Taking the Heat (Jackson: Girls' Night Out 3)

“Same thing, right?”

Gabe was used to this, but he still rolled his eyes. “I don’t run the kids’ section. Come on.”

Benton shrugged. “All right. Since you’re in the adult section, any sexy librarians I should be aware of?”

“Yeah,” Gabe said, slipping on his pack. “Me.”

“Tempting,” Benton countered. “But I’m gonna need you to take the lead next time so I can get a better look at that ass.”

“I’ll wear running shorts,” he promised, prompting Benton to groan.

“Now I’ll never get that image out of my head.”

Gabe grinned. “I like that you pretend it’s awful. That’s cute.”

“Good Christ, man,” Benton muttered. “Your hairy fucking thighs. To change the subject entirely...how’s your sister?”

Gabe shook his head. “Naomi is great. Want me to pass her a note from you?”

“I can pass my own notes,” Benton said. “I’ve still got her number from last time. Is she coming to visit anytime soon?”

“No idea,” Gabe said, throwing Benton a wary look. He didn’t want to know if his sister had hooked up with Benton three years ago when Gabe and Naomi had met up here with a group of friends. He didn’t care who his sister slept with; he just didn’t want to know any details.

“Fine,” Benton said, holding up his hands. “How’s your dad? Still pressuring you to take over the family business back in New York?”

“Always,” Gabe answered, not adding more. Even Benton didn’t know about Gabe’s plans. He wanted to live the next year as if he wasn’t planning to return to the city. He didn’t want to field questions about MacKenzie’s. He didn’t even want to admit the truth out loud.

His dad knew, of course. It had been the only way to get his agreement to retire in a year. And his sisters knew, because Gabe had tried to talk each of them into stepping up and taking over the MacKenzie’s chain of restaurants. His sisters were older, after all, and someone had to do it or their dad would work himself into an early grave.

But they’d refused, and so it had come down to Gabe, the one who liked to keep the peace and make things right.

“Well, if

Naomi does come out here, let me know.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Benton shouldered his own pack. “All right, you’re not as pretty as your sister, but you’ll have to do for now. Come on, beautiful.”

Gabe laughed as Benton started down the trail, but Gabe didn’t immediately follow. He was distracted by the echo of his own laughter off the rocks behind him. How long had it been since he’d heard that? His voice bouncing off mountains instead of being swallowed up by a cacophony of cars and air conditioners?

He took a deep breath and felt years of stress fall away. If he’d been in any kind of shape, he’d have turned around and headed right back up the face again, taken a slightly different path, pushed himself a little harder. But his arms already burned and there was no way his hands would hold up. Sunday would be soon enough to push himself. And then every Sunday after that.

Gabe rolled his shoulders, stretched his hands and set off down the trail, suddenly eager to get out, have a beer and watch the Dear Veronica show from the crowd. He’d just be careful not to get too close.

* * *

VERONICA CHEWED HER gnocchi and watched as her father typed out an email on his phone. She didn’t know why she’d accepted his invitation to dinner. It wasn’t as if there’d been any chance that an hour with him would be relaxing. On the other hand, the stress of his disapproval did distract her from the stress of worrying about tonight’s performance, so maybe that was what her subconscious had jumped on.

And he always chose great restaurants. Judge Chandler was used to the best.

He finally looked up, glancing around the restaurant before he looked at her. “Did you say something?”

“Yes, I said that it went so well I’m doing a live Dear Veronica again tonight.”

He frowned. “For free?”

“No, Dad, I’m getting paid.”