Carson and the kids were waiting by her SUV, so Gabriella clicked the key fob and unlocked the doors. The kids immediately climbed in back, sitting in their normal spots—Justin right behind her and Sophia behind the front passenger seat. The middle seat had been removed and in its place was a crate filled with toys and books, which came in handy on long rides.
Carson walked to the driver’s side and opened her door for her. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, circling the front of the vehicle. He’d taken a shower and was now wearing black denims and a white button-down shirt. His woodsy aftershave smelled exactly how she imagined heaven would smell. She was glad she’d taken the time to apply a bit of mascara, spray herself with a light perfume and put on a short floral denim skirt and cute pink top.
Once they were all strapped in, Gabriella drove down the road and turned onto the highway to town. Normally, the kids grabbed toys or books from the crate to keep themselves entertained while she listened to music on the radio. Today their toys remained untouched as they asked Carson questions about his horses and what it was like being a rancher. While they talked, Gabriella’s mind wandered and the kids’ voices faded to the background. But her attention flew back to the conversation the second she heard Sophia ask Carson if he had a girlfriend.
“Sophia. That’s a personal question,” Gabriella said, catching her daughter’s eye in the rearview mirror and shaking her head before glancing over at Carson. “You don’t have to answer that.”
He flashed her a dimpled grin. He was so gorgeous. Probably always had been. But until this visit she hadn’t really cared. They’d only been friends so his looks hadn’t mattered. Now she found herself wondering what it would be like to be kissed by those full lips of his. The ecstasy she would feel if he wrapped those strong arms around her and held her against his muscular body. Just as her daughter’s question was off-limits, so were her imaginings. Gabriella didn’t have friends to spare. She valued Carson’s friendship too much to risk ruining it by trying to turn it into something it wasn’t.
“I don’t mind answering Sophia’s question. It’s not as if it’s a state secret or anything.” Carson spun around in his seat in an attempt to meet her daughter’s eyes. His voice was filled with mischief. “I don’t have a girlfriend. Do you have a boyfriend?”
Sophia giggled. “No. I don’t like boys. Except for Justin.”
“Mom doesn’t have a boyfriend, either,” Justin volunteered. “So if you want, Mom can be your girlfriend.”
Yikes. Talk about making her sound pathetic and desperate. And delivered with such matter-of-fact innocence.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Carson said with a laugh.
“No need to do that,” Gabriella muttered. More loudly she added, “We’re in town now. I’m not sure I remember the way to the youth center. Which way should I go?”
Carson grinned at her abrupt change of subject. “Turn right at the corner. Then go two blocks and make a left.”
She followed his instructions, and within minutes they were pulling into the parking lot in front of the building. As before, she was captivated by the colorful mural that wrapped around the building.
Kids swarmed the playground, laughing as they swung on swings, went up and down on seesaws, or just chased each other. A few girls jumped rope while others played hopscotch. Several boys were playing kickball. As before, all of the action occurred under the watchful eye of adults.
Gabriella approached the nearest chaperone while Carson and the kids hung back. “Hi. I’m Gabriella Tucker. Those are my kids. We’re staying on my aunt’s ranch this summer and are interested in joining the youth center if possible.”
“Of course. Go on inside. There’s someone at the desk who’ll be able to give you information and show you around. I’m sure your kids will have a great time here.”
“Thank you.”
Gabriella returned to where she’d left Carson and the kids. Sophia and Justin weren’t ordinarily shy, but being the new kid was never easy. When they stepped inside the building, Gabriella instantly felt welcome.
“Look at that,” Justin said, pointing at a colorful mural on the far wall. “It’s so cool.”
“Yes, it is,” said a woman seated at a reception desk just inside the large entry. “It’s one of several in the building. Do you like art?”
Justin shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“Well, we have more than art. Whatever your favorite thing to do, I’m sure you’ll find it here.” She stood, circled the desk and approached Gabriella. “I’m Madison.”
Gabriella introduced herself, Carson and the kids.
Madison looked at Sophia. “I have a daughter about your age. She’s playing outside with some of the other kids. If you want, I can introduce you to her later.”
“Okay,” Sophia said.
“What about boys my age?” Justin said.
Madison laughed. “I don’t have a son, but there are plenty of boys your age around. I’ll introduce you to some that I know.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s look around the center,” Madison said.
The building was bigger than Gabriella had expected. There were numerous rooms where kids were engaged in a variety of activities. Teenage girls were making jewelry in one room, preteen girls and boys were rehearsing for what appeared to be a musical in another. Teenage boys were playing basketball in the gym, and a group of toddlers, decked out in plastic smocks, were finger painting. The activities were varied, but one thing was consistent. Everyone appeared to be having a great time.
The tour ended outside a small office. Madison knocked on the open door, and the woman inside looked up, smiled and stood.
“Hey, Joni. I’ve just been giving this new family a tour. They’re interested in summer activities.”
“Thanks. I’ll take it from here.”
“Nice meeting you,” Madison said before walking away.
“Hey, you,” Joni said. She rose, walked around the desk and gave Carson a kiss on the cheek. “I didn’t know you had friends visiting.”
When Gabriella saw that kiss, jealousy once more reared its ugly head. Joni was gorgeous and didn’t bear the slightest resemblance to a troll. Gabriella was definitely going to have to work on ridding herself of that emotion.
Carson returned Joni’s smile with a rueful one of his own. “They aren’t staying with me. Gabriella is Mildred Johnson’s niece. Sophia and Justin are her children.”
“Mrs. Johnson is one of our favorite volunteers. She talks a great deal about her favorite niece and her children, which must be you. I’ve heard so much about you, so it’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
Gabriella smiled. “Nice to meet you, too.”
Joni grabbed a folder from her desk and handed Gabriella a few papers to fill out. “I need a little information about you so your family can use the center.”
“Can we play outside now?” Justin asked.
“Please,” Sophia added with a winning smile.
“I can introduce them around if you want,” Joni offered.
Gabriella nodded. “Thanks. I’ll fill out the forms now.”
Joni led them to the lobby, where Gabriella and Carson sat down on a bench while Joni took the kids outside.
“She seems nice,” Gabriella said, trying to keep her voice neutral. The lingering jealousy she felt made it harder than it should have been. After all, Gabriella didn’t have dibs on Carson.
“She is.” Carson gave her a long look, then continued, “Her husband is nice, too. So is their son.”
“You’re making fun of me.” Even though she’d never admit it, she felt a bit of relief knowing that the other woman was married.
“Maybe a little. You’re just so easy to tease.” He flashed a dimpled grin that made her pulse race. “You’re my summer best friend
, remember? And it is summer.”
“Does that mean we’re going to be hanging out together like we used to? Because I have to tell you that I really enjoyed riding Beauty today. If not for the kids, I would have gone racing across the ranch.”
“You could have taken her for a ride before.”
“I know.” She didn’t understand why she’d deprived herself of a good time before.
“If the kids like hanging out here, we can ride to our favorite spots.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Gabriella completed the papers and gave them to Madison before she and Carson went outside. Standing side by side, they watched the kids play. All of Sophia and Justin’s earlier shyness had vanished. Justin had joined the group of boys playing kickball and was shouting encouragement to a younger kid standing at the plate. Sophia was playing a hand-clapping game with several other girls. They seemed happy—much happier than they’d been in Ohio. There they’d been their father’s forgotten kids, reminded daily that they no longer mattered to him. He hadn’t been a part of their lives in Sweet Briar, so they didn’t notice his absence. He wasn’t hovering over them like a ghost, casting a pall on their joy. Or hers.
“Do you need to get back to the ranch right away?” she asked.
“No. Why?”
“I was hoping we could stop in at Mabel’s Diner. I could really go for a burger, some onion rings and a shake.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
Gabriella called the kids. They raced over, big grins on their faces.
“This place is so much fun. Can we come back tomorrow?”
“I don’t see why not. But right now, we’re going to get something to eat. How do burgers and fries sound to you?”
“Sounds good.”
Once they were all in the SUV, Gabriella drove the short distance to the diner. The moment they went inside she smiled. It was like stepping back in time. Nothing had changed. Red vinyl booths lined the walls, while table and chairs filled the space in between. It was midafternoon and the lunch rush had passed, so there were several available tables and booths.
A uniformed waitress was gathering dishes from an empty table and loading them into a bin. She looked up and called to them, “Have a seat anywhere. Menus are on the table. Someone will be over to take your order in a minute or two.”
Justin and Sophia made a beeline for a booth near the large front window where they could see people pass by. Justin sat by the window and Sophia scooted next to him, leaving Gabriella and Carson to share the other seat.
Carson looked at Gabriella. “Do you want the inside or the outside?”
“The inside,” she said, sliding across the bench.
Carson sat down beside her and the warmth from his body wrapped around her. Each time she inhaled she was treated to his wonderful scent. It had been a long time since she’d had romantic thoughts about a man other than her husband. When her marriage ended, the last thing she’d wanted was another man in her life. The determination to keep her heart safely locked away was being tested with each moment she shared with Carson.
A waitress approached their booth and set down four glasses of ice water. “Are you ready to order or do you need more time?”
“We’re ready now,” Justin said before anyone else could reply.
Once the waitress had taken their orders, she walked away. While they waited on their food, the children told Gabriella and Carson about the friends they’d made at the youth center. Gabriella tried to pay close attention, but Carson’s nearness made it difficult for her to focus.
Carson laughed at something Justin said and shifted slightly in the seat. His denim-clad leg brushed against the bare skin of her calf and her awareness of him reached new heights. This was ridiculous. Was she really reacting this way to Carson? Growing up, he’d been the closest thing she’d had to a sibling. But there was nothing sisterly about her imaginings. She glanced out the side of her eye at him. He was sipping from his ice water, unfazed by the contact. To him, she was still his childhood friend, not a woman he was attracted to. Clearly this attraction was a one-sided thing, the result of the lack of male attention for too long.
She wasn’t vain, but she thought the years had been good to her. She worked hard to stay in shape. Back home, she’d had a standing twice-a-week tennis match with the club pro, and she ran at least two miles three days a week. True, she hadn’t been as consistent lately as she’d once been, but she’d done her best to not let herself go. But attraction involved more than outward appearances. It also required compatibility. They’d always gotten along as kids. If their latest interactions were anything to go by, time apart hadn’t changed that.
Gabriella frowned. She had no idea why she was thinking that way. She wasn’t looking for a man. And even if she was, Carson wasn’t the one for her. He lived in Sweet Briar and she lived in Ohio. Long-distance relationships could work if one party was considering moving at some point, but that wasn’t the case in this instance. Carson had grown up on his ranch and was happy here. Although Gabriella felt comfortable in Sweet Briar, she and her kids had lives back in Ohio. Their father was there. Reggie might be besotted by his new child now, but despite all evidence to the contrary, she knew he loved Sophia and Justin. They deserved to have their father in their lives. The time would come when he’d want to play an active role again. Gabriella wouldn’t create a barrier between them by moving here.
The waitress brought their lunches, and Gabriella and Carson exchanged amused smiles as the kids marveled at the enormous size of the burgers and the huge pile of fries on their plates. Although they’d dined at some nice restaurants and had eaten fast food on many occasions in their lives, nothing had prepared them for Mabel’s food.
The kids added ketchup and mustard, and then Gabriella cut their burgers in half. They’d each just taken a first delicious bite when a woman approached their table.
“Carson. It’s good to see you. How are you?”
* * *
Carson froze, then forced himself to swallow the bite of burger. Raven Reynolds. Or rather Raven Reynolds-Cordero. His former fiancée was the last person he’d expected to run into in Mabel’s Diner in the middle of the afternoon. After all, she and her husband, Donovan, were ranchers and were ordinarily hard at work at this time of day.
He stood up as he’d been raised to do, and said, “Raven. I’m surprised to see you in town.” Shocked was more like it.
She shrugged and then gestured to her son, Elias, and her husband, who were standing slightly behind her. “We had dentist appointments in Willow Creek and decided to grab food here before heading home.”
Raven glanced past him to Gabriella and her kids. Interest sparked in her eyes, and he could tell she was putting two and two together and coming up with a romance. Ever since she’d married Donovan, Raven had been on a mission to find a woman for Carson. She had tried to set him up with every available woman within a fifty-mile radius. He’d tried to get her to quit matchmaking, and she would for a while, but then she’d start up again. It was as if she felt guilty for not loving him and wouldn’t be completely happy until he was one half of a blissful couple.
Raven wasn’t a bad person. Neither was Donovan, as far as that went. He knew neither of them had wanted to hurt him. They were simply two people whose love for each other had been too strong to ignore. Since Carson’s father had played a role in keeping them apart, he shouldn’t resent them. And he didn’t. But he didn’t want to go back to being friends with them, either.
But not introducing Gabriella and her children would be rude. Gabriella might get the impression that she wasn’t important to him, which was the farthest thing from the truth. He wasn’t exactly sure what their relationship was—it was evolving daily—but he knew that she mattered to him. So he smiled and then motioned to Gabriella, who had a curious expression on her face. “This is Gabrie
lla Tucker and her children, Justin and Sophia. Gabriella is Mrs. Johnson’s niece. Gabriella, this is Raven Reynolds-Cordero, her husband Donovan, and their son, Elias. Their ranch adjoins mine.”
Donovan and Elias said hello, but Raven’s brow wrinkled. “Are you the same niece who used to visit in the summer when we were kids?”
Gabriella smiled and Carson’s heart lurched. Whoa. Just where had that reaction come from? “Yes. But I don’t remember you.”
“We never officially met. But I do remember seeing you from a distance a couple of times one summer. I should have come over and introduced myself, but I was having too much fun annoying my older brothers or hanging out with Donovan and some of the other boys.”
Carson remembered those days. Even as ten-year-olds, Donovan and his friends had been the cool kids. They’d hung out together at a clubhouse they’d built on Jericho Jones’s ranch. Carson had only been a year or so younger, but he’d been light-years behind them in all the ways that counted. He’d been a short, scrawny kid who had never been invited to join the club.
His status as an outsider had followed him to high school, where he’d been the target of bullies. For a reason known only to himself, Donovan, the most popular kid in school, had protected him. He’d made it clear that anyone who bothered Carson would have to answer to him. And just like that, the bullying stopped. From then on, Donovan and his friends had included him on occasion, but for the most part Carson’s circle of friends hadn’t increased.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you now,” Gabriella said.
“Hey, do you know about the youth center?” Elias asked.
“We just came from there. It’s cool,” Justin said.
“Do you know about the sleepover party?”
“No.”
“It’s a lot of fun. I don’t know when it is but be sure to ask your mom to let you come. And the summer Olympics are really fun. And there’s a basketball tournament and a cookout at the beach.”
Laughing, Raven put an arm around Elias’s shoulder, stopping him when he looked like he would continue extolling the virtues of the youth center for a while. “And on that note, we’ll let you enjoy your meal. It was nice meeting all of you. Gabriella, if you need anything or just want some female company, give me a call. Carson has my number.”
Redemption on Rivers Ranch Page 7
