Page 22 of Tattered and Torn

“We’ll be doin’ a lot of walking at the farmers market. You should eat a decent breakfast before we go.” I nod to the empty chair across from mine. “You might as well join me, if you have time.”

“How can I resist?” she asks, clearly teasing me. “I’ll go grab a plate.”

Gabrielle goes to the buffet and makes herself a plate, grabs a cup of coffee, and joins me. I watch her fingers as she spreads butter on her toast, then some strawberry preserves.

She takes a neat bite and smiles. “Mm. You can’t beat good ol’ toast with butter and jam.”

I find myself staring at her mouth as she chews. I like the way she chews. Kind of dainty and feminine. I find myself staring at her lips.

Tammy stops at our table and grins at me. “Can I get you folks anything from the buffet? More coffee?”

“Not me,” I say. “I’m good.”

Gabrielle politely covers her mouth as she swallows a bite of food and smiles. She shakes her head.

“She’s good,” I say.

“You guys got plans this morning?” Tammy asks.

Gabrielle takes a sip of her coffee. “We’re going to the farmers market.”

“Together?” Tammy asks. She eyes me curiously. “Really?”

“Yes.” I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s just a farmers market. It’s not like we’re going out for a movie and dinner. It’s not a date. It’s a supply run.

“Well, have fun.” With a chuckle, Tammy moves on.

I scan the room and notice there are more than a few eyeballs directed our way. People are staring at us. “People act like they’ve never seen me eat with someone,” I mutter.

“I’m sorry, what?” Gabrielle asks.

“Nothing.” I shake myself mentally.

After we finish eating, Gabrielle runs upstairs to her apartment to get her purse. I pull the truck up to the front entrance to wait for her. I should be bored out of my mind by the idea of going to a farmers market, but I’m not. I’m happy to spend time with Gabrielle.

I’m sitting behind the wheel waiting for her when Killian walks up to my driver’s door and knocks on my window. I roll it down.

“You headin’ out?” he asks.

“Yeah. I’m taking Gabrielle to the farmers market.”

He winks at me. “Don’t have too much fun.”

I don’t see the humor. “I’m just driving her.”

Gabrielle comes out the front doors, jogs over to the truck, and climbs up into the front passenger seat. “Hi, Killian,” she says. Her cheeks are pink, and she’s a bit breathless. She hurried.

Killian pats my door. “Have fun, you two.”

I put the truck in reverse and back out of the parking space. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”

Gabrielle smiles and shrugs. “They’re just being friendly, I guess.”

I notice she changed clothes. Earlier, she was wearing khakis and a polo shirt, but now she’s got on a cream-colored floral dress, a white lacy sweater, and sandals. The braid is gone, and her hair is hanging loose in soft curls past her shoulders. She’s wearing large gold hoop earrings, and I think she even put on a bit of eye make-up and lip gloss. She looks—wow. Suddenly, I feel very underdressed.

“You look nice,” I say, and immediately I feel stupid for saying it. She always looks nice.

“Thanks.” She turns to face me. “You look nice, too.”

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