Unfinished Dreams

by McIntyre, Amanda

  Chapter Nine

  Gabe kicked himself a dozen times for leaving his toolbox at the farm. His jaw twitched under the strain as he clenched his teeth. Facing Tess’s wrath was not a pleasant thought. Maybe she’d give him a chance to explain. Maybe he could sort out his feelings by talking to her. A faint smile played on his lips and his mind wandered to a nice cup of coffee and a visit with her on the porch swing. His spirit lifted a bit simply thinking about the excellent way to start his morning.

  He looked up at the tightly drawn shades and took odd comfort in the familiar sight. Maybe it would be better to sneak in and sneak out, and not have to face her. The shock and hurt on her face at the garage had stayed with him through most of his sleepless night. If he were going to rest any easier, he’d do well to lay all his cards on the table. When did she say she started back to work?

  He pulled the pickup as close to the barn as possible, carefully shutting the door until he heard a faint click. He gathered his tools quickly and placed them in the back of the truck, but as he dropped the last box in his pickup bed he looked up and there she stood staring at him from the porch.

  Something twisted in his gut. She’d probably thought he wasn’t going to finish the job. Gabe chewed the inside of his lip, making the decision to go talk to her, though he’d sooner walk a bed of coals.

  “Morning.” He gave an amiable tip with his hat.

  Her expression remained unchanged. Though they stood less than three feet apart, it might as well have been a hundred miles.

  He cleared his throat. “Got a job on Monday over in Essex. I left my toolbox here. I just came to get it.” Well, this was going over even worse than he possibly imagined.

  “Tess, about the other day—” He eyed the coffee in her hand, hoping fervently that she would offer him a cup. Suddenly, he wanted to sit on the porch with her and watch the sun break through the clouds. Just once again, he’d love to see that wrinkle on her nose when she smiled.

  “You don’t owe me any explanation.” Her voice was as cold as a metal tractor seat in winter. She wrapped her flannel robe around her as though protecting herself from him. “You got what you came for, didn’t you?”

  He knew something more lay beneath her words. God, he wanted to tell her about Mrs. Crane. He needed to explain how many times she’d tried and failed to seduce him. He wanted to see her laugh at some of his bizarre stories. But guilt stopped him.

  He’d started out with the idea that she wasn’t going to be around long and he’d taken advantage of her and her money to make repairs on the place that he wanted more than he wanted her. Now she believed he was a two-timing hustler and wasn’t he? Hadn’t he played her for his own gain? What would it matter now if he told her the truth? Somewhere along the line, the stakes had changed. He found himself driven to make the repairs on the farm, because she needed him, not because he was waiting for her to leave.

  He was falling in love with her, of that there was little doubt, and his heart ached to think that he might have allowed the best thing he’d ever known to slip through his fingers. Well, this morning he planned to straighten out all the misconceptions. He knew he had to try to make things right, because he didn’t want her to leave.

  “Tess, Can we talk—”

  “Is this decaf, Tess? You know I can’t drink the other.”

  A strange voice interrupted the plans he was about to suggest. The man standing on the other side of the screen was partially dressed in jeans, his shirt hung open, but his expression remained closed. “Everything okay out here, Tess?” His voice sounded cautious and much too intimate with her name.

  Gabe stared at Tess, hoping to read something in her eyes. Was this Richard? He wanted her to say this wasn’t what it looked like. He moistened his lips, swallowing for the dryness that had overtaken his mouth.

  She held his gaze, not offering him anything in the way of explanation.

  Gabe glanced at the ground. Part of him wanted to walk past her and throw the stranger out of the house, but the other part knew it was not his house, it was hers, and she dictated who was invited or not. Another glance at the stranger’s face told Gabe he was on the uninvited list.

  “I’ll finish the barn next week.” He turned and began to walk away.

  “I’ll be in and out all week, so I won’t probably see you.”

  It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. He stopped, turned around, and held her stony gaze. “Fine.”

  She’d made her point, the man standing behind her spoke volumes. She didn’t need to drive the stake any deeper. He turned around taking long strides to his truck.

  “Fine.”

  Her voice slammed against his back like a brick, but he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of turning around.

  * * *

  “He looked a little like those red-neck boys you hear about.”

  Tess whirled toward, issuing him a glare of warning.

  His brows rose into his bleach blonde hair and he held up his hands in defense. “Sorry, just my observation. Someone you are, uh…acquainted with?” His gaze narrowed slightly as he followed Gabe’s truck doing a U-turn in the yard, slicing up the grass in the process.

  The vehicle paused in front of the porch and Tess saw Jack straighten, his hand on the door handle.

  “Fine.” Gabe yelled from the cab as he purposely spun his wheels out in the gravel lane.

  Tess stomped her foot so hard to the porch floor that pain shot straight up her leg. “Dammit.” She turned, wishing she could snatch that irritating cowboy ball-headed. Of all the nerve of that egotistical son-of-a—

  “Well, now we know what the neighbors are like.”

  She faced Jack, looking for a way to vent her wrath. “Don’t you need to leave? I thought I was pretty clear at dinner where I stood with you.”

  “It was kind of you to invite me to stay the night.” He used the voice he often used to sooth angry clients.

  She knew it was a façade. “I didn’t invite you. You whined that it was too late and you didn’t want to spend the night in a seedy motel as I recall.” She grappled for some semblance of control of her emotions.

  “Regardless, it shows you care.” He opened the door preparing to come out to the porch.

  “I’m giving you fifteen minutes.” She pointed her finger directly at him and he stopped in his tracks.

  “No country ham, and grits?” He smiled and though he was charming when he wanted to be, he was also insistent and just a little too sure of himself.

  Egotistical came to mind and Tess gave a short laugh thinking of the three men she’d known in her life. I need to get a dog.

  She stared at him another minute. He shrugged his shoulder and sighed.

  “I can see you need time to think.”

  Tess cast a glance to the sky, amazed at the man’s tenacity. Was it going to take a two-by-four? “That is an understatement.”

  “You’ll call me the minute your head clears. I want to be here.” Jack finished buttoning his shirt as he spoke.

  Tess studied him as he dressed. Jack was handsome in his own Princeton sort of way. He was everything that personified the city. He had his schedules, his noon racquetball game, his double lattes, but he did not, nor would he ever, possess her heart.

  “Jack. There won’t be a time like that,” Her voice softened. “I am grateful, I’m pretty sure…for you finding me this place. It’s everything I dreamed of. But my dream didn’t come with a ready-made man on the premises.”

  He arched a brow and she knew he questioned Gabe’s presence.

  “He’s a handyman. That’s all.”

  “What’s his name?” He bent over to pull on his leather moccasin loafers.

  “Gabe Russell.” Tess glanced away with a sigh and looked back to find Jack’s face flushed red. “Is there something wrong?”

  Jack shook his head, “I’ll get my things and move along. I’ve taken up too much of your day already.” He disappeared and moments
later returned with his small gym bag. “Take care, Tess.” He stopped in front of her briefly studying her face.

  She wanted to say something; this was her boss, the man who’d found her this wonderful place, who’d gotten her a promotion. “Jack, I’d like to be friends—”

  He dropped the bag and grabbed her shoulders. Tess could have sworn she saw pain, or was it guilt in those eyes? Then he kissed her. Not soft and sweet like Gabe’s, but hard and desperate. More of a good-bye kiss. He dropped his hands, picked up his bag, and left without a word. Not a wave, nothing. He just drove away.

  Tess fell into the porch swing staring at the taillights of Jack’s car. She didn’t think she would ever understand men.

  * * *

  “Are you sure this is all right, Mr. Powell?” Tess rubbed the puppy’s head. She’d seen the ad at the grocery store for black Labrador puppies and decided to take her Sunday afternoon to check it out.

  “I think he’ll be good company out there on the farm. Where’d you say your place was?” The old man smiled as he watched how the puppy responded to Tess. “I think you’ve found a friend.”

  “That would be nice.” Tess smiled up at him. “I’m out off Highway 20, just a couple miles from town. What do I owe you?”

  “You pay me whatever you can.”

  “Mr. Powell.” Tess stood, straightening her shoulders and leveled a look at him. “How much are you selling the dogs for?”

  He frowned and glanced down at the two small puppies running circles in the small fenced in area. “Fifty dollars.”

  “Are you sure?” Tess stared wide-eyed at him. You couldn’t touch a purebred dog for less than five hundred in many places. She narrowed her gaze on the old man. He averted his eyes.

  Silence hung between them. “Well, then may I have him and his brother?”

  The man stroked his beardless chin. “I suppose we could work something out.” Tess handed him five twenty-dollar bills and knelt as the puppies engulfed her with wiggles and kisses. She soaked up the unconditional affection and then smiled at the old farmer.

  “You’ve made me very happy, Mr. Powell.” She laughed and closed her eyes as the dogs bounced over her lap trying to get to her face.

  Chapter Ten

  He heard her old car before he saw it come up the lane. Gabe glanced over his shoulder and tried to focus on the board laid out before him. The sooner he finished this job, the less painful for him. He should have known that it wasn’t going to be easy. From the first day, he realized he was attracted to her and that was his fault, not hers. Maybe that over-the-road trucking job was still open.

  His arms burned as he pushed the handsaw across the wood. Mr. Powell had offered the loan of his circular saw, but Gabe’s pride stopped him from accepting.

  A car door slammed a few moments before he heard her footsteps going up the front porch, but he kept his focus to his task, almost burning a gaze through the wood. Hard as he tried, it hurt like hell to be shut out like this. His neck ached from several sleepless nights wondering what that preppy country wannabe promised to Tess. He didn’t want to entertain the thought of what he might be doing with her. The man reeked dishonesty, he didn’t know how he knew, but he did. ‘Course, he merely assumed that she’d slept with him. Hadn’t she all but implied that the other morning? It wasn’t like he cared, she had her life, and he had his, but Gabe wanted badly to caution Tess about that guy. That is, if they still had a working relationship going still between them.

  “Here. I thought maybe you could use a cold drink.”

  Gabe jerked his head around in surprise, grateful he’d stepped away from the saw.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” She glanced at his face, pausing just long enough to hold out the glass of iced tea.

  He took it and she moved away, climbing to the fence.

  Two black streaks whizzed past him and he frowned at first, then grinned as he watched the puppies take off for the field.

  “Hey, those yours?” He pushed his hat back and stared at the puppies chasing each other around the Christmas trees, then glanced at Tess who sat on the fence studying him. Another time, this scene would have warmed his heart, but right now, it made him feel lonely as all get out. His smile faded.

  “Yep. I figured they were friendly company. I never realized how trustworthy a pet could be.” She stared at him a moment longer then turned her head, her gaze following the dogs.

  “Your two-legged friend have to go back to the city then?” Gabe took a swallow of tea and held it in his cheeks a second before he swallowed. It did not taste like any tea he’d ever had. “What is this?” He tried not to let the expression on his face appear ungrateful. City folks sure had some odd ideas about tinkering with what was already a good thing.

  “Raspberry tea.” She glanced at him, then returned to watching the dogs. “By the way, not that it’s your business, but he’s a friend and nothing more.”

  The implications to her surprise encounter with Gabe and widow Crane was more than a little clear in her tone.

  Gabe looked at the ground, holding in a smile. If he never had another chance with Tess, at least he could breathe easier knowing she wouldn’t wind up with that guy. That alone lightened his outlook. Still, he sensed a storm cloud brewing over this conversation. He took another long swallow on the strange brew she’d brought him. Raspberry tea? It’s not so bad once you get the hang of it.

  The wind whistled around the corner of the barn and in the distance came tiny yaps from the pups.

  “How about bird-legs?” She stared at the field, her gaze following the dogs as they scampered. A gentle breeze blew, lifting her hair.

  Hair that he knew felt like down and smelled like autumn sunshine. He sensed she was trying to make amends, though not without keeping her pride intact. Keeping his gaze lowered, he smiled. Something inside his heart shifted slightly.

  “Bird-legs...hum, which one was that?” He scratched his chin feigning memory loss. She narrowed her gaze at him. “You must be talking about old Mrs. Crane.”

  “Old?” She gave him a short laugh. “That woman does not look old.” Turning from his gaze, she lifted her chin and stared at the horizon.

  This was not going to be easy. His insides churned with wanting to warn her off about this preppy guy and wanting to show her that Mrs. Crane meant nothing to him.

  “Does city-boy have bird-legs?” He knew he pushed her, but he wanted to see where she was going with this.

  “You know what? This conversation is a bit ridiculous.” She hopped down from the fence and whistled for the dogs.

  He tried not to let the fact he was impressed with that whistle show on his face when she turned slamming him with a haughty look.

  “I’m going to go paint the living room.” She marched past him, her nose stuck in the air.

  “You’re right, this is ridiculous.” He tossed his gloves to the sawhorse. Enough games. He grabbed her arm as she tried to brush past him. She stopped, but kept her gaze straight ahead.

  “You know, I suspected that I was your first conquest, since coming out of retirement, for whatever reason.” She pinned him with a glare. “I suppose around here that’s some sort of honor.” Jerking her arm free from his grasp she headed for the house.

  He caught up to her as she reached the porch. Racing around her, he stood his ground, blocking her progress. “You started this, now we’re going to finish it.” He jabbed a finger at her, his jaw clenching in frustration.

  Closing his eyes, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders, promptly receiving an icy stare until he lowered them to his sides. At least she didn’t move. He figured that was a positive.

  “What makes you think I care what you have to say?” She placed her fists firmly on her hips. Her glare held a challenge.

  That’s okay; he was up for the fight, if necessary. He’d lost too many good things in his life. Over the past week or so, he’d come to realize just how good Tess was for him. She made him believe in
the future again. Something he hadn’t done in a long while and he didn’t want that to slip past him.

  “Look, you weren’t a conquest.” He lowered his voice, leveling a soft, but stern look.

  “Oh, I was just something to warm up with. An appetizer, maybe?” She started to step around him and he moved to the side.

  “You know better.” He narrowed his gaze. “Let’s stop the childish games.”

  Her hand connected with a resounding smack to his cheek. “Childish? This coming from a man who flits from woman to woman like a bee in a field of flowers? Please, don’t tell me how I should be behaving.”

  He stumbled backwards and plopped down on the step, shaking his head trying to shake the stars that danced before his eyes. “Remind me never get into a bar fight with you.” He rubbed his jaw.

  She sat beside him on the steps, folded her hands over her knees, and sighed. “Oh Lord, Gabe, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. What are we going to do?”

  He glanced her way as he worked his jaw back and forth. “Ice might help, or a bag of frozen vegetables?”

  Her caustic glance had him raising his hands in defense.

  He sighed, but his gaze fell to where the creamy flesh of her knees peeked through the holes in her jeans. Warm desire snaked through his belly and he wanted to place soft kisses on those knees. His reason grew hazy with desire.

  Blinking, he took off his hat, dropping it on the porch beside him. “What do you want me to say?” He glanced at her, then looked away about as fast. The woman had him tied in knots and for a man with all thumbs he wasn’t doing a great job of untying them. “Listen, my future is uncertain. I live in an apartment above a gas station. I do odd jobs to keep me fed on a daily basis, sometimes.” He rested his elbows to his legs, clasping his hands. “That’s not a helluva lot to offer a woman.” He wasn’t quite ready to admit to her that the reason he lived like a pauper was to save practically every dime he’d earned in hope of someday getting back this farm.