Fencing You In

by Cheyenne McCray

  “Hi, Jenny.” Gage remained crouched and looked directly at the little girl. He extended his hand. “A pleasure to meet you. I’m going to be your uncle, too.”

  “Really?” Jenny’s eyes widened.

  Gage gave a nod. “Your Aunt Megan is going to marry my brother, Ryan.”

  Jenny’s eyes were big. “Wow.” She looked up at Tess. “I’ve never had an uncle before.”

  Tess smiled. “Well, he’ll sort of be your uncle. You’re going to have five of them in about a month. Gage has four brothers.”

  Her eyes seemed even bigger. “Does that mean Katie Sue and I are going to be related?”

  Tess looked at Gage and he smiled as he looked at Jenny. “I guess you could say so. I’m really Katie Sue’s mama’s cousin, but she calls me uncle.”

  The two girls squealed in delight, clearly excited that they were going to be related.

  As the girls chattered, Gage stood and faced Tess. Nearly a foot taller than her, he towered over her five-three frame. The heat that had crept over her body when she first saw him increased threefold, and she hoped her cheeks weren’t red from the flush she felt in them.

  Trying to gain control of the situation, Tess cleared her throat. “You didn’t say you were going to be at the open house tonight.”

  Gage smiled. “This morning Katie Sue asked me to come to her open house because her father couldn’t make it tonight. She claims I’m her favorite uncle for some misguided reason.” And then he winked. “How was I supposed to know they were in the same class?”

  Tess rolled her eyes.

  He glanced at Jenny then back to Tess. “You do know that you’ll be expected to come to all of the family functions once Megan and Ryan are married, don’t you?”

  Tess raised a brow. “I hear the McBride family gatherings are huge.”

  “They can be.” Gage gave a nod. “But some are smaller than others.”

  “We have a small family.” Tess said. “It’s just my mom, sister, and me. We don’t have any other living relatives.”

  Gage rested his hand on Tess’s shoulder, causing her to shiver. “Well you won’t be able to say that anymore.”

  For a long moment their gazes held and she felt that gooey melty feeling even stronger than she had at the bar.

  “Mommy.” Jenny’s voice and her tug on Tess’s hand jerked her out of the near trance she’d been in. “I want to show you where we have story time.”

  Tess smiled as she turned away from Gage and let Jenny pull her over to a corner with shelves of books and a carpet with big stars on it.

  “Come on, Uncle Gage,” Katie Sue was saying as they followed behind. “Let’s go with Mrs. Grady and Jenny.”

  “This is Barry.” Jenny picked up a large stuffed brown bear and hugged it. “He’s the class bear. We each get to take him home for a week and he’s supposed to go wherever we go.”

  “And we can take him somewhere special,” Katie Sue said.

  Jenny nodded as Katie Sue took the bear and hugged it. Jenny picked up a big notebook with a construction paper brown bear on the front of it with BARRY written across the top.

  “We draw a picture of something we did with Barry,” Jenny said as she flipped through the empty pages. “And then we tell the class everything we did for the week.” She looked at Tess. “Can we take Barry out for pizza when he gets to stay with us?”

  Tess laughed. Jenny would choose pizza over anything else when it was her turn to pick what they would eat when they went out. “Sure.” Tess patted Barry’s head. “Maybe we can even take him to a movie.”

  Jenny clapped her hands and bounced up and down on her toes. “Can Katie Sue and almost-Uncle Gage come, too?”

  “That sounds like fun,” Gage said as he grinned at Tess. “It’s a date.”

  Katie Sue and Jenny squealed again.

  Tess nearly groaned. Whether she liked it or not, it looked like she was headed toward going out one night with Gage.

  “The girls will be good chaperones,” Gage said with a wink.

  “Funny,” Tess said. “Aren’t the adults supposed to be the chaperones?”

  Gage moved in closer to Tess while the girls made plans. “We don’t have to wait until Jenny’s turn to have Barry to go on a date. Why not tomorrow night?”

  Tess frowned up at him. “It won’t really be a date, and I’ve already given you my many reasons why I won’t go out with you.”

  “They didn’t sound like reasons to me.” Gage shook his head with a playful grin. “They sounded like excuses.”

  “Well, whatever they sounded like,” Tess said with determination, “the answer is still ‘no.’”

  “We’ll see.” He gave her a wink before he crouched down to talk with both girls.

  Tess watched for a moment. It was so obvious that he was good with kids, something she hadn’t expected.

  They spent time looking over the classroom. After talking with the teacher, Gage glanced at Tess then looked at the girls. “Why don’t you ask your mom if you can join Katie Sue and me for pizza tonight, after the open house?”

  Tess’s mouth dropped open as the girls started jumping up and down with enthusiasm. “It’s a school night,” she finally said.

  “We won’t take long,” Gage said. “You have to eat dinner, right?”

  “Please, Mommy.” Jenny’s eyes were wide with excitement. “It will be so much fun.”

  Tess shook her head but said “All right.” She looked at Gage. “But we need to be home by seven.”

  “That’s enough time to eat pizza.” Gage gave her a grin. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”

  The girls started leading them from the classroom. “You don’t play fair,” Tess said with a frown.

  He shrugged. “It’s just pizza with the girls, Tess.”

  She thought about it for a moment and how excited the girls were. Maybe she was overreacting. “I guess you’re right.”

  Gage smiled. “That’s my girl.”

  “Humph.” Tess tilted her chin. “I’m not your girl.”

  “Not yet,” Gage said with confidence in his voice. “But you will be.”

  Her eyes widened. “You are rather arrogant, aren’t you?”

  “I just know what I want, Tess,” he said in a low tone, “And I want you.”

  “It’s no wonder women keep slapping you.” She frowned. “All the more reason not to go out with you.”

  His eyes glittered with sensuality as they walked outside. “Just give me a chance, Tess.”

  She eyed him. “Ha.”

  “Good enough for me,” he said with a sexy grin.

  She found herself looking up at the clear blue sky and shaking her head. She wanted to go out with Gage more than he’d ever know. It was crazy to even feel that way about the guy.

  Gage laughed and rested his hand on her shoulder. She brought her gaze to him as she shivered from his touch.

  Yes, she was definitely crazy.

  Chapter 3

  Mario’s Pizza was a large place with arcade games along with a ball pit filled with colorful plastic balls, and huge tubes for the kids to crawl through like hamsters. Tess watched the girls while Gage went to order the pizza.

  Katie Sue was dark-haired like most of the McBrides while Jenny had Tess’s blonde curls, cobalt blue eyes, and fair skin. Katie Sue’s cheeks were full and she was a little stouter than Jenny who was petite like Tess.

  Tess smiled as the girls played together. It was good to let Jenny have some fun with her friend, even if it did mean spending time with Gage.

  Although it wasn’t really feeling like a hardship.

  She looked over her shoulder and her belly fluttered as she saw the tall, sexy man coming toward her. He walked with such purpose and strength, a powerful man who knew his place in the world and was comfortable in his own skin.

  He gave her a drop-dead gorgeous grin and she had to turn away to keep him from seeing the flush she felt in her cheeks.

  “How are the girls
doing?” he asked as he came up beside her.

  “Great.” Tess gestured up at one of the tubes where the girls had their faces pressed to one of the big circular plastic windows, looking out over the tables and people gathered in the pizza place.

  Jenny waved and grinned as she spotted Tess and Gage, and then Katie Sue was waving, too. In the next moment the girls disappeared into the tube, probably headed toward the ball pit or to the opposite side where the slide was. It was hard to tell since the tubes only had a couple of windows.

  “We can sit over there.” Gage gave a nod toward a booth. “We’ll be able to keep an eye on the girls.”

  Tess walked with Gage to the booth and they slid in across from each other. “This is more like it,” she said with a smile. “I’m used to having something between us.”

  He laughed but said, “Soon there won’t be anything between us. I promise.”

  Still keeping an eye out on the girls, Tess shook her head. “Give it up, cowboy.”

  “Is that what it is,” he said, “you don’t like cowboys?”

  On the contrary—she loved cowboys. At least to look at.

  Instead of admitting she did, she said, “Maybe.”

  Gage rested his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “I think you do like me. You just won’t let go of whatever it is that’s holding you back.”

  “Right.” She rolled her eyes. “Keep dreaming.”

  “So, you’re divorced?” he asked, his gaze holding hers.

  She paused and shook her head, the familiar ache going through her heart. “Widowed.”

  A keen look of understanding touched his expression. “I’m sorry, Tess. How long ago? Or would you rather not talk about it?”

  “It’s okay.” She tucked errant curls behind her ear and watched Jenny and Katie Sue as they played one of the arcade games. “It’s been three years.” She met Gage’s eyes. “Steve died in a car accident.”

  “That must have been rough on you and Jenny,” Gage said quietly. “I imagine that’s an understatement.”

  She nodded, feeling oddly at ease talking with Gage about it. “Jenny was only three so she doesn’t remember much about her father.”

  Gage’s name was called over the loudspeaker, telling them their pizza was ready. He reached over, squeezed her hand and gave an understanding smile before he started to slide out of the booth.

  As he got up, she said, “I’ll get the girls.”

  It wasn’t long before the girls, Tess, and Gage were sitting together at the table. Katie Sue and Jenny happily devoured their slices of pizza as they laughed and talked almost nonstop.

  Every now and then, Tess glanced at Gage and he’d either meet her gaze and smile or he would be engaged in talking with the girls. He was clearly comfortable and good with kids.

  When they were finished eating, Jenny and Katie Sue wanted to play some more but Tess shook her head.

  “We need to get home,” Tess said. “Tomorrow is a school day.”

  “Awww, Mommmm.” Jenny and Katie Sue both looked disappointed.

  “You’ll see each other tomorrow at school.” Gage got out of the booth and Katie Sue slid out behind him.

  “Okay.” Jenny followed Tess as they joined Gage and Katie Sue.

  The girls walked in front of Gage and Tess. It was comfortable being with him—too comfortable. She needed to shore up her resolve to not give in and date the man.

  Steady and dependable, that was what she needed. Not a guy who was slapped by women in public for whatever reason they might have. Not a guy known for being a heartbreaker and a ladies’ man. But as they headed out to their vehicles, Tess didn’t feel that he was anything like his playboy reputation. She was usually a really good judge of character.

  Apparently her senses were faulty when it came to this man.

  When they reached his truck and her car, the girls hugged each other. Tess kept the girls between her and Gage as another sort of barrier.

  “Why don’t I get your number?” he asked as the girls were saying their goodbyes.

  She shook her head. “Good try.”

  He winked. “See you, Tess.”

  She wanted to say, “If you’re lucky,” but decided that might not be the best response in front of the girls. Instead she gave a little wave then climbed into the car with Jenny.

  In moments, they were driving away. Tess had to force herself, but she didn’t look back.

  * * * * *

  “Have a drink with me tonight.” The blond-haired, blue-eyed man with the great smile spoke to Tess as she filled his cup with coffee in the Hummingbird restaurant the next morning. The man was of average height, lean and muscular.

  “I’ve told you, Harvey.” She shook her head and returned his smile. “I’m not going to date anyone right now.”

  “We won’t consider it a date.” He shrugged. “We’ll be a couple of friends out for a drink.”

  “Besides.” She slid his breakfast tab onto the table. “I’m working the bar tonight.”

  “How about tomorrow night?” he asked. “I haven’t been in town long and I could use a friend to talk with.”

  Tess shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I’ll tell you what. Just so that it’s clear it’s only friends out for a drink and not a date, I’ll meet you someplace.”

  He broke into a grin. “That’s good enough for me.”

  “How about Jo-Jo’s?” Tess pushed a blonde curl out of her face. “Jo is a good friend of mine.”

  Harvey nodded. “Sounds great.”

  “Just friends.” Tess pointed her finger. “Understood?”

  He grinned and saluted her. “Just friends.”

  “Now I need to hurry up and finish my shift.” Tess sighed. “I’ll be right back here tonight to fill in for the bartender.”

  “If I didn’t work late, I’d stop by and see you,” Harvey said.

  “Isn’t every morning for breakfast enough?” she said with a laugh.

  He shook his head. “Not even close.”

  “Better watch it, Harvey.” She put one hand on her hip and held the coffee pot in her other. “Or I’m going to begin to think you didn’t mean it when you said just friends.”

  He held up his hands. “Just teasing, sweetheart.”

  “And don’t sweetheart me.” She shook her head but still smiled. Something about him was so engaging that even though she had no interest in him beyond friendship, she couldn’t help smiling around him.

  “Tomorrow night at eight,” she said. “I’ll meet you at Jo-Jo’s.”

  “I’ll be there,” he said.

  Tess finished up her four-hour morning shift at the Hummingbird, spent the day at home until Jenny came home from school, and then returned to tend the bar in Nectars that evening for the three to seven shift. Owning an interest in the business meant crazy hours. Too bad it didn’t mean crazy-good pay.

  That evening Tess didn’t see Gage at Nectars but wasn’t surprised since she was working an earlier shift than normal. She found herself feeling disappointed that she hadn’t seen him.

  When she got off her shift and left by seven-fifteen, she drove back home, dead tired and in need of a good night’s sleep. She sighed as she climbed out of her car and closed the garage door. She was thinking of Gage. It was like she was obsessed with the man. She walked through the door leading into her home and then smiled as she came through the laundry room and into the kitchen. She saw Mrs. Webb washing her hands at the sink and Jenny sitting at the dining table.

  “Hi, Mommy.” Jenny slid out of her chair and ran up to Tess who caught her in her arms and hugged her tight. “You’re home early.”

  “Grandma hired a new bartender to work on Fridays and Saturdays.” Tess ruffled her daughter’s curls. “So Mommy will have a little more time off and won’t have to work so late.”

  “Yay!” Jenny clapped and bounced on her toes.

  “How are you doing today, Mrs. Webb?” Tess asked as the woman dried her hands on a
dishcloth.

  “Very well.” The older woman smiled. “Jenny finished her homework. Didn’t you, girl?”

  “I had to trace the alphabet.” Jenny nodded. “Mrs. Webb helped me.”

  “And she did a fine job of it.” Mrs. Webb grabbed her purse off the breakfast bar. “I need to get home. My Travis is coming over tonight.”

  “That’s great.” Tess walked Mrs. Webb to the door. “Tell your grandson I said hello.”

  “I’ll do that.” Mrs. Webb hugged Tess then headed out the door.

  When Mrs. Webb had driven away, Tess closed the door and locked it, then turned back to her daughter.

  Jenny twirled around. “Katie Sue is going to start ballet school. Can I do it, too?”

  Tess bit the inside of her lip. She wasn’t sure she could afford it. But now that the restaurant was starting to turn a profit, her income should be increasing—at least she hoped so. She might just need a little more time.

  She smiled at Jenny. “No promises, but I’ll look into it.”

  Jenny grinned and twirled around again. “See? I can dance.”

  “You certainly can.” Tess laughed as her daughter looked like she was going to make herself dizzy from twirling so much. “Be careful that you don’t fall and hit your head on the furniture.”

  Jenny stopped whirling around and looked a little woozy but was still smiling. “That’s fun. I like dancing.”

  “It’s time for bed.” Tess shooed her daughter toward her bedroom.

  “Awwww, Mom.” Jenny stuck out her lower lip. “It’s Friday.”

  “Which is why you got to stay up until seven-thirty.” Tess had to struggle not to smile at her daughter’s pout. “That’s late enough for a kindergartener. Now go put on your nightgown and then I’ll be in to read you a story.”

  “Okay.” Jenny ran into her room.

  Tess took a moment to sag against the kitchen counter. Damn, she was tired. What she would give for a normal job where she could make decent money, have more time with Jenny, and maybe even have medical benefits. At one time she had run an office in Albuquerque, before she moved with her parents to Prescott to help them start up their new restaurant. After her father died, Tess’s mother needed her more and more until Tess was working way too many crazy hours.