LITMIR.BIZ

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      “I just meant that she got in too late for me to get any inkling of how things went,” she said, her frustration plain. “And I thought for sure we’d see you at that chick flick at the multiplex, but there wasn’t a sign of you.”

      “We saw the action movie,” he reported, managing to hide his amusement at having frustrated her spying mission. “Gabi’s choice, by the way.”

      “Really? She hates that kind of movie.”

      Wade chuckled. “So I gathered. It gave her an excellent chance, though, to carry on about men having no sensitivity or taste when it comes to movies.”

      Cora Jane laughed. “Now that does sound more like her.”

      She seated them in the booth near the kitchen that Wade knew she normally reserved for family. “I’ll send your waitress right over,” she promised, then hurried off.

      Not two minutes later, as he and Jimmy were just starting to study the menu, a familiar voice said, “You!”

      He glanced up with a smile. “Gabriella, I had no idea you’d be working here today.”

      She shrugged. “I wasn’t. I got bored at Grandmother’s and drove over here. She snagged me in the kitchen just now and put an order book in my hands, then assigned me to this table.”

      Wade laughed. “She never gives up, does she?”

      “Never. It would serve her right if I just sat down here with you and waited for some other server to take over this table.”

      “Do it,” he suggested. “Of course, that would be playing right into her hands.”

      He noted that Jimmy was studying the two of them with obvious fascination.

      “Jimmy, this is Gabriella Castle. She’s Cora Jane’s granddaughter.”

      “The one Tommy was talking about yesterday,” Jimmy recalled, proving that he’d taken in the whole conversation about Wade’s social life.

      Gabi regarded him curiously. “That would be Tommy Cahill?” she guessed. “And my name came up?”

      “Unfortunately, yes. Cora Jane is not the only meddler in Sand Castle Bay,” Wade said. “Say another word, Jimmy, and our deal for that burger is off.”

      Jimmy looked chagrined. “Sorry.”

      Wade grinned at him. “Just teasing, but maybe we ought to talk about something else. Gabi, Jimmy here saved the day on the job I’m doing for Tommy.”

      “Not really,” Jimmy protested. “I just had an idea.”

      “Which turned out to be on the money,” Wade said, then filled Gabi in.

      She smiled at the teen. “I’m impressed. Are you serious about working in construction?”

      “It’s okay for now,” Jimmy said. “I sort of drifted into it by accident, you might say.”

      Gabi seized on the remark. “But you’d rather be doing something else?”

      He nodded. “I kinda wanted to go to college, or at least to junior college, but it’s not in the cards right now.”

      “What did you want to study?” she asked.

      “Biomedical engineering,” he said, his expression suddenly animated.

      Gabi looked startled. “And you think you have what it takes? It’s a tough field.”

      “I got pretty good grades in science,” he responded.

      “How good?” she asked at once.

      “Straight A’s,” he told her proudly.

      “Good for you,” she told him, her expression turning thoughtful.

      “What are you thinking?” Wade asked.

      “Just pondering a couple of ideas,” she said.

      Wade let the subject drop because he got a feeling she didn’t want to mention the ideas in front of Jimmy. The fact that she’d so obviously taken an interest in a boy she barely knew touched him on a whole new level, though. Not that she needed any additional recommendation in his book.

      She stood. “It’s obvious Grandmother is not sending anyone else to handle this table, so let me rustle up some food for you. I’m sure you need to get back to work.”

      “Two cheeseburgers with fries,” Wade said at once. “Soda, Jimmy?”

      The teenager nodded, his rapt gaze never leaving Gabriella. Clearly he was smitten. Wade knew all too well exactly how he felt.

      * * *

      Even after Wade and Jimmy had left Castle’s, Gabi hadn’t been able to shake off their conversation or the eager expression on Jimmy’s face when he’d talked about biomedical engineering. She wasn’t sure why that look had touched her, but it had.

      Maybe it was because she understood what it was like to want something so badly and know it was just out of reach. That’s the way it had always been in her relationship with her father. He hadn’t withheld his love, just routine affection and approval. He’d given lip service to being a good dad. He just hadn’t been around. While Emily had responded by dismissing him from her life and Samantha had feigned acceptance of Sam Castle’s flaws, Gabi had spent years trying to earn his attention.

      At the end of the day, still unable to shake the image of Jimmy’s resigned expression of acceptance that he’d never achieve his dream, she pulled out her cell phone and called her father’s private line.

      “What is it?” he snapped impatiently when he answered.

      “Always a pleasure to hear your voice, Dad,” she said, not even attempting to keep the sarcasm from her voice.

      “Gabriella?”

      “Yep, it’s me. I’m probably the only one of your daughters who dares to interrupt your work.”

      “Did you call for something specific or just to make a point about my sins as a parent?” he inquired.

      “Actually, for once, I’m not calling to judge you. I need your help.”

      For an instant, stunned silence greeted the remark. “That’s a first,” he said eventually.

      “I hope that means you’ll take it seriously, then.”

      “Of course I will,” he said impatiently.

      “I’m staying over at Grandmother’s,” she announced. “Emily and Samantha are here, too.”

      “Why?” he asked, a worried note creeping into his voice. For once he sounded more concerned than exasperated that something inconvenient might be about to disrupt his life. “Is your grandmother sick?”

      “No, we’re making plans for Emily’s wedding,” she said, figuring that was the least controversial explanation she could offer. “Since President’s Day weekend is this week, could you drive over? At least for a day?”

      “I seriously doubt your sister wants my input on her wedding,” he countered.

      “She might like sharing her plans with you, though,” Gabi said. “Be an interested dad for once. Couldn’t you do that?”

      After a lengthy pause, he finally said, “I’ll drive over Saturday morning. Is that all?”

      “I need you to bring an open mind with you,” she added. “There’s a young man I want you to meet.”

      “Someone you’re seeing?”

      “No, someone I just met today.”

      “I don’t understand.”

      “You will,” she promised. “I think he’s going to remind you

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