Author: Jaci Burton

“How bad is it, Miss Ginger?”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “It’s bad, Grayson. It’s in his liver. Doctors say there isn’t much they can do.”

Gray took a deep breath. “Is there anything I can do to help? If you need money, if he needs to go somewhere else for treatment . . .”

She squeezed his arms. “Darlin’, if I thought throwin’ money at this would help him, I’d have been on the phone callin’ in favors from every kid who’d ever passed through our doors.” She shook her head. “Money can’t help him now. It’s in God’s hands.”

He bent his head and closed his eyes. Ginger put her arms around him and he hugged her close. When he opened his eyes and looked across the kitchen, Evelyn had tears streaming down her face.

*

EVELYN’S HEART ACHED FOR GRAY. IT WAS CLEAR HE loved Bill and Ginger Briscoe, that the four years he’d spent at the school and in the dorms were some of the best of his life, and that Bill had helped shape the man he’d become. The Briscoes were kind people with good senses of humor and a belief system that would help Ginger get through the rough times ahead.

She also had a strong support system, an entire school apparently, because it was clear a lot of people loved them both. Gray, Trevor, and Drew all worshipped Bill.

She listened to story after story about what a hero he was to them, how he’d saved their butts when they’d almost gotten into trouble, or how he’d disciplined them when they’d crossed the line. But it was all said with such respect that it left Evelyn with a sense of awe about the man.

He’d be leaving an amazing legacy behind. It was a shame he’d be leaving at all.

Ginger was preparing roasted chicken and said there was plenty for everyone.

Evelyn had convinced her she could be useful in the kitchen, despite Ginger’s protests that company didn’t help out. So she’d sliced carrots and peeled potatoes and had made a huge salad, not used to feeding a bunch of hungry men. But it was nice to stand side by side with Ginger and do something quietly for a while.

“You dating that boy?” Ginger asked.

Evelyn didn’t quite know how to answer that, so she started with the truth.

“Actually, I work for his father.”

“The senator?” Ginger took a side step back. “What do you do for him?”

Evelyn explained her job and what she was doing with Gray.

“Now that’s interesting work. You must be very smart.”

Evelyn laughed. “I think I do okay.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It’s important to always hold your own, Evelyn. Never rely on a man to be your everything in life.”

“Oh, I never intend for that to happen.”

“Good. Haven—that’s our daughter—she’s the same way. Maybe to a fault. That girl has an independent streak as wide as the Rio Grande. Always thinking of her career first, no time for a man in her life. I’m beginning to fear she’s never going to give me grandchildren.”

Evelyn laughed. “Does your daughter live here?”

“Oh, no. She couldn’t wait to get off this campus. As soon as she graduated college, she moved to Dallas. But she comes home regularly to visit, more so now that Bill has been sick. She’s here today—that’s her car in the driveway. She wandered off to visit some friends, so she should be back soon.”

“That’s nice that she has her independence but she’s not so far away that she doesn’t come home to see you.”

“What the hell are all these cars doing here? Is there some party I didn’t know about?”

“Oh, that’ll be Haven now,” Ginger said, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

The screen door banged open.

“Hi, honey,” Ginger said, hugging her daughter.

“Hey, Mom.”

A gorgeous girl with short raven hair and big blue eyes entered the room. She wore tattered capris and a double tank top that hugged her slender body, but nothing could hide those spectacular breasts. Wow, was she ever stunning.

Haven smiled when she saw Evelyn. “Oh, hi. I’m Haven Briscoe.”

“Evelyn Hill. Nice to meet you.”

“Same here. Did you go to school here, Evelyn?”

“No. I’m here with Gray Preston.”

“Ohhh.” She turned to her mother. “Gray’s here?”

“He’s out back with your dad. Drew Hogan and Trevor Shay are here, too.”

“Oh. Well. Trevor’s here, huh?” Haven sucked in her lower lip. “I’ll be upstairs for a minute.”

“Don’t you want to go outside and greet the guys first?” Ginger asked.

But Haven was already halfway down the hall. “In a minute, Mom.”

Evelyn arched a brow. That was interesting. Her entire demeanor changed when Trevor’s name was mentioned.

The guys all came back inside.

“Did I hear Haven come back?” Bill asked.

“Yes,” Ginger said. “She ran upstairs. She’ll be back in a minute.”

“Haven’s here, huh,” Trevor asked as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink.

Also interesting, as Trevor took a long glance down the hallway where Haven had disappeared.

Evelyn wondered what that story was about. She’d have to ask Gray.

“That lawn mower is done for,” Gray said, muscling Trevor out of the way as soon as he’d washed his hands. “I’ll hit the hardware store and get you a new one.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Ginger said, putting the carrots in a bowl and setting them on the table. “We can buy a new mower.”

“I saw a sign down the road as we were coming into town,” Drew said, taking his turn next at the sink. “Several of the students from one of the local fraternities have started up a mowing business. I guess they’re staying in town for the summer and need the cash.”

“You got all that from reading a road sign as you were passing by?” Ginger asked, folding her arms.

Drew shrugged. “I might have jotted the number down, and I might have called while we were out back.”

“It would take some stress off Bill having to mow,” Gray offered. “Especially now that we’ve determined the mower isn’t repairable.”

“It’s a temporary fix, at best,” Bill said. “But until we can get a new mower, it would give those boys some income.”

Ginger held out her hand. “Give me their number. I’ll look into it.”

Drew pulled the number up on his phone and wrote it down on a piece of paper, then handed it to Ginger. She smiled as she put it in her jeans pocket.

“Now sit. All of you. It’s time for lunch.”

Haven walked in. “Hey, y’all.”

“Hey, baby girl,” Bill said, pulling her into his arms. “Did you have a nice visit with your friends? I’m sorry I was asleep last night when you got in.”

“Hey, Dad. Thanks, I did.” She squeezed her eyes shut as she hugged her dad. “And I got in pretty late, so don’t worry about it.”

Evelyn’s heart ached for Haven as she swiped a tear away before she pulled back.

She took a long look at him. “You look like you might have put some weight on.

Eating those Oreo cookies again when Mom isn’t looking?”

Bill grinned. “Maybe a few.”

“I can hear, you know,” Ginger said. “Now y’all sit.”

Everyone took a seat. Gray sat next to Evelyn. Obviously Ginger and Bill had seats next to each other. Drew and Trevor scrambled for chairs, which left one open for Haven—right next to Trevor.

Haven hesitated.

“Well, go on and sit, honey,” Ginger said. “He isn’t gonna bite you.”

“I might.” Trevor looked up at Haven and grinned. Haven glared, but settled into the chair.

Lunch was delicious, and the conversation was lively. There was a lot of reminiscing about the guys’ college days, including teasing of Haven.

“If he hadn’t passed that math class, we weren’t sure Trevor was ever going to get sprung from the dorm,” Gray said with a grin.

“It was like prison,” Trevor said. “I felt like Rapunzel in the tower. Without all the hair, of course,” he said, winking at Evelyn. “If it hadn’t been for Haven, I might still be stuck in my room.”

Haven scooped peas onto her fork, refusing to meet Trevor’s gaze.

“Oh, I remember how reluctant you were when we asked you to tutor Trevor,”

Ginger said to Haven. “You would have thought we’d asked the worst thing in the world of her. She dragged her feet and said she didn’t want to. You remember that, honey? Lord, you were so difficult.”

Haven lifted her head up at that remark. “As I recall, I wasn’t the difficult one.”

Trevor cocked a brow. “She means me.”

“Well, you were a pain in the—” Drew glanced over at Bill and Ginger. “Butt.”

“I was not. I was cooperative as he—heck. I wanted out of that room.”

Haven snorted. “You were a pain in the ass. Uncooperative. Thought you knew everything—except math, science, and history. And when the going got tough and you were forced to actually knuckle down and do the work, you tried to bribe me into taking the math test for you.”

“Haven,” Ginger said. “Trevor wouldn’t do such a thing.”

She met her mother’s gaze straight on. “Of course not. He’s an athlete, therefore he can do no wrong.”

Trevor remained silent, but he cast a curious glance at Haven. Now Evelyn really wondered what the background was on these two. Was there animosity over the tutoring? It seemed like so much more than that. A lot of tension sizzled between them.

“Anyway, it all worked out. Trevor passed all his classes,” Ginger said with a wide smile. “We were so proud.”

“Excuse me,” Haven said, taking her plate to the sink.

Trevor’s gaze followed her as she left the room.

After lunch they sat out on the porch and sipped tea. Even Haven got over whatever had upset her and joined them, though she sat as far away from Trevor as possible.

Evelyn noticed Trevor throwing looks her way, but Haven wouldn’t meet his gaze.

When Evelyn went inside to refill her tea, Haven came in, too.

“Can I pour some for you?” Evelyn asked.

“Sure. Thanks.” Haven leaned against the kitchen counter to drink her tea, so Evelyn took a seat.

“You live in Dallas?”

“Yes. For now.”

“What do you do there?”

“I’m in broadcasting.”

Evelyn smiled. “What a fun career.”

“Sometimes it can be. Other times it’s a nightmare. Depends on the day and what I’m covering.”

“You do the news?”

“Sports,” Haven said with a grin, the pride evident on her face.

“Wow. Tough field for a woman.”

“It can be. Right now I’ve got a line on a national gig, so keep your fingers crossed for me.”

“Congratulations. I hope it works out for you.”

“Thank you. I’m really excited about it.”

“I’m learning a lot about auto racing, and sports in general, from being around Gray.”

Haven’s gaze tracked outside. “Gray’s a fantastic guy. He was always so nice to my parents, and to me.” She returned her gaze to Evelyn. “And you work with Gray’s father, the senator?”

“Yes.”

“I’m surprised Gray has anything to do with you. He wasn’t too fond of his dad back in his college days. I guess that’s changed.”