by Zoe York
Nodding, Annemarie went back to washing the dishes. “Am I ever going to stop feeling like that?”
“I suspect if you did, that’d be the end of it. John and I have been married almost forty-seven years now, and there are still times I feel like I’m not giving him enough in return for everything he does for me. Wanting to do as much—more even—for your partner as they do for you, that’s called love, honey.”
Love.
She tasted the word, savored it. It was more familiar now than the first few times she’d tested it, and she knew Ruth was right.
“Hey, Annie?” Gabe asked, strolling into the kitchen.
“Hmm?” she asked. Not trusting herself to look at him right now, she kept her gaze trained on what few dishes were left to wash.
“We should probably get back on the road. Cody’s not going to make it much longer.”
“We’re almost done.” She glanced at him as she set the second to last plate in the dish drainer. “Oh.”
Gabe had Cody propped on his hip with her son’s head resting on his shoulder. Cody’s limbs were completely limp, and his eyes were closed—he was out cold.
“I think he’s already done,” she mused.
Shifting his head back to look at the boy, Gabe let out a huff of laughter. He smoothed his free hand over Cody’s hair, and his smile gentled from amusement to paternal fondness. “That was quick. I guess I’d better get him settled in the truck. Meet you outside in a few?”
Annemarie nodded and set the last plate in the rack, then started fishing the forks out of the bottom of the sink, smiling and shaking her head as she watched her boys out the window.
My boys. Why not? If things kept going the way they were, Gabe would be hers just as much as Cody was, and vice versa.
I hope we make it, he’d said.
There was only one response to that that felt right. I hope we do, too.
Chapter 14
“You’re all set, Joanie,” Gabe announced when he strode into the lobby of Terri’s animal hospital. “Go ahead and test it.”
The silver-haired receptionist flipped the switch on the front desk, and the track lighting he’d installed flooded the area with crisp light. She turned a big smile on him. “You are a worker of wonders, Gabe. I really appreciate you squeezing us in today.”
“My pleasure, Joanie.”
Gabe grabbed the broom and swept up his mess while the woman admired the new lighting.
“Oh, yes. This is much better. I’m sure Terri’ll be happy and relieved, too. I’ve been on her for months about getting more light up here.”
He hauled his tools out to his truck and returned with Terri’s invoice. Joanie handed him the check Terri had written out ahead of time. He thanked her, waved, and headed out to his truck. He’d finished a couple hours earlier today than he’d planned, so he stopped by his house to change out of his work clothes and then drove to Annemarie’s office with some bookkeeping for her. She might not think she was doing him much of a favor, but not having to worry about his books had—as he’d suspected when he’d made the offer—freed up quite a bit of time and even more brain power.
He parked beside a familiar truck in front of McCoy Accountants. Joanie had said Terri was out on a call, so what was she doing here? This might be interesting.
When he located Annie’s open door, it became immediately clear why Terri was here; she and Annie were discussing payroll. He knocked lightly, and both women jerked their heads up.
“I see you took my suggestion, Terri,” he remarked. “I thought you were out on a ranch call.”
“I was. I finished early, so I figured it would be a good time to meet my new accountant.” She looked him up and down. “Looks like I’m not the only one who finished early today. You can’t be done with my side job already.”
“I am. The guy who wired your place did a great job. Made that little fix a piece of cake for me. Almost like he knew you were going to change your mind.”
“He’s modest, too.”
Holding his hands out to the side with palms up, he shrugged. “What can I say? I’m good at what I do.”
“That’s for damned sure. Thanks a million, Sparky. Joanie paid you, right?”
He nodded. Shifting his attention to Annie, he asked, “What time do you get off?”
“I was supposed to be off in ten, but I have some tax returns I need to finish up from this morning. I haven’t had a chance to get back to them all day.” She tilted her head and adorably caught her lip between her teeth. “Um… I have a huge favor to ask. Would you mind picking Cody up from school and heading out to my place? My parents should be there by four, and I forgot to leave the key out for them.”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.” She dug her keys out of her purse, slid the house key off the ring, and handed it to him. “His booster seat is in my truck—it’s unlocked—and I’ll call the school to let them know.”
He leaned over her desk to give her a quick peck on the lips, then strode out of the office. He sensed Terri following him out, so he held the door for her. She flashed him a smile as she slipped past him, and he couldn’t be sure, but he thought it held an air of regret.
“I really appreciate you squeezing me in,” she said when they reached their trucks. She leaned against the front fender of hers.
“You’re welcome.” Taking in her expression—eyes narrowed and lips pursed—he shifted his weight. “Something on your mind?”
“Yeah, I guess so. You and Annemarie Garrett.”
“What about us?”
“Us,” she murmured. “And you’re picking her kid up from school. Guess that means the rumors are true. Damn. I was hoping you might be up for a little fooling around one of these days, but it looks like that door’s been closed tight.”
“I think so.”
She lowered her gaze and drew patterns in the dirt of a pothole with the toe of her boot. It was so unlike her that he sighed and acknowledged the pang of remorse. There was nothing more between them than friendship and—once upon a time—a mutual need for physical companionship.
Maybe not so once-upon-a-time for her.
He hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “I’m sorry, Terri.”
She met his gaze again at last. “Don’t be. She deserves a good man.”
His lips twitched. “Thanks. I thought you were still seeing Jonathan.”
“That went south right about the time you started wiring Annemarie’s house.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“Why? I’m not.”
That was more like the Terri he knew, and he let out a breath.
“You tell her about us yet?”
He nodded. “Before we left for Torrington.”
“It’s a done deal for sure, then.” She let out a laugh. “She knows we’ve slept together, and there wasn’t a trace of jealousy or possessiveness about her the whole time she and I were talking. You’re hers, and she’s absolutely secure in that.”
“She’s pretty understanding.”
“She’s that and one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, but women are just as territorial as men, Sparky. She’s understanding because she knows there’s no chance of an interloper trespassing on her turf. Makes the situation crystal clear to me, especially when I consider who her son’s father is.”
“You know?”
“It wasn’t too hard to figure it out. And old Jim Hanson confirmed it for me one day last year. Around town, it’s still just a rumor, but I’d love to see it become common knowledge. Tom and Sandy could both stand to be brought down a peg or two.”
“As long as it didn’t come back on Annie and Cody, I agree.”
“If I ever find a man I trust as much as she trusts you….” Terri shook her head and let out a snort.
“God help the world,” Gabe finished for her. “Because you two will set it on fire.”
Laughing, she embraced him and then strode around to the driver-side door of her truck. “I best let y
ou go. Don’t want you to be late picking up your future stepson.” She winked. “See ya ‘round, Sparky.”
Gabe grabbed Cody’s booster seat out of Annie’s truck, climbed into his, and drove to the school with Terri’s final words echoing in his mind. It wasn’t Terri’s insinuation that he and Annie would end up married that sat wrong. It was the step in front of son. That implied Cody had had a father in his life, but Tom had not once attempted to fill that role. There would be no stepping into another man’s position in Cody’s life.
He pulled into a parking spot near the office of Cody’s school and strode inside. He knew the secretary—she’d been at her post since he’d started school, and she’d been his mother’s best friend since kindergarten—and when he rang the bell on the counter, she glanced up from her work and greeted him with a smile.
“Gabriel, what are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’m here to pick up Cody Garrett. But you already know that.”
“Does your mother know you’re picking up your girlfriend’s son from school?”
“I’m sure she will soon without me having to tell her,” he quipped. “Just as I’m sure you’re not nearly as surprised to see me as you sound.”
“You’re right. I’m not. Ruth was over the moon about you and Ms. Garrett when I talked to her last night.” The woman winked and picked up the phone. “Mrs. Jensen, would you send Cody to the office? Gabe is here to pick him up. Yes, that Gabe. Thank you.”
He rolled his eyes. “She doesn’t have to send him down right now. He glanced at the clock. “There’s still ten minutes left.”
“Oh, they’re cleaning up and getting ready to go, anyhow. I’m pretty sure this is more important.”
“The curse and the blessing of small towns,” he murmured. “Tell my mother hello when you talk to her tonight. Because I know you will.”
He walked over to the entrance to the kindergarten hall to wait for Cody, not in the mood to discuss the details of his private life with his mother’s gossip-prone best friend. Quelling his nerves about tonight seemed like a much better use of his time, though he couldn’t begin to explain why he was nervous. Or maybe he wasn’t. Maybe it was excitement and anticipation. It had been so long since he’d felt it—and never so acutely—that he couldn’t be sure.
“Gabe!” Cody yelled and sprinted down the hall, launching himself at Gabe.
“Hiya, squirt. Aren’t you supposed to walk in the halls?”
“Sorry.” Leaning back in Gabe’s arms, Cody glanced around the lobby. “Where’s Mom?”
“She has to work a little late tonight, so you and I are going to go home to meet your Grandma and Grandpa. Are you excited to spend the night with them?”
“Uh-huh. Last night when I talked to them, they said we could build a fort in the living room like we did last weekend and camp out!”
“I’m jealous! I love camping.”
“Can we go camping this summer? Not in the living room but real camping?”
“You bet.” He hooked one arm around Cody’s waist and waved to the secretary as he headed out the door.
Just outside, Gabe set Cody on his feet, and they raced out to his pickup. Cody talked the entire way to the turn-off toward the Grant Ranch about everything he’d learned at school, where he thought it would be fun to go camping this summer, how much he’d love to go back out to Collins Ranch, and a hundred other topics. If Gabe weren’t used to the rapid-fire subject changes from his nieces and nephews he might’ve gotten lost, but fortunately, he was able to keep up even when his mind drifted to his plans for the evenings. Or rather, his lack of plans. He figured Annie might appreciate a little spontaneity. With a young child at home and few friends or family nearby she could ask to watch Cody, it was something she didn’t often get to try.
Undoubtedly, they’d end up in bed together—she was staying the night at his place, after all—and he was prepared for that and ready for it, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t let things happen how they would. Natural, spontaneous, fun. No pressure.
“Hey, it’s Jim,” Cody remarked. “I think he wants to talk to us.”
Sure enough, the ranch hand stood in the open door of a tractor, arms waving. He climbed down and trotted across the uneven, freshly tilled earth toward the gate of the field, and Gabe slowed his truck to a stop and rolled down the window. He leaned out with his wrist resting casually on the windowsill.
“Afternoon, Jim,” he greeted.
“You’re just the man I’m looking for,” Jim returned. “Tom wants to talk to you.”
Gabe’s brows shot up. He could think of at least one reason Tom might want to talk to him, and it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have. Ever. It wouldn’t end well. “Oh? About what?”
“He finally convinced Thomas to build that new bunkhouse, and he wants to get a quote from you on the cost to wire it.”
“Uh-huh. Is he getting quotes from Halverson or Gentry?”
“Hell if I know.” Jim held up his hands. “I’m just the messenger. He’s up in the arena, if you have a minute or ten.”
Even if Tom was serious about hiring him and this wasn’t some ploy to chase him off and even if the money was damned good, it was unlikely he’d ever be able to work for the man. It was bad enough having to cross Grant Ranch to get to Garrett Ranch. He should just say no right now. And yet, he was curious. “I have a few, but not many. Annie’s parents are due shortly, and I need to be there when they arrive.”
“I doubt it’ll take more than five minutes. Ten tops.”
“Can you spare a couple minutes to run interference?”
“Unfortunately not. I’m already behind schedule. Thomas is up there, though.” Jim snorted. “’Course, he’s as likely to start trouble with Tom as he is to stop it. Might be more of a hindrance than a help.”
With a sigh, Gabe shifted his truck into gear and waved farewell to Jim as he turned toward the massive arena. He drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel as he drove the quarter mile into the heart of the Grant Ranch compound, more and more certain the closer he came that this was a stupid idea. Damn his curiosity.
Funny how his first trip by the compound had filled him with such longing for ranch life when now it filled him with dread.
He glanced at Cody, who sat silently in his booster seat staring ahead with wide eyes. Suddenly, his face lit up.
“Gramps is here!” He rolled down his window and called out to his grandfather.
Thomas’s face brightened with the same joy, and Gabe parked his truck beside the old rancher.
“Afternoon, Gabe.” Thomas leaned in the passenger-side window. “Cody, my boy, how was school?”
“Great!”
Gabe slid out of his pickup right as Tom stepped out of the arena, blinking against the brilliant spring sunlight. The tight-lipped, narrowed-eyed expression on the other man’s face instantly set Gabe on alert.
“We’re working the Belgians with the show wagon. Do you want to watch for a minute while Gabe talks with Tom?” Thomas asked Cody. He turned his eyes on Gabe. “If that’s all right with you, of course.”
“I’d rather he be with you than around Tom.”
“I figured as much.”
“You’re not making me feel any better about his intentions.”
Thomas shrugged and took Cody’s hand to lead the boy into the arena. Gabe watched them disappear inside before he marched over to Tom.
“Jim flagged me down,” he said. Best to get right down to business. “Said you might have some electrical work.”
“Yes,” Tom replied.
He reached into his pickup and pulled out what Gabe assumed was a house plan. He unrolled the paper across the hood of his truck, and Gabe’s guess was confirmed. Two bedrooms, one bath with laundry, and an open kitchen-living-dining area. It was bigger than his first house.
“This is a bunkhouse?” Gabe couldn’t help asking.
“Or a guest house. Dad thinks we should get into the hospitality bus
iness, add a little dude ranching to the operation. We’re not decided on that yet, but even if we don’t go for it, we could always use the extra housing for the ranch hands. Jim and Cam are pretty cramped in their bunkhouse.”
While Tom talked, Gabe inspected the plans, plotting the circuits in his head along with the best placement for lights, outlets, and switches. By the time Tom had finished his narrative, Gabe had a ballpark figure of what he’d charge for the job. Then he added a couple thousand to cover the annoyance of working for the man. It’d make his quote higher than either of his competitors, but that was the point. He didn’t want the job.
“Is there anything special you want?” he asked. He rolled up the floor plan and handed it to Tom, who waved it away.
“You hold on to that. It’s a copy. And no. Standard oven and range, fridge, dishwasher, microwave in the kitchen. Nothing fancy for the washer and dryer. I’ll leave the placement of lights and outlets and all that to your judgment. How quick do you think you can have a quote put together for me?”
“Monday morning.”
“Not working weekends anymore?”
Gabe met the man’s gaze head on, and the meaning behind the words was as clear as the sky above. “Not as an electrician.”
“I see.” Tom folded his arms across his chest, and his semi-polite expression shifted into a dark scowl. “Stay away from Annemarie, Collins.”
Walk away. Now. “What does it matter to you?”
“I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
Gabe gave a bark of laughter. “You are so full of shit it’s no wonder your eyes are brown. Compared to how badly you hurt her, I could be the biggest asshole in the world and not come anywhere near what you did.”
“I mean it, Collins. Stay away from her. And stay away from my son.”
“TJ? No problem there. The kid’s a bona fide brat.”
“I meant Cody.”
“If he weren’t such an afterthought to you, I might consider your input, but at this point, Cody is more my son than yours. That makes them both mine to protect. Not yours.” He hurled the floor plan through the open window of Tom’s shiny new pickup. “As long as their well-being is my concern, Collins Electrical will never work for Grant Ranch. And in case you’re wondering how long that might be, quite possibly the rest of my life.”