by LuAnn McLane
Reese shot him a look. “Was Mom right? Do you have a thing for her?”
“Hell no! Trish Daniels is a thorn in my side and gonna stay that way. She squirted my ass with water from a hose last week.”
“I like her already.”
“You would. She’s even stolen the affection of my dog!” he grumbled.
“Ah . . . so you do have a thing for her.”
Tony set the beer bottle down with a thump. “Now, how do you figure that?”
“Because you’re protesting way too damned much.”
Tony’s answer was a grunt. “Right. Like I want another woman to screw me up even more than I already am. Not gonna happen. I’m done, Reese. You can stick a fork in me.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have that piss-poor attitude.” Reese hesitated because he and his uncle hadn’t really discussed this before. “I mean, it’s been two years now.”
“Two years of struggling to get back on my feet, financially . . . emotionally. You were there, Reese. Man, I don’t know if I could ever put myself out there again.”
Reese slid the pizza in the oven and turned around. “Well, I carried that damned chip on my shoulder for a long time. You’d be surprised how much better you feel when you let the anger go. It’s like a big-ass weight lifted, ya know?”
“I know you’re right. I just can’t shake the anger.”
Reese angled his head toward the crutches. “Why don’t you hobble out there and say hi?”
Tony glanced toward the double doors. “No, let Tessa have center stage.”
Reese nodded his agreement, but something flicked in his uncle’s eyes and he knew it was an excuse. Gloria had done a serious number on him. But it wasn’t right for Uncle Tony to live the rest of his life looking back. Somehow they all three needed to break free of the past in order to move forward.
“Hey, Reese, don’t look at me like that. I need to get this restaurant up and making money. The last thing I need is to get tangled up with a woman.” He tipped his bottle up and took a long pull of his beer.
“Really? Because I think it’s exactly what you do need.”
Tony grimaced and then rearranged the ice pack on his ankle. “Like I said but you don’t seem to hear me: not gonna happen.”
Reese put the cheese sticks on a serving plate and poured some of their homemade marinara into a small bowl. “Keep an eye on the pizza while I take this out there, okay?”
Uncle Tony gave him a grumpy nod. “Whatever.”
Reese pushed through the doors with the food. His gaze immediately fell on Gabby. She tossed her head back and laughed at something that Joy said, but when she looked his way her laughter stopped and she swallowed hard. Was she nervous? Excited to see him? He sure as hell wished he knew. “Here you go, ladies. Your pizza will be out in just a few minutes.”
“Do you need me in the kitchen?” his mother wanted to know.
“No, Mom, Uncle Tony and I have it under control. You just sit and relax.”
“Is he staying off that ankle?” Trish asked.
“Of course not, unless you count right this minute,” Reese replied. To his surprise Trish pushed back from the table.
“Pardon me while I go give him a piece of my mind,” Trish said firmly.
“Good luck with that one,” Reese said with a surprised shake of his head. He suspected that the wine they’d been consuming had given her a bit of liquid courage. Good thing. She was going to need it.
A moment later Reese heard raised voices. “I’d better get back there and run interference,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’ll bring your pizza if I come out of there alive. If I’m not out in five minutes, come looking for me.”
The ladies all laughed and just as he imagined when he entered the kitchen, Uncle Tony and Trish were nose to nose arguing.
“No, I didn’t take the anti-inflammatory because it upsets my stomach.”
“You have to eat in order for that not to happen,” Trish argued.
“I don’t feel like eating with my damned ankle throbbing.”
“That’s why you need to stay off it, Anthony!”
“You’re my landlord, not my mother. Don’t call me that.”
“Then I’ll call you what you really are.”
“And what would that be?”
“A jackass.”
Reese stood there wondering what to do. Neither one of them realized he’d entered the kitchen.
“Is that right?” Tony crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. He picked up his beer and then frowned when he realized the bottle was empty. “Why don’t you do something useful and get me a beer?”
Trish fisted her hands on her hips. “When hell freezes over.”
“You’re just full of charm, aren’t you?”
“And you’re full of—”
Reese cleared his throat, deciding it was time to put an end to this heated exchange. “Um, I came back here to get the pizza,” he explained, and headed over to the oven.
“Hope it’s perfect so Trish doesn’t turn her nose up and write something mean.”
Reese watched her eyes flash. “You know what? I’m out of here. Pardon me for caring.” She turned on her heel and stormed out.
“Um, that went well,” Reese said, and shook his head at his uncle. “Don’t you think you were a little bit harsh? She did come back here to see how you were doing.”
“I don’t need her mothering me.”
“I don’t really think that’s what she has in mind,” Reese said. “You know you might be screwing up what could be a good thing?”
“Haven’t we had this conversation already?”
Reese slid pizza onto a metal tray and then turned to face his uncle. “Cut her some slack, Uncle Tony. She seems pretty sweet.”
“You call that piece of work sweet?”
“Yeah, and you were a complete dick. Get your sorry ass out of here and take her some dessert.”
“I don’t want to get involved with the woman. Any woman. But especially her.” He angled his head toward the door.
“Then you’re dumber than you look.”
Reese picked up the pizza and walked out into the dining room. He noticed that Trish had left and felt sorry for her. “So Trish went home?”
When Gabby nodded Reese shook his head.
“Why don’t you sit down and have a slice of pizza?” Without waiting for an answer, his mother stood up and vacated the spot next to Gabby. “The dining room is closed and we don’t have any deliveries. I’ll go back and help clean up the kitchen with Mr. Grump,” she added with a nod toward the kitchen.
While Reese wanted to argue, the temptation to sit next to Gabby was too strong and so he agreed. “Let me know if you need me back there,” he called over his shoulder.
A few minutes later his mother sent him a text message saying all was under control and that he should offer to walk Gabby home. He smiled, liking the idea.
“This pizza is so good,” Joy said. “I can’t wait to try some other items on your menu too.”
“I agree wholeheartedly,” Addison added.
“Thanks.” Reese felt a measure of pride and smiled.
“Of course pretty soon my butt is going to be the size of a Buick,” Joy added, making them all laugh. “Especially with those delectable desserts.”
A moment later Clyde Camden walked into the restaurant. Reese remembered him from the dance. At least he thought it was Clyde. It could have been his twin.
“Oh, I’m sorry but the dining room is closed,” Cara told him. “Would you like to order carryout?”
Clyde glanced over at Joy. “No, thank you. I’ve found what I’m looking for.”
Reese saw Gabby give Joy a discreet little nudge and had to hide his grin. Clyde was one smooth operator. When he looked at the pink color in J
oy’s cheeks, he thought he should start taking notes.
“You were looking for me?” Joy put a hand on her chest.
“I knew you were working late and didn’t want you to walk home in the dark. I passed Trish and she let me know you were here.”
“There are streetlights along the way, Clyde. And it’s not far to Whisper’s Edge. Not much crime happens in Cricket Creek.”
“I think that’s a lovely gesture,” Gabby piped up, and this time Joy nudged her back. “Don’t you think so, Addison?” Gabby persisted.
“Absolutely,” Addison agreed. “I’m about ready to leave too. She motioned to Cara. “Could we have the check, sweetie?”
“This is on the house,” Reese offered.
“No way,” Addison argued when Cara handed her the tab. “And this one is on me. I had such a great time tonight,” she said as she slid her credit card into the plastic slot. “Let’s do this more often.”
“I agree,” Gabby said, and Reese was glad to see that she was fitting into the community. There was a new confidence about her that he found appealing . . . and very sexy.
“Me too,” Joy added, but then frowned. “Will y’all check on Trish? She seemed a little bit upset.”
“Uncle Tony is going to bring her a peace offering,” Reese promised. “He’s just in a crummy mood with his sprained ankle.” And other things. . . .
“Those two just seem to be dancing around their mutual attraction,” Joy said.
“Like someone else I might happen to know?” Clyde arched an eyebrow and gave Joy a knowing look.
“I don’t know who you might be referring to,” Joy shot back, but Clyde only grinned while he politely offered his hand.
Cara brought Addison her card back and then turned to Reese. “Is it okay if I go, Mr. Marino? I think I have all of my prep work finished.”
“Cara, you can call me Reese,” he said with a grin. “Yes, you can go. Nice job tonight, by the way.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a shy smile before taking off.
“Someone has a crush,” Gabby observed.
Reese waved that off, but he had to admit that it felt nice to be seen as the boss in front of Gabby. He’d come a long way from his troubled teenage years. He sure hoped she could see that and believe that he would only continue to grow as a person.
“I’ll see you guys later,” Addison said. “Gabby, I’ll stop by tomorrow and we can chat about the new colors for the flowers.”
“Sounds good.”
“Nice to see you, Reese. I agree with Joy. I’m going to need extra days at the gym now that you’re open. But it will be worth it and I’m not a fan of working out, so you should really be flattered.”
“Thanks, Addison,” Reese said with a chuckle. After she left he turned to Gabby. “So, may I walk you home?”
“Taking notes from Clyde?”
“Absolutely.”
Gabby dipped her head rather shyly but then smiled. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Reese couldn’t remember when something as simple as walking down the street made him so happy. But having Gabby’s small hand tucked in his felt so calming and had the power to put his mind at ease. The soft evening breeze brushed her hair against her cheeks and she laughed in a carefree way that had Reese hoping she was feeling some of the same sense of relaxation. “You have a very beautiful, genuine smile, Gabby. You always did.”
“Thank you. There’s nothing pretentious about me— that’s for sure.” She shrugged. “What you see is what you get.”
“I like what I see.”
Gabby tugged on his hand. “You’re such a flirt.”
“I’m simply stating the truth. I don’t even think I know how to . . . flirt.”
“I guess you never had to. Girls just fell at your feet.”
He was quiet for a minute when they stopped at the corner that led to her shop. “But not you.”
She shook her head.
“You do know that back in high school those girls were attracted to the darkness. The bad-boy reputation. None of them had any real interest in me as a long-term boyfriend. And they really didn’t want to be my prom date.”
Gabby stopped in her tracks and looked up at him. “So you really did want to take me to the prom?”
“I did. I thought you were the one girl who would accept me as I am . . . or at least was. I wasn’t nearly as badass as everybody thought I was and, I don’t know, I guess I thought you might have seen right through me. In fact, I was just pretty much lost without any real direction—unless you counted downward,” he added with a short chuckle. “I sure didn’t have any goals. But Uncle Tony got me past a lot of that . . . him and my grandparents.”
“What did it take?”
“Love, Gabby. They loved me without judgment and without hesitation. Not that Mom didn’t, but she needed her own time to heal.” He grinned down at her. “She sure did enjoy tonight. It’s been so great hearing her laughter. She was so full of energy and fun when I was a kid.” Reese shook his head. “I just wish she would file for divorce and totally break free of my . . . of Mike Parker.”
“Maybe she still has some hope.”
“Gabby, how could she ever forgive what he’s done?”
“Love is a pretty powerful thing. Who knows?”
Reese shrugged and they started walking again. “Let’s not talk about anything negative. I’m enjoying just being with you too much to have anything bring me down.”
“Believe me, I understand.”
When they reached Flower Power he wanted her to ask him up. “It’s late. . . . Are you too tired to hang out for a little while?”
“No, not at all. Having Joy to help me out has made such a big difference. She’s such a sweet lady,” Gabby said as they walked around the side of the building to the back entrance to her apartment. “I hope this thing with Clyde works out.” She stopped at the bottom of the steps to dig her key out of her purse.
“He seems pretty sincere,” Reese commented. “Why would she hold back?”
“From what I understand Clyde has a reputation of being quite the ladies’ man. I guess she’s afraid of getting her heart broken.” Something flashed in her eyes and she turned to walk up the stairs.
Once they were inside, her mood shifted and the walls went up. Reese felt her slipping through his fingers. She stood with her back to him and he could feel her hesitation, sense her indecision. “Are you nervous?” he asked softly.
“No.” Gabby whirled around. “Why would you think that?”
“I can feel you pulling back. Are you upset with me because I’ve been so busy?”
“Of course not. I understand completely.”
Reese wanted to step closer, draw her into his arms, but he didn’t. “Then why are you still fighting this so hard? I was hoping you’d come over to the restaurant this past week. Damn, Gabby, I looked at the door so many times hoping you’d walk in.”
Gabby closed her eyes and swallowed. “I’m sorry. I wanted to. . . .”
“Then why didn’t you?” Reese tilted his head to the side and waited for her to answer.
“Because I’m afraid of making the wrong choices.”
“Me being one of them? Because I’m not the town mayor? Do you wish it was him here instead of me?”
“No. I don’t think of him throughout the day, Reese. I think of you. Only you.”
“So do you want me to stay?”
By all accounts Reese should have been angry at her almost reluctant admission, but she was being completely honest, and honesty was the stepping stone to trust. Once she trusted him, believed in him, then the rest would come easy. “I understand fear, Gabby. When you grow up poor, fear is always breathing down your back. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like to lose the one person in your life who was your rock. My fa
ther left, but I still had my mom, my uncle, and loving grandparents.”
“Grandparents?” Gabby’s lips twisted. “When my mom’s parents found out she was pregnant with me, they kicked her out. I’ve never even met them. She didn’t even want to tell them that she was sick. If it hadn’t been for the help from people here, I don’t know what we would have done.” She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “And sometimes it’s hard to help Addison plan weddings. I see all of these big, happy families and my heart aches.”
Once again Reese fought the urge to draw her into his embrace. “Listen. I’m going to tell you something and I want you to remember it always.” He paused until she nodded. “I care about you, Gabby. I always have. I will be here for you no matter what.” He clenched his jaw and then said, “Even if you don’t choose to be with me. All it will ever take is a phone call and I’ll run to you. Fix a flat tire. Take you to the dentist . . . bail you out of jail,” he added with a chuckle. “Anything. Do you get that?”
She nodded and then pressed her lips together as if to keep them from trembling.
“And if anyone ever hurts you, there will be hell to pay. I’m just sayin’.”
She nodded again, slowly.
“And if you want me to leave, I’ll go . . . but not far.”
“Well, you only live right around the corner,” Gabby reminded him, and he laughed.
“True.” He took a step closer but didn’t touch her. Difficult since he could smell her perfume, feel the heat of her body. He felt her soften, open up slightly. “But you didn’t answer my question. Do you want me to stay?”
15
Stuck in This Moment
GABBY LOOKED INTO HIS EYES AND KNEW HE WAS BEING completely sincere, and it warmed her heart. The cold knot of fear started to melt and she smiled. “How can I say no to a man who is willing to bail me out of jail?”
Reese tossed his head back and laughed. “You can’t!”
“Have you always been this amazing?”
“Yes, I’ve just somehow managed to keep it a secret.”
“Well, your secret is safe with me. I mean, I don’t want all of the women in Cricket Creek to know.”
“There’s only one woman in this town I want.” He looked at her with those soulful eyes of his, but he didn’t touch her. Gabby knew that he was waiting for her to make the first move.