Chapter 18
Skye
Gabriel Bassett surprises me at every turn. Just when I think I might be getting to know him and his personality, he throws a spanner in the works. And I’m back to square one.
I mean, he punched a guy tonight?
What the heck?
Granted, I didn’t want the guy’s advances, but it was so… alpha. And I have to admit, it was kinda hot seeing him like that.
Now I’m on the dance floor with Georgia, Trudy, Celeste and Hartley — she showed up a little time later.
I have to say, for a bar with a name like ‘Moose’s’, it’s actually very lively and oh, so entertaining. The folks of Stoney Creek really know how to let their hair down. The country music blaring from the jukebox warms my soul.
But all I can think about is Gabe and how he didn’t hesitate to knock that guy out when he touched me. Is that a usual thing for him?
It’s a stark contrast from the calm, collected CEO I usually see. And not what I was expecting at all.
Gabriel Bassett has a wild side — and while I don’t condone violence — the guy was asking for it. It makes me wonder what other hidden attributes lie beneath. I’m sure if he ever let his guard down, it would be more than interesting to discover those depths of him. From my observations; he’s a man of substance and he withstood one of the most terrible ordeals I’ve heard in a long time. Being abandoned and left to care for his baby alone is no easy feat. Yet, here he stands, and he’s as fierce as ever with those he cares about.
Now I’m included in that mix. Because I’m the nanny.
If Gabriel wants to be a protective alpha when I’m around, that’s fine by me.
“What’s up with my brother?” Georgia-Blue yells over the music as we dance. “I saw him walk up and punch that guy in the face.”
“I know.” I lean in to talk close to her ear so she can hear me. “Does he usually do that kind of thing?”
“I haven’t seen him like that in a long time.” She twirls around in a circle. “Which goes to prove my theory, Skye. I think my brother has got it bad for you.”
I laugh, shaking off that indulgent notion. “No way, he’s just being like that because I’m the nanny and his employee.”
“Pffff,” she chortles. “I don’t exactly see him going up to anyone else and doing that.”
I glance over at the bar where he sits with the guys. The lights are dark on the dancefloor, but through the sea of people I find him in the same position. Except this time he’s sitting facing us, leaning on the bar. My eyes flick up to meet his and as the lights flash by and light up the bar for a moment, I see he’s looking right at me.
Holy shit.
The look he gives me is sexy. He’s got the whole smoldering thing going on; and I’m digging the bit of scruff on his face. It is the weekend, after all. The idea of him not shaving is so damn hot. And I know I’m only thinking these bad thoughts because I had two glasses of wine, and three is my limit.
He also doesn’t look away.
Why is my boss looking at me like that? Like… I’m not his nanny. I’m just some girl in a bar that he clearly can’t stop watching. It makes tingles travel up my spine.
It’s not like I mind. Gabriel Bassett is hot. Any red-blooded woman in a hundred mile radius would agree.
I swirl my hips to the beat as Georgia grabs my hand and twirls me around in a circle, giggling as we bump hips and I almost fall over. Trudy, Celeste and Hartley join in, so we’re in one little circle dancing to the music and waving our arms around.
I haven’t had this much fun in so long.
I exaggerate the moves — just for him, because I know he’s watching — keeping my arms above my head and moving my hips to the music.
“Don’t look now, but my cousin is staring right at you,” Trudy whispers, dancing alongside me, giving me a little nudge.
I glance over at him, but I can’t take his intensity anymore; I have to look away.
“I’m sure he’s just looking out for all of us,” I say. “He’s a little fired up.”
“Uh, huh.” Clearly she doesn’t think so. “I think he likes you.”
“No way. I’m his new nanny, that’s all it is.” I wonder if I keep saying it, I might actually believe it.
Georgia interrupts, showing us her best country girl moves and boot scoots along the floor in her cowboy boots, spinning around, laughing her head off as we clap.
Oh, my. These girls are a riot.
“Yee haw!” she laughs as she grabs my hands and starts moving to her own beat. She’s clearly tipsy and is having a great time.
“Hudson!” she yells, cupping her mouth with her hands. “You promised me a dance off!”
I can’t help but laugh at the stir she causes just by being herself.
I can’t imagine it. “Hudson dances too?”
“He’s more of a moose wrangler,” Celeste says. “Nobody has beaten his record in three years.”
The Moose riding is about to begin shortly, and the girls told me Hudson won’t ride unless his title is being threatened.
“The only one who came close is my brother,” Trudy adds. “Then again, Gaitley has always been a wildcard.”
“Let’s be thankful they’re not here tonight.” Georgia says, scooting by as I try not to laugh. She’s actually pretty good. “Otherwise we’d have an all-out war on our hands.”
“I can imagine it being a little bit of a boys’ club,” I say. “Too much testosterone in one room is never a good thing.”
Celeste nods. “You said it, girlfriend. I’m surprised Dolly’s not here. She sometimes hangs out with us, but if she gets wind your brother’s here tonight, she’ll be trying her luck with the new sheriff before the clock strikes twelve.”
“Ew.” I screw my nose up.
I glance back to the bar and I see a couple of girls approaching the boys, Gabe sitting the farthest away.
One of the things I find so appealing about Gabe is his loyalty to his family. I’m fooling myself; he’s a hot Daddy through and through, and he told me to call him Gabe. It feels a little informal, but Mr. Bassett sounds a little stuffy, too.
He has the perfect blend of Mr. CEO, Mr. Broody and Mr. Sexy all rolled into one. No wonder these girls are trying their luck, not that he’s paying them any attention.
Of course, my brother is the new star attraction in town, and that makes me want to barf. I wonder how long it’ll take for some of the single ladies in town to get their claws into him. My brother is no fool, and to be fair, he’s looking to settle down and plant some roots. I’m not sure if playing the field in a small town is such a good idea. The entire town is here tonight; it could be awkward the morning after for all concerned.
My brother laughs at something one of the girls says, and I roll my eyes. Oh, boy. I do not want to be witness to my brother being hit on by not one, but two women. I shake it off as my phone rings in my back pocket. I pull it out and frown. Gran is calling me.
I motion to the girls I need to take the call as I head across the dance floor toward the door. The music is far too loud in here to hear my own thoughts, let alone a phone call.
“Gran?” I say, holding a finger in my ear to block out the noise from inside.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry to have to call you…” Oh no, oh no…
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s your grandpa. He said he felt funny and went for a lie down, then when I went to check on him he’d fallen off the bed.”
“Oh, my God! Is he… is he okay?”
“The EMTs are taking him to the hospital. They think it could be a mild heart attack.”
I’m already walking back inside, looking for my brother. “Okay, I’m looking for Travis. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“I’m going with him in the ambulance,” she sniffs.
“I’ll see you soon. Don’t worry, Grandpa is as strong as an ox.”
“I know… he’s going to pull through. He has to pull through.”
“He will. We’ll be there soon.”
“Thank you, sweetie.”
We hang up.
Though I know my grandparents are not getting any younger and are in their eighties now, they’re both in good health and live active lives. I’m stunned as I race up to the bar and I don’t see my brother.
I turn to Gabe, frantic.
“Skye, what’s wrong?”A deep furrow forms between his brow.
I shake my head. “My gramps…. Gran rang. He’s been taken to hospital. They think… they think he may have had a heart attack.”
“Shit.” He jumps off the chair. “I’ll go get Trav, he’s in the men’s.”
“Thanks,” I say, gratefully.
He nods, taking off toward the bathrooms as I start to pace. Ignoring the looks the two women are giving me, waiting for Trav to come back.
Hurry! We have to hurry.
A few moments later, my brother and Gabe are racing toward me.
“Skye?” Trav looks frantic.
I reiterate what Gran told me and he grabs his keys off the bar. “Let’s go.”
“I should drive,” Gabe says. “You’ve had more to drink than I have.”
Trav is clearly not drunk, but it’s not gonna look great if the new sheriff gets done for DUI.
“Shit,” he mutters. “I wasn’t gonna have that shot, but the girls were just bein’ friendly.”
I roll my eyes, looking at them over my shoulder. “I bet they were. We need to hurry.”
“Is everything okay?” Gray rushes over, seeing the commotion.
“Let the girls know that Skye had to leave. They think their grandpa had a heart attack.”
“Oh, shit,” Gray says. “I’m so sorry. I’ll tell the girls. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Appreciate it,” Trav says.
“We need to hurry!” I grab onto Trav’s sleeve as we hurry toward the exit.
We follow Gabe to his truck. Trav jumps in the passenger side, and Gabe opens back on his side for me to climb in.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He gives me a small smile as I buckle myself in and he jumps in the front and starts the engine.
This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.
If he fell like that and they’re suspecting a heart attack, it has to be pretty bad.
I try not to tear up. My Grandparents have both been such strong figures in my life. The idea that this could happen so suddenly rocks me to my core.
I know they’re elderly, but Gramps seemed fine when we left.
“What else did Gran say?” Travis runs both hands through his hair.
“Just he wasn’t feeling good, so he went to lie down. When she checked on him a little later, he’d fallen out of bed.”
“Fuck.”
Gabe stays silent as he makes the journey to the hospital; I have no idea where it is.
“She was so upset, Trav,” I sniff, wiping my eyes. “I know they’re elderly, but it’s still a shock to the system, thinking something could happen.”
“It won’t,” Trav grits. “Gramps is strong. He’ll be okay.”
“But we don’t know that. Maybe we should call Mom and Dad.”
“Let’s just wait until we get to the hospital. Grams may have already called.”
I know it’s literally a five-minute ride, but it feels like it takes a lifetime to arrive.
Please let him be okay. Please let him be okay. That’s my running mantra as I close my eyes and promise to be good for the rest of my life if Gramps can just be okay.
I’m not ready to lose him. None of us are.