One Good Reason

by Sarah Mayberry

  She was about to head to the archive room to get rid of some files when Ally breezed into the workshop. Gabby listened to her greet Jon with fond familiarity before she appeared in the doorway of Gabby’s office, a big smile on her face.

  “I’ve come to rescue you.”

  “I wasn’t aware that I needed rescuing.”

  “I have it on good authority that you’re being held captive by paperwork. I’ve got lighter fluid and a box of matches and I’m going to blow you out of this gulag.”

  Gabby laughed. “The spirit is willing, but the in-tray says otherwise.”

  Ally looked at the overflowing tray suspiciously.

  “Is there anything in there that can’t wait? A cure for baldness? A miracle weight loss treatment?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then you’re coming out for dinner.”

  “Ally—”

  “No buts. This is the one and only time I will ever exert my authority as wife of the boss. You deserve a break, Gabby. Plus I have a voucher from the newspaper for a meal for four at a swanky restaurant in North Fitzroy.”

  Gabby’s gaze slid over Ally’s shoulder to where Jon was packing up his things. He met her gaze and she knew without asking that he was the fourth member of their party.

  Twenty-four hours ago she would have faked an appendicitis attack to avoid dinner with Jon.

  Ally settled into her guest chair. “The table’s booked for six-thirty.”

  Gabby checked her watch and saw it was nearly ten past six. It would take them at least fifteen minutes to get to North Fitzroy in rush hour traffic. Which meant she needed to hustle if she was going to make herself presentable.

  “Pass me my bag,” she said.

  It took her a couple of minutes closeted in the ladies’ room to put on some lipstick, tidy up her eye makeup and tweak her hickey camouflage. Once she was as presentable as she was going to get, she shouldered her handbag and left the bathroom.

  Jon and Tyler had joined Ally in her office.

  “Okay. I’m ready to go,” Gabby said.

  “Cool. Let’s hit the road,” Tyler said.

  After a brief discussion in which Tyler and Ally suggested they all go in their car and Gabby insisted on driving herself, they started out for the restaurant in a two-car convoy. Traffic was predictably busy and Gabby spent most of the stop-start drive tailing Tyler’s truck, staring at the back of Jon’s head through the rear window.

  She still couldn’t quite believe that she was about to voluntarily have dinner with Jon. After what had happened between them last night, they should have been putting as much distance between them as possible. But the whole world had shifted after their conversation this morning. North was south, east was west, and she no longer knew which way was up or down. She felt as though she was seeing him for the first time. She’d made so many assumptions about him. She’d thought he was arrogant and distant, an overdeveloped knuckle-dragger. He wasn’t any of those things. He was very private, and he held himself to a high standard, and he had a fierce sense of duty. He was also, she suspected, a pussycat under all those muscles.

  To be fair, he’d made some screwy assumptions about her, too. Apparently neither of them had taken the time to stop and consider before judging and jumping to conclusions about the other.

  Ahead of her, Tyler stuck a hand out the window and pointed toward the group of cafés they were approaching. She took this to mean that they’d arrived at their destination and started trawling for a parking spot. She found one ten car-lengths ahead of Tyler and fed change into the meter. The others were waiting for her in front of the restaurant as she approached, Tyler and Ally standing arm in arm, Jon a little off to one side. It struck her that he often stood to one side that way, slightly removed—as though he wasn’t quite sure where he belonged. Or maybe it was more that he wasn’t sure he’d be welcome.

  “Okay, before we go in, I have some ground rules for the evening,” Ally said. “No matter what, we all order three courses, and we all stuff ourselves. I get about one perk every five years from those cheapskates at the newspaper, and we are milking this sucker.”

  “Aye-aye, sir,” Gabby said.

  “Your word is our command,” Jon said.

  Their table was in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window that had been softened with a sheer curtain in a hazy shade of bronze. The lighting was low, the tablecloth a crisp white, the chairs all upholstered in bright jewel tones. Not surprisingly, Gabby found herself sitting next to Jon. Equally not surprising, his arm brushed hers once they’d shoehorned themselves into their seats.

  “Sorry. There’s not a lot of room,” Jon said.

  “It’s okay,” she said.

  “Right. Let’s do this,” Ally said after the waiter had left them with their menus. “Remember, three courses.” She fixed them each with a stern eye. “No shirking.”

  “Are we allowed doggy bags?” Tyler asked.

  “As if you’ll have trouble fitting three courses in,” his wife said.

  “Gabby can help me if I struggle,” Tyler said.

  Gabby kicked him under the table. “Hey!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Was that your leg I kicked? I was aiming for something higher.”

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jon smile.

  Ally was studying the menu with a small frown.

  “Hmm. The ravioli looks nice. But I wonder if pecorino is classed as a soft white cheese.”

  Gabby shrugged. “Sorry. My expertise is limited to tasty versus cheddar.”

  “We can ask the waiter,” Tyler said.

  “It’s all right. I’ll have the crab cakes. Oh, damn.” Ally frowned.

  “What?” Gabby asked.

  Ally darted a look at Tyler. He was watching her indulgently, a small smile on his face.

  “Off you go,” he said.

  “You don’t mind?”

  “It’s totally up to you.”

  Gabby exchanged a sideways glance with Jon. He quirked an eyebrow. Clearly, he had no idea what was going on, either.

  Ally placed both hands flat on the table and took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant. About seven weeks, we think. Which means no seafood and no soft white cheeses and no sushi and no champagne—”

  “Wow. That’s fantastic news. Congratulations. I know my math should be better, but when are you due?” Gabby waited for the inevitable twinge of jealousy. After all, if she and Tyler had made it as a couple, she might be the one announcing a pregnancy.

  But all she felt was genuine happiness for her friends.

  Interesting.

  “We think mid-October, but the doctor’s going to confirm that at my twelve-week scan,” Ally said.

  “Great news,” Jon said.

  Ally looked so excited Gabby couldn’t resist reaching across to squeeze her hand. “You guys are going to be great parents.” She looked to Tyler, smiling.

  He smiled back. She’d honestly never seen him look happier.

  It wasn’t until she released Ally’s hand that she registered the tension in Jon’s body. She glanced at him curiously. He was smiling, but one of his hands was busy fiddling with his wineglass, twisting it round and round on the table in endless circles on the tablecloth.

  Gabby looked to Tyler to see if he noticed his brother’s odd reaction, but he was focused on Ally.

  “I guess that means you’re going to be an uncle, then,” Gabby said to Jon.

  He glanced at her, and for a split second she saw a terrible bleakness in his eyes. Then he blinked and it was gone.

  “Yeah. Better sharpen up my footy skills.”

  “I think I can teach my own kid how to kick a footy,” Tyler said.

  “Sure you can. But if you want him to be any good at it…” Jon trailed off suggestively.

  Tyler laughed and gave his brother a challenging look. “Are you saying I can’t play footy?”

  Jon paused for the exact right amount of time before focusing on Ally. “I think pecorino is shee
p’s cheese, Ally. There’s a glossary at the end of the menu.”

  Tyler grinned. “Too scared to say it, mate?”

  “Not scared, no,” Jon said. “But I figured you wouldn’t want me to embarrass you in front of your wife by talking about the time you kicked a goal for the visiting team.”

  “I was seven!”

  Gabby listened to the two men banter. She’d never seen Jon like this, relaxed and easy. Tyler seemed delighted by his brother’s playfulness, too, and for a moment she could see the boys they’d once been as they battled for supremacy.

  The waiter’s arrival ended the football discussion—if it could be called that—and they all dutifully ordered three courses.

  When it came time to order drinks, Tyler opened the wine list and glanced at Gabby.

  “Red or white?”

  “I don’t care. What’s everyone else feel like?” She glanced at Ally, then Jon.

  “I can only have a sip or two, so I don’t think my vote counts,” Ally said.

  Jon shook his head. “Nothing for me.” He turned to the waiter. “I’ll have some mineral water, thanks.”

  “Let’s grab a bottle of red, Gab. That way we can kid ourselves it’s good for us,” Tyler said.

  “Sure,” she said distractedly.

  She was too busy remembering the apple juice Jon had been drinking at the party to pay much attention to what Tyler ordered. She didn’t think it was a coincidence that Jon hadn’t drunk then and that he wasn’t drinking again tonight, especially since he wasn’t driving.

  She knew a couple of people who didn’t drink. One had a parent who was an alcoholic. The other was an alcoholic. She glanced at Jon’s profile. He was listening to Ally, but he turned his head slightly and met her gaze and she knew that he knew exactly what she was thinking. He waited until Ally had finished her story and Tyler was speaking before leaning toward Gabby.

  “I’m taking it easy for a while,” he said quietly.

  “Okay.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “That’s it? Okay?”

  “What else is there to say?”

  He stared at her intently for a beat. “Just when I think I’ve got you pegged…” he murmured, almost to himself.

  “Ditto, buddy. Ditto.”

  He smiled and she couldn’t help smiling in response. When she tuned into what was happening on the other side of the table, she saw Ally was watching them with bright, curious eyes.

  Gabby steeled herself for the inevitable inquisition. Ally wasn’t the kind of person who pulled her punches or thought twice about asking embarrassing questions.

  But Ally simply reached for her water glass and took a sip before commenting on the painting hanging on the far wall. Gabby slowly relaxed. She made a mental note to avoid going to the bathroom tonight if she possibly could. No way did she want to risk being cornered by Ally and being badgered into answering questions about Jon. Not when she had no clue what the answers were.

  The rest of the meal passed smoothly. Jon talked about a build he did in Canada where the client had wanted to incorporate a living tree into the design, and Ally shared the juiciest morsels from her latest round of letters. Tyler tried to get Gabby to fill him in on her mother’s latest exploits, but Gabby staunchly refused.

  “You want to laugh at her,” she said.

  “I would never laugh at your mother. She’s way too scary,” Tyler said.

  “Gabby has a scary mother? Now, that surprises me,” Jon said, deadpan.

  Gabby gave him a look. “Careful.”

  “I said I was surprised,” Jon said, playing innocent.

  “My mother is simply very protective of her independence,” Gabby said.

  “Gabby. Come on. She hasn’t had a boyfriend for thirty years. That’s not protective, that’s a declaration of war,” Tyler said.

  “I want to meet her,” Ally said. “She sounds awesome.”

  “She is,” Gabby said firmly.

  Tyler made eye contact with Jon and mouthed the word scary again.

  Only the arrival of their coffees prevented Gabby from kicking him for a second time. By the time they’d finished those and a plate of complimentary chocolates, it was nearly eleven.

  “I’d better get going. Got to get in early to take care of all the paperwork I didn’t do tonight,” Gabby said, shooting Ally a smile.

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. I think it’s time we hired someone to help out with the admin,” Tyler said.

  “Not yet. We said we’d review it later in the year, remember?” she said dismissively.

  “You need help now, Gabby,” Tyler said.

  “I don’t think—”

  She blinked in surprise as Jon pressed his fingers to her lips.

  “Listen to the boss,” he said. “You work too hard. You need help.”

  She blinked again, more than a little astonished by what he’d said and the way he’d said it. As though he cared. As though he liked her.

  “Well. There’s not much I can say to that, is there?” Flustered, she grabbed her bag. “Thank you for a great meal.”

  Jon started to stand. She pointed a finger at him.

  “Don’t even think about walking me to my car.”

  He met her determined gaze. She tilted her head to one side, silently daring him. He resumed his seat. Gabby was aware of Tyler and Ally exchanging amused glances.

  “Thanks for sharing your perk with me, Ally. I’ll see the rest of you tomorrow.”

  She gave them a little wave and headed for the door. She half expected Jon to follow her despite what she’d said and debated with herself whether she would make a scene or not. She glanced over her shoulder when she reached the front door, but he was still seated at the table.

  Huh.

  You are the world’s biggest freaking hypocrite, Gabby Wade.

  It was true, she was, because there was no denying she was a little disappointed Jon had given in so easily—not because she needed his self-appointed security services, but because she’d been looking forward to the tussle of wills with him.

  Which officially made her a sick puppy.

  She was so preoccupied with her own twisted thoughts that she didn’t realize it had started raining until she stepped out into the night. The road was shiny-wet, the air full of the smell of rain on hot concrete. She glanced toward her car, then tucked her bag firmly under her arm and broke into a run.

  She was only feet from her car, fumbling to activate the keyless entry, when she noticed her hatchback was listing to one side. Her steps slowed and she did a quick circuit of the car. She groaned when she saw that the passenger side rear tire was completely flat. “Shit.”

  She stood in the rain for a moment, contemplating her bad luck. Then she opened the passenger door and tossed her purse inside before opening the trunk to haul out the spare.

  Sometimes being an independent woman and her mother’s daughter sucked, but someone had to do it.

  CHAPTER NINE

  JON WATCHED GABBY UNTIL SHE disappeared through the door. He told himself they were in a busy café area with good street lighting, and that her car was barely a minute’s walk away.

  And, as she had told him on more than one occasion, she could take care of herself.

  He focused his attention on the table to find Ally and Tyler watching him with identical knowing smiles.

  “Nothing’s going on,” he said instantly.

  “We can tell,” Tyler said as he pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll go get the car.”

  Ally frowned. “Why on earth would you do that?”

  “It’s raining,” Jon said.

  “Well, then I guess we’ll get wet.” She stood.

  “I’ll get the car. You two wait here,” Tyler said firmly, pressing her back into her seat.

  “Tyler. Don’t be ridiculous,” Ally said.

  Tyler kissed her firmly on the mouth. “Stay here.”

  Ally harrumphed with frustration and Jon hid a smile as his br
other headed for the door.

  “I’m pregnant, not water-soluble,” Ally grumbled. “He is so not treating me like this through the whole pregnancy. I’ll go nuts.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  She gave him an assessing look. “How are things with you and Gabby?”

  “Okay.” Jon should have known she wouldn’t let it slide.

  “I’m going to need a little more than that.”

  “We talked this morning.” He figured he owed her something, since she’d listened last night.

  “And?”

  “She said she’s fine. She said she was just as responsible for what happened as I was.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  He checked his watch. Ally grinned.

  “Enjoying being my captive audience?”

  “What do you think?”

  He frowned as he saw Tyler entering, a disgruntled expression on his face. His hair and the shoulders of his shirt were wet with rain.

  “What’s up?” Jon asked as Tyler strode to their table.

  “Gabby’s got a flat tire. She’s being difficult about letting me change it, so I wanted to let you guys know I may be a few minutes with the car.” He sounded supremely frustrated as he turned to go.

  Jon was pushing back his chair to join him when Ally spoke.

  “If she wants to change the tire, let her do it.”

  Jon turned to stare at her, aware that his brother was doing the same thing beside him.

  “It’s dark, it’s raining,” Tyler said.

  “She’s got to jack up the car, loosen the nuts. Then she has to lift the spare. You ever tried to lift a tire?” Jon said.

  “Can she do it on her own? Is it physically possible?”

  “Probably,” Jon conceded. “But that’s not the point.”

  Tyler looked to Jon. “She doesn’t understand.”

  “No, you guys are the one’s who don’t understand,” Ally said. She sounded pissed. “If we women let men do everything for us, what happens when you’re not around? Huh?”