by Jayna Morrow
The bell rang.
Garrett gave her a nod and started toward the door.
She left his statement at that. He didn’t need to know all the details right now, especially since her plan might not even work. One day she might need his help with Gabriel, but he’d never be able to look at things subjectively as she could.
Garrett stopped in the doorway and spoke without turning. “Protect your heart. My brother can be quite the ladies’ man.”
Her jaw dropped several inches.
Garrett disappeared into the crowd.
She remained in the hall to monitor the students as they passed, but her mind was elsewhere. Ladies’ man, huh? She recalled how Gabriel swooped in to rescue her when she’d fallen that morning. Even though he’d teased her as he’d helped her off the ground, the physical contact had left her listless for hours afterward.
Garrett didn’t have to tell her how attractive and powerful Gabriel Hearth was.
She already knew.
~*~
“Don’t turn that meat!” Her sister popped the back of Sparrow’s hand with a wooden spoon. “It has to cook another two minutes.”
“Ouch!” Sparrow rubbed her hand. “I don’t like your method for cooking pork chops. It’s better when you cook it a few minutes then turn it. Cook that side a few minutes then turn it. Several times.”
Robin shook her head. “Not if you know what you’re doing. It’s half the cooking time, then turn once and only once. And I get the time right every time because I’m good. That’s why I own a restaurant, and you don’t.”
Sparrow grinned. Their father had always encouraged competition between them, and Robin took it very seriously. Robin was the perfect daughter, and Sparrow was...less than ideal. She could always be counted on to disappoint. Still, she’d tried her best to please. And she never blamed her sister. Her brothers either. In fact, she liked to go against her father and rally the troops. The more he pushed and criticized, the more she coached and complimented. That’s how she kept her siblings’ spirits positive during their military-style upbringing.
Without meaning to, Sparrow had made things difficult for her father since she believed in a balance of discipline and self. While this hadn’t gone over well at home, it had made her successful as a teacher and a principal. Her sister felt the same way, but she had kept quiet. Sparrow never learned to do that.
She supposed, in all honesty, that she wasn’t a typical daughter. Her father was glad she possessed some of the male qualities that made her strong, but she was more girly than he would’ve liked—at least that’s what she thought. She had plenty of feminine qualities to go along with the strength. But because of her unique blend of masculine and feminine characteristics, she didn’t express or accept love readily and always protected her heart. All of these traits were the complete opposite of Robin, who sought acceptance and was quick to love. Still, these days, she and her sister got along. Robin was satisfied bustling about in her diner, and Sparrow appreciatively ate her sister’s food. Whenever Sparrow needed someone to talk to, Robin would have a meal ready. They were close, despite their father having pushed them to compete.
“Will you be coming to the house for dinner anytime soon? I’ve got deer steaks in the freezer from the family hunting trip you missed.” Robin patted her on the back several times.
“I know it’s been a while since I’ve visited. My new duties keep me busy.” The pats were the closest thing to affection she would get.
“You seem to be handling it well.” A piece of pork chop was plopped onto a plate, and Robin ladled gravy over it.
“It’s a learning experience. Hey, I’m sorry I missed the hunting trip.”
A helping of mashed potatoes landed beside the pork chop. “You would’ve just sneaked off with a book, so Dad wouldn’t know you weren’t hunting anyway.” She chuckled at her own joke.
Sparrow tossed a napkin at her sister.
Robin lifted the saturated paper out of the gravy and gave her a stern look. “Good one, sis.”
“Oops.” She gave a pouty look and batted her eyelashes.
“That doesn’t work on me.” Robin raised a thoughtful gaze to the ceiling. “It doesn’t work on anyone, come to think of it. Especially Dad.”
“That didn’t stop me from trying.” She grinned. “But I did learn to hide things from him.”
“Whatever.”
“You weren’t nearly clever enough to hide things from him. My friends had a whole secret language,” Sparrow informed her sister. “To an outsider, it seemed like we were talking about random gossip, but every type of gossip stood for a location. The people we were talking about were the hosts and so on. I might be talking about how Sarah was giving swimming lessons at the city pool, but I really meant that Sarah was having a pool party at her house.”
“My word, Sparrow.” Robin’s eyes were wide.
“We got even more detailed than that. All the day times meant night times. I once had a whole conversation about church camp in front of Dad, but I was really planning a road trip.”
Now her sister’s mouth dropped open. “Flabbergasted. That’s the only word I can think of right now. You have me totally flabbergasted.”
“Lighten up. I wasn’t really all that bad. I went to parties, but only ones with good kids who didn’t drink or do drugs. It was the element of sneakiness that we liked. That’s all.”
“I believe that, it’s just…this is all news to me. But you always did like to go against Dad every chance you got. He would get so angry when you wouldn’t cooperate. And now you’re a professional disciplinarian. Who’da thought it?”
“OK, let’s stop talking about Dad and discipline. My brain is fried.” Sparrow cut into her pork chop and stuffed her mouth before Robin could continue with the conversation.
The diner door opened. Stunning blue eyes. Large, muscular body. Gabriel Hearth made her heart flutter every time she saw him. He must have come from work because he was still wearing his uniform—boots, jeans, and a white button-up shirt with the dairy logo on one side. His name and position were printed underneath. An angular face and a strong jawline complemented his gorgeous blue eyes.
“Good to see ya, Gabe. Where ya sittin’ today?” the waitress greeted him as he approached the front counter.
“I’ll just sit at the counter.”
She offered him a menu, but he waved it away. “I’ll have the special and iced tea.”
“All right, hon. I’ll put your order in.”
Sparrow froze in her seat. A forkful of mashed potatoes hung suspended somewhere between her plate and her mouth as Gabriel spotted her sitting behind the counter near the grill area. He grinned.
He was tormenting her on purpose. Well, she wouldn’t fall for his charm.
She forced herself back to reality. “Robin, these potatoes are so creamy.”
“Really? You haven’t taken your first bite of them yet.” Her sister’s words faded in and out as Gabriel took a seat just down from Sparrow at the counter “You’ve had your mouth too full of meat.”
A few seconds passed before Sparrow broke the staring match with Gabriel Hearth. She cleared her throat. “Is this deer from the big family hunt?”
Robin slapped her spatula on the grill. “Girl, your brain really is fried. Pork chops, remember? And I just told you...” She followed Sparrow’s line of sight to Gabriel at the counter. “Oh.”
Sparrow took a few more bites as she and Gabriel exchanged covert glances.
“How’s the house hunting going?” Robin asked loud and clear.
“Sheesh! You don’t have to yell.” She’d wanted to move closer to Sweet Home so she wouldn’t have to commute. “I found a nice rental out on PR 147.”
Gabriel’s head snapped up. The movement caught her attention in her peripheral vision.
“Have you been out to see it?” He moved to the seat next to her.
“Not yet. I only have the information from this flyer.” She dug a folded shee
t out of her purse and handed it to him. He opened it and scanned the information, and then shook his head.
“The address is misleading.”
Her brow wrinkled. “Really? Why’s that?”
“It’s on a corner. The front door faces PR 147, but you can only access the driveway from June Road. You shouldn’t have a problem finding it because it’s located right next door to my place.”
Robin must have deep fried Sparrow’s brain with her pork chop. She couldn’t come up with a single response.
After several seconds, he continued. “You’ve got my address already saved in favorites on your GPS, right?”
4
“Do you have any idea what life will be like for me with that woman living next door?” Gabriel flailed his arms and looked over his shoulder and across the yard. “She’s relentless.”
His brother glanced at Sparrow, who stood not too far away from Gabriel’s front porch, her arms crossed, one foot tapping out an impatient rhythm. Garrett turned his back to her. “I know this, Gabe, but you’re too loud.” Garrett kept his voice low. “I work for her so—just have a little tact, OK?” He turned back to Sparrow. “I apologize for my brother’s behavior. He tends to get a bit dramatic.”
Gabriel scowled. If Sparrow lived next door, she would take over his life. And knowing her, she’d have a grand ole time of it. The house in question loomed in front of him, an empty reminder of the things he ultimately had little control over. What was Garrett even thinking about when he put the old house up for rent?
“Calm down.”
His brother’s quiet words made Gabriel aware of his own heavy breathing and vacant stare. He was upset all right, but he’d choose his words carefully. The last thing he wanted was to start another feud between the two of them. He should be happy Garrett had decided not to sell his land, and was, instead, making use of it. “Don’t you think I should have a say in who lives right next door to me?” Gabriel asked.
“I chose her with you in mind, brother. She’ll be the perfect neighbor—she keeps regular working hours, she’s quiet, and she doesn’t have pets. I don’t see the problem.”
Gabriel’s harrumph didn’t stop his brother.
“Now that I have Micara to help me, I want to build a life on the land that belongs to me.”
“You should have discussed this with me first.”
“Nobody’s lived in the old house for many years. Micara and I may build a house on the property someday, but right now we’re happy living in town. In the meantime, I know Sparrow will take care of the place, and I can use the money.”
Sparrow smirked, making no secret of the fact she was listening in on the conversation. Gabriel fumed. Not even moved in yet, and she was driving him crazy. If he were an engine, he’d be revved to the red right now.
“I always thought you and the others would continue to allow me to manage the land,” he softened his voice, hoping to catch his brother with honey. “This isn’t how I planned to use the property.”
“You can continue to manage the land, but we need the income from the house. There aren’t many homes for rent in Sweet Home, and Sparrow needs to be closer to the school. This house is just the right size and price for a single woman. Can’t you see it makes sense?”
He could, but he didn’t want Sparrow Walker living anywhere near him. Any other single woman would be fine. He had the sudden urge to pace the floor. “I find it hard to believe that Sparrow couldn’t find another place to live.”
“There’s a rental off the highway between here and Bishop, but I offered her this house. It’s closer, and she’ll be comfortable here. And just think how convenient it’ll be for her to harass you.”
“OK, OK, OK.” Sparrow interrupted their conversation using the same stern, no-nonsense tone that she used so often. “I’ve been standing over here pretending not to hear. But enough. Garrett, I can see this is very stressful for Gabriel. I’ll take the other house.” She moved closer and stood between them.
Garrett shook his head firmly. “I won’t allow it. The paperwork is all ready to go, and that other house is located right on the highway. It won’t be safe for your little dog.”
Gabriel threw his hands in the air. “I thought you said she had no pets?”
“I said she doesn’t have pets, plural. She does have one small pet.”
“Besides, he’s not a pet.” Sparrow chimed in.
Gabriel and Garrett turned toward her.
“I consider him my canine son.”
“Good grief.” Gabriel shook his head. A few steps put him back in his truck. From the truck, Gabriel watched his brother hand Sparrow the key and a packet of paperwork. A huge smile crossed her face as she took the items. She pivoted toward the door that was now hers.
“Canine son.” He groaned and then chuckled. He couldn’t help it.
~*~
Sparrow looked out the kitchen window at Gabriel’s house. Anxiety fluttered in her stomach. This was a really great property, but she didn’t want to aggravate Gabriel, not after all the pestering she’d already done about Slade. Strange, but he seemed more upset over her moving in next door than he did about getting left at the altar. She ran a finger over the windowsill and wrinkled her nose at the trail of dust left behind. She stared down at the filthy streak. It wasn’t anything that couldn’t be fixed with a little effort. “All Gabriel needs is to be picked up and dusted off,” she said. Sparrow let her breath rush out as she swiped clean her hands. Gabriel Hearth would get over having her for a neighbor.
But then again, what did she really know about Gabriel Hearth?
A lot.
The man was an open book. She knew more about him than she should, but that’s how things worked in a small town. Everyone knew about everyone else…case in point, she needed to keep her attraction to Gabriel to herself, or she’d never live it down. She tried to shake him from her thoughts, but ever since he waltzed on to the campus that day, she’d been drawn to him.
Her gaze swept the room before she pulled the door shut and locked it. Her new back porch and his front porch faced each other. Gabriel was sitting in a rocker with his hands steepled under his chin. The man looked good—she couldn’t deny that—but she had to deal with the problems at hand first.
She was taking on a great challenge, and she loved challenges. He would resist her at every turn. Eventually, she’d win him over, and they’d work together as a team to reach Slade. As the school principal, she felt responsible for Slade’s issues, but the father and son both needed saving.
If only she knew what was going on in Gabriel’s mind.
He left his porch and walked toward her house, his boots throwing up dust. He reached the porch. “I have a box of personal items in the house I’d like to retrieve if you don’t mind.” The cuffs of his dairy shirt were up and the top button undone. He looked casual and comfortable.
“You have to get it right this minute? I just locked up.”
“Yes, I must.”
“OK, then.” She unlocked and pushed open the door. Then she dramatically extended her hand as if showing off a prize on a game show. “This is my home now, so please show a little courtesy.”
He stepped into the kitchen. “I just want to get my things. Besides, you haven’t signed those papers yet.”
Sparrow’s jaw dropped at his rudeness.
He hurriedly went from room to room, poking his head in. She didn’t remember seeing any boxes in the house, but she could have missed something.
“By all means, take whatever you want. It’ll make it easier to clean the place.”
He located the box in a bedroom closet and carried it out, shaking it a little. The childish act threw him off balance, and he stumbled.
She laughed. “Gabriel, you walk about as well in those boots as I do in heels.”
He tightened his grip on the box. “This box ain’t light.”
“And the ground in your yard is soft, so now you understand.”
He walke
d past her without responding but turned in the doorway. “I hope you understand that living next to me doesn’t give you the right to come banging on my door every time you want to talk about Slade. Garrett doesn’t understand my reason for not wanting you here, but you know exactly what’s going on.” He readjusted his grip on the box. “Garrett’s lost his mind in renting this house. It’s older than the hills and has a lot of problems. Don’t be surprised if you can’t stand living here for long. It’s only a matter of time before you move out of this money pit.”
“I know exactly what I’m getting into and also how to do all sorts of home repairs. Part of the deal with Garrett is he’ll shave money off the rent if I make repairs. You should take a good look at your own home before making judgments about someone else’s. I know how you really live.”
He stared at her.
But she wasn’t about to make this easy. “I do what I do only because I care enough to want to help Slade, and doing that will help you, too. I’m too close to the line you’ve drawn in the sand, and that’s the real reason why you don’t want me here.” Sparrow locked the door a second time.
Gabriel shook his head. “You think you’ve got me all figured out, but you’re not even close. You don’t fool me with your credentials either. I live the way I was raised—just a country boy with a business to run. And I don’t care about anyone’s opinion. I’ve made my share of mistakes like everyone else. So what if I don’t talk to everyone about my problems? They would only pretend to care and then make judgments. I am what I am. People can take me or leave me.”
She decided to let him vent. This was good. They were making progress.
“I’ve made peace with my bad decisions, namely giving up Slade to my parents to raise, but many people don’t understand. You could never understand how I feel about my son or any of my family. It’s not your place to try.” With that, he stomped away with his heavy burden.
~*~
Sparrow inhaled the breakfast smells at her sister’s diner—fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, buttery biscuits, sausage gravy, and syrup. Sharing a meal brought people together.