“That was some other kindergartener. I was a model student.”
He laughed, relaxing visibly as their pie orders arrived. Chocolate cream for him, fresh raspberry for her. “I’m sorry about Nadia,” Gabe said again. “I can’t explain her. She’s never behaved this way before.”
“She’ll say she’s just curious about Knights Bridge and means no harm. She told me she hadn’t realized Knights Bridge existed when she lived in Massachusetts.”
“That I can understand,” Gabe said with a slight grin.
“One of its charms,” Felicity said. “I suppose it’s more on the map these days with the new ventures and various goings-on. Kylie had mixed feelings about having her book party here, but I think it’s a great choice.”
“It’ll be fine,” Gabe said, if only to reassure her. He pointed his fork at her pie. “Local raspberries?”
Felicity nodded. “From out by the Sloan farm.”
“No wonder you skipped lunch. You were planning ahead.”
She grinned at him. “Imagine that.”
“No offense intended.”
“None taken.”
“You haven’t lost your spontaneous spirit, have you?”
“I work hard but I’m not a grind. What about you?”
“What do you think?”
“A challenge.” He dipped into his chocolate cream pie. “As perfect as I remember. It’s been years since I had Smith’s chocolate cream pie.”
“A good thing you were in the mood for chocolate. This was the last piece of raspberry pie. I’d have hated to have to fight you for it.”
“I’d have let you have it,” Gabe said.
Felicity raised an eyebrow. “Without a struggle, huh?”
“Smith’s chocolate cream pie after a day that included a meeting with my accountant and Nadia sneaking into town isn’t a bad thing.”
“Barring dietary restrictions, Smith’s chocolate cream pie is never a bad thing.”
Gabe looked downright nostalgic as he sampled the pie. “I picked the right day to spirit you off to lunch,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I had simple homemade pie with an old friend.”
“Longtime friend,” Felicity said. “Not old.”
He laughed. “I stand corrected.”
“Remember when we thought thirty was ancient?”
“I still might think that.”
“Is there anything you haven’t accomplished that you set out to accomplish at thirteen?” she asked him.
“Not at thirteen. Then I was all about getting out of Knights Bridge and making a fortune. Later, though.” He paused, swirling his fork into more of the creamy chocolate. “I have a number of things I haven’t accomplished by now that I set out to. What about you?”
“My train jumped the tracks, remember?”
“You just needed to make a course correction.”
“I never saw a party with little stuffed badgers in my future, but I’m glad there is one. You shifted to me too fast. What else is on your revised list? Besides making your next million.”
“Marrying you.”
“Ha. Funny. On your current revised list, not on the guilt-ridden list the morning after you seduced me at eighteen.”
“I could argue who seduced whom, but I won’t.” He pointed his fork at her. “You have a raspberry hiding under your whipped cream.”
“I’m saving it for last.” She smiled at him. “See? I’ve learned to save.”
“I never doubted you.”
“There are actually two raspberries hiding under the cream. Do you want one? I’ll share.”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Felicity saw he wasn’t oblivious to the undercurrents of their conversation. Not that either of them had taken any pains to be subtle. He insisted on paying for lunch. “Least I can do since you’re putting me up,” he said.
“For how long?”
“Let’s see what happens, shall we?” He smiled in that heart-stopping, sexy Gabe way. “One of the perks of having sold my business. I’m not on a tight schedule. I have time.”
Nineteen
Gabe sat in the shade on Felicity’s deck while she got ready for tonight’s party. He had misgivings about his abrupt return to Knights Bridge but, so far, no regrets. It might not be the easiest attitude to explain, but he was good with it.
He’d feel better if he had a true fix on what Nadia was up to. He considered checking with her ex-husband, but he doubted that would get him anywhere—and it would be inappropriate. David Ainsworth was brilliant and could be incredibly charming, but the guy was a soul-sucking narcissist who’d dropped Nadia when he no longer needed her. He’d made sure she believed it was her fault he was gone. He’d had her convinced she hadn’t been supportive enough. She’d been too preoccupied with her own career. She didn’t share his interests.
All nonsense.
Gabe had never gotten involved with their personal lives, but he’d worked with Nadia long enough and knew David well enough to have seen what was going on.
Felicity joined him on the deck. She’d put on a simple dress for the evening in the same shade of green as her eyes. “You look comfortable,” she said.
He smiled. “I’m getting lazy. I haven’t worked a full schedule in weeks.”
“It’s good to relax.”
“I thought I might stop by Mark and Jess’s before the party, but I’ll see them tomorrow.”
“It’s nice she and Olivia are having babies so close to each other,” Felicity said. “Marriage, babies, Knights Bridge. Does that thought give you hives?”
Gabe grinned at her. “Only a few. You? Not Knights Bridge, obviously.”
“Marriage, babies?” She sat across from him at the table. “Haven’t thought too much about them.”
He gave her a skeptical look.
She snorted. “It’s true!”
“Been too busy, huh?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. I have a lot going on with the house and work.”
Gabe stretched out his legs, enjoying the breeze and the sounds of the river. “You didn’t buy the house because you’ve given up on marriage?”
“I don’t see how there’s a cause and effect there. You’ve bought multiple properties. Have you given up on marriage?”
“They were investments.”
“But you lived in them,” she said. “That makes them homes, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t know. Does it?”
“Now you’re getting serious,” she said lightly. “I suppose there’s a difference between a place to live and a true home. This place was special for you and your family when you were growing up. I always felt that when I was here as a kid. It’s different now.”
“It’s a wonder
