Not Over You (Holland Springs) (7 page)

“
Want your truck back?” Keys jingled near his ear. “The shocks are shot to hell from all the off-road riding I’ve been doing. But you can fix that. You were always good with your hands, angel.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger, he closed his eyes and counted to fifty. It didn’t help. He opened his eyes, then looked down at the hand on his elbow, at the simple silver ring on her pointer finger, and fought to stay calm.

Finally, he managed to say, “Keep it.” Then he gently pulled away, careful not to embarrass her, and walked away.

It didn’t occur to him until he’d sat down beside Elise, that it was the second time in his entire life he’d had the strength to walk away from Summer.

And it cut as deeply as the first.

Chapter Six

Gabriel stared at the silver truck sitting in the parking lot. It sat off to the side, under the yard light.

Over the years, he had missed driving it. It had been the first brand new vehicle he’d ever owned, but it wasn’t the vehicle he’d picked Carlos up in. No, his used red truck was parked beside Elise’s sedan. Despite the flashy color, it had nothing on the silver truck. No bells or whistles. Only four-wheel drive, a radio, and working a/c.

He moved closer to the truck, inspecting the body and finding it in nearly perfect condition. Opening the driver’s side, he leaned in to find the interior as pristine as the body and the key stuck halfway in the ignition. Jerking them out, he dropped them in his front pocket and locked the door.

Where was Summer? Concern welled up in his chest, making his collar tight. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. He had watched her as she disappeared inside the old house, but had lost track of her after that.

Bits of oyster shells crunched under his dress shoes as he walked out to the road.

Looking right, and then left, he found the road empty. Maybe he should take a quick ride down the road, toward Strawberry Grove, to make sure Summer was okay. Sunset was the worst time for someone walking down the side of the road. Visibility for drivers was horrible.

Then again, would she welcome his concern? And why did he keep thinking Summer was his concern?

He jammed a hand in his pocket and pulled out his keys, grimacing. As if he really needed to ask himself
that
question.

“
Ready to go?”

Gabriel turned and found Carlos, grinning at him. “Dinner’s over. Bachelor party begins.”

At Gabriel’s silence, his buddy’s grin fell. “Oh come on, man. Don’t do this.”

“
Do what?” The truck keys burned in the palm of his hand. Gabriel knew exactly what his friend didn’t want him to do.

“
Go chasing after Summer.” Carlos nodded at Gabriel’s truck. “You got your truck back. Be done with her.”

That was the problem—he and Summer were never done. They had too many unanswered questions, too many
what ifs
. There was no water under the bridge for them. Their bridge was six feet under, and the river was still swelling.

“
She doesn’t need to walk home by herself. It’s almost dark.” He reached in his other pocket, drew out the second set of keys, and tossed them to Carlos.

“
Not every woman wants to be rescued, Gabe,” Carlos said as he caught the keys. “Sometimes a good buddy needs rescuing from himself. Let’s round up the guys and go.”

Undeterred, Gabriel shook his head. “It’s the right thing to do. I can’t leave her out there.”

Carlos frowned, running a hand through his hair. “How about this—we stick to the plan and check on Summer as we drive to Wilmington. If she’s okay, we keep driving. If she’s not, we call the cops and still keep driving. I’m sure there’s a warrant for her arrest for something.”

Gabriel knew Carlos was trying to be a good friend by offering to save him from a woman he thought was bad news. He’d known Summer as long as Gabriel had, longer really, since Gabriel hadn’t moved to Holland Springs until he was nine. But it still pissed him off. “Don’t be a jerk.”

“
I’m being a realist.” Carlos held up his hands in surrender. “But hey, if you want to ruin what you have with Elise, who am I to stop you?”

Crap. He’d forgotten about her. Yet another reason Carlos’s warning made sense. However, when it came to Summer, right was wrong, down was up, and left was right.

“
I’m checking on the woman, not marrying her,” Gabriel snapped.

His buddy rolled his eyes and dropped his arms. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“
Duly noted.” Gabriel smiled, already at the truck and opening the driver’s side door. He jammed the key in the ignition, but hesitated at turning it. The last time he’d found her walking down the side of the road, he’d picked her up and had driven to The Pointe. From there, things had gotten really hot, steaming up the windows hot.

He’d been all of seventeen and Summer fifteen. They’d spent the entire months of July and August making out in his old, beat-up truck. But he wasn’t seventeen anymore. He was a grown man with goals and accomplishments that had nothing to do with Summer.

Keep telling yourself that
.

Gabriel wiped sweaty palms on his khakis, started up the truck, put it in gear, and made a left onto Highway 13. As he drove, fireflies dotted the fields and ditches along the road, blinking in and out of sight. The closer he got to Strawberry Grove, the more fireflies appeared.

The sun slipped under the horizon, making his running lights visible along the blacktop. Great. Just great. How was he supposed to find her?

Light glowed from the forest of pine trees by the old Holland place. He slowly braked, put the truck in park, and rolled down the passenger side window, watching as the bugs blinked on and off.

Before he knew what was happening, he’d unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the door, and strode into the forest. He crept through the woods, quiet as a predator hunting his prey, and then came to a sight that stole his breath away.

Summer, all alone in a meadow of spring flowers. Well, if you didn’t count the hundreds of fireflies dancing around her.

Laughing with pure joy, she waved a hand in the air. The fireflies followed her movements, reminding him of kids playing with sparklers on the Fourth of July.

His gut clenched.

The fireflies continued their dance, moths joining in. Something swept passed him. He followed the blur and realized it was a bat, mostly likely trying to eat the conveniently provided snack.

Summer laughed again, drawing his attention back to her. She threw out her arms and spun around. He felt himself drift closer, like he was one of those moths… and she the flame.

“
Summer.” Her name a prayer on his lips. A plea in his heart.

“
What do you want?” Summer snapped. “I gave you back your truck.”

He paused at the vehemence in her tone. “Thank you, but I wanted to check on you and make sure you got home okay.”

He fully expected her to ask who would be checking on him, because he lived by himself. Instead, she tilted her head, giving him a small smile. “Thanks.”

“
Can I walk you home?”

“
Where’s your truck?”

“
I left it on the road.” He nodded his head to the right.

The moon came out from behind the clouds, illuminating the field to near daylight.

She scrunched her nose. “Someone could steal it.”

“
Maybe they need it more than me,” he replied.

“
Good Samaritans have nothing on you.”

He shrugged. “When people are desperate, they do desperate things. Those of us who can help, should.”

Wrong thing to say. “You Jesus freaks amaze me.” She crossed her arms. “But you do give good lip service.”

Irritation rose, making his jaw clench before he answered. “Was it lip service to let you drive off with my truck all those years ago?”

“
Let me?”
She shook her head and smiled. “Angel, you had no idea what I was going to do that night.”

“
Really?” He crossed his arms and stared down at the lovely face highlighted by the moonlight. “Let’s think about this—the gas pump only takes pre-pays. I chose to go inside to buy a bottle of Cheerwine.”

Her smile faltered and a pink tongue licked at her lips. “So, you’re saying…”

“
I’m saying I’d give anyone in need the clothes off my back.” He uncrossed his arms. “Including you.” Especially her. Always her. No matter how much it hurt when she threw it back in his face.

“
I don’t want your pity or your charity. I don’t need anything from anyone, especially you.”

White-hot fury rose, but he remained calm. He had to, or he’d lose control of the situation. “I just need to know why you’re here. I know what you said, but honey, you’ve never stayed longer than a year at a time, since you turned eighteen.”

If he had a time limit, he could stay away from her. Keep his personal life going—one that didn’t involve the woman standing in front of him. The woman with pretty, dark eyes and pale, blond hair. The woman who’d clawed his heart out at every turn, yet he kept offering it up on a platter.

A frown pulled down the corners of his mouth.

“
Why do you care?” She leaned forward, placing a hand on his cheek. “Afraid I’ll steal you away from Elise?”

Yes.
Only it wouldn’t be stealing. More than likely, he’d go with her,
willingly
. Some things never changed, but he could. “You know what—I don’t care. Stay as long as you like. Do whatever you like. You don’t need my permission, and you’re not that damn irresistible.” Turning, he marched away from her.

Summer’s eyes grew wide.
Oh God, no.
His disapproval she could handle. His infuriatingly calm manner she could handle. But an indifferent Gabriel? The one who’d been ignoring her all week… “Wait.”

Still, he strode away.

“
Gabriel, please.”

That made him stop.

She ran to him, and then around to face him.

A cool night breeze whispered through the pine trees. The sound of crickets chirping and the steady rattling of locust blended to create a symphony so soothing that Summer almost forgot where she was. Almost.

In a loose tie, button-down shirt, and khaki pants, Gabriel was her fantasy come to life. Not that she’d ever let him in on it. No, she preferred to let him think that her type rode into town on a Harley and out of it, with her on the back.

He gazed at her, expectation on his face. But what could she say—
don’t leave me? Please keep caring about me, because you’re the only one in the entire world who does?

Maybe she needed to be truthful for once. Maybe she needed to quit saying the most outrageous and hurtful things to him.

Taking a leap of faith, she said, “I’m sorry.”

“
Excuse me?”

“
You heard what I said.” No way would she repeat herself. It was bad enough she’d apologized in the first place. It was bad enough that she was lowering her defenses.