Glancing down, he asked, “Are you crying?”
Gabriella’s full lips tilted. “A bit.”
“Why?”
“You obviously miss your dad. I can hear it in your voice.”
The sweet words hit him like a freight train. No one had ever said that to him before, then again, no one had ever taken the time to get to know him like she had.
Come on, Dean. Find me a way. “When I’m working on Harry’s House, I think how he’d love to be here, helping me, getting things ready sooner. Better. I know he would.”
His voiced cracked. He didn’t really know anything because after his father found out Kyle wasn’t biologically his, Patrick never looked at him the same way.
“Your mom still around?”
“Yes. She’s alive and well.” Making my life more complicated by the minute.
“I appreciate you sharing all that with me.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for asking.” There was so much more he could tell her. He wanted to. He wanted to tell her the entire, frustrating tale. As the words bounced around in his head, threatening to pop out of his mouth, he hugged her tightly.
She smiled against his skin. “Kyle, I want you to know that whatever you tell me, about your family or your life, stays between us.”
Immediately, he loosened the hug, as if he’d kept her too close. “Why would you say that?”
Sitting up, she lifted a shoulder. “Because whenever I ask you anything about your family, you get very quiet, almost as though you’re afraid to tell me something.”
“That obvious, huh?”
“Look, I’m having a lot of fun with you, but I want to get to learn about you, too.” Her tears welled up at the last few words. “I like you, a lot.”
“I sure as hell like you too, Gabby.” More than I should. For years, he’d kept women at an emotional distance, especially those who’d known about his Hollywood pedigree. Without so much as a wink, Gabriella had burrowed under his skin and he hadn’t even given up a fight.
Tell her, tell her everything. “Gabby, I—”
“Is that the time?” She sat up and looked at her watch. “Oh goodness, Trinity’s out of school in fifteen minutes and I have to go back to the diner.”
Disappointment settled in his gut. No matter how much he wanted it to stay still, life would keep moving forward. “I’ll head to Harry’s House and get a few things done.”
“Did you want to come by for dinner?”
“I’d like that. Seven?”
“Sounds great.” She stood and turned in a circle. “Where did you throw my bra? My panties?”
Replaying the moment he had her out of those damned contraptions, he shrugged. “Try the hallway.”
“Animal.”
Chapter Seventeen
The creak of the floor upstairs signaled that Trinity had finally rolled out of bed.
“Finally, we can get on the road.” Gabriella had already made a morning trip to Monroes’ grocery store. Seeing small bottles of vanilla for three dollars and five-pounds bags of sugar for twice what she’d paid back in Texas still alarmed her.
Their move so far had been good. The diner’s daily traffic had picked up a bit, profits were steady, but like any business, you had to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Phone conversations with Angelica and family happened at least a few times a week.
Continued worry bubbled since Gabriella couldn’t be sure if Riley Fitzgerald would keep his word about her family members’ jobs.
It hurt knowing she’d kept them in the dark. She’d always been honest with her mother, but this time, Gabriella simply couldn’t risk them losing everything they’d worked so hard for.
Since they’d arrived two weeks ago, last night had been the first night it didn’t freeze, but the temperatures still remained far colder than they were used to.
The steady drip-drip-drip of the melting snow softly tapped against her window.
Knowing the roads were clear, Gabriella had full confidence she could make the less than one-hour drive to Bozeman without problems.
These two glorious weeks had been all about learning what her customers did and didn’t like, who the regulars were, and connecting with the local farmers and ranchers.
Trinity’s life had vastly improved. She not only found a nice group of kids, but she thrived in her new school as well.
The beep from her phone interrupted the silence of the morning. The text bubble posted, “Drive safe. See you tonight.”
Kyle.
She quickly returned with: “I will. You still want me to stop at Victoria’s Secret?”
Last night she’d pulled up the map of Gallatin Valley Mall. The popular lingerie store certainly piqued his interest.
Giggling as his text bubble popped up, she anxiously waited for his response.
He’d been a constant in her life since she arrived. Life had been far richer, far more delicious with him in it.
Each time they’d talk, he’d reveal a bit more about himself. His parents’ names; he had three sisters and a brother. He’d served in the Navy. Earned a biology degree. Where he’d traveled and how he now planned to stay in Marietta.
An entire line of throwing kisses emojis popped up.
Smiles. Hearts. Love.
Love?
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
Love.
With nervous fingers she sent back a smiley face emoji before dropping the phone on the table like a hot rock.
When she packed up her life to bring it to Marietta, the only things she had on her agenda were working and giving her daughter a better life.
Nowhere on her to-do list did she write “get involved with a super hot, smart neighbor, spend a lot of naked time with said neighbor, and have the best foreplay ever.”
Falling in love with him hadn’t even entered her mind, but without trying, Kyle had become a necessary part of her world. Being without him simply hurt her heart.
Love.
Laughing at herself, she shrugged at how quickly life can change. “Ugh, Gabby. You’ve got it bad.”
Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Trinity shuffled in, wearing her unicorn slippers and pajamas. “Morning.”
“Sleep well?”
She mumbled something that resembled “yes” before grabbing a bowl, spoon, and a box of raisin bran. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“It didn’t freeze last night so we’re good to go to Bozeman.”
Trinity’s eyes went wide. She practically threw the cereal back in the pantry and snatched a protein bar. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
As Trinity got ready, Gabriella looked over their finances again. Sitting on the laptop computer on the table she set her last paycheck next to her. It arrived yesterday in the mail along with the copy of the non-disclosure and non-competition agreement that Riley insisted she sign.
The famous Winston Enterprises Logo was stamped on the back of both the unopened envelopes.
“Ugh, I’ll deal with these later.” Staring at the return address, she picked it up, but dropped it again, disgusted. “If only I could have talked to the owners. Certainly, they would have done something about him.”
Still, she wouldn’t balk at her last paycheck. She’d earned that and had at least got a bit of a retirement fund going in her years there.
With the diner doing well and them heading into the summer season, Gabriella had every confidence they would be more than financially comfortable as long as they didn’t get crazy.
This had to work. If I go back and don’t work there again, I’m going to have to tell my family everything. Then all hell will break loose.
Before leaving, they let Belle out, dried her feet, gave her a treat, and checked Cookie. She sent Kyle a quick text before backing out of the driveway.
On the list today were visits to Costco, Michaels Arts and Craft Store, Target, and a mall with multiple stores they could check. With the end-of-winter sales, they c
ould snatch up a few more much-needed warmer clothes.
The red sweater Kyle had given her had been a staple and always a wonderful reminder of how good it felt when he’d rip it off her.
She never thought she’d recover from his full lips on her body and he brought her to climax faster than any guy she’d ever been with. Not that there’d been that many before him, but still.
“We’re going to the craft store, right?” Trinity’s finger sailed across her screen. “Tia wondered if we could pick up a few things for her. She’s short on these cool colored pencils and some sketch pads.”
“We could do that.”
Rich blues of the cloudless sky spread out in front of them as they drove 89 and away from town for the first time since they’d arrived.
Trinity drummed her fingers on her thigh as she stared at her phone. “Tia just asked if I can stay at her house tomorrow.”
“That sounds like fun.” Her heart fluttered at the idea of having a sleepover of her own.
As her daughter texted her friend back, butterflies danced around Gabriella’s belly at the idea of taking the situation with Kyle a step further.
Victoria’s Secret. Here I come.
Chapter Eighteen
The morning at the fire station had been interesting. No sooner had Kyle put his stuff in his locker, than they were called out to a car accident. A van full of tired tourists on their way to Copper Mountain from Northern California for a few days of skiing.
They’d skidded off the road when the driver had fallen asleep.
As soon as they got them bandaged up, Kyle lectured the driver about driving when exhausted.
Deputy Logan Tate arrived as the tow truck pulled up. He gave them a ride into town right as another call came in.
This time, Eliza and Marshall McKenzie, the owners of the Bramble House Bed and Breakfast reported something interesting.
A young, confused adult male elk had been wandering around the backyard, causing all sorts of destruction.
The houseguests as well as Eliza’s great-aunt and long-time Marietta resident, Mable Bell, watched through the back kitchen window. The usually curmudgeonly woman had a slight smirk on her face as the first responders waved their arms in the air and yelled at the animal. It took about ten minutes before the men were breathless after running around in circles—wearing heavy boots and coats in almost knee-deep snow.
About the time they had run out of options, Brett Adams and Duke arrived.
Duke took one look at the elk and the dog’s ears formed sharp points. Immediately, Duke put on his game face and off he went. Barking and wagging his tail, within two minutes he’d successfully herded the animal to trot along the stone wall that ran the length of the back of the property before the elk jumped a woodpile, kicking half of it over with his hind legs.
Finally, the dog encouraged the visitor out the back gate and down toward an embankment.
They watched the elk slosh along the banks of the Marietta River, making his way back toward the mountain range.
Duke went to each of the responders for a congratulatory high five as it were. As he slowly passed each member of the team, they’d reach out and scratch him behind the ears as they praised him.
He ended with Brett who gave the dog a large milk bone dog treat.
On the way back to the firehouse, Kyle sat next to the open window of the truck and let the Montana air slap him in the face. Damn, he loved the crisp smell of the mountain air.
How the town looked when the first hints of spring began.
The life he’d made here had been a much-needed reprieve from his family’s scandalous past. Marietta healed his wounded soul.
And maybe, just maybe, here he’d find peace.
And love.
They passed the familiar two houses on Bramble Lane, making him smile.
Shaking off the ideas of happily ever after, he simply focused on how good Gabriella had felt in his arms yesterday and so many days before.
She sure is someone I could get used to. More than get used to.
Dean had been more than helpful and verified what Kyle had feared. The combination of Riley’s lack of business sense and his caustic personality was losing business. Plus, Preston hanging out at the resort and throwing parties until all hours of the night weren’t sitting well with paying guests.
After last night’s update and a quick discussion of the requirements of Kyle grandfather’s will, he instructed Kyle to change a few things in the contracts. Write them in the margins, scan them in, and send the hard copies back to his mother to sign off on.
Hopefully the changes would appease everyone, but he couldn’t be sure. No one had ever done what he was about to suggest with his grandfather’s property, but for him to stay here, he had to do something drastic.
It had been almost four days since he’d Priority mailed it. He’d heard nothing from his mother. This could mean she’d received the papers and was deciding her next move or she’d given up.
And Lillian Winston-Cavasos hadn’t given up on anything in her life.
Until he heard from her, he wouldn’t worry about it.
He smirked at his mental brush-off.
He wouldn’t worry about it much. His mother had a way of making things go her way, but Kyle planned to do everything he could to deflect her attempts to get him out of Marietta.
Especially now. Especially after Gabriella.
Even her daughter had grown on him. Kyle and she shared a similar sense of humor, a love for books, and the girl had patiently taught him how to draw something other than crappy stick figures.
Plus, he liked the instant dad role, like they were a family.
His family. My family.
That warmed his heart better than any coat he’d ever worn.
“Hey, Cavasos!” Brett yelled as soon as the truck stopped in front of the station.
“What, Adams?”
“Aren’t you on cooking duty?” A wide smirk split his face as he patted his belly. “It’s after lunchtime.”
“I’ve got it covered.” Hopping out of the truck, Kyle ran up the stairs two at a time to shower up before the rest of the crew.
By the time the truck had been backed into the bay and the equipment unloaded, Kyle already had the chicken in the pan and had started on the sides.
The part-time firehouse dog, Brontë, sat at his feet while he worked.
Logan Tate wandered in and leaned against the counter. Brontë sniffed his shoes and wagged his tail. “How’s it going?”
“Good. You?”
“Came by to talk to Jonah about someone they saw in the mountains.”
“How old?”
“Not sure. Could be an adult or a teen.”
The idea of Trinity being caught in that environment knotted up the muscles in Kyle’s shoulders. “What do we need to do?”
“I’ll go over it with Jonah first. He thinks it might be an adult hiker, but Keely’s convinced it’s a kid.”
“Whatever you need, man. Glad to help.” Stirring the rice after he poured it into the boiling water, Kyle squeezed in a bit of lime juice and dropped in a handful of herbs.
“We appreciate that, Kyle. Hey, sorry for taking off on you like that during restoration day. I had to take care of something.”
Kyle bit his lip to keep from laughing. The something Logan had to take care of was making sure his lover, Charlie, didn’t leave town. By-the-book Logan even hot-wired a patrol car to flag down the bus that Charlie was on, to keep her from getting away from him. “No problem. Things better?”
Logan scooped up the dog, who tried to lick his face. “Helluva lot better.”
“Those kids we helped out of the ditch okay?”
“Yep, dropped them off at the Graff. They’re gonna get some sleep before heading to Copper Mountain. Their car should be fixed by tomorrow.”
Sprinkling some cumin, cinnamon, and fresh cilantro over the chicken, Kyle grabbed a spatula. “Charlie’s good?”
“She’s great. I’m gonna marry that woman.”
Marry. That punched Kyle in the gut. “Good for you.”
With a chuckle, Logan pointed as Brontë leaned in for a better look. “That’s some mighty fancy chicken you’re making there.”
Lifting a shoulder, he moved the food around in the skillet. “Gabriella suggested I try to branch out from lemon pepper and salt.”
“No more of your signature dish?”
“Not today.” Kyle focused on the recipe and tried not to think of the dark-haired chef naked.
“Glad to see you happy, friend.”
Multiple footsteps signaled a few of the guys were done cleaning up.
“Staying for lunch, Logan?” Jonah called out.
“Don’t mind if I do. I’ll get the table ready.” He put the dog down and washed his hands.
Thirty minutes later, the entire crew sat around the table feasting on Kyle’s new recipe of spicy chicken, broccoli, and brown rice.
“This is good, Cavasos. What did you put in the rice?” Brett asked before shoveling more into his mouth.
Duke sat at Brett’s side as Brontë sat next to Lyle Tate’s chair. Both dogs certainly hoping that gravity would work in their favor.
“Cilantro and lime juice. Gabriella said it would mix things up a little.” When he looked up, all eyes focused on him. “What?”
The corner of Lyle’s mouth curled up in a mischievous grin. “You taking cooking tips, now?”
“Yeah, so? She owns the diner. Why wouldn’t I take her advice?”
“Fair enough.”
For the rest of the meal, the conversations stayed light and no one brought up the subject of the new girl in town.
Kyle mentally laughed at his protectiveness of anyone talking about Gabriella. Now I understand why Jonah lost his shit that day.
As if he could read his mind, Jonah gave Kyle a respectful nod.
Instead, discussions finally changed to the upcoming calendar release.
Todd Harris elbowed the guy next to him. “You held out long enough, Jonah.”
With his full fork halfway to his mouth, Jonah snarled, “Yeah, I did. Thanks for the stripper music during my photo session, Cavasos.”
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