“That’s not like you.”
“A woman stepped out in front of me.”
Roger spun round to face Gabe.
“Don’t worry. She’s fine. Apart from a twisted ankle.” He watched Roger shudder, as if feeling the pain. “It was as much my fault though.” Gabe glanced over at the white envelope. Having slung it on the kitchen counter the day it had been delivered, it had lain there ever since. “I wasn’t concentrating properly.”
Roger followed Gabe’s gaze.
“I’ll read it when I’m ready,” Gabe said, knowing exactly what his dad was thinking.
Roger shrugged. “Nothing to do with me.” He got back to making the tea.
Gabe considered his collision with Hannah. The fear in her face as she had tumbled to the ground had sent a panic straight through him. Her subsequent meltdown when he’d asked if she was okay confused him. And her utter shock when she, at last, recognised Gabe made him secretly laugh. Not only had Gabe clocked Hannah’s identity from the off, he’d never been accused of attempted murder before.
Despite being in agony, Hannah was as feisty then as she’d been the first time Gabe had met her. A characteristic she’d obviously inherited from her mother. Recalling how JaniceandDorothy had greeted him, the women in that family weren’t exactly reserved.
Roger placed a mug of tea in front of Gabe. “What’s so funny?”
Gabe hadn’t realised he was smiling. Then again, he found it hard not to when it came to Hannah. Gabe didn’t just find her amusing; he found her intriguing. “Nothing,” he said.
“So, did you call an ambulance? To make sure she was checked over properly?” Taking the seat opposite, Roger wrapped his hands around his cup. “Looking at the state of you, I can only imagine the conditionshemust be in.”
“No, but I made sure she got home. It wasn’t far. Just off the high street. You’ll probably know the house. It’s the one with that giant ugly lion at the door.”
“Oh, yes.” Roger said. “Lots of blonde hair.”
“Dad, it’s not wearing a wig. It’s a stone statue.”
“Not the lion.” Roger sniggered. “The woman who owns it. I see her coming and going sometimes with her two kids. On my way to the cemetery to visit your mum. Pretty young thing. Friendly.”
Gabe let out a laugh. “You think?” Stubborn, argumentative, accusatory… of all the descriptions Gabe could have used to describe Hannah, friendly was not one of them.
“She’s always been nice to me. I mean, I’ve never had a conversation with the woman. But I’ve said hello, which she always returns with ahior a little wave. Then again, I’ve never run her over either.” He thought for a moment. “I don’t suppose you know what she’s called, do you?”
“Her name’s Hannah. Why?”
“No reason. Other than the fact that it’s nice to put a name to a pretty face.”
Gabe might not view Hannah as friendly like his dad did, but he certainly agreed she was pretty. He suddenly felt Roger’s eyes on him. “What?”
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Smiling.”
“And that’s a crime now, is it?”
“No, but itisinteresting.” Roger sipped on his tea. “I can’t remember the last time you did that over a woman.”
CHAPTER15
Hannah stirred and not wanting to wake from the best of dreams, she clung on to an image of Gabe.
He’d just returned from a meeting with his fellow Olympian gods and unable to deny his love for Hannah any longer, was determined to make his feelings known. He threw off his himation, refusing to hide his heart any longer. The last thing Gabe wanted was a cloak preventing Hannah from seeing where his lay. Standing there in only his chiton, Hannah ran her fingers across his bare shoulder and well-defined pectoralis major. At the feel of her touch, Gabe got down on bended knee…
The sound of banging and clattering filtered into Hannah’s brain and Gabe faded into black. Hannah properly awoke and opening her eyes, her mind flitted between disappointment and confusion.
