“Gabe...” Emma tore her mouth from his, gasping. He raised his head slowly, gazed into her eyes, and frowned. “Jake’s calling for me,” she explained. Gabe stepped back just as Jake walked into the barn. He came to a standstill and glared at Gabe.
“What are you doing here, Gabe?” Jake stalked toward his brother.
Gabe scooped his hat up from the floor and slammed it on his head. “I was talking with Emma as if it’s any of your business, which it isn’t.” Jake moved closer to Gabe as they glared at each other. Emma stepped between them. She put her hands on each hard chest. They both looked at her.
“I’m fine, Jake. I’m a big girl. Gabe and I were just…talking.” She knew her cheeks were flaming red at the lie, but she couldn’t tell Jake the truth. The two men turned their heads back to stare at each other again.
“Back off,” Jake growled between clenched teeth.
Gabe laughed. “Or what? Emma isn’t your little sister, Jake. She’s a grown woman and it’s none of your business what she does.”
Emma couldn’t believe it when Jake stepped closer. She was being sandwiched between two huge men. Any other woman would have loved it, but not her. She glared at Jake. “Let it go, Jake. He’s right. I know what I’m doing…please,” she added when he didn’t move.
Jake’s jaw clenched and he continued to glare at his brother. “She may not be my sister by blood, but we’ve known her practically her entire life. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“What makes you think I’d hurt her?” Gabe muttered.
Jake laughed. “Hell, Gabe. That’s a real stupid question. I don’t think you really want me to answer that.”
“Fuck you, Jake,” Gabe hissed through clenched teeth.
Having had more than enough of all the testosterone in the space, Emma stepped away from them, waving her hand at them. “Fine. Have at it. I’m going in to dinner.” She walked away leaving the two men glaring at each other.
* * * *
“You want to tell me what the fuck you think you’re doing?” Jake asked with a finger punch to Gabe’s shoulder.
Gabe huffed, and turned away. “Shit, I don’t know…”
“You don’t know? Well, you’d better figure it out. I’m not kidding when I say I don’t want her hurt. Christ! I will personally kick your ass if you hurt her. You got that?”
Gabe turned back to Jake, standing toe to toe with him. “You and what army?” He sneered.
Jake’s lips tilted in a slow smile. “Wyatt’s.”
Gabe stepped back. “That’s cheating. You know he can kick both our asses.”
The brothers looked at each other, and then laughed. It was something they knew was very possible. Just because Wyatt was the youngest didn’t mean he wasn’t the meanest. Jake sighed. “You want to come in for dinner?”
Gabe shook his head. “No thanks. I need to get some things done. I just came by to…”
“See Emma, yeah, I get it. She’s beautiful, but Gabe, you aren’t the right man for her. She wants a family. She tells Becca all the time.” Jake shook his head. “You don’t.”
Gabe narrowed his eyes at Jake. “You didn’t either at one time. Then a little redhead came into your life and look how happy you are now. Maybe I want it too, Jake.” Then he strode from the barn, hopped in his truck, and tore out of the driveway.
Jake was wrong. Gabe wanted a family. He hadn’t actually realized it until now. The question was did he want it with Emma Conner? He was still angry as he drove toward town. He had errands to run but now he wasn’t even able to think of what they were. Maybe he should’ve agreed to stay for dinner. He wondered what the discussion was at that dinner table. Would Jake lecture Emma on him? Warn her to stay away from him? Should he stay away from Emma? He knew Jake was right about her wanting a family. Emma Conner was the kind of woman who dreamed of white picket fences, and a house filled with children. When he reached a crossroad, he turned the truck around and headed back. The only thing he needed to do right now was go home, grab a beer, and do some serious thinking.
* * * *
The next day, Emma sat at the front desk watching the kids run in and out with a smile on her face. Olivia sat beside her and growled. “Could they just stay in or out?”
Emma couldn’t resist chuckling at Olivia’s annoyance. “They’re kids, Liv. Don’t you remember what it was like being that little?”
Olivia glanced away from her. “No. I didn’t have that kind of childhood, Emma. My childhood consisted of moving from foster home to foster home, and pissing off the people who took me in.” She shrugged, dropping her gaze to the register on the desk.
Emma put her arm around her. “I’m so sorry. I know you had a rough time but you’ve never told me how rough.”
Olivia moved away from her. “I’ll tell you someday, just not today.” She gave her a sad smile and disappeared into the kitchen. Emma felt horrible reminding Olivia of her bad childhood. She didn’t know the entire story but from what she’d gathered, it hadn’t been a good one until she’d met Becca and her parents. Emma had heard Olivia say Becca had saved her. She hoped one day Olivia would tell her so she might understand her friend better.
She redirected her attention toward the door with a smile on her lips until she saw Gabe enter. The smile immediately left her face. Her gaze ran over that tall frame, and then she looked around for a place to hide. Too late, he’d already seen her. Why did he keep showing up? Biting back a sigh, she sat up straighter and waited for him to get to the desk. He sauntered up, leaned his hip against the counter, and smiled at her. He nodded his chin toward the kids running in and out. “I wish I had half their energy.” He chuckled.
Emma smiled but didn’t say anything. She kept her face down, pretending to look at the reservation book. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gabe rest his elbows on the desk. “Are you going to continue to ignore me, Emma?” The timbre of his voice slid over her like warm honey making her want to melt into his arms. She gazed up at him and just as fast, wished she hadn’t. Her heart hit her stomach like a rock.
“I’m not ignoring you, Gabe. Why would I do that?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I have no idea, but you seem to be doing just that.”
Emma sighed in frustration. “Why are you here? Did you need something?” She watched as he straightened up, and walked around the desk to her. She backed up as he moved toward her.
“Yes, I do need something. Do you want to know what it is?” When she shook her head to indicate no, he chuckled. “Too bad.” He cupped her face in his hands and leaned his face down to hers. “I need this,” he whispered before pressing his lips to hers. She moaned in response. “Open your mouth for me, darlin’.” When she did, he groaned low in his throat as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. Her hands moved up his chest to his neck and wrapped around his shoulders. Gabe pushed his arousal against her.
Good Lord! She needed this. She needed Gabe. He pulled back from her and looked down into her eyes.
“Gabe…I…” She stopped when he placed a finger over her lips and shook his head. He started to say something but stopped, and stepped away instead. She didn’t understand why until Olivia entered the room. Gabe had heard her and Emma hadn’t. She was glad he had. Her cheeks were already on fire. If Olivia had caught them, she’d never live it down.
Olivia stood there looking at them with a cookie in her hand. She tilted her head and looked as if she were trying not to laugh. She raised a black eyebrow at Gabe being on the wrong side of the desk and Emma leaning against the wall. Gabe cleared his throat. “I’ll talk to you later, Emma. Bye Liv.” He muttered something under his breath as he went out the door. Once he was gone, Emma let out a long breath and sat down.
Olivia continued to stare at her. “Is everything okay, Emma?”
Emma nodded. “I…uh…have to start dinner.” As she left the foyer, she heard Olivia say, “Interesting.”
* * * *
A day had passed
since Gabe’s strange visit behind the front desk. Emma stood in the kitchen whisking up chocolate batter for a little girl’s birthday cake and lost in thought, trying not to think about Gabe when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She screamed and dropped the metal bowl. When the bowl hit the floor, the batter shot into the air and splattered all over her. It covered her hair and the front of her apron. She glanced around to see Becca with her hand over her mouth trying not to laugh, but it bubbled out anyway. Emma looked down at herself, and then at Becca. Tears were filling Becca’s eyes from pent up laughter. Emma grinned. She scooped chocolate off her apron and threw it at her friend, hitting her in the face. Becca gasped making Emma laugh.
Olivia came running into the kitchen, Emma presumed because she’d heard her scream. She skidded to a halt when she saw Emma and Becca with batter all over them. She started laughing, but gasped when Emma smeared chocolate on her face. She glared at both women. Then the battle began. They were scooping the batter from the floor, the bowl, or each other, and smearing it all over the other. The batter on the floor made it impossible to keep their footing. They slipped, fell, and rolled around trying to get the better of each other. Screams and laughter echoed through the kitchen. None of them noticed Jake, Gabe, and Wyatt standing in the doorway watching them. When they heard Jake speak, in unison they stopped to look toward the doorway. “This is better than Jell-O wrestling,” Jake exclaimed with a happy smile.
The women looked at each other and burst out laughing. Jake helped Becca up. She stuck a finger in his mouth. “You know I love chocolate, Red, especially if you’re covered in it.” He sucked the chocolate from her finger. “Come on, let’s get you home, and cleaned up.” Together they disappeared out the back door.
Emma felt Gabe’s eyes on her. She gazed up at him. “Do you need help cleaning up, Emma?” He grinned at her. Shaking her head, she understood his insinuation. She didn’t need his help but every time she tried to stand, she’d slide around the floor, making Olivia laugh harder.
Emma finally got herself up with a loud huff. “I’m taking a shower,” she told them. When Gabe started to speak, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Alone.” Gabe chuckled. Before Emma started for her apartment, she watched as Olivia flirted with Wyatt.
“Help me up, Cowboy?” Olivia raised her hand. Wyatt pulled her up then stepped back from her. She grinned at him. “Want to lick the chocolate off me?” Although, he didn’t move, Emma noticed the distance he put between them.
“I don’t like chocolate,” he said before walking out the back door. After one last glance at Emma, Gabe followed him.
Emma didn’t know what to say when Olivia looked at her then back toward the door. Her heart was breaking for her friend. She put her arm around Olivia. “How about after we shower, we watch a movie?” Olivia nodded, but her eyes kept glancing toward the door. Emma felt her take a deep breath before letting out a sigh. Emma started cleaning up the mess on the floor. Olivia helped her until the kitchen was once again spotless. Once finished, they retreated to their own apartments to shower and afterward, meet up for a movie.
* * * *
Gabe was cleaning a stall when he looked up to see Wyatt walking toward him. By the looks of him, he had something on his mind. Gabe had a feeling he was about to have a replay of his encounter with Jake, something he really wasn’t in the mood for. He set the shovel aside and put his T-shirt on. Wyatt stopped in front of him. Gabe waited and finally, he sighed. “What?” he asked his brother.
Wyatt leaned against the stall doorjamb. “Since when have you been interested in Emma?”
Gabe took a deep breath. “I’m not interested in Emma.” He folded his arms across his chest in a manner he recognized as defensive, but couldn’t help doing it.
“That’s bullshit, Gabe. Christ! I saw the way you were looking at her. You wanted to lick the chocolate off her the other day.”
Gabe hung his head, let his arms drop, and then took his gloves off. “Truth?” Wyatt nodded. Gabe sighed. “I’m not sure when it started. I just realized she’s a beautiful woman and suddenly, I wanted…well, I want to get to know her better.”
“Damn it. We’re dropping like flies. First Jake, now you, Well, I won’t be that stupid again,” Wyatt growled.
Gabe shook his head. “You think falling in love is stupid? That little bitch really did do a number on you, didn’t she? That was a long time ago, Wyatt. It’s over, move the hell on.”
“Easy for you to say, you have no idea how it felt. You weren’t the one she made a fool of, and no one in this town wants to let it go. I thought I found the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and believed she felt the same, then a week before the wedding she decides I’m not the one.” Wyatt was angry and he was right. Gabe had no idea how it felt.
“You got off easy, if you ask me. Stephanie wasn’t the right one for you.”
Wyatt moved to stand in front of Gabe, nose to nose. “I didn’t ask you.”
Gabe pushed him. “Maybe you should have. She’s a spoiled rich bitch and she never would’ve made you happy.” Gabe shoved him again. Wyatt came toward him but just then, Jake entered the barn and grabbed Wyatt’s arm. Wyatt shrugged him off, but continued to glare at Gabe.
“Cut it out. What the hell is going on?” Jake yelled at both men, pushing them away from each other.
Wyatt pointed at Gabe. “He’s got it bad for Emma.”
Jake looked at Wyatt. “Why does that bother you?”
Wyatt shook his head and after sending a glaring glance at Gabe, left the barn. Jake watched him leave then turned to Gabe. “He’s not interested in Emma, is he?”
“No. He’s upset because you have Becca, and I want to see where this thing with Emma is going.” Gabe shrugged. “Maybe he’s tired of being alone too.” His own words echoed in his head. Was he tired of being alone?
“He needs to get past this shit with Stephanie.”
Gabe chuckled. “Yeah well, that’s how all this started. That’s about what I said.”
Jake put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes at Gabe. “I’m glad I stopped by then or you two would be rolling on the ground by now.”
“Why did you stop by?”
“I brought the papers for the competition in September. You need to fill them out if you plan on competing.”
Gabe took the papers and nodded. “I’ll get them in the mail tomorrow.” He grinned at Jake. “I’m glad you came over when you did, otherwise I’d be kicking Wyatt’s ass about now.”
Jake laughed. “Think again.”
Gabe joined in the laughter. He knew Jake was right. “Hell, I don’t have to think about it. He always could kick my ass.” They talked for a while longer about the competition, and then Jake left to head home to Becca. Gabe finished up in the stables. As he headed inside to get a shower, he decided he was going to make a trip to the B and B to see Emma. It was time they settled this thing between them.
* * * *
Emma sat in her apartment alone. Olivia was on a date with Ryder and the guests were all on a camping trip. Usually the trips didn’t include all the guests, but the B and B guests all belonged to one family so they all went camping this time. Emma sighed as she tried to find something to watch on television. A Friday night and here she sat, alone. As she flipped through the channels, she wondered what Gabe was doing and who was he doing it with.
She went into the kitchen to get a drink when someone knocked at the back door. She looked through the window and discovered Gabe standing there. What was he doing here? Blowing out a breath, she moved slowly to the door, opened it but blocked the doorway, and looked up at him. He had a grin on his handsome face, and she wished he hadn’t.
“I take it you’re not going to invite me in?” Gabe put one hand up inside the doorjamb and the other on his hip.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be out on a date or…something?”
Gabe chuckled, giving her a cock-eyed smile. “Something?”
&
nbsp; Emma huffed. “What are you doing here, Gabe?”
He moved forward, pushing his way in. “I came to see you.” He glanced around. “Where is everyone? It’s mighty quiet.”
“The guests are on a camping trip and Olivia is…” She stopped. She realized she didn’t want Gabe knowing she was alone.
“Olivia is…what?” Gabe pulled a chair out from the table, turned it around, and straddled it, pushing his hat back on his head. He looked incredibly sexy.
“Asleep.” Emma swallowed hard and directed her gaze away from him. When he burst out laughing, she spun back around to face him. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.
“It’s seven o’clock on a Friday night and there is no way Liv is asleep, so where is she?” Gabe grinned, showing off those pearly whites.
“She’s on a date,” she grumbled.
“With who?” Gabe raised his eyebrows.
“Ryder.”
Gabe frowned. “I didn’t know they were dating.”
She shook her head. “They’re not. This is their first date.”
Gabe (Men of Clifton Montana Book 2) Page 4