Chapter 19

Gabriel

I wait as patiently as possible in the waiting room for any sign of Trav or Skye. They were let in to see their grandfather fifteen minutes ago. He was awake and talking. Thank God for that.

Hearing Skye’s gentle sobs in the car broke my heart. I know what it’s like to lose people close to you; my grandparents on both sides were extremely loving. I miss them so much.

It’s a sad fact of life that everyone gets older, and both the Hendry’s aren’t getting any younger. Still, seeing Skye so upset didn’t sit well with me.

It’s not the first time tonight that I’ve felt that protective urge come over me. When Trav found out about the bar incident, he patted me on the back. Lucky for those guys, they don’t live around here, or they would have gotten a visit from the new sheriff.

Any asshole who acts that way towards a woman in Stoney Creek wouldn’t be a local for very long. They’d get run out of town for good.

I contemplate going to grab a coffee, but a few minutes later, Skye appears. I immediately stand.

“How is he?” I ask as she comes toward me.

She’s been crying. Her face is all red and puffy. “He’s going to be okay. The doctor said the heart attack was mild. He was lucky. He has some bruising from the fall, and they want to keep him overnight for observation, maybe a couple of days, so they can do some more tests.”

Relief floods through me as I pull her in for a hug. She looks like she could do with one.

“I’m so happy to hear that.” He may not be out of the woods yet, but the fact he’s awake and having visitors is a good thing.

“I was so scared,” she whispers.

I try not to notice the way she smells, how the soft, sweet scent of peonies invades my senses. How warm she feels in my arms, delicate and vulnerable. One thing I learned tonight is I don’t like seeing Skye frown. She’s definitely sunshine on a cloudy day.

“I know. These things are never easy. I’m sorry. I’m just glad that he’s gonna be okay. Like you and Trav said; he’s strong. You’re from good stock.”

She laughs as she pulls back. “Like cattle?”

I smile. “Nothing like cattle, well, maybe a bull. Bulls are strong.” And before I realize what I’m doing, I push her hair off one side of her face and tuck it behind her ear.

Her breath hitches and my hand freezes. Her mouth parts, but no words come out. Our eyes meet and my heart hammers in my chest when I stare into her green depths.

“You could’ve said moose. They’re pretty strong, too,” she breathes, totally steering the conversation back to the subject at hand — away from me touching her.

I shove my hands in my pockets where they can’t be a menace to her anymore. Why the fuck did I do that?

“I, uh, sorry about that.”

She bites her lip. “It’s fine, Gabe, really.”

“I… you were upset…”

“It’s honestly fine. There’s no need to explain. You’re a good guy, and I know you mean well.”

Well, I’m trying to be a good guy, but she’s making it extremely hard.

“The same guy who punched that dude tonight because he touched you?”

“That was different. He was a creep, and I didn’t want him...” she trails off, her gaze locked on mine.

My dick hardens at her words. She didn’t want him… but she wanted me? Is that what she’s saying? Or am I just imagining it?

I shouldn’t be noticing every single detail about her. How she’s slight, yet has ample breasts and hips. I fucking love that in a woman. I also love her hair. It’s so cute — no, better than cute — sexy as hell. The little crease between her brows appears and I can see she’s contemplating something…

“Still, it wasn’t appropriate. You work for me,” I say.

She swallows hard. “And if I didn’t?”

What? How do I fucking answer that?

How do I possibly tell her if she weren’t my nanny, I’d have pursued her in a heartbeat. I’d have wined and dined her, showed her all the beautiful places in Stoney Creek that I’d love to take her. The sunsets in Tennessee are some of the best I’ve ever seen.

But I can’t do any of that. Because not only is it wrong, she’s also leaving in seven weeks — not that I’m counting.

I palm the back of my head. “I never want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

“You don’t,” she answers quickly. “You care about people. It’s in your nature and I appreciate it, truly.”

She doesn’t know me from Adam, yet she sees to the heart of me. What she doesn’t know is how I’m not a ‘touchy-feely’ type of person. I don’t like hugs, and I definitely don’t have deep and meaningful conversations. But I’m also not an asshole.

If she wants to talk to me, she can. This kind of thing can be traumatic, and despite popular opinion, I can be a good listener.

She hugs herself, looking weary for the first time tonight. I’m about to ask if she’d like a coffee when Travis appears.

He gives me a chin lift as I give him a one-armed hug. “Glad to hear the old boy is in good shape,” I say.

“It was a scare, that’s for sure. He’s gotta take it easy for the next couple of weeks. The docs want to do some scans to make sure there’s also no head trauma from the fall.”

“That’s probably a good idea.” I glance at Skye. “I’m happy to wait for you guys and drive you home. It’s no trouble.”

Trav shakes his head. “I’m gonna stay for a little while, then drive Gran home. Skye, did you want to do the same, or Gabe could drop you home if you’d like?”

We can both see how weary she is. “I might just say goodnight and take you up on that ride if that’s okay, Gabe?”

I nod. “It’s no problem at all. Take your time.”

Trav pats me on the shoulder. “Thanks, man. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Happy to help.”

They walk back through the doors, and Trav puts his arm around his sister. They’re a close family, a lot like my own. It’s a sweet thing that Skye and Trav love their grandparents so much. There are so many older people in town that don’t see their kids or grandkids at all, and I think that’s really sad. I can’t imagine living away from my parents, although I understand not all families get along. We’re lucky in so many ways, and sometimes it takes a scare to make you even more aware of it. None of us are getting any younger.

I wait for ten minutes, and Skye reappears, pulling her shawl over her shoulders. “Are you cold?” I say, about to shrug out of my jacket and give it to her.

She waves it off.

“I insist, you’re freezing.” There’s nothing balmy about fall once the sun has gone down, not in Stoney Creek. I pull it off anyway, draping it over her shoulders. “I can’t have my new nanny freeze to death.”

She smiles kindly. “Thanks, Gabe.”

I put my hand on the small of her back as we leave and make our way to the parking lot.

It’s late. Past midnight now, and everything is quiet. We don’t pass another car all the way to her grandparents’ place.

“I don’t want to go home right now,” she says. “My mind is buzzing. I’ll just lie awake all night, thinking and worrying about Gramps.”

I have no fucking clue what that means. Where does she want to go? Then I have an idea.

“I’ll show you something really cool, if you’re up for it?”

She turns and gives me one of her precious smiles. “What did you have in mind?”

I grin. “You’ll see. But you’ve got to keep the whereabouts a secret. Only locals know about this trail.”

She giggles. “Really?”

I shrug. “We’ve gotta keep some things to ourselves, otherwise city folk would be out here, tearing up the track and ruining the place.”

“You make a very valid point.”

“Do you trust me?” My eyes meet hers.

“Of course,” she says without hesitation.

“Good. Hold on.” I turn off an unmarked track and down the dirt road that slopes up slightly. Although Stoney Creek isn”t known for its mountains like other parts of the state, there are a couple of ridges and lookouts that attract tourists and provide an amazing view of the valley and creek below.

None of them know about this one though; they don’t even talk about it in the local paper.

“Gabe? Where are you taking me?” She laughs.

I can’t help but laugh too, and I realize that I’ve never smiled so fucking much in my entire life since she’s been around. She’s just infectious with her warmth and it makes me gravitate toward her in ways I shouldn’t.

“Trust me, it’ll be worth it.” The track is pretty beat up, but I continue on for a half mile, winding slightly to the lookout. We like to think it’s our little ‘Lookout Mountain’ but it’s not really. Still, I didn’t come here to look out over the landscape, because you can’t see shit late at night. You can, however, see the stars in all their glory.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is to try to remember the little things. Like stars in the sky. Because the night sky here is so clear, they literally light up like nowhere I’ve ever seen before.

Another five minutes and we pull up to the top of the ridge. There’s a small turning circle and I come to stop halfway around.

“Where in the heck are we?”

“Stoney Creek’s very own lookout,” I tell her, my hand on my door. I’m eager to get out now.

“Wait, aren’t there like creatures out here?”

I stop. “Creatures?” God, she’s so fucking cute.

“Yes, like coyotes, black bears… what about elk and cougars?”

I chuckle. “While they are native to Tennessee, they don’t really like the hike up here.”

She swats me on the arm. “Don’t make fun of me. Coyotes and cougars could be up here.”

“We’re gonna sit in the back. It’ll be fine. I’ll protect you.” Her eyes meet mine. “Are you coming?”

I switch the headlights off and climb out. I jog around to the back to lift the tray down. I have it set up for me and Trinity. We often come out here to count the stars and I show her all the constellations. I keep our sleeping bags in the back with a rug and extra blankets. Not that I’m gonna expect Skye to climb into a sleeping bag, but I roll the blanket out.

I grab the flashlight and shine it on the tray as Skye comes to stand next to me.

“You are just a bag full of tricks, aren’t you, boss?”

Boss. My dick hardens every time she calls me that. It’s like the more I try not to think about her in bed, that’s all my mind seems to wander to. But I’m not doing this to get her into bed. As much as I’d like that, she’s here for my kid, and to make my life easier. I don’t want to screw that up. This is only her first week working for me.

“I try,” I finally manage to reply.

Keep your head in the game, idiot.

Not for the first time I realize that this probably wasn’t the wisest idea, but my daughter always enjoys it out here and I figured, what the hell?

I hold out my hand. “Hop up. If you want, you can use Trin’s sleeping bag as a pillow.”

She takes my hand and I swallow hard at how small and warm it feels in mine. She pulls herself up and I keep my eyes off her legs in that dress and those cowboy boots that do nothing to calm my dick.

I jump up behind her. “I bring Trinity out here sometimes. If you lie back, you can see just about every constellation in the sky on a night like tonight.”

She lies back and crosses one leg over the other. I kill the flashlight and follow suit.

As I stare up, the magic of the night sky takes my breath away. It’s a million dollar view.

“Holy shit,” she whispers.

“Told ya.”

“Who turned all those lights on?”

“Right?”

She turns to me. “I bet you know all the constellations, don’t you?”

“Well, I don’t know them all, just the basic ones. Like Ursa Major; also known as the Big Dipper. Fun fact, you can see the Big Dipper all year round in the US, but in places like Australia, you can only see it in the fall.” I don’t have to point that one out because it looks like a kitchen ladle. It’s right there and the most common constellation. I point out the Little Dipper, though, right alongside. “They’re also known as the two bears.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“I like to find out interesting facts to keep Trin entertained; it’s eight point six light years away.”

“You know a lot.”

“I thought about getting a telescope one time, but I don’t know how I’d find the time to come stargazing.”

“You might come out here more if you had one,” she says.

“You make a good point.”

“What are some of the other constellations?”

I clear my throat, enjoying her enthusiasm. “There’s Orion over there, Taurus, and Gemini; see, they look like twins.”

She giggles. “They do.”

I love that fucking sound. Then there’s the stillness, mixed with the smell of the earth and the sound of crickets as our only background entertainment — it makes me feel like a boy again.

I love these nights where I’m at peace. The ones where I don’t have to worry about work, or being a parent, or what I’m going to do next. I just get to be me. And spending it with Skye has made me realize I like her a whole lot more than just my nanny.

And that is a very big problem.