Mattie grabbed a leash and ran after him, leaving the door wide-open.
Gabe pulled the door shut. “I guess Dingus is coming with us.”
“To where?” she asked, pushing back her hair once again.
For a moment, he was mesmerized by her cinnamon hair glowing under the light above the door. He recovered quickly, though. “We’re just going to take a walk along the bluff. Maybe to the cemetery, if Mattie feels like it.”
Dingus ran and jumped on the boy, which gave him a chance to get the leash over his head. Mattie turned to them and motioned for them to hurry up.
“Shall we?” Gabe took her elbow and guided her in the right direction. She didn’t jerk her arm away, but she did put distance between them.
Emma had always been direct with him, but it looked like she was going to pretend the hell-bent kiss they’d shared had never happened. Fine by me.
They caught up with Mattie and walked along the path that led up to the cemetery. Emma seemed to relax incrementally. Gabe did all the work on the conversation, keeping up a one-sided narrative with Mattie about school, the upcoming Christmas pageant, and if he had any homework due tomorrow.
Gabe finished by telling him about his day at the North Sea Valve Company. “Maybe the McDonnell will let your school come to the factory when it’s up and running. You’ll have to wear a hard hat, though. It’s the rules.”
Mattie looked back at him and smiled, like wearing a hard hat would be the pinnacle of the field trip.
Gabe glanced over at Emma and mouthed, Your turn.
Her shoulders stiffened but she spoke, anyway. “Mattie, did your mum tell you why she wanted us to get acquainted? That she wants me to consider continuing your therapy while I’m here? Which won’t be very long at all.”
What the hell was that? Gabe frowned at her. Didn’t she have any finesse? Kids had to be handled carefully, cajoled. She should’ve just tried to make a little small talk with him and not be so direct. She was putting Mattie on the spot by asking him such an asinine question. He was just a kid, after all.
She squatted down to his level, keeping eye contact with him, treating him with respect. “You understand what I’m talking about, right?”
Mattie stared at her face for a long moment, searching. When he seemed satisfied with what he saw there, he nodded.
“Good. It’s important you know the truth.” She reached out and touched his arm. “Here’s the deal, Mattie. My specialty has been marriage therapy. I don’t have a lot of experience with children.”
She may not have experience with children but her instincts were spot-on, if Mattie’s reaction to her frank communication was an indicator. Apparently, she did know what she was doing.
“So, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to do a little research first.” She brushed the hair back from the kid’s eyes. “I know a lot of therapists. And if it’s all right with you and your mum, I’d like to speak with the therapist you saw over the summer. Would that be okay?”
He nodded again, but then Dingus pulled on the leash. Mattie was dragged off.
She finished what she was saying, although the boy was out of earshot by now. “But the best we can hope for is for you and me to become friends.” She acted as if that would be the only possible outcome.
Gabe reached down and helped her back up. As she rose, she was so close that he breathed her in. Her cinnamon hair smelled like tangerines. Much more intoxicating than the whisky he’d drunk last night with Ramsay. He forced himself not to stare at her lips, which he didn’t quite pull off. He couldn’t help but want to kiss her again.
She stepped back and looked around to locate Mattie. She seemed satisfied he was out of earshot, and turned back to Gabriel with fire lighting her eyes. She poked him in the chest. “You could’ve warned me that the town was going to expect me to work with the boy. I thought they actually accepted me, but they were just getting ready to waylay me.”
He stepped back, too. “What makes you think I knew anything about this? If you haven’t noticed, I’m not anywhere close to being in Gandiegow’s inner circle. Or even their outer circle, for that matter.”
“You certainly didn’t seem surprised to see Mattie and me out on a wintry stroll together.”
Up ahead, Mattie steered Dingus into the cemetery. Gabe shrugged. “I put two and two together. That’s all, Emma. If I’d known the town was going to do this to you, I promise I would’ve said something.” Hearing the words come out of his mouth, he was taken off guard. It sounded like he cared about her, wanted to protect her.
A guilty expression crossed her face.
“What?” he asked. “You could do a lot of good for the boy. You have talent. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said.
Gabe didn’t think it was nothing, but she looked closed on the subject. He watched as Mattie took the dog to his da’s grave. He stopped Emma from going farther by touching her arm. “Let’s wait here and give him some privacy.”
He never should’ve touched her. The kid was their chaperone but even that couldn’t stop the sexually charged air between Gabe and Miss Priss from ratcheting up a notch. He changed his mind—he couldn’t pretend the kiss hadn’t happened. He had to straighten Emma out and explain how things would have to be between them.
“We need to talk,” he said.
Major worry played on her face, furrowing her eyebrows. “Don’t say anything that we’ll both regret.”
“We have to clear the air, Emma, and now is as good a time as any.”
Her back stiffened. “Fine. Do your worst.”
“I shouldn’t have kissed you the other night. I don’t know what got into me.”
“Desperation?” she offered stiffly.
“I promise it won’t happen again.”
If he’d thought his declaration would make her happy, he’d been wrong. She glowered at him.
“It was a one-off deal,” he added.
Anger radiated from her like sparks off a roaring fire. “Excellent,” she muttered in a whisper. It wasn’t a whisper between lovers. It sounded like a threat.
Well, good. At least they’d gotten that straightened out. Gabe felt much better that Emma would no longer be a problem for him.
She glared at him one more time, then turned toward the cemetery and hollered. “Mattie, it’s time to head back.”
* * *
Emma stomped off. A one-off deal, her pedicured foot.
Gabriel might have regretted their kiss, but he was totally wrong to think it wouldn’t happen again. He didn’t control her. Emma would kiss him again—get him all hot and bothered, then douse him with cold water like he’d done to her. That’s what the rogue deserved. To hell with being a proper English lady. Men like him explained why good women like her snapped. If Mattie hadn’t been there, she would have.
Fuming, she kept on walking, wondering if she could get away with murder. Of course, now that her libido had been unleashed and she knew what she’d been missing, she didn’t want to go without. So, first she would abuse Gabriel’s lips to her heart’s content. Then she’d toss the smug bastard to the curb.
Mattie and the doctor caught up with her. As they headed back to the mansion, there was no chatter from Gabriel. She said goodbye to Mattie at the door, but didn’t wait around while the boy put the dog in the house. The doctor could see to that. She had to get away from him, stat.
In those few minutes as she walked off the bluff, she formulated different ways to make Gabriel pay. Would she sneak into the doctor’s quarters in the middle of the night and kiss him awake? Or would she do what he’d done to her and back him up against a wall and kiss him until he cried uncle?
Or until he cries out my name.
Emma went to the restaurant to get something to eat before returning to Quilting Central. But when she walked in, the place
was packed, every seat taken. How could so many people be here with a retreat going on? She looked around. Where was Claire? With a crowd like this, someone had better be here to help out.
Emma found Dominic in the kitchen, filling eight bowls with pasta.
“What’s going on out there?” She pointed to the dining room.
He glanced up. “I don’t know. I think the locals are coming in shifts from Quilting Central.”
Emma grabbed a tray for the bowls he’d filled. “I’ll take these in, but then I’ll need to run and tell Deydie I can’t work on the quilt for her tonight. I won’t be gone but a minute.”
He shot her a determined look. “Don’t bother. The rush is actually helping to keep my mind off yelling at Claire. You go on. But could you take the cheesecakes to Quilting Central, since you’re going?” He motioned to the box on the far counter. “I just pulled them from the cooler.”
“Sure. But are you certain you don’t want me to stay?”
“I’ll be fine. Besides, I expect Gabe to be along anytime now.” Dominic took the filled tray from her and headed for the swinging doors.
Emma took the box and left the restaurant, hurrying down the boardwalk. With the snow falling on the village and the recently added strings of garland and multicolored blinking lights, the town was looking more and more like a winter wonderland. When she walked into Quilting Central, Mattie waved to her as she maneuvered her box in the door. She didn’t dare wave back, but smiled at him instead. She immediately set out the cheesecake on the food table and grabbed a plate for herself.
When she looked up, Gabriel was watching her from across the room. She turned away. Then she was mad at herself. He didn’t have the upper hand with her, and she needed to make sure he understood that. When she glanced back, though, he held a wrench, working on the long-arm quilting machine with George Campbell.
As she finished her dessert, she saw Claire talking to Ailsa and Aileen, Gandiegow’s matronly twins. As Emma started toward them, Deydie grabbed her by the arm.
“It’s about time you made it back. The Gandiegow Doctor quilt has been waiting on you,” the old woman said.
“I need to have a word with Claire first.”
“Nay. Claire can wait. I need you to get to work.” Deydie tapped the man’s watch strapped to her arm. “Time’s a-wasting, missy.”
“Fine. But tell Claire I need to speak with her right away.” Emma went to her machine and started sewing. But a minute later, Cait was at her side with a folder in her hand.
“Well?” she asked.
“Mattie seems like a nice boy,” Emma said honestly.
“Then you’ll try to help him?”
“I’ll need a few things from you first.”
Cait handed her the folder. “I’ve already contacted Mattie’s previous therapist and faxed over the paperwork giving you permission to speak with him. He’s expecting your call for a time to set up a visit. He’s only in Scotland for a few days. Then he’s off to Budapest. Also in the folder are the standard consent and release forms to treat a child. Did I miss anything?”
Emma flipped through the pages, a little disgusted with herself for having the backbone of dental floss. “No, it looks like it’s all here.” There was a business card with the therapist’s number on it. “You do realize I may not be of any help to Mattie, don’t you?”
“Nay, I don’t believe that for a second,” Cait said. “Claire says you’re a wonderful therapist. Besides,” she added cheerily, “Gandiegow is a magical place. The impossible happens here every day. I’m living, breathing proof of that.”
Emma worked very hard not to roll her eyes. “We’ll see.”
Cait patted her on the shoulder. “We’re all counting on you.” Then she walked away, leaving Emma to mull over that frightening bit of truth.
She got to work, but sewing didn’t hold her attention. Claire was up to something again, flitting from one person to the next. But tonight was different from last night. Instead of Claire receiving smiles or hugs, her frowning face had the village quilters frowning back. There were no soft expressions of compassion like last night, only anger and outrage from the women of Gandiegow.
Gabriel’s deep baritone came from behind her. “What are you working on?”
She froze. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” It took a second for her to dispel the illogical thrill he’d stirred inside her with only a few words. She slowly turned to face him.
“You could try me,” he offered.
“Top secret Gandiegow business.” She nodded toward Deydie. “I don’t want to get on her bad side. Have you seen that woman wield her broom?”
He studied her closely. “That frown between yere eyebrows says something else is going on.”
She plastered on a smile. “What frown?”
He pulled out a chair and sat beside her. Oh no. She felt light and fluttery and feared she might honest-to-God swoon. So much for showing him that he didn’t have the upper hand with her.
“I see it, too,” he said softly.
She stared into his perfect summer blue eyes. So, he saw the depths of forever, too? Then he nodded toward Claire and the outrage she was causing among the townsfolk.
“Oh yes,” she said, feeling like an idiot.
“What do you think is going on?” he asked.
Emma had seen this before. Claire had always had the ability to sway people to her side. “I wish I knew.”
“I’m afraid it won’t bode well for Dominic,” Gabriel said. “I overhead a couple of the villagers plotting.”
“About what?”
“I’m not sure. When I heard Dom’s name and looked their way, they clammed up.”
“Interesting.” Emma surveyed Claire, who was now by the espresso machine, her bumble bee–like flutter making emotions fly. “Have you been by to see Dom today?”
“No.”
“He’s swamped with customers right now. You should go help.” And give me a break from your pheromones.
“I will. Come with me.” He stood and offered her his hand.
She stared at it. Deydie and her demands were one thing, but Gabriel and his big, outstretched callused hand was another. Sure, he might’ve offered it to her innocently enough, but didn’t he know the quandary he’d put her in? The man was hard enough on her body without physical touch. But her hand automatically clasped his.
Heat shot through her with a sizzle and a pop. He smiled as he helped her up out of her chair, and she felt like she’d gone on autopilot and would follow him anywhere. At the last second, she grabbed the folder Cait had given her.
He let go of her hand, but her insides still remained as gooey as the inside of Claire’s éclairs. Proper English ladies do not drool over handsome Scottish rogues. End of story. But Gabriel was a doctor now. She’d have to check her Proper English Ladies’ handbook about rogues becoming physicians.
As they walked to the restaurant, her sputtering thoughts drove her crazy. Was this the moment? Should she take this opportunity alone with him and just do it—kiss him? Or maybe find a secluded place to waylay him. Or should she wait until her attack was completely planned out first and take him off guard, too? Within minutes, though, they’d arrived on the restaurant’s doorstep and she’d made no definite decision.
She tugged his sleeve. “Wait.”
He stopped and gazed down at her as she stepped in front of him. She’d do it now and get it over with. Yes, that would work. Better now than later. Unfortunately, she’d waited too long for that same element of surprise that he’d pulled on her, because his eyes hooded. And she feared he might kiss her before she could kiss him. She had to be the one to do it.
He leaned down, but when he did, the door opened, smacking them together. His lips hit her ear. Her lips hit his shoulder.
“Damn it all,” he growled.
“Sorry, mate,” Ramsay said. “Didn’t see you there.” He nodded toward Emma. “You, either.” Then he realized what had been going on between them and grinned. “Carry on.” He hopped off the porch and sauntered up the boardwalk.
What a disaster. She looked down at her feet.
“Still no boots?” Gabe asked, shaking his head in disappointment.
“I’m getting to it,” she bit back. “What are you going to tell Dominic when we get inside?”
“I don’t know.” He challenged her with his eyes. “What are you doing to help the Russos fix their problem?”
“I told you that I’m neutral. I’m the Switzerland of Gandiegow.” But she wasn’t neutral, really. She just hadn’t told Gabriel that she was on Dominic’s side yet.
“Has Claire said anything to you?” he tried.
“I couldn’t tell you, even if she had,” Emma said. “Confidentiality.”
“Careful, Emma. You’re sounding like a therapist.” He frowned at her, and she didn’t like how that made her feel.
“Stop looking at me that way. You know as much as I know,” she said.
“And what do you know?” he asked.
She shrugged, thinking about the restaurant’s ledger-in-the-red. What right did she have to divulge the Russos’ finances to another? None. If Dominic wanted Gabriel to know the state of the restaurant, he’d surely tell him. She pushed her hair over her shoulder. “Are you going to open the door or not?”
“Just a minute, Emma.” He leaned against the door. If someone else tried to come through, they’d have to move a veritable brick wall. But he didn’t look like he wanted to resume the kiss that had started a few moments ago, either. “I need to tell you something. I’ve had a change of heart since the last time we spoke of them. I think Claire’s right. They’ve been married for ten years and they should start a family. She’s not getting any younger.”
Emma’s own unused eggs shriveled up a tiny bit more with his words. “You make her sound as if she’s decrepit,” she said. “There’s plenty of time.” Maybe she was just assuring herself.
Gabriel frowned down on her. “Ye’re acting pretty weird about this. I thought you’d be happy that I had switched sides. What is it that you’re not telling me?”
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