A SWEETHEART FOR JUDE FORTUNE

by Cindy Kirk

  “The girl” appeared on the front porch. Gabi’s smile flickered for a second when she saw him speaking with Alma, but she hurried over to them. “Hello, Mrs. Peatry.”

  “It’s Alma, dear. Just Alma.”

  “Taking Monique for a walk, I see.” Gabi leaned over and patted the poodle’s topknot, while inside the house Chico yapped, obviously not pleased at being left out of the action.

  “It’s too beautiful of a day to stay inside.” Alma glanced down at the poodle. “Ready to rock and roll, Monique?”

  The dog gave a high-pitched bark and did a little shimmy. Alma chuckled. “That’s affirmative.”

  Waving a hand carelessly in the air, the woman sauntered down the sidewalk.

  “I come bearing three gifts.” Jude held out the daisies. “These are for you.”

  “You brought me daisies the night we ate at The Grill.” Pleasure lit Gabi’s face. “Thank you. Very much.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  She glanced down at his other hand. “Is that my second gift?”

  He nodded and held up the package. “Prime beef. Alma assured me steaks are better than candy.”

  “Definitely.” She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “But being with you is the best gift of all.”

  Though Jude knew they’d agreed to limit public displays of affection, he couldn’t resist drawing her to him for a long kiss. “We’re on the same wavelength there.”

  She laughed, a little breathless now, and he followed her inside.

  Chico sprang the instant Jude stepped across the threshold. As if on a trampoline, the dog bounced high in the air, making little yipping noises.

  Jude grinned. “Looks like you’re not the only one who’s happy to see me.”

  “Believe me. You’re definitely a bright spot in a dismal day.”

  Not just the words but something in her tone made Jude stop petting Chico and straighten.

  “Papi—” Gabi stopped, shook her head. “Actually, although my father was in a foul mood when I got there, he’d mellowed considerably by the time I left.”

  Jude watched her intently, now seeing the emotion she’d done such a good job of hiding. He folded her into his arms, pressing her resistant body against him.

  “Tell me why you’re sad,” he whispered against her hair.

  She pushed back, raked fingers through her hair. “It’s noth—”

  “Don’t say it’s nothing.” He kept his tone gentle but firm. “Tell me.”

  She drew in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “This afternoon I got a call from Rosemary. She’s my assistant at the bank. She had distressing news.”

  “They fired you?”

  “No.” Gabi gave a nervous laugh. “Although I almost wish that was the news.”

  Jude took Gabi’s ice-cold fingers in his hand and led her to the sofa.

  “Rosemary called to tell me about Faith’s husband—” Gabi spoke in a scratchy voice, thick with emotion.

  While the names were unfamiliar to him, these were obviously people who meant a lot to her. “Faith is—”

  “One of my best friends. We work together at the bank. She and Daniel just celebrated their third anniversary. I was maid of honor at their wedding.” The words rushed out then abruptly stopped. She cleared her throat before continuing. “Now he’s gone.”

  Gabi’s face crumpled and tears welled in her eyes.

  “He left her?”

  “No. Dear God, no.” Gabi wrapped her arms around herself as if freezing. “He was killed.”

  “What happened?” Jude kept his voice soft and low.

  “I thought Faith would have called me, but Rosemary said she was a mess. They were so much in love.” Gabi looked at him, her eyes bleak. “She hasn’t even returned to work yet. I think Rose said she was coming back in the next few days.”

  Jude took her hand again, squeezed in a wordless gesture of support.

  “Daniel was in Manhattan on business. Apparently he was distracted while crossing a street and didn’t notice the light had changed.” A shadow crossed her face. “A cab hit him. He—he never regained consciousness.”

  “Oh, baby.” Jude wrapped his arms around her. “When’s the funeral? I’ll go with you.”

  The stricken look in her eyes ratcheted up his concern.

  “It was weeks ago. He died not long after I left to come here.” The words stumbled from her lips in little bursts. “Rosemary didn’t want me to feel obligated to come.”

  “She kept it from you.” Because this was her friend and he could see she was upset, Jude tried to keep the condemnation from his voice. It was hard. Her assistant had effectively taken the decision to attend the funeral out of her hands.

  Gabi lifted her gaze, a look of bewilderment in her eyes. “Rose knew what Faith and Daniel meant to me. It’s not right she took away my choice.”

  “No,” he agreed. “It wasn’t right.”

  “I wish I could have been there.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “I would have been there.”

  Jude tightened his hold on her, gently stroking her back as she cried. After a moment, she straightened with a sound that was half sob, half laugh.

  Chico had climbed up onto the back of the sofa and was leaning over trying to kiss Gabi’s tears away.

  “Chico, down.” He reached for the wiggling dog, who only skittered to the other side of the sofa with the agility of a circus performer.

  “Let him be. He’s just being my friend.” Gabi sniffled and swiped at the remnants of her tears with her fingers. “I’m sorry for unloading on you.”

  “Hey, goes with the territory.” Jude deliberately lightened his tone. “I’m your steady guy, remember?”

  A reluctant smile lifted her lips. “Yes, you are.”

  “That brings us to gift number three.” He reached into his pocket then pressed a ring into her palm. “Now it’s official. You and I are going steady.”

  When Gabi only stared, Jude’s heartbeat galvanized. The words tumbled out. “My senior year in high school, our football team took the state championship in our division. First time ever. They had rings made for everyone on the team.”

  He kissed her forehead. Keep it light, he told himself, Don’t spook her. “I’d like you to have it.”

  “I can’t accept this.” She attempted to push the ring into his hands, but Jude shook his head.

  “Do you want to date anyone else?” he asked her.

  “No, but—”

  “I don’t, either.” He smiled, brushed a tear-soaked tendril of hair back from her cheek. “Jude and Gabi are going steady. She has his ring.”

  Saying the words in a singsong tone made him feel silly but had the desired effect of bringing a momentary smile back to her lips.

  “I’ll keep it,” she said finally. “For now. But when I leave town, you’re taking it back.”

  Jude wasn’t worried. There was no way he was letting her go. And, by the time he got through romancing her, no way she’d want to leave.

  “Understood.” To seal the deal, Jude kissed her, softly and with great tenderness.

  The fear that had been a tight fist around his heart eased. So far, so good.

  He’d gotten her to accept one ring from him. Before long, she’d accept another.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Shortly before noon, Gabi pulled the Buick into the lane leading to Deke and Jeanne Marie’s house. When Jude’s mother learned Orlando had been discharged from the rehab center, she’d called and invited them both over for Sunday brunch.

  Even though he hadn’t been home twenty-four hours, Orlando was determined to attend, especially once he heard Sawyer and Laurel would be there.

  “Are you sure you’re up to
this, Papi?” Gabi asked for what felt like the hundredth time. But, darn it, she didn’t like seeing him push himself so soon after getting home.

  “It’s lunch,” Orlando reminded her cheerfully. “Not a daylong party.”

  Since he seemed to have no qualms about his ability to handle the outing, Gabi decided to quit questioning the decision. She had to admit his spirits had improved since he’d gotten home. He hadn’t voiced a single complaint.

  Chico had welcomed him at the door. Despite Orlando’s initial resistance, Gabi hadn’t been surprised by how quickly he’d taken to the small dog.

  The second Orlando had settled into his favorite recliner to watch a basketball game, Chico had jumped onto his lap. With brown eyes firmly fixed on the television, the dorkie had appeared as mesmerized by the action as her father.

  With nothing better to do—she’d told Jude she couldn’t see him that evening—Gabi had taken a seat on the sofa, prepared to watch two NBA powerhouse teams duke it out on the court. But she found it difficult to focus. All she could think about was Jude and how her best-laid plans had gone awry.

  After her conversation with her father at the rehab center on Friday, she’d planned to tell Jude about her transplant. A carefully prepared speech—complete with statistics—had been firmly fixed in her head. Then Rosemary had called.

  Everything after that conversation was pretty much a blur. Jude had arrived. Somehow she’d ended up accepting a “going steady” ring from him. A ring that now hung on a chain around her neck.

  A fact which made her feel like a lovestruck teen. But she wasn’t ready to give it back. Not yet.

  Easing the Buick to a stop in front of the house, Gabi’s lips lifted in a rueful smile.

  “There’s the welcoming committee,” her father announced.

  Gabi glanced over and saw Jude step out of the house, looking yummy enough to eat in slim-cut wool pants, a checked shirt and tailored jacket. She suddenly felt like a country mouse in her chinos and spice-colored cardigan.

  But when he smiled at her, every worry disappeared.

  Stepping from the car, Gabi lifted a hand in a casual gesture of greeting. But she couldn’t stop her smile from blossoming when he hurried toward her.

  Orlando chuckled. “Someone is mighty eager to see you.”

  “I’m sure he just wants to make you feel welcome,” Gabi said, even as she moved around the front of the car to close the distance between them.

  “Yeah,” she heard her father say, “I’m sure that’s it.”

  “Hi,” she said, feeling oddly breathless.

  “You look beautiful.” Jude surprised her by putting his hands on her shoulders and kissing her softly on the lips. With one finger he stroked back a strand of hair that had fallen over her forehead. “I missed you, darlin’. A whole bunch.”

  “I missed you, too,” she whispered back.

  Gabi felt heat climb up her neck, knowing her father watched from the front seat. But she was glad Jude seemed to have missed her as much as she’d missed him. Twenty-four hours apart had felt like an eternity.

  “I need to get the walker out of the trunk,” she said, but couldn’t bring herself to step away from him.

  “I’ll take care of it.” With obvious reluctance, Jude dropped his hands from her shoulders. He opened her father’s door as he made his way to the back of the car to retrieve the walker. “Good to see you, Mr. Mendoza.”

  “Call me Orlando.” A half smile played at the corners of her father’s lips. “After all, we’re practically family.”

  Family? Gabi frowned. Where had that come from?

  “How was your first night at home...Orlando?” Keeping a firm grip on her father’s arm, Jude helped the older man to his feet.

  Orlando steadied himself, which Gabi could see by the tension on his face was no easy task. “Nothing beats sleeping in your own bed. I expected you to stop by. Say hello.”

  Jude shot a glance at Gabi. “I thought you might need time to settle in.”

  “I was tired,” Orlando admitted. “More than I thought I’d be. But my Gabriella is an angel. She made sure I had everything I needed.”

  “Oh, Papi,” Gabi protested. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “You made that delicious meal for supper,” Orlando insisted. “What did you call it? Rush Hour Something?”

  “Rush Hour Stew,” Gabi murmured.

  Jude’s eyes met hers. He smiled. “I wish I’d been there. It’s a favorite of mine.”

  “Next time.” Orlando grunted and wheeled the walker up the walk, halting every few feet.

  Gabi kept to the left side of her father while Jude took the right side as Orlando inched his way to the front door.

  Even though spring hadn’t fully arrived, large pots of flowers decorated the front of the house. When Jude opened the door, the delicious scent of sizzling bacon and sausage teased Gabi’s nostrils while the din of conversation assailed her ears.

  There were people everywhere. Adults laughed and talked in the parlor. Several children Gabi didn’t recognize ran through the house. Jude’s sister Stacey caught her eye and offered a friendly wave. The blonde stood, baby Piper in her arms, chatting animatedly with Sawyer and Laurel.

  “Welcome. Welcome.” Jeanne Marie appeared in the foyer, arms opened wide in greeting.

  Jude’s mother wore a long, flowing turquoise skirt and a blouse with turquoise and silver threads running through the fabric. Large dangly earrings with a Southwestern design hung from her ears, a matching necklace on her throat.

  “Orlando, it’s so good to see you up and walking.” She led them to the parlor and motioned for her daughter Delaney to get up from where she was sitting. “I’ve just the spot for you.”

  “I don’t want to take the young lady’s chair,” Orlando protested, shooting Delaney an apologetic look.

  “You aren’t, Mr. Mendoza,” Delaney assured him, her pretty face earnest. “I need to help Mom get the food on the table.”

  “If you’re sure,” he said, even as he aimed the walker toward the chair.

  “Positive.” Delaney glanced at her mother. “I’ll fill the water glasses with ice.”

  Jeanne Marie gave Delaney an approving smile. “Thanks, honey.”

  Once her father reached the chair, it took a little maneuvering to get him settled with his booted leg propped on an ottoman.

  “Orlando.” Sawyer’s deep voice called out as he and his wife, Laurel, hurried over. “You look better every time I see you.”

  “That tells me I must have looked pretty bad before.” Her father’s words made Sawyer and Laurel laugh.

  Gabi rolled her eyes even as contentment draped like a warm blanket around her shoulders. Papi had to be feeling good to joke.

  While Orlando spoke with the couple about the NTSB investigation into the crash, Gabi caught Jeanne Marie’s arm.

  “Is there any way my father could be seated at the end of the table?” Gabi kept her voice low. “I’m sorry to make special demands when we’re guests, but I think it would be easier—”

  “Not a problem, my dear.” Jeanne Marie gave Gabi’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “I’m having the food set up buffet-style. Everyone can fill their plate and sit wherever they like. Your father won’t need to move from where he is now. I have TV trays available for those eating in the parlor.”

  “We’ll eat with Orlando,” Jude told his mother, positioning himself next to Gabi. “I’m betting Sawyer and Laurel will, also.”

  It was an excellent solution. Gabi wondered if Jeanne Marie chose to serve lunch in this manner because of her father’s limited mobility.

  As if she could read her mind, Jude’s mother put an arm around Gabi’s shoulder. “In this community we take care of our own. Your father is one of us now.”

 
; “Thank you.” Gabi swallowed hard past the sudden lump in her throat. “Knowing he’s among friends means so much.”

  Even as she fought for control, tears stung the backs of Gabi’s eyes. Her father had hit the jackpot when he’d moved to this little town in Northern Texas. He had a job he loved and people who cared about him. The only thing that would make him happier was if his children all lived nearby.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Jeanne Marie gave Gabi’s arm a squeeze. “From the look I’m getting from my daughter, I’m needed in the kitchen.”

  “Your mother is nice,” Gabi told Jude as Jeanne Marie scurried off.

  “She likes you.” His eyes were clear and very blue. “A lot.”

  Gabi looked at him doubtfully. “I wouldn’t think she knows me well enough to form an opinion.”

  “She knows what I tell her.” Jude’s hand grazed the bare skin above her blouse. “It’s all good.”

  The simple brush of his fingers against her neck sent a shiver of longing rushing through her.

  His expression softened as he gazed down at her. For a second Gabi thought he might kiss her. Right there in the midst of all his family. And she might have let him. But when two of his brothers who were walking by stopped, Jude stepped back.

  Though Chris stayed but a second, barely long enough to say hello, Liam appeared in no particular hurry. He settled his blue eyes on Gabi. “You’ve been keeping my little brother busy.”

  Gabi slanted a sideways glance at Jude and smiled. “You could say he’s been my personal tour guide to all things Horseback Hollow.”

  “He’s not going to know what to do with all his free time once you’re gone,” Liam joked.

  “Shut up, Liam,” Jude said mildly.

  Liam grinned and ignored him, keeping his focus on Gabi. “Any idea when you’ll head back to Miami?”

  Sensing Jude’s scrutiny, Gabi chose her words carefully. “I have a woman starting tomorrow who’ll cook, clean and do laundry for my father. A physical therapist and home health nurse will also be stopping by regularly. I won’t be leaving until I’m confident his needs are well covered.”

  Once Liam walked off, Jude turned to her. “I didn’t realize you had all those plans in place.”