“And you were devastated?”
He frowned at any hint that he might not have been. “Of course. Has someone told you otherwise?”
“No. And believe it or not, I really don’t listen much to idle gossip. You’ve never given me any reason to believe you haven’t been completely honest with me.”
“And yet, I get the feeling you don’t entirely buy that I’m being honest now,” he said, heat rising in his voice despite his best effort to keep his temper under control.
Her gaze clashed with his. “Sorry, but you’re sounding an awful lot like a man who’s holding something back. Since I’ve all too recently dealt with a man who turned out not to be very candid, I’ll admit I don’t like it.”
Wade regarded her with shock. “You’re comparing me to that guy? What’s his name? Paul? Seriously?”
Even though he knew he was holding out on her, the idea that she would lump him in with that reprehensible jerk appalled him.
“I don’t deserve that,” he said bitterly. He was on his feet before she could respond. “I guess Louise was right about one thing. Coming here today was a really bad idea.”
He tossed some bills on the table, then took off.
“Wade!”
Though her voice carried to him, he ignored it. That was a lot easier than ignoring the guilt that was suddenly eating at his insides.
* * *
Gabi was still fuming as she left the Seaside Café and drove over to Castle’s. She stormed into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of tea, forced a smile for Jerry, then settled into the booth generally reserved for family. Two seconds later, Cora Jane appeared.
“How’d you even know I was here?” Gabi grumbled. Though she’d sought refuge right here under her grandmother’s nose, she’d hoped for a little longer to sort out her thoughts before having any conversation with the very perceptive Cora Jane.
“Jerry called me from the kitchen and said you rolled through there looking like a storm cloud,” Cora Jane said. “I have to say he got it about right. What’s on your mind?”
“Men!” Gabi said emphatically.
Cora Jane’s lips curved, but to her credit she managed to fight the smile and win. “Any particular man?”
Gabi drew in a deep breath and told her what had happened at lunch. “I was just trying to get things out in the open and he went crazy.”
“Crazy? Or was he just offended because you made it seem you didn’t trust him?”
“Well, I don’t trust him now, after he got all weird on me. What on earth is he hiding?” She gave Cora Jane a plaintive look. “Do you have any idea?”
“Not a glimmer,” Cora Jane said. “And I’m not the person to be asking.”
“That seems to be the general consensus, but the person with answers isn’t talking.”
“Give him some time to settle down, honey bun. If there’s something to tell, I have every faith that Wade will open up when he’s ready.”
“But I’m ready now,” Gabi protested. “I’m starting to like him, to let him in. What if that’s a huge mistake?”
“Does it feel like a mistake?”
“It didn’t until about an hour ago,” she said. “Now I have to wonder. All along I’ve thought his life was an open book, same as mine. Even when Sally hinted that might not be true, I didn’t entirely believe her.”
Cora Jane frowned. “This started with Sally?”
Gabi nodded. “She made an offhand comment, then immediately regretted it.”
“You so sure about that?”
Now it was Gabi’s turn to frown. “Meaning?”
“Was it a slip of the tongue or did she mean to stir the pot? How well do you know this woman?”
“Sally’s not like that,” Gabi protested, certain of that much at least.
“Do you know for a fact that there’s never been anything between her and Wade? Could she be a tiny bit jealous?”
“No,” Gabi said emphatically, then started to wonder. Did she really know that? Had Louise maybe tried to set them up at some point? It was something she might do. But would Sally deliberately try to sabotage the attraction between Gabi and Wade? Gabi honestly couldn’t see that. Sally had been pretty direct about not being interested in a relationship these days. Still, maybe those remarks had been for Gabi’s benefit, to keep her from guessing at an attraction that hadn’t worked out.
“Well, I can settle that much,” she told Cora Jane, taking out her cell phone and calling the artist. Confrontation might not have resolved much with Wade, but hopefully it would clear the air with Sally before Gabi started imagining nefarious schemes where none existed.
“Gabi, everything okay?” Sally asked at once.
“Can I ask you kind of an off-the-wall question?” Gabi said.
“Sure.”
“Were you ever involved with Wade?”
“What?” Sally said, her tone incredulous. “Never. Why on earth would you ask? Did he or Louise say something to suggest that we dated?”
“No.”
“Well, as good-looking and sweet as he is, I have no intention of getting involved with anyone at this moment,” she said, repeating her familiar refrain. “I’m just getting my own life on track.” She hesitated, then asked, “Is this about what I said to you earlier? Are you worried that I had some kind of ulterior motive?”
“I’m ashamed to say it crossed my mind,” Gabi told her. “Wade showed up and things got a little complicated over lunch, so now I’m second-guessing everything.”
“Well, that’s one worry you can put out of your mind. My only concern is for you. And I’m not even suggesting anything awful about Wade, just so you know. I’m just saying it sounds as if there are details you don’t have, that’s all. He’s a good guy, Gabi, quite likely even better than you realize.”
“Thanks, Sally. I hope I didn’t offend you.”
“No offense taken,” she assured Gabi. “I actually appreciate that you asked me directly, rather than making assumptions that could have hurt our friendship.”
“I’m glad I called, too,” Gabi told her.
“See you tomorrow,
