up.”
With Mindy and Trish gone for the evening and Nina down for the night, Gabriella made a cup of tea and settled in bed with her laptop to finish her term paper. But the idea of living with the Hempsteads over the holiday, and figuring out how to stay out of their son’s way, kept her awake most of the night. She recalled Mindy’s words—“Are you sure you can handle this?”
Right now she wasn’t sure of anything.
****
Dean Reynolds was in the middle of solving the crime of the century while still trying hard to keep his mind and hands off his ladylove. They had arranged a secret tryst for later that night and it was all Dean could do to keep his mind focused on the situation he’d suddenly found himself in. Pistol in hand, Dean had just opened the imposing, squeaking doors of the old Martin Mansion, ready to pull the trigger if he had to, and…
Nothing! Not a damn thing!
Chad’s mind shut down. With his recent manuscript, Devils Die Hard not going very well, his character Dean might just as well go in with a blank loaded in his gun and no back up. Hell. Lucinda was going to be lucky if she ever laid eyes on Dean again. Unlike Chad, who had no choice in the matter, he would be on Gabriella Rumsey’s doorstep at ten o’clock Friday morning whether he wanted to be or not—packing her up and moving her in down the hall. Well, hells bells, if nothing else, he could keep an eye on her, see what she was up to. If anything, Gabriella Rumsey was easy on the eyes. He’d notice right off, although once he’d seen she had a baby in tow, he’d put a halt on his feelings.
Chad shut his laptop and let out a long sigh. He’d arranged to meet Dennis at The Landing for a couple of beers, so wouldn’t have gotten very far on his novel tonight, anyway.
Resigned, he changed his clothes, told his father he was leaving, and drove down to the inlet.
The landing was crowded when Chad rushed though the swinging doors—the noise hit him like a sledgehammer. It’d been a while since he’d been here and it hadn’t changed in all the years he and Dennis had been coming. A nostalgic twinge hit in the pit of his stomach. Damn. The holidays were definitely getting to him. He was starting to let his emotions get the best of him, and that wouldn’t do.
Spotting Dennis at the bar, Chad headed in his direction.
The bar and grill was fashioned around boating, especially sailing, a popular sport up and down Cayuga Lake. Dark mahogany was everywhere, especially the bar itself—smooth from the constant rubbing of elbows and sliding of glasses, and the necessary washing and polishing with tender loving care. The entire establishment was decorated for the holidays.
Dennis stepped down off the tall bar stool and shook Chad’s hand.
“Folks let you out, did they?” Dennis smiled, just like old times.
“Yes. Mother said to say ‘hi.’” Chad drew even with a bar stool and simply slipped into it, his height not making it necessary to have to step up.
“So, what now? Why the visit home this year?” Dennis asked.
Chad ordered a beer before answering.
“I needed the break. All work and no play. You know how it is. What about you? When was the last time you took a vacation?”
“I haven’t been able to swing it. Your father keeps me busy at the office.”
“Maybe you should think about dating again. It’s been two years since Patti died. Maybe it’s time you moved on with your life?”
Dennis sighed. He took a long swallow of beer before setting the glass down on the coaster. “It’s not easy. You don’t fall out of love just because someone you love dies.” Dennis didn’t speak for a moment. “Besides, look at you. It took you a long time to get over Tanya.”
“Luckily, I wasn’t married to her. And I was the one who broke off the engagement. Although she likes to announce that she was the one who left me hanging. Of course that was after she raked me through the courts to try and clean out my bank
With Mindy and Trish gone for the evening and Nina down for the night, Gabriella made a cup of tea and settled in bed with her laptop to finish her term paper. But the idea of living with the Hempsteads over the holiday, and figuring out how to stay out of their son’s way, kept her awake most of the night. She recalled Mindy’s words—“Are you sure you can handle this?”
Right now she wasn’t sure of anything.
****
Dean Reynolds was in the middle of solving the crime of the century while still trying hard to keep his mind and hands off his ladylove. They had arranged a secret tryst for later that night and it was all Dean could do to keep his mind focused on the situation he’d suddenly found himself in. Pistol in hand, Dean had just opened the imposing, squeaking doors of the old Martin Mansion, ready to pull the trigger if he had to, and…
Nothing! Not a damn thing!
Chad’s mind shut down. With his recent manuscript, Devils Die Hard not going very well, his character Dean might just as well go in with a blank loaded in his gun and no back up. Hell. Lucinda was going to be lucky if she ever laid eyes on Dean again. Unlike Chad, who had no choice in the matter, he would be on Gabriella Rumsey’s doorstep at ten o’clock Friday morning whether he wanted to be or not—packing her up and moving her in down the hall. Well, hells bells, if nothing else, he could keep an eye on her, see what she was up to. If anything, Gabriella Rumsey was easy on the eyes. He’d notice right off, although once he’d seen she had a baby in tow, he’d put a halt on his feelings.
Chad shut his laptop and let out a long sigh. He’d arranged to meet Dennis at The Landing for a couple of beers, so wouldn’t have gotten very far on his novel tonight, anyway.
Resigned, he changed his clothes, told his father he was leaving, and drove down to the inlet.
The landing was crowded when Chad rushed though the swinging doors—the noise hit him like a sledgehammer. It’d been a while since he’d been here and it hadn’t changed in all the years he and Dennis had been coming. A nostalgic twinge hit in the pit of his stomach. Damn. The holidays were definitely getting to him. He was starting to let his emotions get the best of him, and that wouldn’t do.
Spotting Dennis at the bar, Chad headed in his direction.
The bar and grill was fashioned around boating, especially sailing, a popular sport up and down Cayuga Lake. Dark mahogany was everywhere, especially the bar itself—smooth from the constant rubbing of elbows and sliding of glasses, and the necessary washing and polishing with tender loving care. The entire establishment was decorated for the holidays.
Dennis stepped down off the tall bar stool and shook Chad’s hand.
“Folks let you out, did they?” Dennis smiled, just like old times.
“Yes. Mother said to say ‘hi.’” Chad drew even with a bar stool and simply slipped into it, his height not making it necessary to have to step up.
“So, what now? Why the visit home this year?” Dennis asked.
Chad ordered a beer before answering.
“I needed the break. All work and no play. You know how it is. What about you? When was the last time you took a vacation?”
“I haven’t been able to swing it. Your father keeps me busy at the office.”
“Maybe you should think about dating again. It’s been two years since Patti died. Maybe it’s time you moved on with your life?”
Dennis sighed. He took a long swallow of beer before setting the glass down on the coaster. “It’s not easy. You don’t fall out of love just because someone you love dies.” Dennis didn’t speak for a moment. “Besides, look at you. It took you a long time to get over Tanya.”
“Luckily, I wasn’t married to her. And I was the one who broke off the engagement. Although she likes to announce that she was the one who left me hanging. Of course that was after she raked me through the courts to try and clean out my bank
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