Springs. “All right, then. I’ll give it a shot.”
“Excellent. Now, I’d best get moving if I’m going tohave time to stop by the house before my hair appointment. I’m almost afraid to go over there for fear that the destruction will be worse than it appeared in the darkness.”
“I had an idea about that last night. Although Cavanaugh House is outside the defined historic district, you might qualify for a development grant from the state if—”
“Money isn’t an issue,” Celeste interrupted, dismissing the subject with a wave of her hand. “Family funds.”
Nic wasn’t surprised. Despite being neglected for decades, Cavanaugh House had still carried a hefty price tag. “You never speak of your family.”
“I had a lovely family, but they’re all gone now. I am comfortable financially, so if the subject of fees comes up, tell Gabe I said to name his price. Perhaps that will seal the deal.”
Nic recalled the wad of cash he had shoved into her hand the day they met. “Gabe doesn’t strike me as being overly motivated by money.”
“Then find out what will motivate him and offer him that.”
“I barely know the man. How am I supposed to know what motivates him?”
Celeste reached across the table and patted Nic’s arm. “Listen to your heart, Nicole. When dealing with Gabe Callahan, you can’t go wrong by listening to your heart.”
Gabe tugged off his work gloves and surveyed the retaining-wall construction with a practiced eye. “Much better,” he muttered. Now Davenport wouldn’t have to lie about the scrapes from the turn on the side of his SUV.
He stuck the gloves in the back pocket of his jeans andshifted his gaze toward the house itself. An unbidden memory invaded his mind.
He was seated at his drawing board in his home office sketching a landscape plan for Eagle’s Way when Jennifer breezed into the room, her eyes sparkling, a smile as big as Texas on her face. “Mission accomplished!” she’d exclaimed. “It was a hard-fought battle, but the good guys persevered. Ta-da!”
She whipped the plastic sack sporting a toy store logo away from a box. “One birthday Xbox for Nathan, coming up.”
Gabe shook his head. “Unbelievable. How long did you stand in line?”
“Only five hours. I made the right decision going to the independent rather than the big-box store. Lots less people to compete with.”
“You win the Best Aunt of the Year Award with that one, Auntie Jen.”
“What can I say? I love my sister’s son.”
Gabe set down his pencil and studied the box. “You bought games to go with it?”
“Two of them.”
“Hmm … you know, hon, just to be safe … maybe I should hook this up and make sure it works. I’d hate for Nathan to be disappointed if—”
Jennifer tugged the box from his hands, clucking her tongue. “That’s pathetic, Uncle Gabe. You have to wait just like all the other boys. Now, get back to your drawing board and design a spectacular pool and spa for Jack Davenport. He’s promised me that we can vacation there when construction is done. I’ve never been to Colorado, and I’ve always wanted to see the Rockies.”
Gabe closed his eyes and swayed as he was buffeted by a wave of grief and regret. Despite Jack’s offer, they’d never taken that Colorado trip. By the time Eagle’s Way was ready for visitors, Jennifer was pregnant with Matt.Once he’d been born, they’d decided to wait until he was older to take that particular family vacation.
Until he was older
.
His throat tight, his body tense, Gabe sucked in a deep breath of cold mountain air. Memories were dragons and he had not the weapons to battle them. That’s why he’d acquiesced to Jack’s suggestion that he spend a few weeks at Eagle’s Way. Memories didn’t haunt every room of this house. Up here in this high valley, even down in town, he could … breathe.
Gabe exhaled heavily and turned away from the house. His gaze skimmed across the snow-dusted
“Excellent. Now, I’d best get moving if I’m going tohave time to stop by the house before my hair appointment. I’m almost afraid to go over there for fear that the destruction will be worse than it appeared in the darkness.”
“I had an idea about that last night. Although Cavanaugh House is outside the defined historic district, you might qualify for a development grant from the state if—”
“Money isn’t an issue,” Celeste interrupted, dismissing the subject with a wave of her hand. “Family funds.”
Nic wasn’t surprised. Despite being neglected for decades, Cavanaugh House had still carried a hefty price tag. “You never speak of your family.”
“I had a lovely family, but they’re all gone now. I am comfortable financially, so if the subject of fees comes up, tell Gabe I said to name his price. Perhaps that will seal the deal.”
Nic recalled the wad of cash he had shoved into her hand the day they met. “Gabe doesn’t strike me as being overly motivated by money.”
“Then find out what will motivate him and offer him that.”
“I barely know the man. How am I supposed to know what motivates him?”
Celeste reached across the table and patted Nic’s arm. “Listen to your heart, Nicole. When dealing with Gabe Callahan, you can’t go wrong by listening to your heart.”
Gabe tugged off his work gloves and surveyed the retaining-wall construction with a practiced eye. “Much better,” he muttered. Now Davenport wouldn’t have to lie about the scrapes from the turn on the side of his SUV.
He stuck the gloves in the back pocket of his jeans andshifted his gaze toward the house itself. An unbidden memory invaded his mind.
He was seated at his drawing board in his home office sketching a landscape plan for Eagle’s Way when Jennifer breezed into the room, her eyes sparkling, a smile as big as Texas on her face. “Mission accomplished!” she’d exclaimed. “It was a hard-fought battle, but the good guys persevered. Ta-da!”
She whipped the plastic sack sporting a toy store logo away from a box. “One birthday Xbox for Nathan, coming up.”
Gabe shook his head. “Unbelievable. How long did you stand in line?”
“Only five hours. I made the right decision going to the independent rather than the big-box store. Lots less people to compete with.”
“You win the Best Aunt of the Year Award with that one, Auntie Jen.”
“What can I say? I love my sister’s son.”
Gabe set down his pencil and studied the box. “You bought games to go with it?”
“Two of them.”
“Hmm … you know, hon, just to be safe … maybe I should hook this up and make sure it works. I’d hate for Nathan to be disappointed if—”
Jennifer tugged the box from his hands, clucking her tongue. “That’s pathetic, Uncle Gabe. You have to wait just like all the other boys. Now, get back to your drawing board and design a spectacular pool and spa for Jack Davenport. He’s promised me that we can vacation there when construction is done. I’ve never been to Colorado, and I’ve always wanted to see the Rockies.”
Gabe closed his eyes and swayed as he was buffeted by a wave of grief and regret. Despite Jack’s offer, they’d never taken that Colorado trip. By the time Eagle’s Way was ready for visitors, Jennifer was pregnant with Matt.Once he’d been born, they’d decided to wait until he was older to take that particular family vacation.
Until he was older
.
His throat tight, his body tense, Gabe sucked in a deep breath of cold mountain air. Memories were dragons and he had not the weapons to battle them. That’s why he’d acquiesced to Jack’s suggestion that he spend a few weeks at Eagle’s Way. Memories didn’t haunt every room of this house. Up here in this high valley, even down in town, he could … breathe.
Gabe exhaled heavily and turned away from the house. His gaze skimmed across the snow-dusted
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