If she showed up in Knights Bridge again, that could change things.
Felicity did as promised and stayed just outside as Gabe made quick work of a search of her house. He was convinced no one had been inside. It wasn’t just drama on Felicity’s part, he knew. Nadia had behaved badly, lying and sneaking around, justifying her intrusiveness because of her own emotional pain. Her misplaced actions would only get her into real trouble if she didn’t come to terms with the big changes in her life.
“All clear,” Gabe said as he opened the door for Felicity. “Anything we need to get out of your car?”
“Nothing that can’t wait until morning, but we might as well get it over with.”
He followed her back to the Rover. All the badgers had gone home with guests, leaving just the empty box. There were a few other items to deal with—her laptop, binder, decorations and posters. Three trips and they were done.
“What’s your next event?” Gabe asked, opening the refrigerator.
Felicity plopped onto a chair at the table. “Let me enjoy pulling this one off before I think about the next one. Not that I haven’t been thinking about it. I mean now.”
“Good to take time to celebrate a great night.”
“It wasn’t my night. It was Kylie’s night.”
“Celebrate a job well done, then.”
She opened her mouth but shut it again before speaking. He pulled a bottle of champagne out of the fridge. “Where did that come from?” she asked.
“Imagine.”
“You sneaked it in here? That’s an expensive label. Did you buy it in town?”
“Boston,” he said, setting the bottle on the counter.
“In anticipation of a reason to celebrate?”
“Champagne is always correct.”
He got two glasses out of a cupboard and set them on the counter before opening the champagne. He filled the glasses and handed one to Felicity. She rose with it, nodded toward the living room. “Sit outside and drink champagne to the stars?”
“I was about to suggest that myself.”
“Uh-oh. We’re thinking alike.”
But he heard an odd note in her voice that he couldn’t pinpoint—whether she was being sarcastic, frank, funny, hopeful. He let it go and followed her out to the deck.
“Let’s not light any candles or turn on any lights,” she said softly next to him.
He slipped into the living room and kitchen and turned off any interior lights. He went back out to the deck and stood next to Felicity, turned to her to click glasses with a simple “cheers.” They leaned on the rail, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. The stars were out, spread across the night sky in sharp relief, as bright as he’d anticipated they’d be.
“No moon tonight,” he said. “It’s beautiful out here at night.”
“You don’t do much stargazing these days?”
“Even if I took the time for it, the stars wouldn’t be as amazing in Boston or San Diego as they are here.”
“It’s a good spot,” Felicity said, picking up her champagne again.
“I didn’t pay much attention to the stars when I was growing up here.”
“Neither did I. We didn’t know what we were missing.”
“We didn’t know what we had,” he said.
She let out a deep breath. “Heavy, Gabe. Damn.”
“Stars and bubbly bring out the Yoda in me.”
But he couldn’t quite make his attempt at humor sound genuine or stick, and he settled for drinking his champagne in silence next to Felicity.
“Will you go back to Boston in the morning?” she asked after a while.
“I don’t have a set schedule. I didn’t expect to be back here so soon. Justin Sloan offered me a room at Red Clover Inn if I end up staying longer. They haven’t started renovations. They’re still working on the plans. He says the rooms are in good working order.” He paused, finished the last of his champagne. “I don’t want to be underfoot here.”
“Whisking me off to swim in my undies isn’t conducive to getting work done.”
“Can’t beat it for a break on a summer day.”
“Not unless you get me arrested. Well, since you don’t have a plan, we can worry about tonight. I say we plan on pancakes and sausage at Smith’s in the morning.”
“Works for me.”
She yawned. “Champagne and post-event wind-down are taking their toll. I’m turning in. Thanks for the help with the party.” She angled a smile at him. “Swimming today was fun. A little well-chosen rule-breaking once in a while is good for the soul.”
Gabe let her go without a word. He didn’t know why, except that he hadn’t the vaguest idea what to say—which also troubled him. He might say the wrong thing but he always said something.
He walked down to the river in the dark, without the benefit of a flashlight. The stars helped but not as much as a full moon would have. He jumped onto a boulder that jutted into the water. He used to come out here as a boy. His parents never noticed, or if they had, they’d never said anything. Normal in their world, a kid slipping down to the river in the dark.
A different time if not a different place, he thought, watching bats swoop in the sky above the river, against the stars. If he had any sense, he’d head to Red Clover Inn now, before it got too late and he risked waking Justin and Samantha.
But when had he ever had any sense, at least here on the river?
He dipped a toe in the water, the river swifter and colder here than at the swimming hole. He could feel the air turning, a front moving in that would lead to cooler, dryer air. In Boston, he’d be—doing what? He didn’t even know. Having drinks with friends, maybe. Flirting with pretty women. Thinking about life back in Knights Bridge. His grandfather in assisted living, his brother and his wife looking forward to their new baby. His father, working on his old motorcycles. Friends. Family. Where did Felicity fit in?
He looked behind him, up the steep bank toward the house. Her house. But wasn’t
