The First Time I Saw You

by Lorhainne Eckhart

  Suddenly, he stood up, and she didn’t know what had him looking through the glass behind her. She turned, and there at the counter, bumping in front of another customer, was MM.

  “Oh no,” she said and opened the door, hearing Barry behind her.

  “There she is,” MM snapped. “I want to talk to you, Lizzie, right now.” He slapped his hand on the counter, making an awful sound, and Elizabeth could feel her face burn as she became the center of everyone’s attention.

  “Keep your voice down,” she said in a low voice that was laced with an edge she hoped he got. “This is where I work, and you coming in here and causing a scene has to stop.”

  But his eyes, the blue she’d once been a sucker for, were cold and unfeeling. Thankfully, they no longer did anything for her except have her wondering what she’d been thinking at the time, not understanding how she could have fallen for Mac Murrin and stayed with him as long as she had.

  “Elizabeth…” Barry stepped in, and she took in the compassion in his face. She wouldn’t have blamed him one bit if he decided to let her go right now.

  “Barry, it’s fine. I’ll get rid of him,” she pleaded, and for a minute she wondered whether he’d argue, but he inclined his head.

  She stepped around the counter and put her hand on MM’s arm, pulling him with everything she had away from the only customer, who wore a disbelieving expression. To make it worse, she could feel everyone’s eyes on her still, and it was the worst feeling. She stepped into one of the aisles where the smaller boxes of parts were by the front door, blocking everyone’s view.

  “Okay, you need to listen very carefully.”

  “No.” He stuck his head closer to her, his nose nearly bumping hers. “No, you listen to me, Lizzie. I’ve had enough of this. You think you get to hook up with some other guy on me and then send some sheriff to come tapping on my door, trying to tell me how it’s over with my girlfriend? I think not.”

  She was staring at him, because it was always the same, except this time she was stuck on the sheriff part. “Wow, I never expected that. The sheriff really paid you a visit?” Okay, maybe calling the cops had been a great idea on Gabriel’s part.

  “Look, I’m willing to forget all of this, to let this all go and move on. Come home, where you belong, where my daughter belongs. This has gone on long enough, and the fact that you can’t seem to forgive isn’t boding too well for your character, Lizzie. Then there’s this.” He was in a faded blue shirt with a tear in the shoulder, a spot of grease from an engine he’d likely been working on, and faded blue jeans. He lifted up the shirt, showing his fabulous abs—and a giant tattoo across his stomach that read Lizzie. She was positive her jaw dropped. Was he insane?

  “You tattooed my name across your stomach?” She realized too late how loud she was, and she slapped her hand over her mouth as he dropped his shirt, a big goofy grin on his face. He reached into his pocket, where the chain had once dangled, and pulled out a small velvet box. When he popped it open, a ring with a sizable rock glittered inside, and for a second she had to remind herself to breathe. Then he got down on one knee, and she could feel the horror of the moment. This can’t be happening.

  “Lizzie, I should have done this before, and if I had, we’d likely not be here now, so marry me. You’re a part of me, and you’re branded on me now for everyone to see, everyone to know.” That was it. That was all he said as he stared at her with hopeful eyes.

  “MM, get up right now.” She touched his arm and pulled him, and he smiled that charming flashy smile that was both goofy and downright sexy, but the only thing it did for her now was tighten her resolve. She had to figure out a way to get him to go away and leave her be. “This isn’t happening,” she said. “This will never happen. I am not marrying you, and the fact that you went and tattooed my name across your abs just shows how you’re beginning to lose your grip on the reality of the situation. You’re not hearing me. It also shows how desperate you are, which should terrify me.”

  She snapped the box he was still holding closed, taking in the moment she’d dashed his hopes, his joy. With his volatile, unpredictable personality, this was where she had gone wrong. She crossed her arms and knew the look she leveled on him was far from friendly.

  “Okay, listen up,” she said, “because you’re not getting the message. It’s over. It’s been over a long time between us, since I walked out the door nearly two years ago after having enough of your shenanigans. You just don’t get it, and maybe I’m not being clear, so here it is: Leave me alone. We’re done. I’m not coming back ever. I don’t love you anymore. I have no feelings left for you. Every time I see you now, I’m afraid of what you’ll do, and I want to run the other way. There is no chance in hell that you’ll get me back, ever, and that tattoo just shows you’re seriously delusional, because we are so done.

  “That sheriff who paid you a visit is one hundred percent correct about you needing to stop,” she continued. “No more showing up where I work, no more showing up where I live. You will leave me alone and not come back here again, and whoever I choose to see and date is not your business. We’re not together, and in fact, if you keep pushing these big dramatic displays, I’ll be forced to consult a lawyer and go before a judge and get a restraining order so the next time the cops are called, you’ll be locked up. Am I being clear enough for you? Is there anything I said just now that you still don’t understand clearly? We are finished. You need to move on and find yourself someone new to date, because we will never, ever be together again.”

  Oh, man, she was proud of herself, and she wanted to pat herself on the back. Except she didn’t know what to expect from the way he was glaring at her now. She wasn’t about to cower or back down, though.

  “You owe me,” he said as he stuffed the ring box back in his pocket, and for a second she almost laughed before she realized he was serious.

  “And what exactly do I owe you for?” she said. He couldn’t seriously expect her to reimburse him for his last Hail Mary to win her back—but then, this was MM. Of course he could.

  She could see him thinking. It was in his expression, the immature way he made a face before he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “For forcing me to get a vasectomy so I didn’t knock you up again.”

  She heard something drop and looked up, over the shelf, seeing Barry there, his eyes wide, and she just wanted to crawl into a hole from the embarrassment.

  Chapter 12

  Gabriel had just lifted the handle and lowered the tailgate of his pickup when he spotted his dad’s new black Silverado pull up behind him. Andy Friessen was wearing dark shades, and he had a way of looking at Gabriel even through the windshield that had him feeling that his father had something on his mind, was going to address something with him, and he didn’t have a clue what it was, because he was giving nothing away. It was unnerving at times, especially when he knew something Gabriel didn’t want him to know. Growing up, that was never a position he’d wanted to be in with his dad.

  Andy was the kind of man people didn’t take advantage of, which had been fantastic for his children, his family, but at the same time, he didn’t let any of his kids get away with anything. Gabriel knew and understood better than most that Andy would walk through fire and hell for every one of them without a single thought for his own well-being.

  His dad took his time stepping out of his pickup, shutting the door, and looking across the street to the neighbors’ bungalow as if they were outside waiting. Then he strode over to Gabriel, his legs looking long in dark jeans and a navy shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show his strong forearms. He was still so fit, confident of who he was, the kind of man he knew, as his mother had commented a few times, women wanted. His dark hair was neatly cut, with threads of gray, and he seemed to be working a piece of gum.

  “Didn’t know you were coming by,” Gabriel said, resting his hand on the back of the open flatbed where the new window he’d just picked up on credit was lying nestled in Styrofoa
m so he could install it in Elizabeth and Shaunty’s room. This time, he’d made sure to check the latch to see that it wasn’t defective.

  His dad said nothing for a minute, then pulled off his shades and tucked them in his shirtfront. His icy blue eyes were etched in lines now as he squinted down at Gabriel. He was so tall, at six two, and he was reminded of how much he’d always wanted to be just like his dad, who’d been a hero to him ever since he was a little kid.

  “So I heard you had some trouble,” Andy said.

  Ah, right, he was supposed to talk to his parents, or that was what Blake had said. Guess he didn’t need to now. “So the sheriff called you, huh?” He tried not to smile as he shook his head.

  “Oh, I think Blake was under the impression that you and I had already had a conversation, but yes, he told me about the parking lot fiasco where you almost got your ass kicked over some girl.” The way his dad said it, he knew he was misunderstanding everything. “We had Blake and Brandyne over for dinner last night, and the conversation just drifted there naturally. Of course, he realized his mistake from my reaction and your mom’s. You’d actually shared none of those facts—that someone who could be a little dangerous had tried to hurt and mess with you and that you visited him to do something to help this girl.”

  He knew there was more from the way his dad was watching him and glancing out across the road again. “And Mom sent you, right?”

  This time, his dad did smile. “The only thing that stopped her from driving in this morning was the fact that I reminded her you’re working on a construction crew at dawn, and having your mother show up on the job and pull you aside was exactly what you wouldn’t want, because you’re old enough to stand on your own two feet and make your own decisions and you don’t need us to step in and fix something that I can only presume you’ve already taken care of.”

  He couldn’t remember his dad ever saying so much, and for a second he just stared at him, wondering what else there was, because there was always a what else with his dad. He just didn’t share things with everyone, keeping more to himself, which was unsettling.

  “So you’re telling me you settled Mom down by convincing her I’m handling this and it isn’t a problem, yet here you are.”

  His dad didn’t smile. He only pulled in a deep breath and glanced toward Gabriel’s house, then back to him. “It doesn’t work that way. See, even though you’re grown and moved on, we’re still your parents and will always worry and wonder if you’re okay. It’s our right, so I told your mom I would stop by and pay you a visit and have a sit-down with you about what was going on and make sure this isn’t something serious—and, more to the point, that you’ve taken care of it.”

  Great, this sounded as if the conversation was about to go in a direction he didn’t want it to go, with his dad getting into his personal business and finding out all the things he didn’t want to share. He pulled in a breath, taking in the sound of a motorcycle. The loud roar of the Harley was coming closer, and that had his dad turning and taking a look. All Gabriel could think of was Why now? Why right fricking now would crazy-ass Marty be showing up here?

  Gabriel stood there and just watched as Elizabeth’s brother pulled in front of his truck, and he took in the way his dad studied everything about the man before turning that burning, intense gaze back on Gabriel. That gaze wouldn’t let him slip away, pinning him where he was until his dad had every answer he wanted.

  Andy gestured toward Marty. “Friend of yours?”

  Gabriel took in the window lying in the back of his pickup, which he wanted to get in the house and get installed. Then he wanted to make some dinner and chill out for an hour or so, but instead he took in Marty getting off his bike and taking off his helmet, wearing what looked like the exact grubby getup he’d seen him in before, his face appearing as if he hadn’t shaved in days.

  “Hey, there,” he said with that smoker’s raspy voice as he strode over to them, walking with his hands at his sides, much like a gorilla.

  “Marty, this is my dad, Andy Friessen.” He gestured, and his dad extended one hand to the biker dude. They were the same height, but Marty was bigger all around.

  He took in the exchange between the two and knew, without Andy even looking his way, that his dad had likely a hundred questions, if not more.

  “So how do you know my son?” he said.

  Oh, here we go.

  “Your son rented a room to my sister and niece. Hey, listen, wanted to stop by and was hoping you could give this to Lizzie for me.” Marty pulled an envelope from his pocket, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out it had a bunch of cash in it. Of course, his dad was staring at it, and his face, his entire expression, darkened. Then he turned all of it on Gabriel, but he didn’t say anything, as if waiting for Gabriel to say something to enlighten him on this situation, which didn’t look good.

  “I can,” he said, but he didn’t hold out his hand as he stared at the envelope being held out to him. He figured from the way his dad was staring at him that he needed to ask more. “Is that a bunch of cash?” he finally said.

  “She’s had some tough breaks. It’s to help her out,” Marty replied.

  Gabriel took the envelope and tucked it into his back pocket. “I’ll see that she gets it,” he said.

  Marty was still there. He hadn’t left. “And just let Lizzie know, about the MM situation, I’m on it, and I’ll handle it. Great to see he didn’t mess you up. He’s been known to put a person in the hospital with that temper of his.” Marty reached over and slapped his shoulder, then fisted his hand in front of him, and Gabriel wasn’t sure how to respond. Marty then walked away and was back on his bike, revving the loud thing and pulling away.

  This was the first time he’d ever seen his dad speechless. Then Andy said, his hands now resting on his hips and giving Gabriel his full attention, “So what the hell is going on, and who is this Lizzie?”

  “Elizabeth is her name, and I rented a room to her. She’s a nice lady with a little girl,” Gabriel said.

  His dad couldn’t seem to form a word as he looked up the street to where the bike had gone and gestured with his thumb.

  “Yeah, okay, I’m seeing what you’re thinking, but she doesn’t fit with that image.” What else could he say? He still couldn’t understand, after meeting her family, how she’d turned out almost normal. Whatever that meant.

  “Let me get this straight. You have a roommate, a woman with a child, who’s living in your house and paying you money to rent a room from you.” His dad lifted his hand, and he knew there was still more he wanted to say, so he said nothing. “Why?”

  Okay, there it was, the reason he hadn’t wanted his parents to know. “Well, was short on cash. The renovations ended up costing me way more than I expected and kind of put me in a hole, so…” He stopped talking, because he could see the way his dad was leaning in with his energy, his arms crossed, waiting for him to finish. His dad’s burning intensity held him in place and made him feel as if he were under a microscope and there was no hope of slipping away.

  “So you opened your home to a stranger because you’re broke,” Andy said.

  “Yup, that would be it.” He tapped his hand on the tailgate, seeing that his dad was trying to figure out what to say.

  “And you couldn’t come to me.”

  Gabriel just stared at his dad and wondered how to explain to him that asking for help just wasn’t something he could do. “No, I couldn’t. This is my problem, mine to fix, and if I come running to you, what does that say about my ability to handle things? So no, Dad, I’m not taking any handouts,” he said. He wasn’t really sure how his dad was going to respond, but Andy seemed to relax and uncrossed his arms.

  “Well, okay then. But answer me this. Is this Lizzie…”

  “Elizabeth,” he said.

  “Sorry, Elizabeth. Is she the girl who was at the center of you almost getting your ass kicked?” His dad reached over and squeezed his shoulder, likely because he cou
ldn’t hide how defensive he was feeling. “Just humor me and maybe fill me in on what’s going on. The girl…”

  “Lady,” Gabriel said, and this time crossed his arms, as he didn’t miss the twitch tugging at the corners of his dad’s lips.

  “Excuse me. Okay, I think I’m starting to get the picture a little clearer. I take it she’s the one at the center of this.”

  Gabriel nodded. “But it’s not as you think. It’s about a guy she’s been done with for a long time who won’t leave her be. She’s a nice lady, she has a great kid, and she just needs a break.” Why did it feel like he was having to defend Elizabeth to his father?

  “Well, that’s mighty noble, but it’s starting to sound as if you have feelings you shouldn’t for this woman, and from what I’ve heard and seen…” His dad gestured up the road. “I’m starting to wonder if I need to be worried.”

  Gabriel just shook his head, resting his hand on the window he needed to carry in, feeling his dad’s gaze lingering on him. “Don’t start,” he said. “I’m fine, and you forget I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself…but since you’re here, why don’t you give me a hand bringing in this new window?”

  His dad glanced at the window and at him. “I know you’re a big boy…”

  Gabriel let out a groan. His dad was one to never let anything drop.

  “Hey, listen up,” Andy said. “As your parents, we get to worry, we get to say something, but at the same time, it’s your life you get to live. If I feel you’re letting a pretty face steer you down a road to disaster, though, I will step in.” His dad rested his hand on his shoulder again. “That’s kind of a thing that happens. I love you, we love you. You got it?” There it was, the fear he had seen a time or two in his dad’s eyes, that fatherly love, when he’d been so sick.

  “Fine, I got it,” he snapped, and this time his dad gave a soft chuckle and rustled his hair.