by Cindy Kirk
“Oh.” Lexi’s hopeful expression fell. “No chemistry at all?”
“’Fraid not.” Thank God she wasn’t Pinocchio or her nose would be a foot long by now.
“His loss.” Lexi’s face brightened. “I’ll find someone else for you.”
“Don’t bother.” Michelle pulled a tube of gloss from her bag and applied some to her lips. “Remember, I’ve sworn off men.”
Lexi fluffed her dark hair with the tips of her fingers, then smiled. “Honey, that’s just until we find you the right one.”
Chapter Three
Out of the corner of his eye Gabe saw Michelle enter the bar and grill on the edge of downtown Jackson. It seemed in every town there was always one person he was destined to run into again and again. In Jackson Hole, he was lucky enough for that person to be a pretty female doctor.
Gabe grabbed a handful of mixed nuts from the bar and watched Michelle glide across the room. She exuded confidence. It was as much a part of her as her bright smile.
“Gabe.”
He turned toward the sound of his name and saw Nick Delacourt at the far end of the curved bar. Dressed in a dark suit, the family law attorney looked as if he’d come straight from court. Gabe lifted a hand in greeting.
Nick started toward him but didn’t get far before someone stopped him. In the past fifteen minutes the microbrewery hosting the Jackson After-Hours event had exploded with people. Gabe was glad he’d taken off work a little early. It had given him time to shower and change into a pair of khakis and a green polo with the Stone Craft logo.
Although Gabe had been brought on as a project manager, Joel had made it clear if their business and work styles meshed, he’d have the chance to buy into the company. That meant, what was good for Stone Craft Builders was good for him.
Tonight was Gabe’s opportunity to get to know the movers and shakers of Jackson Hole. And for them to get to know him.
Building a client base was all about relationships. That’s why breakfast on Sunday had been important. But it wasn’t only business. Gabe genuinely liked the couples who’d been at the table.
“I have a question for you.” Tripp Randall, the administrator for the Jackson Hole hospital, returned to the bar.
Like Nick, Tripp wore a suit. But the administrator had already loosened his tie and unfastened a couple of buttons. Since Gabe had last seen him, he’d also ditched his suit jacket.
With disheveled blond hair and scruff on his chin, Tripp looked as if he should be playing a guitar in a coffeehouse rather than running the area’s largest hospital.
Gabe took a sip of beer. “Ask away.”
“Have you overseen the construction of many stables?”
It wasn’t a question Gabe had anticipated, but he quickly rallied. “Not really, but the great thing about Stone Craft is we can be counted on to do excellent work on any project we take on.”
“The company does have a good reputation.” Tripp finished off his beer and glanced around the crowded room. “Where’s Joel? I thought he’d be here.”
“Chloe had a dance recital.” Even though normally Gabe wouldn’t share such personal information, everyone knew Joel’s family was his priority. The desire to spend more time with them had been behind his bringing Gabe on board. Especially because Joel’s wife, Kate, had recently given birth to a baby boy.
Family was Gabe’s priority, too. That’s why working with Joel had been such a good fit.
“Can I get you another draw?” The bartender slid a napkin in front of Gabe.
Gabe shook his head. He’d make the now half-filled glass in front of him last all evening. Since becoming a father he’d lived a disciplined life, knowing the importance of setting a good example for his daughter. He returned his attention to Tripp. “I didn’t realize you had horses.”
“My dad owns a cutting horse and cattle operation. I know he had trouble with response times from a previous contractor he used.” Tripp accepted another beer from the bartender. “If you’re interested in bidding, I can put you in touch with his foreman who can give you the specs.”
“I’ll speak with Joel tomorrow to see what projects we have lined up. But if we can make it work, we’d definitely be interested.” Gabe kept any eagerness from his voice. After all, appearing desperate was never good. “What size of stable are you looking—”
“Michi,” Tripp called out. “Over here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Mee-shee, Gabe thought, what kind of name is that?
He turned his head and there she was...again.
Gabe met her gaze and unsuccessfully fought to keep a smile from his lips. “Michi?”
“It’s a nickname.” Michelle shifted her gaze to the hospital administrator who’d just looped an arm around her shoulders in a familiar manner. “One you don’t have permission to use, Tripp Randall.”
The words might have been light, but the look in her eyes said she was serious.
“I didn’t know permission was required,” Tripp replied with an easy smile. “Adrianna calls you that all the time.”
Adrianna. Gabe thought back to yesterday’s conversation with Michelle. Adrianna was the nurse-midwife in Michelle’s practice.
“She’s my friend,” Michelle responded.
Tripp brought a hand to his chest in a movement more suitable for the stage. “And I’m not?”
Michelle glanced upward as if looking to the heavens for assistance. But her gaze quickly returned to the administrator as if realizing there were only heating and cooling ducts in the microbrewery’s ceiling. “Of course we’re friends. But no, you can’t call me Michi. I have an image to uphold in this community.”
“You’re thinking what?” A teasing glint lit Tripp’s blue eyes. “Women won’t want their baby delivered by someone called Michi?”
“Something like that.” Michelle’s lips quirked upward. “Of course a hospital administrator named Tripp doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.”
“No respect.” Tripp turned to Gabe and jerked a thumb in Michelle’s direction. “See what I have to put up with?”
“Well, I’m here to mingle and I’m not getting much of that done talking to you guys,” Michelle said before Gabe could respond. She attempted to extricate herself from Tripp’s hold, but his arm remained around her shoulder.
“Not so fast.” Tripp chuckled. “I have to introduce you to Gabe.”
“I already—”
“We already—” Gabe stopped as his words overran hers.
Tripp’s gaze lingered on Michelle before returning to Gabe.
“Michelle and I are neighbors,” Gabe informed Tripp.
“We also chatted at The Coffee Pot,” Michelle added. “Yesterday. After church.”
“I’m impressed.” Tripp cast a sideways glance at Gabe. “I’ve been trying to wrangle an invitation for months.”
Gabe couldn’t tell if the man was being serious or not.
“It’s a select group with very rigid requirements.” A smile tugged at the corners of Michelle’s lips. “Church first. Then the breakfast invitation.”
“Harcourt doesn’t always go to church,” Tripp grumbled. “Yet he’s invited.”
Gabe figured Tripp must be referring to Ryan Harcourt, of Ryan-and-Betsy, the couple who’d sat next to Michelle.
“Ryan,” Michelle said pointedly, “is funny and entertaining.”
“That’s it.” Tripp picked his arm up off her shoulder in a slow, deliberate gesture. “I refuse to take more abuse. I’m going to find someone who appreciates all my fine qualities.”
The administrator sauntered off, leaving Gabe alone with Michi, er, Michelle.
He smiled politely. “I didn’t realize you came to these events.”
“I guess we’re even.” She took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “I had no idea you’d be here.”
“We should have ridden together.” Even though it wasn’t much of a drive for either of them, it would have been nice to have s
omeone to visit with on the way. Not only that, it’d have spared him walking into the event alone.
Michelle simply smiled and glanced around the room.
He had to admit she looked hot tonight in her black dress and heels. Her hair hung halfway down her back in wavy blond curls that shimmered in the dim light. For someone so lean, she was surprisingly voluptuous.
Gabe jerked his gaze from her cleavage. “I’ve met lots of people tonight. This seems like a prime networking opportunity.”
“That’s why I’m here.” Her gaze continued to scan the crowd.
“You’re a doctor.” He didn’t bother to hide his confusion. “Why would you need to network?”
“My practice is a small one.” She refocused on him. “Just me, another doctor and a nurse-midwife. We’re competing for patients against one of the largest ob-gyn groups in Jackson Hole. In fact Travis Fisher, one of the guys at breakfast on Sunday, is a partner in that clinic. He’s also an excellent doctor.”
Gabe took a sip of his now-lukewarm beer. “When you came to Jackson Hole, why didn’t you join them?”
“I wanted more autonomy.” Michelle lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug. “We deliver very personalized care to our patients and take great pride in that fact.”
Michelle smoothed back her hair with one hand, drawing his attention to the creamy expanse of skin of her neck and chest.
His body tightened and Gabe drew air slowly into his lungs. The intense reaction reminded him how long he’d gone without a woman in his bed.
It had been almost a year. Finley had been in Florida spending a couple of weeks with his parents. He’d been putting in extra hours working construction over the holiday break. One of the accountants in the office was divorced. Neither of them had been interested in anything more than a momentary interlude. It had been satisfying. Pleasant.
But the need coursing through his veins now was a stark carnal hunger. Totally inappropriate for the situation. If there wasn’t a Commandment against lusting after your neighbor, there should be.
Gabe pulled his attention from her breasts and asked the question that had been lingering in his head since yesterday. “Why did you and your husband split up?”
Michelle’s eyes widened even as her lips tightened.
“You must have loved the guy to have married him,” Gabe persisted. “What went wrong? Do you still see him?”
“Do you ever see your ex?” she shot back.
“Shannon and I were never married.” He still felt embarrassed by the admission. In his family it was understood that love came before marriage and marriage came before babies. But Shannon had refused to marry him.
“That doesn’t matter. You made a baby together. That makes her your ex.”
“Shannon has a new family now.” Gabe did his best to keep the bitterness from his voice. He’d never understood—would never understand—how Shannon could walk away from her daughter and pretend she never existed. “She’s not interested in seeing either one of us.”
“Not even her daughter?”
Gabe realized he should have known the conversation would go down this road. But it was a path he had no intention of traveling. The less said about his daughter’s lack of relationship with her mom, the better. “I prefer not to discuss Finley or her mother with you.”
“Well, I prefer not to discuss Ed and where our relationship went wrong with you.” Michelle took a sip of her champagne and cast a wider net around the room with her gaze. He knew she’d found an out when her face lit up. She waved to a strikingly beautiful woman with long chestnut hair standing in the doorway.
“Adrianna came after all,” Michelle said with a relieved smile. “I need to introduce her around. If you’ll excuse me...”
Michelle strode off without a backward glance.
Gabe lifted his glass of beer to his lips and realized he should have asked her about Sasha instead of her ex-husband. Still, he was here to network, not to spend the entire evening talking to the beautiful and sexy woman who lived next door.
But for the rest of the evening Gabe kept one eye on her. Just in case she needed any help of the...neighborly sort.
* * *
For the rest of the week, Michelle was too busy to think about her next-door neighbor. But when Saturday rolled around, he was hard to ignore, trimming bushes and watering his lawn, wearing cargo shorts and Nittany Lions T-shirt.
With the thin cotton stretched tight across his back as he cut and pruned, it was obvious he had some serious muscles. Of course it wasn’t as if Michelle was sitting out front in a lawn chair watching him. No, she was walking Sasha around the block while she waited for July Wahl.
July was a friend who’d been a photojournalist before getting into nature photography. She had an excellent eye and had been the first photographer Michelle had thought of when she and her partner had decided to update their website.
They wanted photos on the site to show them looking friendly and approachable. If anyone could make that happen, it would be July.
Michelle was just rounding the corner when she saw her friend pull into her driveway. She tried to hurry Sasha along but the dog would not be rushed. Just as she feared, by the time she reached the front of her house, July had walked over to speak with Gabe.
Ever since the After-Hours event Monday night, Michelle had tried to confine her interaction with her neighbor to a simple nod of the head.
“July,” Michelle called to her friend as she drew close. “Thanks for coming over.”
“My pleasure.” The auburn-haired beauty looked stylish as always in yellow capris, a multicolored scarf belt and white cotton shirt. “Gabe and I were just talking dogs. He owned a lot of different breeds growing up.”
Yep, her neighbor was a true Renaissance man. Sexy. Great listener. Dog expert.
Michelle smiled.
“David and I’ve been discussing getting the boys a puppy,” July said to Gabe. “Perhaps one of these times at The Coffee Pot you’ll let us pick your brain about what breed might be a good match.”
“Sure.” Gabe’s crooked smile encompassed Michelle. “It’d be my pleasure.”
“Are you ready to go inside, July?” Michelle asked, feeling suddenly warm. “I’ll make us some iced tea and get Sasha fresh water.”
“It’s good to see Sasha again.” July reached over and gave the dog a pat on the head, then cocked her head. A tiny frown furrowed her brow. “Is it just me or is Sasha’s coat not as thick? And she looks like she’s lost weight.”
Michelle saw the question—and the worry—in Gabe’s eyes.
“I took her to the vet Tuesday.” Michelle answered July but kept her gaze focused on Gabe. “Dr. Pitts did a thorough exam, ran a bunch of blood work and diagnosed her with hypothyroidism.”
July’s green eyes grew puzzled. “The hair loss fits that diagnosis, but don’t you usually gain weight with that condition, instead of lose it?”
“Normally,” Michelle admitted. “But some dogs become so lethargic they just don’t feel like eating. To complicate matters, I’d recently switched Sasha to a food she ended up not liking.”
“Thank God that’s all it was,” Gabe said and Michelle heard the relief in his voice.
After chatting with Gabe for a few more minutes, July followed Michelle inside. Once in the kitchen, Sasha ate the rest of the food in her dish, then looked up and whined.
Michelle smiled and patted the top of the dog’s head. “You’ve had enough for now, sweetheart.”
“Gabe sure seemed concerned about her.” July leaned back against the counter, a speculative look in her eyes.
“He had a Golden who’d died of cancer.” Michelle added fresh water to the dog bowl. “He worried Sasha might have the same thing.”
July wanted to get right to work, so instead of enjoying a glass of iced tea, Michelle spent the next hour smiling for the camera in a variety of different outfits.
While July took the photos, Sasha padded around the house,
barking at a squirrel running across the back deck and playing with a fuzzy blue-and-white soccer ball. Seeing Sasha active again made Michelle want to laugh with pure joy.
After the session concluded, Michelle poured her and July a glass of iced tea and they headed to the back deck with a plate of peanut butter cookies. Of course, when they’d decided to sit outdoors, Michelle didn’t know Gabe would be out in his yard tossing a softball back and forth with his daughter.
Even though she’d seen the teenager in passing, this was the first time Michelle had gotten a good look at her. Finley was tall with dark brown hair like her father, but her complexion was fair. From where Michelle sat she couldn’t see the color of her eyes. The girl talked as much as she threw, the conversation with her father interspersed with laughter.
According to Lexi, Finley was a good-natured girl and she and Addie were on their way to becoming the best of friends.
July cocked her head. “Did you hear a car drive up?”
The words had barely left her mouth when a car door slammed. Seconds later, the doorbell chimed.
“Looks like whoever it is came to see us.” Michelle stood. “I’ll check and be right back.”
When she opened the front door, she saw David, July’s husband. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
“It’s good to see you, again.” David smiled. “I hope I’m not interrupting your session?”
Dressed in khaki shorts and a white polo shirt, Dr. David Wahl was a handsome, confident man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes.
“Actually we just recently finished and were enjoying some iced tea.” Michelle motioned for him to follow her.
By the time they reached the back deck, July was standing, a look of worry on her face. “I heard your voice. Are the boys okay?”
“They’re fine.” David leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek. “My parents took them to some event at the Children’s Museum. They wanted to keep them overnight. I told them it was okay.”
“I wonder why your mom didn’t ask me?” July mused, puzzlement furrowing her brow. “She usually calls me for stuff like that.”