1
Book 5: His Curvy Gift
Piper
Thursdays were always busy, but nothing like Thanksgiving night. My boss, Hudson, liked to be open for the locals who had enough family time and needed to get away. It seemed to be a trend that people were sick of their families.
I got it. I was so sick of my family that I didn’t see them anymore. My mom was remarried, for the fourth time, and my dad was off on an island with his latest fling. They were enjoying life, but I never felt like I was a part of their lives, so I kept my distance. It never bothered any of us.
A glass shattered behind me, but I didn’t jump. I learned shortly after I started working at O’Kelley’s to always wear shoes with thick soles so when I stepped in glass, I didn’t cut my feet. If wasn’t an option, it was always when.
I delivered the drinks on my tray and went to investigate the broken glass. A man was glaring at a young couple and trying to pick up the glass. He was cute, in a very boy-next-door kind of way. A full beard that could have just been stubble from a handful of days without a shave. Broad shoulders and strong arms that simultaneously blocked the couple dancing and collected the sharp pieces with ease.
I went to get the broom and mop so I could clean up the mess. We never let guests clean up, and this guy didn’t appear to be the guilty party by the scowl on his face.
I grabbed a refill of his drink and pushed my way back through the crowd to where he was. “I’ll take care of that,” I told him, setting his drink on the table and showing him the broom.
“It’s fine. I’m sorry. I guess I should hold on to my drink a little tighter when I’m in a bar with drunk people who don’t care who they bump into.”
I smiled and nodded, silently inviting him to deposit the glass in his hands into the small trash can I had.
“Thanks,” he said.
I nodded again and got to work. His voice was deep and raspy and slid down my spine and tried to settle between my thighs. I wasn’t having any of that, but damn did I want to. I didn’t recognize him, which made me think he wasn’t a local, but tourists didn’t come to MacKellar Cove in November, and they definitely didn’t come to O’Kelley’s to drink.
“Is it always like this?” he asked as I swept the glass up.
I nodded. “On Thanksgiving? Yep. People need an escape from their families.”
“Is that why you’re here? To escape your family?”
I shook my head. “I’m here because it’s my job.”
“So you’re the only person in here who isn’t trying to hide from your family?”
I looked him over and tried to place him. He made it sound like he was one of us. Like he was a part of MacKellar Cove. But if he had been there before, I would have remembered him. He was the kind of guy who was hard to ignore, and would be hard to forget. The guy who made your private parts stand up and take notice. The guy who made you forget all the promises you made to yourself about not getting involved with someone again.
A tourist was easy. They were temporary. They were gone after a few days. Locals came back over and over again. They were always around. And some of them wanted a connection. A relationship. I wasn’t equipped for that. Not anymore.
Which was why O’Kelley’s was the perfect job for me. I didn’t have to think twice about going home with someone because I knew I’d see them again. But this guy… I couldn’t figure him out.
“Except you,” I finally said. “What are you doing here?”
“Hiding from my family. Too much family time makes me twitchy. I needed to get away.”
“Where is your family? You’re not from here.”
He shook his head. “No, I’m not. But my aunt lives here. I’m staying with her for a few weeks. I’m Gavin, by the way. Gavin Holbrook.”
“Like Gina Holbrook? MacKellar Cove Inn?”
He nodded. “This whole small town thing is gonna take some getting used to.”
“Well, I guess welcome to MacKellar Cove.”
He grinned. “Thanks. I think I’m going to really like it here.”
* * *
The rest of my shift went by quickly. It was both a curse and a blessing of a busy night. By the time Hudson announced last call, I’d cleaned up half a dozen broken glasses, gotten my ass pinched at least a dozen times, and had to avoid the advances of more than a few customers. I was definitely ready for a long, hot shower and a few good hours of sleep.
“Time to go,” Hudson said to the last few stragglers. He turned the lights on. “We open tomorrow at eleven.”
A few grumbled as they headed for the door, but Gavin stalled.
Knowing Hudson would make sure the place was empty, I went to the back to grab the cleaning supplies so we could get out of there before too many more hours.
Hudson and Gavin talked while I started cleaning. I wiped down tables and chairs then flipped the chairs on top once they were clean.
“Let me give you a hand,” Gavin said, hurrying over to me.
I shook my head. “I’ve got it. Customers aren’t supposed to work.”
Gavin shrugged and grabbed the chair opposite the one I had. “Hudson said it was okay if I hung around and made sure you got home.”
I glanced at Hudson, who was mysteriously avoiding looking at me. “Really? And what else did Hudson say?”
Gavin grinned. “That you’re going to shoot me down and send me packing.”
I snorted a laugh and kept working.
Gavin kept pace with me while I went through the bar. When we finished with the tables and chairs, I got the broom and swept the floor then went back for the mop. Hudson cleaned the bar area and recorded the inventory and emptied the cash register while I did my jobs. Charlie was in the kitchen, but he was usually done before the rest of us.
Gavin hung around until we were finished with everything for the night. He helped where he could and spent most of the time talking to Hudson. When I was finished, I told them I was heading out and said good night to them. Gavin asked me to wait up, but I just waved as I headed out the door.
“Hey, Piper, hold on,” he called, chasing me down the street.
I didn’t run, but I also wasn’t in the mood to wait for him. It had been a long night, and I was exhausted.
He fell into step beside me. “You don’t like me, do you?”
I scoffed. “I don’t know you. I’ve heard your aunt is great, and you could be an awesome person, but I don’t know you. And after an eight-hour shift, I’m really not in the mood to try to get to know someone new.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that. How about I just walk you home?”
I shrugged and pulled my scarf tighter around my neck. It was freezing outside, and the wind off the water was cutting right through my coat. “I’m not far.”
He nodded. “I have a sister, and I would never let her walk around alone at night. I’m surprised Hudson doesn’t walk with you.”
“He usually does. Or one of the other guys. We watch out for each other.”
“Hudson seems like a good guy.”
“He is. Do you know each other?”
Gavin shook his head and lifted his shoulders to hide his neck in his coat. “I used to come here growing up, but it’s been a while since I’ve been here. I remember Hudson, but we weren’t friends. He’s a few years older than me. He was always that guy I thought would be really cool and wanted to be friends with.”
“Really?” I asked with a laugh.
Gavin nodded. “I envied how confident he always seemed. Like he couldn’t care less if someone liked him or didn’t, but everyone liked him. Plus, he always seemed like he was genuinely nice.”
“He is. He’s a pretty great guy.”
Gavin nodded again. He was silent for a few moments, almost long enough to get to my apartment. “So, are you two together?”
“Me and Hudson? Um, no. He’s like my brother.”
“There’s never been anything more between you two?”
“Listen, Gavin, I’m exhausted, and I’m freezing from the beer spilled on me earlier, and I’ve had to fend off more than a handful of men tonight. I’m really not interested in sharing my entire dating history with you right now.”
“I’m sorry. I really wasn’t trying to get you to tell me your history. I was just making small talk, and Hudson is the only thing I know we have in common. How long have you worked at O’Kelley’s?”
“A little over three years.”
“Wow. That’s a long time. You must like it there.”
I nodded and smiled. “I do. Best job I’ve ever had.”
“But you’re not from here.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I’m not. But I am from here,” I said, pointing at my building. It was an older, small building on the far side of Catherine Park. The location was amazing, and the price was right, and I didn’t need new and fancy. I’d done that and hated it. Fixer upper was definitely more my speed now.
“This is nice. Great location. Old MacKellar Cove.”
“Yep. Old means cheap, but I like it.”
“Actually, I meant old like MacKellar Cove Inn. I love the Inn. I’m not throwing stones at your home,” Gavin said.
I looked up at him, wanting to not trust him, but there wasn’t a hint of deception in his gaze. Then again, just like fancy wasn’t my speed, seeing through liars wasn’t my forte. “Well, thanks. I love it here. Thanks for walking me home.”
“Can I see you again?”
I unlocked my front door and turned back to him. “You know where I live and where I work. I have a feeling I won’t be able to stop you.”
He chuckled. “Good night, Piper.”
“Good night, Gavin.”
He took a step back as I stepped inside and let the heavy door fall shut behind me.
“Who is Gavin?”
I screamed and jumped, whirling around to see my roommate and best friend, Sofia, watching me with a smirk. Sofia’s arms were crossed over her fuzzy bathrobe and an eyebrow was raised in question. She and I met shortly after I moved to MacKellar Cove and became instant best friends. She was my opposite in many ways, but we were similar enough that we got along like best friends should. We never fought over guys, jobs, or clothes. And even better, we wore the same size clothes and shoes. Us becoming friends was kismet.
I groaned and shook my head. “Gina Holbrook’s nephew,” I told her, leading the way across the ground floor to our apartment in the back. Close enough to the door that we could get in and out without talking to the other residents, but far enough that no one stumbled into our unit.
“Why was he outside our building?”
“He walked me home.”
The eyebrow that sank while we talked shot right back up. Sofia rocked back on her heels and tilted her head in question. “He walked you home?”
“He knows Hudson or something and he talked Hudson into letting him walk me home.” I shrugged even though I knew it was weird as hell.
“Let’s get inside and you can tell me all about him.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing to tell. He walked me home, asked me if there was something going on with me and Hudson, and I told him I wasn’t interested.”
“Why would you tell him you aren’t interested?”
“Because he’s living here. He’s staying with his aunt, I guess. You know how I feel about locals.”
“Yes, and I don’t understand it.”
“Why were you at the door?” I asked her as we walked into our apartment.
She avoided my gaze and looked at the floor. “I was just…”
“Waiting up for me again?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I worry about you.”
I smiled. “I love you, Sofia. And thank you. I should have texted you when I was leaving.”
“Yes, you should have.”
Sofia never got used to my late nights or weird schedule. She worked maintenance in our building and part-time cleaning the elementary school in the evenings, but her hours were still pretty regular. Because her schedule was so normal, she didn’t like me being out late alone and was a little overprotective of me. But it was only because she was awesome.
“I will do better. Gavin just threw me off. I really am sorry, Sof.”
“It’s okay. I know you try. I’m just paranoid.”
“You’re not paranoid. You’re careful.”
She snorted. “This is like the safest place on Earth. Nothing has ever happened to you.”
“I know, but it’s not a bad thing to be careful. I am too laidback half the time. You know that.”
“We balance each other out,” Sofia said with a grin.
I hugged her. “Yes, we do. What did you do tonight while I was at work?”
“Not much. I fixed the garbage disposal in Mrs. Taylor’s apartment and cleaned up unit seven so the painters can start first thing Monday morning. And I flirted with this guy on Book Boyfriends Wanted and read the book for Sunday’s book club.”
I shook my head. “You do know most of them don’t read the book, right?”
Sofia shrugged. “Yeah, but I like to read. And it’s something to do.”
“You should have come to O’Kelley’s tonight. It was crazy. You would have had fun.”
Sofia shook her head. “It’s not really my scene. I’m not like you. I have a hard time talking to people. Getting to know people.”
“You said you were flirting with someone on Book Boyfriends Wanted.”
“That’s totally different. I can think about what I want to say and don’t have to be looking at him. I’m at home. The pressure is off. If I don’t have a good comeback, I can think about it for a minute. It’s so much easier.”
“You’re selling yourself short, Sofia. You’re funny and clever and amazing.”
She grinned. “And you’re my best friend. You know me well, so I can be myself around you.”
“Which means you should listen to me when I tell you how awesome you are.”
She chuckled. “Okay, fine. I’m amazing. But I still don’t love social situations.”
I grinned. “I understand. I just want you to meet someone who’s as amazing as you are. You deserve happiness.”
“So do you,” she said pointedly.
I smiled. “Yeah, well, we don’t always get what we deserve. My ex is proof of that.”
Sofia’s grin faded. “He’s going to die alone of some horrible disease that makes his junk fall off.”
I snorted. “One can only hope.” I glanced at the clock. “You need sleep. You’re going to be exhausted tomorrow because of me.”
She yawned and stretched as though she just realized how late it was. “You’re right. Are you going to go to sleep soon?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m worn out. Someone spilled beer on me so I need a shower, but I’ll be quick.”
“Take your time. Once I’m out, I won’t hear a thing. Good night.”
“Night. See you tomorrow.”
Sofia waved as she turned the corner into her room. I went back through the apartment and made sure the door was locked and the coffee was set for the morning so Sofia didn’t have to think about it. I turned off all the lights and went to my bathroom.
Our apartment wasn’t huge, but it was the biggest one in the building. Above us were only eight units, four on each floor. The units in the front were singles and in the back were two-bedroom units like ours, but smaller with only one bathroom. Our apartment originally was two separate units, but they were combined long before we moved there to make a larger home for the owners of the building.
Over time, the owners moved out and the unit became a place for the building manager to live. As far as everyone else knew, that was still the case. The only people who knew I was the owner of the building were Sofia and the lawyer who handled the purchase for me, but he didn’t care because he lived an hour away.
I liked my quiet life in MacKellar Cove. I liked knowing I was just the woman who served drinks at the bar. If everyone knew I owned the building, things would change, and I wasn’t there to change things. I was there because my old life no longer suited me. The business suits and heels, the fancy parties and fake people, the multimillion-dollar deals…I was much happier serving up five and ten dollar drinks than I ever was in my old life. And no one else needed to know anything.
