Love Lessons (2 page)

LESSON THREE

A wine by any other name would not taste as
sweet,

and a foot in your mouth tastes even
w
orse.

“I don’t believe it!” I squealed, spinning around in a
circle on Wednesday afternoon.

“Don’t believe what?” Gavin asked, waltzing into my classroom and resting a hip against my desk like he owned the joint. I had a good mind to remind him just who was boss of this domain, but I was too excited.

Refusing to let him distract me, I focused on the object displayed on the center of my desk. “These gifts just k
eep getting better and better.”

Gift number three was the best so far. I loved wine. Red, white, California, NY, it didn’t matter. Although in all my years as a wine connoisseur, there had only been one wine I would deem worthy to be my favorite. A rare chardonnay. I picked up the bottle and looked at the label a second time to
be sure I hadn’t read it wrong.

“I mean, how did he know? You can’t find this wine in the U.S. It had to have come from Germany, and it costs a fortune. This is too much.”

Gavin shrugged, but his eyes were so intense. A bizarre chill skittered through me. “You like it, don’t you?”

“Are you kidding me?” I adjusted my glasses and stared at him. “I love it! I should refuse it, I really should, but God, do I have to?”

He frowned. “You’re not going to, are you? I mean, who are you going to refuse, anyway?”

My eyes widened, and my face broke out into a huge smile. “That’s right.” I hugged him, smelling clean soap and some indescribable manly scent that was pure Gavin. What was wrong with me? Clearing my throat, I took a step back and refocused. “You’re brilliant. I mean, how can I refuse, right? I have no idea who sent it, after all.”

“Well, you shouldn’t anyway.” Gavin hooked his thumbs through the beltloops on the waistband of his pants and stared at the floor. “This guy obviously put a lot of thought into that gift.”

“Exactly, but how did he know?”

“Let’s consider this then.” Gavin flipped a dark curl off his forehead and stared at the ceiling as though in deep thought. “Think about it. This gift is more unique than the others.” His gaze collided with mine. “Not that many men would know this wine is your favorite.  Seems to me it should narrow the list down quite a bit, Einstein.”

“Ha ha! Seriously, though, you have a point.” I studied the wine, my mind deciphering the plausibility of various scenarios. “Hmmm. Well, let me think ...” I grabbed his forearm as the only logical conclusion slammed into me “... oh, my God, I know who it is!”

“You do?” One dark brow lifted, and his lips twisted into a cockeyed smile. He turned his palm up and wrapped his fingers around my forearm.

I ignored the odd tingling where his fingers rubbed over my skin and the goosebumps that popped up along my flesh as I said, “Of course. Why didn’t I see it before? I feel like such an idiot. I mean, it’s obvious.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. There’s no way you could have known for sure. Admittedly, I didn’t think you’d take this long, but still--”

“I know, right? Mason used to have the biggest crush on me when we were in high school. I guess he still does.”

Gavin pulled his arm free from mine and scrubbed a large, calloused hand over his whisker-covered, chiseled face, then his eyes questioned mine. “Wait a minute. You think your secret admirer is your older brother’s best friend?”

“Why not?” I puckered my brow. “I’m not exactly a toad, for Pete’s sake.”

An odd glossiness covered his eyes, and his gaze swept over me from head to toe. “No, you’re far from a toad, but Mason is no prince. Besides, he’s a marine. As in, he’s off serving our country, far far away.”

“Serving our country in Germany. He could very easily have sent the wine from there. Hurry up, give me your phone.” I held out my hand and wiggled my fingers.

“My phone?” Gavin scoffed. “Use your own damn phone to call your boyfriend.” His voice came out in a sneer. What on earth did he have against Mason?

I lifted one shoulder and gave him a sheepish grin. “I would, but my phone is dead.”

He shook his head. “How many times do I have to tell you to keep that blasted thing charged?”

“Blah, blah, blah, Dad. Help a friend out and let me use your phone, would ya?” I batted my lashes and puckered my lips in a pout. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

A strange gleam entered his eyes, almost predatory like. “Oh, you’re going to owe me big by the time you figure all this out.” He dug his fully charged phone out of his deep cargo pocket and handed it to me. “And I choose to collect by making you go to Egypt with me.” His dark eyes sparkled once again.

I laughed. “Yeah, well, we’ll have to see what my boyfriend has to say about that.”

“Don’t worry. I’m pretty persuasive when I set my mind on something.”

“Really? I never would have guessed.” I chuckled and dialed my brother.

Tom answered on the first ring. “Hey, Gavin, I’ve been expecting a call from you. You finally
r
eady to admit you need my help with this, or what?”

“Tom, it’s Mandy. You can help Gavin with whatever he needs help with--which is plenty, I’m sure,” I winked at Gavin, “but right now, I need your help.”

“Oh-kay. Dare I ask?”

“Funny. Listen, do you know if Mason is still stationed in Germany?”

A paused filled the line, then my brother said, “Yeah, why?”

“Yes! I knew it.” I shot Gavin a thumbs-up, but he just scowled at me, so I turned away. “I’ll explain why later. Do you happen to have his number?”

“Sure.” Tom rattled off Mason’s number. “But just so you know, he--”

“Later Tom. And thanks.” I hung up and dialed the number he gave me.

“Oh, you are not even calling Germany on my cell phone, are you?” Gavin surged up off my desk and took two long strides in my direction until he stood just inches from me, hi
s nose a breath away from mine.

“Actually yes.” I leaned back and flattened my hand on his chest to stop him from knocking me over, and his pectorals flexed beneath my palm. I blinked. Who knew he was so built? I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, but then I remembered my task at hand. I inhaled and took a large step back. What was my problem today? “I know. I know.” I smiled stiffly. “I owe you big. I got it. I just have to do this now. I can’t wait any longer. You understand.”

A muscle in his jaw bulged, and he looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t so much as utter a word or attempt to take his phone back. He just stood there like he wasn’t quite sure what to do. I tipped my head to the side and raised an eyebrow at him, but then someone spoke through the phone, distracting me.

“Gillard residence, Mrs. Gillard speaking.”

My mouth fell open, and I gasped.

“Hello, is anyone there?” a far away voice said through the line.

“Uh, I’m sorry. Did you say, Mrs. Gillard, as in Mrs. Mason Gillard? As in his wife?” I blinked at Gavin, but he didn’t look surprised in the least. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I would swear he looked smug, standing all arrogant with his feet spread wide apart and his arms crossed over his chest. His rather wi
de chest. When did that happen?

“Yes. Who is this?” the woman asked.

I tore my gaze away and said, “You can call me Ms. Stupid, and let’s jus
t say I have the wrong number.”

I hung up and thought, Boy did I ever.

LESSON FOUR

A way to a woman’s heart is

definitely not through her stomach,

especially from some phony boloney.

Thursday afternoon, gift number four arrived right on schedule. I had to admit, the flattery of a secret admirer was wearing thin. This was becoming way too much work, and quite frankly, i
t was starting to freak me out.

I picked up the box on my desk and unwrapped it when a knock came on my door. “Well,” asked Gavin, entering in typical Gavin style without waiting for an invitation. Then again, who was I kidding? He knew I’d never refuse him.

“Well what?” I asked, teasing him with a smile.

“You know what. You’ve been dragging me around all week, trying to figure this whole secret admirer thing out. I can’t help but wonder what you got today?”

I held the box out for him. “See for yourself.”

He took the pastry box from my hands and peeked inside. “Mmmm. I haven’t had Chocolate Caramel Surprise since the last time you took me to that mom and pop bakery,” he paused for a minute and looked at me, “what was it called?”

“Russo’s Little Slice of Heaven.”

“That’s right. Mind if I have a piece? There’s enough here for two.”

I laughed as he dug in before I’d even said yes, confident of what the answer would be. I had to admire that Gavin pretty much got whatever Gavin wanted. I often wished I had that confidence, but I tended to second guess everything and not proceed unles
s something made perfect sense.

“Help yourself. Oh, wait, you already did.” I snickered.

He smirked, shoveling a forkful of the heavenly gooey concoction into his mouth. “Oh, God, can you blame me,” he mumbled between chews and moans. He filled a fork once more, only this time he grabbed my hand and pulled me between his knees an
d held the fork up to my mouth.

“Um, uh, oh my,” I managed a second before he poked the fork between my lips, and a rush of heat flooded my body. Did I have a fever? Maybe I was coming down with a spring flu.

“Come on, you know you can’t resist any more than I can.” He licked the corner of his lips and stared at mine, his teasing smile gone and his breathing seemed to grow heavier. “You have chocolate right there.” He swiped my bottom lip with his thumb before I had a chance to grab a napkin and then brought his thumb to his mouth to lick the chocolate off.

I gasped. “Oh, well, thanks,” I croaked. Something seemed off between us today. Electricity charged the air surrounding us. Maybe it was a full moon. That had to be why he kept giving me strange looks and acting weird, and for some reason, I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. Why had I never noticed how full his lips were?

“So, what’s next Sherlock?” He playfully shoved me out from between his knees. “How do we find out who knows your favorite dessert is Chocolate Caramel Surprise?” And with that, the tension evaporated.

Thank God!

I stepped back as he packed up my dessert box, and I thought about who my secret admirer might be. My mind made a mental grid of all the other scenarios I’d run with no success. Then I groaned in disgust. “Oh, God, I know exactly who it is.”

Gavin arched a brow at me. “Is it really all that bad?”

“Are you kidding me? It’s worse than bad; it’s horrible. I mean, the guy is nice enough in his own way, he’s just sooo not my type.”

Gavin’s jaw worked overtime. “Really, now. Well, if you’re not into him, then you’re not into him. It’s as simple as that. Just be honest with the guy.”

“No, it’s not as simple as that.”

He looked into my eyes. “How so?”

“Russo’s is my favorite bakery, you know that. But if Mrs. Russo doesn’t stop trying to fix me up with her son, I’ll just have to stop going there, period.” I stared at the dessert box, and an overwhelming sense of loss filled me. “How will I live the rest of my life without ever eating Chocolate Caramel Surprise again?”

Gavin chuckled, and the tension seemed to evaporate from his shoulders. “I’m sure it’s not as bad as it seems, and somehow I doubt Sleazy Sylvester is your secret admirer. Why don’t you call him and find out? You can even use my phone.” He held out his cell and grinned.

“Um, no thanks. If it is him, I’d rather not know. He is such a phony boloney.”

“So, what are you going to do then?”

I sighed. “Absolutely nothing. Quite frankly, I’m getting tired of playing this game. I mean, if the guy likes me, then why doesn’t he just come out and say so? Why all the secrecy?”

“Maybe he’s afraid you won’t like him back?” Gavin toyed with the ribbon on the dessert box. “I mean, you’re not the easiest person to read, you know.”

“Well, he’ll never know unless he tries, now will he?” I plunked my hands on my hips, growing more irritated by the second. “I mean, be a man already. Jeesh.”

Gavin’s eyes hardened, and he looked almost angry. “Maybe he figures if you can’t figure out who he is, then maybe you don’t know him as well as he thinks.”

I tossed my hands up. “Well, that’s just stupid. How am I supposed to know who he is when he’s sending me gifts that tell me about me? I know absolutely nothing about him.”

“Yet he seems to know everything about you.”

“So it seems.”

Gavin looked at his watch. “Well, guess I’d better hit the road. I have to pack.”

“Oh, that’s right. You leave for Egypt tomorrow. I can’t believe you’re going away for two whole weeks.”

“Why not? Tomorrow’s the last day of school.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do without you?” I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling lonely already.

“Come with me. You sure I can’t get you to change your mind?”

“Um, let me think about that.” I put my finger on my chin and squinted as though deep in thought. “That would be a NO.” I laughed. “But I’ll miss you.”

He smiled, looking almost sad. “Will you?”

“Of course I will.” I looked at him strangely. “You’re not sick or something and just not telling me, are you?” I grabbed his hand. “Because you’ve been acting strange.”

He stared down at our joined hands and squeezed as he looked back up at me with a normal “Gavin” smile and a wink. “I’m fine, dollface. Just gonna miss you, too.”

“Then don’t go,” I said, suddenly not wanting him to leave.

“Ah, you know me. Can’t sit still for long, but I’ll be back. No worries, okay? I just need to get away for a while. Clear my head. You’ll be fine.” He got up and headed for the door.

An unfamiliar panic seized me. Desperate to make him stay, even if I did sound selfish, I blurted, “Hey, what about helping me find out who my secret admirer is?”

He looked over his shoulder one last time. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, love, it probably wasn’t meant to be.” Then he was gone.

I just stood there, staring after him, feeling lost and confused. What the hell did that mean?