Chapter 3
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“Mmmm,” Gabe moaned and ran his tongue along the seam of his lips as he savored the flavor that coated them. “This is so good it should be illegal, Sue Ann.”
“In some states, it is.” The owner of the small café in Hope Falls flushed with pride before winking and dropping the check on his table. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
As she bustled off to a table across the floor, coffee carafe in hand, Gabe took another bite of roast beef so tender and flavorful it could make a grown man weep. His teeth sank into the savory meat, and the perfect combination of zesty and sweet exploded in his mouth. He closed his eyes as he relished the moment that was as close to a religious experience as he’d had in a long time.
For the past year, he’d been adhering to a strict diet to get ready for the fight. But he’d won that fight and this weekend was a cheat weekend.
Monday he would be back at it again. He would get back to his training and start working out with the guys at the station. He’d been a volunteer there while he was getting ready for the fight. He’d told the chief, his cousin Jake, that he was planning on making Hope Falls his home, and so he’d been offered a full-time position. He wasn’t going to start for another two days.
In forty-eight hours he would be back to his disciplined regimen. He’d be back to his routine. But this weekend he was indulging. He wasn’t going to worry about the future or waste one second reliving the past. He was going to live in the moment.
He was meeting a blogger here to do an interview that Maxi had set up and after that, he had to go to the station to fill out his new hire paperwork, but then he’d be gloriously free for two days.
Gabe checked the time on his phone. Rena, the blogger he was meeting, was almost thirty minutes late. He was giving her another thirty, and then he was out of there. He wouldn’t even give her that long except Maxi had explained that he was meeting a woman who had lost her sister to cancer. After being diagnosed, Rena’s sister started a blog full of inspirational stories of survivors to give people hope. Now that her sibling had passed, Rena was continuing the blog in her honor.
Since the fight, Gabe had been inundated with stories of people that were battling all kinds of things. Everything from physical, to emotional, to mental. Each story was so personal and unique, but they all had a common theme: thanks to him they now had a glimmer of hope. He’d inspired them to keep going.
As much as he’d love to forget the past five years, he knew that each day was a gift and if sharing his story could help even one person that was struggling to get through their dark times, then he had a responsibility to do that.
So here he was. Waiting. At least he had his food to keep him company.
Gabe took the last bite of his delicious meal and was thoroughly enraptured in the taste sensations that were flooding his mouth when he heard someone clearing their throat, interrupting his euphoric moment.
He opened his eyes and saw his cousins Amy and Nikki standing in front of him. One of Nikki’s brows was raised in amusement. Amy stood beside her sister with a sweet smile as she gently rocked the double stroller that held her sleeping twin girls Peyton and Paige.
Amy and Nikki might be sisters, but they couldn’t be more different, and not just in appearance. Nikki was a tall blonde who always said what was on her mind and there was always something on it. Amy was a petite brunette that was reserved and soft spoken.
“You’re enjoying that so much you might want to get a room,” Nikki suggested. “I can ask Sue Ann if the apartment upstairs is vacant.”
Gabe was only half-joking when he replied, “If I could marry this roast beef, I would.”
“Well, if American Pie taught us anything, it’s that you don’t have to put a ring on food to get down and dirty with it.”
“Nikki!” Amy sighed as she shook her head and a faint smile appeared on her face.
“What?! It did!” Nikki defended herself.
As much as he was going to miss his brother and niece now that he was moving to Hope Falls, having extended family here did take some of the sting out.
“Speaking of food…,” Nikki motioned over her shoulder to the counter, “I’m gonna grab ours.”
When she did, Amy turned back to Gabe, genuine concern pouring out of her eyes. “I’m glad I ran into you. I’ve been wondering how you’re feeling.”
Out of his four Maguire cousins, Gabe had always been the closest to Amy and Jake. His oldest cousin, Eric, was Glenn’s age, so the two of them were always off doing things that only the “older kids” got to do. And Nikki was a wild child. She was getting into trouble anywhere she could find it. Amy was always just around, quietly observing or hanging out. She’d sit and read next to him and Jake when they played video games, or she’d sit and read in the treehouse while he and Jake plotted their world domination or did Beavis and Butt-Head impressions. Or she’d sit and read on the sidewalk while he and Jake rode their skateboards or bikes around the neighborhood.
It was still hard to believe that she was a mom of twins.
“I’m feeling good. Rested.” He’d spent the past week in recovery mode. He’d done some cryotherapy to help his cells recover and made sure to get plenty of sleep. He had some soreness in his shoulder and lower back, but other than that, he was good.
“We’re walking down to the river for a picnic. Do you want to join us?” Amy continued moving the stroller, and the girls continued to sleep.
“I can’t. I’m here to meet someone.”
“Oh?” His cousin’s face brightened.
“No. It’s not like that. She’s a blogger.”
“Another interview,” her shoulders deflated sympathetically.
His family knew how much he hated talking to the media.
“Yep. But if I finish up early, I’ll head down there, and maybe these sleepy heads will be awake.”
Nikki joined them again, to-go bag in hand. “Let’s rock and roll. You comin’, Cuzzo?”
“He can’t. He’s here meeting someone—” Amy filled her in.
“Oh?” Nikki interrupted as her expression brightened with interest.
“To do an interview,” Amy finished.
“Sorry,” Nikki commiserated.
Amy’s tone turned upbeat as she started to turn the stroller around and head for the door, “You’re coming to dinner Sunday, right?”
Wild horses couldn’t keep him away from Aunt Rosalie’s cooking. She was born and raised in Italy. Her pasta was always cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth and her garlic bread was so good it was downright sinful. He’d had to refrain from Sunday dinners during his training because they weren’t exactly “good carbs.” But this weekend he planned to have seconds and thirds, maybe even fourths.
“Yep. I’ll be there.” He waved as they left.
Gabe watched from the window as his cousins looked both ways before crossing the street and headed down toward the recreation area that lined the river that ran through Hope Falls. His eyes drifted and surveyed the small businesses that were lined with a wooden sidewalk. It was peak tourist season, and the area was filled with visitors patronizing the shops and taking pictures of the scenic surroundings.
He scanned the downtown area of his new home and just as it had when he arrived, a sense of peace settled in his chest. There was no question in his mind that this was where he belonged.
He was just about to check his phone, again, when it buzzed on the table. He picked it up and saw a text from Maxi letting him know that Rena was running late because of car trouble and she’d have an ETA shortly.
He messaged back the response she’d always given him growing up, Cool beans.
Leaning back in his chair, he lifted his arm above his head and grabbed his elbow to stretch it out as he looked back out the window. He noticed that a car had pulled up and parked in front of the restaurant. More accurately, he noticed the breathtaking woman that was seated in the car that was now parked directly in front of the window.
The first thing that drew his attention was dark, chestnut hair flowing over the smooth skin of her bared shoulder. Full, cherry red lips sat below a cute button nose. Her skin was creamy and looked soft to the touch. He was suddenly filled with the urge to just reach out and touch her.
Gabe squinted and leaned forward in an attempt to see her more clearly through the glass. She was either talking to herself or was on the phone. He watched, captivated, unable to tear his gaze away from her as she took several deep breaths. She looked nervous. Scared. Uncertain.
Every protective instinct in his body flared to life. He wanted to fix whatever it was that was bothering her. He wanted to make anything in her life that was wrong, right.
In the back of his mind, he knew that was crazy. But at the moment all he cared about was for the first time in years he felt something. Something powerful. Something raw. Something visceral. She made him feel again.
*
“Where are you again, Sunshine?” Her mother asked as her face appeared on Adriana’s screen.
“Hope Falls.” Adriana spoke up so her mother could hear her over the video games and the Frozen soundtrack.
“Where is that?”
“It’s by Lake Tahoe.” She winced as she saw a doll fly across the back of the frame a second before Lexi screamed. “Are you sure everything is okay there?”
“Of course it is.” Her mother smiled serenely, seeming unaffected by the mayhem. “A house filled with love can only be okay.”
Naomi Hale subscribed to all things peace, love, and harmony. She took her hippie lifestyle to the extreme. She was the poster child for a nonconformist, free-spirit bohemian. Which, on paper might sound like a great person to be raised by, but not necessarily in Adriana’s experience.
Growing up, Adriana was the last girl in her class to shave her legs and wear deodorant because her mother believed in being natural. That all changed when Adriana was twelve and Emily came to stay with them while she went to college.
Adriana’s older cousin had taken her under her wing, and if it weren’t for Emily, she would’ve had a much different middle and high school experience. She’d been like a big sister, a mother, and a best friend all wrapped into one. Her cousin was as street smart as she was book smart, not to mention hilarious and gorgeous.
And she was gone.
She held back the tears that were threatening to break out and tried to take calming, soothing breaths.
When she’d gotten herself under control, she focused on her mother. “Remember, Mrs. Bosh is right next door if you need anything and Gabby said she’s available if you need her. And Jonah is not old enough to watch the girls, so even if it’s just to run to the store, you need to make sure that Mrs. Bosh or Gabby can come over.”
“Yes, sunshine. You told me. And you wrote it down and put it on the fridge. Everything is fine. I’ve got everything well in hand.”
As much as she’d love to accept her mother’s assurance, she couldn’t help the sick feeling in her stomach. Her mother’s track record wasn’t the best. Adriana could remember being as young as six and her mother going out for the evening and leaving her by herself for hours. Whenever Naomi had been challenged by a teacher, neighbor, or Adriana herself, her mother always stood behind the philosophy that she was raising Adriana to be independent. It was a philosophy that allowed her mother to do whatever she wanted.
Adriana had never left her mother with the girls for more than an hour or two, and she’d never left them overnight with anyone. Ever. But this was an emergency situation. Trying to untie the knot of unease that was residing in her stomach, she reminded herself that Jonah had a cell phone. And retired school principal Mrs. Bosh was right next door. And Gabby, Adriana’s regular babysitter, was only one block over.
“Don’t worry so much.” Her mother said lightly. “You were always such a worrier.”
Someone had to be, Adriana’s inner voice dryly remarked.
By eight, she’d known that the electrical bill was due on the twelfth of every month and the water was due on the twenty-second. Those dates were branded into her memory since the utilities were shut off with such frequency. Once she started reminding her mother of the due dates it helped cut down on the number of times she had to brush her teeth at school because the water was shut off or the amount of food that went bad because the fridge was out.
Her mother continued, “Relax and have fun. You deserve a break.”
Adriana wasn’t here for a break, but she hadn’t filled her mother in on the real reason for her spur-of-the-moment getaway. She couldn’t trust her not to say something she shouldn’t in front of the kids.
So, instead of the truth, she’d told her that she was here meeting with a potential investor. Over the past few years she’d had several offers to buy her out, and logically she knew that would probably be for the best. Her business was growing at breakneck speed and so far Adriana had been able to keep up with the demand by contracting and hiring staff over the internet.
She had thirty-five people across the country that assembled the pieces she designed. And, after a little trial and error, she now had systems in place to assure quality control, and for the most part, things were running smoothly. It wasn’t ideal, but she was making it work and also employing people that needed to work from home.
She’d started by offering the job to stay-at-home moms that needed to supplement their income, and that demographic still composed the majority of her assemblers. But now her staff included a man that wasn’t able to work full-time because he cared for his elderly parent, a few college students that were able to fit their work around their class schedules, and even a combat veteran that had difficulty holding down a job due to his PTSD.
It had been so rewarding to know that her small business had grown to the point that it was supporting others. But—although she may not have appreciated her mother pointing it out—Adriana was a worrier. And having that many people’s livelihoods on her shoulders was as stressful as it was humbling and edifying.
“Listen, honey,” her mother spoke in a hushed voice, and through the screen, Adriana could see that she was walking down the hallway and that mayhem had exploded in her wake. Adriana had left her home in Fresno, a small town in central California, only four hours ago, but from what she could see it now looked like a bomb had hit it.
When she arrived at the master bedroom, she shut the door behind her. “You’ve never taken the time to grieve. I think you should. However that presents itself. Listen to your heart. Be open to the universe.”
Feeling the tears prick her eyes again, Adriana decided to wrap up the call. Her mother was right. She hadn’t taken time to grieve. She still felt like Em was here, even though she knew that she wasn’t. Obviously. But it still didn’t seem real.
“Thanks for staying with the kids, Naomi.” Her mother had never been comfortable with “labels” so Adriana had only ever called her by her first name. It hadn’t seemed odd to Adriana until she went to school and realized that everyone else called their parents mom and dad. “Call me if you need anything, and remember that Laney has two more days’ worth of antibiotics for her ear infection.”
“Have you considered alternative medicine? Modern medicine does more harm than good you know and I—”
“Naomi,” Adriana cut her off. Having this conversation was like a dog chasing its tail. It never went anywhere but in circles. “Please just give her the medicine.”
“Okay.” Her mother agreed begrudgingly. “But I’m also going to give her some herbs and essential oils that do wonders for infections, and I brought a diffuser that I’m going to run in the girls’ room.”
“Fine.” It was a compromise she could live with.
“Now go. And heal your spirit. Your aura is very dark and murky. Clear your mind and your chakras.”
And that was Adriana’s cue to sign off. She wanted to say goodbye to the girls and Jonah, but she knew it would be better to leave them be and not poke the hornet’s nest that was her twins if they got upset which was likely to happen since they missed her.
“Okay, thanks again, call me if you need anything,” she reiterated.
After ending the call, Adriana scrolled through her phone and checked the address again. This was the place that she’d been referred to. She’d tried a couple of other bed and breakfasts but neither had vacancies. So she was told she might want to try the apartment above Sue Ann’s Café.
There was nothing listed online about the room and she’d called several times but the line had been busy. She had no idea if the room was available or not.
For the past week, she’d been on a mental hamster wheel trying to figure out what she should do about her discovery. It had taken a while, even with a Gabe Maguire Google alert on both her phone and computer, to devise a plan and she still wasn’t convinced that she was doing the right thing. But she had to do something, and this was the best she could come up with.
Through light internet stalking, she’d found out that Gabe Maguire lived in Hope Falls and social media placed him here as recently as yesterday. So, her plan was to come here and do recon. She wanted to see if she could get eyes on him and feel out what he was like. Maybe even “run” into him. From everything she’d read about the small town, visitors often reported seeing the celebrities that lived here.
There’d been countless photos of fans selfies with pop star Karina Black and movie star Kyle Austen Reed who both lived here in the small mountain community. If people could run into those megastars, Adriana hoped that she could run into Gabe.
She wanted nothing more than to fulfill Emily’s wish and find Jonah’s father. For a long time, she’d thought that it was an impossible task. But now that it was a possibility, fears were populating her mind faster than pop-ups from a computer virus. Before she’d been scared she’d never find him, but now she was terrified about what would happen if she did.
How would she get the DNA sample?
How would she explain the situation to the man?
How would she explain the situation to Jonah?
What if he was a horrible person?
What if he wanted nothing to do with Jonah?
Or worse, what if he tried to take Jonah away from her?
Just like when she was feeling overwhelmed by the kids or work, she focused on what she needed to do next. Right now, she needed to secure a place to stay. After that, she could figure out her next step, which would most likely be walking around looking for a sign or waiting for inspiration to strike her. As unlikely as either of those things were of happening, there was no way they even had a shot if she stayed behind the wheel of her car.
As Adriana got out, she felt the knot that had wound in her stomach tighten. She wasn’t a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants gal. She was a planner. She liked control, she needed it, in fact. But right now she was winging it, and it was pushing her so far out of her comfort zone that she couldn’t even see her comfort zone with high-powered binoculars.
So she made a list of what she needed to do next:
1) Get a room.
2) Find Gabe.
3) Determine that he is a good person.
4) If he is, ask for a DNA sample.
It wasn’t a solid plan by any stretch of the imagination. She was playing this all by ear. There wasn’t a roadmap for what she was doing. Grief management books didn’t touch on finding the father of a child and figuring out how to navigate those waters.
The most important thing to her was protecting Jonah. Doing the best for Jonah. He was all that mattered.
Not the fact that she wanted to throw up or that she wanted to get back in her car and drive the four hours home. Or that she was terrified that this trip was going to be opening a can of worms that she wasn’t ready to handle.
None of that mattered.
“Okay, Em,” Adriana said beneath her breath as she stepped out of her car and the clean smell of pine trees filled her lungs. “I’m here. If you’re watching this and want to give me a sign that I’m on the right path that would be great.”
Knowing that she couldn’t allow her fear to paralyze her, she rolled her shoulders back and held her head high as she stepped onto the wooden sidewalk and opened the door beneath the bright yellow awning of Sue Ann’s Café.
When she stepped inside the charming restaurant, she felt a sense of calm wash over her like a cool breeze on a hot day. She didn’t know if that was a sign, per se, but she wasn’t discounting it. Her eyes darted around the space in search of someone that she could ask about renting the room. No one was behind the counter, and she didn’t see any servers. The restaurant was bigger on the inside than she would’ve guessed and it was about half full.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement and she turned her head expecting to see a waitress or hostess coming to greet her.
It wasn’t.
Her heart slammed into her ribs like a crash test dummy against a cement wall. It was him. Gabe “Jake” Maguire. In person. Coming straight toward her.
He was even hotter in person.
She’d seen countless images of him online and watched at least two dozen interviews on YouTube. And she’d thought all of that exposure had prepared her for seeing him in real life. She was wrong.
He was larger, taller, and more dominating than she’d expected. Compared to her five-foot-two frame, he towered over her. Rays of sunlight streamed in through the windows and highlighted his face as if Mother Nature was his personal lighting engineer. Gold flecks were sprinkled in his milk chocolate eyes that were even more hypnotic in real life. His thick, light brown hair was cut short, but she could tell that it had a wave to it and her fingers itched to run through it. Then there were the tattoos that ran up his forearms and biceps, giving him an even sexier edge that teetered on downright dangerous.
The craziest thing was, the most impressive thing about him wasn’t his physical appearance, though that could easily melt the panties right off of her. It was more than that. It was the way he carried himself as he strode toward her in slow, purposeful strides. He had an air of total authority, a commanding presence. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Her entire body was vibrating with attraction, lust, and need.
She did her best to ignore it. She was here for Jonah. For Em. No matter what, she couldn’t let her hormones cloud her judgment.
Adriana heard Em’s voice in the back of her head, “Well, you wanted a sign. There’s your sign.”
And holy macaroni and cheese, he was quite a sign.