She tried not to let it show that her ego just took a hard hit at his word choice, because Zach was right. She’d been too dependent on him for a long time. Too content to let him arrange her life and smooth the way for her. This conversation was about him, not her.
“The way I see it, you have two choices. You can either be low-key and discreet in the ways you make her life easier. Or you can remind her that it’s a joy to give to others, and try and let her know how much it would mean to you to be the one to help her when she needs it.” She recalled a psychology lecture about the way Western culture prized autonomy and individuality, sometimes at the expense of community and deep bonds, an idea she had forgotten about until just now.
“Wow.” A slow smile brightened her brother’s handsome face. “Is that experience talking or all those psychology classes you aced?”
“Maybe a little of both.” It occurred to her that Clayton wasn’t the kind to open up and accept help, either, picking his own way along with his father and Mia, even though Gabriella had tried to share insights about his half sister during the past week.
Should she push harder? Offer more? It was easier to give advice than accept it herself.
“Well it’s time you got the counseling certification, sis. You’ve always been good with the online community, but you’ve got a lot more to share.” Standing, Zach pulled her to her feet. “Come on. We should find Clayton. He came out of Lucky’s about half an hour ago to stare broodingly around the park. I’m pretty sure he was looking for you.”
“And you’re only just telling me now?” She peered toward the main building, scanning the figures outside for Clay’s familiar physique.
His reallyimpressivefamiliar physique.
The scent of barbecue drifted from the outdoor smoker.
“I wanted to steal some time with you. See for myself how you are doing after sitting in that courtroom all week.” He walked with her toward the party, the grass still green underfoot despite the cold spell. “Sam spoke to the judge about Covington’s comment to you. The bailiff was notified to keep a tighter watch on him when he escorts him in and out of the trial.”
“I guessed as much.” Gabriella had given Clayton the okay to share the incident with Sam. “The bailiff kept him close the rest of the week.”
“So things are serious between you and Clay?” Zach asked, slowing his step behind the ring of pickup trucks.
He leaned against the front bumper of a massive Ford.
“We only just reconnected last weekend.” She hedgedthe question, unsure how to answer. Or, more likely, her heart was frightened of the question.
Zach frowned. Stared down at the ground for a moment while he kicked a divot back into place with the toe of a shoe too nice for a barbecue. “Yet he’s staying at the house with you.”
Gabriella bristled. “He stayed at the house with you and Heather last week when there were concerns for her safety. Now he’s concerned about Mia’s.”
Of course, that had been a job. Clay’s decision to stay with her had been personal. And no matter their original plan to have separate bedrooms on opposite sides of the driveway at the Chance place, Clay had ended up in her room every night.
“I’m sure he is. And I like Clay. But you know he has a life in Memphis. I didn’t get the impression he’d be sticking around Heartache for long?—”
“I’m well aware,” she cut him off quickly, not ready to think about retreating to their separate lives just yet. “But I’m not the only reason he’s been giving Heartache a second chance. He’s got family here, and I think he might be starting to think of his father and his sister in those terms—family.”
Or was that wishful thinking?
“Is his sister in danger?” Zach asked, straightening. “You know the security system there is state-of-the-art. There’s even a safe room?—”
“Not that kind of danger.” She cut him off, not ready to memorize the codes for twelve different kinds of access in her brother’s high-tech house. He’d made his living in digital security and carried that over into his personal world, especially because he worked out of his home these days. “We were watching over Mia in case she faced the kind of emotional breakdown I did. Their father is dying.”
Thinking about it made Gabriella all the more eager for the teen to arrive at the reunion so she could keep an eye on her. Maybe ferret out a clue about what was going on with her and see her interaction with her new boyfriend to make sure that relationship was a healthy one.
“Ah hell, Gabby.” Zach tucked his arm around her neck in a brotherly hug and drew her closer to kiss her forehead. “I’m sorry you’ve got to go through that. Especially now, during the trial.”
“It’s okay. For me, I mean. My heart hurts for Mia, but having her in my life right now has helped me to put the trial in perspective.” Her own shadows felt more surmountable. She hadn’t had the old nightmare all week. Helping Mia toward a safe and happy future seemed far more important than facing her own ghosts.
Although maybe she’d be stronger for Mia if she did. The idea floated down into place inside her like a seed on the wind. Sinking. Taking root.
Zach drew her toward the party again, waving to a couple of people Gabriella didn’t recognize as they emerged near the dance floor. “I’m glad Clay is there for you. Heather and I got to spend a lot of time with him last week and we liked him. He’s quiet, but he seems like a stand-up guy. And he’s going through a lot with his father dying.” He pointed toward one of the tables on the patio outside Lucky’s. “Looks like he’s over there talking to Lorelei Hasting right now.”
Gabriella scanned the growing crowd and spotted Clayton easily, seated across from a truly lovely woman with long, dark curls resting on the shoulders of her jean jacket. Recognition clicked since his foster mother lookedexactly the same as Gabriella remembered her from the pizza shop a decade ago.
And it was strange how different it felt to see Clayton here, in a laid-back family setting, after all the emotional tension of the past week. She’d been attracted to him, yes. Drawn to his strength. In need of his calming presence.
But the feelings he stirred now were different. Purely pleasurable. She remembered all the times he’d quieted her fears with kisses in the dark of the bedroom. Here, she felt no fear. But the need to wrap her arms around his strong shoulders, kiss the angle of his jaw, was undeniable.
