Natalie looked at Sherlock. He was curled in a ball, sound asleep on her rug. They’d both been through so much. “I don’t mind you living beside me, but I think we should get a security system. It wouldn’t hurt to replace the locks on the doors, either.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. The chance of anyone finding you here must be a million to one.”
Gabe didn’t seem so confident. “If anything changes, I’ll leave right away.”
“If that makes you feel better, then okay. But for now, let’s enjoy dessert. Would you like some chocolate cake with the ice cream you brought?”
“That would be great. I’ll get the ice cream.”
She was still thinking about what Gabe had said when he placed the carton of ice cream beside her.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
Natalie looked at him and frowned. “It’s Brooke you should be thanking. She dropped the cake off this afternoon.”
Gabe touched her hand. “I don’t mean about the cake. I was thanking you for letting Sherlock and me stay here.”
She moved her hand. The tingles rushing along her arm weren’t the kind that boded well for a platonic friendship. Gabe intrigued her. He made her wish she could let go of the past and jump into a new life. But she wasn’t ready and didn’t know when she would be.
“We’re both making changes in our lives,” Natalie murmured. “If we can’t rely on each other, who can we trust?”
“I wish it were that simple.”
“So do I.” She found a knife and cut two slices off the cake. When her apartment was broken into, she’d felt violated. Knowing someone had gone through her belongings and trashed the one place she should have been safe, was devastating.
No one had ever stalked her, but it must be worse than what she’d experienced. No matter where you went or who you saw, you’d feel as though someone was watching you. That kind of stress could break a person’s confidence and their ability to live a normal life.
If she could make Gabe’s life easier by giving him somewhere safe to live, then that’s what she’d do. Even if he did make her wish for things she’d never wanted—until now.
* * *
Two evenings later,Natalie turned to the next page in the document Brooke had given her. “I don’t know much about business plans, but this looks great.”
“Do you think I’ve included the right information?”
Natalie hadn’t been exaggerating when she said she knew nothing about business plans. If Brooke asked her to critique a painting or write a marketing plan for an exhibition she could have done it with her eyes closed. But this was different. Brooke’s dream of opening her own confectionery store rested on the strength of the plan in front of her.
“We should ask Gabe. He’s good with words.” Natalie had no idea if he knew about business plans, but it was worth a try.
Brooke leaned her elbows on the kitchen table. “I haven’t seen him in town very much. He must be enjoying his vacation.”
Gabe had told everyone he was here to enjoy a summer beside the lake. And if they really pushed, he said he used to be a police officer.
Natalie just hoped no one dug any deeper into his life. “I see him when he’s walking Sherlock each morning. It looks as though he’s enjoying his time here. If Gabe can’t help, you could ask one of the business owners in town. They might have an idea of what the bank manager wants to see.”
Brooke bit her bottom lip. “Do you think Gabe would mind us interrupting him now?”
Natalie picked up her cell phone. “I’ll call him and ask.”
After a short conversation, Natalie handed Brooke the draft document. “He’s happy to look at it now.”
By the time they walked around the outside of the cottage, Gabe and Sherlock were waiting for them on the veranda.
“Come inside,” Gabe said with a smile. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’m happy to add my thoughts.”
Natalie looked around her grandparents’ cottage. Gabe had added a few things of his own, but the furniture and rugs were exactly the same.
