The door closed with a click and Doug turned the lock. The apartment felt suddenly very quiet, too quiet, and he picked up the remote and cranked the volume on the television, but it didn’t help.
His brother was good company, but the truth was that the only person that Doug enjoyed chatting with these days was Gabby Conway. He’d always liked chatting with her—or arguing, if one might call it that. It fired him up, got his blood pumping, excited him in a way that he hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since high school, really.
He shook his head, slid his fork through his lasagna, and took a big bite.
He’d gotten used to spending time with a woman these past few days. And that was probably something he shouldn’t turn into a habit.
He’d just need to get out more. Be amongst the land of the living. Remind himself that he wasn’t completely alone. But that he was most certainly better off not sharing his life.
Chapter Seven
On Thursday evening, Gabby closed up her shop and let herself into the door beside it, before hurrying up the long flight of stairs to her apartment on the top floor above Sweet Stems. She had spent too much time helping a kind, older gentleman pick out flowers for his wife for their anniversary, and now she had about ten minutes to change and get ready before making it to the Carriage House Inn in time to meet her sisters for a midweek dinner.
Jenna usually ran late with her piano lessons, and Brooke could be held up by a client. Gabby hoped to snag the best table before things filled up, as they were known to do, especially during the summer months when tourism was at an all-time high, even during the weekdays.
Her apartment was small, but cozy, with creamy white walls and pops of color in her throw pillows on her blue sofa and all-white bed. She rummaged through her closet, wishing that Brooke still lived in the little apartment over her shop so that she could borrow something—but Brooke was back to living with her husband, of course, and now Jenna had recently taken the apartment instead. After nearly six years in New York and a fashion career under her belt, Brooke could always be counted on to look stunning wherever she went, and even better, she was always happy to share her closet. Other than close proximity, the same could not be said for Jenna, who was happy in casual attire or overly formalwear reserved for her concerts or other performances.
Gabby exchanged the cotton sundress she’d worn all day for cropped jeans, a white cotton top, and her favorite gold metallic sandals. With a quick comb of her hair and a touch of lip gloss, she was back down the stairs again, tapping out a text to her sisters just as one appeared on the screen.
It was Brooke. Stuck at work. Running ten minutes late. Oh, and did she know that Jenna couldn’t make it? A make-up piano lesson for a student who had been sick last week.
No, Gabby had not known this, and she was disappointed that her youngest sister would be absent, but still, she was happy to use the time to discuss Candy and some other clients that she shared with Brooke. Gabby had the impression that this kind of talk made Jenna feel left out, even though she was sometimes asked to play piano at a wedding ceremony.
Gabby took the side entrance to the pub, bypassing the front lobby entrance of the Carriage House Inn, and was dismayed to see that it was already filling up. She considered sending another text to her sister, suggesting they meet at the Yacht Club instead, but there would be no way they’d get a table on such a gorgeous summer night at the waterfront restaurant, especially not at this time of evening. Firefly Café would be equally busy with their lakeside deck, but Amelia had been known to “find” a table for her in the past.
Gabby considered this for a moment until she remembered that Candy now worked at the café nearly full time.
She kept her eye on the dining room of the pub as she made her way to the bar, just as a couple was sliding off their stools. Perfect! She hopped onto one, tossed her bag on the other, and grinned with satisfaction. Until she saw the man sitting next to her.
None other than Doug Monroe. And from the amused look on his face, he’d witnessed the entire thing.
“I didn’t realize you would be so eager to see me!” His eyes seemed to twinkle.
She gaped at him. “I…I…I just…” She could feel the heat flare in her cheeks as she struggled to find a diplomatic response.
Fortunately, he started to laugh. “I’m joking. Obviously, this is a surprise for us both.”
A pleasant one? She had to admit that she didn’t exactly feel as fired up as she normally did when she caught that smirk. Besides, he had helped her out last weekend, and she still hadn’t properly thanked him for it, either.
“I’m waiting for my sister Brooke, but she’s running late,” she explained. She eyed his beer, which was almost finished. “I owe you a drink anyway.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “I would have thought by your notion of romance that the man should do the buying.”
She swallowed hard, laughing nervously. “Well, this isn’t a date, and there’s nothing romantic between us. I just wanted to say thank you, for last weekend.”
He didn’t argue with her but just gave a little knowing smile. “I don’t share my cake with just anyone, you know.”
She felt her cheeks flush again, only this time at his words, not hers.
Jackson was behind the bar, and he came over, a look of obvious interest passing through his eyes when he glanced from her to Doug and back again.
The
