Once Upon a Proposal Read Free

head to look up at him. “I…no.” Her lips closed, softly pursed. They were pink and rosy. Lushly curved.
    And now he knew they tasted sweeter than a summer straw berry.
    It was all he could do not to take them again. He pressed his hand against the doorjamb above her head, realizing belatedly that he was still holding his hammer.
    He didn’t know whether to laugh at himself or curse. So he did neither. He straightened away from her and nodded toward the bouquet she was clutching. “Remind me never to give you roses. Lord knows what other innocent person you might attack.”
    She flushed and looked at the bouquet as if she’d forgotten all about it. “It’s not the roses,” she assured, running her hand over the perfectly pink blooms. “I love any sort of flower. And, I am sorry about, well, about all that.”
    He couldn’t say that he was. “Getting kissed by a pretty girl isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”
    Her lashes flew up and again he couldn’t help but thinkthat she really did have the most distinctive eyes. And right now, they were as soft a gray as a mourning dove.
    â€œThank you.” A dimple came and went in her smooth cheek. “I think.”
    â€œJust for future reference, though, if it wasn’t the roses, what was so objectionable about the guy?”
    â€œBoering wasn’t just his last name.” She gave a little huff, shaking her head and causing silky brown curls to dance around her shoulders. “And honestly, I never encouraged him. We spent a few hours visiting Pike Place and the Space Needle and I’ve been dodging his phone calls since.”
    â€œEver think about just telling the guy you weren’t interested?”
    Her smooth forehead crinkled. “I tried!” She huffed a little at the look he gave her. “Honestly, I did. It’s just not as easy as you make it sound. And I really didn’t want to offend him. He’s a friend of Uncle—”
    â€œâ€”Harry’s,” Gabe finished.
    â€œRight.”
    â€œWell, I hope your Uncle Harry doesn’t have too many friends like Boering that he sets you up with or you’re—”
    â€œNo, no, no.” Her curls danced some more. “Uncle Harry didn’t set us up. He just happened to introduce us when I delivered some coffee to his office. He’s not supposed to be drinking it, you see, but when he called me—” Her shoulders lifted.
    â€œYou couldn’t say no to him, either.” Gabe grinned a little.
    Her lips curved, and that dimple flirted into view again. “I was just doing a favor. Really.”
    â€œWell.” He tapped the doorjamb with the butt of his hammer. “Someday you can thank your Uncle Harry for me. Whoever he is.”
    This time her cheeks went even rosier than the velvetyflowers. Her eyes sparkled. “You’re pretty gracious, considering everything.”
    â€œMy grandmother would expect nothing less,” he assured wryly.
    â€œRight. And though Fiona has talked about you, we haven’t ever been properly introduced.” She tucked the roses under her arm and stuck out her hand. “I’m Bobbie Fairchild.”
    He took her palm in his. His hand practically swallowed her smaller one. “Gabe Gannon. It’s nice to kiss you, Bobbie Fairchild.”
    She laughed. “I suppose I deserve the teasing.”
    If he teased long enough, maybe he could forget the taste of her. Which would be the smartest thing all around. For one thing, he had seriously more pressing issues going on than his dearth of a love life. For another, he figured Bobbie was one of the causes that his grandmother had taken under her wing. What other reason would Fiona have for suddenly renting out the carriage house the way she had?
    It wasn’t as if his grandmother needed the money. And it wasn’t as if the carriage house was in such great