“Gabe?” Her voice cut off his thoughts. She stood not more than six feet away, looking at him. He realized, half-embarrassed, that he’d been staring at the house.
“Hey, you’re up. I was…checking…the shingles on the porch roof. You know to see if they needed replacing.” His smile was quick and he hoped it was convincing enough.
“And I see you’re already hard at work.” She stepped forward, tipping her chin towards the list.
It was then he noticed then the two coffee mugs in her hand.
“Here, I did promise you coffee.” She held out a mug.
He accepted it with a slight nod and removing his sunglasses took a sip of the steaming fresh liquid and checked out her morning attire. “You’ve been up awhile.” He grinned hoping she would take his ribbing good-naturedly. Her jeans looked like they’d seen better days and her oversized men’s denim shirt hung nearly to her knees. His gaze lowered to her feet and clenched his teeth to stifle the laugh. Black rubberized wading boots encased her legs far above her knees. It reminded him of two big old stovepipes.
Using a cough to conceal a laugh, Gabe turned his head and pretended that his coffee went down the wrong way.
“It’s the boots isn’t it?” She placed a hand to her hip and eyed him warily.
Gabe opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it and clamped it shut again. He’d try an alternative route around the subject. “What are you up to this morning anyway?”
“I went out to check on those Christmas trees. The dew was very heavy this morning. I didn’t want to get my tennis shoes muddy.” She sipped her coffee and rolled those blue eyes in his direction.
Gabe stared at her eyes lost yet again in trying to determine what shade of blue they were. She gave him a grin, or maybe she was squinting from the sun, either way, it broke him from his reverie. “Listen, I’ve got to go into town and get the lumber I need to make these repairs, I can just open up an account at Olsen’s Lumber under your name, if you’d like.”
She rubbed the back of her neck and looked toward the barn. “That would be fine I guess. Can you do that without me giving the okay or leaving a deposit or something?”
“Around here, we do it all the time. Folks here generally trust each other that way, have for years.” He shrugged.
“Oh, well okay.” She paused, searching his gaze, then shrugged, “Well, you can just store the materials inside the barn then. Oh, and here’s that list you asked for.” She pulled a stapled stack of papers from her hip pocket.
His curiosity piqued as he took the list she offered. She had outlined a weekly schedule of repairs, listing the pros and cons of each project and the property value it would give to the farm. He wasn’t sure what she did for a living, but whatever it was, the woman left no stone unturned.
He studied the list and glanced up. “I’ll go get what I can collected. Looks like I might get a little work in before it rains.” Gabe spied the dark ominous clouds coming in from the southwest.
She raised her chin, squinting as stared at the sky. “I hadn’t even noticed.” She turned to him with a wide smile. “I could put a fire in the fireplace, couldn’t I? I mean, its early autumn and the rain might be cold, right?”
He shrugged; the woman could do whatever she wished. Seemed she got all excited about little things. Typical, he supposed, for a city gal. “You might want to check out the chimney first. There might be remnants of a birds nest from spring still in there.”
She looked startled at first, then turning her focus to the house. Good lord, she’s thinking of climbing up there herself. The fool woman, he thought as he gazed at the back of unkempt hair.
He smiled and inadvertently his gaze dropped to where her hand was wedged into the back pocket of her jeans. An elongated slash just below the back pocket caught Gabe’s attention. Just a hint of pink cloth peeked through the shredded opening. His eyebrow rose, wondering if she’d forgotten the shirt was to cover the hole, but something kept him from mentioning it to her.
Tipping his head, he found himself appreciating what he saw, a bit too much so for his own comfort. “I’m going to go to town.”
He turned abruptly, then stopped and looked back. The look on her face, made him feel like she’d been waiting for him to turn around. Or maybe she’d been checking out his backside? What a ridiculous thought.
She held his gaze steady, her hand still tucked where he had already envisioned his own hand would like to be, but couldn’t be—at the very least, shouldn’t be—which is why he had to leave. Pronto.
“Tess?” He blurted out before thinking, mesmerized as she raked her fingers through her short hair sending it into tiny spikes. “Why don’t I take a look at that chimney when I get back, alright?” It wasn’t really an offer, more an order, which he was sure this woman did not take very often. He held out his coffee cup to her, the liquid spilled over the side with the jerky movement of his unsteady hand.
“You don’t think I can do it, do you?” Her smile warned him he was wading into that dangerous territory a man sometimes finds himself with a stubborn woman. She gingerly plucked the cup from his hand, only briefly acknowledging the coffee that’d sloshed over the side.
She made no comment, instead she raised her all too steady gaze to his, which made him even more uncomfortable. Why couldn’t the woman just accept a solid offer?
“It’s not that…exactly.” He frowned as he glanced to the roof, then returned his gaze to hers. He saw a bit of mischief in her fabulous eyes. “Tess, look. I used to live here. I helped my dad do this every couple of years, that’s all. I just don’t want to see you get—” He held her gaze, now softened in challenge.
“Hurt?” Her warm blue-green eyes sparkled and her voice was as gentle as corn silk.
Gabe’s mouth went dry. He smiled, recovering quickly from the punch to his gut. “Yeah, well then I’d have to haul your skinny behind over to County General.” He took off his hat, pounding it to his thigh, ridding the brim of imaginary dust, then smoothed his hair back and replaced the hat on his head. That explanation seemed platonic enough. Truth was, he didn’t want to see her up on that roof, whatever the reasons were.
“That’s very thoughtful of you.”
He also didn’t want to hear the sultry undertone in her voice. It was enough to stare at the thin denim material covering her well-shaped legs and have to quell his imagination.
Gabe turned on his heel and spoke loud over his shoulder so he wouldn’t have to see her face. “I’ll pick up a long handle brush while I’m there.” Without a second glance, he started his pickup and pulled out of the drive.
* * *
Tess stared after the pickup as it rattled down the lane. There was no mistaking he’d been concerned for her well-being. How adorable was that? Rugged, hardworking, hot as sin, and caring? Was this guy too good to be true? What had she been missing all these years by living in the city?
Her boots thwarted her ability to make her planned mad dash to the house and she laughed as she hobbled unsteadily across the yard. With only an hour at best, she had in mind to show him that city girls could be just as neighborly.
* * *
Once she got started, instinct took over. It had been a long time since she really made an effort to impress a man, but she had a sense that it would be well worth it.
She glanced at her hair, fluffing it as she pushed the boots off her feet. Padding into the kitchen in her wool socks, she considered whether to change into something nicer or leave on what she was wearing. Maybe it would be better to not to be too obvious. She couldn’t deny the fact she’d felt something tug at her as she danced with him. Serious warmth had transcended the crowded dance floor. A connection something inside of her wanted to make with him, though on what level she was not yet sure.
There was no dispute he was attractive. A woman would be blind not to see that. Still, there was something about him. He kept his distance and that intimidated her. If there was one thing Tess learned from
her experience with Richard, it was honesty and openness was essential in a relationship.
Gabe Russell held something back and she could see it behind the confident façade of those passionate eyes.
Pulling a tiny wooden box in front of her, she started flipping quickly through the time worn recipes. She searched through every cabinet looking with desperation for each ingredient. Soon her once tidy kitchen was a disarray of mixing bowls, spices, sugar and utensils, but the aroma of warm chocolate and cookie dough wafted throughout the house. Six dozen of the warm, chewy cookies should appease any man. She smiled as she dipped her finger across the wooden spoon and licked the sweet batter.
She had heard him return, his pickup rumbling up the drive. As much as she’d liked to help unload the supplies, she found herself up to her elbows in creating a sampling of home-cooked splendor. She hoped it would convince him she wanted to be friends as well as business partners if he was going to help on the farm.
Tess flipped back the curtain, seeing heavy, dark storm clouds rolling in over the fields. Something inside her made her feel safe, secure, and content to be experiencing her first thunderstorm in her own house. Was it the influence of the country, or could it be Gabe Russell was the type of man who would appreciate a home-cooked meal?
With a shake of her head for allowing her hormones to race out of control, she focused on the roast simmering gently on the stove. As a young girl, she’d written down the beef recipe as she watched her grandmother cook. Breathing deep of the delicious scent of beef and onion, she smiled. The few times she’d tried cooking for Richard were met with a dissertation of great detail, noting the fat and cholesterol content of everything she served him. He further humiliated her by telling her how bad it was for him and accused her of trying to kill him, after which, he would storm out of the door claiming to be having supper with his friends.
Tess would end up tossing the entire meal in the garbage, or taking it to work the next day. Jack ate it and she hoped Gabe would.
She measured two cups of flour, dumping into the huge crockery bowl, and then checked her recipe again for dumplings.
“Tess? Lord woman—” Gabe stood at the backdoor with his hand wrapped around the doorknob, “what are you doing?”
She took note of her disheveled surroundings, realizing maybe she’d been wrong and Gabe was every bit as much of a neat freak as Richard.
With flour strewn across her cabinets, on the floor, and herself, and dozens of chocolate chip cookies cooling on the table, there wasn’t much she could offer up in defense of the mess.
He inhaled the aroma, eyed the cookies on the table, and then turned to her. “I haven’t smelled anything this good in this house in years. I don’t suppose you baked those just for me?” He gave her a teasing smile, but the appreciation shone in his eyes.
She wanted to tell him yes, he was exactly right, but her tongue seemed solidly glued to the roof of her mouth. Her brain was stuck in neutral as she stared openly at the man. She knew what he wore was ordinary for physical labor, but on Gabe, even the ordinary was breathtaking.
The cotton t-shirt he wore fit snug across his sculpted chest and he still donned his suede work gloves. Combined with the Stetson and the denim jeans that conformed to every part of him her knees threatened to give way. She reached out carefully clutching the countertop and tried not to gape like a trout on a wall plaque.
He took off his hat, and held up his cup, thankfully ignoring her inability to speak. “I wondered if you had any coffee left, I’ve got the back wall finished on the barn.”
She nodded and took his cup. An otherwise ordinary gesture, yet it was all she could do to refrain from jumping into the man’s arms and hugging his neck. If he said “ma’am” she might just do it.
“There’s a bit left. I’ll get you some.” She lifted the coffeepot and noticed then the blotches of flour and dried dough staining her sleeve. Biting her lip, she glanced down her shirtfront and saw more of the same.
Old fears and insecurity popped into her mind as she remembered how Richard insisted on a spotless environment. Even though he hadn’t spent much time in their apartment, much less with her, after they married, he still insisted on living a corporate image. She’d never really, measured up to his standards and often at first, she wondered why he even married her. Of course, she would find out later the cold realization that he most likely married her to use her finances to gain his future.
“I’m sorry about the mess.” She handed him a full cup suddenly feeling the need to apologize. Old habits were hard to break once driven into your system. “And the coffee’s a bit strong since I made it early this morning.” His gaze softened and a questioning look flickered through his eyes.
“I can see you get into your work.” He grinned, sitting the cup to the table. He slid off his glove and without warning reached out, playfully swiping her nose with the tip of his finger.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t move.
“Flour.” He wiped his finger on his jeans holding her gaze for the span of a heartbeat. “Better get back to work. He picked up the mug and turned toward the door. “I’ll try to get the west wall done before it rains and hopefully get up to that roof.” He paused before shutting the door. “Uh…I’d be happy to test out those cookies out a little later.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder as he grabbed the door to shut it behind him.
Tess gripped the countertop as he flashed a boyish grin.
“Ma’am.”
* * *
Later as the dumplings bobbed in the rich beefy broth, she pulled out the last of seven-dozen cookies from the oven. A loud clap of thunder smacked overhead, causing the windows to rattle in their frames.
She dropped the cookie sheet on the cutting board, flipped off the stove and ran through the house closing windows as she went. The strong smell of rain permeated the air and she peered out through the glass wondering where Gabe was.
Stepping to the front porch, she grabbed a support post when a gust of wind pushed across the front yard, catching her off balance. A flash of lightening accompanied by a low rumbling thunder made her jump back beneath the eaves. She narrowed her gaze toward the barn trying to see if he’d need help getting his tools in from the rain. The temperature had dropped dramatically. The cold front must be going right over the farm.
She wrapped her arms around her and headed toward the barn. Was it the west wall that he said he’d be working on? She ran to the side of the structure, eyeing the array of tools scattered on the ground. Quickly she began to gather the smaller ones and carried them into the barn.
Another flash of lightening illuminated the sky as she emerged from the barn entrance and she screamed as a streak of electricity came down from the heavens, striking the field beyond the barn. The tiny hairs on her skin raised and at the same moment, the sky opened up, raining down a heavy torrent.
“Tess!”
Hearing her name, she looked up and saw Gabe running across the yard toward her. He waved his hand, motioning for her to get back inside the barn. He disappeared around the corner. A moment later, he came back to the shelter of the barn, carrying a buzz saw in one hand and struggling with a pair of sawhorses under the other arm.
She rushed forward to help and he jerked away. “I’m just trying to help.” She reached out again and he threw her a look of warning. Dropping her arms to her sides, she gave him an exasperated look. Surely, the man would not be adverse to someone helping him in a crisis.
“You could’ve gotten hurt,” he scolded. He tossed the saw down and let the sawhorses drop where he stood.
“It hadn’t started raining yet, I—”
“No, but there is a hell of a lot of lightening out there, if you hadn’t noticed.” He glanced at her, his face grim. “Some of this stuff was still plugged in.” He tossed out a heavy sigh, shook his head, and began to gather tools, dropping them unceremoniously in his tool chest.
Puzzled by the sudden change in his attitude, Tess was
could only stare at his back as he organized his toolbox. Maybe she’d been wrong about him. After all, she’d been wrong in judging character before and look where that had gotten her. Dammit. She’d had enough of male egos.
She ducked her head and ran toward the house in the driving wind and rain, the water stung her exposed skin like tiny needles. Tess made it to the safety of her front porch, sensing that he was close behind. She felt his hand on her shoulder as he spun her around to face him. She slapped his hand away. Never again was she going to be the victim.
His chest heaved from running after her in the driving rain and it only exaggerated his anger. It was the first time she’d ever been afraid to be alone with him.
“What were you thinking?” He hesitated, holding her with his intense gaze.
With her body close to his, she felt like a divining rod, waiting for lightening to strike. She absently licked the rain from her lip and his gaze dropped to her mouth. Tess stepped back, shoving away the thought of what his lips would taste like.
The rain pounded on the porch roof overhead. He pushed back his wet hair, turned abruptly on his heel, and stomped to the end of the porch.
She didn’t know whether he was concerned or upset. Either way, he had no business speaking to her as though she was a child.
“I don’t understand why you should be so angry. I came to see if you needed help getting your things into the barn. And for that matter, with a storm coming in, what the hell are you doing up on the roof?” She countered, pointing a finger at him as she brushed back her sodden hair with her other hand.
“Cleaning your chimney, so you could have that fire you wanted.” He growled right back as he turned and jabbed his finger at her.
She reigned in her hot-tempered response, realizing she’d mistaken his concern for anger. “Oh.” She cautiously lowered her guard. She was probably a fool for doing so. Life, as had been her experience anyway, had the tendency to go awry when she dared to think all was well. “Well, thank you, that was awfully nice of you.”
Unfinished Dreams Page 6