The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [166]
Oh, great, Gabe thought. That’ll get the gossip going. What the hell kind of personal business could he have with a woman he didn’t know? And he was certain he didn’t know her. She didn’t sound at all familiar.
“Well, he’s right there, but he’s relaxin’, and he won’t thank you none for disturbing him.”
“I appreciate your warning.”
Well used to the soft thud of sneakers or bare feet on the wooden planks of the dock, Gabe almost winced when the clack of hard-soled shoes rang over the water. He ignored it, and ignored the woman he could feel hesitating next to his lawn chair. The breeze stirred and he caught a light feminine scent, not really perfume, but maybe scented shampoo. He breathed deeply, but otherwise remained still.
He heard her clear her throat. “Uh…excuse me?”
She didn’t sound so confident, and he waited, wondering if she’d shake him awake. He felt her hesitate, knew in his gut she was reaching for his naked shoulder…
And the fishing pole nearly leaped out of his hand.
“Son of a bi—” Gabe jolted upright, barely managing to hang on to his expensive rod and reel. His feet hit the dock and he deftly maneuvered the rod, going with the action of the fish. “Damn, it’s a big one!”
Rosemary, Darlene and Ceily all ran over to his side.
“I’ll grab the net!” Rosemary said.
Ceily, who usually worked the diner in town, squealed as the fish, a big ugly carp, flipped up out the water. Darlene pressed to his back, peering over his shoulder.
Gabe slid over the side of the dock to the smooth, slick, moss-covered concrete boat ramp, bracing his legs wide to keep his balance while he struggled with the fish. Rosemary, a fisherwoman of long standing, didn’t hesitate to slip in beside him. She held the net at the ready. Just as Gabe got the carp close enough, she scooped him with the net. The fish looked to weigh a good fifteen pounds, and she struggled with it while Gabe tried to reach for the net and hold onto his pole.
But then Rosemary lost her footing and Gabe made a grab for her and they both went down, splashing and cursing and laughing, too. The rod jerked out of his hands and he dove forward to grab it, barely getting ahold and soaking himself thoroughly in the process. The other two women leaped in to help, all of them struggling to keep the fish and the rod while roaring with hilarity.
When the battle was over, Gabe had his fish, and a woman, in his lap. Rosemary had settled herself there while Darlene and Ceily hung on him, both struggling to control their raucous laughter. He’d known all three of them since grade school, so it wasn’t the first time they’d played in the water; they felt totally familiar with each other and it showed. Along string of seaweed clung to the top of Gabe’s head, and that started the women giggling again.
Gabe, enjoying himself, unhooked the big fish, kissed it—making the women smack at him—then tossed it back.
It was then they heard the tap, tap, tap of that damned hard-soled shoe.
Turning as one, they all peered at the woman who Gabe only then remembered. He had to shade his eyes against the hot sun to see, and it wasn’t easy with three women draped over his body.
Silhouetted by the sunshine, her long hair looked like ruby fire. And he’d never in his life seen so many freckles on a woman before. She wore a crisp white blouse, a long jean skirt and black pumps with nylons. Nylons in this heat? Gabe blinked. “Can I help you with somethin’, sugar?”
Her lips tightened and her arms crossed over her middle. “I don’t think so. I was looking for Gabriel Kasper.”
“That’d be me.”
“But…I was looking for Gabriel, the town hero.”
Darlene grinned hugely. “That’s our Gabe!”
Ceily added, “The one and only.”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “That’s nonsense and you all know it.”
The women all started in at once, Ceily, Rosemary and Darlene assuring him he was all that was heroic and wonderful and more.
Little Red merely stared in absolute disbelief. “You mean, you are the one who rescued those swimmers?”
He gently lifted Rosemary off his lap and cautiously stood on the slick