Mia and Billy stared at each other. “You won’t hit mummy?” they asked. Gabriel ground his teeth together at the anger inside him. Steven got off too lightly. He would love to castrate the bastard for the damage he’d done. Gabriel shook off his temper and smiled. He could give them a life they deserved. The money he’d made with William was more than sufficient for them to live a good life.
“I’d never touch your mummy. She’ll only get love and hugs off me.”
They both giggled and nodded their heads. “Can we, mummy? It would be fun.”
He turned back to Amy. She was wiping the tears from her cheeks, her smile wobbly.
“I promise.” He mouthed the words for her.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want you to impose,” he said.
“How can I refuse? There is ice-cream on the menu.” Mia and Billy yelled their excitement. Amy stood, and Gabriel pulled her into his arms. She felt so fragile.
“You won’t regret it.”
“I’m more worried that you’ll regret opening up your home for me.”
That was never going to happen. Gabriel helped them to pack a few things. He wanted to get them settled into his home as soon as possible. Amy phoned Laura and Anna to tell them while he helped the other two pack their clothes. He piled three suitcases and several pillows into his truck.
This was the start of his new life. With Amy close to him, he could start to work on changing her feelings for him.
Chapter Five
Amy grabbed the last of their boxes and took it outside to where Gabriel was stood with her children. Anna and Laura were with her, and they heaved another box onto the truck. She’d sent all of her furniture to the second hand store. She no longer worked there, but other people shopped and would need it.
“I think the good Sheriff has a thing for you,” Anna said the moment Amy walked back inside.
“No, he doesn’t. He’s just being nice.”
“You’re so blind,” Laura said. “That guy has got it bad. If only Peter would find a woman to settle down with. I hate seeing him on his own.”
Peter Miller had become Laura’s best friend during the scandal that had broken out with Dean. He lived in town but spent most of his time at Laura and Dean’s house.
“He’ll find someone.” She stared out the window and saw Gabriel making her two children laugh. Even inside she could see the effect he had on her family. They adored him, and she saw why. There was something about him that called to her. His age didn’t bother her, even if she tried to make an issue about it inside her head.
“You’re smitten, too,” Anna said.
“No. I’m not. How can I be smitten? He’s older than me.”
“Dean has twenty years on me, and boy does it show.” Laura smiled and gave a wiggle which made Amy laugh.
“Please. Not only do I have an older guy, but I have two older men—and that is what you call a party. I’ve got the best situation in the whole of CapeFalls. Also, my men can shut them down if I want.” The Steer brothers provided plenty of job opportunities, and a couple of businesses had been shut down recently because of their attitude towards Anna.
“Do you really think he has feelings for me?”
“I imagine he’d be on all fours howling like a dog and marking his territory if he could. That man has ‘Amy is mine’ written all over him,” Laura said.
“How can you be sure?” Amy didn’t want to get her hopes up. The last thing she needed was another bad relationship under her belt. Her feelings for Gabriel had been growing since the moment he’d said hello to her. Then for him to help and protect her—she was smitten over him. She spent most of her time in his company trying to fight her feelings for him.
Anna stood by her left while Laura stood by her right. “Let’s see, one, he was the one who put Steven away. Two, he loves your kids and spends most of his time with you. Three, he’s getting you to live with him … do you really need me to go on?” Laura asked.
“Are you sure that isn’t what guys do for a girl in trouble?” she asked. She was starting to show her age with her lack of experience with men.
“Nope. Guys who care just give you a job and leave you to it. Look at Laura. Peter let her live in his apartment and was even willing to marry her I bet when she discovered she was pregnant.”
“Leave Peter out of this.”
“See. Gabriel has the hots for you, and I bet he’s been wanting you to move in with him for a while now. He’s got the hotties for you,” Anna said.
Amy laughed and grabbed her bag. Anna and Laura walked out, and she took a moment to look around her house. She would be twenty-four in a few months. Her life had turned out different from how she imagined it. In her dream world she hadn’t been married or pregnant with twins. Pulling the strap of her bag on her shoulder, she closed her eyes and sent a little prayer to whoever was listening.
“Hey, baby. Are you ready to go?” Gabriel asked as he entered the kitchen. Amy opened her eyes. Gabriel, God’s angel. She shook her head at her silly thoughts.
“I’m ready to go.”
“You’re not upset to be leaving this behind are you?” he asked.
“No. I just wanted to take stock of everything. This has been my life for some time. I guess I’m shocked by how quickly life can change.” She smiled at him. Did he have feelings for her? He reached out and took her bag. Whenever guys came close to her, she found herself flinching away. With Gabriel it was different.
“This change will be for the better.” He tucked her arm through his, and they walked out of the house together. She handed the key over to the landlord. He gave her a frown but nodded.
“I hope you have a better life, Amy.”
She smiled. It was the nicest thing one of the townfolk had ever said.
“Thank you, Doug.” She moved towards Gabriel’s truck.
“Mummy, we’re going to a grilling,” Billy said from the backseat. She frowned and glanced over at Gabriel.
“Anna has invited us over for a barbeque before the last of the summer dies away.”
“When?”
“Tonight. I was thinking we could go to my house and drop this stuff off and then head over. It would be fun.”
“I like that.”
“Great.” Gabriel put the truck into gear and drove along to his house. Amy played with her kids in the mirror to make sure they were okay. They never suffered with car sickness, and she wanted to keep it that way. She saw the excitement inside them. Their eyes were wide, and the smallest thing made them burst into giggles. Their feet were wiggling in the back of the car.