A Sweetheart for Jude Fortune. Cindy Kirk

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      Chapter Five

      Gabi swore her lips still tingled when she arrived at the rehabilitation center the next day to see her father. The newspaper lay on a dining room table when she walked in.

      Her breath hitched when he gave her a big smile. Love flowed through her. Though she adored her brothers, they’d been a unit of four. She’d spent most of her time with her mother. And when her father was home, she’d been a daddy’s girl.

      “You’re looking chipper.” Gabi slid into the chair on the other side of the table.

      “I could say the same about you.” He studied her thoughtfully. “You’ve got color in your cheeks.”

      “I’ve been spending more time outdoors,” Gabi admitted, thinking of the early-morning run she’d taken as the sun painted the sky shades of pink and orange. “Though I’ve had to bundle up. It’s definitely not as warm as Miami.”

      Her father laughed. “Not yet anyway, but I hear it’s supposed to hit sixty today, which is really good for this time of year.”

      “Actually, I like the cooler weather. And Horseback Hollow is a great little community,” she told him. “I understand now why you’re so happy here.”

      “I wasn’t sure you’d be able to see it.” Orlando appeared pleased by her admission. “There’s not much for young folks to do.”

      “I enjoyed the barbecue Friday night.” Gabi decided to avoid any talk of last night’s activities with Jude. “I got to know Sawyer and Laurel better. Deke and Jeanne Marie seem like very nice people.”

      “Their daughter Stacey is the one who stayed with me until the rescue squad got there.”

      “I remembered you telling me that and made sure to thank her.”

      “Good girl.” He gave an approving nod then his gaze grew shrewd. “You haven’t mentioned how your date went last night.”

      “It wasn’t a date.” Gabi resisted the urge to squirm in her seat. She could have cheered when her tone came out casual and offhand as she’d intended. “We went to dinner at The Grill then did a little dancing at the Two Moon Saloon.”

      Her father took a sip of coffee, inclined his head. “Dinner. Dancing. Sounds like a date to me.”

      “We had a nice evening.” Gabi lifted one shoulder, flashed a smile. “I learned how to two-step.”

      The nurse came in before Orlando could begin a full interrogation. By the time the RN finished checking his vital signs and administering his medications, the talk turned to family. Apparently Gabi’s brother Cisco had called that morning, and he and Orlando had enjoyed a lengthy and pleasant conversation.

      “Stacey and I were chatting about older brothers at the barbecue,” Gabi said, then wondered if bringing up the Fortune Jones family was a mistake. “I believe she and Delaney had it worse. They had five older brothers. I just had four.”

      “Your mother loved her boys.” A smile lifted Orlando’s lips ever so slightly. “But she cried with happiness when she finally had a daughter.”

      Gabi’s heart swelled. “I miss her.”

      “I do, too.” He reached over and patted her hand. “It can’t be easy for you now, being the only woman in a family of men.”

      “It’s not that—” Gabi’s phone began to play a catchy Latin tune. She shot an apologetic look at her father. “Sorry. I thought I’d put it on vibrate.”

      “Get it,” Orlando urged. “It may be important.”

      Without even glancing at the readout, she answered the call. “This is Gabi.”

      “Good morning, Gabi. This is Jude.” The rich baritone sent a flood of warmth surging through her veins. “How’s your day going?”

      “It’s good.” Before she could check her reaction, her voice took on a slightly breathless quality. “I ran four miles this morning, did some housework, and now I’m going to have lunch with my father.”

      “How’s he doing?”

      Gabi slanted a glance at her father and found him unabashedly staring. In spite of his injuries, he looked strong enough to hop into a plane and soar into the wild blue yonder. Or stride onto a porch and stand between her and anyone of the opposite sex. “Better every day.”

      “Glad to hear it.” Jude paused. “I won’t keep you, but I plan to inspect the fence on the southern border of our property tomorrow. I’d like your company. We can take the horses out. The weather is supposed to be good.”

      When Jude had called her adventurous, Gabi considered that to be the supreme compliment. She’d been given a second chance at life. She was determined to embrace that life, to live to the fullest each and every day.

      “Well, ah—” Gabi glanced at her father. Still staring. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”

      “No worries.” Jude chuckled. “We have a mare, Sweet Betsy, who’s so gentle a two-year-old would be safe on her. I’ll have her saddled and ready for you. Is nine too early for you?”

      Gabi considered her father’s schedule. Most of his therapies were in the morning when he was fully rested. If she and Jude were back by noon—and she couldn’t think why they wouldn’t be—she could come straight to the hospital and have lunch with her father.

      “Nine works.”

      “I’ll be by your house at—”

      “There’s no reason for you to drive into town to pick me up,” Gabi told him. “I’ll meet you at your place at nine.”

      “Actually, why don’t we meet at my parents’ ranch?”

      “Sounds good.” Gabi found herself smiling as she ended the call. She’d always wanted to ride a horse. It looked like now she was going to have that chance.

      “You’re riding a horse?”

      Gabi’s back automatically stiffened at the disapproval in her father’s tone. For a second, СКАЧАТЬ