“Marty Colton?”
“On his way to Knights Bridge, according to Nadia. It’s a surprise visit.”
Russ didn’t strike Gabe as a guy who liked surprises, but a visit from his brother to his new home, to celebrate his wife’s latest book, might be an exception.
Gabe didn’t much like surprises, either.
He hoped Nadia was sleeping off jet lag and getting her head screwed on straight.
* * *
Shannon greeted two electricians and showed them to whatever they needed to do. Gabe finished his cold-brew coffee, but after that, he didn’t know what to do with himself. Drive out to find Nadia at her grandmother’s house and have a word with her? Call her? Was she trying to provoke him into contacting her? At this point was negative attention better than no attention?
A lot of questions for which he had no answers. He had no playbook for her behavior.
He took the elevator down to the garage and got in his car.
Out on the street, traffic whizzed past him. A knot of middle-aged men and women—obviously tourists—stood at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. The sky was clear, the air still and dry, in the upper seventies. In truth, he had a thousand things he could do. Needed to do. Why was he letting Nadia get under his skin?
Who was he kidding? That was an easy one. “It’s because of Felicity,” he said under his breath.
He called Shannon, who picked up on the first ring. “Where are you?” she asked.
“Heading to Storrow Drive in two minutes. You haven’t heard from Nadia, have you?”
“Not since you left here. What’s that been, ten minutes? Do you want me to check?”
“Yes.”
A few seconds elapsed while, presumably, Shannon checked her messages. “Nothing. Why, do you think she’s watching you?”
“No, but I don’t like her behavior.” He left it at that. “I got an invitation to the party for a new badger book, didn’t I?”
“A what? Oh, right. The Badgers of Middle Branch series. Yes, as a matter of fact, you did. It’s a lovely paper invitation. It arrived yesterday. The party is on Friday at the Knights Bridge public library. You were just in Knights Bridge. I assume you want me to decline on your behalf?”
“No. Accept.”
“Okay.” She sounded dubious. “I thought you were going to travel, do something fun. Go to... I don’t know. Wyoming, right? Isn’t that next?”
“Maybe. It’ll keep for now.”
“Okay, it’s your life. Do you want me to book lodging for you in Knights Bridge, or will you be back here by nightfall—”
“I’ll take care of lodging,” he said, doing his best to dismiss an image of Felicity sitting next to him on the blanket in front of the fire, the river coursing down through the trees on a warm summer night.
“Gabe?”
“All set, Shannon. Thanks.”
He returned to the parking garage and headed back up to his condo.
Shannon eyed him dubiously. “I’m heading home. You’re not leaving tonight, are you? You have an appointment with your accountant in the morning. I’ve postponed it twice.”
He’d forgotten. Of course. “Right. I’ll be there.”
“Do you need me to make you dinner reservations for tonight?”
“I’ll go for a walk later and grab something.”
She smiled. “It’s a beautiful evening. Enjoy.”
“Thanks. You, too.”
She left, and a few minutes later, the electricians took off. Gabe ducked into his bedroom to pack. It was his second-least favorite part of traveling. Least favorite was unpacking. He got out his duffel bag and set it on his bed. Should he tell Felicity he was on his way? Just show up? She was organizing the book-launch party. Shannon was sending an RSVP on his behalf. Felicity would put two and two together.
Would she let him stay with her again? Did he want to?
He stood straight, taking a breath as he tried to quiet the questions his mind was throwing at him. He wouldn’t be staying with his brother. That much he knew. Jess might be over the worst of her morning sickness, but he’d still be underfoot. They’d told him they’d love to have him stay with them anytime—“My barfing isn’t that bad,” Jess had told him before he’d left, not getting that he didn’t want to disturb her, not the other way around.
Olivia’s inn wasn’t open to drop-in overnight guests—it wasn’t that kind of inn—but she and Dylan would put him up if he asked. But he wouldn’t ask. They had a baby on the way, too.
One of the Sloans?
Justin Sloan and his new wife, Samantha, were in the process of renovating Red Clover Inn, a sprawling, traditional inn located just down the street from Smith’s. Once it reopened in a few months, it would be a great place to stay while in the area. Gabe didn’t know Samantha, but he and Justin had always gotten along. Even if the inn wasn’t open to the public yet, they’d probably let him stay in one of the rooms.
Eric Sloan would let him sleep on his couch. Mark had an unoccupied apartment at Moss Hill that Gabe could borrow.
Hell, he could stay with his father and help him tinker with his vintage motorcycles.
Gabe walked over to the windows and looked out at the city he loved. He wasn’t fooling himself. He had many options but only one place he wanted to stay. He got out his phone and texted Felicity: Okay if I camp out in your guest room again tomorrow night?
I just heard from your assistant. You’re coming to Kylie’s party. Why?
Sounds like fun.
You were just here. Fast turnaround. When do you arrive?
Afternoon.
There was nothing more for a full two minutes. Finally her response popped up on his screen: I’ll leave the key by the gutter on the deck if I’m not here. Russ has me locking up.
Because of Nadia, he thought. But it was a good idea in general.
Thanks. See you tomorrow.
I put clean sheets on the bed.
Setting boundaries? Gabe decided not to go there. Great.
Safe travels.
* * *
Gabe didn’t have a detailed plan—he didn’t have much of a plan at all—but he had no
