Summer Solace (2 page)

Gabe was confused with the conversation. He was in shock at seeing the woman he had loved step out of the woods. He wanted to grab her and demand an explanation, but for some reason, answered as if they were total strangers with no tumultuous past between them.

“We moved up here this afternoon. I was going to come down to the office tomorrow and inform Dan.” 

That answered one question Joanna had considered. She had been shocked to see him standing in her woods. She had no idea he was anywhere near her home. Hearing that Dan had obviously checked them in while she had been on a supply run explained her ignorance. The woman moved from behind Gabe and stood at his side.

“Gabe?  Are you going to introduce me or have you forgotten I’m alive?” the young woman asked. She had an amused tone in her voice as she looked between Gabe and Joanna.

She was extremely pretty, but in a way that made Joanna think she didn’t even realize it. Joanna thought she was a bit young for a man of Gabe’s age, but flushed when she remembered that was absolutely none of her business.

The girl put her hand on Gabe’s forearm. “Gabe?  Are you okay?” she asked. The concern in her voice snapped Gabe out of his silence and caused Joanna to feel a new sense of loss. He moved his arm to put around the girl’s shoulder and bent to drop a kiss on the top of her head. Joanna felt something shift inside as she saw the very obvious affection between the two. What had she expected?  He had obviously continued on with his life the moment he helped destroy hers.

“Sorry, honey,” Gabe said, and then turned back to Joanna. “Jo, I’d like you to meet Amber,my little sister.” Sister? Joanna realized that the woman she assumed was Gabe’s new….ummm, nope. Not going there; it was not her concern. Joanna heard a sound and realized that the small woman had stepped away from Gabe’s side and was standing with her hand stuck out. Joanna instinctively stepped forward and took it.

“I’m not little,” Amber said, as they shook hands. “He is just so old that anyone under the age of twenty is considered a baby.” 

Joanna almost smiled for the first time at the teasing tone of Amber’s voice. From her demeanor, no one would ever suspect that she had just gotten her bottom roasted.

Amber released Joanna’s hand and looked between her and Gabe. Something was going on and her natural curiosity would not let her ignore it. “How do you know my brother?”

Gabe was the one that responded. “Joanna and I were together several years ago. She just disappeared one evening and I haven’t heard from her since.” 

Joanna immediately heard the change in his tone. She also caught the fact she was no longer Jo. He had used her full name. She understood he was accusing her of something, something he had absolutely no right to do. She unconsciously stood even taller, reminding herself that she was no longer that person.

Gabe watched her carefully. He saw her eyes darken and flash for a moment before they closed off her thoughts. She had never been very good at that before. Her open face had allowed him to learn so much about her. What he wanted to do was reach out, grab her and shake her. His sense of shock was wearing off and his control was beginning to regain its hold. He felt a sense of loss at the thought she had learned how to encase herself in a barrier. He wanted to force an explanation out of her. He doubted that whatever she said would overcome how hurt he had been when he had discovered her lie, however, he found he needed to hear her story. He forced his hurt down deep and held out his hand.

Joanna looked at it as if she expected a dagger to appear. She saw Amber’s look of confusion and forced herself to reach out with her own. Joanna placed her hand in his and felt her world shift as the man’s fingers closed around hers. She felt her heart skip a beat and her eyes lowered to see the hand that totally engulfed her own. She could feel the heat from his skin and again felt something course through her, something she hadn’t felt since that night so long ago.

Shaking her head in both confusion and a flash of embarrassment over her reaction to a simple handshake, she quickly pulled away despite the fact Gabe tightened his grip in an effort to keep their hands clasped.

He too had felt the jolt as his heart stuttered again. At that precise moment he vowed she would not be able to dismiss him this time. He would not only ask for an explanation, he’d demand one.

Amber had been watching and saw the look that passed over both their faces. She had never in her life seen her brother react as he did. She had no idea what was happening but the air had grown thick with tension. She had always been a peace–maker and today was no different. She needed to dispel whatever was happening until both of them had a chance to think about their obviously shocking reunion. Thinking fast, she grinned and then giggled.

“Are you going to arrest Gabe?” she asked. Her words caused the other two to turn their attention to her. Gabe’s eyes grew darker and Amber’s smile slipped a bit. She sighed, “I’m just kidding, Gabe, geez.” 

Gabe shook his head and growled. The sound caused Joanna to relax a bit and a small smile turned up her mouth. It might not be such a bad idea after all.

“That wasn’t my intention, but perhaps you’d like to file a complaint?” Joanna suggested.

Gabe’s eyes flashed again but Amber laughed.

“Hmmm, no, I don’t think so,” Amber said with a smile. “He’d just paddle me again when he got out of jail!” 

Joanna saw Gabe relax and heard him chuckle. She found herself relaxing as well, seeing the easy communication between the two.

“I just came through because I’ve posted a wind warning,” Joanna said in explanation as to why she had interrupted them. “The wind is already picking up and may reach dangerous levels where campfires are concerned. I need you to make sure your fire is completely out before you retire for the night. Embers have been known to get carried high into the trees and we don’t want any forest fires. Actually, I didn’t know any campers were up this high, but I smelled your smoke and came to check it out.” 

Her eyes turned back to Amber, and her voice lowered. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening.” 

Amber blushed a bit at the memory of what Joanna had witnessed, but then she grinned. “It’s okay. I’m sure Gabe wouldn’t want to be responsible for starting any fires, now would you, dear brother?” She batted her eyes at her older brother.

Gabe heard the teasing in her voice. “Only fires that I can control, young lady. It’s time for you to get to bed, isn’t it? Or does your fire need more stoking?” 

Amber started to disagree about bedtime, but her glance fell on the paddle where it still lay on the picnic table. Just seeing the wooden implement squashed any desire to argue with him, well, at least until her bottom stopped burning.

She dragged her eyes away from the paddle and nodded. Taking a deep breath, she chose the safest path and said, “Umm, okay, nice to meet you, Joanna. I hope we see each other again.” 

Joanna replied that she enjoyed meeting Amber as well, and realized that it was true. There was just something about the younger woman that made her feel comfortable though slightly off–balanced. They both watched as the girl walked to the tent and bent to step inside.

Gabe saw her hand reach back to rub against her backside and grinned. She would definitely be sleeping on her stomach tonight. He saw Joanna watching as well. Her reaction to what she had obviously witnessed intrigued him immensely. She had not reacted as if the spanking had caused her discomfort. It was as if she not only wasn’t shocked by the paddling, she was comfortable enough that she didn’t feel it necessary to demand any sort of explanation. Gabe knew he had to remind Joanna that he had never been nor ever would be a threat to her. He found he desperately didn’t want her to disappear again.

“Would you like one last cup of coffee before I douse the fire?”  Gabe asked as he turned to pick up an old enamel coffee pot that had been placed at the edge of the fire. He grabbed two mugs out of the box on the picnic table bench and held them up. Joanna was about to decline when she felt the long day press down on her. Suddenly she realized she was very tired, and still trying to come to grips with seeing Gabe in the middle of her woods. She knew she wanted to know why he had disappeared from her life though wondered if she’d ever have the courage to ask.

Gabe saw her hesitate and said, “Jo, it’s just coffee. I’m not going to bite you. I really would like to talk to you. I promise you can leave if you become uncomfortable.” 

His assurances weren’t doing much to assuage her uneasiness, however, his tone indicated that he was an adult – would she like to be one as well?  She realized that no matter how much she had been hurt emotionally, this man had never once given her reason to fear him. She forced her eyes to his and took a deep breath.

“Thank you, I’d love a cup.”

Gabe poured both cups and pulled sugar and cream from another box. He handed her a spoon and watched as she scooped three spoons of sugar into her own cup, followed by a good dose of cream. She stirred the mixture until it was a light tan contrasting greatly with the deep black of his own beverage. He shook his head and teased her, “Still drinking a little coffee with your cream and sugar?” 

She flushed, but had to nod. “Yes, I suppose that won’t ever change.” She took her first sip and sighed. Coffee was one of her weaknesses. She adored it and could not imagine life without several cups a day. When Gabe reached back into the box and pulled out a bag of chocolate and marshmallow cookies, she smiled. “Still haven’t gotten over your cookie cravings?” she teased back.

Gabe chuckled as he ripped the bag open. He didn’t bother with a plate. He just took two of the cookies for himself before offering the bag to her. Joanna pulled out one of the thick cookies and nibbled around its edge.

“No, I haven’t been able to kick the habit,” he admitted. “Have a seat?” 

Joanna slid onto the bench and he took a seat opposite her. They were both quiet while they sipped the coffee and enjoyed the cookies. After a few moments, he said, “I was going to come down in the morning and inform the office that we’d switch sites. I didn’t figure anyone was there this late.” 

Joanna nodded. “No, the office closes at eight,” she confirmed. “Everyone is usually gone home by then, but with the wind warning, I wanted to check the sites one last time. We’ve had some problems before with campers who are either unaware of what the winds can do or too stup–” she paused, realizing it wasn’t professional to continue her sentence.

“Stupid or too out of it to care?” Gabe finished for her.

She grinned but nodded.

“Why did you move all the way up here?” Joanna asked. “You are really far from the other campers and the office, not to mention the bathroom. You have to hike in this far up. Most people prefer sites where they can conveniently park their car right next to their camp.” 

Gabe placed his elbows on the table and then very calmly said, “I know we are down for site fourteen, but we’ve had some problems with some, shall we say, inconsiderate campers.”

“Site twelve perhaps?”  Joanna asked, her lips curving into a small smile.

Gabe grinned back and nodded. “Let’s just say that a campsite full of hormonal frat boys is a bit much for my tastes. Amber tended to disagree.”

Joanna nodded, as she’d had to spend quite a few minutes at the campsite to supervise the dousing of their fire. The six young men were indeed local college kids and had obviously been drinking a bit much. Their youth and enthusiasm for fun were understandable, but Joanna took her job seriously.

“I admit they are a bit rowdy but they seem nice enough. They didn’t fight me on the fire issue, and I’m pretty sure they are all tucked in for the night,” she said. She flushed when Gabe chuckled.

“Passed out is more likely,” he said. “They are just young, and believe it or not, I do remember how that feels. However, I won’t tolerate underage drinking, especially when it involves my sister.” 

Joanna’s eyes darkened and she felt as if he were questioning her abilities.

“I take my job very seriously, Gabriel. I’ve worked very hard to remake my life when…never mind that. I’ve checked their ID’s,” Joanna informed him. “If they weren’t legal, I would have confiscated their liquor. They are all over twenty-one.”  Gabe gave her a curt nod.

“I wasn’t questioning your abilities or your job performance, Joanna,” Gabe said quietly. “It might be they are of age and that’s fine. However, Amber just turned nineteen and knows better than to sneak over to their camp and drink a beer.”  Joanna understood now what the paddling had been all about. Gabe had never been one for being lenient when rules were bent. She couldn’t imagine how he felt when an actual law was broken.

Gabe continued, “I felt we needed to move far enough away so that I could remove some of the temptation a group of fawning boys invites.”  Joanna’s eyes fell to the paddle and she felt her face heat. Gabe saw where she was looking and said, “Yeah, that too. I figured Amber would perhaps argue against the need to remove temptation, but thought she might appreciate a lot more woods between our campsite and theirs while we discussed her behavior in relative privacy.”  Joanna realized what he meant and took a few minutes to think about his words. She realized that he was not apologizing for paddling his sister. However, she did understand that he was also trying to make what had to have been a very embarrassing situation, at least for his sister, more tolerable. He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed for his part of the scene she had inadvertently witnessed.

“I see,” she said quietly as she attempted to keep the conversation on a professional level. “You know, if you are having problems, you can come to the office and report them. We try to run an orderly camp, but well, you know how it is. Sometimes campers can get a bit rowdy.”  Gabe smiled and finished his coffee.

“Believe me, I know,” he said and then smiled. “It is nothing I can’t deal with, and as Amber said, I’m old so maybe I’m just a bit stuck in my ways in more than just my cookie cravings.”  Joanna looked up to see him staring at her intently. His eyes were so dark they almost looked black. His cheeks and chin were covered with stubble that only served to make him appear both sexy and rough. His black hair was wavy and full, his entire being appeared chiseled. His hand dwarfed the cup he was holding and the muscles bunched in the sleeve of his shirt appeared hard as granite. She felt a shiver run through her and realized she was staring at him, remembering how it felt to try to answer to him when he had discovered she had done something of which he disapproved. She forced her eyes away and took another sip of the now cooling coffee. She needed to keep a grip on herself and not get lost in the quagmire that was her past.