He’d rest his cheek on her head if it weren’t for that silly crown. Maybe it was a good thing, as public as this was.
The next move pushed them apart, with Sierra twirling under his raised hand, the skirts of her lilac dress swishing around her knees. Once again their eyes caught and held.
Maybe being thirty wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe he still had something to look forward to.
Chapter 16
Gabe glanced around the foyer at Galena Gospel Church. No Sierra.
He’d been awake most of the night trying to make sense of his feelings. Was he being disloyal to Bethany? Did he really want to pursue Sierra Riehl? Could he handle declaring his intentions — whatever those were — and having her choose Burke over him?
She wouldn’t have nestled into his arms so comfortably at the party last night if she wished he were Burke, would she? Nah. Burke was a big guy. He was muscular, confident, and good-looking. All the things Gabe was not. Even Sierra’s imagination couldn’t pretend that well.
But Burke hadn’t been at the party. Why not, Gabe had no idea. Sierra hadn’t been consulted about the guest list, as it had been a surprise for both of them. No doubt the Green Acres crew was rooting for Gabe over Tyrell. The thought brought heat to his cheeks. Like it was any of their business.
If only she were here, so he could analyze what he saw on her face. Would she welcome him with a bright smile, or would she turn for the other guy? Gabe had seen the powerful black truck in the parking lot. Burke was here. Somewhere.
The double doors opened and Zach and Jo entered, followed by Claire, Noel, and Allison. The doors shut. Where were Sierra and her sister?
Gabe started forward, but a clamp on his shoulder prevented it. He swiveled.
“Rubachuk, Graysen tells me you used to teach the junior high Sunday school class. You can have it back, dude.” Burke rolled his eyes. “We were never that young and stupid, were we?”
Gabe opened his mouth and shut it again, his brain scrambling for words. “Pretty sure we were, Burke. The arrogance of youth didn’t start with this generation.” His memories of the other guy as a teenager made these church kids look like a row of pious angels. With harps.
Burke roared as though Gabe’d spouted the best joke ever. “Well, I’ll drop the curriculum off to you this week. You’re living in that dinky apartment above the health food store?”
“I never agreed to take the class back on, Burke. It’s certainly something I’ll need to pray about. Not sure about my long-term plans.” Gabe became aware of someone at his right elbow. Zach must’ve heard that last bit.
“What’s to pray about? Teach the kids! They need somebody to set them on the straight and narrow. I don’t have the time to dump into doing this like you do.”
Gabe’s ire surged, but he fought it back. “Burke, I assume someone asked you to teach the class, or else you volunteered. Either way, you agreed to do it, and I’m not obligated to take it off your hands on a whim.” Though the kids sure deserved better than a reluctant and arrogant teacher.
“What else are you going to do? That store can’t take up much time. You could study your lesson at work.” The big guy winked. “Your boss won’t fire you.”
Gabe tried for a casual chuckle. “You’d be surprised. Nature’s Pantry is a happening place. Look, thanks for the offer. I’ll get back to you on it. Okay?”
“But—”
Gabe turned his back on the guy and focused on his buddy. “Nemesek!”
Zach bumped his fist then glanced back and forth between him and Burke. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No problem. The conversation was over.” Gabe took a few steps away, relieved to find Zach beside him, not Tyrell. He lowered his voice. “Why does he think he’s so special?”
Zach chuckled quietly. “An ego the size of Alaska. Not sure what Sierra sees in him.”
Gabe shot him a hard look.
“Saw in him, I mean. Past tense. I don’t think she’s looking his way anymore. At least not after last night.” Zach’s elbow caught Gabe’s ribs, and he tossed a knowing grin. “What’s your opinion?”
Gabe glanced around to make sure no one seemed interested in their conversation. “Not sure.” He took a deep breath. “Where is she, anyway?”
“She and her sister popped over to the house earlier and said they were heading out for a girl day.”
He needed to see her. Needed to know if he’d imagined the party. Those blue eyes and pink lips had haunted him all night while the questions whirled. “Uh, that’s great. I guess.”
“Want my advice?” Zach’s voice was so low Gabe barely heard him.
“Probably not.”
“I’ll ignore that. You and Sierra. You’d make a good pair, so go after her. Don’t let Burke get in the way.”
“That’ll be her choice, won’t it?”
Zach chuckled and dropped a wink. “Sounds like you’ve been giving it some thought.”
A flush crept up Gabe’s cheeks. “Maybe.”
“Well, make a move. Don’t wait around on the sidelines to see where the chips fall.”
Big words from a guy who’d taken his own sweet time pursuing Jo, even after he’d figured out she was worth the effort. Didn’t make the advice bad, though.
* * *
The relaxing day with her sister evaporated when Sierra saw Gabe’s car parked at Green Acres Sunday late afternoon. For someone who worried about never getting married, why was she so panicked now that two men vied for her attention?
Chelsea pulled in beside Gabe’s car and cut the engine to her own. “Well, there you go,” she said quietly. “Why else would he come around today, if he wasn’t falling in love with you?”
Sierra poked her jaw in the direction of the lawn beside the deck. “To hang out with Zach, obviously. They’ve been best friends since they were little kids. Or maybe he’s here because of Allison.”
Gabe nudged a soccer ball toward Madelynn with a gentle kick, his back to the car. Maddie ran at the ball, tripped over it, and fell into a pile of golden leaves. Gabe scooped her up in the air and twirled her.
Even through the closed car window, Sierra could hear the toddler shriek in glee.
Gabe caught sight of them, flipped Maddie over his shoulder, and strode toward Sierra’s side of the car.
“I don’t understand you,” Chelsea mumbled, opening the driver’s side door.
Sierra didn’t understand herself. After three years of building up a relationship with Gabe in her mind, why was she shying away now that he seemed interested?
Gabe pulled the car door open then swept a bow, which tumbled Maddie into his hands. He made a production of nearly dropping her. “Hey Maddie-girl. Say hi to your Auntie Sierra.”
Madelynn’s curls tickled the ground as she gazed at Sierra from upside down. “Auntie Sera!” She struggled for freedom.
Gabe flipped her right side up and released her.
“Hi, baby girl.” Sierra caught the little cannonball and swept her up. After a quick, tight hug, she set the child down again. Maddie didn’t like to be contained for long.
Gabe glanced over at Chelsea before settling his gaze back on Sierra. “We missed you today.”
That’s what she was afraid of. The royal we. The Green Acres Farm we. What about the Gabe in there?
She mustered up a smile. “Chelsea’s only around for a few days. I never get to spend enough time with her.”
He grinned. “It’s great you love your sister that much. So many siblings don’t get along.”
“We’ve always been close, even though she’s nearly three years younger than I am.” Clinging to her sister at the moment seemed like a barricade blocking things she didn’t want to think about. Like how mushy her gut had been all yesterday evening. The queasiness hadn’t left, even with all the hiking they’d done that day.
“Where’d you guys go? There’s not that much shopping open on a Sunday in the grand metropolis of Galena Landing.”
; “Ha! I reserve my shopping for trips to Coeur d’Alene, thanks anyway. Or at least Wynnton. Actually, Chelsea recently took up geocaching, so she was showing me the ropes. We found a couple of caches near the highway up at the pass.”
“That’s cool.”
Gabe sounded like he knew what it was. He shoved both hands deep into his pockets as she fell into step beside him on the way to the house.
So much for retreating to her duplex and hiding out until he left. Besides, Chelsea-the-traitor had already joined the others on the deck, bending to pat Domino, who lay at Jo’s feet. The steps were plenty wide enough for her and Gabe to walk up side-by-side… and far apart.
Jo glanced from one to the other, her eyebrows high.
Sierra lifted a shoulder and let it drop. How was she supposed to know? Man, she ought to have been a lot kinder to her roommates when they were dating.
Not that she was in a relationship with anyone.
Unless she counted Tyrell. And she ought to. Her gaze slipped to Gabe, who leaned against the railing talking to Noel. As though feeling her eyes on him, he glanced her way with a little smile.
Her gut flipped. Tyrell didn’t have that effect on her, if she were really being honest.
“I love that jacket of Maddie’s,” Chelsea said to Jo.
Jo laughed. “It was a gift from your sister.”
Sierra stepped closer to join them. Finally a safe subject. “I told you about all our mouse trouble when we first moved here, didn’t I?”
“In the old trailer.” Claire shuddered. “Brazen beasts.”
“I just had to buy that jacket when I saw it.” Sierra chuckled. “What could be more apropos for Jo and Zach’s kid than a gray hoodie with mouse ears and a mouse face screen-printed across the front?”
“Those mice brought us together.” Jo looked over at Zach. She shook her head and leaned down to rub Domino’s ears. “Almost tore us apart, too. Good thing this dog survived the poison I accidentally left where he could get into it.”
“Oh, no,” Allison said. “That’s horrible.”
“It was a near thing.” Jo focused on Sierra. “The road to true love is often paved with obstacles that seem insurmountable at the time.”
She was preaching to the choir.
“Well, I don’t plan on ever getting married.” Allison gathered her long hair over her shoulder. “Watching the guys my sister has messed around with makes me doubt there are many men worth the effort. I’m so thankful that my parents left me well set up, so I don’t actually need to get married to survive.”
Sierra sank onto an Adirondack chair and tucked her knees up under her chin. This crew lived on the huge deck, even into winter, but the November chill already seeped into her bones. She turned to Allison. “What was your parents’ relationship like?”
“All about appearances. They both had affairs on more than one occasion, and they both knew it. The only thing that mattered was keeping the big house, the fancy cars, the whole image of wealth and gentility.” She shrugged. “Honesty played very little role in their lives.”
“Wow, our parents modeled a really great marriage for us kids.” Chelsea pointed to Sierra then back to herself. “I can’t imagine not wanting what they’ve got. Right, sis?”
Death by slow torture. That’s what her sister deserved for putting her on the spot like this.
“My parents separated when I was in high school.” Claire, sitting next to Allison, nudged the swing into motion. “And Noel’s dad walked out when his kids were really young. There’s a lot of mess out there.”
“Yet you guys figured it was worth it, I guess.” Allison turned sideways in the swing, facing Claire. “Divorce stats are so high. I just don’t see adding to them, especially when so many of the couples that stay married seem miserable.”
“You need to hang around with different people,” Jo said. “Even if your parents were poor role models, two people committed to each other and to God can make this gig work. And not just in the survivor sense, but in the true-love-is-worth-it sense.”
“Twuuuue wuuuuuv…” Chelsea dragged out the line from The Princess Bride.
Jo laughed, locking her gaze on Sierra. “Yeah, well, true love is a pretty cool thing. It’s worth every sacrifice.”
Sending telepathic messages again? Sierra looked away, hugging her knees against her chest. From where Jo sat, it probably all looked good.
“Hey, Maddie’s freezing out here. Let’s move this party inside.” Zach scooped his daughter up into his arms, but she immediately squirmed to get down. He laughed and released her as he opened the door. She ran inside ahead of him then tripped and fell to the concrete floor, wailing until Zach picked her up again.
The kid didn’t know how good she had it. So many people willing to show her love, to play with her, tickle her, read to her. She careened from one to the other, protesting loudly when anyone tried to contain her for even a second. She caused most of her own harm.
Truth hit Sierra below the belt. Was she holding back like Maddie? Were her reasons any better?
The gang left the deck for the house, chattering and laughing as they shifted venues. Probably no one but Domino noticed she was still outside. He nuzzled her hand.
Sierra dropped her forehead to her knees for a moment. “Lord, help me,” she breathed. I want to trust You for the best, but it’s so hard.
“You okay?” Gabe’s voice, so soft. So gentle.
So unexpected. Sierra jerked to look at him.
He crouched beside the arm of her chair, eyes filled with… what? “Sierra, I-I’ve been trying to get my nerve together to talk to you.”
She bit her lip but couldn’t break eye contact. “Oh?” The word came out just above a squeak.
“I’ve been thinking about last night. And, um, some of the things we’ve talked about over the past few weeks.” Making crazy eights, he ran a finger over the back of her hand where she clung to her knees.
Warmth spread from that spot throughout her body like she’d been zapped by a lightning bolt.
“I don’t know why we’re always arguing, but I prefer it when we’re not. Like dancing with you last night.”
“I liked that, too,” she managed to get out.
“I think I’ve been afraid to get close to you.”
“Oh?” He didn’t look afraid now, what she could see of his face in the November dusk. It filled her vision.
“Can I take you out tomorrow? Let’s do our birthday dinner in style, just you and me. I’d like to know where this might take us.”
All the reasons she’d been holding back evaporated like mist in the sunlight. None of them could be that serious, not the way his eyes darkened as his hands came up to her shoulders. She should probably move. Become more embraceable than the ball she’d curled into on the cold chair. She lowered her feet to the planks, and Gabe shifted aside as he reached for her hands.
A second later he’d pulled her to her feet and wrapped both arms around her. The dances of the evening before supplied unheard music as she slipped her arms around his waist and settled into his embrace.
“Sierra? Will you go out with me? You haven’t answered.”
“I’d love to.” She tipped her head to meet his gaze. “Thanks.”
He quirked a grin. “No thanks required. I’m not doing you a favor. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to run.”
“No running.”
His hands tightened on her back as his gaze slid to her lips and back to her eyes. “Sierra, I—”
She held her breath. Was he going to kiss her? Then she’d know for sure if he was the right guy. Wouldn’t she? Maybe it was silly offering her future to a man because he was a good kisser.
He leaned closer. She closed her eyes and filled her senses with Old Spice, willing him to close the few inches between their mouths.
The outside light flared and the door creaked open. “Oops. Sorry for interrupting.” Chelsea’s voice. And she didn’t sound all that apologetic. “J
ust needed to grab my camera from the duplex. Don’t mind me. I’m not even here.” She clattered down the steps.
The moment was broken. Gabe kissed the top of Sierra’s head and released her. “I don’t want to make things awkward for you with this gang.”
“It’s okay.” For an instant she considered grabbing his head and pulling him back to finish what he’d almost started, but no. Tomorrow they were going on a real date, away from Green Acres. Far enough away that no one, not even her sister, would interrupt them.
Tomorrow she’d be kissed.
Chapter 17
It didn’t seem right driving all the way to Wynnton for a date, especially not with Chelsea and Allison back at the farm. Jo and Claire would be great hostesses, of course. And Sierra had spent the entire day showing both of them around, detailing the history, hopes, and dreams of Green Acres.
But, well, it felt awkward sitting in the passenger seat of Gabe’s old car. The guy didn’t have much to say, and she didn’t know what conversations were safe to start and which should be avoided. Like Bethany. Should they talk about her? At some point they’d have to, wouldn’t they?
In all her fairy tale dreams growing up, getting involved with a widower and the extra baggage he came with — there, she’d admitted it to herself — hadn’t been one of them. Didn’t every girl dream of being number one? The one and only forever love?
“Having second thoughts?” Gabe asked softly.
“Of course not.” She didn’t dare look at him. “Where are you taking me?”
“I’ve heard good things about the Bluebell. Though, as far as I know, they don’t get their beef from a ranch in Oregon.”
Okay, that helped. She gave him a quick grin. “Even Oregon has a finite amount of cattle.”
“And then there’s a high school basketball game we can go to, if you want.”
High school sports? In a town she hadn’t grown up in?
“I guess I should have asked you first if you liked basketball.” He sounded apologetic.
“We can give it a try.” But seriously?
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