Page 76 of Visions of You

Gabe

The sun was wellabove the eastern horizon as I strolled toward the Big House, in a much better frame of mind than yesterday. Miguel was back at work, and I intentionally left my day unscheduled in an effort to make up for the stress of yesterday.

I raised my head and smiled as the warm air bathed my face. Last night, I’d put Hailey to bed and was lying in my bedroom thinking over the day for the thousandth time.

And worrying whether April was still okay. What if delayed symptoms had set in? What if something was wrongright this second?

I needed to see her. To touch her. I texted her and asked if she would come up the hill. Relief poured off me in waves at her quick reply. Minutes later, April was at my door, and I practically dragged her to my bedroom. I couldn’t think of a better way to make sure she was safe and healthy than by inspecting every square inch of her.

Which I had. Twice.

I shook my head. April brought out a tenderness in me I still didn’t understand. Yeah, I was protective, but this wassomething different. Something new. And together, what we shared was completely unfamiliar. No matter how many times we had sex, I wanted more.

I wantedherto want more.

The side of my mouth twitched up as I rubbed my upper chest. Judging from the mark she’d made on my skin trying to keep quiet last night, I was succeeding.

When I entered the kitchen, Nona sat at the table eating a bowl of oatmeal. She wore a cream-colored vest with a turquoise long-sleeved shirt underneath, her white hair braided down her back. “Good morning, Gabriel. Alone for breakfast?”

I sat across from her and nodded. “I dropped off Hailey at a friend’s house for the day. Now that Maia’s crib is done, I want to work on the headboards for the beach cottages today.”

“I’m sure they’ll be beautiful.” Nona’s sharp eyes moved over my face. “How are you feeling today?”

I had an errant thought that she was asking about my tryst with April last night, then realized she was referencing the incident on theBenson. “I’m okay. April handled the whole situation perfectly.”

Nona picked up her coffee cup and held it between both hands. “We’re lucky she moved here.”

Our eyes locked, and the force of my grandmother’s presence kept me from looking away. “We are. I am.”

A smile creased her face. “Any woman involved with you is lucky too. It makes me happy that you’re not ruminating over the incident yesterday. I think our new divemaster has had a good effect on you.”

“Thank you, Nona,” I said mildly as the chef set a plate of eggs, bacon, and hash browns in front of me. I nodded my thanks to him and poured a cup of coffee before meeting her eyes. “Don’t go getting your fishing pole out just yet.”

She batted her eyes. “When am I ever nosy?”

“Never! But you’ve got a new grandchild coming soon, so that must make you happy.”

“Very. Though I wouldn’t mind more, you know.”

I just smiled and snapped a bite of bacon in my mouth. “If you want to play matchmaker, do it with Evan.”

She pursed her lips. “He’s well aware of my feelings. The man needs to stop living like a hermit.”

I remembered his reaction when I called him out on the Sweet Dreams donuts and rubbed my lips to hide a smile. “He has his reasons. When he finds the right woman, he’ll make a move.”

She dotted her mouth with her napkin and set it on the table. “I’d better get moving. Lucille got a new shipment of clothing in, and I need to get to the boutique before the best stuff is gone.”

“Maybe she has a metal star to go on your vest,” I said with a grin. “Or some chaps.”

Nona narrowed her eyes as she stood from the table. “Don’t mock one of the few joys an old woman still has.”

Laughing, I pushed back and rose to take her in my arms. “I would never do that. I love your piss and vinegar. You know that.”

She patted my back. “I know, dear boy. Just keeping you on your toes.”

I glanced at her turquoise cowboy boots. “Buy yourself a fancy new pair of boots and tell Lucille to send me the bill, okay?”

Nona smiled gleefully. “Absolutely! She’s had a pair of handmade snakeskin boots I’ve had my eye on.” Her stare turned appraising, but my smile didn’t falter. She was worth every penny.

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