Page 37 of Out of the Cold

“I’ll call you. No more unannounced visits.”

He hadn’t blushed in about twenty years, but it was possible he was now. He headed for the door without another word, muffin in hand.

“Gabriel.”

He stopped and turned back around.

“Whatever happened that had you so upset yesterday, I’m sorry about it.”

He walked back to his cabin and let himself in, barely conscious of his surroundings. The pressure in his chest was there again, worse than ever, because he’d wanted to tell her. She was kind, and he knew instinctively she’d listen.

But he didn’t want kindness. He didn’t deserve it.

It wouldn’t have mattered even if he did, because he didn’t have the words to tell her.

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Chapter Eight

Lucy looked at theflyer on her refrigerator for the zillionth time that day and considered whether to go to today’s library event talk. She’d skipped last week’s talk because she was afraid Gabriel would be there, and she still wasn’t sure if that was self-preservation or cowardice.

Possibly a bit of both, but mostly cowardice, especially since Gabriel probably didn’t even go. She was pretty sure he was avoiding her, too.

She wasn’t going to sit home today, though. She’d been looking forward to this ever since she picked up the flyer, so she hopped in her car and headed for the library and the Meet Your Local Raptors discussion.

Like nearly every other structure in town, the library looked like a cabin—an expensive modern cabin, with big windows and lots of light.

There was a good crowd and most of the seats were already full, so her only choices were to stand in the back through the entire thing or sit in the front row. She slid into the first row and hoped the speaker wouldn’t call on her.

Hector Diaz, the bookstore owner, took the seat next to her.

“Lucy, nice to see you,” he whispered.

“You, too.”

She could feel an excitement in the room that matched her own. Kids and adults alike were looking around, waiting for the hawks and peregrine falcons and maybe even an eagle if they were lucky. For the first time since she’d arrived in Jeffrey, she felt like she belonged.

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