Stranger in Town (Dundee, Idaho #5)(50)
Author: Brenda Novak

Gabe didn’t answer. He didn’t owe Hannah’s ex any explanation.

Hannah glanced up from where she’d knelt to pet Lazarus. “It’s a chair.”

“I can see it’s a chair,” Russ said. “What’s it doing here?”

“It’s mine.”

“You bought this and had Gabe pick it up for you?”

Hannah stood up and moved closer. “He built it. He makes all kinds of furniture. Isn’t it great?”

Gabe nearly smiled at the enthusiasm in her voice. She really liked the chair. He’d caught her sitting in it on his porch, had even heard her tell Ashleigh how cool she thought it was.

Russ stepped forward as Gabe lifted it over his head. “Looks like you need some help with that.”

“I’ve got it,” Gabe said.

“But—”

Gabe shimmied his hands up the frame of the chair to lower it.

“Okay.” Russ backed up a step as Gabe set it on the ground. “So you can move furniture. Great. Is this a gift or…or what?”

The jealousy in Russ’s voice and posture wasn’t difficult to detect. Gabe looked to Hannah. This was her ex-husband; he wanted to let her handle the situation.

“It’s a trade,” she said.

“What kind of trade?”

“Just a trade.” She stepped toward Russ’s Jeep. “Thanks for taking the boys today.”

Ignoring her broad hint that he leave, he glanced at Gabe. “It’s been a long time since Gabe and I have had a chance to talk. Mind if I come inside so we can catch up?”

“Not tonight,” Hannah said. “I’ll see you next week when you pick up the boys.”

Hearing this dismissal, Gabe lifted the chair and held it upside down on his head with one hand while pushing his wheelchair up the drive with the other.

“Want me to—” Russ started to skirt past Hannah, but she caught his arm and drew him even more pointedly toward his Jeep.

“Gabe’s got it.”

A few seconds later, Gabe heard the engine start. Then, Russ tossed him a frown and pulled away.

When Hannah came up the walk, Gabe couldn’t help running his eyes over her and remembering what a sweet, sensitive lover she’d been. He knew that what had happened today had changed him, stolen some of the drive he’d been fighting to keep. But he couldn’t regret it. Yet. Maybe he would tomorrow, when the memories weren’t quite so fresh.

“Is this where you want it?” he asked, indicating the spot by her front door where he’d put the chair.

She smiled. “For now. When the weather gets colder, I’ll probably move it into the studio. I’m going to take bunny pictures with it next spring.”

“For Playboy?” he teased. “Make sure you send me one of those.”

“I’m talking about kids!”

“Oh, real bunnies.”

She chuckled at the disappointment he’d injected into his voice, then sobered when their eyes met. “You probably shouldn’t have brought it here yet,” she said.

“Why not?”

“I’ve only made you two meals.”

He straightened the chair a little, then shrugged. “You’ll make more.”

“Actually, I’m not sure that’d be too smart.”

Only the shadow of the porch light fell on her face, but he could tell she looked troubled. “Why not?”

She cleared her throat. “I might want dessert.”

He grinned. “Something tells me you’re not talking about chocolate-covered strawberries.”

“No.”

He pretended to put some thought into her response. “Personally, I like plenty of dessert.”

“But I can’t afford it in my life right now,” she whispered.

She was scared. Hell, so was he. They were both feeling vulnerable. But he knew, after what had happened, they probably wouldn’t be able to stop seeing each other anytime soon. Once those barriers came down—and they were certainly down now—it was too hard to prop them up again.

“Okay,” he said simply. He wasn’t going to push her. She needed time to work through her reservations.

Once he gave in, she didn’t seem to know how to respond. “So…do you still want to come in?”

“If you don’t mind. I actually came over to talk to Kenny.”

“Kenny?” She blushed. “You let me go through that whole thing thinking—you let me make a fool of myself!”

“You didn’t make a fool of yourself. I enjoyed what happened today, too.”

“I didn’t enjoy it that much,” she said, but he knew it was only to get back at him.

He cocked his head to the side as he looked up at her. “You called it dessert.”

“I know, but…” She laughed and shook her head. “God, you’re…”

“Bad?”

“Cocky!”

“Fortunately, you don’t mind.”

She rolled her eyes. “Just tell me you’re not having a problem with Kenny. Why do you want to talk to him?”

“It’s probably nothing to worry about,” he said, hoping that was true. They lived in such a small town it wasn’t inconceivable that Russ and Blaine would meet for breakfast as friends. And maybe the fight between Sly and Kenny simply stemmed from the usual teenager-type angst. Neither event proved anything. “I want to discuss last night’s fight. We’re going into our first game in a few days. I need to make sure the team puts their personal squabbles aside.”

“Right. Okay. Well, Russ made Kenny go over to Sly’s and apologize today. That should help.”

“Maybe,” he said.

“Mommy?” Hannah’s youngest son had opened the screen door and poked his head out. “Who’s here?”

Hannah gave him the evil eye. “Brent, aren’t you supposed to be in bed?”

“But who’s here?”

“It’s Coach Holbrook.”

“Kenny’s football coach?”

“Yes. Can you please remember your manners and say, ‘It’s nice to meet you?’”

Brent didn’t respond because he’d spotted Lazarus at the edge of the yard. “Is that your dog?” he asked excitedly.

Gabe nodded, and Brent burst out onto the porch. “Can I pet him? Please?”

Lazarus was busy marking the trees and bushes. When Gabe whistled, the dog hurried over, and Brent immediately went down on his knees.