The River House

by Carla Neggers

  “Where are you now?”

  “I’m in my car.”

  “Heading to your grandmother’s—”

  “Why don’t you call me when the party’s over? There’s no urgency. I got a real kick out of the covered bridge towel, I have to admit. I bought it at the country store in your sweet little village center. It’s so quaint. Okay, talk to you later.”

  Felicity exhaled in relief when she realized Nadia had disconnected. Next time she’d let the call go to voice mail. Whatever Nadia’s true intentions, her behavior was verging on intrusive and inappropriate. The call didn’t strike Felicity as a genuine effort to reach out in solidarity and appreciation. Nadia had no reason to reach out. They’d only met yesterday. They didn’t know each other.

  “This isn’t about me,” Felicity said under her breath. “This is about Nadia and Gabe.”

  She heard voices and went back outside. Russ was chatting with Gabe on the terrace. She felt Gabe’s gaze settle on her and knew Russ had already told him about Nadia’s present. He’d changed into a sleek, medium-gray suit since she’d left him in her kitchen. He looked like the successful entrepreneur he was.

  Gabe followed her into the kitchen. “Are we in your way?”

  Felicity shook her head. “No, not at all.”

  “Russ showed me Nadia’s gift.”

  “A covered-bridge towel. Makes a good gift.” Felicity debated whether to tell them about Nadia’s call. It didn’t add to what they already knew, but they’d want to know. No question. “She just called, actually. Wishing us well today. She didn’t say where she was.”

  Russ stood still next to the table. “You asked?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry about this,” Gabe said. “I don’t know what her game is, or if she even has one. She texted me to tell me she’s flying back to California today. I came down here to let you and Russ know.”

  “What about her grandmother’s estate?” Felicity asked.

  “Something came up at home, and she has an offer on her grandmother’s house.” Gabe patted Buster, who’d stirred from his spot in the shade. “She must have dropped off the package on her way to the airport. If she calls again, find me. I don’t care if I’m speaking.”

  Russ shook his head. “Find me, Felicity. I’ll handle Nadia. Gabe, you’re here to share your wisdom with aspiring entrepreneurs. I’m here to make sure someone like Nadia doesn’t cause trouble.”

  Gabe stood straight, Buster flopping back into the shade. “Fair enough. Thanks.” He paused, nothing about him suggesting he’d relaxed. He turned to Felicity. “Don’t let Nadia get inside your head.”

  “No problem.”

  “Right.” He gave her the faintest of smiles. “Not saying you can’t handle yourself. I’m doing my best not to let Nadia get inside my head, too.”

  “I think she’s already there, don’t you?”

  “That’s part of her game right now,” Russ said. “She’s messing with you to keep herself from thinking about her own life.”

  “I think she wants something from Gabe,” Felicity added.

  He picked a stray dog hair off his expensive suit coat, but there was nothing casual about him. “She hasn’t said anything to me.”

  “Sometimes people don’t say so outright.”

  “I’m not good at mind-reading,” he said.

  “I’ll head up to the barn,” Russ said. “See you two later.”

  He was off, down through the garden and the gap in the stone wall to the path up to the barn. Felicity watched him, trying to ignore a twinge of irritation with Gabe—his take-charge attitude, his crack about mind-reading, his impossible-to-miss physical presence. The rush of pure physical awareness got to her more than the rest of it. It wasn’t helpful, this rekindled attraction to him. She wasn’t eighteen anymore.

  She hit the pass code on her phone and handed it to him. “That’s Nadia’s number, right?”

  Gabe glanced at the screen. “Yes.”

  “Then it wasn’t someone pretending to be her. She’s never done anything scary, has she? Threatened to hurt you, someone else—in theory, even. For example, the girl you slept with in high school who’s now a successful event manager in your hometown.”

  “No. Nothing like that.”

  “Good. I didn’t think so. If she’s on her way to the airport, she isn’t going to crash today’s boot camp. She’s just...” Felicity paused, wondering how frank she should be. “She wants your attention. Why, I don’t know. Does she think you have any influence with her ex-husband? Could she want you to intervene on her behalf?”

  He tapped her temple. “Can’t read minds, remember?”

  “I’m talking about interpreting cues, Gabe.”

  “Cues such as when you were camped out on my couch eating cold pizza and pad thai and I was supposed to know you didn’t want advice? Never mind. We have work to do right now. I don’t know what Nadia is thinking or why she left you a towel.”

  “Do you suspect she’s lied to you about her reasons for coming out here?”

  “Probably, but she did lose her grandmother a few months ago.” He sighed, looking less tense. “I’m sorry she zeroed in on you.”

  “It’s okay, Gabe. I’ve dealt with worse.” Felicity took her phone and slipped it in her tote bag. “You can have the towel. Put it in your condo powder room or something. It can remind you of Knights Bridge. You and Mark used to fish off that bridge, didn’t you?”

  “First time was with Gramps. I must have been four or five.”

  “And you remember?”

  “Yeah. Mark and I got after him for throwing his cigarette in the river.” Gabe grinned suddenly, winking at her. “The Flanagans are an incorrigible lot. That’s what my mother used to say.”

  “I remember,” Felicity said with a smile.

  “Gramps did quit smoking.”

  “Good for him. Gabe...” She considered her words. “You just sold a company for a lot of money. You’re not an unattractive guy. Do you think Nadia has set her sights on you now that she’s divorced? She’s—what, ten or twelve years older than you? That’s not unheard of.”

  “Nadia was married the entire time she did work for me, and I hardly ever saw her. We were never together, and we’re never going to be together. Whatever her reasons for pestering you, that’s not one of them.”

  “Got it. Right. None of my business, anyway.”

  Gabe studied her. “Are you sure Nadia didn’t say anything else?”

  “I’m sure. I just hope she gets on her flight—for her sake, too. Don’t worry, okay? I’m fine. Russ is on the case. We all have work to do today.”

  “I speak for an hour. You work behind the scenes for hours and hours. Doesn’t seem fair.” Gabe grinned at her. “I’ve got it a lot rougher.”

  She laughed, genuinely amused at his teasing. She waited, watching as he made his way through the garden and out to the pebbled path. No question the man was good-looking, sexy and damn near irresistible—but resist she would.

  She returned to the kitchen and acknowledged a surge of relief when she found Maggie Sloan bustling around, preparing for her part of today’s inaugural entrepreneurial boot camp.

  On with the day’s work.

  * * *

  Once he arrived at the barn, Gabe conferred with Russ on Nadia as the two of them grabbed a quick cup of coffee before attendees started arriving. “We don’t know where she is now,” Russ said. “We don’t know what flight she’s on. It’ll take her a couple of hours to get to the airport, and she’ll need to arrive early to get through security. I would guess she’s on her way to Boston, but I don’t like to guess.”

  “Do you want me to call her?” Gabe asked.

  Russ shook his head. “Don’t stir the pot. Do you have a photo of her in case she turns up here?”

 
“I don’t. She’s always been a pro, Russ. She’s going through a hard transition right now, but she’s never made any threats, overt or implied, and she’s never disrupted an event.”

  “How well do you know her?”

  “She’s freelanced for me for several years from her home in Malibu. We’ve met face-to-face no more than a dozen times.”

  “And her husband bought your company and filed for divorce,” Russ added. “I don’t like that she’s contacting Felicity the way she is. Is she obsessed with you?”

  “Felicity basically just asked me the same question,” Gabe said. “I don’t think so. We’ve never had a relationship if that’s what you’re asking. It’s never entered my mind, and as far as I know it’s never entered hers.”

  “Professional contact only?”

  “Totally. I’d tell you if it were otherwise. Nadia believes I have influence over David, her ex-husband, but I don’t. I had no idea their marriage was on the rocks. I’m not sure she did, either. He seemed to dump her out of the blue. He’s one of those narcissistic asses who can turn on the charm when it suits him, but I don’t have anything to do with him.”

  Russ nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds as if Nadia’s had a lot come at her at once. What about you and Felicity?”

  Gabe drank some of his coffee. Yeah, he thought, what about him and Felicity? It was a damn good question. “We grew up together,” he said finally. “We stayed friends after we both left Knights Bridge. We drifted apart. This is the first time I’ve seen her in a few years.”

  “Any big falling-out or just less and less contact?”

  “There was a falling-out,” Gabe said, downing the last of his coffee. He set the mug on the counter, where one of Felicity’s helpers, already on duty, swept it away. “She got mad at me for giving her unsolicited advice.”

  “Ah.” Russ pointed his mug at Gabe. “But you hired her to plan the party today.”

  “Sort of. It was through Mark.”

  Russ grinned. “I have a meddling big brother, too. He’s out in Hollywood pouring drinks and writing screenplays. Hates to fly or he’d come out here for a visit. Does Nadia know about your past with Felicity?”

  “I didn’t tell her. My assistant knows, but she’s not one for spreading gossip, just listening to it. A lot of people in Knights Bridge know we grew up together and were friends.”

  “Easy to find out that sort of history in a small town,” Russ said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if people here know more about what happened between you and Felicity than you two do yourselves.”

  “And you’re only half kidding.”

  “Not kidding at all.”

  Gabe laughed, relaxing for the first time since he’d heard about Nadia’s package on the doorstep. “You’re getting to know your new town.”

  “Bit by bit.” Russ turned serious again. “If Nadia is looking for reasons to be jealous, a history between you and Felicity could do it.”

  “Nadia has a lot going for her. She doesn’t need to be jealous of anyone.”

  “It’s not necessarily about that kind of need, Gabe. Maybe she just wants to see your life screwed up since hers is so screwed up. Maybe she doesn’t want to see you reunite with old friends in your hometown because she feels alienated and alone.” He set his mug on the counter. “I could go on, but I’m only speculating. Don’t worry about anything today, okay? That’s what I’m here for.”

  Gabe nodded. “Thanks,” he said. “It’s got to be hard to get worked up about a present of a towel with a covered bridge on it.”

  “You’d be surprised,” Russ said. “If you hear from Nadia, let me know.”

  “Will do,” Gabe said, irritated that Nadia had inserted herself into today’s event.

  “And don’t contact Nadia yourself,” Russ added as Gabe started toward the main room.

  “No chance of that.”

  When he entered the main room, Gabe noticed several people arriving for the day. Felicity was at the front entrance to greet them. He glanced back toward the kitchen, but Russ had slipped away to do his thing. Gabe had an urge to disappear, too. He didn’t like the limelight. He liked his work, and he wanted to help people—but he wasn’t a big networker. From self-made billionaire Noah Kendrick’s uncomfortable expression as he arrived, Gabe figured at least he was in good company.

  He resisted an impulse to call Nadia and tell her to back off, but he’d do as Russ, the security pro, recommended and avoid contact. He didn’t want to think about her. That, he was certain, was at least one thing she wanted. Sending notes and towels to Felicity was Nadia’s way of exerting control. She might not be aware of what she was doing, but that didn’t matter.

  He made eye contact with Felicity and smiled at her. She smiled, looking relaxed and confident. He figured now wasn’t the time to point out he was right about her not following her parents and brother into finance. She loved her work as an event manager. He could see it.

  Or maybe her smile was meant for him—she was relaxed because her old friend Gabe was in town?

  He grinned.

  Not a chance.

  Twelve

  By six o’clock, the boot camp had wound down, and most of the attendees and speakers were on their way home. Felicity looked forward to handling future larger, more complex events out on Carriage Hill Road, but it felt great to have the inaugural boot camp behind her. She kicked off her shoes and sat out on the terrace at Olivia’s house with a glass of iced tea and a small plate of Maggie’s delectable hors d’oeuvres, leftover from the party. The cleaning crew had swooped in right on time and was doing their thing. Felicity would take a moment to catch her breath, then wrap up for the day. Olivia, Dylan, Noah, Phoebe, Maggie, Gabe and Russ were up at the barn, no doubt relaxing in their own way. Felicity had a feeling they would stay on for the evening to celebrate what had been a successful inaugural event.

  She would go home, take a shower, have a glass of wine on the deck and head to bed early with a book.

  And Gabe?

  She drank some of her tea and listened to the bees in the mint. Gabe could do his Gabe thing. She didn’t need to be a part of his evening plans.

  Her phone vibrated on the table with a text message. She glanced at the screen: How’d it go today?

  Nadia.

  Felicity groaned and didn’t touch her phone. She had no intention of responding. She didn’t want to encourage further contact, but she didn’t want to deal with Nadia right now, either, regardless of her intentions. Nadia was a professional with at least some experience with event planning. She wouldn’t expect an instant response.

  But another text came in: Why don’t we share a bottle of wine to celebrate?

  Not at the airport or boarding a flight to California, apparently.

  Felicity snatched up her phone, but it had been a busy day, and she didn’t trust herself not to start typing a tart response. She put the phone back on the table and picked up her tea glass with both hands, hoping that would help her not to tell Nadia to leave her the hell alone.

  If not for her iced tea and moment to relax, Felicity doubted she’d have noticed the texts immediately, anyway. She refused to let them ruin her quiet few minutes before she finished up for the day. She only had a few loose ends to tie up.

  She popped a stuffed mushroom into her mouth from her small plate of leftover goodies. Having a caterer of Maggie’s caliber in town had made everything so much easier today, but she was clearly stretched thin with her husband out of town, two small boys, the inn, the goat’s milk products and her complicated family. Maggie thrived on having a lot of irons in the fire, but everyone had limits.

  As if Felicity’s thoughts had conjured them, Maggie’s two young sons scrambled over the stone wall, bypassing the gap, and ran up a mulched path through the garden, apparently in the middle of a game that involved a chase. From what Felicity co
uld hear, it involved running from a pretend monster.

  Then Nadia Ainsworth leaped over the stone wall, laughing as she chased them up the path. “You can run but you can’t hide!”

  The boys squealed in delight, Nadia, obviously, the monster after them.

  At that moment, Russ Colton materialized seemingly out of nowhere and eased between Nadia and the two boys. “Can I help you?” he asked her.

  “Oh, sorry.” She clutched her chest, breathing hard. “My name’s Nadia Ainsworth. I ran into Tyler and Aidan in the field, and we got a game going. They told me they’re meeting their mom here. Maggie. The caterer for today’s entrepreneurial boot camp. I have two brothers myself. It’s okay. Really. Gabe Flanagan and I are friends.” She pointed toward the terrace. “Felicity knows me.”

  “Let’s go have a seat,” Russ said.

  “And you are—”

  “Russ Colton.”

  “Oh, right. You’re married to Morwenna Mills. I saw a bit about her at the local library. She has a new book coming out.” Nadia spoke cheerfully, getting her breathing under control. “I’d love to sit down for a minute. I’m not used to this humidity. I’m dripping.”

  Russ had her go ahead of him, and they joined Felicity at the table. The boys had run inside in search of goodies. Nadia plopped onto a chair and wiped her brow with the back of her wrist. She smiled at Felicity. “I thought you might have your feet up. Good day?”

  Felicity nodded. “Everything went well, thanks.”

  “I decided to hike up Carriage Hill. It’s on state land. I got maybe a third of the way to the top before the heat and humidity turned me back. I’m not used to New England summers anymore. Gabe said we could easily be in sweaters tomorrow. I guess I’m a real Californian nowadays despite my Massachusetts roots.” She screwed up her face, eyeing Russ. “Gosh, you look so serious. I hope I didn’t cause any problems.”

  “Maggie had her eye on the boys,” he said. “They play in the field on a regular basis. She saw you—”

  “Oh, no. I frightened her. She doesn’t know me, and here I was chasing her sons. No wonder you beelined for me.” She didn’t sound that chagrined or apologetic about her behavior. “The boys needed a monster for their game. I obliged. I should have asked Maggie’s permission first. Yikes. I can see how that must have looked from afar. Sorry. As you can see, I’m harmless.”