Page 65 of Tattered and Torn
Hannah’s brows knit together. “John?”
As Killian chokes on his coffee, he smacks his palm on the table. “I told you, babe,” he says to Hannah.
“But I thought—you said—” Hannah seems more than a little confused.
“When you asked me if I knew I had a secret admirer, I thought you were talking about John.”
Killian holds his hand out to Hannah. “Pay up, babe. Five bucks.”
“You guys bet on this?” I ask, surprised but also amused.
Hannah rolls her eyes. “Killian thought there was something going on between you and John. Or, to be more specific, he thought John was crushing on you. I told him he was nuts. I thought it was Chris. So, yeah, we bet on it.” She shakes her head. “John? Really?”
I nod.
“But, he’s so—I don’t know, standoffish, I guess. I never would have put the two of you together. You’re so you—all sunshine and positivity— and he’s such a grump.”
“He’s misunderstood. I’ve gotten to know him—”
“How well?” Hannah asks.
I don’t even have to answer because my expression gives me away.
“Oh, my God,” Hannah says. Then she’s distracted by something across the room. “Speak of the devil, your misunderstood cowboy just walked in.”
I turn to look, and when I spot John standing just inside the restaurant, I wave him over.
Almost reluctantly, he walks over to the table. “Mornin’, Hannah,” he says. He tips the brim of his cowboy hat. “Killian.” Then he looks down at me, and immediately his expression softens, and I see a hint of a smile. “Gabrielle.”
“You can stop pretending,” Hannah says. She points at the empty chair beside mine. “You might as well have a seat and join us for breakfast. We know everything.”
“I hope not everything,” John says, drawing out the word. He winks at me. As he starts for the buffet, he motions for me to join him.
Smiling stupidly, I jump up from my chair and follow after him. It looks like the cat is definitely out of the bag.
Chapter 21 – John
I guess it’s official. Gabrielle Hunter and I are dating. I haven’t dated in years—not since before the accident. Now that Hannah and Killian know about us, I guess it’s public knowledge. This is a small, tight-knit community; everyone will know before the week is out.
“Are you mad?” Gabrielle asks me as she joins me at the buffet.
I hand her a plate. “Mad? Why would I be mad?”
“Because I told Hannah and Killian we’re dating.”
I find myself smiling. “That’s fine. They should know. Then, when I do this—” I lean over and kiss her cheek “—they won’t freak out.”
We’re almost done filling our plates when I see Chris Nelson dressed in his sheriff’s uniform walking our way. “Well, look who the cat dragged in,” I say, nodding to Chris as he joins us at the buffet.
“Mornin’, guys,” Chris says. He’s too busy mooning over Gabrielle to pay me any mind.
All right. It’s time to nip this in the bud. “Chris, have you heard the news?”
Finally, he tears his attention away from her long enough to ask me, “What news?”
“Gabrielle and I are dating.” Damn, that feels good to say out loud.
Chris’s eyes widen, and his jaw actually drops. “You’re—” He looks to Gabrielle for confirmation, as if he thinks I just pulled that out of my ass. “You’re what?”