LITMIR.BIZ

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and she knew very little about him. Of course, she already knew the most important thing…he had a teenage daughter.

      After he opened the door for her, Michelle paused in the doorway. “What made you decide to move to Jackson Hole?”

      But she never got an answer. Several other couples came up just then, the men recognizing and greeting Gabe, joking about some basketball game. They introduced him to their wives. By the time they reached the table and sat down, the question was forgotten.

      Michelle took a seat at one end of the table. Gabe sat down across from her. Ryan Harcourt, an attorney in town, pulled out the chair next to her, his new bride, Betsy, on the other side of him. Betsy was the best friend of Adrianna Lee, the nurse-midwife in Michelle’s office. Ryan and Betsy were eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child in the fall.

      “How’s the house coming?” Michelle asked Ryan. The young couple were in the process of renovating a bungalow Betsy had inherited from her great-aunt.

      “It’s starting to feel like home.” Ryan glanced at his wife and she nodded. “Of course anywhere with Betsy feels like home.”

      “You always say the sweetest things.” Betsy cupped his face with her hand and kissed him gently on the lips.

      Out of the corner of her eye, Michelle caught Gabe staring. Before he turned away she saw something that looked almost like envy in his eyes. Apparently whatever had happened between him and his daughter’s mother hadn’t left him bitter.

      Michelle didn’t have time to dwell on the matter because the waitress appeared. The older woman with wiry gray hair and garish orange lipstick moved quickly, knowing most at the table had to be back to the church in an hour to pick up their children from Sunday school.

      When it came time for Michelle to order, she didn’t hesitate. “I’ll have the farmer’s breakfast.”

      By the time she finished giving the waitress the specifics Gabe’s mouth was hanging open.

      “Can you really eat all that yourself?” he asked with something akin to awe in his voice.

      “Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.” Michelle shrugged, telling herself she didn’t care what he thought. “I follow that old adage about eating like a king for breakfast, a prince for lunch and a beggar for dinner.”

      “Well, you certainly look healthy.”

      The admiration in his tone made her glad she’d taken a little extra time getting ready this morning. Her cobalt-blue sleeveless dress with a beaded belt at the waist not only flattered her figure but the color also made her eyes look extra blue.

      “I’ll consider that a compliment,” she said with a wry smile.

      For a second she thought Gabe was going to say more, but then Nick asked him a question. He shifted his attention and she never got it back.

      “Come with me to the restroom.” Lexi leaned over and whispered, then pushed back her chair and stood.

      Michelle followed her around several tables to the small restroom at the back. “I’ll wait out here.”

      “No.” Lexi grabbed her arm. “Come in with me.”

      “It’s just a one-seater, Lex—”

      “I’m just going to touch up my makeup.” Lexi opened the door and shoved her in first, then followed behind. “You can talk to me.”

      Her friend was up to something. And Michelle had a feeling she knew just what it was. The first words out of Lexi’s mouth confirmed her suspicions.

      “What do you think of him?” Lexi spoke in a confidential whisper even though they were the only ones in the small room.

      “Is that what this is about?” Michelle rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall. “Are you trying to hook me up with Gabe Davis?”

      “You have to admit he’s a hunk.” Lexi’s amber eyes sparkled.

      “He’s good-looking enough, I guess,” Michelle reluctantly agreed, hoping the admission didn’t come back to haunt her. “But there’s no chemistry.”

      Michelle pushed from her mind the sizzling shock she’d received less than an hour before when her hand had brushed against his across the hymnal. And all those times during the service when she had only to inhale the spicy scent of his cologne for her heart to pick up speed. Of course, glancing back at Gabe’s daughter—his teenage daughter—was all it took for her heart to return to normal rhythm.

      “Oh.” Lexi’s hopeful expression fell. “No chemistry at all?”

      “’Fraid not.” Thank God she wasn’t Pinocchio or her nose would be a foot long by now.

      “His loss.” Lexi’s face brightened. “I’ll find someone else for you.”

      “Don’t bother.” Michelle pulled a tube of gloss from her bag and applied some to her lips. “Remember, I’ve sworn off men.”

      Lexi fluffed her dark hair with the tips of her fingers, then smiled. “Honey, that’s just until we find you the right one.”

       Chapter Three

      Out of the corner of his eye Gabe saw Michelle enter the bar and grill on the edge of downtown Jackson. It seemed in every town there was always one person he was destined to run into again and again. In Jackson Hole, he was lucky enough for that person to be a pretty female doctor.

      Gabe grabbed a handful of mixed nuts from the bar and watched Michelle glide across the room. She exuded confidence. It was as much a part of her as her bright smile.

      “Gabe.”

      He turned toward the sound of his name and saw Nick Delacourt at the far end of the curved bar. Dressed in a dark suit, the family law attorney looked as if he’d come straight from court. Gabe lifted a hand in greeting.

      Nick started toward him but didn’t get far before someone stopped him. In the past fifteen minutes the microbrewery hosting the Jackson After-Hours event had exploded with people. Gabe was glad he’d taken off work a little early. It had given him time to shower and change into a pair of khakis and a green polo with the Stone Craft logo.

      Although Gabe had been brought on as a project manager, Joel had made it clear if their business and work styles meshed, he’d have the chance to buy into the company. That meant, what was good for Stone Craft Builders was good for him.

      Tonight was Gabe’s opportunity to get to know the movers and shakers of Jackson Hole. And for them to get to know him.

      Building a client base was all about relationships. That’s why breakfast on Sunday had been important. But it wasn’t only business. Gabe genuinely liked the couples who’d been at the table.

      “I have a question for you.” Tripp Randall, the administrator for the Jackson Hole hospital, returned to the bar.

      Like Nick, Tripp wore a suit. But the administrator had already loosened his tie and unfastened a couple of buttons. Since Gabe had last seen him, he’d also ditched his suit jacket.

      With disheveled blond hair and scruff on his chin, Tripp looked as if he should be playing a guitar in a coffeehouse rather than running the area’s largest hospital.

      Gabe took a sip of beer. “Ask away.”

      “Have you overseen the construction of many stables?”

      It wasn’t a question Gabe had anticipated, but he quickly rallied. “Not really, but the great thing about Stone Craft is we can be counted on to do excellent work on any project we take on.”

      “The company does have a good reputation.” Tripp finished off his beer and glanced around the crowded room. “Where’s Joel? I thought he’d be here.”

      “Chloe had a dance recital.”

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