Grown Enough For Love

By Chelsea Falin

Savannah is a rich girl who comes from a troubled, loveless family. To make her childhood bearable, she was always tagging along with her older brother, Jay, and his best friend, Gabriel. After getting out of town for four long years while attending an out-of-state college, Savannah is back and the old schoolgirl crush on Gabriel she thought had dampened flames right back to life.

Gabriel grew up on the wrong side of town, in a poor Mexican family who may not have had money, but always had plenty of love to go around. Although he's always thought of his best friend's little sister as a little sister of his own, things have changed. Gabriel can't help noticing Savannah is all grown up now. Single for the first time in years, with a two-year-old son in tow, Gabriel decides that maybe, after all these years, Savannah is grown enough for love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chelsea Falin
• Release date: Mar 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393747932

Book preview

This book is dedicated to my wonderful fans. Without you, there’d be no reason to write.

Also, to my children and supportive family for their belief in me.

Chapter

One

S

avannah walked down the street towards her brother’s house. Home from college, she was anxious to see Jay. Life at their parent’s wasn’t the same without him... and Savannah was equally as anxious to get a place of her own. Although she and Jay were four years apart, they’d always been close. He’d helped pull some of their parent’s displeasure from her throughout their childhood.

It wasn’t that their parents hated them. Savannah knew they wanted the best for them, and being a Meridian in this small town meant you were supposed to do things right. Or, at least that was what Savannah always told herself.

Getting dual degrees in marketing and English, however, wasn’t right for a Meridian. Savannah had heard nothing but how she’d wasted four years of her life on degrees that would do nothing for her. Her father was disapproving, but her mother could be downright cruel.

Savannah snorted and shook her head, sending strands of strawberry blonde curls tumbling into her face. Another street of tall oaks strung with thick strands of moss passed. Finally, Savannah made it to her destination.

The house was tiny but well maintained. It sat on a street with similar homes of varying colors. Jay’s home was a bright white with green accents – except the shutters. Those were red. Savannah slipped her small frame through the chain-link gate, careful not to open it too far.

The reason for squeezing through came bounding at Savannah with lightning speed. Tail wagging and tongue lolling, the black lab sniffed and whimpered, trying to get pets without sitting still. Savannah laughed. Molly had been her brother’s beloved daughter for the last six years. Jay’d found her down a dirt road somewhere near the local mud-hole. She'd been tiny, hairless, and infested with fleas - a far cry from the happy, healthy dog she was today.

Suddenly, an old female pit appeared from the side of the house and came loping towards Savannah. A slow lope was the closest thing the dog did to running these days. Surprised, Savannah exclaimed, Nanny? What are you doing here, girl? Savannah was shocked Nanny was still alive. The dog belonged to Jay’s best friend, Gabriel, and by Savannah’s estimation, had to be fifteen years old.

Savannah was thinking back to when Gabriel got the dog, trying to determine how old she was, when a tall, lean form appeared at the screen door. Jay told me you were back, Gabriel said. He opened the screen door and stepped outside to the small covered porch.

Grinning, Savannah stood and made her way up the porch steps (with difficulty because of the dogs darting between her legs). When she made it, Gabriel held his arms open and Savannah threw herself into them. It’s good to see you! It’s been forever! Savannah exclaimed. Gabriel had always been like a second brother to her, but she hadn’t seen him since she left four years ago.

It’s good to see you, too, kitten. Gabriel flashed a grin downwards even as Savannah sighed and rolled her eyes. Glaring in jest, Savannah couldn’t help notice Gabriel seemed different somehow. His deep brown eyes were still kind and sparkling with mischief. He still wore his glossy black hair long. It was to his waist, now.

Do you have to call me that? Savannah asked. I’m grown now, you know. I’m not a kitten. Never was.

Gabriel grinned crookedly. You’ll always be my little kitten, Savannah.

Savannah rolled her eyes again and huffed. Gabriel had called her kitten for ages, no matter how many times Savannah begged him to stop. Strange that hearing him say it now would make her heart thump an uneven staccato. Savannah cursed herself for feeling even the slightest bit of her old crush on her brother’s best friend. Chastising herself silently, Savannah remembered the reason Gabriel had started calling her kitten.

She’d been six years old, and Gabriel – a year older than her brother – had been eleven. Savannah’s parents were upset because she’d gotten in trouble at school, so they’d sent her outside. That was one of their favorite punishments. It included not being allowed inside until they deemed it necessary.

It had started raining. Although Savannah knew her mother would have probably let her inside the house, she’d sat under the awning of their shed. Gabriel had come over to see Jay and noticed her outside. When he rushed out to get her, he’d remarked she looked like a very wet, very lost little kitten. When she started to cry, Gabriel had laughed and said it sounded like mewling.

Is Jay here? Savannah asked, pulling herself from the memory and Gabriel’s arms simultaneously.

Gabriel shook his head. No. He’ll be home in about an hour if you want to wait.

Wait, what are you doing here, then? Savannah asked, but the presence of Nanny offered a hint.

Gabriel shifted his weight from one foot to the other. As he did, Savannah noticed a definition in his lean muscles that hadn’t been there four years ago. Oh, Jay didn’t tell you? Yeah, me and Rio live here now.

Savannah cocked her head to the side in confusion. Rio?

Gabriel chuckled. My son.

Wait... how out of the loop am I? I didn’t know you had a son. Savannah shook her head. A lot of things had changed while she’d been gone.

Gabriel shrugged. You never called, I guess. I know you never called me.

Savannah snorted. I didn’t phone my parents unless I had to, and I called Jay several times. But, he never mentioned you had a son or you lived with him. Savannah’s face grew stormy. And I didn’t call you because Marissa made it very clear she didn’t want me to.

Gabriel shifted his weight again. He’d done that when nervous since he was a kid. Yeah, well, Marissa knew you had a crush on me when you were a kid, and she was the jealous type.

Savannah’s eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped. "Crush on you? On you? Whoever said that?"

Gabriel’s face broke into a huge grin. Oh, c’mon now, my little kitten. You wrote ‘I love Gabriel’ all over your notebooks in primary.

Savannah blanched and then she blushed. For some incredible reason, she’d thought her schoolgirl crush on Gabriel had been a secret. Savannah had thought wrong.

When Savannah stayed silent (and red), Gabriel laughed and patted her on the back. Oh, it’s fine. You were a kid, and all little girls have crushes on their brother’s best friend. His smile stayed fixed, but his eyes flicked up and down quickly. Although, I have to say, you’re certainly not a little girl, anymore. My kitten’s all grown up.

The tone in his voice made Savannah blush again, but Gabriel only laughed. He opened the screen door and waved his arm for her to go inside. Savannah sat on the old but comfortable green couch Jay had kept since moving in here six years ago. It was the only seating in the tiny living room, so Gabriel sat beside her.

Gabriel leaned back into the seat, with his long legs stretched out before him. Savannah felt butterflies in her stomach and chastised herself yet again. She wasn’t a little girl, anymore, and all those years of crushing on Gabriel were plain silly. He'd never (and would never) think of her as anything more than his best friend’s little sister... or a mewling, wet kitten. Or would he? The way he’d looked her over was something Gabriel wouldn't have done before she left.

Steering her thoughts away from such ridiculousness, Savannah asked, How long have you been living here with Jay? And why? What happened with Marissa?

Savannah was happy Marissa was no longer in the picture, and that had nothing to do with her schoolgirl crush on Gabriel. Marissa had been an evil woman, and Savannah had never understood what Gabriel saw in her, to begin with. Unless it was Marissa’s huge breasts, big bottom, and tiny waist, that was. But half the guys in town had been given the opportunity to appreciate those assets.

Gabriel’s handsome face grimaced. Well, after I knocked her up almost three years ago, Marissa decided she didn’t want to be a mom... and she said, in her own words, I’d become boring in bed. He sighed.

Savannah’s face grew warm thinking about Gabriel in bed. Before she could stop herself, she asked, And are you boring in bed?

Gabriel turned towards her with a wicked grin. He laughed softly, and said, Decidedly not. He punctuated his statement with a wink and Savannah wanted to crawl away somewhere.

What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she was an eighteen-year-old virgin leaving home for the first time again. Savannah had done a good amount of experimenting in college like every small town person tries to do. Here with Gabriel, however, she suddenly felt inexperienced, shy... too young.

Gabriel was staring now with an eyebrow raised. Are you okay, Savannah? You’re acting kind of strange. He shrugged. Well, maybe that’s how you act, now. Gabriel smiled sadly. It has been a while, hasn’t it? I remember when you left for college. You were a gangly thing, frightened about going off into the world on your lonesome. He looked over and a strange look passed across his face. Now, here you are, grown, educated, and I’m sure, experienced.

Experienced? Savannah voiced the one-word question.

Well, aren’t you? Gabriel asked, eyebrow rising on his forehead again. He shifted so he could look at Savannah better, causing some of his long hair to fall over his shoulder. Or did you forget I was there when you were crying to Jay about how you were still a virgin at eighteen?

Savannah grimaced. She’d almost forgotten that night. She’d been sitting here, on this very couch, and Savannah had been so afraid of leaving. Not only was she leaving home, but Savannah felt like a failure being a virgin as a legal adult when everyone else at school had already had sex. It seemed such a silly thing to be upset over now, but Savannah remembered how big and serious it seemed then.

Ha, yeah, I actually had forgotten you were there. Savannah sighed. Well, that’s not a problem anymore. No worries.

No? Gabriel gave a half-hearted laugh. No offense, but I could never picture someone having sex with you. It’s so weird.

Savannah stared at Gabriel with indignation. Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other people willing to have sex with me, thank you very much.

Whoa, nobody is having sex with my sister on my damn couch. What the hell, Gabe? Savannah turned towards the doorway. Her embarrassment at Jay walking in at exactly the wrong moment was overpowered with joy at seeing her brother again after four long years.

Jay’s face was confused but his eyes were twinkling and Savannah knew he wasn’t mad. Savannah jumped up, ran to her brother, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jay! Ugh, I’m so glad to see you! Savannah exclaimed.

Jay pulled back from his sister’s tight embrace so he could look her in the face. I’m glad to see you, too, Sav, but... uh... what the hell did I walk in on? He glanced at Gabriel, still sitting on the couch. You trying to take advantage of my little sister’s crush on you? Jay’s words were only teasing. Savannah’s brother was never serious. She was pretty sure he didn’t know how to be.

Gabriel responded before Savannah had a chance. Oh, yeah, you know me, man. Love taking advantage of young, innocent girls. When he was with Jay, Gabriel was never serious either.

Savannah rolled her eyes. I’m not that young, and I’m not that innocent either. Ugh, you two are so annoying.

Jay laughed and pulled Savannah in for another hug. Oh, c’mon, Sis, we’re teasing. Besides, I don’t want to hear a single word about how not innocent you are. I’m going to pretend you’re a virgin until the day I die.

Well... Savannah started, teasing Jay.

No, no, no. Jay let go and covered his ears, shaking his head. Savannah only laughed.

GABRIEL WATCHED SAVANNAH and Jay teasing each other like they were still kids. Unfortunately, he’d noticed his little kitten wasn’t a little girl anymore. There were no doubts she was a woman now, and he couldn't shake the surrealism that came with the realization. It made him uncomfortable.

Gabriel had felt bad when he first noticed, but there was no harm in seeing what was right in front of his eyes, right? If only she’d been a little closer to their age, maybe he could've taken advantage of Savannah’s crush on him when they were kids. Then, Gabriel could have avoided the entire Marissa situation altogether. Taken harmless advantage, mind you.

No, he shouldn’t think like that. Even if she’d been less than five years younger, Jay would’ve never been cool with Gabriel dating his little sister. He was ridiculously protective of her, but then again, Gabriel had always been just as protective. He didn’t have younger sisters of his own, and Savannah had always been around. She’d tagged after the two of them from the time she could walk.

The fact Gabriel could remember when Savannah started walking told him he shouldn’t have noticed her small, round curves... or the way her bottom filled out those jeans. Gabriel knew he shouldn’t have noticed how great it felt to hold her body against his earlier when they hugged. But, then, how could he have not noticed the way her breasts pressed against his chest and the way... no,