She knows, a voice in the back of my head tells me.She knows I’m here.
“I mean if you’re not going to tell me about your great love, then leave me be. Perhaps I could work on my knitting or cross-stitch.” An impish expression crosses her face, which Gabrielle doesn’t see because she’s not looking in her direction. “Is the man you’re in love with married or committed to someone else? That always makes for a juicy scandal.”
Gabrielle swivels in her direction.
Granny flashes her a sympathetic, pitying look. “Don’t worry. It’s not you. Men are silly creatures. They tend to miss what’s right in front of them. I’m sure the other woman in his life doesn’t measure up to you.”
I almost laugh out loud at the sincerity in her voice and on her face. The woman deserves an Academy Award for her performance.
Granny seems to have nailed it when it comes to whatever’s going on with the man in Gabrielle’s life. Gabrielle’s shoulders shift slightly, in a move of resignation.
Andthisis who was teaching the sessions on how to have a happy and sexually fulfilling marriage?
Was she always hovering around Jayden and me during them because she knew we weren’t married and was putting us on the spot on purpose?
I mean, sure, the outcome worked out great for Jayden and me, but she wouldn’t have known that at the time.
“So who is this mystery man?” Granny asks softly.
“No one you know.”
“Which means there’s no harm in telling me. Is he here at the winery?”
Gabrielle shakes her head.
“Did you know he wasn’t coming here? Or were you hoping for a brief interlude with him? A stolen kiss?”
That final line of questioning does the trick. “He’s the grandson of the man responsible for bringing you here.”Nikolai Orlov? Is that the grandson she’s referring to?“And yes, I thought he was going to be here. But instead, his grandfather showed up.”
“Is he married or committed to someone else?” The words are spoken gently, without judgment.
“Not that I know of. The committed part. I know he’s not married.” Gabrielle lets out a heavy sigh. “Maybe he really hasn’t noticed I’m alive.”
“Or perhaps he has, but he plays infield for the other team.”
Despite the situation and her heartbroken revelation, Gabrielle chuckles. “I believe that’s bats for the other team.”
“That’s so clichéd, and if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a cliché.”
She’s right about that…in so many different ways.
I study the window, but there’s no way for Landon and me to enter this way without Gabrielle noticing. A slight edge of helplessness leaks in. I hastily plug up the hole, barricading myself against all defeating emotions.
Apparently Granny has her own plans. While Gabrielle pours her heart out about the love of her life, who doesn’t seem to notice she exists, Granny inches her way to the bar.
Gabrielle turns her back on her, long enough for Granny to grab a bottle of wine from the bar and swing it high above her head…
37
Jayden
“Are you getting anything?”I ask Connor. We’ve been sitting in the van for the past ten minutes without a single peep from the team.
It’s not unusual for the guys to go radio silent when they’re unable to communicate without giving away their positions. The last thing you want is for the bad guys to stumble across you because you’re yapping like a bunch of old geese.
But even when that happens, Connor can still hear something, even if it’s only sounds coming from the team’s surroundings or the heavy breathing in reply to a question they can’t respond to.
Except in this case, none of that has been true. He’s been asking them for some sort of signal that everyone is okay, but all we’ve received in return is dead air.
