by Cindy Kirk
“Daddy, Daddy.” Chloe ran to Joel, wrapping her arms around him as if it had been months since she’d last seen him instead of a few hours. “We brought you a picnic lunch. I helped Mommy make the potato salad.”
Joel returned his daughter’s hug and planted a kiss on the top of her black silky hair. “Then I’ll definitely have an extra helping.”
“Keep in mind this is a new recipe,” Kate joked, approaching them with a car seat swinging from one hand. “Lexi gave it to me but...no promises.”
“Let me help you with this.” Joel gently removed the infant carrier from her hand. “Are you supposed to be doing all this heavy lifting?”
“Michelle took me off all restrictions when I saw her last week. Remember?” Kate brushed a piece of dark hair back from her face and turned to Gabe. “I brought enough for you, too. If you don’t already have plans, that is.”
“I don’t think Gabe received any texts today,” Joel said with a chuckle.
Kate cocked her head.
“Inside joke.” Gabe kept his tone matter-of-fact. “If you don’t think I’d be in the way, I’d love to join you.”
Gabe settled his gaze on Joel’s family. His boss was a lucky man. Joel had a woman he loved and his kids had both a father and a mother.
The lunch hour went quickly, with Gabe taking a turn holding baby Sam. He gazed down at the tiny bundle. “I remember when Finley was this age.”
“Eight weeks old tomorrow.” Kate’s lips lifted in a proud smile. “And he slept five hours last night.”
“They grow up quickly.” Joel cast a fond smile in his daughter’s direction. “I swear Chloe’s grown at least three inches since last year.”
“Oh, Dad.” Chloe’s face reddened with embarrassment.
Kate pulled her daughter close. “Daddies love to tease. That’s just how they are.”
Then suddenly it was time for them to leave. Joel walked his family to the van, helping Kate secure the baby and Chloe in their car seats. Gabe went back to studying the blueprints while Joel gave his wife a goodbye kiss.
When Joel sauntered back in Gabe’s direction, he was whistling.
“That was nice of Kate to bring lunch,” Gabe commented.
“Once she goes back to her practice, that’s not going to happen too often,” Joel said with a rueful smile. “So I’m enjoying it now.”
Kate was a pediatrician in Jackson and had a thriving practice. Although she was Chloe’s biological mother, she’d given her daughter up for adoption when she was beginning medical school. She and Joel had connected after his first wife had died. That was all Gabe knew for sure, although he’d heard bits and pieces of rumors, most of which he ignored.
“Do you have a sitter lined up?”
“The young woman who watches Chloe in the summer has agreed to care for Sam, too.” Joel’s gaze turned thoughtful. “We’re both committed to making our home life our priority. Kate has been talking to the other doctors in her practice about ways to cut back her hours.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“You can ask.” Joel grinned. “Won’t guarantee I’ll answer.”
“Did Chloe have any trouble accepting Kate into her life? Or does she still blame her for giving her up?”
Joel’s brows slammed together like two dark thunderclouds.
“I’m just looking for some tips,” Gabe said hurriedly, wanting to make sure Joel understood that he wasn’t dissing his wife. “Finley won’t even discuss her mother with me. It makes me wonder if she could ever accept a new woman in my life.”
The tension on Joel’s face eased. “Those are two very different questions. From the time Chloe was old enough to understand, Amy and I made sure she knew that adoption was a caring choice. That her birth mother had loved her so much that she picked Amy and me to be her mommy and daddy. It was difficult when she found out Kate was her mother. But she did pretty well considering it was quite a shock. The counselor we hired also helped.”
“I took Finley to a counselor several years back, but she wouldn’t say a word.” Gabe shook his head. “Just sat there with her arms crossed. After that she stopped saying how much she hated her mother. But I know she still does.”
“Sometimes it just takes the right person.” Joel shrugged. “Chloe really liked Dr. Allman.”
“I suppose it’s too much to hope that Finley will simply outgrow these feelings....”
“What do you think?”
“You’re right.” Gabe expelled a breath and forced his gaze back on the blueprint.
“What’s this about a new woman in your life?” Joel’s gaze turned speculative. “I assume you’re referring to Michelle.”
“Michelle is a wonderful woman and I enjoy her company.” Gabe paused, unsure how much to share. “I’m not certain yet if it will develop into more. Finley is a big factor.”
“How do the two of them get along?”
“Good.” Gabe thought of how Michelle had trusted Finley to watch Sasha, how easily she’d adapted when Finley had ridden with them to Travis and Mary Karen’s party. “Really good, in fact.”
“So you have no reason to think there might be a problem there?”
Gabe thought for a moment and shook his head. “No, but they haven’t spent that much time together either.”
“Well, I guess you’ll just have to figure out a way to make that happen.”
Gabe rubbed his chin. “I guess I will.”
One of the framers called to Joel.
“I’ll be right there,” Joel told the guy, then turned back to Gabe. “By the way, I’m heading to Montana tomorrow afternoon to check out the operations there. I’d like you to come with me. We’ll be back Saturday night.”
Gabe had been hoping for this opportunity, but he hadn’t thought far enough ahead to realize that because of the distance, he’d be gone overnight. “I’ll need to find someone to watch Finley.”
“I’d volunteer Kate, but she’s supervising a lock-in for the upper-grade elementary students at the church tomorrow night.”
“I’ll ask Lexi if Finley can stay over,” Gabe murmured. “They spend so much time at one house or the other it shouldn’t be too much of an imposition.”
“Or,” Joel suggested, a twinkle in his eyes, “if that doesn’t work out, there’s always your neighbor.”
Chapter Seventeen
Once Gabe knew he’d be leaving town the next day, the last thing he felt like doing was attending the Taste of Jackson Hole at Teton Village.
But Stone Craft Builders fully supported the popular three-day Jackson Hole wine auction. The events centered around this auction benefited the Grand Teton Music Festival which was one of the nation’s leading music festivals. No matter how tired he was, he needed to be there.
He thought about asking Michelle if she was going, but when he got home, her house was dark. Joel had told him the dress was casual, so Gabe changed into a pair of khakis and a plaid shirt.
“Why can’t I go with you?” Finley whined.
“It’s not for...teenagers.” Gabe stopped himself just in time from saying children, a word guaranteed to inflame any thirteen-year-old. “If I had the option, I’d stay home with you this evening.”
“It’s supposed to be supercool.” Finley leaned forward from her position on the sofa. “They have all these chefs and restaurants making their most popular foods to go with the wines.”
Gabe grinned. “Sounds like you know more about it than I do.”
“They were talking about it on the radio today,” Finley informed him. “The restaurant is at the top of Rendezvous Mountain. You have to ride a gondola to get there. I’ve never ridden a gondola up a mountain.”
Suddenly her intense interest in the event made sense. It wasn’t the food and wine that interested his daughter as much as the gondola ride.
“How about next week you and I take Addie to dinner at the Couloir Restaurant at the top of the mountain as a thank-you for allowing you to spend
the night tomorrow?”
“That’d be awesome.” Finley’s eyes sparkled. “Having her along will be a lot more fun than just you and me.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Finley giggled. “You know what I mean. We talk about things that don’t really interest you.”
“That’s fine,” Gabe said with melodramatic flare. “I can be the third wheel.”
“You could bring Michelle,” Finley surprised him by suggesting. “If you wanted to, that is.”
“I’ll keep that option in mind.” Gabe suddenly wondered if he’d worried over nothing. It sounded as if his daughter had already accepted Michelle being in his life.
Unless, of course, that was only his own wishful thinking.
* * *
Michelle left the office early to attend the premier wine tasting which opened the Jackson Hole Wine Auction. She’d never attended before, but Mitzi Sanchez, one of Kate’s friends and an orthopedic surgeon in town, had asked Michelle to come with her.
She didn’t know Mitzi well but quickly found the beautiful Latina had a sense of humor in sync with her own. And they both had an interest in the lecture by a noted wine critic on what elements comprise a great wine.
After the presentation and tasting, the two women decided it was time for food. With her bright blue eyes and brown hair streaked the color of peanut butter, her companion drew men’s gazes wherever they walked. Kate laughingly described her friend as a chameleon who could change her look and personality to fit any situation.
Today, Mitzi had gone with the bohemian look. While most women, including Michelle, had opted for a pair of dress pants topped with a summer sweater, Mitzi wore a dress.
And not just any dress, but a tiered maxi with boots. The crazy thing was she looked adorable. Not like a well-respected member of the Jackson medical community, but rather a funky fashionista. Her associate, Benedict Campbell, certainly seemed to think so. The wealthy bachelor had spirited Mitzi away, ostensibly to talk about some case.
Michelle had heard through the grapevine that the two had a love-hate relationship.
“Are you here by yourself?”
Michelle whirled, recognizing the familiar deep voice. “Gabe.”
Dressed casually in khakis and a plaid shirt, Gabe fit right in with the casual crowd. It felt like days since they’d had a chance to talk and even longer since they’d...
“Is that a croquette on your plate, Dr. Kerns?”
Michelle glanced down. She couldn’t stop from smiling. “Why, yes, I believe it is.”
“I bet it’s made with Rofumo cheese.” Gabe somehow managed to keep a straight face. “In case you’re not aware, Rofumo is a semisoft cheese smoked over hickory wood.”
“You don’t say.” Michelle grinned. “You’re quite the gourmet, Mr. Davis.”
Gabe lowered his voice. “It’s the only item I recognize. I feel like I’m back at Lexi’s buffet.”
“You have to admit, everything is good.”
He met her gaze, then lowered his, taking in her red V-necked sweater, letting his gaze linger. “Everything is delicious.”
“Are you talking about the food?”
“Do you want me to be talking about the food?” He glanced around. “And you never answered my question. Are you here with anyone?”
Michelle turned in the direction where she’d last seen her companion. “I’m with—”
She paused and blinked. Mitzi and Benedict were no longer where she’d last seen them. In fact, they were nowhere in sight. “I came with Mitzi Sanchez. But I believe she’s been hijacked by Ben Campbell.”
“Then I’d like permission to hijack you.”
“Because you asked so nicely—” Michelle slipped her hand through his arm “—I say yes.”
“Have you had a chance to check out the silent auction?” he asked.
“Not yet.”
They picked up a few more food items and tried some samples of wine, then moved to the area where the silent auction items were displayed. It was there they ran across Mitzi and Ben.
“I’m so sorry.” Mitzi hurried up to Michelle. “Ben and I started talking about this upcoming surgical case—”
“No worries,” Michelle reassured her, then introduced Gabe. There was an instant bond between him and Mitzi when she heard of his connection with the Dennes family.
“Kate and I go way back,” Mitzi gushed. “She’s the reason I chose to practice in Jackson Hole.”
“And to have the opportunity to work with me,” Ben interjected.
“Forgive him. He can’t help it.” Mitzi rolled her eyes. “The man has an ego the size of Grand Teton.”
Michelle hid a laugh. Ben didn’t seem amused by the comparison to the highest mountain in the Tetons.
“If you don’t mind—” Gabe’s hand remained on her arm “—I told Michelle I’d take her home.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Mitzi said, then slanted a sideways glance at Ben. “Of course, that would mean we could go back to the office and further discuss the case.”
Ben seemed up for the idea. After chatting for several minutes, the two sauntered off.
“What was that about?” Michelle asked when they were out of earshot. “You never asked if you could take me home.”
“Of course not.” Gabe grinned. “This is a hijacking. And I’m not taking you home. I’m taking you to the cabin.”
* * *
Michelle relaxed against Gabe’s warm flesh, trying to remember the last time she’d felt this happy. She loved the way he held and kissed her. But she also loved simply being with him.
He nuzzled her neck. “And to think I dreaded this evening.”
She snuggled deeper into the crook of his arm, wishing they didn’t have to go home. Wishing the night would never end. Wishing she and Gabe could be together forever.
The thought brought her up short. She tensed and sat up in the bed just as his cell phone rang.
He tugged on her arm. “Come back here.”
Her heart had begun to pound. “You better answer. It might be Finley.”
“It’s not. She set her ringtone on my phone to the Hunger Games bird call.”
Michelle reached over him, the sheet dropping to her waist. She grabbed the phone and glanced at the readout just as his hand closed over her breast, his thumb moving to the sensitive nipple. She inhaled sharply as his nail scraped across the tip and heat flowed straight to her core. “It’s—it’s Lexi.”
He lifted his head, his eyes dark and smoldering. “I’m busy.”
Michelle slipped back from his reach. “You have to talk to her. I know Lex. She’ll keep calling until she reaches you.”
Giving a grunt of disgust, he took the phone from her fingers and caught the call just before it went to voice mail. “Hey, Lex. What’s up?”
Michelle could tell the news wasn’t good by the look on his face. But all he kept saying was that he understood and everything would be fine. After thanking her for calling, he hung up.
He plopped back against the pillow and ran his fingers through his hair. “Now what am I going to do?”
“What’s the matter?” Michelle asked. “Can I help?”
He shifted to his side to face her. “Are you serious?”
The sudden gleam in his eyes should have warned her.
“Of course,” she said.
“Well, tomorrow I have to go to Montana and...”
* * *
Michelle realized later that a woman would agree to almost anything while in bed with a handsome man. Last night in the dim light of the cabin bedroom, with Gabe’s arms around her, she’d found herself agreeing to watch Finley Friday night and all day Saturday while Gabe went out of town for work.
Apparently the plans he’d made for Finley to stay at Lexi’s house had fallen through when Addie came down with the crud Gabe had last week. Michelle had made it clear to Gabe that she could get called out to the hospital at any time. He told her that was fine, he jus
t didn’t want Finley home alone overnight.
It’s only for one night, Michelle told herself when the knock sounded.
Gabe stood on her front stoop, his daughter at his side.
“I told Dad I’d be fine staying by myself,” Finley said in lieu of greeting. “But he said no way.”
Finley didn’t look happy about the decision, but she and Gabe must have been down this road before because he didn’t react.
“Thank you.” To Michelle’s surprise, after giving Finley a quick hug, Gabe turned to her and kissed her on the cheek. “Have fun. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow evening.”
The wariness on the girl’s face disappeared when Sasha nosed in beside Michelle, wagging her tail. “Hey, Sasha.”
“I told her you were coming.” Michelle opened the door wide and motioned Finley inside. “She’s been so excited. Are you hungry?”
“I already ate,” Finley said, belatedly adding, “but thank you for offering.”
“Then how about dessert?” Michelle took Finley’s bag from her hands, leaving the girl free to pet Sasha, who was now shimmying on her belly toward her. “I thought we could go to Hill of Beans. They have blackberry cobbler on Fridays. Unless you’re too full?”
Sasha had now rolled on her back. Finley looked up, but continued to scratch the retriever’s belly. A smile lifted her lips. “The way I see it, there’s always room for cobbler.”
Michelle couldn’t explain the sense of relief that flooded her. She found herself wanting to whistle as she reached for her keys. “I guess that leaves one last decision. Do we split or get our own?”
* * *
While meeting Joel’s crew in Montana and touring their current job sites had been invaluable in better understanding the entire scope of Stone Craft’s operations, by the time they pulled into Jackson and Gabe retrieved his pickup, he was eager to get home.
Even though he’d tried to call Finley and Michelle several times while he was gone. There had been no landline on the building sites. The cell reception in the mountainous area had been spotty at best and he’d never reached them.
Gabe told himself everything was fine. He’d made sure before he dropped her off that Finley understood she needed to be on her best behavior.
