Chapter Four
The October sun was working its hardest to break through the dense Saturday morning clouds, as Gabe sprinted down the dead-end road. As he reached the end of the pavement, he slowed to a jog, aiming for the gap in the line of evergreens. There, about ten yards beyond him, was the top of the wooden stairs.
Gabe loved this part of his workout, descending the two hundred and fifty steps that led to the Pacific Ocean below. Mother Nature’s reward for burning a few calories. His job no longer required him to be in the same shape that his football days did, but he still felt his best when he was pushing his body physically to the brink.
The breeze was crisp as he trotted down through the thick foliage that lined the cliffs. Branches full of scarlet, auburn, and golden leaves reached out as he passed them by. At the bottom of the stairs, he picked up the pace again. He headed up the last bit of trail that would take him under the train tracks and out to the roaring waves.
A blazing maple tree protruded onto the path, and he widened his course to accommodate it. This section of trail was barely wide enough for his linebacker shoulders to fit between the cliffs to the right and the tree to the left.
Gabe heard the crunch of footsteps coming towards him with only a moment to react. Trying to slow down, he lifted his arms in a defensive position to soften the blow from the unavoidable collision. In the flurry of movement, he registered dark hair and heard a startled yelp as his forearms sent the unfortunate person flying into the tree.
“Goddamn it,” he huffed.
With his forward progress finally stopped, he turned back to help the jogger. If physics hadn’t stopped him in his tracks, the woman in front of him would have. Lianna was bent over, her weight leaning against the tree. She hadn’t acknowledged him yet, and his concern for her wellbeing had him hurrying over to help. Gently gripping her shoulders, he helped her stand upright.
“You okay?”
Gabe held his breath as Lianna tried to catch hers, panting irregularly. Dread started to creep in. Of course, she’s not okay . She’s not made for run-ins with two-hundred-year-old maples or two hundred thirty-pound men . To be fair, while Lianna was slim, she was no waif. The muscles she did have were toned. She looked like a tall ballerina—long, lean, and elegantly shaped.
To his relief she finally gulped a mouthful of air.
“Holy crap! Why do people keep sneaking up on me?” Then on her next breath, “I mean, how can someone so big be so quiet?”
Recognizing she was okay, Gabe released her shoulders. Lianna linked her hands on top of her head and tried to regain her composure.
As Gabe watched her breathing return to normal, he couldn’t help but study her picture-perfect traits. At this proximity, he could see every freckle that stretched across her flushed face. The adorable dots started high on her cheekbones and were smattered imperfectly across her exotic face. They added a soft innocence and youthfulness to her glowing skin. Full, pouty lips accompanied eyes that were almost as dark as her jet-black lashes. A long thin nose that sloped just at the tip was the exclamation point on an already captivating face. He could stare all day and still not get his fill.
On a breeze, he inhaled a hint of the vanilla scent that was so uniquely Lianna. His primitive brain couldn’t handle her panting mixed with the delicious smell wafting to his nose, so he took another step back, focusing on his own composure.
“How is your shoulder? You hit that tree hard.”
Lianna grimaced. “I think I’m fine, just a bruise probably. Are you okay? I hit you hard.”
The look he gave her conveyed that he didn’t think it was a question worth answering. When she propped her hand on her hip, continuing to stare, he smirked. She rewarded him with a fabricated scowl.
“Such a tough guy, huh. Can’t admit a girl hurt you?”
The fact that she was genuinely concerned about his wellbeing was so damn cute he couldn’t help but grin. She smiled in return, and they stood there panting and smiling like idiots.
Lianna broke the spell when she rubbed her injured shoulder. Despite his better judgement he stepped forward, taking her slim arm into his hands again. He might as well be holding a live wire the way her skin jolted him. Ignoring the sensation that ran straight to his groin, he turned her so he could get a good look.
She was wearing a black t-shirt that looked about as old as she did. It had a faded logo on it and the sleeves were cut off at the shoulder giving him a clear view of the damage. An angry looking scrape extended halfway down her upper arm. She would be sporting a mean bruise in the morning.
“Shit, Lianna, I’m so sorry.”
Seeing her soft skin marred pissed him off, especially when it was his fault. When her breath hitched, he realized his thumb had been lazily tracing the outer edges of the scrape. Reluctantly he let his hand drop.
“I should have been able to stop you before you hit that tree.”
She laughed nervously. “Please, most people can’t stop a speeding bullet. Next time I’ll slow down on this part of the trail.”
“You shouldn’t be down here alone anyway. It’s too secluded, especially this early in the morning. And considering a woman is still missing, I’d think you would be more careful.”
The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself. Every word he spoke was true, but he knew she wouldn’t take kindly to the scolding. Proving him right, she made a show of rolling her eyes.
“Yes, trust me, I think of Justine constantly, but I heard police suspect an affair? It’s usually someone the person knows, right? Or she could have lost it and just taken off. Plus, we live in the most boring part of town. I run into more animals than people down here.”
Lianna said the words, but he doubted she believed them. As a mother herself, he suspected she wasn’t buying the whole ‘taking off’ excuse her soon to be ex-husband was providing. Something amiss was at play here, and he needed Lianna to understand that.
“You know better than that. It’s foolish to be alone down here, period.”
Maybe it sounded like he had just called her foolish based on her expression.
“But it’s fine that you get to enjoy a morning run wherever you want, eh, officer?”
She said the words amiably, but Gabe knew better. The Canadian terminology was being used to prod him. She knew his title hadn’t been officer in years. He missed this sassy, playful side of Lianna.
The challenging look in her eyes told him she was trying to get a rise out of him. Certain parts of his anatomy were certainly rising to the occasion. While he was still trying to get his mouth to function, she continued to chide him.
“If it bothers you so much, you’re welcome to run with me anytime. You can protect me,” her tone loaded with sarcasm. “I always wanted my own bodyguard, like when the President runs, he has all those Secret Service agents trailing behind him. Pretty cool, huh?”
She started walking towards the stairs, making it several strides before turning back to look over her shoulder.
“Coming, bodyguard?” She laughed.
Gabe was still lost somewhere back in the middle of the conversation.
“I’ll race you up the stairs…”
She baited him like he was a toddler, and she held a piece of candy. But Gabe just stood as still as the tree beside him, staring at the wonder that was Lianna. After being bodychecked into a maple tree, here she was full of attitude.
Scrunching her eyebrows together, she stared at him, and he realized he still hadn’t responded. Like the smooth operator that he was, he finally mumbled an excuse.
“I, ah, just started my workout.”
“Well, how will I ever make it all the way home alone?”
She wore a pout that had him desperate to bite her bottom lip. Expecting to hear another cheeky comeback, he was surprised when instead of waiting for a response she gave him a shrug.
“A different time.”
Then without another word, she turned and trotted away. Gabe stood rooted to his spot and allowed himself to watch her go. God blessed her with a generous backside, and he would never turn down an opportunity to take in that view. The gray yoga capris hugging every curve and dimple almost had him running after her. In fact, he wasn’t sure why he hadn’t made good on his word and accompanied her to the top.
Gabe had never met a human being that overwhelmed him like that lovely lady did. What’s the worst that could happen—she’d talk you into bed? That was a hardship he could endure. But Gabe knew from the one time he merely held her, taking her to bed would lead to giving her his heart. That would lead to disappointment all around. Shaking his head, he turned towards the sound of crashing waves and took off in a sprint.
****
What a dumbass , Lianna chided herself. Peeling off her workout shirt, she threw it in the direction of the hamper. When she missed her mark, she stomped over to pick it up, cursing herself for being so anal retentive. Properly dunking the shirt this time, she shed the rest of her sweaty clothing.
Other women casually found ways to run into their target of affection. Lianna literally ran into hers. She smacked her palm to her forehead. Of course, he didn’t want to run up the stairs with you .
The irritation grew worse when she thought of how attractive Gabe looked, his dark hair tousled, the sweat dripping from his beard. After he had inspected her arm, he released her to step back and wipe the sweat from his forehead. He did so by lifting the bottom of his shirt to his face. Lianna was surprised she hadn’t combusted on the spot, staring at those six-pack abs and the trail of hair that disappeared into his waistband.
“Nobody should be that sexy!” she cried out loud.
Who did he think he was? He treated her like an incurable illness one minute, then in the next breath, lectured her on staying safe. She had been enjoying baiting him into an argument. Then her adrenaline ran out and insecurities flooded in. One thing was certain—the guy ran hotter and colder than her shower tap.
Trudging into the bathroom, she looked in the mirror and winced at the scrape extending the length of her upper arm. That’s gonna sting . The buzz from her workout was quickly wearing off. In search of ibuprofen, she left the bathroom, and her attention was drawn to movement outside of her window.
Quietly opening the French doors leading from her room to the balcony, she hid her underwear clad body behind the door frame and strained to see out. Tim, her neighbor, was walking away, moving swiftly up her driveway. He glanced around several times almost nervously before he reached the road.
Diane, Tim’s wife, came into view from the tree line between the properties, yelling something indiscernible to him. Lianna couldn’t hear the couple’s words, but she didn’t miss Tim’s skin turn several shades redder before he stomped back into his own yard after her. She was clearly missing something. Why were they on her property? And yelling at each other.
Tim and Diane had been her neighbors since they originally built the home. In that time, the two households had never become very friendly. Tim preferred staring over speaking, which had given Lianna the heebie jeebies on more than one occasion. He was soft spoken and seemed nervous around her, always having an excuse for being on her property. But the pair generally kept to themselves, which served Lianna just fine.
When Scott was alive Diane was more cordial, stopping to chat with her and the kids. In the years since his death, she could count on one hand the times her neighbor stopped to converse. Which, in fairness, some people didn’t know how to handle the fact that she was widowed and preferred to just avoid her. It bothered Lianna at first, heightening her feelings of being an outcast. However, more recently she was grateful to not have to make forced small talk.
The neighbors seemed to fight at regular frequencies. Sometimes their raised voices would travel in the evenings when the windows were open. She knew from personal experience every couple had their issues. As she continued to eavesdrop, her neighbors’ voices disappeared as they exited from view.
Lianna’s cell phone rang. Emerging from her hiding spot to grab it from the bedside table, a smile spread over her face when she saw it was her friend Isabela calling back. Since her pal had accepted a job in the Emerald City last year, they would meet for coffee a few times a month. Lianna had called her friend immediately after returning from her run. She wanted to confirm this week’s coffee date, but mostly wanted to rant about her run in with Gabe.
“Your timing is impeccable,” Lianna said, ignoring the standard greeting.
“Oh, yeah? I have a knack for these things.”
“I was just watching my goofy neighbors fight.”
“Hold on, I want details but just let me pay for my fuel.”
As she waited, Lianna’s gaze drifted to the trees. “It’s so beautiful here, huh? Are you loving being back?’
“I wouldn’t know, I’m never out of my office. Pretty ironic since I moved here for the elusive work-life balance.”
Then Isabela said to someone else, “Great, thank you, have a good day.” She sighed. “Okay, I’m back. Every time I choose full service, I always regret how long it takes.”
“You know…” Lianna continued, distracted, “I thought about moving back east when Scott died.”
Ultimately, she decided it was too much change for her kids. They had school and friends and it had just felt like Lianna was running. They stayed in their small, quiet community and she knew it was the right choice. She smelled the ocean at night and woke up to the eagles chatting in the mornings.
“Well, right about now I’m glad you didn’t. Or you would miss our date tomorrow. We’re still on, right?”
“Absolutely, I’ll call when I cross the border, so you know when to leave.” Sometimes border traffic could be a pain, especially on the weekends. Vancouver and Seattle were sister cities, however having an international border between them had its challenges at times.
“Awesome, okay, I have to run. I have a call from the office coming in. Catch me up with the neighbor gossip tomorrow, okay?”
“No problem, drive safe. See you tomorrow.”
Lianna said goodbye but was still mentally drifting. She was lost in the memory of when she told Diane they had decided to stay in the aftermath of losing Scott. Her neighbor had blinked at her in surprise then seemed annoyed. She was thinking too much into this. The woman was probably just caught off guard. Closing the balcony door behind her, Lianna headed for the medicine cabinet and prayed a soothing shower could salvage the morning.