“You look good enough to eat,” a woman’s voice drifted toward Rainy from the hidden spot.
“Thanks, but I need to get back.”
It was Gabe’s voice. Rainy would know it anywhere. She put her hand over her mouth to keep from gasping out loud. She needed to run away. She’d let her guard down, and once again, a man was cheating. As she turned to walk away quietly, Gabe spoke again. Rainy was glued to the spot.
“I’m not kidding, Frannie. It’s been over for us a long time. I’m here with an amazing woman. I have no desire to be with anyone else. Something you wouldn’t understand. Now take your hands off of me.”
He wasn’t interested in Frannie? He told her that Rainy was amazing? She heard movement and it spurred her into action. She practically ran down the hallway and into the dining room. She was seated when Gabe returned. She’d never let him know she’d overheard his conversation with Frannie, but it was impossible to keep the smile off her face. Had she finally found someone she could trust?
A waitress set a dessert plate in front of her. It was tiramisu, one of Rainy’s favorites. She dug into the sweetness eagerly. It was like having a celebratory cake, and it was delicious. The new chef must be a pastry chef. Or maybe Rainy was just happier than she’d been in ages.
Later, when all the speeches were finished and all the tables were cleared, Zeke’s friends excused themselves. The women were delighted to take several of the centerpieces from empty tables. Zeke and Sophie moved closer and the brothers talked for a few minutes about Nat’s business and Zeke’s latest fishing adventure down at the bay.
“Shall we collect our vehicles?” Zeke asked as he stood and waited for Sophie to join him.
They waited for the valets together, talking about the weather, tired from the long night of speeches.
“See you later,” Sophie said as she hugged Rainy good night and stepped into the monster truck Zeke drove.
Gabe held her hand as they waited for his car.
“I had a great time. Thanks for bringing me along.” Rainy squeezed his hand as their vehicle arrived. The valet opened the passenger door, and Rainy slid in. As Gabe drove away, she sighed contentedly. The conversation she’d overheard still rang in her ears. It was like music. She wanted to dance. If she’d been happier, it must have been before her dad took off for greener pastures.
“You had a good time, really?” Gabe asked.
“The best.” She didn’t talk much; she wanted to savor the night. Gabe turned the radio on, and soft, classical music floated in the air as he drove. He held her hand when he wasn’t shifting.
“Come in for a night cap?” she asked as he pulled into her drive.
“Love to,” he said. They walked slowly toward the door, hand in hand. Gabe waited patiently as she opened the door and got the dog settled. He pulled her to him and kissed her lightly. “You made the night worthwhile. You do know that you were the most beautiful woman there, right?”
She pulled away from him to see his face. It was full of love. He’d told her that he loved her once, and she’d been afraid to say the words she thought he longed to hear. Fear held her in its sway still, so she simply kissed him again and tried to tell him with her lips.
“About that night cap,” she said when the kiss ended and she caught her breath.
“Did you notice that I skipped dessert?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye that she’d come to understand and anticipate.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, but I am hungry for one now.”
“Got something in particular in mind?”
He swept her up in his arms, and she buried her head in his neck as he took the steps two at a time.
Later, she lay with her arm over his chest and her head nuzzling his neck. His thumping heart went slowly back to normal, and he played with her hair, curling it around his index finger.
She took a deep breath and jumped off the deep end.
“Remember when we were at the B&B in Jefferson?” she asked.
“Yeah, nice place.”
“You told me you loved me.”
“I still do.” He turned his head and smiled that beautiful smile.
“I didn’t say anything then,” she said.
“I noticed. It’s all right, Rainy. As long as you let me hang around, I’m good.”
“But that’s not fair to you.”
“I’ll take it. You make me a happy man. I was never so proud of anyone as I was of you tonight.”
“Thanks. I just wanted to say that I love you back.” She said it quietly then held her breath.
He lay still and she thought her heart would beat out of her chest. She’d taken a risk. She closed her eyes and waited.
“I sense that you saying that took a lot of courage,” he finally said.
“Yeah,” she said. She barely got it out.
“I love you, Rainy. You’ve captured my heart completely. I will never do anything to hurt you. If I do, it won’t be intentional. Promise me you’ll tell me when I blunder, as I’m sure I’ll do.” He hadn’t moved an inch other than the finger in her hair. He kept curling and uncurling it gently. She lay perfectly still. He pulled the strands of hair playfully.
“Hey, doesn’t that deserve a kiss?” he asked.
She rolled toward him and kissed his chest, his shoulder, his neck, his cheek, and finally, his mouth. He groaned as her lips touched his, and he pulled her on top of his body.
After they made love and kissed until her lips were numb, Rainy fell asleep in his arms. She dreamt of Gabe. He filled her waking and sleeping moments, and she hoped he would for years to come.
Chapter Thirty-Six – Gabe
Rainy had her arms around his waist. and she whispered in his ear from behind, “Did you ever believe it would come together?”
He pulled her around, so that she was in front of him. She had paint in her hair and a huge smile on her face. It was exactly one year ago that he’d heard the sweet words, “I love you,” from her. He couldn’t believe his luck. This amazing woman had stayed by his side, and the sight of her walking into a room continued to set his heart pumping.
“Have you been watching Nat and Olivia?” he asked.
“Yeah. She swore off men over a year ago. Looks like she might be ready to give Nat a chance now.” Rainy kissed him quickly and stepped away.
Hartstrings had been merely an idea in Gabe’s head a year ago when they’d been in Longview. When he and Rainy got serious about the project, the town got behind them. Barry’s real estate firm helped find the perfect property for the artists. Olivia had surprised them all with her enthusiasm over the project. She’d admitted to Rainy that she had been one of the women the local shelter had helped. She’d been involved in the project from the beginning. He hadn’t known that the woman was a potter. Since the Hartstrings project started, he’d found out a lot about Rainy’s employee. The main thing he knew was that his little brother was smitten.
“Hey, bro. When is the pizza coming?” Nat asked.
“Any time now.”
“I hope you ordered a lot. I’m starving.”
“When aren’t you starving?” Gabe asked. Nat grinned.
“She’s something else, isn’t she?” He said as he watched Olivia cutting in the paint with a brush along the ceiling. She hadn’t taped it off, but the line looked perfect.
“She sure is. When will you be asking her out?” Gabe asked.
“I’m working up to it. She’s been a lot friendlier lately, and Caden seems to like me. That’s something, right?”
Caden ran into the room as if on cue. He had a paper airplane and was making engine noises as he ran toward his mother. Olivia climbed down from the ladder and gave her son a hug.
“I’m hungry,” he said. Olivia looked around the room. Her eyes settled on Nat’s.
He said, “I’m starving too, Caden. Want to help me get the ice into those red plastic tea cups we picked up on the way over here? Then, we’ll be ready when the pizza guy shows
up.”
Caden grinned and ran toward Nat, anxious to help. It was obvious that the little guy idolized Gabe’s brother. Nat had fostered a small dog and given it to Caden as a gift. The kid loved the pup.
Gabe watched Olivia. She hadn’t taken her eyes off Nat and her son.
“Looks like something brewing there,” Zeke said. He laid his paint roller in a tray and stretched his back muscles. “I’ll be glad when this place is open. I’m tired of painting.”
Sophie snuck up behind Zeke and pinched his right butt cheek.
“Hey,” he yelled as he turned and caught his wife up in a big hug.
“How does Olivia do that?” Sophie asked Rainy.
“Do what? Paint a straight line?”
“No. Paint without getting any on herself,” Sophie said. Gabe had noticed that Sophie had paint on every article of clothing, in her hair, on her hands, and even on her eyelashes.
“It’s an artist thing, apparently,” Rainy said. She wasn’t as covered as Sophie, but she’d definitely dripped paint on herself.
“You look happy,” Zeke said to Rainy.
“I am. This project is coming together. We have almost two dozen artists signed on. Gabe has all the paperwork taken care of for Hartstrings and the shelter. We’re doing a good thing. It makes my heart glad.”
A young guy from the Pizza Palace walked in, loaded down with hot pizza boxes.
“Where do you want these?”
“Follow me,” Gabe said. “How much?” He reached for his wallet in his back pocket. The delivery boy shook his head as he placed the boxes on a folding table in the middle of the room.
“Mabel says it’s her contribution to the cause. No charge.”
“Well, you still need to get your tip. Here you go,” Gabe held out a twenty-dollar bill.
“That’s way too much.”
“Not when we’re getting lunch provided for free. I don’t think I’ve seen you at the Palace before.”
“Just started last week.”
“What’s your name?”
“Paul.”
“Well, Paul. Take this and tell Mabel she’s the best.” Paul took the tip from Gabe and tucked it into his shirt pocket.
“Thanks, man. Oh, I almost forgot. She said to tell someone named Gabe that the second box is for him. It doesn’t have any mushrooms.”
“I’m Gabe, sorry for not telling you that earlier. But, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. The woman knows her customers. You can learn a lot about customer service from her.” Gabe’s stomach grumbled, and he and Paul laughed about the loud noise. “Hey, thanks for the food.”
Paul nodded and left as the rest of the crew trickled into the room, following the delicious aroma of hot pizza.
“I’ve been thinking,” Olivia said.
“About?” Rainy asked as she pulled a piping hot slice of supreme pizza from one of the boxes.
“That marble block you have that you pick up every morning and recite from,” Olivia said.
“I got that from “Heartisans, the marketplace that inspired Hartstrings!!” Rainy said.
“What does it say?” Sophie asked.
“Always believe something wonderful is about to happen.” Rainy, Olivia, and Gabe said at the same time.
“I like that,” Caden said.
“We could paint it on the back wall,” Olivia said as she bit into a slice of margarita pizza.
“Great idea, but what’s this ‘we’ you speak of?” Sophie asked.
“Well, I could do it,” Olivia said.
“I think you should. I’ll help,” Nat said. He walked up beside Olivia and held a cup of tea out for her. She took it and Gabe watched as color crept up her neck. Maybe she was interested in Nat after all. That would sure make his brother happy.
“That is my mantra now,” Rainy said. “The stone was a gift from this one,” she said as she put her arm around Gabe’s waist and looked up into his eyes with a smile.
“It’s a good mantra. You never know what’s coming around the next corner,” Gabe said. “As a matter of fact, I have a surprise for you. Wait here. It’s in the car.” He rushed out, leaving everyone in suspense.
Gabe came back with a pretty gift bag. “Here you go. It’s just a little something to celebrate the opening.”
Rainy took the bag, pulled out the tissue paper, and started folding it. Sophie jerked it out of her hands, wadded up the paper, and tossed it in the trash. “Get on with it,” she said.
“All right, but I could have used that paper again,” Rainy said.
“Never mind the paper. Open the box.” Gabe thought he’d explode if the women didn’t stop messing around.
Rainy opened the box and gasped. She started crying immediately.
“Why are you crying? Don’t you like them?” Gabe asked.
Rainy pulled a necklace and earrings out of the box. She put the earrings on and asked Gabe to clasp the necklace.
“They are beautiful,” she said. “The roses from the china are centered perfectly. How did you get them made?”
“Sophie had the idea when we were cleaning up after Martin’s fit. Since the china was your grandmother’s, she thought we should save some of the bigger pieces.”
“I’d seen artists make things out of broken china before.” Sophie shrugged her shoulders as if her idea wasn’t something special.
“I found an artist who makes jewelry out of broken china. She’s thinking about having a booth here. Do you like them?” Gabe asked.
“Like them? No, I love them,” Rainy said. She wiped her tears and hugged Sophie. Gabe got a kiss.
He had more surprises planned for Rainy and was excited to share them with her. As a matter of fact, he had another box hidden away in the bedside table at home that was waiting for just the exact right moment. Now that Rainy had let her walls down and didn’t seem afraid of love, that moment might be sooner than later. He couldn’t wait to see her face when she’d see the ring he picked out.
Over the past year, Gabe had made an effort to take Rainy to all the places he knew of where she had bad memories. He wanted to replace each of those with a good one. He was thinking that he’d propose to her in the kitchen of the café. That was the place where Martin had kidnapped her. Instead of being taken without her permission, he hoped to offer her a new life with him. If she didn’t want to marry him, he’d take her just as she was, for as long as she’d let him hang around. If he had his way, that would be a mighty long time.
“What are you thinking about, Mr. Lawyer?” Rainy asked. She hooked her arm through his and grinned up into his face.
“You.”
“Ah, that’s good, because I was just thinking of getting you out of here and out of those work clothes.”
Gabe set his pizza down and planted a kiss on her smiling lips.
“Just say the word, and I’m your man.”
The End
BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
Sandy Shores Series, Books 1-3:
Sea-renity on Sandy Shores (free novella)
Romance on Sandy Shores
Christmas on Sandy Shores
Return to Sandy Shores
The Lover’s Moon series, Books 1-3:
Moon Songs, Lover's Moon Series Book 1
Moon Magic, Lover's Moon Series Book 2
Moon Dance, Lover’s Moon Series Book 3
The Hart Brothers:
Hook, Line, and Sinker
Pro Bono Romance
For the Love of Dog (October 2020)
Single Novels:
Emma Emerging
The Cowgirl Experiment
Mama Needs New Shoes
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to:
Daniel L. Platt, for believing in me throughout it all;
Janet Dunn, my terrific editor;
Dee Wessels and Jeanne Flores for massive amounts of encouragement;
Becky Below for being my biggest fan, even though she’s my cousin and knows childhood secrets;
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Margaret Loyd for information about Pro Bono court cases - any inaccuracies are mine and no fault of hers;
and my awesome family, friends and Facebook buddies who’ve been so supportive.
I could never have done it without you.
And to all my readers.
It’s all about you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shirley Holder Platt is a native Texan, and her stories reflect that background. She retired from corporate America after stints as a manager for shareholder services for two different corporations; an assistant at a non-profit organization, and a database manager for a religious organization. While working, she was always writing for family and friends. After taking early retirement, she finds herself spending more time on her writing than she ever did at a “real” job.
Read more about Shirley at http://ShirleyHolderPlatt.com
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