Gabe (Men of Clifton Montana Book 2) by Susan Fisher-Davis Page A

know the man who just left?” she asked glancing toward the door.
    “No. He’s been coming in here every day, though. Not much of a
tipper.” Connie sniffed in an indignant manner before strolling away.
    “Emma,
it’s probably just a coincidence that he looks like Steve. All that shit
happened just a few months ago, and we’re all st ill a
little on edge,” Olivia said.
    Becca agreed with Olivia. “We can’t keep looking over our
shoulders. Steve is dead, and there’s no way he can ever hurt us again.”
    Emma
looked at each of her friends and nodded in agreement, before turning her
attention to Becca with a frown. “Why are you here, Becca ? You said you couldn’t join us
for lunch.”
    Becca opened her mouth to reply when the bells on the door
jangled and they watched Jake stroll in. She smiled a smug grin. “I couldn’t
because I’m spending the day with my man. It’s not
often he takes a day off. So…” She shrugged then stood up to greet him. He
pulled her into his arms and kissed her until the other diners started
whistling. They broke apart and laughed. Emma envied them their love.
    A few
minutes later, she and Olivia paid their bill and
left, but Emma couldn’t shake the strange man’s face or the way he watched her.

 
    * * * *

 
    Gabe
rolled over and kissed Emma’s cheek.
    “Time to
get up, darlin’,” he whispered alongside her ear, and then chuckled when she slapped at him. He nuzzled her neck, and smiled when
she moaned. She rolled over to face him. “As much as I would love staying here
in bed with you, we have to get moving if we’re going to get to Butte on time.”
    “ Ohmigod , the competitions start today.” Emma practically flew out of the bed. Gabe watched her
scurrying around the bedroom, gathering up clothes. God help him, he really
loved her and the baby. He got out of bed, and after brushing his teeth, he
pulled his boxer briefs on, grabbed his jeans, T -shirt,
socks and went downstairs.
    He
needed coffee. It was early. Hell, the sun wasn’t even up yet. It was a
two-hour drive to Butte and he still had to load his horse, Dandy. He poured
himself a cup of coffee and gazed out the window. The sky was beginni ng to wake up, glowing with pink and yellow hues above the
mountains. He sighed with satisfaction. Life was good. No one could have told
him he’d like married life. Like? He shook his head. He loved it.
    Gabe set
his cup on the table, and pulled on his jean s and
T-shirt. After taking a seat at the table, he pulled on his socks, and then his
worn cowboy boots. Hearing a couple of vehicles pull up outside, he stomped a
boot on as he stepped to the door and opened it. He watched Wyatt and Jake get out of their trucks with Becca and Olivia following them.
    He left
the door open and went back to his coffee. A moment later, Emma entered the
kitchen, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her lips to his. He started to deepen the
kiss when someone cleared his throat. Still kis sing
Emma, he glanced over her shoulder to see Jake grinning at him. He reluctantly
broke the kiss. “What? I can’t kiss my wife good morning?” Gabe grinned when
Jake laughed while Emma buried her head into his chest, and blushed. He kissed
the top of her h ead. Olivia took a seat at the table
and grumbled. “What was that, Liv?” he asked.
    “Why did
we have to get up before the sun?” Everyone laughed when she yawned and laid
her head on her folded arms.
    “Because,
sleepy head, we have a two-hour drive, then we h ave
to sign in and get to our rooms,” Gabe told her while he hugged Emma against
him.
    “ Pffft …” Olivia waved her hand and
yawned again.
    Becca laughed. “And you all wonder why I love her.”
    “If you
behave yourself, Liv, Emma and I will give you the last puppy .” Gabe smiled when Olivia lifted her head and looked at
him with wide eyes.
    “Really? You still have one left?” She looked to Emma, who nodded,
and then Olivia glanced over her shoulder to Becca . “Can I