Second Chances by Nicole Andrews Moore Page B

girls rushing happily up the stairs, presumably to their rooms.  When he opened the door, he found Hannah making a second trip in from the vehicle with more supplies.
     
    Before she could take her light jacket off, he was growling at her.  “Where have you been?”  He demanded.
     
    Immediately her eyebrow arched defensively.  “Today is Sunday.  My day off, as I recall.”  She planted her hands on her hips and eyed him angrily.
     
    Under the weight of her reproachful stare, Gavin shifted uneasily.  “Yes,” he said more quietly.
     
    “Am I to report to you even on my day off?”  She challenged.
     
    He was defeated.  He had overreacted and he knew it.  Did she have to rub it in?  “No,” he said slowly.  He saw her soften some, confident of her position.  He cleared his throat and straightened.  “It is just common courtesy when people live together to let the other people know where they are going and when they can be expected home.”  He stared at her evenly.  “I mean, you don’t have a cell, and who knows when that vehicle of yours might just quit on you.  How do I know when to worry?”  And he swallowed hard after that admission.  Maybe she wouldn’t catch it.
     
    Her face relaxed as she tried to hide a pleased smile.  “You were worried?  Is that what this is all about?”  She sat down on the stairs and sighed.  “I never meant for you to worry, Gavin.”  She lowered her head for a moment, preparing to make an admission of her own.  “I’ve never had anyone to report to, anyone to worry over me.  I didn’t think you would care.”  And then in a lower voice still, “Brett never did.”
     
    Slowly, Gavin made his way over to where she sat and lowered himself to join her.  “You never told Brett where you were going?”  He found that aspect incredulous.  It was not at all like his marriage had been; which was why it had been such a coup that he had been able to keep all the massage classes a secret.
     
    Sighing, she said, “He was never home.  I never had had to tell him where I was and I never knew where he was.  He did his thing and I did…everything else.”  Hannah turned to face him then, and the depth of sorrow in her eyes nearly broke his heart.  She was about to share more, revealing more truths about her life when the doorbell rang.
     
    Instantly, Hannah hopped up and bit her lower lip as she answered the door.  Gavin was beginning to see a pattern here.  This was her “I-may-be-in-trouble look.”  Smirking he said, “Care to introduce me to your friend?”
     
    “The name’s Joe, sir.  Yer lady friend hired me.  Said there was some work to be done and if the quote was fair and the work good, she’d give me plenty of it.”  He shook Gavin’s hand firmly.
     
    Looking at Hannah with both brows arched, he said, “Hannah?”
     
    “Well, Joe,” Hannah said with a nervous giggle, “you are certainly eager.”  She turned to Gavin briefly and offered a weak smile before giving her full attention once more to the handy man.  “What if I show you to the first room, briefly explain my vision, give you an opportunity to make an estimate, and I’ll let Mr. Myers know what’s going on.”
     
    Gavin stood there with a smile on his face, completely dumbfounded.  She seemed to have everything under control, which he had mixed feelings over.  Once rooted to the spot, he now decided to blend into the scenery and hide in his sanctuary.
     
    Hannah caught him.  “I’ll be in to talk to you in the study in a few minutes, okay?”  Then she looped her arm through Joe’s and led him up the stairs, all the while explaining her ideas for the bedroom and the particular problems she saw with the room.
     
    She was prattling on all the way up the stairs, and she had her arm through his.  For some reason, Gavin found that particularly disturbing.  He soon caught himself pacing…again and sighed before dropping into his chair and trying to