Falling For You (Sapphire Bay Book 1) Page 8

  Natalie unlocked her truck and left her pack on the back seat. “No. I’ve got everything I need. What about you?”

  Gabe swung a small day pack off his shoulder. “I’ve got everything in here.”

  “Including your gun?”

  “That’s here.” Gabe turned around and lifted his shirt.

  She stared at the gun he’d tucked into the back of his jeans. “I should tell you that I don’t like weapons of any kind.”

  Gabe stared at her in mock horror. “Really? You could have fooled me.”

  “I’m serious. Guns freak me out. I don’t care whether they’re stun guns, tasers, or guns with bullets. All of them are dangerous.”

  “Only when you don’t know what you’re doing.”

  “Maybe.” Natalie slid into the truck. While Gabe adjusted his seat, she checked her cell phone. “Mom’s flight must be on time. She was going to text me if her plane was delayed.”

  “Where does she live?”

  “Indianapolis. When my grandparents died she moved from Bozeman and bought a house around the corner from her sister.”

  “Are you and your mom close?”

  Natalie thought about the long phone calls and unexpected gifts they sent each other. “Yes. After my parents divorced I didn’t see dad very much. Mom means the world to me.”

  “Have you thought about living in Indianapolis?”

  “I have, but I’m not sure I want to live there.” She turned right and headed out of town. “When I was younger, I thought moving away from Montana sounded exciting. Going to college in New York City was a dream come true. But it didn’t take long to miss what we had in Bozeman and Sapphire Bay. Nothing beats waking up to birds singing in the trees and hiking in clean, fresh air.”

  She glanced across the cab. “What about you? Before you moved here, had you ever thought about living in a small town?”

  Gabe shook his head. “My job was in New York City and my family was in Brooklyn. Leaving wasn’t an option.”

  “And now?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Natalie thought about the person who was stalking Gabe and the constant worry about what they’d do next. She didn’t blame him for not knowing where he wanted to live.

  “What’s your mom like?” Gabe asked.

  She grinned. “I hate to say this, but she’s an awful lot like me.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “Wait until you see us together. Mom’s like a human dynamo. She never slows down.”

  “It sounds as though we’re going to have a busy day.”

  Gabe didn’t realize how right he was. The festival was one of the biggest events in Polson. There would be people, food, and cherry-themed activities everywhere. It was the perfect place for a runaway novelist, a reclusive painter, and a mom who wanted to make sure her daughter was okay.

  Gabe searched the faces of the people coming through the arrivals gate. So far, he hadn’t seen anyone who looked like Natalie.

  “There she is.” Natalie walked toward a woman wearing a blue dress.

  He wasn’t surprised he hadn’t seen a family resemblance because there wasn’t one. Natalie’s mom was a few inches shorter than her daughter. Blond hair, cropped close to her head, framed a smiling face. If Gabe had to guess her age, he’d say she was in her late fifties, but he could be wrong.

  So far, she hadn’t looked away from her daughter.

  Natalie wrapped her arms around her mom and gave her a hug. It was the kind of reunion that made him homesick for his own parents. It had been too long since he’d last seen them, but he wasn’t taking any chances with their safety.

  After she’d finished hugging her mom, Natalie brought her across to meet him. “Gabe, this is my mom, Kathleen Armstrong. Mom, this is Gabe, the man who’s renting grandma and granddad’s cottage.”

  Gabe took off his baseball cap and held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Armstrong.”

  Her grip was firm. “There’s no need to be so formal. You can call me, Kathleen. Are you enjoying living in Sapphire Bay?”

  “It’s exactly what I needed.” Gabe pulled his cap onto his head. The chance of anyone recognizing him was remote, but stranger things had happened.

  Natalie looked at the crowd hovering around the luggage carousel. “Did you bring any suitcases with you, mom?”

  “No. This is it.”

  Natalie seemed surprised. “Are you feeling all right?”

  Kathleen smiled. “I’m only here for a couple of days. Besides, if I need another bag I can always buy one. Before I forget, Aunt Jennie says hello and wants to know when you’re coming to see her.”

  Natalie looked at Gabe. “Aunt Jennie is mom’s sister. She makes the best lemon shortbread I’ve ever tasted.”

  “It’s funny you should say that.” Kathleen opened the side zipper of her carry-on. “This is for you.”

  Natalie held the cellophane-wrapped cookies in her hand and smiled. “You should come to Montana more often.”

  “I will now that you’re home.” Tears filled Kathleen’s eyes. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I missed you, too.” Natalie hugged her mom again, then stepped away and wiped her eyes. “We’d better go to the Cherry Festival before Gabe regrets coming with us.”

  “No one regrets going to the Cherry Festival,” Kathleen said. “Even if they have two emotional females with them.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Gabe said. “As long as we find a stall that sells cherry pie, I'll be happy.”

  Natalie held onto the handle of her mom’s carry-on. “You won’t need to worry about that. Last time we were here, mom bought at least a dozen pies.”

  “I didn’t eat them all at once,” Kathleen said quickly. “I stored them in the freezer for the right occasion.”

  Natalie grinned.

  “Okay. I admit I didn’t need much of an excuse to nibble on them. Sweet cherries with a little whipped cream can become addictive.”

  Gabe thought of his mom’s fruit pies and smiled. There was nothing like the taste and smell of homemade pie to make you feel good. His smile disappeared as soon as they started moving. For such a small town, Polson Airport was busy.

  They eventually maneuvered their way out of the terminal building. Walking across the parking lot was like riding the bumper cars at the county fair. Everyone wanted to make a quick exit and no one wanted to wait for three pedestrians. Unless something else was happening in town, most of these people would be heading to the Cherry Festival.

  Gabe searched the parking lot, looking for anyone who didn’t seem to belong.

  Natalie made sure her mom was safely inside the truck before turning to him. “Is everything all right?” she whispered.

  He pulled her toward the truck as another vehicle drove slowly by them. “I hope so.” His body tensed as he waited to see what the driver did next.

  “Have you heard from the detectives in the NYPD?”

  Gabe shook his head as the vehicle left the parking lot. “Not for a couple of days.”

  “Hopefully, no news is good news.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it.”

  Natalie frowned. “What happened to the guy who woke up with a smile on his face?”

  “He just realized how many people will be at the festival.”

  “No one will recognize us. Between our baseball caps and sunglasses, we’ll look like everyone else.” Natalie tapped the end of his cap. “And just for the record, don’t pull out your gun unless it’s really necessary. Mom has an even worse phobia about them than I do.”

  Gabe looked into Natalie’s smiling face and sighed. Her blue eyes sparkled. He forgot about the real-life drama the stalker was creating and the team of police who were trying to help him. All he focused on was the woman standing in front of him.

  Natalie was different from most of the women he’d known. She always saw the good in a situation and didn’t have any trouble trusting people. He wished he could
say the same about himself. But fourteen years in the police force had changed him—and not for the better. His only hope for today was that neither of them regretted their decision to be here.

  Chapter 7

  After more than two hours of shopping, Natalie was ready for a cold drink. They’d already filled the back seat of Gabe’s truck with all kinds of cherry treats, including more pies than they could possibly eat.

  As they walked into The Soda Fountain, she smiled. It was exactly as she remembered. A long red counter ran across the entire width of the room. At least a dozen people sat on the vinyl bar stools and the booths were full of happy customers. The sweet smell of chocolate sauce reminded her of the ice cream sundaes she’d loved.

  She walked toward the only empty booth in the room. “I’m glad we took our parcels back to the truck. I didn’t think it would be this busy.” A waitress walked past their booth with four hamburgers and a bowl of fries balanced on her arms.

  Natalie’s stomach rumbled. She picked up the menus and handed one to her mom and another to Gabe. “I’ll buy everyone lunch.”

  Gabe’s frown said more than words could have.

  “And I’m not taking no for an answer. It might be the last time I’m away from my studio for a while.”

  It was her mom’s turn to look worried. “I thought you were happy with where you’re up to with your paintings.”

  “I am, but I’d like to get them finished as soon as possible. After I’ve sent them to Lorenzo, I’m taking a couple months off work.”

  Only her mom knew how rare it was for her to stop painting.

  “Is everything all right?” Kathleen asked.

  “I’m fine. I just want to live a normal life again.”

  Her mom’s eyebrows rose. “I’ve been telling you that for years. What made you finally listen?”

  As much as she wanted to look at Gabe, Natalie kept her gaze on her mom. “I’ve enjoyed living in Sapphire Bay. I go for a long walk each morning. I’m cooking meals instead of eating frozen food. I’m meeting different people and I’m not stressed about how much work I need to do. It feels good to be doing something for me.”

  Her mom looked as though she was going to cry. “It must be grandma and granddad’s influence. They always said Sapphire Bay was a special place.”

  Hot tears stung Natalie’s eyes. She’d never apologized for not coming home for her grandparents’ funeral. Looking back, she could only imagine how difficult it must have been for her mom. “I’ m sorry I didn’t come home for their funeral.”

  “I’m sorry you weren’t here, too. But you’re here now and that’s all that matters.” Kathleen pulled a tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose.

  Natalie wanted to tell her mom about why she’d stayed in Italy, the reasons that would never be enough to make up for not being here. But with Gabe sitting beside them, wondering what was going on, that would have to wait for another day.

  She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. “I found granddad’s hideout the other morning.”

  Gabe frowned.

  “It’s not really a hideout,” Natalie said quickly. “Granddad had a quiet space where he used to sit and contemplate life. It’s so well hidden that you could walk straight past it without knowing it’s there.”

  Kathleen sighed. “My mom called it his dream space. Dad liked inventing things. He used to say that he needed time to clear his mind and plan what he would do next.”

  Gabe nodded. “I can understand that. It sounds as though they were a perfect match.”

  “Just about perfect in every way.” Natalie sat taller in her seat. “They loved the Cherry Festival as much as we did. Grandma used to enter the cherry pie contest each year.”

  “Did she ever win?” Gabe asked.

  “Not that I remember, but it was fun. She used to make a different pie each night for weeks before the contest. When she found one she liked, that was what she entered.”

  “Sounds like everyone was a winner.”

  Natalie smiled at her mom. “I guess we were.”

  The waitress stood beside Gabe. “Welcome to The Soda Fountain. What can I get you?”

  After everyone had placed their order, the waitress smiled. “I’ll be back soon with your drinks. Your meals will be ready in ten minutes.”

  “Thank you.” Natalie handed the waitress her menu. “Do you know where the cherry pie contest is being held?”

  “I sure do. It’s in front of the Cove Deli and Pizza. The judges announce the winner at midday.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m hoping my sister finals. She entered a chocolate-glazed cherry-pecan pie. It tastes incredible.”

  Natalie’s taste buds were watering just thinking about the chocolaty treat.

  Gabe laughed. “I didn’t know you had a sweet tooth.”

  “It’s a family trait,” Natalie said. “Mom’s just as bad as me.”

  “It’s true,” Kathleen said. “There’s nothing that makes either of us happier than a big box of chocolates.”

  “I’ll have to remember that.”

  The warmth in Gabe’s eyes made Natalie blush. She was fast learning that spending time with him was just as addictive as the sweetest dessert.

  After lunch, Gabe waited beside Natalie and her mom. Standing on a raised platform in front of them were the judges of the cherry pie contest.

  A woman in a red polka dot dress held a chocolate-glazed cherry-pecan pie in front of her. It hadn’t won the pie contest, but it was creating quite a stir in the post-contest auction. Each of the pies that made it to the final round of judging was being offered to the highest bidder.

  Natalie was desperately trying to outbid a man in a cotton plaid shirt and blue jeans.

  “One hundred dollars,” the stranger yelled.

  Gabe’s eyebrows rose. He turned to Natalie, expecting her to shrug and walk away. He was wrong.

  “One hundred and twenty dollars!”

  “What are you doing?” Kathleen whispered. “We already have enough pies to last the summer.”

  “It’s for a good cause,” Natalie whispered back. “Besides, the waitress said her sister’s pie was delicious.”

  Gabe looked at the cherry pie. Even though it was drizzled in dark chocolate and would probably melt in your mouth, it wasn’t worth more than sixty dollars, let alone a hundred.”

  The cowboy wearing the plaid shirt raised his arm. “One fifty.”

  Half the audience gasped. The other half clapped and cheered. It looked as though the Polson Literacy Program was about to get a large donation.

  Kathleen shook her head. “This is ridiculous. Let him have the pie. He looks as though he needs it.”

  Gabe smiled. “Your mom’s right. He is a little skinny.”

  Natalie’s gaze shot across the room. The cowboy in question lifted his hat and winked.

  That’s right—winked! Straight at Natalie.

  Gabe moved half a step closer. “Two hundred dollars.”

  “What are you doing?” Natalie gasped. “You were the one who told me not to bid.”

  “It’s for a good cause,” Gabe muttered. Although it wasn’t the same good cause she thought he meant.

  Kathleen stood on tip-toes, trying to peer over the heads of the people in front of her. “Has the other man raised his hand?”

  Gabe crossed his arms, hoping the cowboy got the hint.

  The woman wearing the red polka dot dress waited a few seconds before sending a beaming smile at the audience. “Do I have any advances on two hundred dollars?”

  A heavy silence fell across the crowd.

  “In that case, folks, this lovely chocolate-glazed cherry-pecan pie will be going home with the man in the blue shirt.”

  More than a hundred pairs of eyes swiveled toward Gabe. It was a heck of a way to keep a low profile.

  After they left the auction, there were still a lot of people walking along Main Street. It reminded Natalie of the times she’d trav
eled the same sidewalk with her grandparents. The Cherry Festival had been one of the highlights of their year.

  “Fudge?” Gabe held a bag of cherry ripple fudge under her nose.

  She blinked away her tears. “No, thanks.”

  “Are you sure? It tastes great.”

  Natalie looked into Gabe’s eyes. “You’re leading me astray.”

  He wiped a tear off her cheek. “I’ve got the best of intentions.”

  “And what would those be?”

  “To save myself from a sugar overload.”

  He handed her a piece of fudge. “Do you and your mom want to come to my place for dessert?”

  “We’ve already taken up most of your day.”

  Gabe stepped out of the way of a family coming toward them. “Another hour won’t hurt. We could all take Sherlock for a walk. Your mom would enjoy seeing the lake again.”

  “That sounds good to me,” Kathleen said. “I’m looking forward to meeting Sherlock.”

  Natalie smiled. “It looks as though you’ve got two visitors for dessert. Would you like us to bring anything?”

  “Definitely not. We can have the cherry pie I bought at auction.” Gabe’s cell phone beeped. He took it out of his pocket and stopped walking. “It’s Detective Jameson.”

  Natalie held her breath. Maybe the police had found the person who’d staged the first crime scene. Or perhaps the person responsible had done something worse. She hoped not. It was bad enough being stalked by someone. It was worse knowing what they could do next.

  When Gabe finished the call, he slid the phone into his pocket.

  Her heart sank when she saw the worry on his face. “Someone broke into the cottage. The police are there now.”

  Kathleen wrapped her arm around Natalie’s waist. “How bad is it?”

  “There’s no graffiti and nothing looks as though it was moved. The police think the alarm scared whoever it was away. Tanner is on his way to Sapphire Bay.”

  Natalie’s heart pounded. She wasn’t worried about the large pieces of furniture being stolen. Although they had belonged to her grandparents, most of it could be replaced. What upset her the most was the thought of losing the small keepsakes her family had collected. They weren’t expensive, but they had a lot of sentimental value. Then there was Gabe’s manuscript and her canvases. If anyone wanted to upset either of them, their work would be an easy target.