Someone To Watch Over Me (Harlequin Super Romance) (7 page)

Much as Isabella loved owning the bakery, she’d give it up in a minute to turn back the clock. If only she’d fought harder against letting Julian share custody of Toni and Ramon. But she’d been over and over that
if only
so many times, it felt as if her head would split apart. There was no turning back. She had to live with that for the rest of her life.

Why had she started thinking about the past, anyway?
Gabe Poston.
Because she’d found him easier to be with than she’d ever have guessed.

Men. She didn’t need another in her life.

When Isabella’s mind launched into overdrive, as it did now, she found work the only solution to curbing the memories. So, instead of heading home as Trini had suggested, she drove straight back to the shop. Might as well get a jump on starting Estrella Aguirre’s wedding cake.

Five minutes later she parked on the street rather than behind the building.

Trini let out a little screech of fear as Isabella opened the back door with her key.

“Land sakes alive! Scare the heck out of me, why don’t you?”

“Sorry. I realize you weren’t expecting me, but you
know how restless I get after a trip to the cemetery. You go on home, Trini. I have some demons to exorcise, and work’s the only way I can do that.”

“Was the trip to the cemetery responsible for your demons? Or is it the person who went with you?” Trini lounged against a counter, one eyebrow raised, her arms crossed.

“What?” Isabella shot upright from stuffing her purse in a drawer.

“Oh, come on Bella. The phone’s been ringing off the hook. Did you think in a town the size of Callanton no one would notice? Everyone’s speculating as to who he is. My bet’s on Gabe Poston.”

Isabella sagged against the wall. She covered her face with her hands. After a moment she straightened and rubbed her temples. “It was…him. I don’t know what got into me, Trini. He’s staying at the Inn. I ran into him accidentally. He saw the flowers and seemed to know why I had them. He invited himself along, but I should’ve told him no.”

“It’s okay, Bella,” Trini said soothingly.

“But what are people saying? You know as well as I do that Julian’s attorney would love to find any dirt on me.”

“So a man rode with you to the cemetery. Until the third or fourth call, I told everyone you must’ve run into Joe, Rick or Manuel in town.”

“Rollie Danville saw us leave together.” Isabella began pacing around and around the work island.

“Oh. Out of curiosity, Bella, why did Gabe go with you?”

Isabella threw up her hands. “I think he mentioned he’d heard the story from Summer. He…he told me no one should have to go alone. It was more
how
he said
it, Trini. Not dripping with pity but just…concerned. Oh, damn, that’s no excuse. But…how else do I explain my sudden lack of backbone?”

Trini caught her sister’s arm as she paced around the island for about the tenth time. “Stop beating yourself up. I think it’s nice. It shows chivalry isn’t dead.”

“I’m afraid that’s not how others will see it.”

“Who cares?” Trini waved her fingers in Isabella’s face. “Anyway, whose business is it except yours?”

Isabella rested her elbows on the table and again buried her face in her hands. “It’s not that simple. Thanks to the news coverage of this case, every aspect of my life is under a microscope until Julian’s trial is over and he’s sentenced. Nothing is more important to me than being Ms. Model Citizen until then. Nothing!”

“I know. I know. But you two were divorced, after all. I can’t see the harm in being seen with another man.”

“Technically, that’s true. But I don’t want to give them anything they could use as ammunition. And yet…” She sighed. “I swear, Trini, my mind is so muddled I can’t think straight. Whole days, sometimes weeks, pass in a blur.”

“And people ought to understand. If they don’t, the heck with them.”

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right. And today was probably the first and last time we’ll be seen together.”

“Really? Why?”

Color rose in Isabella’s cheeks. “He…ah…invited me to dinner. I turned him down flat. He said he hadn’t expected me to accept. Then he walked away.”

“You should’ve gone.”

“And send our entire community, to say nothing of Callanton, into total apoplexy?”

Trini snickered. “You’ve gotta admit it’s tempting.”

“For you, maybe. Not for me.” Isabella smoothed back a stray lock of hair. “Please, Trini, go home and try to douse the fires for me. I’ll start on Estrella’s cake.”

“Okay.” Trini ripped off her apron and retrieved her purse. “Promise you won’t get so involved you forget to come home tonight.”

Isabella drew an X over her heart. “Tell Mama to leave a plate in the warmer oven.” She trailed her sister to the door. “And tell her not to load it up. I can’t eat half of what she dishes out. I hate throwing food away. It’s wasteful.”

“You need to eat. Or buy new clothes in a smaller size. Otherwise Julian will take one look at you in court and he’ll see he’s won.”

Isabella’s face fell, prompting Trini to give her an extra hug before she left.

G
ABE FLOPPED ON THE BED
in his room. He wished Isabella had accepted his dinner invitation. Eating with people made it easier to pry information out of them. And there was so much he wanted to know about her.

He turned on the TV, but snapped it off after a run-through of the channels didn’t produce anything interesting.

The phone rang. Gabe jumped for it. The caller turned out to be John Campos, who owned the ranch Gabe had made an offer on.

“Hi, John. Guess you’ve talked to your sons in Spain. How do they feel about my offer?”

Gabe listened to the old man talk.

“I’m sure they do want you to come over there.” John had said they’d gone to visit their grandparents and then when his father died, they’d stayed and taken over his fishing business. “It’s easy to see how much you miss them.”

Campos agreed. In the next breath he said his sons wanted him to stay put until he got his full asking price. Apologizing, he stammered out a goodbye.

“Wait a sec. Let me run the figures again.” Damn, but Gabe wanted that property. Shoving his glasses on his face, he grabbed a calculator and punched in the price per acre John had first named. Gabe cringed when he hit the multiplier. No doubt about it, the price was too high. The house needed work, and Campos had already sold his livestock. Gabe had no idea what he’d have to pay for lambs or sheep or whatever it took to make wool a paying proposition.

He was one breath away from thanking Campos for his time when Gabe heard himself say, “You drive a hard bargain, but you’ve got yourself a deal, John.”

The line went dead and Gabe thought he’d lost the connection. “John? Oh, so you’re still with me? Did you hear me say I’ll meet your price? Shall we get together at your bank to draw up a contract? Tomorrow at ten? Good. Good. See you then.” Gabe hung up, aware he’d just made the worst deal of his life. Why, then, did he feel like celebrating?

Unearthing his cell phone, Gabe called Marley Jones, his boss at SOS. “Marley, it’s Gabe. This may or may not come as a shock, but I’ve decided to leave the agency after I close the Utah project. What? No, I’m not following in Colt’s footsteps. Well, sort of. I’m not getting married, though. But I am trading in my
suit for blue jeans. I’ve bought a ranch on the outskirts of Callanton.”

Gabe winced as Marley’s voice boomed across the wire. “You’re one hundred percent correct. I don’t know jackshit about horses or cows, Marley. That’s why I’m buying sheep. Sheep. You know, those docile, woolly creatures you count whenever you can’t fall asleep?”

Jones laughed and laughed. He finally said that if Gabe ever came to his senses a job with SOS would be his for the asking.

“Thanks. I liked what we did. This venture of mine may well turn out a flop. I’ve been a nomad in one form or another most of my life. Maybe it’s a mistake to try and settle down in one place.”

Gabe wiped sweat from his forehead as Marley said he had to go. “Okay. Call me on my cell when it’s time to close Marc’s deal. Depending on how long it takes the guy I just bought from to move, I could be in my own home in less than two weeks.”

Two weeks!
After he clicked off, Gabe panicked. It was obvious that Marley thought he’d lost his mind. A spur-of-the-moment transaction
was
unlike him. Unlike any deal he’d made in his entire life.

Wanting validation, he quickly punched in Marc’s number.

Good old Marc.

Ten minutes later, Gabe cut Marc off. He hadn’t been half as tactful as Marley. His good buddy and colleague had suggested Gabe get a brain transplant.

So Gabe punched in Reggie’s number. That conversation ended abruptly with Gabe swearing. Reggie couldn’t seem to stop howling with laughter long enough for Gabe to finish describing his purchase.

“Well, hell,” he muttered, standing up and yanking his leather bomber jacket out of the closet. Colt and Summer had said they weren’t going on a honeymoon. They had livestock to feed, and Summer’s son, Rory to look after.

Slamming out of his room, Gabe climbed into his SUV. If the Quinns didn’t show some semblance of happiness for him, he might have to rethink the whole proposition.

His mind preoccupied, Gabe arrived at their ranch in too short a time.

Coltrane threw the door open wide and called out to Summer as he dragged Gabe inside. ““Hey, buddy, great to see you!”

Summer appeared in the kitchen arch. “Gabe, hi.” She was shoved aside by her son and his lop-eared dog, who’d been banished to the barn during the wedding reception. The dog, a spaniel-terrier mix, came to inspect Gabe’s shoes.

“Rory, take Lancelot outside, please. Gabe doesn’t want the polish licked off his dress shoes,” Colt instructed him.

His stepson, who’d been crazy about Colt from the first time they met, obeyed with no sign of complaint.

“Can you stay for supper?” Summer asked. “It’s Audrey’s night off, but I make a mean pot of chili. It’s simmered on a back burner all day. I was about to dish it up.”

Gabe hesitated, remembering his experience with Isabella’s
migas.
“How hot is the chili?”

Summer shrugged, clearly confused.

“I don’t mean how warm, I mean did you use chiles that’ll burn the skin off the roof of my mouth?”

Colt chuckled. Summer did better hiding her grin.
“I grew up loving Basque food,” she said. “Not all of their dishes are spicy hot. Gabe, you should’ve listened when I said not to hit on Izzy. Next time, stick with the food at the Green Willow.”

“I didn’t hit on her. You’re steering business her way. What’s wrong with me dropping some cash in her bakery?”

Summer eyed him the way she would Rory—as if she doubted the truth of what he’d said. “Okay,” she finally muttered. “But I’m telling you, she’s had enough grief to last a lifetime. I don’t want our friends causing her more.”

“How about a beer before dinner, Gabe? Let’s walk out to the barn,” Colt suggested. “One of my mares foaled early. I’d like to check on her again while it’s still light.”

Gabe nodded. Considering the way Summer was acting, it’d probably be best not to discuss his latest acquisition in front of her.

Taking the hint, Summer ducked back into the kitchen and came out holding two frosty beers. “I’ll give you guys fifteen minutes. Then supper’s on the table. Either be in here to eat it, or when Rory and I finish, Virgil’s hogs get the rest.”

Grinning in the face of her feigned gruffness, Colt bent and kissed her, a sound and lingering kiss.

Gabe gazed at the hall ceiling. Not that he hadn’t kissed his share of women. It was more that he tended to do his kissing in private.

Colt finally came up for air. He unhooked his jacket from the brass coat tree and handed Gabe the beers to open while he donned his Stetson.

The two old friends made small talk on the short trip to the barn. Both mare and foal were in excellent
health. Not only that, lights blazed the full length of the barn. Gabe wasn’t surprised when Colt turned, clinked their bottles together and asked bluntly, “So, what’s really up with you, Gabriel?”

“I bought a three-thousand-acre sheep ranch a few miles southeast of here today. From John Campos. It’s in the heart of Basque country,” Gabe blurted.

Colt, who’d taken a big swallow from his bottle, spewed beer all over the place, barely missing Gabe. “Whoa. Hey for a minute there, I misunderstood. I guess you mean you closed on a place for SOS. I didn’t realize Marley had his eye on partnering another property in the valley.”

“He didn’t. Doesn’t. It’s mine—lock, stock and ramshackle farmhouse.”

Coltrane scratched his thumbnail at the paper label on his bottle. “No offense, Gabe, but sheep don’t come with little bow ties and vests. They’re filthy, smelly, really gross creatures. Never mind,” he said with a sigh because he’d seen Gabe stiffen, “I doubt you drove all the way out from town to have me tell you that.”

“In boot camp, did you ever see me slack off from a tough, dirty job?”

“Nope. Never. And later, Captain Poston never asked any man to so much as dig a foxhole he couldn’t have dug faster and deeper himself.”

“Damn right. Armani suits are just the trappings for my current job.”

“I’ll give you that, buddy. Tell me, though, have you ever met anyone who raises or raised sheep?”

“No.” Doubt crept into Gabe’s determined eyes. “I learn fast. Do you have a suggestion on where I might start my education?”

“If you hadn’t already bought the damn ranch, I’d
advise apprenticing for a few months with one of the local sheep men.”

“John, the guy I bought the place from, already sold his flock. The fields are fallow. I have time to learn what I need to know. I’ll have to start working on the house, too. Probably spend my nights doing repairs. I could apprentice with someone during the day. Any idea who I should approach?”

“Not for sure. Based on talk I hear at grange meetings, your best bet would be one of the older Basque ranchers. Some have diversified into apples and grapes over the last twenty years, but a fair number of families still run sheep exclusively.”