Stranger in Town (Dundee, Idaho #5)(47)
Author: Brenda Novak

Gabe looked doubtful. “I can’t see Kenny doing that. He’s not the type.”

“No, but he’s been acting strange lately. All of a sudden, he doesn’t want to go to football practice. This morning he didn’t want to go to the car show with his dad after being excited about it for the past couple of days. And the only thing he’d really tell me about the fight was that Sly deserved what he got.”

“Sly was involved?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah, you know him, right?”

“Of course. He’s on the team.”

“Well, now I have to pay for Sly’s stitches, and decide whether or not to punish Kenny, and whether or not to make him go over and apologize. But first I have to get to the bottom of whatever is bothering my son.” She started for the back door.

“Where’re you going?”

“To get my blouse.”

“I already brought it in. It’s on the arm of the couch.”

Switching directions, she scooped up the clothes she hadn’t seen until he pointed them out to her.

“Why change?” he said. “Just bring my shirt to me later.”

Evidently he didn’t believe she wasn’t coming back, but she didn’t want to bring it up again.

“Going home in your shirt would give us away.” She moved toward the hall, but he rolled in front of her before she could reach it.

“Where are you going now?”

“To your bedroom.”

“Why not put on your shirt right here? We’re alone.”

“No, I…No!” she said.

“You’re kidding me, right?”

“About what?”

“I just made love to you a couple of hours ago. Now I can’t even see you change your shirt?”

She let go of a dramatic sigh. “Gabe, you’re not making this any easier.”

“You’re the one who’s being difficult.” He centered himself in the hallway. “You’re in a hurry, remember? Better start stripping.”

“Get of my way!” She tried to dart around him, but he caught her and pulled her easily into his lap.

They wrestled, gently nipping each other’s lips as they fought. She’d thought she might have a chance of overpowering him because of the wheelchair, but she’d underestimated his strength. He easily subdued her, mostly because she was laughing too hard to continue the struggle. Then he held her hands behind her back at the wrists and reached boldly under her shirt, as if he had a right to.

“You’re so bad,” she said as their eyes met.

“And you’re so good. I think that’s part of the attraction. You know what they say about opposites.” He kissed her, but this time it was a soft, sweet kiss that made her melt. When she responded by nestling closer to him, he grinned down at her. “You’ll be coming back,” he said confidently and let her go.

“Don’t count on it,” she said. She gave up trying to gain some privacy in which to change, but after she whipped off his shirt, she didn’t hand it back to him. She stuffed it in her purse.

“Hey, what’s up with that?” he asked, but she could tell he didn’t really care. He was too preoccupied with the show.

She put on her bra, then shoved her arms into her blouse. “I’m taking it home.”

“Why?”

“It’s a souvenir.”

“Not you, too,” he said dryly. “Want me to autograph it?”

“No, thanks. I’m not likely to forget where it came from.” She knew he had to be wondering at her motivation. But all she cared about was that the shirt smelled like him. He meant something to her, not his fame.

When he immediately sobered, she thought maybe he understood. “Be careful driving back.”

She nodded, grabbed one of his chocolate-covered strawberries, and rushed out the door. She regretted having to miss Gabe’s dinner. After what they’d shared, it seemed sad to cut the evening short. But as much as she knew she’d always treasure the memory, she was a little apprehensive about what she’d done. Had she started some irreversible chain of events that would come back to haunt her later—the way her involvement with Russ had?

She started her car, did a three-point turn and tried to reassure herself as she headed down Gabe’s long drive. She and Gabe had used a condom. No one knew she was coming out here. Even if they did, they’d never expect the woman who’d injured him to become his lover. And he’d certainly never tell anyone. She could go back to her life and her kids as if it had never happened and—

Hannah slammed on her brakes. Just as she was about to turn onto the road, a car came barreling around the curve.

The driver honked impatiently, as if the near-collision was her fault, then the car continued on its way, but for a second, Hannah thought she recognized the person behind the wheel. Leaning as far forward as possible, she tried to get a better view, but it was too dark. She saw only the back of a generic white sedan before the taillights disappeared.

Maybe she was imagining things. It probably wasn’t anyone she knew.

THE CABIN SEEMED TOO QUIET after Hannah left. Gabe turned on some jazz to fill the silence while he finished cooking dinner. Then he gave Lazarus Hannah’s steak so he wouldn’t have to eat alone. Since the accident, the cabin had been his haven. It was the only place that provided the privacy he craved. But, suddenly, it seemed far too isolated.

Could one afternoon with Hannah really have made that much difference? Sure there’d been times over the past three years when he’d felt bored or restless. But all he’d had to do was think about playing football again. Then the stubborn competitor in him would take over and weight training or therapy would fill the void. If that didn’t work, he’d mow the yard, weed the garden, or make a new clock, rocker or cabinet.

None of those activities appealed to him tonight, however. The hours stretched before him, endless and empty. Hannah had simply left too soon. He wanted her to come back, take off her clothes and curl up with him again. Watching a movie in bed sounded like fun. Heck, as long as she was with him, sleeping sounded like fun.

He wondered what she’d say if he called her and suggested she drive out after the boys were asleep. For most of his life, he’d never had to worry about rejection. Woman always said yes to him.

But Hannah was different. She cared about him, or she never would have slept with him. He knew that. He could tell by the way she’d kissed him, the way she’d touched him. Problem was, she had this image of what she needed to be in order to be a good mother to Kenny and Brent, and it completely precluded having any fun herself. She’d shut down that portion of her life just as absolutely as he had.