before releasing the makeshift weapon and letting it drop to the grass.
She was bent over, panting and laughing, while from behind them, Holly was giggling like he’d never heard before.
Gabrielle raised her head and glared at him, but he saw the beginnings of a grin on her face.
“I couldn’t help myself,” he said.
“I bet.” She stood up straight and pushed her wet hair off her face.
He took in her gym shorts and the T-shirt she’d borrowed from him for the occasion. The
He swallowed a groan, unable to think of anything except wrapping her in his arms, pulling her to the ground and making love to her right here, right now. And from the sultry look in her eyes, she knew exactly what he was thinking.
“Dad!”
Holly’s voice brought him to his senses.
“Yeah?” he asked, his gaze still focused on Gabrielle.
“Fred’s dry and he’s trying to get free. Can I let him go?” she asked.
He turned his gaze toward his daughter. “Why don’t you take him to Grandpa’s house, so he won’t get into any more trouble out here?” he suggested.
“Good idea. Then I’ll take my shower so we can go shopping!” She pulled on Fred’s collar and somehow got the dog to follow her toward the house.
Derek picked up a dry towel from the table and tossed it to Gabrielle, then grabbed one for himself.
Neither of the adults spoke on the way back to Derek’s. They didn’t need to. Holly did all the chatting for them. His daughter was happy and still laughing over Fred’s bath and her father’s unexpected fun side.
He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts. They’d all been comfortable with one another. They’d had fun. Holly was happy.
Somehow Fred’s hosing had become a
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TO DEREK, IT WAS OBVIOUS Gabrielle loved Target. She insisted they could find everything they wanted in one place, including food. They didn’t, however, which necessitated a trip to the local supermarket. But this was only after they’d loaded up the trunk with all the new clothes, hair accessories and DVDs Gabrielle and Holly had chosen.
Derek marveled at how quickly the time had passed in the store. Even more, how much fun he’d had shopping with Holly and Gabrielle. How often had Marlene asked him to join her on a shopping trip? Too often to count, and she hadn’t always been referring to sitting around the women’s department while she tried on clothes. As he’d made more and more money, she’d asked for his opinion on items for their new apartment, for Christmas presents for Holly, her parents and his. He’d always rejected the idea outright.
He’d thought his time could be better spent working, even on the weekends. In his job, he’d found an escape from reality-he hadn’t had to face the truth of his life. He’d abandoned the woman he loved, married a woman he didn’t and he wasn’t happy. All because of that damn curse. More than once today, he found himself struck by a twinge of guilt when he found himself enjoying the day.
The three of them strode to his SUV, Holly climbing into the backseat behind Derek, who was seating himself in the driver’s seat.
Gabrielle opened the door just as someone tapped her on the shoulder.
She gasped in surprise, then turned.
A young woman with her hair in a ponytail, wearing sunglasses, beige pants and a cream top stood before her.
“Yes?”
“Can I talk to you a minute?”
“Do I know you?” Gabrielle asked.
“Who is it?” Derek asked from inside the SUV.
She held up one finger to stall his question.
The young woman shook her head. “No, you don’t know me. I used to be Mary Perkins’s assistant before I quit. You’re Gabrielle Donovan, the author, right?”
Gabrielle nodded. She was glad she’d already opened the door and Derek was within hearing distance if she had to yell for help.
“How did you know I was here?” Gabrielle asked.
The woman glanced around warily. “I’ve been following you since you left the house this morning. I was just waiting for the right time to approach you.”
A chill raced through her and Gabrielle rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms. “What can I do for you?” This woman didn’t strike Gabrielle as a stalker, nor did Gabrielle think the woman wanted an autograph.
“It’s more what I can do for
She accepted it warily. “What is it?”
The woman shook her head. “You’ll see. I only ask one favor.”
Gabrielle tipped her head to one side. “What is it?”
“Forget you ever met me.” She started to walk away, then turned. “Good luck,” she whispered, then crossed the parking lot and disappeared behind a row of cars.
Gabrielle climbed into the SUV, shut her door and hit the door-lock button as quickly as possible.
“What was that all about?” Derek asked.
She inhaled a deep breath. “Just a fan,” she said pointedly to Derek, wanting to wait until Holly was out of earshot.
He nodded.
Meanwhile, she opened the note, but the only thing on the paper inside was a name.
A name she didn’t recognize.
SHARON TWISTED HER HANDS together. The closer she and Richard got to Tony’s apartment, the more nervous she became. It was one thing for her to stalk Tony from a distance. It was another to confront him, face- to-face, with her fiance by her side.
And that was Richard’s plan.
They still weren’t on the best of terms. His disappointment about what he called her lack of faith in him was clear. At the same time, she’d called their sex life and compatibility into question. Their issues were now, officially, out in the open.
But before they did anything else, they had to get to the bottom of the blackmail threat first. They could worry about whether they still had a relationship to save later.
When they got to the apartment and found nobody home, a neighbor helped them out by informing them she’d just seen the entire family depart for the playground behind the building. Sharon and Richard headed there next.
Sharon slowed as they approached the chain-link fence that surrounded a swing set. Mothers gathered around their toddlers, and a couple sat together on the bench by the sandbox.
“Tony,” she whispered, pointing to the bench.
“That’s him?”
She nodded.
Richard started forward, but Sharon placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Wait.”
“Don’t you want to confront him?” Richard asked, appearing confused.
“Of course I do. But
