Jacob's Ladder: Gabe (Jacob's Ladder #1)

“Unfortunately,” I quipped with a wink.

While an Aha! look flashed in Aunt Sadie’s eyes, Rae appeared ready to kick me in the balls. “I thought Linc told you what was going on with Gabe and his songwriting,” Rae said.

“He did, but what am I supposed to think when the two of you don’t come back immediately?”

“Maybe that we’re talking?”

“Mmhmm,” she harrumphed.

“You’re impossible,” Rae replied as she brushed past her aunt.

Aunt Sadie whirled around, suprisingly agile for an old lady. “I’m just looking out for you. I don’t want the gossip tongues in town wagging about how you were found in a compromising position with a strange man.”

“It would be a nice change from ‘Poor Rae, she’s never going to find a husband working in a man’s job like she does’ or ‘Men don’t like strong women who act like they don’t need a man.’”

“That’s bullshit,” I muttered.

Rae’s brows shot up. “Excuse me?”

“The part about men not liking strong women.”

“I’m sorry to disagree with you, but it’s often been the case for me,” Rae replied.

“Then you’re obviously surrounded by a bunch of little boys in this town, rather than men,” I countered.

Rae’s stony expression melted before my eyes. As she stared almost incredulously at me, it was like she was seeing me for the first time—or maybe she was seeing the real me for the first time and not the opinion of me she’d formed in her mind. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“You don’t have to thank me for calling it as I see it.”

“Regardless, I’m grateful that you’re able to see it that way. I wish more men could be like you.”

“You might be rethinking that statement as you get to know me better,” I countered.

With a grin, Rae said, “I might. We’ll just have to see.” She jerked her chin toward the front of the restaurant. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“While mine is covered, I would like to buy yours and Linc’s dinners.” I winked at Aunt Sadie. “And your pie.”

“You really don’t need to do that,” Rae protested.

“But I want to, for your trouble.”

She laughed. “The trouble of hanging out with you?”

“Exactly.”

“Okay then, I’ll let you get dinner—but just this time.”

“That seems fair to me.” As we started back to the table, I asked, “What time should I come by tomorrow morning?”

“We usually get up between six and six thirty.”

Linc made a face. “That’s when you get up. I don’t get up until around seven.”

“That’s because you’re young and can look super cute in five minutes. It takes me and your aunts way longer.”

With a laugh, I said, “How about I see you at seven?”

“That sounds good.”

“See you tomorrow, Rae.”

“Bye, Gabe.”

Something in the way she said my name took me by surprise, and I couldn’t help glancing back at her. God, she really was gorgeous. It was no wonder she’d become my muse, and if I was right, she was softening toward me. My plan was starting to work.





Normally when the alarm clock went off in the mornings, I blew through three or four snooze alarms. On this day, however, the instant I heard the shrill decibels going off, I threw back the covers and practically sprinted from the bed. There was no way in hell I was going to let Gabe Renard catch me not dressed, least of all not looking my absolute best.

As I showered at record speed, I couldn’t help slightly regretting telling Gabe to come by the house. Although I was being silly, there was a small part of me that didn’t want him seeing where I lived. It wasn’t so much about keeping things somewhat impersonal, but more about me worrying what he might think of the house. I was sure when he was off the road, he lived in some palatial mansion with a butler and a housekeeper while I lived at home with my two sisters, my son, and my geriatric aunt. It was hardly glamorous, not to mention most men found it rather unattractive.

After I got out of the shower, I pushed those thoughts out of my head and focused on my appearance. Most mornings I just dried my hair before sweeping it back into a ponytail. Today, I put extra gel and product into it. I also left it down and flowing over my shoulders. As for my makeup, I went so far as to put on lip liner, which I only used for special occasions. When I pursed my fuller lips at the mirror, I knew I’d made the right choice.

When I went into the kitchen, I expected to find both Kennedy and Ellie in their bathrobes with their usual bed hair. After breaking the news to them the night before that Gabe was coming to hang out with me before work, I should have known they would pull out all the stops. Both were already outfitted in their work attire with perfectly coiffed hair and gorgeous faces.

A pang of jealously shot through my chest at their appearances. Although I hated myself for it, I couldn’t help thinking Gabe might find one of them hotter than me. Even worse, what if him writing songs in my presence was just a fluke and suddenly he was able to make music with Kennedy or Ellie?

Great. Gabe wasn’t even there yet, and he was already bringing out the worst in me. First, it was completely uncharacteristic of me to feel threatened by my sisters. I always wanted the best for them in life, especially when it came to love, and I knew they felt the same about me. Although it would be hard when one of us found someone and moved out, we ultimately wanted each other to be happy.

Second, I couldn’t believe I even cared if Gabe was attracted to them. I mean, it wasn’t like I wanted him for myself. I wasn’t remotely interested in pursuing anything with Gabe other than a relationship built on a professional basis, i.e. his songwriting.

But something had happened the previous night at dinner. Children were always a good judge of character, and Linc had a finely tuned radar for fakeness. He hadn’t just been star-struck by Gabe; he’d found someone who genuinely took an interest in him.

As for me, I hated to admit it, but I’d been charmed as well by the fact that Gabe seemed interested in the mundane aspects of my life.

Inwardly, I rolled my eyes at how delusional I sounded. Of course there was a small part of me that was interested in Gabe. He was insanely good-looking, and although he could be a little cocky for my liking, it was certainly warranted considering his profession. Handsome and deserving of praise were two traits alone that were often hard to come by in Hayesville. There was also the fact that he seemed genuinely attracted to me. The odds were forever not in my favor that I found a man I wanted to date who in turn wanted to date me as well.

“You guys look great,” I remarked as I went over to get my usual morning espresso.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, sis. I’m especially digging the uncharacteristically low-cut shirt you’re wearing, not to mention the tight jeans in place of your usual khakis,” Kennedy said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”