Free A Reunion And A Ring (Proposals & Promises Book 1) by Gina Wilkins Page B

long do you think it will take for me to be able to get out?”
    J.T. glanced at Gavin. Both shrugged.
    Avery scowled up at the dripping sky. “It would help if this damned rain would stop. Now that we’ve cleared out the ditches down there, the water should go down pretty quick once they stop refilling with rain. Even then we’re talking about a couple hours before the road would be completely safe.”
    Rob nodded and winked comically at Jenny. “I’d rather you wait until it’s safe. It’s my day off. As pretty as you are, I’m still not in the mood to administer CPR today.”
    “Rob’s a compulsive flirt, but you should know he’s an EMT,” Avery said so quietly to Jenny that she wasn’t sure anyone else could hear. “Just another lowly civil servant who doesn’t move in your social circles. I doubt you’d be interested in him.”
    A little gasp of indignation escaped her. Had Avery just blatantly accused her of being a snob?
    Before she could retort, Gavin surged forward, planting himself in front of his friend with a glare of warning. “Jenny is my guest here,” he said in a low but unyielding voice. “I expect her to be treated courteously. Is that clear, Avery?”
    Avery had the grace to look a little sheepish as he muttered, “Sorry, Jenny.”
    Biting her lower lip, she nodded to acknowledge the halfhearted apology. The inexplicable acrimony between her and Avery had come between Gavin and his pal on several occasions back in college. She certainly wouldn’t want to cause a rift between them now. As unfair as the remark had been, she couldn’t entirely blame Avery. He was just watching out for his friend.
    “Hey, Avery, help me carry this cooler and stuff,” J.T. shouted from his truck, seemingly unaware of the tension between the trio. “We might as well dig into the sandwiches and beer we brought until the rain stops again.”
    Avery turned and walked away without looking back. Clearing his throat, Rob followed quickly.
    “I’m sorry, Jen,” Gavin said quietly. “I’ll talk to Avery.”
    She shook her head. “No, that’s not necessary. He has a right to his opinions of me. Even though they’re wrong.”
    She didn’t expect to have to deal with Avery much longer, anyway. And she was perfectly capable of defending herself, if she had to. He’d simply caught her off guard this time.
    “You know, I have driven in bad conditions before,” she said, turning to face Gavin fully. “If I’m very careful, and make sure to stay on the highest ground at the foot of the hill, maybe I could get around the flooded area. The road’s paved after that, so...”
    She was startled when Gavin took hold of her arm. Feeling the tingle where damp palm met damp skin, she swallowed. “Um...”
    He gave a light tug. “Come over here a minute.”
    She allowed him to lead her off to the side of the property, a few yards to one side of the woods-lined drive. He motioned toward the river below them, at the bottom of a steep, muddy, rock-and-root-tangled incline. She remembered that the stairs down to the river lay at the back of the property. Only a few feet from the bottom of that staircase, a path led to the clearing in the woods where they’d sneaked away for a couple of sweet, private hours together the last time they’d been here.
    She gazed down now with a sinking feeling in her stomach and an old, dull ache in her heart. The sight below wasn’t encouraging. Swollen by the storm, the river rushed and tumbled, carrying branches and other storm debris on its churning surface. “Maybe if I hurry, before the rain really starts falling again...”
    “Sorry, Jen. That road’s always dangerous when it’s flooded. Dad and I talked about trying to get better drainage downhill, but the county hasn’t been in any hurry to address the problem. If I thought I could drive that little car of yours safely through the flood zone, I’d have the guys follow me down and I’d do it for you. But even as long as