Chapter 18: Gabrielle

Chapter 18 – Gabrielle

The next morning is a bit surreal. John wakes up before my alarm clock goes off. After a quick trip to the bathroom, he dresses quickly in the dark. “I have to go home to shower and change.”

“Why don’t you come to the restaurant for breakfast?” I suggest as I watch him pull on his underwear and jeans. He threads his belt through the loops and fastens it. “We can eat together before you head out.”

He sits on the side of my bed and pulls on his socks and boots. “I’ll stop in. I have to pick up our lunches for today’s ride anyway. I’m sure I can spare a few minutes for breakfast.” After buttoning up his shirt and tucking it into his waistband, he leans down and kisses me. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

After I hear my apartment door close quietly, I lie awake in bed, reveling in the post-coital feelings that still linger in my body, even hours later. When I tighten my vaginal muscles, I feel a twinge of discomfort deep inside me, a reminder of what we did last night. It had been a while for me. My body is out of practice.

I roll over and wrap my arms around his pillow, drawing it close, hugging it to me and breathing in his scent. I came here to Bryce for a new job, a new life, and I think I’ve found a whole lot more.

My phone alarm goes off, putting an end to my daydreaming about a tall, dark-haired cowboy. I shower and dress quickly so I can head downstairs to the restaurant. I don’t want to miss my chance to eat breakfast with John.

It’s ten after seven by the time I make it to the restaurant. Already some guests are seated and enjoying their breakfasts—probably many of John’s trail ride participants. I pop into the kitchen, where Nelle and Betty are busy resupplying the breakfast buffet. “Good morning, ladies. How’s it going?”

Betty wipes her hand on a white dish towel. “It’s goin’ just fine. You sure look pretty today. Is there a special occasion?”

“No, nothing special. I just felt like wearing a dress today.” I glance down at my outfit. Yeah, I may have dressed up just a bit today. “I’ve got to head out to the dining room and seat customers, but after the breakfast period, I’ll do the clean-up. You two can take off until lunch.”

I return to the dining room to find Hannah chatting with some guests. When she spots me, she excuses herself and comes to join me at the podium.

“Good morning, boss,” I say, feeling extra chipper this morning. I keep glancing toward the door hoping to see John come in.

“You’re in a good mood,” she says.

I shrug. “It’s a beautiful day, full of potential.”

Her eyes narrow on me. “You look especially nice this morning. In fact, you’re practically glowing.” She grins. “Is there a reason?”

“No. Just wanted to look professional, that’s all.” My face is heating up, giving me away. I hear voices behind me and glance back to spot John standing just inside the doors to the dining room. He’s deep in conversation with Killian, but when he catches my eye, he gives me a small smile.

A moment later, Killian joins us. He puts his arm around Hannah and pulls her close and kisses her temple. “I’m going to grab some chow. You want to join me, babe?”

“Sure,” Hannah says. “You go get your food and find us a table. I’ll be along in a sec.”

When I glance back to see if John’s finally alone, I find him talking with the sheriff. Oh, great. At this rate, I’ll never get him alone.

“Um, Gabrielle?” Hannah asks.

I turn back to her. “Yes?”

She’s staring over my shoulder. “Don’t look now, but I think you have an admirer.”

“Oh, really?” I try to act nonchalant, as if I don’t have a clue as to what she’s talking about, but it’s hard.

Hannah nods. “Ever since you arrived, he’s been coming in to the restaurant more and more often. He never used to come here to eat, and now he’s becoming a regular fixture.”

I try not to smile, but I know I’m failing horribly. I’m dying to tell her about John, but it’s too soon.

Hannah’s brow wrinkles suspiciously. “Is there something going on I should know about?”

I press my lips together, but it’s hard to stay quiet.

“Oh, my God, there is, isn’t there?” she says. “Are you guys seeing each other?”

I don’t want to reveal too much, because we haven’t discussed our relationship status yet, and I know John’s a very private person. He may not be ready to go public. And to be fair, we only had sex once. It’s not like we’re going steady. I don’t want to read too much into last night. “Maybe,” I say, biting my lip to keep from saying more.

“I had no idea!” She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “This is fantastic. He’s such a great guy. I know he’s quiet, and he keeps to himself a lot, but you couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

“Gabrielle!”

I turn to see Betty waving at me from the kitchen. “Can you come look at something, please?”

“I’ll be right there!” I’m grateful for the interruption. If we discuss this any longer, I’m afraid I’ll give something away. I glance back at John, who’s finally alone. He’s organizing the box lunches for his trail ride guests. I’ll be quick, and then we can have breakfast together before he has to leave.

As soon as I walk away, Hannah crosses the room to talk to John.

In the kitchen, Betty hands me a box of strawberries. “Look at these,” she says, frowning. “I think they’re past their use-by date. What do you think? Should we use them or not?”

I peer into the box and find a lot of bruised and mushy berries. “I’m afraid you’re right. Where did these come from?”

“I picked them up at the farmers market yesterday. I swear they looked fine then, but now I don’t think we can use them. I was going to make strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll stop by Emerson’s later today and see if I can pick up some more. It’ll be fine.”

Now that Betty’s issue is resolved, I return to the dining room to have breakfast with John, but he’s nowhere to be seen. He’s gone, and so are the box lunches.

I walk over to the table where Hannah and Killian are having breakfast. “Did John leave?”

She finishes chewing a bite of food and swallows. “You just missed him. Why? Do you need him for something?”

“No, it’s just that—oh, well. I’ll catch him later. Thanks. Enjoy your breakfast.”

I leave the restaurant and walk down the stairs to the front desk, where Tammy and Kevin are working. “Did John come this way?”

Nodding, Tammy points toward the main doors. “He flew out of here like a bat out of hell. He didn’t even reply when I told him to have a nice day.”

“Thanks, Tammy.” I jog through the foyer and out the doors, hoping to catch him. It’s only seven-thirty. There’s still time for us to have a quick breakfast together before he has to meet up with his guests.

I glance across the parking lot and spot Nora saddling the horses for today’s ride. I rush over there. “Have you seen John?” I ask, breathless.

Nora points at the barn. “He’s getting the supply packs ready.”

“Thanks.”

As I take a step toward the barn, she says, “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. He’s fit to be tied. He about bit my head off just now for saying good morning.”

I frown. “I just saw him a few minutes ago, and he seemed fine. What’s he upset about?”

Nora shrugs. “He didn’t say.”

When I step inside the barn, I hear a loud thud, followed by a gruff curse and then some indistinct muttering. I follow the sound until I find John in the tack room, shoving supplies into a large canvas bag. “Hey, I just missed you at the restaurant. I thought we were going to have breakfast.”

When he looks at me, I almost don’t recognize him. His expression is tense, his jaw muscles tight. His face is flushed. He looks angry—no, he’s furious.

Suddenly, there’s a knot in my stomach, and my heart starts hammering. Did I misread what happened between us last night and this morning? My heart starts pounding. Is he having second thoughts? Regrets? “John? What’s wrong?”

He shoves a length of coiled rope into one of the packs. “What’s wrong?” he bellows, looking incredulous. “You have the gall to ask me what’s wrong?”

I take a step back. “Obviously, something’s wrong.”

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” When he stalks toward me, I back up until my back hits the wall. He keeps coming until he’s right in my face, glaring down at me. I never realized just how much taller he is.

His teeth are gritted when he grinds out a question that knocks the wind right out of me. “What kind of woman fucks one guy when she’s dating another? Huh? Tell me that.”

My face chills. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you and Chris.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Don’t act stupid. Hannah told me.”

“Told you what?”

“That you two are dating. I should have realized last night was too good to be true. What was it, Gabrielle? A pity fuck? Or morbid curiosity on your part? Let me guess—the beauty wanted to sleep with the beast?”

My mind races as I try to make sense of what he’s saying. How in the world did we go from waking up together in my bed to this? Then it dawns on me. Hannah, asking me about an admirer. I assumed she meant John, but what if she was thinking of the sheriff? Chris was there, too, this morning. “Did you talk to Hannah just now? In the restaurant.”

His jaws clench tightly, and when he refuses to answer me, I know I’m right.

And then I start laughing. I can’t help it. And my laughter pisses him off even more.

“Why the fuck are you laughing? Do you think this is funny? I’m sorry, but I don’t.”

“No!” I stop to catch my breath. “It’s not one bit funny.” I try to stop smiling, but it’s impossible. “This is all one big misunderstanding. You see, Hannah thought I was talking about Chris, but I was talking about you.” I shake my head. “I swear, sometimes my life is like a bad romcom.”

His brow furrows. “What are you talking about?”

“Hannah asked me if I knew I had an admirer, and I thought she was referring to you, but I think she meant Chris. She asked me if we were dating, and I said yes. Dating you, that is. Not Chris. It was just a stupid misunderstanding.”

“We’re dating?” He looks truly gobsmacked.

Hell, yes, we are. At least I hope so. “Aren’t we?”

He stands there staring at me like I’m off my rocker.

Now I’m starting to get mad. “Do you really think I go around sleeping with random guys just for the fun of it? Is that what last night was to you? Just another hook-up? A fun way to blow off steam? Do you honestly think I would sleep with you if I was dating another man?”

“We’re dating?” he repeats, sounding utterly dumbfounded.

And right there, my anger dissipates. He finds it incredible that I might want to date him. “Yeah, we are.” There, I said it. “I mean, if you want to.”

He stares at me for the longest time before he finally cups my face, so very gently. The fingers of his right hand slide into my hair. “I’ve known since you arrived that Chris has a thing for you. Why do you think he keeps coming to the restaurant? It’s to see you. Before you came, he always ate in town at Jennie’s Diner. Then you show up, and bam! He becomes a regular fixture around here. So when Hannah told me you two were dating, it made perfect sense. And why wouldn’t you want to date him? He’s closer to your age. He’s good-looking. Hell, he’s a great guy. Everyone likes him. You should want to date him. If you asked him out, he’d jump at the chance to say yes.”

I cover his hands with mine. “You’re a great guy, too, John. And you happen to be the one I want. Not Chris. Not anyone else. You.”

His dark eyes bore into mine, searching for the truth. He seems half afraid of what he’ll find. “It feels too good to be true. Guys like me don’t get girls like you.”

“Maybe I don’t want a blond-haired, blue-eyed sheriff. Maybe I want a dark-haired, dark-eyed cowboy.” And then I pull his face to mine and kiss him.

We jump apart when Nora clears her throat. “The horses are ready, and you’ve got an impatient crowd waiting outside.”

John looks at Nora. “Thanks. I’ll be right out.” Then he turns back to me and nods. “Just so we’re clear, yes, we’re dating.”

“Congratulations,” Nora says, rolling her eyes. “Now, can we get a move on? Folks outside are getting restless.”

I help John carry the supply packs out to the yard. As he loads them onto a horse, Nora helps the guests mount theirs.

“You could come with us,” John says to me.

“Thanks, but I have a meeting later this morning to present my menu to Hannah and Killian. How about a rain check? How about dinner when you get back?”

“I’d love that,” he says. Then he pulls me close and kisses me right in front of a rapt audience. “We’re dating,” he says to the onlookers, as if we need to explain ourselves.

* * *

When I’m done cleaning up the kitchen and dining room after the breakfast rush, I grab a cup of coffee, head up to my apartment to grab a copy of my proposed menu, and join Hannah and Killian in their office behind the front desk.

“Sorry I’m late,” I say as I rush into their office. They’re seated together on a brown leather sofa.

“You’re not late,” Killian says. “You’re right on time.”

“Here’s a copy of my proposed menu,” I say as I hand them each a printed copy. “I opted for an eclectic mix of different cuisines since we’ll be getting guests from all over. I tried to include something for everyone—everything from pasta to Mexican to American. Popular items, as well as beloved comfort foods. Some vegetarian options, as well as vegan.”

They both take a few minutes to read over the menu. There are separate offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with sections for appetizers, sides, and desserts. I even included a wine and beer list. “I think we should highlight Colorado brews.”

“This is impressive,” Hannah says when she finishes reading. She looks at Killian. “What do you think, babe?”

Killian laughs. “When can we eat?”

“Just as soon as the new kitchen gets installed,” I say. “It won’t be long. I’ll implement the full menu once we have all the appliances in place.”

“What about staffing levels?” Hannah asks. “Have you given that some thought?”

I nod. “I spoke to Betty and Nelle, and they both said they want to stay on. Apparently, retirement isn’t everything it was cracked up to be—those are Nelle’s words. Betty agreed. I think they like being needed. As for additional staffing, I’d like to have two additional full-time cooks, a dishwasher, and someone to do food prep. I’d like two hosts and three servers. With this level of staffing, we should be able to cover all shifts.” I look at them in anticipation, hoping I’m not asking for too much.

Hannah and Killian look at each other, saying nothing. It’s like they’re reading each other’s mind.

“I think we can manage that,” Hannah says. “In addition to the guests here at the lodge, it looks like we’ll get a steady stream of customers from Bryce. We should be able to support that level of staffing.”

“We should have a grand opening event,” Killian says. “Make it a big deal. We can invite people from town.”

“Wonderful,” I say, feeling truly giddy. “I can’t wait to see it all come together.”