fallen in love. Bane and Mac would understand. Flipper and Coop would suggest Gavin have his head examined.
“Did you get the equipment I asked you to bring?” he asked them.
“Yes. Two of my brothers will be towing the backhoe loader and tractor in this evening,” Flipper said.
“And I’ve got the rest of the stuff in my truck,” Mac added.
“Good,” Gavin said. Flip had four brothers. All SEALs. And Flip’s dad had retired as a SEAL commanding officer. Gavin had thought he’d had it bad living in his father’s and grandfather’s shadows—until he’d met Flipper. His friend had five legacies to compete with since all the male Holloways before Flip had stellar reputations as SEALs.
“So where are we staying, Viper? The party house?” Coop asked.
Gavin shook his head. “No. Layla’s at the party house.”
Flipper chuckled. “So? It’s big enough. You don’t mind if we crash, do you?” he asked Layla.
Before she could answer, Gavin said, “But I mind.”
All four men laughed. Gavin scowled.
“Easy, Viper, let’s not get territorial,” Flipper said, grinning.
But he did feel territorial, Gavin thought. He figured it was all a part of being in love. He still wasn’t sure what to do with his feelings. He didn’t want to get caught up in a woman like his dad had done. He didn’t want to ask her to give up her career to wait out here on the ranch through all his missions. He didn’t want a repeat of what had happened with his mom.
Pushing all that aside, he said, “Gramma Mel got back from her trip a few days ago and she prepared rooms for you guys at the main house.”
“Yes!” Bane said, pumping his fist in the air. “We’ll get to eat her mouthwatering biscuits for breakfast.”
Gavin shook his head. He had to admit he’d missed these guys.
* * *
“So, are you going to tell Layla how you feel about her, Viper?”
Instead of answering Bane’s question Gavin stared into his beer bottle and shook his head. “Won’t do any good. She doesn’t feel the same way.”
“How do you know?” Mac asked, taking a sip of his own beer. “Women like to hear stuff like that. And often.”
Coop and Flipper, Gavin noticed, were keeping their mouths shut. His admission that he’d fallen in love had shocked them into silence. The five of them were sprawled in the living room of the party house. Layla was at the main house assisting Gramma Mel with dinner. Gavin figured his grandmother would go all out and prepare a feast. She’d been happy to see his friends and they’d been happy to see her. Of course Bane would be getting those biscuits for breakfast in the morning. Mac had put in his order for an apple pie and both Coop and Flipper requested peach cobbler.
“So who do you think is trying to sabotage the dig?” Flipper asked, obviously trying to change the subject to one he and Coop could take part in. Gavin was glad to leave the topic of his love life behind.
“Don’t have a clue but I intend to find out,” Gavin said. “I thought it was someone connected to the university, but now I’m not sure.”
“Sounds like someone doesn’t want anyone digging in the south pasture, Viper,” Coop said, standing, stretching out his limbs. “You all know I’m a suspicious bastard by nature. I can smell a cover-up a mile away.”
Mac leaned forward in his chair. “You think someone is covering up something?”
“Possibly,” Coop said. He glanced over at Gavin. “Other than Caldwell, how well do you know the men who work for you?”
Gavin shrugged. “Most have worked here for years, some even during my dad’s time. There are two new guys we brought on last year.” He recalled both were single, and he specifically remembered that one of them had shared Tammy’s bed.
“What if someone knows for certain the loot is buried around here, heard about the dig and doesn’t want anyone else to find it before they do?” Flipper suggested.
Gavin nodded. That possibility had crossed his mind, as well. He knew these four men. In addition to helping with the dig, they intended to solve the mystery of who’d removed the marker and burned down the barn. So far, the sheriff hadn’t found anything other than those footprints. Gavin had mentioned the prints to his friends. “Um, that gives us something to go on,” Mac said pensively.
“We start digging in the morning,” Gavin said, leaning back in his chair. “Whoever doesn’t want us to will either try to stop us or will hope whatever they don’t want us to find is kept hidden.”
* * *
Later that night, after making love to Layla, Gavin pulled her tighter into his arms as he tried to bring his breathing under control. She had ridden him again. She was getting too good at it. He was convinced the woman was trying to kill him.
“I like your friends, Gavin.”
He decided not to tell her that they liked her, as well. They had joked with her at dinner and Bane had even told her about his wife, Crystal, who, like Layla, had gotten her PhD at an early age.
“I’m glad you like them.”
Dinner had been a grand affair. Not only had his grandmother cooked enough food for his friends and Layla’s students, she’d invited Caldwell and his men to stop by for a plate. Several of their neighbors who’d heard about the fire stopped by to make sure all was well. Gramma Mel had sent them home with boxed dinners.
“Are you worried about the dig tomorrow?” he asked Layla.
She snuggled closer to him. “Sort of. I want to make sure my students stay safe.”
“They will. I’m glad Gramma Mel insisted everyone stay at the main house. She has plenty of room and loves all the company.”
“I’m glad she made the offer. Without the university footing the bill, my students couldn’t afford to stay at the hotel any longer. But there’s plenty of room here,” she said, smiling.
“No way anyone is staying at the party house but us. This is our special place. I like coming here every night.” No matter how late he worked out on the ranch, he liked coming back here to Layla. Before he parked his truck he would hear her playing her harmonica and the sound would lure him to her. He didn’t want to think about how involved they were getting.
Layla lifted her head and looked up at him. “Has your grandmother asked you anything about us?”
He smiled. “She didn’t have to. I think it’s pretty obvious we have something going on. She’s fine with it. We’re adults.”
What Gavin decided not to say was that his grandmother hadn’t needed to ask anything because he’d told her his true feelings for Layla—and about his doubts that it would go anywhere long-term. Needless to say Gramma Mel hadn’t been surprised.
“Besides,
