Gabriel made a show of glancing at his watch. “Twenty minutes ago.”
“We’ll put out an extra chair.” Jaden fished his cell phone out of his pocket.
“Hold on there. No need to make this visit official. My plane’s still running.” He motioned in the general direction of the private airstrip he’d flown into.
Daniel and Jaden exchanged glances as though the looks were like secret handshakes to a club Gabriel didn’t belong to.
What was he getting all sentimental about? He didn’t even want to be in the married club.
“Seriously,” Jaden started, “You might learn something if you stay.”
“I’m not interested in popping that cherry anytime soon.” Gabriel forced a smile, pretending the comments weren’t affecting him. Or was it thinking about Kinsley again that had him off balance? He hadn’t thought of her in years, hadn’t seen her in fourteen to be exact.
“Why ruin a perfect record?” he said with a wink. He was perfectly happy with the life he’d built. Looking at the happiness on his friends’ faces did hit him in a strange place. It also reminded him of Kinsley and that was such a long time ago.
“Suit yourself,” Daniel responded.
“I’d like to meet the woman who was able to get Daniel Damon in that getup.” Gabriel made a show of pointing out Daniel’s suit.
‘I’d rather be wearing shorts and flip-flops while taking that vow instead of this thing.” Daniel motioned toward his light gray blazer.
Gabriel appreciated the break in tension. Thinking about relationships had his shoulder muscles pulling taut.
“The woman responsible for this getup will be walking down that path in,” Daniel checked his watch, “About five minutes.”
Gabriel was already scanning the area for an exit. Going back the same way he came was like drinking from an unknown water source two times in a row, perfect conditions for an alligator attack. An alligator always watched the first time and struck the second. And just like trying to avoid an alligator, Gabriel had to stay on the move and switch up his locations in order to stay safe.
“There’s room on the team for you here, man. If you decide to plant your feet somewhere.” Jaden seemed to realize that Gabriel was already marking his exit path.
Gabriel had no plans to divulge exactly how deep a trough of shit he currently stood in. It wouldn’t do any good for anyone to know because they’d want to help and all that would do was bring a whole mess of misery to their doorsteps. Both of his friends deserved better. “Maybe in the future. I’d bring too much heat right now.”
Jaden barked a laugh. “You think we don’t know how to handle a hot stove?”
Gabriel’s gaze darted from Jaden to Daniel. Gabriel hadn’t wanted to do that. He didn’t want to remind Daniel of the past on the day he was beginning a new future, a bright future from what Gabriel could see.
“You’re welcome here anytime.” Daniel would never turn down someone he considered family. The kind of work they’d done in the past relied on being a brotherhood and the three of them were thick as thieves.
A strange tension crept in. Gabriel figured he needed to lighten the mood. “I don’t know about picking peaches all day, man. My hands aren’t all that delicate.”
Daniel laughed but Orchard folded his arms across his chest. “What does everyone have against a peach orchard? They do well in this part of Texas. And being here makes my wife happy.”
“Careful, Orchard. Or everyone will believe you’re going soft.” Gabriel teased.
Daniel broke out laughing at that one.
Out of the corner of Gabriel’s eye he saw a woman coming toward them with a blue bundle in her arms.
“Speaking of your wife.” Gabriel motioned behind Jaden.
He turned and Gabriel caught sight of the smile that broke out on his friend’s face. Wives and babies were fine for people like Jaden and Daniel. Gabriel wasn’t in the market for a family no matter how much seeing the duo tugged at his heart strings. Of course, it would. No one could see something that innocent—a bundle of pureness—and not be impacted. Or at least that’s the lie he told himself as he tried not to think about the cold caverns in his own heart.
“Gabriel, meet my wife, Lauren,” Jaden said. His voice dropped as she neared once he saw the worried expression on her features. She had on a teal dress that made her fiery red hair stand out all that much more. She was a beautiful lady.
“You married up,” Gabriel whispered to Jaden as he threw an elbow into Jaden’s ribs.
Lauren must’ve heard because she smiled even though it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Everything okay?” Jaden asked.
“I couldn’t find you and your cell kept ringing.” Lauren glanced a small nod of acknowledgement at Gabriel. Whatever she had to say must be important because she didn’t strike him as the type to blow off a first meeting with one of Jaden’s friends. Especially not one who went as far back as the two of them.
Gabriel turned to Daniel. “I should go.”
Daniel’s hand came up to stop him, but he didn’t speak. His gaze was intent on whatever it was Lauren had to say to her husband.
“Who called?” Jaden asked. His tone dropped an octave. It was subtle but Gabriel had learned to pick up on the small details, the small shifts in order to read people and what they were really trying to say. It was most likely protective instinct that had Jaden on hyper alert. He had a wife and child to think about now and their pasts could come back on them at any time. Gabriel’s seemed a little more intent on pinpointing his location and taking him out.
Being alone meant that an enemy could only hurt him. He had no family that could be used as weapons against him.
Not so for Jaden. The man had a lot to lose and Gabriel understood why both Jaden and Daniel had walked away from their old
