Page 60 of Tattered and Torn

“Oh, good news. Killian gave me the keys to the spare Jeep today. I went into town to buy groceries from Maggie and the filets from Ed. And speaking of food, I presented my menu to Hannah and Killian this morning. They liked it. They also approved my staffing requests. Killian suggested we have a grand opening when the renovations are complete. They’ll invite everyone in town.”

“Of course, they liked your plans. They’re lucky to have you, Gabrielle. I hope you realize that.” I head for the fridge. “What would you like to drink? I have water, beer, wine, and soft drinks.”

“White or red?”

“Red. Would you like a glass? It’s not anything fancy. I bought it at the gas station in town.”

She nods. “Red wine would be a nice complement to the meal.”

“Coming right up.” I grab a wine glass from the cupboard. “Do you mind if I have a soft drink?”

“Of course not.”

“Well, as we’re having a fancy dinner, I wasn’t sure.”

“You can do whatever you want,” she says.

I grin. “If that’s the case, then let’s skip dinner altogether. I’m hungry, yes, but not necessarily for food.”

She laughs. “I think we can have both. I’m sure you’re starved after a long day’s ride. I think you should eat first.”

My stomach growls, proving her right.

“See? I told you. You slept over at my place last night. If you want, I can sleep over at yours tonight.” She looks almost hesitant, as if she’s not sure what I’ll say. Maybe she thinks she’s being presumptuous—she’s not.

I pull out a chair for her at the table. “I would love that.”

Halfway through dinner, I get an idea. “I have the next two days off. Would you be interested in riding up to Pine Lake with me for an overnight camping trip? Just the two of us. We can pitch a tent and sleep lakeside.”

Her eyes widen momentarily.

I can tell I took her by surprise. “What’s wrong? Is that too much roughing it for you? If you don’t want to—”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just—I’ve never camped before. I don’t know how to do it.”

I smile. “That’s fine. I know what to do.”

“You said ride up. You mean, on horseback?”

“It’s either we ride or we hike. There’s no way to get a vehicle up there—not even a four-wheeler. Our only other option would be to sweet-talk Micah into flying us up there on his chopper.”

She seems to be considering. “I can ride Odin?”

The hopeful expression on her face makes me smile. “Honey, as far as I’m concerned, Odin’s yours, anytime you want him.”

She cuts a small piece of her filet and pops it into her mouth. “Then let’s go camping.” She cuts a tiny potato in half and eats it. “We’ll be sleeping in the wilderness, under the stars where wolves, mountain lions, and bears live. What could possibly go wrong?”

* * *

After dinner, we clear the table and load the dishwasher. I glance out the kitchen window and see that night is falling quickly. “Would you like to sit out on the porch? It’s pretty peaceful this time of the evening.”

“Sure.” She pours herself a second glass of wine, and we go out to sit on the porch swing.

The sun is setting, and the sky is already a dark blue. The insects are out in full force, serenading us with their incessant chatter. The temperature has dropped a good ten degrees in the past hour, and it’s a bit chilly.

When Gabrielle shivers, I draw her close and put my arm across her shoulders.

“You should bring a jacket with you when you’re out in the evening. The temps here in the mountains can drop quickly. Do you want me to grab you a jacket?”

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