Juliette’s father had wanted to keep their small town exactly as it was, encouraging the town council to veto any permits submitted for commercial or large-scale residential construction projects. Juliette, on the other hand, believed they needed to change with the times and welcome growth and the people willing to pump jobs and money into their local economy.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Juliette snagged the stool Gabby kept on the other side of the counter as she watched Gabby work. “I just wonder sometimes if I’m sacrificing too much, you know? My social life has been nonexistent since I took this job. I can’t even tell you the last time I had a date.”
Gabby knew a lot of the local guys were intimidated by Juliette. Not only was she beautiful and smart, but her word was the last say on most of the important issues in Vista Falls. “So maybe you should look for more help. I know you’ve got a great deputy mayor, but—”
“It’s not in the budget,” Juliette said, shaking her head. “We’re operating on a shoestring as it is.”
“What about volunteers?” Gabby suggested, tying a pretty aqua bow around the arrangement. “You have a lot of friends in this town, people who’d be willing to step up and help if you asked, me included.”
“You’re a good friend,” Juliette said with a smile when Gabby passed her the flowers. “Thanks. But enough about me. I really came here to talk about you.”
“What about me?” Gabby had a sneaking suspicion she already knew, but Colt was the last person she wanted to talk about today… or any other day for that matter.
“I couldn’t help but notice Colt cut in when you were dancing with Dave at the wedding.” Juliette raised an eyebrow. “Next thing I knew, Dave was leaving and you were taking off with Colt.”
It hadn’t exactly happened that way, but Gabby was sure that was the way everyone perceived it. “Dave and I aren’t seeing each other anymore.” It was only a matter of time before everyone found out, so Gabby figured she should be the one to tell her friends before they heard it from someone else.
“Because of Colt?”
“Because we weren’t right for each other.” Gabby sat on the second stool behind the counter. “He’s a great guy, just not the right one for me.”
“But you think Colt could be?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” Gabby said, reaching for the iced coffee she’d slipped next door to buy before her part-timer left. “Colt doesn’t think he’s the right guy for me.” She raised a finger before Juliette could ask for an explanation. “Correction—he thinks he’s the right guy if I want to have a little fun, if I’m willing to waste months or years dating a guy who can never give me more than that.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Juliette said, frowning. “You two were pretty serious back in high school from what I recall. You told me about your one night with him last year. Did he honestly think he could come back here and just date you?”
“That’s exactly what he thought.” It didn’t make sense to Gabby either. How could he have thought that would be enough even if she had been able to get over her trust issues where he was concerned? “But it’s probably for the best anyhow. We all know Colt isn’t the kind of guy you should plan a future around.”
“Because you can’t trust he’ll stick around?”
“Look at his track record,” Gabby said, waving when another regular, who owned a boutique two doors down, walked by. “He bailed on me in high school. He came back, supposedly to stay, yet bailed again after our one-night stand. I think it’s only a matter of time before he disappears again. Bottom line, there are just too many bad memories in Vista Falls for Colt to seriously consider making this his home.”
“Speaking of bad memories,” Juliette said, curling the flower arrangement’s satin bow around her finger. “I was out at the nursing home the other day. I hadn’t seen Colt’s dad in a long time. Let’s just say I was shocked.”
“Oh yeah, why’s that?”
“You remember how big and burly he was?” Juliette shuddered. “Such a menace. Now he’s this frail, little old man. I barely recognized him.”
“Huh.” Gabby rarely talked to Colt about his father and certainly had no idea whether he maintained regular contact with him, though she couldn’t imagine why he would want to.
“I feel bad for Colt’s mom.” Juliette rolled her eyes when her cell phone rang. “I’ll let it go to voicemail. I’m entitled to a break, right?”
“Absolutely.”
Gabby thought of Colt’s mom. She’d always been reclusive when they were growing up, probably because she knew that every time she stepped out, people were whispering behind her back about how she could stay married to a man like Colt Sr.
“I feel bad for Colt’s mom too, but she made her choices, right? From what Colt told me back in high school, she never made any attempt to stand up to his dad. Maybe that’s why he was the way he was, because everyone let him get away with it.”
“You might be right.” Juliette slid off her stool, collecting her purse and flowers. “Can you charge these to my account, hon?”
“You got it.”
“I’ll call you later this week. Maybe we can meet for a drink on the weekend?”
“I’d love that,” Gabby said, giving Juliette a one-armed hug before she left.
Gabby sat in her little shop long after her friend left, surrounded by so much beauty and wondering why Colt was letting his ugly memories hold him prisoner.
Chapter Six
“Hey.”
Gabby was turning the key in the lock, closing her flower shop for the day, when Colt came up behind her. He’d been thinking about her all day, and he knew he wouldn’t get a moment’s peace until they’d talked again.
“You scared me,” Gabby said, flattening her palm against her chest. “Don’t sneak up on me like that. You’re going to give me a heart attack.”
“Sorry.” He nodded at the diner across the street. “I was just going to grab a burger. Wanna join me?”
“I was going to go to the grocery store,” she said, seeming hesitant. “Things were so busy this weekend with the wedding and all that I didn’t have a chance to shop.”
“It’s open late, right?” He knew the only grocery store in town was open late because he preferred to shop when he wouldn’t risk running into someone he knew. He hated small talk, especially when it revolved around his family, which it usually did in Vista Falls.
“Well, yeah, but—”
“Come on,” Colt said, grinning. “You know you’re not supposed to shop on an empty stomach, don’t you? You’ll make all kinds of crazy impulse purchases that are bad for you.”
“I tend to make a lot of impulse decisions that are bad for me,” she said, dropping her keys in her oversized, brightly-colored purse.
“Ouch.” There was no question in Colt’s mind that she was referring to her decision to sleep with him last year.
“I’m sorry.” She lowered her head, looking at the sidewalk. “That wasn’t fair. I don’t regret our time together− even if things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to.”
He was tempted to ask her what she wanted where he was concerned, but that would open a door that should remained firmly closed and locked. “Look, I know I probably shouldn’t be here, but I can’t seem to stay away from you, not when we’re living just a few miles apart.”
She cast a glance at the diner. “You know people will start talking if they see us together, don’t you?”
“I really don’t care. Do you?” Unlike him, she had a reputation worth protecting, so he wouldn’t have blamed her if she didn’t want to be associated with him. Especially since she’d just broken up with a man everyone probably thought was perfect for her.
“No, I don’t care.” She shook her head slowly. “For the record, I never did.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know my parents gave us a hard time when we were dating. They were worried about us getting too serious because we we
re so young.”
Colt scoffed. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. They hated my guts because they thought I was just like my old man. They didn’t think I was good enough for you. And really, who could blame them? I happen to agree.”
“Don’t do that,” she said, scowling. “Don’t put yourself down. And don’t assume you know what’s best for me. I didn’t like it when my parents did it, and I don’t like it when you do it.”
Colt loved that Gabby had never been afraid to stand up to him. Most people were afraid of setting him off, but she’d always sworn there was a softer side lurking beneath his tough exterior.
“Sorry,” he said, smiling as he took her hand and kissed it.
She withdrew her hand quickly. “Don’t do that. Just because I agreed to have a burger with you doesn’t mean you’re allowed to touch me. You’re not.”
She was so cute when she was trying to resist him. He raised his hands as he tried to suppress his smile. “My bad. I promise to keep my hands to myself.”
Gabby grunted as she brushed past him. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Atkins.”
He watched her walk ahead of him. She was wearing a white tank top, flip-flops, and a colorful floral skirt that would have been up around her neck with a strong gust of wind. She looked fun and flirty, just as she had in high school.
He had to laugh when she made a mad dash across the street instead of crossing at the crosswalk like she was supposed to. “Hey, wait up!”
She glanced over her shoulder, giggling. “Hurry up, old man. I’m hungry!”
“Old man, huh?” He jogged across the street, smirking when he stopped in front of her. “If you’re up for it later, I can show you just how young and virile I am.”
“Colt.” His name sounded like a warning before she bit her lip. “We can’t do this. I get that you want to find a way to coexist since we’re both going to be living here and our best friends are married now, but…”
“You don’t want me to misread the signals.” He stepped back, trying to give her the space she claimed to want. “I get it.”
“I didn’t feel good about where we left things last night,” she said, repositioning the strap of her purse on her shoulder. “So I’m glad you came by tonight. I agree we need to talk, to clear the air so to speak. But I need you to know that…” She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Sex isn’t on the table. That doesn’t mean we can’t spend time together as friends, but there can’t be anything more between us. I need to know that you’re okay with that.”
If he lied to her and told her that he was finally ready to settle down, he believed she would give him another chance, but if there was one woman he could never lie to it was Gabby. “I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah.” There was so much sadness in that one word because he didn’t want to understand. He didn’t want to back off. He wanted to pursue her. But how could he, knowing she could get hurt again and it would be all his fault? “Come on, let’s grab that burger. I’m starving.”
She led the way to the diner, smiling when he opened the glass door before she could. “Thanks.”
He hadn’t been much of a gentleman back in high school, mainly because he’d never had a real man to show him how to be one. But over the years, he’d taught himself all he needed to know to impress a lady. “My pleasure.”
“Well, I don’t believe my eyes!”
Colt grimaced at the sight of the now-white-haired waitress who’d been serving them since high school. “Hey, Paula. How’ve you been?”
“Colt and Gabby together again,” she said, winking at Gabby. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Oh, we’re not…” Gabby blushed as she gestured from Colt to herself. “We’re not, uh, together. We’re just friends. I was just closing up shop when Colt passed by and said he was on his way to grab a bite, so I decided to join him.” She shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Just two old friends grabbing some food.” She looked around the diner, noting the several people tucked into booths who had turned to look at them. “Nothing to see here.”
Colt bit the inside of his lip, thinking how cute Gabby sounded when she babbled. He should have saved her from further embarrassment but decided to let her wind down on her own.
“Whatever you say, honey,” Paula said with a laugh as she grabbed two plastic menus from a stand by the door. “You two come on over here. I’ve got just the table for you. Nice and private.”
“Oh, we don’t need privacy,” Gabby said, stopping abruptly as Colt’s hands settled on her waist. “It’s not like we’ll be talking about anything personal. Just small talk.” She looked out the window. “Maybe the weather.” She grimaced as though she realized how ridiculous she must sound. “It sure has been warm this week, hasn’t it? Not that I’m complaining. I’ll take this over snow any day, wouldn’t you?”
Paula laughed as she set the menus on their table. “You need to relax, girl. You’re going to get high blood pressure, getting all worked up like this.”
Colt smiled at the waitress. Paula was one of the few people in town who had never blamed him for his father’s sins. She used to serve them when they’d been wild kids coming in after every football game. “Thanks, Paula.”
She patted his cheek affectionately. “It sure is good to see you back home where you belong.”
“Thanks, it’s good to be back.”
Resting a hand on Gabby’s shoulder when she sat down, Paula said, “Maybe you should have a piece of Bea’s chocolate cream pie. That’s sure to calm your nerves.”
“Oh God,” Gabby said, dropping her head into her hand when Paula walked away. “What’s wrong with me?” She glared at Colt. “And why did you let me go on like that, making a damn fool of myself?”
“I happen to think you’re cute when you’re embarrassed or nervous…” He grinned. “Or whatever that was.”
“I hate you.”
He might have been concerned if there was any bite to her words. “No, you don’t. You love me.” When she paled, his smile slipped. “Joking, Gab. Just joking.”
“I did love you, you know.” Her voice dropped as she leaned in. “So much. It wasn’t just a stupid first-love thing either. Years after you left, I still couldn’t think about you without feeling sad that you were gone, that I might never get to see you again.”
He was speechless. He hadn’t expected that kind of admission tonight. He’d expected Gabby to stick to safe topics, as she’d told Paula, that wouldn’t leave her feeling exposed. Because he admired her bravery, he said, “I loved you too.”
“Really?” She ran a finger over the edge of her menu. “Was it the kind of love you feel for your first real girlfriend or something more?”
“It was more. Way more.” So much more that he couldn’t even put it into words. “I wouldn’t be back here now if it weren’t for you.”
“What about Wes and your business?”
His best friend and business should have been incentive enough, but those things didn’t promise the same kind of pleasure Gabby did. “That night we spent together at the inn—”
“I forgot to ask you what you wanted to drink,” Paula said, returning to their table, pen and notepad in hand. “And if you’re ready to order now…”
“I’ll just have a water,” Gabby said quickly before studying the menu. “And a tuna melt with sweet potato fries, please.”
Colt hadn’t even bothered to check out the menu, but if the diner was like everyone and everything else in Vista Falls, not much had changed over the years. “A cheeseburger with everything and fries sounds good, Paula. And I think I’ll have a Coke with that.”
Gabby raised an eyebrow at him as she thanked Paula and handed back her menu. “What? No beer tonight?”
“Uh, I had a few too many last night,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. He’d continued drinking when he went home, not that it helped. He still fell asleep thinking about Gabby with that dou— “So, uh, h
ow’d your talk with the ex go?”
“He was very understanding.”
“Oh yeah?” That made him an even bigger idiot than Colt thought. If he’d been dating Gabby when her ex returned to town, he would have fought like hell to keep her interest.
“You say that like you don’t believe me.”
“I find it hard to believe any man would willingly let you go.” He didn’t really want the answer to his next question, but since he’d been wondering for years, he had to ask. “I still can’t believe your ex-husband was stupid enough to divorce you. How’d that happen?”
She looked sad as she absently rubbed the spot where her wedding ring must have been. “Things weren’t great before the miscarriage, but after it was even worse. I was sad all the time, and so was he. At first we pretended it was losing the baby, but we eventually had to admit we were making each other miserable.”
“I’m sorry.” He felt guilty for probing into a part of her life that was none of his business, especially since the wounds were obviously still raw.
“I guess it’s true what they say—everything happens for a reason. When I first lost the baby, my heart was broken. But now I realize our marriage wasn’t strong enough to bring a baby into the world. We would have divorced eventually, and that wouldn’t have been fair to our child.”
Colt considered reminding her that some children knew their parents should get divorced, but maybe he’d just been a weird kid. Instead of wishing his parents would stay together, he’d wished his mother would wise up and get her children away from that beast. But it never happened, and he’d eventually stopped praying it would. “Wes told me you and your husband had a lot in common though: hunting, fishing—”
“In the beginning, I was looking for someone who liked to do all the fun things you and I used to do together. But it didn’t take me long to realize that probably wasn’t the best idea.”
“Why not?”
“I couldn’t help drawing comparisons.” Gabby smiled at Paula when she set their drinks down, promising their food would be up in just a few minutes. “It was subconscious at first. I didn’t realize I was doing it until we got into a fight one night and he told me he was sick of being compared to you.”
Letting Go (Vista Falls #3) Page 6