“I think I can remember that,” she said, once Gabe had finished.
Gabe’s phone rang and watching him pull it out of his pocket, Hannah was convinced she caught the name Kate on the screen.
Looking harassed, Gabe declined the call and seeming to block the number, he shoved the phone away again.
Curious, Hannah wondered who the mystery woman was. The fact that Gabe refused to speak to her showed there was more to his and Kate’s connection than he was letting on. But having snooped over his shoulder, it wasn’t as if Hannah could question him about that direct. “The demanding client?” she asked instead.
“Something like that.”
Much to Hannah’s frustration, he refused to say any more about it and moved straight on.
“I’ve put together a workout schedule.” Producing a sheet of paper, he unfolded it and handed it to Hannah. “Starting now, it takes you right up to race day.”
Hannah read what he’d written. She looked to Gabe confused. “But this says I only need to train four days a week.”
“It does. When it comes to any kind of exercise routine, time off is just as important. It gives your body and brain the chance to recharge. Believe me, they need that recovery time.”
Hannah continued to study the sheet. She let out a laugh. “You really think I’ll be running a full 2.5k come Saturday? In one go? No stopping or walking?” She wrinkled her nose in disbelief. “In an hour or less?”
“I don’t see why not. You’ve been doing great the last couple of weeks.”
Hannah looked at him like he’d gone mad. “You saw the speed Mel and Francesca ran at.” Hannah still hadn’t got over being lapped. “Even Liv got fed up with my slow pace and left me to it.”
As Gabe returned her gaze, there was a sincerity in his eyes. “Trust me. You’ve got this.”
Hannah’s face lit up. Bolstered by Gabe’s encouragement, after all he was the expert, she began to believe that herself.
CHAPTER33
Sitting at the table with a healing cup of tea, Gabe glanced over at his vehicle keys hanging on the hook by the kitchen door. It would have been easy to grab them, jump in his car, and head round to Hannah’s. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have a valid reason. Having organised the treadmill on Hannah’s behalf, it was logical for him to check in to see how she was coping with it. She might even need advice on the training schedule he’d put together.
However, having decided to give Hannah some space, Gabe resisted the urge. Recalling her response upon hearing the news that her ex-husband hoped to remarry, Gabe thought the last thing Hannah needed was him hanging around. Hannah might have said she and Carl were long over and even joked about no one ever chartering a boat for her, but once the news sank in Carl’s moving on could have stirred up memories of what the two of them once shared. Hannah could be thinking about what she’d lost and what might have been.
Or you could be using Carl’s situation as an excuse, Gabe’s inner voice suggested.To stop yourself getting in too deep.
Gabe let out a laugh. “It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think?”
He couldn’t believe a woman, whom he’d met less than three weeks prior, had made such an impact on him and sitting there, he had to wonder what was wrong with Carl. If Gabe was ever lucky enough to be in a relationship with Hannah, he couldn’t imagine any good reason to leave her.
His loss is your gain, the little voice said.
“You think?” Gabe replied. As far as he was concerned, he was a long way from that.
Gabe sighed. He’d had the perfect opportunity to tell Hannah how he felt, but instead of being honest, he’d chickened out and let the moment pass. He might not be ready to declare undying love for Hannah, but he could have said he agreed with everyone else in that they’d make a great couple. He pictured the scene. Him asking her for her thoughts on the matter. Hannah asking him for his. Neither of them daring to give a straight answer. He shook his head and sighed. The two of them were clearly as bad as each other.
Gabe cocked his head, as a thought suddenly struck him. “Hannah didn’t disagree.” Gabe let out a laugh, wondering why he hadn’t realised that at the time. Maybe there was hope, after all?
He glanced over at his car keys once more, but again suppressed the lure to go and see Hannah. It wasn’t as if Carl’s situation had changed. He was still moving on and Hannah might still have stuff to deal with. The white envelope Gabe continued to ignore caught his eye, reminding him that Hannah wasn’t the only one with an ex to get around.
He stared at the envelope. Whatever it was Kate wanted from him, Gabe knew from old there was drama ahead.
CHAPTER34
“I’m looking forward to this,” Aunt Dorothy said.
So was Hannah. It was one of her rest days and with no stretching, jiggling, and running to get on with, she was determined to make the most of it.
Dorothy’s happiness continued, as they pulled onto the car park. “I can’t remember the last time I was treated to lunch out.”
