Page 14 of Fearless Encounter

“That’s a challenge I won’t turn down,” Brooke said. “I’ve been known to go dessert hopping with friends.”

“Hmm, I haven’t heard the term.”

“We made it up,” she said. “The idea is to go to a few restaurants with high-quality pastry chefs, order one dessert at each place, and share it. It’s fun and a great way to try things.”

The desserts were delivered to the table, and Gabriel watched as Brooke savored her first bite of the baklava. She closed her eyes and moaned, making Gabriel think of other things. He diverted his attention to his own dessert, trying to play it cool.

After coffee and dessert, they went back to his place—almost like a couple. He had to remind himself that she was a houseguest merely for her protection.

It wasn’t lost on Gabriel that Brooke felt awkward staying at his place. She would much rather go home to her condo. But he couldn’t be sure that she was safe unless he had eyes on her. He decided to make her visit as comfortable as he could. When they got to the house, he suggested watching a movie with her. It didn’t seem right to go to bed so early and would be rude not to offer.

Once Brooke changed into casual clothes and settled onto the sofa, he asked, “What would you like to see? We can stream a movie, or I have a few DVDs—mostly stuff my girls left here.” He rummaged through the drawer to find a couple of options.

“I’ll takeMamma Mia!. I’ve seen it several times, but I enjoy the music.”

Gabriel started the movie and took a seat in the recliner, putting him at a distance from Brooke. But he could see her in the dim room and couldn’t seem to keep his attention away from her. Except for interjecting comments about the film, Brooke seemed immersed in the musical.

As she watched, Gabriel was distracted by how sexy she looked in the low light, snuggled on his sofa. It did his heart good to know that she was safe. Over dinner, he’d restrained himself from mentioning the threat that hung over her. Her position at a popular restaurant put her in a precarious position. Even he heard recommendations about the pastry chef at Jasper’s, which was one reason he’d chosen it for his daughter’s birthday. Her position at the restaurant could make her easy to spot. There was little he could do about that, so playing bodyguard was his only choice.

Before the movie was over, Brooke yawned and stretched. “I know how it ends. I think I’ll go get some sleep, if you don’t mind.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Thank you for a nice time. It took my mind off things.”

Gabriel was tired also. But when she went to the guest suite, he sat in the kitchen for a while. He wasn’t ready to sleep. An evening with Brooke had brought memories of his wife to mind, and the countless times they had shared dinner out, movies, and much more intimate moments. Losing her had hit him hard. The first year had been the worst. It had taken that longbefore he was able to bear clearing out her closet and giving any valuable possessions to his daughters. Yet sadness lingered. It wasn’t with him all the time, but could be triggered by seemingly innocent things.

For a long while, Gabriel had struggled to find joy in the simple things, like laughing at a movie or listening to music. He’d learned that was normal after the loss of a loved one. After a period, Gabriel was able to enjoy activities with his daughters, and with a few close friends. But it wasn’t the same. Those relationships—however treasured—didn’t fill the void. He had lost hope that he would ever move past the loss of Margot.

Sitting in the darkened living room with Brooke enjoying a movie was different. And talking over dinner, sharing small pleasures, had warmed his heart. There was no reason to think that he would become intimate with her, as desirable as that might be. Yet she lit up his world in a new way, and he rather liked that.

*****

The next morning, Gabriel was sat at the table having his first cup of coffee when Brooke bounced into the room. She wore running shoes, sweats, and a zippered jacket. Her dark hair was in a ponytail, making her look younger. “Do you always get up when it’s still dark out?”

Gabriel smiled, “Yes, I suppose it’s a habit.”

Brooke poured a cup of coffee and sat across from him. “I hope you know a good jogging route in this neighborhood, because I’m ready for a good workout.”

“You’re on.” Gabriel took the last sip and put the cup in the sink. “I’ll be back before you can finish your coffee.” He wentto change clothes, wondering how lengthy a run Brooke was up for.

Gabriel didn’t have to wonder for long. He headed down the sidewalk with Brooke at his side. She had no trouble keeping up, and he guessed that she worked out regularly. As the sun rose, they wound through the neighborhood streets past oak trees, historic mansions, and a few quirky shops. Gabriel liked to jog early, when it was quiet.

Since Brooke was hardly out of breath, he extended the route and led her to Coliseum, a serene park with grassy areas, towering oaks, and a water fountain. The air was brisk but there was no wind. He jogged along the path until the sun was up.

Brooke tapped his arm. “I need a break,” she said, heading toward a park bench, where she sat to catch her breath.

Gabriel sat next to her. “I’m impressed. You’re in pretty good shape.”

“I have to be,” she said. “Pastry work isn’t a desk job. It requires a lot of standing. And it takes strength to carry buckets and heavy platters.” She leaned back. “Plus, I want to stay fit. Turning forty is no excuse to let myself go.”

Gabriel had noticed her shapeliness. He refrained from commenting to avoid getting too personal, but she was definitely desirable. He liked that she wasn’t too skinny, a condition women seemed to strive for. She was voluptuous enough to be sexy.

His thoughts were interrupted when Brooke said, “I hope it’s not too forward, but I’d like to hear why you left the police force. You mentioned that, and I’m curious—if you’d care to share that story now?”

Gabriel opted to give her the short version. He was often asked what had happened. “My wife was a victim of street crime. She was an innocent victim. I was still a police officer, but I wasn’t with her at the time of the incident.” He took a breath. “Margot was alone when she was killed.” His gut wrenched as he recalled what had happened. He hadn’t forgiven himself.

Brooke was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m so sorry about that. I know you must miss her dreadfully.” She hesitated. “Why the PI firm?”

Gabriel shrugged. “The way it went down wasn’t right. There was too much red tape, excessive delay in getting justice.” He looked at her. “I need to run my own show. I decided to take more control. If only…” He didn’t follow through on the thought.

“Could you have prevented it?”