Read Online Rocky Mountain Angel by Vivian Arend - Free Book Online Page B

backrest lightly touched her shoulders. She was as close to being held in his embrace as they could be while sitting in different chairs.
    His mom’s eyes widened before she caught herself and poured Allison’s cup full. “You visiting your family, Allison?”
    Allison fidgeted with her plate. “A bit.”
    “She’s here to visit me too,” Gabe cut in.
    His ma smiled, the touch of a smirk disappearing behind her cup. When she lowered the dainty thing, her expression still showed amusement. “Really? That’s nice.”
    Allison twisted to glance at him. “Yes, Gabe and I…”
    He covered her fidgeting fingers with his own. Dana’s gaze snapped to the linked hands, and her smile got bigger.
    Gabe cleared his throat. Time to get this thing rolling. “We’re engaged.”
    There was a moment’s pause, but his ma pretty much did what he expected. She shot to her feet and was around the table and hugging them both without another word.
    It was a bit of a tangle of arms and heads, and Gabe laughed. “I take it that’s mom code for congrats.”
    Dana pulled back. “You two are the sneakiest people I ever met. I knew something was up, but damn if I could figure it out. Yes, congratulations. And, Allison, if this young man gives you any grief, you let me know. I’ll tell you all the ways to make him behave.”
    Allison settled back in her chair as his ma returned to the other side of the table. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re not…”
    “More surprised? Girl, I am completely surprised. But at the same time, I knew something was up. Didn’t think it was that you two were running around on the sly. How long has this been going on?”
    Gabe dropped his arm along the back of the chair again. It was kind of nice to have Allison relaxing against him. “What do you mean you knew something was up?”
    His ma stared him down. “You aren’t the most talkative of creatures, Gabe Coleman, but the past couple years you’ve been awfully quiet, even for you. At the start I thought you were planning on moving out of the area again, but once you built your cabin I knew it couldn’t be that.”
    Damn. Maybe his secret projects hadn’t been so secret after all. This excuse of having been seeing Allison on the side was a good thing to cover his tracks. “I’m not planning on leaving anytime soon, Ma. I told you that when I came back to town.”
    Dana folded her hands in front of her. “Well, I’m glad to hear it. Are you working at the restaurant again, Allison?”
    The conversation drifted into safe, easy territory, and Gabe listened without having to add much to the discussion as Allison and his ma chatted about the community. The side flap of the box came loose and one of the kittens got caught, hips falling through the crack. He leaned over to grab the little creature. So small and defenceless. He rested the tiny beast in his lap and stroked it carefully.
    “You want an engagement party?” Dana asked.
    Allison shook her head. “My mom asked the same thing, but if you don’t mind, we don’t really want one. I’ll be busy getting settled in the new job and everything.”
    “No problem. I bet your mom is thrilled you’re going to be so close by. I know I missed Gabe terribly when he moved out of Rocky.”
    Moved out because if he had stayed he would have gone mad. “Well, we’re all back now. And I should get to work. We just wanted to let you know our plans.”
    “Did you—” Dana broke off then nodded briskly. “I’ll let your father know. And Rafe, if you want.”
    Allison had tightened at the mention of Ben. Great, seemed she liked his father as much as pretty well everyone else in town. “I’ll see Rafe when he’s doing chores. Let him razz me about getting hitched on his own.”
    They rose and made their goodbyes, Dana promising to call Allison to chat when she could. It was all far simpler than he’d thought it would be. Once things got a little more settled in the next couple days, they could make a