Chapter 16

Gabe slowedthe truck to a gentle stop in the driveway of the Sanctuary, not wanting to freak out the horse in the back. She recognized Beth as she came running to the horse trailer. Beth gave them a short wave but didn’t stop and headed around the back of the vehicle. “More worried about the horse than you?”

Lori laughed. “She is devoted. Anyway, you seemed worried enough about me for all of us.”

Gabe cut the engine. “You wouldn’t believe the number of people who die in roadside crashes,” she said. “Couldn’t have that happen on my watch. I think that would be an official ‘bad friend’ stamp, wouldn’t it?”

“It definitely would,” Lori said, “but thank you for being concerned about me anyway. It felt good.”

“Glad to be of service.” Gabe hopped out of the cab and went around the back to see how Beth was doing before she fell any deeper into Lori’s soft gaze and said something she really shouldn’t.

Beth had already unlocked the trailer and was at Cash’s side. “He seems calm; you must’ve driven pretty steady.”

“I always do when I have precious cargo,” Gabe said.

Lori smiled brightly as she rounded the horse trailer to stand opposite Gabe, having obviously heard what she’d said. And there was that soft look she could get lost in again.

“Did Ellery say anything else about his recovery plan?” Beth asked.

“You know Ellery—everything was detailed in the report she emailed.”

Beth uncoupled Cash and began to back him out. “I printed out the diet sheet and gave everyone a copy as well as pinning it to the wall in the feed house.”

Gabe nodded toward Lori; she appreciated anyone that dedicated to their work.

“I’ll get these shoes off him, saddle him up, and take him for a gentle ride,” Beth said. “I bet he’s desperate to feel the wind in his mane after being cooped up at the clinic for nearly two weeks.” She patted Cash’s neck and looked at Lori. “Diesel and Madonna need some exercise too. Why don’t you and Gabe join us?”

Gabe held up her hands and shook her head. “Horseback riding is one skill I’ve never mastered.” And if the horses Beth just mentioned were anything like the size of Cash, she didn’t think she should try.

Lori narrowed her eyes. “Never mastered or never tried?”

Gabe frowned. How did Lori reach into her mind like that? “The closest I’ve gotten to having something that powerful between my legs is when I’ve ridden those crazy mechanical bulls, and that never worked out so good.”

Lori raised her hand to her mouth as if she was covering a laugh. “I imagine you’re used to being the powerful one.”

Gabe wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole. If this was how Lori talked to her as a friend, it was going to make sticking to her guns a damn sight harder.

“So do you want to try, or are you too scared?”

Gabe rolled her neck. Gauntlet thrown. “Are you calling me chicken?”

Lori gave her a wicked grin. “That’ll depend on your answer, won’t it?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Beth said and guided Cash between them. “I need to get Cash away from this combustible situation.”

Lori laughed and patted Cash’s rear end as he passed her. “We’re just kidding around, Beth. There’s no fire.”

Gabe clenched her jaw and other parts of her. They’d have to agree to disagree on that one.

“So what do you think?” Lori asked as they watched Cash and Beth head toward the stables. “If you haven’t got any plans, I’d like to make you dinner to say thank you for the tow.” She glanced at her watch. “But it’s still a little early for that, and I need to exercise the horses.”

Lori’s little show of hot minx had all but disappeared, and she seemed to be her usual controlled self again. Gabe let out a relieved breath, knowing she’d be powerless to resist that kind of game. “Dinner sounds great. Shay and Woody are taking turns on cooking duty, and neither one of them are Dominique Crenn.”

“You’re a foodie?” Lori hit the button to raise the trailer ramp.

“Nah, I just like to read about powerful and influential women,” Gabe said and winked, immediately regretting it. Maybe dinner wasn’t such a good idea. But she was never going to become immune to Lori’s charms without temptation and exposure.

“And beautiful women…”

Gabe forced herself not to interpret either Lori’s words or her tone. “That never hurts.”

“Sometimes it does.”

Lori’s playfulness disappeared entirely, and the sparkle in her eyes dulled.

“Yeah, I guess it can.” Gabe shrugged.

“Ah, of course, you’ve ‘never had any serious relationships where hearts have gotten involved on either side.’”

“Something like that,” Gabe said, “but given your curse-gift, it was probably exactly like that.”

Lori’s expression was answer enough. Gabe gestured to the truck. “How about you exercise your animals while I inspect the truck’s engine?”

“You really don’t want to give the horseback riding a try?”

“Another day, for sure,” Gabe said.

Lori arched her eyebrow. “You know I won’t forget you said that.”

“It really never fails?” Gabe asked. “How big must your brain be to hold all that information?”

Lori smiled. “Big enough or too big, depending on my perspective at the time.” She thumbed toward the stable. “If you’re sure, I’ll catch up with Beth, and I’ll be done in an hour.”

“Perfect.”

When Lori returned just over an hour later, Gabe was under the hood of the tow truck removing the final spark plug to clean it up. She hadn’t had much chance to check its engine since they’d bought it as part of the garage. And it hadn’t taken long to discover the source of Lori’s troubles, so she tinkered under the hood for something to focus on other than the thought of Lori’s lips and the way they’d quirked when she was teasing Gabe.

“Is it a good or a bad thing for me that you’re not still working on my trailer?” Lori asked.

Gabe glanced across as Lori got closer and pulled in a breath. Dressed in cowboy boots, jeans, a snap button shirt, and a cowboy hat, Lori looked like she was about to model for one of the calendars Gabe always had pinned up in her tent on base. She swallowed and pushed away the desire to press Lori against the truck, pull open that shirt, and bury her face between Lori’s breasts. “Er, I’m sorry to report it’s a bad thing.” She replaced the plug without tending to it and slammed the hood shut. Gabe was about to continue but Lori held her hand up.

“Stop. Please don’t say anymore. I don’t want to hear bad news on an empty stomach or without a glass of red wine in my hand.” Lori hooked her arm into Gabe’s and tugged her toward the house. “Do you like lasagna?”

“I love lasagna.”

“Excellent. I baked a couple fresh last night, so it just needs to be warmed while I rustle up some fresh garlic bread.” Lori opened the door, and Gabe followed her in. “The bathroom is the door at the far end of the corridor if you want to freshen up.”

“Thanks.” Gabe closed the door behind her and stared at herself in the mirror before turning on the faucet. She pumped the soap a couple of times and lathered it up over the grease spots, working it in as she continued to study her own face. How was this thing going to turn out? Gabe wasn’t an animal; she could control her urges around Lori, but how healthy was it to keep torturing herself? Surely there were other women out there she could be friends with and not have an inescapable sexual attraction to.

She rinsed and dried her hands. The dispenser adjacent to the soap was moisturizer in a matching lemongrass and coconut scent, so she applied some, aware that her knuckles were looking a bit dry from the de-greaser at the garage. In fact, her hands were looking rough but not in a rugged way that some women liked. That shouldn’t matter right now though, since she was with a friend and didn’t need to worry about things like that.

Gabe pulled her phone from the thigh pocket of her cargo pants and fired off a quick text to Shay to let her know she wouldn’t be back for whatever faux-gourmet meal she’d be burning.

Cozy dinner for two doesn’t sound like the friend zone. I hope you know what you’re doing.

Gabe sat on the edge of the tub. I’m playing it by ear. Friends can have dinner together. How many times have we done this?

I don’t think us eating slop out of tin dishes in the middle of the desert is comparable. Ask her to invite Rosie, and then I’ll come over to chaperone you. I’ll borrow your truck.

Gabe grinned. You know better than to touch my truck. And if Rosie was here, you wouldn’t notice if Lori and I started making out next to you. I’ll think about you all while I’m eating homemade lasagna.

Asshole.

Gabe smiled and slipped her phone back in her pocket before she headed to the kitchen. Lori pressed a chilled-to-perfection bottle of beer into her hand with practiced ease, making it impossible not to imagine the same scenario each night after a hard day’s work at the garage.

“I figured one beer would be okay with a heavy meal since you’re driving,” Lori said and pushed a dish of olives and cheese bites on the kitchen counter toward Gabe. “I’ve had a snack and now I have alcohol; lay the bad news on me.”

Gabe touched her bottle to Lori’s wine glass then took a long pull and savored its flavor for a moment before answering. “Am I easing you into this? Or?—”

“Rip the Band-Aid off, Gabe. I have a feeling a spoonful of sugar won’t help one iota.”

“The cam belt snapped, and your engine is toast,” Gabe said. “The truck itself is sound though, so I’d recommend a new engine rather than a whole new trailer. I checked a few of our suppliers, and we could source one for just over three thousand.”

Lori didn’t seem to be affected by the news or the price, but Gabe supposed these kinds of hits came all the time running a large business like the Sanctuary.

“Okay.” Lori took a deep breath. “What about the labor? How long would it take you to fit the new engine?”

Gabe hadn’t made assumptions, so it made her seriously happy for Lori to want her to do the work. “It should take us about five hours if we don’t hit any snags. Ten at most.”

“And what’s your hourly rate?”

“One ten, but?—”

“No.” Lori shook her head. “No buts. You’re doing enough for me and the Sanctuary with the rust bucket and the money your TikTok intervention raised.”

The look that Lori shot Gabe made it clear she wouldn’t be convinced to change her mind, and the team would appreciate the work, so she didn’t press. “It won’t be so much of a rust bucket by the end of the week. RB and Solo will have it stripped down by the end of this week. There won’t be an oxidized metal spot in sight.”

“While I was waiting for you to pick me up, I called Mom to let her know that we could make the auction a little earlier than planned,” Lori said. “She just texted to say she’s booked the Regina Park for September 14; is that too early?”

Gabe shook her head. “We think we’ll be finished by the end of next month.”

Lori smiled widely. “That’ll be a wonderful birthday gift, and there’s a nice symmetry to it. I get to start my life again on the day I was born.”

“When’s your birthday?”

“August 21.”

Gabe nibbled the inside of her lip, deciding whether or not to ask the question that prompted.

“Did you want to ask something?”

Gabe frowned and leaned back against the kitchen island. “How are you doing that? It’s like you can read my thoughts.” Which would be a bad, bad thing.

Lori shrugged. “It seems like you’re an open book. Are you not?”

“Not to anyone else. Except Shay, but she’s known me for nearly twenty years.”

Lori raised her eyebrows. “You served together all that time?”

“Yeah. We met when she saved my life.”

“Color me intrigued,” Lori said. “Shay saved your life, not the other way around?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve restored my butch credentials by repaying the favor a couple of times since then, including resuscitating her after she was struck by lightning.”

“That’s how she got her Army nickname?”

“Yep. We’re not a particularly imaginative bunch.” Gabe sniffed the air. “That smells amazing.”

Lori smiled. “I’m glad you think so. If you like it, you can take the second one home for the rest of your team— Is it okay to call them your team?”

“Sure. It’s easier than naming them all, and they’re used to being called that. I’m not sure how I feel about sharing though.” Gabe peered through the glass front of the oven to avoid Lori’s questioning gaze. “How did you make the garlic bread so quickly?”

“I had fresh dough in the fridge from last night too.”

“Wow. I didn’t leave until six. Were you at it all night?”

“Kind of. I bake when I’m… I bake to distract myself.”

Gabe wasn’t sure whether to push or not, so she left the silence for Lori to fill if she wanted to explain. She didn’t, leaving Gabe to wonder what she needed distraction from. Gabe glanced at Lori’s hand wrapped around her glass and spotted white swirls on peach-colored polish. “You and Rosie managed to find an open nail salon on Saturday?” Gabe briefly touched Lori’s fingers. “I can remember stuff too,” she added when Lori looked impressed.

Lori stretched out her hands and smiled. “It was a nice thing to do. I’ve been a little neglectful of my femme armor recently.”

Gabe resisted the urge to run her fingers over Lori’s nails, but she was unable to stop the thought of Lori raking her nails down Gabe’s back. “You think of your nails as armor?”

“I suppose that sounds ridiculous to a soldier,” Lori said, blushing slightly.

“No, not at all. I’ve just never thought of them that way.” The only way Gabe had ever thought about the nails of any woman she was attracted to was in direct connection to her core.

“I suppose it’s even more ridiculous that I neglected them when I needed them so much.”

Gabe hated the profound sadness that radiated from Lori, and once again wished she could meet the ex-wife in a dark alley to extract some revenge for all the hurt and pain she’d caused Lori. Though she realized that was more about alleviating her feelings rather than Lori’s. “But you’re coming out the other side of that?”

Lori nodded slowly. “I am. Getting the rust bucket out of my life and repurposing that building are the last physical actions I need to take to finally move on.” She gave a soft smile. “At least that’s the conclusion my therapist and I have come to.”

Great. Lori was moving on, which would mean that eventually she’d be back on the scene, and Gabe would have to listen to her tales of disaster dates and fabulous fucks. She almost physically recoiled at the unwanted images that popped into her head of Lori with other women. The only way Gabe would be able to cope with that would be mindless sex of her own immediately after any conversation with Lori so that she could distance herself from her own actual feelings.

“That must feel good,” Gabe said, the sentiment genuine even if the consequences were likely going to be painful for her.

“It really is. Especially now that Ellery is on board with the development.”

Gabe listened intently as Lori lit up while talking about her plans for the veterinary clinic. She tried to focus on the words rather than the way Lori’s mouth moved and wondering how her full lips would feel between Gabe’s legs. As she squeezed away the throbbing in her center, she reminded herself this torture was essential so she could control her lust and concentrate on their friendship. “Seems like a great match,” she said when Lori finished talking.

“We should save a lot of money, which we can use elsewhere,” Lori said. “Like on a new engine for that damn vehicle outside.”

“Speaking of, I left it hooked up so I could take it straight to your local garage.” Gabe grinned. “Which is us, obviously. Did you want me to do that? Or did you have a different plan?”

The timer on the oven beeped. “Hold that thought.” Lori pulled out the steaming lasagna and golden-brown garlic bread. She placed a plate in front of Gabe and gave her a large, flat metal spatula. “Would you serve for both of us?”

Serve. Worship. Cherish. Yes to all of them.

Gabe carved up two pieces of lasagna and followed Lori to the dining table, where Lori placed their drinks before going back for the piping hot bread. Gabe scooped a forkful of food into her mouth and sighed. When she’d swallowed it down, she asked, “How did you get to be such an amazing cook?”

“When your parents are busy rescuing elephants from abandoned wells and would-be poachers, it behooves you to learn some culinary skills.”

“Be-what?” Gabe laughed around another mouthful of edible heaven.

“Traveling expands your vocabulary too,” Lori said and wiggled her eyebrows. “You have a year in England to thank for that particular word. But back to your earlier question; it would be great if you could take the Oakley tonight and fix it as soon as possible. Fran was supposed to be driving to Louisville on Friday to pick up Camden Market, the racehorse I told you about.”

“The condition for their support to restore the Brewster?”

Lori nodded. “It’s really no imposition. We’ve just rehomed Cannonball, and we had a free stall. Ellery is looking forward to treating her too.” She nudged Gabe’s shoulder. “Maybe she can be the horse you learn to ride.”

“I thought you said it had some sort of leg injury. I doubt putting one-hundred-and-sixty pounds of me on her back would help that. And learning on a race horse doesn’t sound optimal.”

Lori glanced at her briefly as if she might say something, but then she pressed her lips together and looked at her plate.

“It’s mostly muscle,” Gabe said, in case Lori had been surprised by her weight, which, unlike too many women, she was proud of.

This time, Lori’s gaze lingered on her arms. “It looks like it’s all muscle.”

Gabe grinned. “Nice of you to notice, friend.”

“I’m healing from heartbreak; I’m not blind.”

Gabe didn’t even try to maintain eye contact; that kind of behavior would likely lead to a misplaced kiss. She tore off a chunk of bread, dipped it in the meat sauce that had gathered on her plate, and occupied her mouth with chewing instead. She vaguely wished she’d taken the seat opposite Lori to put some much-needed distance between them. This close…this close, it would be too easy to slip and do something she’d regret—something she was damned sure they’d both enjoy—but definitely something they’d both regret too.

Several moments of blissful silence followed, and Gabe took the time to savor the delicious food.

“I’m glad you mentioned Rosie earlier,” Lori said. “Has Shay said anything about her?”

Gabe put down her fork and shifted on her seat slightly to face Lori. “Has Rosie said something about Shay?”

Lori prodded Gabe’s forearm with her fork. “I asked first. You can’t answer a question with another question.”

“You saw the sparks too then?” Gabe finished the last of her beer and poured a glass of water from the jug on the table.

“I think the NASA space station would’ve seen those sparks if they’d been looking.”

Gabe laughed and nodded. “Shay is Rosie’s type?”

“Oh God, yes,” Lori said.

“And yours too?” Gabe didn’t hold back her surprise at Lori’s enthusiastic response.

“Oh God, no.” She frowned then widened her eyes. “I didn’t mean that to be as offensive as it sounded. She is stunning, but she’s not for me, no.”

“I wasn’t offended,” Gabe said. Relieved, yes. Offended, no. “Although you’re very much her type, as is Rosie.”

Lori blushed again. “Did she say that?”

“Why wouldn’t she? You’re a beautiful woman.”

Lori seemed to shrink back into her chair a little. “That’s something I haven’t heard for a long time.”

“Not even when you were married?”

She shook her head and slipped back under that cloak of sadness again, making Gabe wish she hadn’t asked.

“I’m not sure the lawyer ever thought I was beautiful. Exotic and well-traveled, someone to parade in front of her friends and make her seem more sophisticated, perhaps. But no, after the first few months, the compliments were as dry as our sex life—sorry, you probably didn’t want that level of detail.”

Gabe placed her hand over Lori’s. “Then she was a moron. Someone as beautiful as you are, inside and out, shouldn’t settle for anything less than total adoration.”

And there it was… That moment where the line between friends and lovers was illuminated, flashing bulbs neon-bright and unmissable. Lori’s lips were so close. Gabe could wrap her hand around the back of her neck and softly pull her in, press them together, meld their intentions into hot, sensual action. Lori’s breasts rose and fell with her deep, long breaths, inviting Gabe to touch them, to discover exactly how Lori wanted to be held and explored and discovered. And God, if Gabe didn’t long to blast through their ban on anything beyond friendship, then she longed for nothing at all.

Gabe wet her lips and stared at Lori’s, just a breath away from finding out how she tasted.

Then in her head, she uttered her safe words: Cynthia Nelson. And she pulled back from the brink of abandoning all logic and restraint. Friendship was what she needed from Lori, and it was what Lori needed from her. This was just the heat of Lori’s vulnerability, and anything she did in this moment would spoil everything.

Gabe cleared her throat and reached for the lemonade, hoping the sour taste would destroy all thoughts of the anticipated sweetness of Lori’s kiss. “I should go,” she whispered then said it again in her regular voice. “Shay’s waiting at the shop to help me unload your trailer.”

Lori blinked as if she were clearing the same fog of desire, then she nodded. “Of course. Yes, it’s getting late. I’m sorry for keeping you.”

Gabe smiled. “You never have to apologize to me,” she said and stood. “Thanks again for dinner; this is the best food I’ve had in ages, maybe ever.”

Lori remained seated and pointed toward the kitchen. “Don’t forget to take the second one home with you. It’s on the middle shelf in the fridge.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I can always make more.”

Lori shrugged and smiled, but it lacked her usual glow, and Gabe ached to take her in her arms and rock away all the pain.

“I’ll see you Wednesday, okay?” Gabe asked, though forty-eight hours seemed like too far away. “Do you want me to come pick you up?”

“No, don’t be crazy. I’ll pick you up on the way through.”

“That’d be great if you don’t mind. I’ll send you the address.” Gabe could only face the thought of babysitting for Solo and Janie because Lori had agreed to help.

“And I’ll bring the ingredients for pad Thai, so make sure you don’t eat.”

Gabe nodded. “If I’d known friendship came with these kinds of benefits, I would’ve widened my circle a long time ago.”

“Me too. It works both ways; you’re really helping me out getting the truck fixed quickly.”

“Of course. I’ll order the engine when I get back to the garage, and we should have it ready to pick up by Thursday. No need to change Fran’s plans.” Gabe waited for a moment too long before she went to the kitchen for the lasagna. “They’re gonna love this. Thanks again.”

“Absolutely my pleasure,” Lori said.

Gabe hovered in the hallway, trying to decide whether or not to go in for a hug. She decided against it when Lori didn’t move. “Cool. I’ll see you Wednesday at six,” she said and walked out into a hot July evening. She closed the door behind her and hesitated, every fiber of her being desperate to go back inside so she could hold Lori tight.

She looked up at the sky and saw it was a full moon. Weren’t people supposed to do crazy things on a night like this? Cynthia Nelson. That was the last crazy thing she’d done, and that had turned into a shitstorm of epic proportions. And she was still feeling its tremors.

Gabe crunched across the gravel driveway to her tow truck and jumped in the cab. A cold shower and a double whiskey would have to chase the crazy away tonight.