Page 9 of Guiding Little Gabi

As if he had her on the phone, he spoke aloud. “If you’ve made up your mind to leave, you can just unmake it, little girl. I know I messed up, but don’t you worry. Daddy’s going to fix everything.”

If she thought she could put him off by not answering his calls, she was mistaken. He’d keep calling as long as it took. It was going to be all right.

One glance at the clock told him she should be at the office already. A pain sliced through his chest at the realization he might he too late. It wasn’t unusual for her to run late, but it was now almost eight o’clock and he’d neither seen nor heard anything from her. What if she really had moved on?

The rattling of the front door caught his attention. Finally. It was about time she decided to do her job. He might no longer qualify as a good Daddy, but he could damn sure be a good boss.

Storming down the hall, he entered the foyer, guns blazing. “You listen to me, little girl. When I pay you to be here at a certain time, I expect you to be here. Even on a Monday.”

The squeal that met his ears wasn’t from Gabi. Lovie Reese, who was his paralegal, and her Daddy, Law, both glared at him.

Law didn’t wait for him to explain. “What the fuck, Raleigh? Who the hell are you screaming at because it’s scaring my Little girl here. You want to take it down a few notches?”

“Yes, of course. Lovie, I’m sorry. I thought you were Gabi. Do you have any idea why she’s running late today? I’ve been trying to reach her for days, but she’s not answering her phone. I’m starting to get worried.”

Lovie’s rounded eyes weren’t a good sign. She glanced at Law, who shrugged and said, “You need to tell him.”

First Reid, now Lovie and Law… why did it feel like he was the only one who’d missed the memo? “Tell him what? I mean, me. Tellmewhat?”

“Oh, um… well, actually, I thought you knew.”

He continued to stare at her blankly because he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.

Lovie took in his gaze and nodded. “Right. She was talking to Vivi at the coffee shop. Gabi had been crying and told me she’d asked for time off this week and that you knew about it. She went to some ranch, I think. I don’t know much about it. But you may want to talk to Vivi.”

As Lovie spoke, the phone rang. His caller ID showed it was Books-N-Brews. “Hold on, this is Vivi now. Thanks, Lovie.”

He talked to Vivi. His gut clenched when she told him someone would be calling to check Gabi's reference.

He had his answer then. Gabi was leaving Darling. Leavinghim. Without giving him a chance to explain. His chances had run out.

Lovie came in with a steaming hot cup of coffee. “Lovie, you’re a godsend. I need to?—”

His phone rang again, interrupting him. He saw it was from an unknown number, but given Vivi’s call, he decided to answer.

“Stevens and Associates, Raleigh Stevens, speaking. Can I help you?”

“I certainly hope so, Mr. Stevens.”

“Call me Raleigh. Mr. Stevens makes me feel like my father. What can I do for you?”

“My name is Derek Hawkins, and I own a resort in western Montana called Rawhide Ranch. We have a guest named Gabrielle Schwindler staying with us this week. I find myself in need of checking her references more thoroughly.”

References? Raleigh’s heart stuttered with dread. Was Gabi setting up a new life? Without him. If people were calling about references, did that mean she was already trying to get a job somewhere else?

“I spoke with Ms. Vivi Goodman. Gabi used her as a reference. However, when I called her this morning, she felt it might be more productive for me to speak with you.”

It killed him to do it, but he told the man what he obviously wanted to know. Not that it would do him any good because he was going to wherever this cowpoke ranch was and bringing his Little girl back home. “Gabi has worked for me for the past four years. She started as my receptionist and worked her way up to being my personal assistant. She’s done an excellent job.”

A bit of a stretch, but it was the least he could do since she’d uprooted her life and left the only home she’d ever known. All to get away from him.

Derek heaved a deep sigh. “That’s what I was afraid of. It’s a shame.”

Wait. What was this guy talking about?

Derek continued speaking. “Well, thank you for your time, Raleigh. That was all I needed.”

“Hold on. I said she did a great job, yet you sound disappointed. I’m confused.”

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