thought.
Gabrielle cleared her throat. “Tonight’s lecture is finished. Thank you all for coming,” she said, as she collected her notes from the podium in front of her.
“Daddy?”
Derek bent closer to his daughter. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
She nodded. “Tonight was more exciting than I thought it would be!”
At least she seemed unfazed.
“Tell me about you and Gabrielle,” Holly said, wide-eyed.
“Listen, I told you that Gabrielle and I were friends in high school. I’ll explain more to you later, but right now I need to talk to her and make sure she isn’t upset.”
Holly nodded, wise for her years. “Please do. I’m sure Grandpa didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.”
Derek gave his naive daughter a hug, then rose. “Dad? Take Holly home for me.”
“How will you get home? You drove here with us,” Holly reminded him.
Derek cupped her chin in his hand. “I can get a ride with somebody here. Don’t worry, okay?”
Holly shrugged. “Okay. But tell Gabrielle I said hello?”
“I will. I’m sure she’ll really appreciate it.” He kissed her forehead and placed her hand in her grandfather’s. “Take her home.”
“I only meant to protect our good name,” Hank said, his bluster gone.
With people still snickering around them, Hank seemed to realize he’d embarrassed himself, the family and Gabrielle.
“She was always a nice girl. I never meant-”
“I know.” Derek ran a hand through his hair. “Take Holly home. I’ll handle things here.” He’d done it before.
Like his cousins, Michael and Jason, Derek had spent most of his youth responding to kids making fun of his family-how they weren’t real men since they couldn’t hold on to a woman. When Derek couldn’t ignore the taunts any longer, he’d fought back. While he didn’t appreciate his father’s approach, he totally understood the reasons for it.
Derek watched his father wrap his arm around Holly’s shoulder and lead her out of the library, not pausing to talk to anyone.
He blew out a deep breath and made a beeline for Gabrielle. Her friends, Sharon and Richard Stern, had circled around her in protective fashion, preventing anyone from heckling her further.
Derek wasn’t just anyone. “Hi, Sharon.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Derek. Haven’t you and your family done enough? Wouldn’t it be smarter to just go home?”
“Give a guy a break. I just want to make sure she’s okay.” He gestured to Gabrielle by tipping his head toward her.
Sharon frowned, keeping her body between Derek and her best friend. Even in high school, she’d been Gabrielle’s protector, even though Gabrielle hadn’t needed anything of the sort. These two women had a bond the likes of which he’d never seen. Though Sharon had been friendly enough to him since his return, now that Gabrielle was back in town, Sharon left no doubt as to where her loyalty lay. She’d shown it tonight.
Still, he wasn’t about to let anyone dictate whether or not he could see Gabrielle. He and Sharon wanted the same thing-what was best for Gabrielle.
With a determined step, he strode around Sharon and came up behind Gabrielle. “Gabby?” he asked, calling for her attention.
She turned toward him.
He spoke before she could say a word. “I’m sorry for my father’s behavior.”
She waved off his apology, her expression warm despite the circumstances. “You aren’t responsible for what someone else does.”
It didn’t feel that way to him. “I tried to convince Dad to stay home.”
“His shotgun might have hurt less,” she said, laughing.
He stepped closer. “You’re really okay?”
She nodded. “Sticks and stones and all that. I’m tougher than I look. But thanks for asking.”
He nodded, knowing when to let something go. “Holly said to tell you she says hi. She was here, but I sent her home with my father.”
“I didn’t see her in the crowd.”
“She’s short.”
“I’m so sorry she heard all that.” Gabrielle sobered quickly.
Derek nodded in understanding. “She’s been through a lot, but she’s tough. She’ll deal with it. I’m more worried about whether I can handle her questions later,” he said, only half joking.
Gabrielle smiled. “I’m not an expert with kids, but she seems pretty smart to me.”
“Which is why I’ll have to do some fancy footwork in answering.” He couldn’t very well admit that Gabrielle was his first and only true love to his daughter.
She playfully tapped his face with her hand. “I’m sure you can handle it.”
He grinned, meeting her gaze. The heat smoldered, reminding him of their kiss earlier today. The one he’d promised himself he couldn’t repeat. But, man, how he wanted to.
“The room’s emptied out.” Sharon joined them, diffusing the sexual tension.
At least for the moment, Derek thought.
“I appreciate you running interference for me,” Gabrielle said to her friend.
Sharon nodded. “I invited you here to speak, not to get thrown to the wolves.” She scowled at Derek. “Can’t you control your father?”
He cocked his head to one side. “Would you believe me if I said I tried? Short of tying him up, there wasn’t much I could do.”
Gabrielle picked up her tote bag. “Let’s just go home and forget about it. Who’s walking out with me?”
“Richard and I came together, but I need to straighten up a few things and lock up before we can go,” Sharon said. “Besides, he’s busy talking to one of his campaign people.” She pointed to the corner, where her fiance remained deep in conversation with another man.
Derek had already decided he wasn’t going to leave without talking to Gabrielle alone.
“I’ll walk you out,” Derek said.
He needed to make sure she knew where things stood. He couldn’t rekindle a relationship with her no matter how much he desired her. She might not believe in curses. But he did.
SHARON DIDN’T HAVE TO straighten up her office tonight, but she did need to blow off steam before heading home. Besides, Richard wasn’t ready to leave yet, so she might as well make good use of the time.
“Ready to go?” Richard stepped into the room. Dressed immaculately in a suit and tie, he looked like the consummate politician. As he was handsome, as well as smart and compassionate, she thanked her lucky stars she’d found a man like him. Few women were offered second chances in life. This time she intended to get it right.
“I’m all set. Tonight was a huge success, wasn’t it? I think Gabrielle did a great job of making people think twice about believing in an old superstition.”
He stepped around her desk. Coming up beside her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and she snuggled closer.
Richard wasn’t into public displays of affection. He’d hold her hand or touch her back, but his reserve in public meant she had to take advantage of every chance for intimacy whenever they were alone.
“I think Gabrielle was great and I have you to thank for inviting her. But I think you were even better. The way you stood up for your friend-” he shook his head “-you did me proud.”
She smiled, pleased. “I just couldn’t believe Hank Corwin attacked her that way.”
“I’m glad to see you felt confident enough to do it.”
She didn’t want to talk about herself. “I’m just glad I could contribute to the cause.”
He smoothed his hand over the back of her hair. “We’re a team. It’s
