Page 8 of Gabriel & Skye

My lips twitch in a smile as I listen to their banter. I’m hiding behind the coffee machine, hoping May doesn’t throw me under the bus with my shit coffee-making skills.

The woman laughs and swats the man on the arm. “Don’t start, Grayson.” She shakes her head.

“How are you, Hartley?” Aunt May asks the woman.

“I’m very well, thank you, yourself?” says Hartley.

“Can’t complain,” Aunt May goes on good-naturedly. “You know, I knew it when I saw you that day in the cafe. I said to Mike something’s going on with those two. You sure make a cute couple.”

I glance up to see the man smiling, wrapping an arm around Hartley.

“You have a sense for these things, don’t you?” He laughs. “But yes, I’m pleased to announce Hartley and I are officially an item.”

May leans on the counter, not in the least bit of a hurry to take their orders.

“Now that’s wonderful news. I hear you dealt with Grayson’s divorce nice and swiftly.” She smiles at Hartley.

“I finished what my dad started,” Hartley replies. “Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out quite as we’d planned.”

“Shame about the fire,” Mike adds his two cents worth as he walks by. “I’m so glad you two were okay, that’s the main thing. Gabe, I heard you saved the love birds from the blaze?”

I glance up at ‘Gabe’ and listen for his reply. He’s reading something on his cell, but closes it quickly and slides it into his back pocket.

“All in a night’s work,” he says. “Glad I saw the smoke when I did.”

His eyes glance over at me briefly, and I quickly look away.

Damn. He’s cute. In a serious ‘businessman’ kind of way.I always thought men in small southern towns dressed like cowboys, but this guy could easily work in an office in New York.

“He’s very modest,” I hear Hartley say. “He and Brooklyn really did save our lives that night.”

“Good grief.” May tuts. “I still can’t believe it. I’m just glad that both of you are okay. Buildings can be replaced, people can’t.”

“We’re fine, thank God,” Grayson says. “But yes, the poor old cabin burned to the ground.”

I notice the one named Gabe is strumming his hands on the counter a little impatiently. Maybe he has somewhere to be. A few moments later, his phone rings and he excuses himself to take it outside.

“Gabe will have the usual,” Grayson says. “Two cappuccinos for me and Hart, and we’ll take two of the lemon cakes with cream.”

“Perfect, take a table,” May says. “Oh, before I forget, this is Skye. Dot and Marty’s granddaughter. Travis Hendry’s little sister.”

I wipe my hands on my apron. Of course, I’ve been introduced as Travis’s little sister for as long as I can remember.

“Oh, we heard Trav was back in town,” Grayson says, smiling at me. “Nice to finally meet you. I’m Grayson Bassett, but folks call me Gray. This is my girlfriend, Hartley.”

I smile back, shaking Gray’s outstretched hand, and then Hartley’s. “Pleased to meet you, too.” So, this is one of the famous Bassett Brothers.

“How are you finding Stoney Creek?” Hartley asks.

“Oh I love it. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid to visit my grandparents,” I say. “Though it has been a couple of years and some of the old ducks take a little getting used to.”

“Hey, I heard that!” Aunt May says, giving me a side eye.

Grayson and Hartley laugh.

“I’ll get onto those coffees.”

“Thank you.” Hartley smiles. “It was so nice to meet you.”

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