weight of failure settling over her. She’d taken him on; he’d become her confidant, her sounding board from the beginning of her writing career. She’d returned the favor with companionship and food for her elderly friend. He’d become her responsibility.
And she’d lost him.
***
Looking up, Doug was in Shane’s office doorway—again. “You’ve spent more time in here today than actually doing your own shit.” He grinned.
Shrugging, Doug tapped the doorframe, “I thought I’d see if you wanted to grab lunch? You know, one last decent meal before you disappear to the boondocks.”
“You’re hysterical , smartass.” His desk phone rang. Seeing her number lifted his worry and a smile washed over his face. “Hello, darling, you’ve been avoiding me. I’ve missed you. It’s mutual, correct?” He heard her swallow, she sniffed, then sucked in a choked breath. “Gabby? Gabby…darling what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“No ,” she whispered. “It’s…it’s John.”
Shane’s heart plummeted. For a long moment neither spoke, but he could hear her barely holding herself together. Her voice was hoarse and he caught her quietly whimpering. He knew they were close and she was there for the elderly man more than either of his children. “Gabrielle, is he …” Shane breathed in deeply, not able to ask.
“He…he called me this morning. I tried to get him to the hospital, but—” Her voice squeaked, a side of her he’d never seen, a side that was ripping his heart to shreds. “But they didn’t get to us in time.”
“At least you were there. He wasn’t alone sweetheart.”
“No,” she replied and paused, her voice trembling. “He was in my arms.”
Oh God. He couldn’t even begin to imagine. She sniffed again, quietly but Shane could tell. His fire and sass girl he’d fallen for was crumbling. “Oh , baby.” Holding the phone to his shoulder. “I’ve got to get on the next flight out of here.”
Doug sprang from the seat he’d taken when things had turned serious. “On it. I’ll have Melissa pack your stuff at the house and meet you at the train station with it. And I’ll have my assistant book your flight, she won’t screw it up like your airhead might.”
He was trying to make a hard situation lighter, but for Shane it didn’t work. “Thanks.”
Doug shook his head then nodded at the phone. “Just take care of her.”
“Where are you?” Shane asked.
“Home,” she whispered.
“I’m on my way.”
“No. I didn’t mean to—I shouldn’t have even bothered you. I don’t even know why I called. You answered before it even registered what I was doing.”
“Gabrielle, let me in. Let me be there for you.”
“I…don’t.” Her fight stalled.
“I’m not those other people. I won’t hurt you.”
“But, you…you’re in New York.”
Her statement was heavier, more loaded than just referring to their locations at that precise moment. “Don’t worry about that. Just stay where you are, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She was silent for a long moment, but her breathing was still coming across the line. “Thanks, Shane. I didn’t know who else to call.”
“I’m so glad it was me. I’m hurrying.”
“K.”
“Rest for now, I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye.”
She ended the call and feelings from every direction slammed into him. Shane hadn’t known John long, but had really developed a kinship with him quickly. It was more than obvious the elderly man thought enough of him to play matchmaker, and brave enough to pull that shit with Gabby. He chuckled despite the sadness. It was something Shane was sure no one else would have ever attempted to do with her.
The man hadn’t been in the greatest health, but his death still came as a shock. Even more so than the fact Gabby had turned to him. Her admission of dialing subconsciously might insult a different type of man, however, Shane saw it for what it was and his pulse jumped. She thought
And she’d lost him.
***
Looking up, Doug was in Shane’s office doorway—again. “You’ve spent more time in here today than actually doing your own shit.” He grinned.
Shrugging, Doug tapped the doorframe, “I thought I’d see if you wanted to grab lunch? You know, one last decent meal before you disappear to the boondocks.”
“You’re hysterical , smartass.” His desk phone rang. Seeing her number lifted his worry and a smile washed over his face. “Hello, darling, you’ve been avoiding me. I’ve missed you. It’s mutual, correct?” He heard her swallow, she sniffed, then sucked in a choked breath. “Gabby? Gabby…darling what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“No ,” she whispered. “It’s…it’s John.”
Shane’s heart plummeted. For a long moment neither spoke, but he could hear her barely holding herself together. Her voice was hoarse and he caught her quietly whimpering. He knew they were close and she was there for the elderly man more than either of his children. “Gabrielle, is he …” Shane breathed in deeply, not able to ask.
“He…he called me this morning. I tried to get him to the hospital, but—” Her voice squeaked, a side of her he’d never seen, a side that was ripping his heart to shreds. “But they didn’t get to us in time.”
“At least you were there. He wasn’t alone sweetheart.”
“No,” she replied and paused, her voice trembling. “He was in my arms.”
Oh God. He couldn’t even begin to imagine. She sniffed again, quietly but Shane could tell. His fire and sass girl he’d fallen for was crumbling. “Oh , baby.” Holding the phone to his shoulder. “I’ve got to get on the next flight out of here.”
Doug sprang from the seat he’d taken when things had turned serious. “On it. I’ll have Melissa pack your stuff at the house and meet you at the train station with it. And I’ll have my assistant book your flight, she won’t screw it up like your airhead might.”
He was trying to make a hard situation lighter, but for Shane it didn’t work. “Thanks.”
Doug shook his head then nodded at the phone. “Just take care of her.”
“Where are you?” Shane asked.
“Home,” she whispered.
“I’m on my way.”
“No. I didn’t mean to—I shouldn’t have even bothered you. I don’t even know why I called. You answered before it even registered what I was doing.”
“Gabrielle, let me in. Let me be there for you.”
“I…don’t.” Her fight stalled.
“I’m not those other people. I won’t hurt you.”
“But, you…you’re in New York.”
Her statement was heavier, more loaded than just referring to their locations at that precise moment. “Don’t worry about that. Just stay where you are, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She was silent for a long moment, but her breathing was still coming across the line. “Thanks, Shane. I didn’t know who else to call.”
“I’m so glad it was me. I’m hurrying.”
“K.”
“Rest for now, I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye.”
She ended the call and feelings from every direction slammed into him. Shane hadn’t known John long, but had really developed a kinship with him quickly. It was more than obvious the elderly man thought enough of him to play matchmaker, and brave enough to pull that shit with Gabby. He chuckled despite the sadness. It was something Shane was sure no one else would have ever attempted to do with her.
The man hadn’t been in the greatest health, but his death still came as a shock. Even more so than the fact Gabby had turned to him. Her admission of dialing subconsciously might insult a different type of man, however, Shane saw it for what it was and his pulse jumped. She thought
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