Gavin's Submissives (8 page)

Turning back to Landon she stared at him.

“You’re going to let him go?” she asked.

“It was never meant to be.”

Shaking her head, Heidi backed out of the kitchen. She
couldn’t handle this. Moving to her room, she grabbed her empty case then
started filling it.

“What are you doing?” Landon asked. He stood in her bedroom
doorway.

“I’m going to my house. I don’t care if it’s not ready.”

“You don’t have to go,” Landon said.

“Don’t I? From where I’m standing I need to get away from
you. Derek was right. I ruin everything I touch.”

“Don’t mention him.” Landon yelled at her.

Throwing her underwear into the suitcase lying open on the
bed she turned on Landon. “Don’t mention him? He’s fucking right, Landon. I
came here to be with you. You were in love with Gavin. I never expected to come
between you two. I refuse to come between you two.” She threw the last few
items of clothing into the case, went to the phone, and called a cab.

“You don’t need to do this,” Landon said.

Picking her case up, she walked down the stairs. “I need to
do this. I can’t believe you told Gavin he was second best. That man loves you.
I never want to come between you two.”

“I was being truthful.”

The cab pulled up outside. She handed the driver her case.

“Please, don’t go,” Landon said.

Turning to him she saw the pain in his eyes. “I think you
need to have a long think, Landon. Tomorrow you’re going to wake up without
Gavin or me in that house. When you wake up I want you to think how that feels.
You broke Gavin’s heart. I didn’t think you were heartless.”

“I told him the truth.”

“No, you told him you were making do with him. You were
cruel, and you’re not the man I thought you were if you could do something so
nasty.”

She turned on her heel and climbed into the back. Heidi gave
the driver the address to her house. Ignoring her friend she rested her head
against the back seat. She never expected to cause so much trouble.

The driver dropped her at the address she’d given. Staring
at the old house she used to live in, guilt filled her heart.

Chapter Six

The following day Landon woke up alone. The house was silent,
and there was not a single sound coming from the kitchen where Gavin usually
spent the morning. Landon lay in the bed silent and alone. The words he’d spoken
to Gavin and to Heidi came back to haunt him. Throwing the duvet off his body
he padded toward the bathroom. On the way he opened Heidi’s door. The bed was
unmade, and there wasn’t a single sign to let him know she’d once slept in the
bed.

Closing the door, he made his way to the bathroom and stared
at his reflection.

“I think you
need to have a long think, Landon. Tomorrow you’re going to wake up without
Gavin or me in that house. When you wake up I want you to think how that feels.
You broke Gavin’s heart. I didn’t think you were heartless.”

Her words filled his head. He repeated them over and over
until he could no longer stand it. Tightening his hand into a fist, Landon hit
the mirror shattering his reflection.

“You’re an asshole.” He spoke the words aloud, wishing there
was some way to take back what he’d done.

Blood dripped from his hand. He quickly bound his hand up
before heading back to his room. Changing into fresh clothes, he grabbed the
keys to his spare truck then made his way into town. The only place open was
the diner. For a Sunday the small town was filling up with tourists. The summer
season was helping the local economy. He walked around everyone not caring
about their stares. He went straight to the motor car repair shop, which was
owned by Luther Clark. He’d be the only guy Gavin would go to.

Luther always opened his shop on a Sunday. Landon rounded
the corner and saw his bottom half sticking out the side of a car.

“Hey, Luther, have you seen Gavin?” he asked.

The noise under the car stopped. Seconds later a pair of
green eyes glared at him. “Yeah, he spent the night. What’s it to you?”

Clearly the other man knew what he’d said to Gavin. “I need
to speak with him. I made a mistake.”

“You sure as hell did make a mistake. I’m really
disappointed in you, Landon. I thought you were a much better man than that.”

Running his fingers through his hair, Landon felt the shame
of his actions.
“You and I both.
I made a mistake, and
I need to make it right.”

Luther stood to his full height. “I don’t trust you.”

Letting out an angry growl, Landon moved closer. “Look,
Heidi came back all right. I don’t know what came over me, and I blurted my
mouth off.”

“Both of them left you?” Luther asked.

Waking up that morning without either of them had been a
nightmare. It wasn’t about loving Gavin or Heidi more. Both of them meant
everything to him. He loved them with equal measure.

“I don’t know what to say to you, Luther. They both left.
Heidi couldn’t believe what I’d done. They’ve both gone.”

“I remember Heidi. Sounds to me she’s still the brain box
between the two of you.”

He frowned. “Where are they?” Landon asked.

“Heidi came around here looking to find a car. She saw Gavin,
and they both walked over to the diner about thirty minutes ago. She’s turned
into a real
looker
.”

Turning back to the diner, Landon couldn’t see inside
because of the sun shining on the windows.

“They’re both pissed at you.”

“They should be. I was an asshole. Thanks, Luther.” He left
the other man and made his way straight over to the diner. The door lay open.
The heat of the day was already making him sweat. Several locals were eating
breakfast along with a couple of tourists. He spotted Gavin and Heidi in the
back booth.

Neither noticed him. Landon stared at the two. They looked
relaxed with each other in the small booth. He was tempted to turn away and
leave them.

Where does
that get you?

Waking up without either of them was already a nightmare.
Squaring his shoulders, Landon headed toward their booth.

They both turned to look at him. One dark set of eyes and
the other hazel coloured, stared at him.

“Can I sit with you guys?” he asked.

He tensed, waiting for the rejection. If they sent him away
he’d deserve it.

Gavin moved up a seat. “Take a seat,” he said.

The tension was thick. Landon signalled the waitress for
coffee. “Have you ordered breakfast?” Landon asked. His stomach rumbled.

“Nope,” Gavin said, smiling.

Landon glanced over at Heidi. Her hands were underneath the
table, but only moments earlier she’d been holding Gavin’s hand.

“I take it you didn’t like waking up alone?” she asked.

Heat filled his cheeks as he stared at her. She looked good
with her hair tumbling down her shoulders. The dress she wore highlighted every
curve and the swell of her breasts.

“I made a mistake,” he said.

Gavin cleared his throat. They both went silent as the
waitress served coffee.

“None of us have eaten. I think the pancakes will be good.”
She picked up the nearest menu. Landon stared at her, conscious of Gavin
watching him. Turning to face the man at his side, he saw his jaw tense.

“I’m sorry.”

“I think the pancakes will be good.” Gavin winked at Heidi,
repeating her, before he picked up the spare menu and started reading through
what he wanted.

“Please, will you two listen to me?” Landon asked. He hated
this. He hated being treated like he didn’t exist.

“We all need to eat, Landon,” Gavin said.

The waitress walked over stopping any conversation. Landon
was thankful when Gavin ordered for him. The fact Gavin ordered for him had to
mean something. He refused to accept they were over because of the mistake he’d
made.

When the waitress was gone, Landon waited for them to start
speaking again.

****

Gavin tightened his fist on his thigh. The desire to reach
out and pull Landon to him was strong. When he’d seen Heidi outside of Luther’s
place he’d been intrigued. He didn’t think Landon would let her out alone. Her
apologies had been a shock to him, along with her word that she wouldn’t be with
Landon without Gavin. She’d never meant to come between the two.

He fell in love with her in that moment. He’d never known a
woman willing to give up a man for another man. She was willing to be with both
of them, not one.

“I don’t have what it takes to give Landon everything he
needs. He thinks he can live without you, Gavin, but I don’t think he can,” she
said seconds before Landon stood by their table.

After the words he’d spoken the night they shared her, Gavin
really thought their relationship was over. Seeing the guilt on Landon’s face
made him doubt his earlier thoughts. The silence at the table was deafening.

“Well, this is truly awkward,” Heidi said, chuckling. The
sound felt forced to Gavin.

“I’m sorry,” Landon said.

His blue eyes were filled with tears. Gavin looked down at
the table. He couldn’t look at him in that moment. He’d give in to easily with
those tears.

“What are you sorry for?” Heidi asked.

Landon licked his lip. The sight of his tongue reminded
Gavin of more carnal memories. He recalled the feel of that tongue licking up
and down his body. Landon was everything to him. Walking away wasn’t an option.

You can’t
give in too easily after what he’s done.

“Everything.
Waking up
this morning was a realisation.”

“I’ve been in your life for a weekend, Landon. I love you,
but picking me over Gavin was wrong,” she said.

He reached out to touch her. Heidi moved her hands away. “I
don’t want you to touch me. I need you to listen to me and to Gavin.”

Her gaze turned to him. Gavin tensed waiting for her words. The
respect he felt for her struck him in the chest.

“Gavin was there for you when I wasn’t. He deserves so much
from you.”

“Can’t we just go back to how things were before I said the
shit I said?” Landon asked.

“No,” Gavin said. “We can’t go back. Trust needs to be
rebuilt.”

“Then come back to the ranch. I can’t handle that place
without you being there. Please, both of you.”

Gavin watched the younger man look between them. The
waitress brought their food before they could answer. Gavin ate the food
without tasting a single bite. He didn’t know if it was appealing or if he was
only going through the motions.

Once breakfast was finished Landon stood. “I’m going to give
you two
space
. I’ll be around the square or keeping
Luther
company
. Please, consider what I’ve said.”

Landon walked out of the diner. Gavin watched his movements.
The desire to take him back home and strip him down was strong. He’d pummel the
guy’s ass for what he’d put him through.

“You’ve got your stern face on. What are you thinking?”
Heidi asked.

“I want to spank his ass. He didn’t have a clue what he was
doing, and yet he opened his mouth.”

“And in opening his mouth, he broke your heart.”

Lifting his cup to his lips, Gavin stared at her over the
rim. “You’re an observant little thing.”

“I’ve had my heart broken and know what it feels like to be
trodden on by the person who’s supposed to love you.”

“Derek’s a prick.”

“Doesn’t mean he didn’t break my heart in the beginning,”
she said.

He nodded. “I don’t get you. Other women would feel they’ve
won some kind of competition. Landon picked you,” Gavin said. He couldn’t make
sense of her decision to walk.

“For how long?” she asked, making him frown.

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“Landon needs a firm hand. You give him stability and
balance in his world. I can’t give him that. I wouldn’t want to. That’s not the
person I am.” She stopped to take a drink, glancing out of the window. “Landon
thinks he can live without you. I’d give it a month before he started itching
for what you can give him. I’m not strong enough to stand up against the man
who treated me like shit.” She let out a laugh as tears filled her eyes.

The people he cared about seemed to be spending a great deal
of time crying in his presence. “Please don’t cry.”

“You know if it wasn’t for Derek moving another woman in to
our place I’d probably still be married to him. I’d be cooking and cleaning and
doing everything he told me to. I’m not dominant, and Landon needs dominance.”
She took his hand stroking his knuckles. “I’m not stupid, Gavin. I understand
needs and dominance. What I couldn’t understand is why you and Landon would
want me to be part of your life. I’m not thin or beautiful. There is nothing
striking about me. I’m a decent cook, but you’ve got the cooking covered.”