more of him than she let on, and that was a good thing since he was moving his entire life across several states to have a chance with the woman he’d come to know as his.
Shane’s laptop finally shut down, he ripped the power cable from the outlet and shoved all of it into his leather bag. He pulled out a few files to lighten his load, placed them on top of a stack of manuscripts. “Lana, come here please.” The brunette entered immediately, pushing her glasses up on her nose. “Here, go ahead and box this all up and mail it to that address I gave you in Renlend. Actually, send it UPS ground so we can track it , please. “
“Yes , sir.”
“I’m rushing out, something’s come up, but thank you. You’ve done well, I hope you like it here and continue to stay on.”
She grinned then turned, her arms loaded down. Lana wasn’t an airhead as Doug often referred to her as. She was self-conscious and nervous. Given time and patience, she’d be fine. With his laptop bag slung over his shoulder, he made long strides toward his friend and now partner’s office.
Chapter Thirteen
Blinking, Gabby twisted, shifted , and curled back into a ball, pulling her angora throw up to her chin as she drifted in and out of sleep on the couch. The sun was setting the last time she had opened her eyes, now it was dark out. Burrowing against her pillow, she tried to shake the chill but couldn’t. She had spent hours processing the emptiness left by John’s passing. Her source of confidence when she needed it was gone. Making matters worse, every time she woke, the memory of Shane’s voice and remembering it was her who called him haunted her.
She’d quit needing friendship after Maggie’s betrayal; the rest of her high school days cemented her decision. For years she’d been able to keep the thrill Shane’s flirting sent through her a hidden secret. Gabby was careful to be rude, bitchy, and brash to keep him at bay. It never failed to lead to more of him goading her, teasing and, of course, more of his flirting. Only after she’d hang up would she crack, his voice leaving her smiling for long moments each time.
His visit to see her had been the last straw. Her visions of him were destroyed, the real man so much more than she could have ever dreamed. There was no pretending anymore. He was a bookworm like her, but not ugly or pasty white, no…he was beautiful. His eyes were difficult not to get lost in. His body, taller than her, a must and strong, but not a steroid weight-lifting he-man. His hair, ugh, she’d desperately wanted to run her fingers through it. The light brown looked so soft and shiny. His mind though, that was the downfall for Gabby. He understood her world, lived in her world and didn’t seem to think she was a shut-in, weird recluse like most of the town gossips did.
None of that explained why she had dialed his number. She’d been on autopilot. Looking back, she could kick herself because now he was coming. At the time she’d instantly felt relief at his promise. Now her stomach was jumpy and queasy. Closing her eyes, she silently berated herself. Silently cussed herself for falling for anyone—especially a man living miles away in New York. That was so stupid on her part, but John’s words came back to her time and time again, “the heart wants what the heart wants.” No matter how many times she ignored John’s gentle prodding, she couldn’t help but wonder.
What the hell was she thinking? She was a realist, one hundred percent . Women like her did not get guys like him, and they sure as shit didn’t get happy endings.
A hand clasped her shoulder . She screamed so loud it bounced off the brick walls of her loft. Her eyes flew open and she tried to sit up while swinging her left fist.
“Gabby, hon—it’s just me ,” Shane said softly.
“What the fuck? Can’t you knock?” Gabby fell back into her spot, her head deepening the indention more in the pillow with a heavy
Shane’s laptop finally shut down, he ripped the power cable from the outlet and shoved all of it into his leather bag. He pulled out a few files to lighten his load, placed them on top of a stack of manuscripts. “Lana, come here please.” The brunette entered immediately, pushing her glasses up on her nose. “Here, go ahead and box this all up and mail it to that address I gave you in Renlend. Actually, send it UPS ground so we can track it , please. “
“Yes , sir.”
“I’m rushing out, something’s come up, but thank you. You’ve done well, I hope you like it here and continue to stay on.”
She grinned then turned, her arms loaded down. Lana wasn’t an airhead as Doug often referred to her as. She was self-conscious and nervous. Given time and patience, she’d be fine. With his laptop bag slung over his shoulder, he made long strides toward his friend and now partner’s office.
Chapter Thirteen
Blinking, Gabby twisted, shifted , and curled back into a ball, pulling her angora throw up to her chin as she drifted in and out of sleep on the couch. The sun was setting the last time she had opened her eyes, now it was dark out. Burrowing against her pillow, she tried to shake the chill but couldn’t. She had spent hours processing the emptiness left by John’s passing. Her source of confidence when she needed it was gone. Making matters worse, every time she woke, the memory of Shane’s voice and remembering it was her who called him haunted her.
She’d quit needing friendship after Maggie’s betrayal; the rest of her high school days cemented her decision. For years she’d been able to keep the thrill Shane’s flirting sent through her a hidden secret. Gabby was careful to be rude, bitchy, and brash to keep him at bay. It never failed to lead to more of him goading her, teasing and, of course, more of his flirting. Only after she’d hang up would she crack, his voice leaving her smiling for long moments each time.
His visit to see her had been the last straw. Her visions of him were destroyed, the real man so much more than she could have ever dreamed. There was no pretending anymore. He was a bookworm like her, but not ugly or pasty white, no…he was beautiful. His eyes were difficult not to get lost in. His body, taller than her, a must and strong, but not a steroid weight-lifting he-man. His hair, ugh, she’d desperately wanted to run her fingers through it. The light brown looked so soft and shiny. His mind though, that was the downfall for Gabby. He understood her world, lived in her world and didn’t seem to think she was a shut-in, weird recluse like most of the town gossips did.
None of that explained why she had dialed his number. She’d been on autopilot. Looking back, she could kick herself because now he was coming. At the time she’d instantly felt relief at his promise. Now her stomach was jumpy and queasy. Closing her eyes, she silently berated herself. Silently cussed herself for falling for anyone—especially a man living miles away in New York. That was so stupid on her part, but John’s words came back to her time and time again, “the heart wants what the heart wants.” No matter how many times she ignored John’s gentle prodding, she couldn’t help but wonder.
What the hell was she thinking? She was a realist, one hundred percent . Women like her did not get guys like him, and they sure as shit didn’t get happy endings.
A hand clasped her shoulder . She screamed so loud it bounced off the brick walls of her loft. Her eyes flew open and she tried to sit up while swinging her left fist.
“Gabby, hon—it’s just me ,” Shane said softly.
“What the fuck? Can’t you knock?” Gabby fell back into her spot, her head deepening the indention more in the pillow with a heavy
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