Grateful to be discussing something other than herself and her miserable relationship with Gavin, Elizabeth asked, “Oh, really. And what is your type, Jenna?”
She laid her palms against the bar. “I like them cerebral. Poetic. Book smart. Lyrical. Musical. And interested in anything other than sports. Growing up with sports and being surrounded by them in this bar, I prefer to be with a man whose focus is on anything but.”
“I can understand that. So you go for the office types or the teacher types. Or maybe a lawyer.”
“I don’t care what he does for a living as long as we don’t have to talk about sports when we’re together.”
But Jenna’s gaze strayed to Ty while she wiped down the surface of the bar. Elizabeth turned and watched Ty, now involved in a game of pool with a few other guys. His jeans stretched across his mighty fine ass as he leaned across the table to take a shot. His tight T-shirt showed off his bulging biceps, and Jenna would have to be dead not to notice.
As Elizabeth turned to face the bar, it was clear Jenna was noticing.
“Ty’s not your type, huh?”
Jenna shrugged. “He has a great ass and that bad boy look that gets my panties wet. It’s been a dry spell. I’m human. But I still don’t date jocks. Too bad, because I could definitely take someone like him for a spin.”
“I’m sure he’d take you up on your offer, too. He was giving you the eye when you weren’t looking.”
Jenna gave him another quick glance, then sighed. “Why does this place attract so many guys like him? Maybe we should do some kind of promotion to attract the men I want to date, instead of the ones I don’t.”
“That’s a good idea. You should come up with something.”
“Yeah,” Jenna said, her lips curving. “In my spare time.”
“I could help you. I’m kind of good with promotional stuff.”
Jenna leaned over the bar. “That’s true. It is your area. But you’re probably busy.”
“Not that busy. I’d love to help.”
“You’re just trying to avoid everything Gavin.”
“You’re right. I am.” She lifted her glass and took a drink.
“So how are you going to solve that particular problem?”
“I have no idea what to do. I don’t think he trusts me. And I don’t honestly know how he feels about me. Being his agent and being in love with him is screwing everything up, both professionally and personally.”
“How so?”
“As his agent, I should be kicking his ass back to the game. He’s been gone way too long. As the woman who loves him, I understand how he feels. I’m empathetic to his concern about your dad and his need to be here.”
“My dad is recovering just fine, getting stronger every day. This whole thing scared the shit out of all of us, so we’re naturally hovering.”
“That’s to be expected, I think. It scared me, too. I love your parents.”
Jenna smiled and reached for her hand. “I know you do. You’ve been family for a long time.”
“But he is recovering well, and you all take such good care of him. And Gavin’s restless. I can see it, can feel the tension in him. He watches the game and he knows he needs to get back to it, but something’s holding him back. A sense of responsibility coupled with the fear that if he’s gone, something bad will happen.”
“So go put your agent hat on and kick his ass back to work. You’re just going to have to realize that sometimes you can’t be both girlfriend and agent. Sometimes you just have to be his agent and make him see that it’s time to do his job.”
She sighed. “Or I might find out that I can’t be both at all, that I’m going to have to choose one. Or he’ll choose one for me.”
Jenna gave her a straight look. “Yeah, that might happen. If he loves you, it won’t matter.”
“And if he doesn’t love me at all, it might matter a lot.”
“Are you afraid to find out?”
“I think that’s the million-dollar question.”
TWENTY-TWO
GAVIN AND MICK WERE CLEANING OUT THE GUTTERS when Gavin saw Elizabeth’s car pull up in the driveway. A twinge of guilt and something else pulled at his gut. His dad was sitting out on the back patio, watching them. It was a perfect day. The sun was out, a nice breeze blowing. Mom and Tara were out shopping.
“You know why she’s here.”
“Leave it alone, Mick.”
His dad stood when Elizabeth came through the back door.
“Front door was open.”
“Hi, Lizzie.”
She gave his dad a hug and sat down with him, not even acknowledging Gavin and Mick.
“She’s playing you, man. Just like she manipulated me. And Tara and Nathan.”
Gavin glared at Mick. “This isn’t about you. Not everything is about you.”
Mick shrugged and directed the hose into the gutter while Gavin grabbed a pile of dead leaves out of another section. Mick climbed down off the ladder to move it, and Gavin inched his way across the roof, trying not to focus on Elizabeth and his dad, who were engaged in conversation and laughing together.
“Hey, boys, Lizzie’s going to take me for a little walk. Be back soon.”