A Reunion and a Ring. Gina Wilkins

mom had insisted he bring with him. She was still annoyed with him for taking off to heal in private rather than letting her nurse him back to health from his injury, which would have driven him crazy. He disliked being fussed over, even by the mother he adored.

      Jenny wasn’t gone long. When she returned, she wore slim-fitting dark knit pants with a loose coral top that looked somewhat more comfortable than her previous outfit. She’d towel-dried her hair and her feet were still bare, but other than that, she could have been dressed to host a casual summer party. Had she really packed this way for a cabin weekend alone? He had to admit she looked great, but out of place here. No surprise.

      He set a steaming mug of tea on the booth-style oak table. A bench rested against the wall, and four bow-back chairs were arranged at the ends and opposite side of the table, providing comfortable seating for six adults. He brought friends occasionally for poker-and-fishing weekends, and the family still tried to gather here once a year or so, but usually he came alone when he needed a little downtime to recharge his emotional batteries.

      Setting the lantern on the table, Jenny slid into a chair and picked up the tea mug, cradling it between her hands as she gazed up at him. “I’m really sorry about this mix-up. And that I woke you so abruptly when I’m sure you need sleep.”

      He started to shrug his right shoulder out of habit, then stopped himself at the first twinge of protest. “Not your fault,” he said again. “How long were you planning to stay?”

      She looked into her mug, hiding her expression. “I paid for three nights, which would let me stay until Monday afternoon if I’d wanted.”

      “By yourself.” That still seemed odd to him. Was she still seeing Mr. Social Register? Or had there been a breakup? He couldn’t help thinking back to the weeks following his breakup with Jenny. He’d dropped out of college and holed up here alone for a couple of weeks, until his parents had shown up and practically dragged him back into the real world. He’d entered the police academy as soon as he could get in after that, putting both the pain and the woman who’d caused it out of his mind and out of his heart. Or at least that’s what he’d told himself all these years since.

      Still, just because he’d retreated here after a split didn’t mean Jenny’s reasons for being here were in any way the same.

      No particular emotion showed on her face when she spoke, still without looking up at him. “I’ve gotten behind on some business and personal paperwork and I thought it would be nice to have a little time to myself in peaceful surroundings to tackle it all. I needed a chance to concentrate without constant interruptions, and it’s usually hard to find that back at home.”

      Leaning against the counter, he raised his water glass and murmured into it, “I know that feeling.”

      She glanced at him from beneath her lashes. “You’re getting away from everyone, too?”

      “In a way. I, um, had surgery on my shoulder last week and I’d rather hide out and heal alone rather than be hovered over by my mom.”

      Her full lips curved then into a faint smile. “From what I remember about you, that doesn’t surprise me at all.”

      He didn’t want to discuss memories, good or otherwise.

      “So you drove straight here from Little Rock?”

      “Yes. It wasn’t storming when I left. I had hoped it would hit later, or maybe skip this area completely.”

      She looked up when thunder boomed again, louder and closer. “Thor’s really angry tonight,” she murmured with a wry, somewhat nervous-looking smile.

      A chuckle escaped him. “The myth or the superhero?”

      “The myth, of course.” She gave a husky little laugh that echoed straight from those memories he was trying so hard to hold back. “And the superhero. I’ve seen all the movies, even though my, um, friend calls them cheesy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy more intellectually challenging films for the most part, but I...”

      She stopped herself with a grimace. “I’m sorry, I’m babbling. This whole situation is just so...awkward.”

      “Yeah.” He set his glass beside the sink, his attention lingering reluctantly on her mention of a “friend.” Something about the way she’d said the word made him wonder...

      He motioned abruptly toward his bedroom. “I’m going back to bed. Make yourself at home. We’ll sort it all out in the morning. You’ll be getting a refund, of course, for anything you’ve paid up front.”

      Lightning zapped so close to the cabin he could almost smell the ozone. The near-deafening clap of thunder was almost simultaneous. He saw Jenny flinch, her hands visibly unsteady around the mug. Wind-driven rain hammered the windows, and he thought he heard some hail mixed in. The full force of the storm had definitely arrived.

      “Do you know if we’re under a tornado warning?”

      He shook his head. “My phone would sound an alarm if we were. It’s only a severe thunderstorm warning.”

      “You’ll let me know if it turns into anything more?”

      “Of course.”

      He took another step toward the bedroom just as another barrage of hail hit the roof and windows. Hearing a sound from Jenny, he looked over his shoulder. She sat at the table holding her mug, her face pale in the circle of lantern light. She made no move toward her own bedroom. “Are you okay?”

      She glanced his way. “I hope this hail doesn’t damage my car.”

      His truck was under cover in the carport, but he wasn’t about to offer to go out and swap places with her. He figured she had insurance. “Maybe the hail won’t last long.”

      “I hope you’re right,” she said, her voice almost drowned out by thunder. The storm was so loud now it seemed to echo inside his aching head.

      Raising his left hand to his temple, he said, “Let me know if you need anything.”

      “Thanks. I’m okay for now.”

      Nodding, he turned and headed grimly for the bedroom, thinking he’d better lie down before he embarrassed himself by falling down. He’d been assured the wound infection was not serious and should heal quickly with a five-day course of antibiotics, but combined with everything else, it was kicking his butt tonight. He could only blame that for his inability to think clearly about the woman now sitting at his table.

      He’d been far too rattled ever since she’d tumbled out of the storm, out of the past and into his bed.

      * * *

      Jenny watched Gavin walk away. His thin shirt emphasized the breadth and muscularity of his shoulders and arms. His well-worn jeans encased a tight butt. At thirty-one, he’d put on a few pounds since she’d seen him last, but those pounds were all muscle. She saw no evidence of his injury from the back, which only enhanced the impression of strength and power. She waited only until his bedroom door closed sharply behind him before she sagged in her chair and hid her face in her hands.

      She had always wondered how she would feel if she saw Gavin again. She’d hoped she would have enough warning to brace herself. As it was, it had taken every ounce of control she could muster to hide her shock and dismay at finding him here.

      Gavin had certainly shown no particular emotion, other than the initial, understandable confusion when he’d first recognized her. Since then, he’d given no evidence that he viewed her as anything more than an annoying intrusion. Remembering how angry he’d been when she’d broken up with him, she supposed that shouldn’t surprise her.

      She felt suddenly alone in her little circle of lantern light. A crash of wind and thunder made her jerk, almost spilling the dregs of her tea. She swallowed, squared her shoulders and stood to carry the cup to the sink.

      Retrieving her bag and the lantern, she moved into the back bedroom, which was even smaller than the one in which she’d found