Lucky Charm

She tilted her head to one side. “How could I?” she mimicked his comment wryly, but kept a smile on her face. “Did I ever tell you what my favorite television show is?”

He narrowed his gaze. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s Survivor,” she said, ignoring his question. “Want to know why? The motto. Outwit, outplay, outlast. Something I happen to think I’m pretty good at.” She met his gaze with flashing determination.

He’d been warned. She wasn’t going to let the curse stand between them this time.

“Are you two coming? I already finished one doughnut!” Holly called from the other room.

“Did you even chew it?” he called back.

Gabrielle laughed. “Come on. If there’s not a chocolate doughnut left, there’ll be hell to pay.”

He led the way into the kitchen, thoughts of Gabrielle and chocolate dancing in his brain. He still smelled the scent when he breathed in, even before she’d shown up this morning.

“I wish I could stay and eat but I have an early appointment in town. I’d planned on grabbing coffee while I was there.”

“Where is your office, anyway?” Gabrielle asked.

“I rent a room at Englebert and Rowe, the law firm in town. They have all the office supplies I need, and since they had empty space, it was a win-win situation.”

Gabrielle nodded. “I understand. I should have called before showing up, anyway.”

“Can you stay and have doughnuts with me?” Holly asked Gabrielle, powdered sugar on her nose.

“I sure can. If your dad doesn’t mind?” She paused and glanced at Derek for permission.

He should mind. His daughter shouldn’t be bonding with Gabrielle any more than he should sleep with her again. “Of course I don’t mind if you stay.”

“Yes!” Holly pumped her fist in the air. “I want you to meet Fred.”

Gabrielle crinkled her nose in confusion. “Who’s Fred?”

“My father’s basset hound,” Derek said.

“He’s old and he smells like shi-”

Derek shot his daughter a warning glare.

“Shiitake mushrooms. He smells like shiitake mushrooms,” Holly said, giggling as if she had gotten away with the curse.

Derek groaned. Marlene was going to give him hell when she returned and discovered his daughter’s new vocabulary, courtesy of Hank.

“I’d love to meet Fred,” Gabrielle said.

Derek knew she meant it. He remembered that Gabrielle had always wanted her own dog, but her parents had never wanted the responsibility.

He’d intended to get her one for Christmas, their senior year. But then he’d talked to her parents. They’d been adamant about him waiting. He’d promised her a puppy one day…but then he’d come to his senses. His mother’s letter had reminded him about the ramifications of the curse and why he and Gabrielle couldn’t be together.

“Did you ever get a pet?” he asked her, knowing he was treading on sensitive ground.

She shook her head.

“Why not?” Holly asked. “Don’t you like dogs? You’ll like Fred. He’s a lazy bas-”

“Hey!” Derek admonished.

“Basset hound! He’s a lazy basset hound. Jeez, Dad, relax!”

Gabrielle laughed.

Derek’s face flushed hot. Time for him to go to work, he thought, before he made a bigger ass of himself.

“I never got a dog because it wouldn’t have felt right.” As Gabrielle spoke, she never broke eye contact with him, giving him a view into her soul.

After he’d left her, Derek had been selfishly focused on his own torment. He’d convinced himself that she’d move on and be better off without him. As her career had soared, he further patted himself on the back, reassuring himself he’d been right. But suddenly, in her eyes, he saw the pain he’d inflicted and accepted that the dreams he’d crushed hadn’t just been his own.

He swallowed hard, facing his actions for the first time. Then and now he wanted everything she had to offer. But he could give her nothing in return.

He needed air. Work was the perfect excuse. “You’ll like Fred. Just watch out for your shoes.”

“He likes to chew them, sometimes he even pees,” Holly said. “Grandpa says it’s a wonder he doesn’t poop there, too.”

“I’ll keep my shoes on.” Gabrielle curled her toes into her sandals.

“I’ve got to get going. Uncle Thomas is next door,” he told his daughter. “I was going to drop you off there, but Gabrielle can do it when she’s ready to leave. I’ll let him know you’ll be over a little later than planned, okay?”

She nodded.

“Your father isn’t around?” Gabrielle asked.

Derek caught the hopeful note in her voice.

“No, he’s out. It’s his week to do the grocery shopping,” Holly said.

In other words, she had no need to worry about the old man and his shotgun, Derek thought, but he didn’t say the words aloud.

He left his two best girls alone and headed out to work.

CHAPTER TEN

BY THE TIME GABRIELLE finished breakfast with Holly, she’d discovered just how precocious Derek’s daughter could be. As they walked across the land that separated the barn and the main house, Holly continued the inquisition she’d begun over the doughnuts.

“So have you ever been married?” Holly asked.

Gabrielle liked this question better than Were you in love with my father back in high school? It was young love, Gabrielle had said. And she much preferred this question to Are you in love with him now? He’s a really good guy even if he does snore. That one had stumped her and she’d deflected the question by focusing on the snoring instead of the love.

Did she love Derek?

Without a doubt.

Was that the same as them having a future? Not just yet. But she wasn’t going to let him walk away without fighting this time.

“Gabrielle, did you hear me? I asked if you’ve ever been married.” Holly nudged her with her elbow.

“Nope, never been married.” Grass connected the one large piece of property and Holly enjoyed skipping as they walked.

“Why not?”

Gabrielle glanced up at the warm sun in the cloudless sky. “Because no one I loved ever asked me,” she said honestly.

“Would you say yes if my dad asked?”

“You are a nosy one.” Gabrielle shook her head and laughed.

“That’s what my mom says, too.”

“I’d like to meet her one day.” Gabrielle was surprised to realize she wasn’t just saying it to be nice to Holly. She did want to meet Derek’s ex-wife.

Not only to get a better view into Derek’s past but to meet Holly’s mother. “I bet she’s a great lady. After all, she’s got a kid like you.”

Holly laughed. As they reached the house, the girl caught sight of Fred and ran toward him, leaving questions about Gabrielle loving Derek far behind. Thank God for the kid’s short attention span, Gabrielle thought.

“Gabrielle, come meet Fred!” Holly waved her over.