Off The Clock (First Responders 1)

Gabe got out of the car and shut the door, leaning on the open window with his elbows. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said softly. “Let me make you dinner. This weekend.”

Nerves bubbled through Carly. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. It felt like setting up a date. “This weekend?” she parroted.

“I’m off on Saturday night. I’ll make pasta. Give you the grand tour.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way she couldn’t resist.

“I’d like that, Gabe.”

His smile widened. “Great. Come by around seven.”

He walked up the driveway to his house and Carly took a moment to admire the view of Gabe in faded jeans. Lord help her. Maybe they were establishing a friendship, but the warmth of his eyes when he issued the invitation made it feel distinctly like a date. What would she wear? Could she even fit into her favorite jeans again? What if something happened? There were parts of her that were still obviously not back to pre-pregnancy state…

He turned and waved and she put the car in reverse. Now she was getting ahead of herself. Nothing would happen. Just because she couldn’t stop thinking about him didn’t mean they were on the edge of a torrid affair. It took two the last time she remembered. It had been a while but not that long ago.

She shook her head as she headed home. It was time she took her head out of the clouds and kept herself firmly rooted in reality. Because if she wasn’t careful, Gabe Brenner would be capable of breaking her heart, and she wasn’t sure it could take another disappointment.

Chapter Six

At five minutes to seven, Carly drove into Gabe’s yard. The days were long now, but the sunlight seemed to take on a mellow quality as shadows slowly lengthened. Gabe came out on the verandah and Carly pressed a hand to her stomach at the sight of him there. This was definitely feeling like a date—even if she had brought Nathan along. Something about Gabe made her insides curl deliciously.

He met her as she opened her car door. She stepped out as he held it open and smiled. “Right on time,” he said, and something electric shimmered between them. Carly couldn’t tell if it was real or if it was simply a product of her own active imagination.

“I’m a teacher. Big on punctuality.” She grinned up at him, determined to keep things easy. If he knew the direction of her thoughts it would only be awkward.

“Good, because I’m hungry,” he replied. “You get Nathan and I’ll bring the diaper bag.”

Carly had to fight against the sensation of how utterly right it all seemed…her baby in her arms and Gabe ahead of her, the blue-and-white-striped diaper bag over his shoulder. He opened the front door and she stepped inside.

Gabe’s house was cozy and inviting and rich with the scent of tomato and spices. Carly pushed off her shoes at the door and followed him in her stocking feet, her movements noiseless on the tile.

The foyer was painted a warm terra cotta, the rich color highlighting beige ceramic tile. The hue was repeated in the rooms flanking the hall, except the flooring was oak hardwood polished to a sheen. One room held a desk, computer and a reading chair, while the other remained vacant. Carly thought it could be a gorgeous dining room if it had any furniture. “I’m building a buffet and hutch for this room,” Gabe said, stepping inside. “Work on it has slowed down a bit since spring arrived. I find myself in the yard more often than not.”

She pictured him working with his hands, sanding down furniture, smelling like sawdust and wood stain. The mental image made her mouth go dry and she turned away from the empty dining room. But the damage was done. She was seeing possibilities—and not only in the furniture department. “And this is the kitchen and family room.”

She forced herself to continue the tour, walking along behind him. The kitchen had the same tile as the hallway, but the oak-stained cupboards matched the rich hardwood flooring in the family room. A big-screen television and leather sofa and chair gave a masculine look, but the room was softened by a gorgeous gas fireplace and carved wood mantle. French doors opened off the dining area between the two rooms, leading to a large back deck and the grassy expanse of lawn beyond.

This was a home crying out for a family. For laughter and arguments around the table, for cozy movie nights with hot buttered popcorn and snowy afternoons with fresh-baked cookies. This was a house that felt like all the things she’d thought her own life would be—and in the middle of it stood Gabe, the man she wanted so much it hurt and the one person still capable of breaking her heart.

Gabe put the bag on a chair and smiled. “Looks like the champ is awake.” Nathan had his fist in his mouth and his bright eyes were big as buttons.

“This time of night he’s always fractious,” Carly replied. If anything could cool her jets it was the constant interference that Nathan would provide. “He seems to get fussy and feed constantly until I’m ready to scream. And then just at the moment I’m going stir crazy, he decides he’s had enough and goes to sleep. He’s only waking once in the night now,” she continued, adjusting Nathan’s weight on her arm.

“I thought you looked more rested,” Gabe said, going to the butcher block and taking out a loaf of crusty bread. He began slicing it and putting the pieces in a basket he’d lined with a napkin.

“No more spit stains and wild hair?” Carly replied, embarrassed.

“Maybe.” His eyes seemed to glow at her. “There’s a twinkle in your eye that was missing before.”

A twinkle put there from being with him. It was true she’d paid more attention than usual to her appearance tonight. Her jeans were a little more snug than she liked and she’d worried about the neckline of her blouse since her cleavage had deepened. But she’d put on makeup and a dot of perfume just the same.

Nathan started to fuss and a

fter a moment or two of Carly trying to tempt him with a rattle, she gave up. “I’m sorry,” she said, unhappy things were starting off on the wrong foot. “I’d hoped we’d be able to eat before he got tuned up.”

“No worries. Everything will keep. I planned it that way.”

“You did?”

“Baked penne and chicken. I can hold it for a while. Let me show you the spare room. You’ll have some privacy there and I’ll finish up the salad.”