Bed Of Roses (The Five Senses Series Book 4)

by Gemma Brocato

  “You could kick yourself if you were a forensic accountant and missed it. But since you aren’t, you should probably let it go. The authorities will arrest Michael when he reenters the country.”

  “Too bad we don’t tar and feather criminals anymore, or put them in the stocks on the town square.” His expression lightened, and he leaned against his truck. “The detective called this morning and informed me all of Michael’s assets have been frozen. Wish I could have been there when the Cayman’s banking official delivered the news the transfer couldn’t be completed.”

  “Then he’s aware he’s been found out? What if he doesn’t come back?” she asked. Her fingers were warm with his wrapped around them still.

  “I understand he wasn’t given a reason why the check wouldn’t clear. He’ll be back, even if his plan is to only visit. He’ll have to come to sort out why the money is inaccessible. He has no idea yet his stay is going to be more in the range of three to five years.” Gunnar’s grin was wicked and satisfied.

  “You’ll get all your money back?”

  Gunnar nodded “Most of it.”

  She chuckled. “Well, I can hire you at ten bucks an hour as my regular delivery guy if you need to earn some extra cash.”

  “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll pass. Getting the gym back on good financial legs is going to be a priority. Not much time to smell the roses.” He pressed his lips to the back of her hand as if grateful for the offer. Pulling their joined hands to his chest, he soothed his thumb over her wrist. “I’d better go make these deliveries. I’ll be back for the rest in a while.”

  “Okay, but it shouldn’t be too much. I have another guy coming to help.” At his raised brow, she laughed. “Yeah, he’s another friend I wouldn’t sleep with, okay? He’s eighteen and definitely not my kind of man. You’re the only man for me.”

  “I know. I just wanted to make sure you knew it. You’re the only woman for me.”

  He kissed her again then stepped away from her. He waved as he skirted the truck. He climbed in, fired up the engine, and then drove off.

  Taking her heart with him.

  Chapter 19

  After an hour spent delivering arrangements for Mal, Gunnar had discovered a new-found respect for Ben Eckert. The man drove a delivery van daily, stopping frequently, hopping in and out of the vehicle, avoiding dogs tied in the yard. The first time a large Rottweiler had leaped against a backyard fence, it startled Gunnar so much he’d nearly dropped the arrangement he’d been carrying. No one wanted to hear a deep-throated growl that preceded ferocious barking. By the third time it happened, he’d merely shrugged off the incident, muttering to the dog to shut the fuck up just before he rang the front bell. He shook his head at the idea that the sweet little old lady who’d answered the door owned a big attack dog.

  He’d just delivered the last arrangement he had in the truck. Driving back to the shop along the road bordering the harbor, a flash of red caught his eye. He braked and peered out the side window, thinking it was Mal. She owned a bright red jacket. He was mistaken, but the girl was still familiar. Perched atop one of the boulders that lined the bay, Gaby’s blond hair fluttered in the chilly breeze. She put her white mittens to her mouth and blew on them. Glancing at the clock, alarm bells tripped in his brain. School didn’t let out for another thirty minutes. She should still be in class.

  Scanning the road for traffic, he waited for a blue Toyota sedan to creep past, then pulled into an angled parking spot opposite where the teen sat. He turned off the truck and observed her for a moment. She drew up her knees and had bent her head to them, hiding her face. Her posture looked...defeated.

  Gunnar exited the truck and closed the door softly behind him. Pulling the zipper of his leather jacket up, he hunched his shoulders against the cold and pocketed his keys. He strode across the rocky surface toward her.

  “Gaby?”

  She whipped her head up and blinked. From where he stood below her on hardscrabble rocks, he noticed tracks of moisture on her cheeks. Turning her head, she swept a mitten over her face, scrubbing at the drying tears.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked when she looked down at him.

  “I’ve been making deliveries for Malin. Can I?” He gestured to the spot next to her then shoved his fists into his pockets.

  Narrowing her eyes, she shrugged. “It’s a free country.”

  That was probably as close as he’d get to an affirmative answer. He scrambled up, using natural indentations in the rock for foot and hand holds. When he reached her side, he lowered himself next to her. Cold seeped through his jeans as he settled. Gaby shivered next to him. How long had she been here? She had to be freezing. He scooted a little closer than he normally would have sat to someone he barely knew. It was the only way he could think to lend her some of his body heat.

  “What’s going on?” He deliberately made his tone non-accusatory.

  “Just, you know...hanging out.”

  “School get out early today?”

  She shook her head. A shiver claimed her body. A river of sympathy flowed within his chest. Poor kid was cold, alone, and if her tears could be trusted, pretty damned sad.

  “You know, you don’t have to tell me what’s bothering you. It must be something pretty big though if you’re willing to sit on the coldest rock known to man in the coldest month of the year. You been sitting here long?”

  She shrugged again.

  “Why didn’t you go home? At least you’d have been warm while you moped.”

  Her gaze was icy as she looked at him. She shrugged. “Don’t have a house key.”

  “Did you ask for one?”

  Shaking her head, she said nothing. Time to push a little.

  “Gaby,” he began.

  She sighed.

  This wasn’t going to go easily, but he forged ahead. “It might help to talk about it. You want to go get coffee? The diner should be pretty empty at this time of day. Or we could go to my health club and get some of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted. And I’m not just bragging because I own the joint. It really is good cocoa.”

  A smiled barely tugged at the corner of her mouth. “What makes it so great?”

  He glanced around as if looking for eavesdroppers then leaned toward her. He lowered his voice. “It’s the peppermint syrup.”

  She finally looked at him. “I like chocolate and candy canes.”

  The sadness and anguish in her gaze nearly slayed him. Part of his heart chipped off, and he wanted to wrap his arms around Mal’s sister and whisper everything would be okay. But he didn’t make promises he couldn’t keep. “Well, let’s go. If anyone is sitting near the fireplace, I’ll evict ’em. Ownership has its perks, you know.” He pushed to his feet and extended his hand to help her up. Even her mitten was chilled.

  Gaby shuffled her feet across the rocky beach to the truck. Once she climbed in, she fastened her seatbelt and turned her face to the window, body trembling from the cold. Not sure what to say, Gunnar simply started the motor. After he cranked up the heat, he reversed out of the parking space. Other than the classic eighties music playing on his favorite station, the drive to the club passed in silence.

  He escorted Gaby into the club. Steering her to the corner, he asked, “Why don’t you grab a seat by the fireplace? I’ll get the hot chocolate.”

  Shoulders slumped, Gaby moved to a table and dropped into a chair. She scooted the chair around until she faced the gas fire. Drawing her mittens off, she held her hands to the heat, staring absently into the flames.

  Gunnar ordered their drinks and made small talk with the café attendant while waiting. Warmth from the steaming paper cups seeped into his palms. He set a cup in front of Gaby, then took the seat next to her, sipping his vanilla coffee. He’d decided to wait until Gaby was ready to talk but holding his tongue was difficult. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Gaby to speak.

  “I don’t fit in.” Her soft voice barely carried above the noise from t
he weight floor.

  “At school?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” Gaby lifted troubled eyes to meet his gaze. “The kids in my classes all looked at me like I was a curiosity they’d never seen outside of a zoo. Or a freak show.”

  “Why do you think that?” Gunnar’s goal was to keep her talking.

  “I heard a couple of them talking in the bathroom after lunch. Stupid girls were talking about my mom. I’m the girl whose mom died. Pathetic.” She spit out the last word as if it had a bitter taste. “They’ve already labeled me. They were laughing about my mom dying. Bitches. But they don’t know me.”

  Gunnar knew from experience with his sister during high school that teenage girls could be downright ugly. He shoved away the panic caused by the sight of tears in Gaby’s eyes and let indignation reign. How dare they ridicule something like the death of a parent? Laughing at Gaby because her mother had passed away was about as nasty as it got.

  “Some people are too stupid to live.” He shook his head in disgust, then demanded, “How many girls?”

  “What?”

  “How many girls were laughing?”

  “Two.” Her voice trembled. “I saw them in the cafeteria right before. They were the popular kids. I could tell.”

  Dammit. “How many girls do you suppose are enrolled at the school?”

  “I don’t know. It isn’t as big as my school in Boston. Maybe two hundred.”

  “You’re fifteen, right? Have you had any statistics or advanced math classes?” He waited until she nodded to continue. “Are you really going to let a paltry one percent of the entire female population of school determine you don’t fit in? Gaby, do you see the fault in that logic?”

  Her eyes flashed to his, deer in the headlights style. Covering her mouth with her fingers, she seemed lost in thought, as if doing the calculation. “I guess it isn’t a very representative sample.”

  “Damn straight it isn’t.” He unclenched his fists and rested his palms on the table. “Two out of two hundred is chicken feed. Those girls might think they’re going to set the world on fire, but I’ll let you in on a little a strategy. Make friends with the geeks and nerds and unpopular kids at school. Geeks are going to rule the world one day.”

  “Good to know, Einstein.” Finally, she cracked a grin. “The girl who walked me to my classes was nice. We just didn’t share a lunch period. I went to the lunchroom, but no one invited me to sit with them. And those two girls acted like I had a disease. I didn’t want to eat by myself, so I went to the library.” Color swept into her cheeks. “A couple of the jocks waved at me.”

  “Okay, if the jocks start hitting on you, I can take care of them for you.” He reached over and tapped her shoulder with his fist.

  She rolled her eyes and giggled. “Maybe I don’t want you to handle them. I might want to date one of them.”

  “Over my dead body.”

  Her eyes widened. She giggled again, the sound light and happy. “Say what? You think you can tell me who I can or can’t go out with?” Her voice rose, but the smile on her face told him she wasn’t upset.

  Gunnar recalled a similar conversation he’d had with Rikki once when she had considered going out with one of his athlete friends. Gunnar didn’t want that guy’s reputation as a man-slut tainting his sister. “I’ve met a few of the jocks your age here at the gym. I’ve met a few of the geniuses, too. I’m happy to offer suggestions about who might be worthy of keeping company with you.”

  The smile fell off her face. Clasping her hand around her cup of hot chocolate, she stared into the milky brown mixture. “Why are you being so nice to me? Is it because you’re sleeping with my sister?”

  “No.”

  Maybe. He was sleeping with Mal, but it was more than just sex. But, if it came to losing sex or losing his friend, he’d give up the sex. Although, he hoped it wouldn’t come to that kind of choice.

  “Gaby, I like Mal a whole lot. But that’s not why I’m being nice to you. You’re an okay kid, and you’ve been knocked down lately with your mom dying. You can use a friend.”

  “Mal’s my friend, too. Weird, huh? I was all set to hate her. I’d even talked to Gillian about ways to make Mal’s life miserable. I mean, my mom dumped her like a bad habit. She had to be pretty awful if her mom ditched her, right?”

  She paused and hung her head. “I wouldn’t have been much different than those two bitches at school today.”

  Too bad Malin wasn’t present for this discussion. It would have made her smile. Gunnar loved every version of her smile. Especially the sexy variety on her face as he moved within her. Crap, better stop those thoughts.

  He watched Gaby run her fingertip around the rim of the cup. “What made you change your mind?”

  She dipped her finger into the chocolate, then licked it before answering. “I’ve gotten to know her over the past few weeks. She’s okay. My mom must have been insane when she took off and left her. I know she kept track of Mal over the years. I came home from school early one day and caught her looking at an album full of stuff about Mal. She shut the book and changed the subject. But I was a snoop and found it when she was out of the house. Imagine my shock when I discovered I had a sister. I didn’t want Mom to know I’d found it, and I was so pissed I never bothered to ask about her other daughter.”

  “From what Mal’s told me, she went through a pretty hard time. She’s still resentful. I’m sure kids in school were as ugly then as they are now.”

  “A month ago, I didn’t give a shit. All I worried about was whether a popular boy would ask me to the winter dance. Funny how quickly that can change.” Gaby shrugged. Moisture glistened in her eyes again. “I’m always going to miss my mom, aren’t I?”

  Gunnar leaned forward and put his hand over Gaby’s where it rested on the table. “Of course you are, kiddo. Just like Mal has always missed her. But at least you have Malin to help you through it. All she ever had was Ben. Sounds like he was drunk most of the time.”

  “I feel bad I ever hated her,” Gaby admitted. “I do like living with her. She was so cool about getting my bed so I could sleep better. She treats me like an adult. Plus, she’s given me a job, which is awesome. I like working in the shop.”

  “Gunnar Sims! You old handsome devil!” An excited, cultured voice interrupted them just before the owner swooped in and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.

  Enveloped in a cloud of Chanel Number 5, he recognized the owner of the expensive scent instantly. He only knew one woman who wore that much perfume to work out.

  He broke the hold of the woman. He stood and turned to face her. “Ashleigh. Are you just getting started with your workout, or finished?”

  Ashleigh Aubrey-Smith stood in front of him. Tight spandex hugged every curve, leaving little to the imagination. Gunnar repressed a shudder as he recalled he’d been attracted to this particular woman when he’d first arrived in Granite Pointe. He’d been flattered when she’d pursued him. He’d almost let her catch him. Until he’d learned she was engaged to some other man. Since then, he’d been kind but professional with her. Her poor fiancé had no idea the woman he was about to marry was nothing more than a gold-digging wannabe.

  Ashleigh ran crimson-tipped fingers down his bicep, scratching at the crook of his elbow, about as far from a turn on as the action could get. He moved his hand to his pocket in an effort to get away from her claws.

  “I just got here. I’m meeting Walt for a training session. Do you have time to warm me up?” Her tone implied she’d prefer he’d sex her up.

  “Sorry, I’m tied up for the rest of the afternoon. I’m helping Malin Eckert make deliveries.” He gestured toward Gaby, who’d compressed her lips and peered at Ashleigh through narrowed eyes. “Have you met Mal’s sister, Gaby?”

  Ashleigh barely glanced toward Gaby. “Waste-product Ben had another kid? I didn’t realize.”

  “Hey!” Gaby tensed in her seat, as if she was ready to jump to Mal’s defense. “That’s my si
ster’s dad you’re dissing. Apologize.”

  Taking a step back, Ashleigh folded her arms under her abundant, surgically enhanced chest and scowled at Gaby, then ignored her. “Gun, have you heard? I’m not engaged anymore. I couldn’t bear the thought of spending the rest of my life with an accountant. Not my type of man. I had to end it.” Her tone implied Gunnar was her type of man. Blowing out a pouty breath, she shifted her weight to one leg, jutting her hip into Gunnar’s groin.

  He took a hasty step back, his butt jamming into the back of his chair. “I hadn’t heard. I’m sorry.”

  Gaby coughed into her hand. It sounded suspiciously like the word slut. Gunnar bit his cheek to keep from laughing. The entire exchange went right over poor oblivious Ashleigh’s expertly-highlighted head.

  Ashleigh stepped closer, inclined her head, and sent him a look from under her eyelashes. “So that leaves us free to couple up. What do you say, Gunnar. Would you like to spend Valentine’s Day with me?”

  Okay, if she thought that look was sexy, she was sorely mistaken. Gunnar bent to retrieve his coffee cup. “I’m with someone else, Ashleigh. And even if I wasn’t, I doubt you and I would be a good fit.”

  “Oh, I think we’d fit together marvelously. I mean, we have similar backgrounds and our social standing is nearly equal. And we’re both beautiful people. Where are you going to find a better match?”

  Was that all the woman cared about? Social standing? Physical beauty? He could never be friends with her. Even in his wildest dreams. He spied Walt coming through the door to the cardio floor and waved him over. “Look, here’s Walt for your session. Nice talking to you. Have a great workout.”

  Ashleigh trained a sulky gaze on him, jutting out her lower lip. He couldn’t imagine why he’d ever indulged in a flirtation with her. Good Lord, how had he’d ever wanted to kiss this woman? After greeting Walt and mentally promising himself he’d treat the trainer to a round of beers soon, he excused himself, took Gaby’s arm, and led her away from the table.