“She can’t be the reason you’re turned off on women.”
Gage paused. “She’s part of it. What’s the expression about the wife or the husband being the last to know? It was a hard pill to swallow when I found out my wife had been turning tricks to save enough money to live in a big house.”
St. John patted his cousin’s shoulder in a comforting gesture. “That’s water under the bridge now. How serious is this thing between you and Tonya?”
“We’re very good friends. I don’t know what it is about her, but whenever we’re together I can be myself. I can say whatever comes to mind without her catching an attitude or looking at me sideways.”
“That’s called respect, Gage. She respects your opinions, and hopefully you can respect hers.”
“Oh, I do,” he said quickly. “And she’s not shy about speaking her mind.”
St. John smiled. “There you go. It looks as if you’ve found your soulmate. Don’t turn around. The ladies are heading our way.”
Gage thought about what St. John said as to his staring at Tonya. He had no idea he had been that obvious. He smiled down at Tonya when she slipped her hand in his. “It will be over soon.”
Hannah curved her arm around St. John’s waist. “I used my remote to the close the gate and it wouldn’t move, so it must have malfunctioned. Even if it hadn’t, I don’t feel comfortable with Tonya living here alone now that my cousins are staying with us.”
Tonya shook her head. “I’m okay as long as the gates are closed at night.”
“Hannah’s right,” St. John said. “We have an extra bedroom if you’re willing to move in with us until the inn’s ready.”
Tonya shook her head again. “I can’t. You already have a full house.”
“I have two extra bedrooms if you don’t mind staying with me,” Gage suggested.
Tonya pulled her lower lip between her teeth as she seemingly pondered his offer. “I’ll stay, but only until the gates are functioning. After that I’m coming back.”
Gage looked at Hannah and then St. John. Even if Tonya lived with him until the gates were repaired, it would lessen some of his angst as to her safety. “Okay,” he conceded. He felt as if he had won a small victory. “As soon as Mark and his men give us the all-clear signal, I’ll go with you to pack a bag for a few days.”
“Do you want St. John and me to wait with you?” Hannah asked Gage.
“No. You guys can go on back home.”
“Tell Mark to call me when he’s finished,” St. John said as he led Hannah back to their car.
Gage stood with Tonya, watching as the taillights of the sedan disappeared from view, and then led her to his vehicle. They sat together, held hands, and stared out the windshield. No words were necessary. They were about to become temporary roommates.
