by Carol Henry
“They can conjure all they want, it ain’t gonna happen. There is no way I’m ever going to let a woman get her hands on me or my money again. And if you so much as mention I’m a writer in front of her or any other woman, you’re dead meat.”
Chad recalled with startling clarity how Gabriella Rumsey had thrown his money at his feet, and had refused the position—at first. Probably just a ploy on her part to throw him off guard. No doubt she was after a bigger pay off.
“You know, Hempstead. You’ve become very cynical since you got involved with Tanya. Not everyone is out for your money just because Tanya was a moneygrubber.”
Chad remembered all too well having been hit up by Tanya’s lawyer for a financial settlement to “facilitate their amicable separation.” Hell, they’d only been engaged a few months. He’d been shell-shocked. But he’d given in after a fight. He didn’t want his Bronson B. Brady pseudonym mucked through the tabloids. Giving in had been worth it if for no other reason than he wouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life with Tanya bleeding him dry.
No, sir. Marriage was not on his agenda in the foreseeable future.
Chad rubbed his hand across his eyes and down over his chin. He needed a shave. He needed sleep.
“I don’t need the complication. And I definitely don’t need a baby hanging around. Man, I don’t need to get involved in a family dispute or whatever has this woman being a single mother right now. I’m not even sure she was married. There’s no ring on her finger.”
“Being pretty presumptuous to think she’d want you to get involved with her, don’t you think?”
Chad stared at his friend. Dennis was right. His friend had a way of grounding him when he most needed it. What in the hell was he getting himself so worked up over anyway? So, he had helped someone out of a jam by giving her a few hundred dollars, even though the accident was partly his fault. It didn’t mean she needed saving. Or he needed to be the one doing the saving.
Even if she was one of the most beautiful women he’d run into—literally. Chad smiled. Gabriella was beautiful in a woebegone, waifish sort of way. But yet, she was feisty as all get out.
“Sounds to me as if this woman is getting to you,” Dennis said. “I’d watch out if I were you. You said she was going to be living with your parents? And you?”
“She’s not living with me. Besides, I’m immune.” Chad raised his bottle for the bartender to see, and held up his other hand requesting two. One for Dennis.
“By the way, I need your assistance. I have to help Ms. Rumsey move in.”
Dennis whistled softly, then laughed. “This beer’s on me. I wouldn’t miss this event for all the beer in Milwaukee. Where? When? And what time?”
Dennis’ know-it-all smile was asking to be knocked sideways to Sunday. If they weren’t such good friends he just might consider it.
“Ten a.m., and don’t be late, smart ass, or our friendship ends at 10:01.”
****
When Chad arrived early Friday morning, Gabriella had Nina dressed, fed, sleeping, and her boxes packed, stacked, and waiting.
“This is my brother-in-law, Sean,” Chad introduced the tall lanky young man who had just stepped from his truck. “And this is Dennis, a friend of the family. He offered to help.”
“Define offered,” Dennis said, grinning. He extended his hand out to greet Gabriella. “Glad to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too. Thanks for offering to help.”
Chad ignored them. As he walked toward the apartment complex, he motioned for the others to follow as if he’d been there a hundred times.
“Good morning to you, too,” Gabriella mumbled under her breath as he passed her.
“It will be once we get this over with,” Chad mumbled.
“What? No coffee this morning?” Dennis asked, close on Chad’s heels.
“It’ll take more than one cup of coffee to make this right,” Chad snarled.
Sean stepped between them and extended his hand to Gabriella in welcome.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Don’t let this old grump bother you none, he tends to be like this when he comes home for a visit. He gets a big dose of ‘family’ and it doesn’t sit well. He won’t be here very long, and I suspect he’ll be out of the house or stuck in his room working as much as possible once the folks start their holiday parties.”
“It’s good of you to help Mr. Hempstead. Other than the crib, stroller, and a few other baby gadgets, there isn’t much to move. My stuff is all boxed up waiting.”
“Chad,” the surly man spit out between clenched teeth. “The name is Chad. Mr. Hempstead happens to be my father.” He’d already picked up a box from the front porch and was carrying it back to the truck.
The surprised look on Dennis’ face was comical. Sean grinned and shook his head. Chad ignored them and put the box in the back of the truck and returned to collect another one.
“The two of you going to stand there all day or are you going to help? Get a move on. These boxes aren’t going to move themselves.”
“Don’t mind him,” Dennis grinned. “He had a late night and hasn’t recuperated yet. I think it’ll take a gallon of coffee to put him in a good mood this morning.”
Gabriella thought he was acting like a spoiled brat. She wasn’t surprised his mother had referred to him as Junior once. She’d seen the gritted teeth and the wince he’d tried to hide. The best thing to do was to ignore his attitude. She led the others inside where the rest of the boxes were lined up against the wall.
“That everything? Want to do a double check and make sure we have it all?” Dennis asked. He shut the tailgate on the back of his truck, while Chad tossed the dolly up into the back of Sean’s already full truck-bed.
The whole process had gone more smoothly than anticipated. Despite the cold weather, the snow had held off and the winter sun warmed everything as it sparkled off the snow.
“I’m all set. There are a few personal items I’ll put in the back of my car, along with Nina. Thanks so much for your help. Dennis, it was nice meeting you. Sean, thanks for your help. I’ll see you at the Hempstead’s.” she said.
Sean got in his truck, waved, and took off down the street.
“No problem,” Dennis said. “I noticed there’s no ring on your finger. Does this mean the father is not in the picture?”
Gabriella was taken aback by Dennis’s forwardness. He was a handsome man with his sandy blonde hair and his dimpled cheeks, but she simply wasn’t interested. Although she liked him, already, she didn’t want to encourage him. “No. No father,” she said, offering no other information.
“Any chance he’ll show up unannounced?”
“No.”
“Good. Anytime you need anything—a shoulder to cry on, moving out of the Hempstead’s, dinner—just give a call.”
Dennis’ kindness and his flirtation was a balm to her bruised ego after her breakup with Charles, but she wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship anytime soon.
“Thanks. I think I’ll be okay.” Although, help with the moving out part could prove useful if Chad’s temper didn’t improve. A man with a pickup truck would come in handy.
“Maybe we could do dinner sometime,” he said “How about next week after you get settled?”
Gabriella hesitated. “I don’t think so, Dennis. But, thanks.”
“Dinner isn’t a commitment, you know. Besides it’ll give you a chance to get away from Chad for a couple of hours.”
“I’ll consider it. Right now I have too much going on. Perhaps once things settle down.”
“You got it. I’ll check back with you in a few days.”
He shook her hand as if they had just finished closing a deal, except he hung on to her hand a bit longer than a deal called for.
“What’s going on here?” Chad asked. He looked directly into Gabriella’s eyes as if she was involved in something underhanded. His mood hadn’t improved over the past hour and the sour look on his face spok
e volumes.
The man needed to get a life. And she didn’t think any amount of coffee was going to help.
“Just shaking on a deal,” Dennis said, a lopsided grin covering his face. He looked at Gabriella and winked before turning back to Chad.
“Depends on the deal and who’s involved,” Chad commented, the scowl on his face deepening.
“Lighten up old buddy,” Dennis said. “This has nothing to do with you. It’s strictly between this beautiful young lady and me. Back off.”
Chad’s lips thinned, his back straightened. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. After the way he’d acted at the fender-bender, and the other day at his parents’ house, she was surprised and puzzled to see him at a loss for words.
She stepped back wondering just how tight their friendship was, and if Chad was trying to warn Dennis off.
“Right,” Chad said. “Right.” And with a quick nod of his head, his dark hair tumbling down across his forehead, he turned toward their truck. “We’re ready to go. Meet you back at the house to unload.”
“Don’t mind him,” Dennis said. “Never did like it when I cut in on his lady friends or beat him to a better deal. I do it just to rile him up a bit now and then. Doesn’t hurt to be humbled once in a while.”
“I’m hardly his lady friend.”
“I know Chad like a brother. Been friends all our lives. I even rescued his sorry self from the lake when we were kids. He thought the ice was thick enough to hold him and his sled. I had to fish him out of the water before he turned into an ice cube. Anyway, Chad never lets the ladies bother him unless there’s a reason, usually because they’re getting too close. If you only met a few days ago, and you’ve gotten under his skin already, I can guarantee something is going on.”
“He’s the grouchiest man I’ve ever met. Besides, I’m really not interested. I have too many problems to deal with right now to worry about Chad, or anyone else for that matter.”
She didn’t want to admit to Dennis the real reason she had gotten under Chad’s skin was because he assumed she was after his money.
“Are you trying to tell me to back off, too?”
Gabriella’s eyes flew open. “Oh, Dennis. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… that is…. I’m so sorry.”
“No, no, calm down. I understand. Story of my life. Listen, don’t worry about it. I’ll call you for dinner, and we can cry on each other’s shoulders.”
“Thanks, you’re a sweetheart.” And she meant it. There was a refreshing kindness about him that was hard to resist.
“And don’t you forget it. See you back at the ranch.”
Gabriella made her way back inside the apartment to check on Nina and collect the rest of her belongings. A few pictures of her family, a special paperweight given to her by her sister when she was sixteen, and the jewelry box containing a couple of precious family gems handed down on her mother's side of the family. The picture of Charles, she took out of the frame, tore it up, and threw it in the washroom’s circular file. She didn’t want a reminder of what a fool she’d been to think herself in love with such a cold-hearted jerk.
No sooner had she shut the door of her apartment, than Mindy breezed through it along with another spurt of the fresh winter air.
“Who was that gorgeous man who just left with all your belongings? What an irresistible smile—and he even waved at me.” Mindy asked, rolling her eyes. “What a hunk. I think I’m in love.” Mindy held her hand over her heart dramatically, and pretended to swoon onto the couch. “Be still my heart.”
“What about Andy? Isn’t he your ‘everything’?”
“Fat chance. I caught him watching Veronica. I mean really giving her the eye. Actually, they were so involved with each other they didn’t know I was there. So, I figured I’d cut my losses and leave.”
“I’m so sorry. You must really be upset.”
“It’s not as if he ever knew I existed or that I considered him in a romantic way.”
“You should’ve told him how you feel.”
“I don’t think it would’ve made a difference. Men! First Charles and you, now Andy and me. What is it with us?”
Gabriella put her arms around Mindy and hugged her. “We’ll be just fine. The way you reacted to Dennis, I can’t see you being too broken up over Andy right now.”
“You’re right. Maybe it was just the image of his brain that intrigued me. It did overwhelm me at times—a big turn on.”
“You’re going to be just fine.”
“What about you? You’re going to be okay, too?”
“Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Hempstead are wonderful people. I’ll give you a call when I get settled. Right now I have to catch up with the others.”
“I’ll be expecting a complete run down. I’m really going to miss you. And Nina, of course.”
“I’ll miss you, too. I’m sorry I can’t wait for Trish to get back—tell her I said goodbye.”
Gabriella gave Mindy another hug, gathered up Nina and her purse, then left her once secure life as a student behind.
Chapter Five
Fifteen minutes later, Gabriella squared her shoulders, maneuvered her vehicle behind the two trucks, and turned the ignition off. The men had already made short work of unloading her pitiful belongings, which were already stacked on the front porch.
She vowed to stay clear of Chad as much as possible while he was home for the holidays. Since she wasn’t part of the family, she didn’t expect to be included in all the holiday hoopla. Besides, she’d be too busy taking care of Helen. And Nina.
She discovered, however, that Helen had other plans when she and Ethel met her at the door.
“Welcome, my dear. Come in, come in.” Helen said. “Ethel and I will relieve you of that darling girl while you go upstairs to supervise the unpacking and get settled.”
“I’m grateful for this opportunity, Mrs. Hempstead, especially this time of year.”
“Don’t mention it, my dear. We’re glad to have you. And remember, call me Helen. Now, hand over that precious bundle.”
Once Nina was ensconced in Helen’s lap, Ethel maneuvered the wheelchair, and the three of them headed toward the library. Gabriella wondered, not for the first time, whether Helen hired her for her services or because of Nina. Regardless, Helen’s welcome had been genuine, and warm.
Gabriella’s spirits lifted.
“We’ll have tea in half an hour,” Ethel called over her shoulder. “That should give you plenty of time to sort things out.”
“Don’t you worry a bit about this small bundle, Ethel and I will take good care of Nina until you come down.” Helen waved her hand over her shoulder, dismissing Gabriella. “Take your time.”
Sean and Dennis passed her in the hall and headed up the stairs. Their arms were full of the last of the boxes. There was nothing left for Gabriella to do but follow. Chad was nowhere in sight, for which Gabriella was relieved. With any luck he would keep right on avoiding her.
The bedroom was decorated in various shades of rich lavenders and pinks. A white-canopied queen-sized bed covered in chintz and strewn with plump, matching pillows took up one side of the room. To the left of the window, in the corner, was a small crib that looked as if the family had owned it for years—now freshly made up, ready for Nina. The baby motif of pinks and blues with baby blocks and teddy bears, giraffes, and other cuddly animals coordinated with the crib pads, sheets and blankets. Someone had even put a musical mobile over the crib.
A touch of melancholy washed over her. She sank down on the edge of the bed. Her sister would have adored the setup. Touched by the Hempstead’s kindness, Gabriella had a hard time holding back the tears. She pinched her thumb and forefinger over the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath.
“Who was the hot looking babe back at your apartment?” Dennis asked.
She stood and held the door for him as he carted a heavy box into the room and deposited his load on the floor.
“She a friend of yours
?”
So much for Dennis being interested in her.
“My college roommate, Mindy. Sorry, I should have introduced you. Unfortunately, she’s finishing up her exams on Monday and leaving town on Tuesday.”
“Just my luck.”
“You don’t have any luck, Den, so shut your trap,” Sean groused. “Get your butt moving and help me with this box before I drop it on your toes.”
“Yeah, right. You’re just jealous you’re not single and can’t look.”
“I can look all I want. I just can’t touch.”
“Keep that in mind,” Chad said, stepping out of one of the closed doors to the left of the landing. “You’ve got your hands full with your wife. Who just happens to be my sister.”
Chad’s tone was more lighthearted than Gabriella had witnessed earlier. Maybe his mother was right and he wasn’t always so grumpy.
“Thanks for helping,” she called to Dennis and Sean as they left the room.
Chad lingered in the doorway.
“I know you don’t want me here. Believe me, it wasn’t what I wanted either. Sometimes you’re forced to do things you don’t want to do.”
“Right. Fair warning. Don’t become too attached to my parents, nor let them become too attached to you. They’ll only be hurt when you leave. And one more thing. About Dennis. He’s on the rebound so don’t get any ideas. He’s a good friend. I don’t want to see him get hurt again by someone who doesn’t care.”
So much for his good humor. At least he made it clear where they stood. And even though it was none of his business, the need to be honest about Dennis overwhelmed her.
“I have no intentions where Dennis is concerned. Or any man, for that matter. I have enough problems right now, so don’t worry, you’re all safe from me.”
“Listen, I didn’t mean anything…”
“Yes. Yes, you did. Don’t worry, I’ll keep out of your way while you’re here, and I’ll put back all the silver when I leave so you won’t have to come back and count all the knives and forks.”
“Touché. Look, I think we’re getting off to a bad start. I apologize,” he said. “Dennis is right. Coming back home always has this effect on me. It takes several days to unwind. I’m sorry.”