Arianne’s face flashed in his mind, which made him gruff when he answered Nicole’s delighted greeting.
“It’s been too long since we talked,” Nicole scolded. “You know, Atlanta’s not that far away, if you ever want to get away for a weekend.”
There was a time when he would have taken her up on what she was offering. He’d met Nicole last year, when she’d been a recent divorcée on temporary leave from her law firm and in town to restore and sell the house her great-aunt had left her. She’d hired Gabe and they’d hit it off almost immediately. They’d both known from the onset that it would be a brief affair—she was still going through the grieving process for her marriage—but he’d never regretted the time they spent together.
Talking to her now, he suspected that they’d only be platonic friends going forward. He felt no spark of desire. “Actually, Nic, what I want is to get away permanently. I’m job-hunting. Can I use you as a reference?”
“Absolutely! You probably doubled what I would have made on that house.”
They talked for a few minutes, and it was comfortable. Like a flannel shirt. Nothing like the prickly, charged encounters he had with Arianne.
Damn it. What was that, the fiftieth time he’d thought of her today? Determined to put her out of his mind, he booted up his computer, checking a few occupational sites and tweaking his résumé. As he surfed some job postings, he had an idea. What if he found a college campus that had open positions in the grounds crew or repair and maintenance? Did university employees get discounts on tuition? Once upon a time, he’d planned to take classes, get a degree. Sure, he was older than the typical freshman, but maybe it wasn’t too late.
If he were going to be taken seriously as an applicant anywhere, however, he would need more references than Nicole Jones. He would have to ask some people from Mistletoe. He decided to start with Mindy Nelson, a widow who not only hired Gabe regularly, but who’d told him once that her brother-in-law, owner of a small residential construction company in Florida, had been impressed with the deck Gabe had built for her.
Mindy worked over at the Mistletoe senior center. Gabe looked up the number in the phone book and called.
“Mindy Nelson,” she chirped.
“Hi, it’s Gabe Sloan—”
“Gabriel! I was just talking about you. Dele Momsen and I had lunch together and she told me about how you’re helping with her walk-the-plank idea. I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job. I’ve always been so impressed with your work.”
He blinked at the effusive praise. “Thank you, ma’am. That makes what I called you about a little easier. I’m interested in pursuing other career possibilities and wondered if I could list you as a—”
“Oh, where are you interviewing?”
“Nowhere yet. I’m putting together applications.”
“For places in town?” she asked, sounding confused. “Will you still have your own business on the side?”
“Actually, I want to look outside Mistletoe. I think it’s time for me to move on.”
“What? Oh, no! We’ll hate to see you go.”
He doubted many people would share that sentiment, but he was touched nonetheless. “I’ll miss you, too. You’re one of my favorite customers.”
“I don’t suppose that if I withheld my recommendation we’d get to keep you?”
He laughed at the possibility of Mindy Nelson, who couldn’t even kill a bug—he’d seen her catch them in jars to release outside—scheming to keep him from leaving. “No, I’m definitely going some time after the fall festival.” Wouldn’t it be nice to move over the winter and be settled before January? A new life in the new year. Perfect.
“I suppose I’m morally obligated,” she grumbled. “A man with a work ethic like yours deserves all the praise he can get. But I’m not happy about this!”
After a moment’s debate, he decided to press his luck. “Then would I be completely insensitive to ask you for your brother-in-law’s contact information? I’ve never really pictured myself living in Florida, but who knows? Maybe the Sunshine State would be the perfect place for me.”
“Maybe,” she said slowly. “I’ll call him this weekend and put in a good word for you. I can’t guarantee he’s hiring, but he has nothing to lose by talking to you.”
“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. Have a good weekend, Mrs. Nelson.”
“You, too. Oh, and, Gabriel? Don’t you pay any mind to that Shane McIntyre. I know his mom, and he was a good kid, but always been something of a hothead. Anyone with half a brain can see Arianne’s not right for him, but I suppose he’ll just have to figure that out for himself. It’ll blow over.”
“I…Thanks,” he said lamely. He told himself he was used to being at the center of Mistletoe gossip, but maybe you never truly adjusted to being the center of other people’s conversations—the uncomfortable scrutiny, the half-truths.
He was hardly astonished to discover that news of last night’s argument was making the rounds, but he was pleasantly surprised to find someone had taken his side.
Chapter Eight
Gabe supposed the main problem with volunteers was that they were, by definition, not professionals. For a man who worked alone and knew the name and function of pretty much every power tool on the market, Saturday morning was a bit too chaotic. A couple dozen well-meaning people—many with children in tow—milled around with only a limited idea of what they should be doing.
Thankfully that lasted for only a short while before Quinn and Lilah herded everyone into the impromptu headquarters they’d set up in the town square gazebo. Even among the crush of bodies beneath the gazebo roof, Gabe was continuously aware of Arianne’s location. He could pick her voice out of the cacophony, could feel whenever she looked in his direction. He assiduously did not look in hers. She would say that he was avoiding her, accuse him of running away again in a more subtle form.
Damn straight he planned to avoid her! He was willing to build an entire pirate armada in return for Arianne not kissing him again. Because if she tried, he would succumb to temptation. He’d spent too many unguarded moments since Thursday night imagining the taste of her, the softness of her lips beneath his, her skin against his. He was reputed to be someone who gave in to baser instincts with no thought for consequences. If Arianne got too close, he’d end up proving his fabled lack of self-control.
In the center of the gazebo, Lilah and Quinn mapped out where everything would be—various midway games down Main Street, arts and crafts booths on the courthouse lawn, concessions scattered throughout, a large rock-climbing wall in the post-office parking lot.
A freckled boy sitting not far from Gabe leaned forward at the mention of the climbing wall. “I’m gonna do it this year!”
An older boy with similar features shoved the child’s shoulder. “You’ve been saying that for two years, Ben. Face it, you’re a big fraidy cat, scared of heights. You’re never gonna climb that wall.”
“I am, too, Toby!” But the youngster’s lower lip trembled.
Gabe sighed inwardly. Chin up, kid. Crying would only be taken as an additional sign of cowardice.
“Ben! Toby!” A woman with strawberry blond hair shushed them, and Lilah and Quinn began sending volunteers off with specific assignments. They’d restored order admirably well, and Gabe hoped he could get to work soon on erecting the plank platform, left more or less alone.
He hadn’t even reached the site Lilah had designated, the small gravel lot next to the library, before someone approached. Jack Allen. A sour taste rose in Gabe’s mouth. Jack worked as an administrator for the town of Mistletoe and was the younger brother of someone Gabe had beat to a near pulp in high school.
“Hey, Gabe,” Jack called.
He sounded a lot like his brother actually. Hey, Gabe.
As if it had been yesterday, Gabe could hear Duke Allen in his head.
Wait up.
Warily, Gabe’s sophomore self had turned, wonderin
g if yet another person was about to insinuate that he was responsible for two deaths. Three, if one counted the mother he’d never known.
But Duke Allen had beamed at him. I know you’re taking a lot of flack, dude, but I’m on your side. Who wouldn’t have bagged Mrs. Templeton, given the chance? I gotta know, was she as hot in bed as I think?
The memory blurred after that, ending with the principal and vice principal separating them and the look of contempt in Jeremy Sloan’s eyes when he’d come to pick up his suspended son.
Gabe swallowed. “Jack.”
“Quinn said I should see you about the ladder?”
“What? Oh, the ladder. Yeah. Follow me to my truck.” Gabe had offered the use of his commercial-grade ladder, knowing it extended well beyond the ladders most people had at home.
“I couldn’t make the meeting the other night,” Jack said. “Zoning commission meeting ran late. But I wanted to add that I think the pirate ship idea is a nice touch. We appreciate your taking time out of your schedule to put it together so quickly.”
From someone else, the remark could have been snide, a pointed reminder that Gabe didn’t have much of a social schedule. But Jack was completely amiable. If he recalled Gabe’s regrettably lost temper in high school, he wasn’t holding a grudge.
When they reached the truck, Gabe said, “This ladder’s pretty heavy. Where are you headed with it?”
“Just around the corner, to Butler Street. We’re raising the big bingo tent and stringing up the speakers.”
The two of them carried the ladder together. Jack said that when he was done with it, he and someone else would bring it to Gabe, who would need it this afternoon.
Not five minutes later, Gabe was hailed again. This time by Tanner Waide. Gabe could guess what the man wanted to discuss. Arianne, what trouble have you got me into now? The idea of defending himself with the God’s honest truth—that she had made the move on him—was enticing, but he discounted it as ungallant. Besides, in his experience, people rarely believed that explanation.
“Tanner, what can I do for you?” he asked, slowing his gait but not stopping.
“I don’t need anything.” The man smiled, heightening his familial resemblance to Arianne. “Actually I came to say that if there’s anything you ever need…”
When Tanner broke off with a frown, Gabe found himself confused. “You mean, like assistance with the pirate ship?”
“Not exactly. Although I’d be happy to help.” Tanner rubbed his jaw. “This is more awkward than I’d intended, but I heard about the confrontation with Shane.”
Gabe sighed. Would Arianne’s brother believe him if he explained that he wasn’t looking for any trouble?
“I just want you to know we’ve got your back.”
“Excuse me?”
“David and me. If you want us to correct any misconceptions about how it went down. Or if you think Shane’s not getting the message about Ari not being interested, I’d appreciate your letting me know. I’ll have a chat with him.”
Gabe’s gaze went involuntarily to Tanner’s hand, and the other man noticed, chuckling.
“That wasn’t a euphemism for roughing him up. He’s known the family for years, and we owe it to him to try talking first if his behavior’s become inappropriate.” Tanner’s expression suddenly hardened. “Unless he ever lays a hand on my little sister, in which case I’ll dump his body in the river.”
If Shane hurt Ari in front of Gabe, Tanner would never get the chance to kill him. Gabe didn’t voice the thought—it seemed risky, given his history and the fact that three local police officers were helping with the huge canvas bingo tent. But some of the protective ferocity he was feeling must have shown in his expression because Tanner rocked back on the balls of his feet, looking satisfied.
“I see we’re in agreement,” Tanner said. “I’ll let you get back to work, then. But we’ll have a beer soon so I can give you advice.”
“Advice?” What had he done to make the Waides think they were his own personal consulting team?
“On how to manage my sister.”
“I don’t think that’s possible,” Gabe grumbled.
Tanner grinned. “You’re a quick learner.”
GABE PAUSED, WIPING his forehead with the back of his arm. He was mighty glad they’d asked for his help with the fall festival and not the July Fourth celebration. Even with the cool October air, he was working up a sweat. He set the hammer he’d been using across the top of his toolbox and reached for a bottle of water. It had long since turned lukewarm, but at least it was wet.
He stood and twisted off the lid, gratefully rehydrating.
“I feel bad that I didn’t think to bring you another bottle. You look like you’re about out,” Lilah observed as she emerged from a shaded trail between two buildings.
“That’s okay.” He crumpled the plastic to stick it in the recycling bin. “I’ll probably head for lunch soon anyway, so I can get something else to drink then.”
“Could you hold off on that lunch for another fifteen minutes?” she asked. “Jennifer Gideon just handed me the check from the PTA and the bouncy company is supposed to be delivering the ball pit back here. Can you direct them, let them know exactly where you need it?”
“Sure.” He smiled. “But if I pass out from hunger in the meantime, it’s on your head.”
She looked startled for a second and he wondered if she’d taken him seriously, but then she gave a little shake of her head. “After the diving pit is set up, why don’t you come to lunch with us? Tanner and I were talking about going for Mexican.”
“You do know I was kidding about the fainting?”
“That’s what I figured. I just thought it would be nice if you could join us.” She hesitated before adding, “Ari will be there.”
If he were a smarter man, that would be a reason not to go. Hadn’t he been thinking to himself that the more distance between them, the better? But…
He missed her smile. In retrospect, he’d been braced all morning for her to seek him out, to interrupt, and now that she hadn’t, the relief he should be feeling was tainted with disappointment.
“She’s trying to give you space,” Lilah said in a near whisper, glancing around as if nervous she would be caught betraying a confidence. “She’s afraid she comes on too strong.”
She does. So why wasn’t he happier that she was staying away?
“It won’t last,” Lilah predicted. “She’s trying to back off because she’s told herself she should, but it’s too contrary to her nature. The Waides are strong-willed.”
“Including your husband?”
Lilah laughed. “Especially my husband! Don’t let the aw-shucks twinkle in his eyes or easy smile fool you. You should have seen the full-court press I got when he moved back to Mistletoe. I was afraid he could break my heart again and wanted nothing to do with him.”
Gabe pointed to the wedding band she wore. “Looks like he wore you down.”
“Put that way, it doesn’t sound very romantic, huh?” She wrinkled her nose. “But trust me, even though I thought he was going to drive me crazy at the time, letting myself love him was the best decision I ever made.”
A truck parked at the curb and a couple of guys crunched across the gravel to ask if she was Lilah and if this was where the ball pit would go. Nodding, she introduced them to Gabe. He took it from there and she excused herself to go check on the progress with the bingo tent and midway facade.
“Think about that lunch offer,” she reminded him over her shoulder.
He grinned at her retreating back—Lilah was a bit like her relentless sister-in-law, she was just more understated about it.
Together the three men got the “mega pit” situated and inflated the base to determine whether this was going to work safely. When Gabe was satisfied that walking the plank would be a lighthearted fundraiser and not a short plummet into traction, he thanked the uniformed men and signed the paperwork saying that he understood t
he safety regulations and instructions for how to use the electric blower. They unloaded seven enormous bags filled with springy, multicolored balls. As he handed over the clipboard, he caught sight of a paint-smeared blonde and two kids in his peripheral vision.
Arianne. She was crouched down in the picturesque pathway that led between the buildings and back toward Main Street. Her hair was pulled back with some kind of clip, but long strands were blowing around her face as she crouched next to two kids. It looked as though she was mediating an argument between the two ginger-haired boys Gabe had seen in the gazebo earlier. Gabe started walking toward them even before he realized that was his intention.
“Everything okay here?” he asked. At least if he sounded as if he were trying to help, he wouldn’t have to admit to himself that, having finally seen her, he couldn’t stay away.
“It will be,” Arianne said. Her stern tone was full of warning, but Gabe wondered if the blue smear of paint across her left cheek detracted from her authority. “Right, guys?”
The youngest—seven, maybe?—nodded, sniffling, and the taller one kicked the dirt with his shoe as he muttered an unconvincing, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Why don’t the two of you go help Quinn clean paintbrushes?” she suggested. “Your mom said as soon as she’s done, she’ll take you to lunch at the Dixieland Diner. Play your cards right, there might even be milk shakes in your future.”
Their expressions brightening slightly at the implied bribe, they scampered off and disappeared around the corner of the bank.
“You think they’re really on their way to assist Quinn?” Gabe asked. Neither child had looked particularly eager to tackle that errand.
Arianne sighed. “Who knows? Toby and Ben are good kids, for the most part, but a handful for Fawne. Her husband is serving a tour of duty overseas. She’s here instead of on a base because she’s trying to help take care of her parents, and it’s a lot on her plate.”
Gabe stared off in the direction the boys had gone. “I don’t want them operating power saws or hammering a platform that needs to hold actual festival attendees without collapsing, but if I rack my brain, I might be able to come up with something they can do to help me.”
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