Operation Breathless (4 page)

“Mm-hmm, and don’t give me that mushy look. I need you to understand how foolish I am. Seriously. I’m a mixed up mess about my life and, added perk, I’m becoming a loose woman.”

“Kisses aren’t condemning, Sus.”

“They are when they come
that
easy.”

“Easy, huh?” Pia offered more dewy-eyed wistfulness.

Susanna gaped at her friend. “Yes—exactly.
Very
easy. What kind of woman am I to do such a thing? I don’t even know his name. He doesn’t even know my name.”

“I think it’s beautiful.” Pia arched her back into a stretch, studying Susanna. “You’re open hearted. Tender. You’re also compassionate and unerringly empathetic. In fact, I’d say empathy is one of your defining characteristics.” Pia looked at the pendant Susanna wore and gave a nod. “That’s why that angel wing piece I made belongs around your neck. Your heart is so soft and vulnerable it requires the protection—and yes, even the prodding—of a guardian angel.”

Susanna sat down on a tall stool next to Pia. “You’ve been living here too long. You’re sounding more and more like ol’ man Hart every day.”

Pia beamed. “Thank you!”

Susanna cast her friend a teasing glower. “And now I know who to blame for the way I’ve been stalked lately.”

“Stalked?”

“Yes. The guardian angel you appointed for me, the kind of angel our landlord believes in wholeheartedly, is persistent and stubborn.”

After a wink, Pia pointed toward heaven. “I don’t appoint the angels, Sus. God does. Your guardian angel has been with you forever. Long before I gave you that necklace. It’s just a reminder for you.” They shared a laugh and a quick hug. “Oh—before I forget—speaking of good ol’ Mr. Hart, he’s got plans for a barbeque tonight. Can you make it?”

“You bet. A get together around the fire pit in the yard is just what I need right now.”

“The forecast calls for beautiful weather, so a crackling fire and some s’mores for dessert should be awesome.”

Heart’s Haven barbeques were legend—a monthly affair. Even though it was winter, Susanna looked forward to enjoying these gatherings of food and friendship with the others who lived in the complex. Sure the weather might be chilly, but nothing built warmth like camaraderie and a toasty fire in the fire pit. “Is Viv going to be there?”

“If I have anything to say about it she will.” Vivian Mallory was a widow, similar in age and life experience to Andrew Hart, the landlord. “Hart always tries to be so crabby and tough, but he melts like warm butter whenever Viv’s around. Oh—and another bonus? You finally get to meet my brother, Gabe.”

“You must be thrilled he’s back in town again. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“He just got in from Detroit last night, so I haven’t seen much of him yet. Right now he’s picking up a few supplies.”

Susanna nodded, making ready to leave. “What can I bring for the festivities?”

“Well, like the typical college buddies they are, Zack and Gabe were jabbing back and forth at each other about award winning rib recipes but opted to bring some appetizers and such. Why don’t you put them all to shame with some of your world-class potato salad?”

A cooking project full of mind-soothing prep work? What a perfect diversion. “I’m in. Usual time?”

Pia nodded, returning to her stone settings and design work. “Yep.”

****

The logs in the fire pit crackled. Laughter danced through the air like the sparkling embers and dancing flames. Susanna absorbed it all with a contented sigh of pleasure. Cold sodas were guzzled, jokes exchanged, and the food was ready.

Except for the ribs, which David promised would be finished shortly.

“Gabe and Zack should have been here by now. I don’t understand what’s keeping them,” Zoe Wyndham said.

“Gabe’s a newbie around Angel Falls. He’s probably using Zack as some form of human GPS while they search the grocery store for chips, salsa, and rolls.” Pia’s comment roused added laughter.

Susanna lifted her cola from the cloth-covered picnic table where she sat. She downed a hefty swallow just as a newbie joined the party. A familiar looking German Shepherd bounded straight for her and landed its front paws on the bench seat next to her.

Just like at the park…but…no. No way. No absolute way.

The dog nudged her hand hard. Yes, way. This was definitely Axle.

Susanna sputtered out her swallow of soda, gasping, and flushing hot while she covered her mouth and grabbed for the napkin beneath her plate of hors d’oeuvres. She mopped her lips and the front of her Texas A&M hoodie.

Pia pounded on her back, looking at her in total confusion and concern. “Sus, you OK?”

“Ah…”
Oh, my goodness
.
How do I answer that question?

A lone man joined the party—against every imaginable odd, the haunting, intriguing stranger from this afternoon. Susanna’s heart kicked into triple time, and she shrunk into oblivion, wishing she could vanish like the wisps of fragrant wood smoke that curved upward and evaporated into the atmosphere.

Pia let out a happy shout and stood to enfold Handsome Man in a tight, loving hug. She turned to the assembly at large. “Everyone, this is my little brother Gabe Peretti. Gabe, this is…well…everyone!”

Susanna sat and stared while Gabe was welcomed into the fold. Pia made the rounds, introducing him one-by-one to the party attendants. Susanna kept shrinking, and shrinking…

So, Handsome Man was Gabe Peretti. Gabe Peretti was Pia’s brother.

And she had told Pia everything about their meeting.
Everything
. Brother and sister completed the introductory circuit, closing in on the spot where she sat. Susanna glanced helplessly at the ground, searching for a deep abyss, anything—
anything
—except…

“And last, but most certainly not least, I want you to meet Susanna Daniels.”

“Hi, Susanna.”

His smooth voice drew her gaze and she shifted, trying to find enough backbone and starch to hold her own. Man, was he good looking, and his eyes? Tender as the night.

“Actually, Pia, we’ve met,” Susanna said.

“Really? When?”

“At the park today,” Handsome Man…er, Gabe…supplied. His smile landed dead center of Susanna’s heart, hitting a bulls-eye. The moment burned as intensely and with as much intoxicating life as the dancing flames of the fire. “Susanna, it seems Axle is as charmed by you now as he was then. Glad to meet you—formally that is.”

Susanna pushed back embarrassment and played with Axle, who still waited for her attention. “Likewise.”

Susanna’s peripheral vision captured the way Pia gaped then recovered. “So…Susanna, now that we’re almost ready to eat, let’s get to work prepping the side dishes. Come on.”

Pia didn’t wait on a reply. She grabbed Susanna’s arm and yanked her away from the table while barbeque guests watched after them, visibly intrigued. Plus, if Gabe’s sparkling eyes and smile were any indication, he was thoroughly amused.

Susanna’s movements weren’t graceful at all; she basically stumbled over her feet. Still, she followed Pia in shamed obedience, determined to withstand a loving sister’s interrogation.

They barely made it across the threshold of the nearby recreation facility before Pia rounded on Susanna. Her eyes flashed merrily.

“Gabe is the park guy? Gabe is the one you…you…”

“Kissed. Fell all over. Yeah. He’d be the one.” Susanna’s cheeks felt like they were about to burst into flame. Susanna prepared to apologize for being so brazen, for acting like a temptress to Pia’s brother.

“How
awesome
!”

“
What
?”

Pia giggled, pulling Susanna’s cut-glass bowl full of potato salad from inside the refrigerator. The communal gathering space where they stood featured a mini-kitchen, industrial-style décor and carpeting…but no escape hatch, Susanna lamented.

“Gabe—and you. I think I really, really like it.”

What was wrong with the universe today? Susanna wondered. Nothing—but
nothing
—was going as expected. “Are you nuts? I’m mortified. PS? There is no me and Gabe.
At all
.”

“If you say so. PS right back? Don’t you
dare
be mortified.” Pia held the bowl in both hands and tilted a hip against the counter next to the fridge. Levity skipped fast from her eyes, replaced by tenderness and love. “He’s been through so much. Ever since he left home he’s been determined to slay dragons, and sometimes the dragons have won. I’ve prayed so hard for someone wonderful like you to come into his life.”

Susanna shook her head. Vehemently. “No, Pia. Not at all. I’m not in the market for love.” Pia lifted a hand and pointed a finger as though to begin an argument. “Nuh-uh. Not one word about angels and romantic conspiracy theories that revolve around Heart’s Haven. It’s fun to joke about, but it’s not real, so get that thought right out of your beautiful little head.”

“Let’s see if you still say that when I give you my next news flash.”

“Which is?”

Pia’s mega-watt smile returned. “He’s already moved in, and he’s going to be your new neighbor.” Executing a sassy twirl, Pia flounced away, potato salad in tow. She tossed a knowing, happy grin over her shoulder.

Susanna’s stomach went on a breathtaking free fall.

3

“I knew I’d find you all along, Susanna Daniels.”

It was time to come clean. Besides, Gabe wanted to squelch the discomfited look Susanna had worn throughout most of the evening. He didn’t blame her. She’d been blindsided a number of times during the past twelve hours; he wanted to help her establish equilibrium.

“How? Sure, you came away from our…meeting…knowing I work at Wellsprings, but that was about it, and to be honest, I wondered if you’d even remember that detail once we parted.”

Friends and couples had begun to pair up, so Gabe had taken advantage of the opportunity to approach Susanna and speak privately to the woman he would forever think of as Lovely Lady.

Lightly, carefully, he touched the pendant. “I know my sister’s work. I also know when she designs custom pieces like the one you’re wearing, she keeps a record of the purchase.”

“Not if it was a gift,” Susanna challenged, watching him carefully.

Gabe slid a hand against her elbow and gave a directing nod toward a pathway that cut through the yard. “Feel like a walk?” To his delight, she joined him without much hesitation.

Before they stepped away from the crowd and firelight, Gabe looked down at her. He settled a hand against her lower back. “The fact that it’s a gift would have only made it easier to find you. Pia doesn’t give away her pieces arbitrarily, as I’m sure you already know.”

Susanna didn’t reply to that, so Gabe continued. “I fully intended to find you again—either through Pia or at Wellsprings.” He paused there, deliberately. And he smiled at her. “Did you honestly think I’d let you get away?”

“The evidence would suggest.”

Gabe guided their steps toward the walkway. She stayed close as they traversed the cobbled path, but folded her arms across her midsection. She seemed so much shyer now.

“About those details you mentioned? The ones you thought I might forget? Trust me. I haven’t forgotten a thing about our encounter.”

Her gaze darted upward. A gust of wind caught the ends of her hair and set them rippling. “But you walked away.”

“Did I?” He clenched a fist to keep from reaching up and gently tucking the wisps back into place behind her ear. He refused to impose beyond comfort and propriety. He didn’t want her to ever think he’d take advantage of her emotions, and the complete openness she had bestowed upon him like a gift.

Her brows furrowed. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“Fair enough.”

Silence rode by. “What will you do while you’re on leave?”

Gabe had actually been thinking about that—ever since walking Axle at the park. “The idea of volunteering at Wellsprings of Grace is appealing. Could you use the help?”

“Wh…what…?”

He moved his hand from her back to her elbow as they meandered toward a two-person swing that hung from the thick, overhead branch of an ancient oak tree.

“I’m not just asking because of the kiss, Susanna, so don’t worry. Actually, I was talking with Ryne Calvert during dinner—during which you artfully arranged yourself at the end of the picnic table with Pia at the other side so I couldn’t infringe.”

Susanna shot him an affronted, innocent look.

Gabe grinned at that and continued on. “Anyway, he works at—”

“Angel Falls High School. He’s a resource officer who intervenes at the first signs of a teenager wandering off the straight and narrow.”

“Mm-hmm. He seems like a great guy. Former cop with the Angel Falls PD from what I hear.”

“He makes me feel very protected. He’s also someone I work closely with as he identifies problem cases and refers them to the center.”

Gabe nodded. “Just think of it. Now you have two cops nearby. Kind of like bookends of security.”

As hoped, his quip made Susanna laugh. “I’ll be living in a veritable fortress. My parents will be thrilled.”

“Let’s sit down.” He gestured toward the swing and held the thick metal chains in place while she settled. Gabe joined her and set them in motion. “The point is, I want to make use of myself while I’m here.”

“For a month.” She sounded tentative on that count, a bit sad perhaps?

“A month. Maybe longer, maybe shorter. Remember, I need to talk to God about that.”

As they floated back and forth on the swing, the aroma of her perfume, something floral, yet hinting at spice, carried to him, but only in subtle, intriguing amounts—so much like the woman herself. Yep—he was as drawn to her now as he had been at the park.

A warning bell sounded at the realization, but Gabe pressed on. “I figure facilities like yours can always use an extra hand or two. If you’re interested, I have some training. Maybe I could help.”

“Actually, you’d be a godsend.”

Her declaration featured an undercurrent of gratitude. Gabe was glad he made the offer. He wasn’t playing lightly at this—and he wasn’t using Wellsprings to get closer to Susanna. He wanted to find again the fulfillment and joy of helping others that had motivated him early on, before burnout and horrors on the job had overwhelmed him. Nearness to Lovely Lady simply tipped the scales.