Page 6 of Fearless Encounter

*****

Gabriel guided her to the breakfast table and raised the blinds. The sky was just beginning to get light. The sight of the backyard and garden was tranquil, and Brooke sipped her coffee while gazing out the window. She had so many questions for Gabriel but didn’t know where to start. She’d only just met him so held back. The pictures on the walls in her room came to mind.

The photos of his family had captivated her. His wife had been lovely, with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. His daughters looked like their mother, with blue eyes and blondish hair. Gabriel was in some of the photos, too. And he looked so happy. It touched Brooke’s heart to think of him losing his wife. She was curious about what had happened but didn’t want to ask so soon.

“A penny for your thoughts?” Gabriel said, his eyes lighting with a smile.

“Oh, uh… I hope you don’t mind my asking, but I’d like to hear more about your family,” Brooke said, purposely leaving it open in case he wanted to talk about his wife.

Gabriel took a gulp of coffee. “My girls are amazing. But that’s a proud father talking.” He leaned back. “Camille is my oldest, and she turned twenty-one last year and moved to California. She runs her own online clothing business and does quite well at it.”

“Why California?”

“She wanted to be on the West Coast, closer to design centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco,” Gabriel said. “And Abe’s younger sister, Mallory, lives in L.A. and was delighted to have Camille move in with her—at least temporarily.”

“Abe’s in the PD?”

“Yes, we still work a lot together,” Gabriel said. “We became good friends during my stint in the force.”

Brooke listened, glad to get to know him better.

“Amalie, my youngest, recently turned nineteen, but you probably know that.”

“Sure, the daughter who favors my cake baking.”

Gabriel smiled. “She sure does, and she likes sweets. If she knows you’re around, I’m sure she’ll try to twist your arm to make something for her.”

“What does she do?”

“Amalie is a researcher in my PI firm,” Gabriel said. “Since she was little, she gravitated to technology, and she’s quite good at it. Plus, she’s handy with social media, which is useful.”

“That’s interesting,” Brooke said, holding her warm mug in both hands. “It’s unusual for a young girl to want a career with her father.”

“True, but she chose it.” Gabriel’s eyes gleamed when he spoke about his daughters. “She wants to be a PI, and I’m sure she’ll be damn good at it.”

Brooke waited, curious how much he’d share about his wife. “Your daughters look like their mother.”

Gabriel’s expression darkened, but only momentarily. “That’s a good thing. They are beautiful.”

Sensing that he was on the verge of sharing more, she said, “What did your wife do?”

For a moment, Gabriel looked out the window. The sun was coming up, and the soft light cast a glow over the table. He looked more handsome than ever. “Margot was a nurse…until she died three years ago.” He didn’t elaborate.

Brooke did the math. Margot had died when her youngest was barely sixteen years old—a very sad thought.

“Let’s see what I can cook up for breakfast,” Gabriel said, heading for the kitchen.

Brooke followed for a coffee refill and to watch him at work. She offered to help, but he didn’t need it.

“Scrambled eggs and toast okay?”

“That sounds good. I’m hungrier than I usually am this early in the morning.” Brooke set the table, and when the food was done, they sat.

It was comfortable being with Gabriel. She tried to recall if she’d felt that way about her husband before marrying him but was sure that she hadn’t. It had been awkward even dating. She marveled at how she’d rationalized everything. Her ex had looked like a movie star, and she’d fallen for him quickly. Yet she couldn’t recall ever talking with him, except about superficial topics—or later in the relationship, fighting.

“Tell me more about you,” Gabriel said, shuffling his eggs around the plate.

“Well, you already know I’m a pastry chef,” Brooke said. “I’ve worked at Jasper’s Bistro for fifteen years. After graduating from pastry school, I worked for a variety of restaurants—sort of worked my way up.”