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for Gabe. She still couldn’t believe she’d invited him for ice cream. And was even more surprised that he’d said yes.
    Why would he say yes?
    She doubted he harbored any residual feelings from their short time together that summer many years ago.
    But what a summer. She’d thought she owned the world when she’d met Gabe. He had just started working for the Boston Police Department. He’d been to-die-for in his uniform. She hadn’t stood a chance. Of course now she realized how foolish she’d been to think they could have a future together. He’d taken one look at her family and bolted in the other direction, leaving her heart in tatters.
    She’d seen him once since then. At Meg’s wedding last year. Gabe looked even more dashing in his navy pinstriped suit and tie than in his uniform. Kris had left as soon as she politely could to avoid having to talk with Gabe.
    And then what did she go and do? Seek him out, hoping he’d solve the mystery of the missing residents. Brilliant. Not.
    â€œKrissy, stop fidgeting,” Sadie commanded from her spot on the couch as Kris continued to tidy the already neat room. “The boy will be here in due time.”
    With a sheepish smile, Kris refrained from straightening the magazines on the coffee table. “Sorry. I’m just anxious to find out if Gabe talked with Frank and, if so, what happened.”
    Sadie’s gaze narrowed. “From what you told me about those pictures you took, it sounds like Frank is doing something illegal. Maybe he harmed my friends because they caught him taking their drugs.”
    Taking a seat beside her grandmother, Kris gathered Sadie’s arthritic hands in hers. “I’m sure Gabe will figure out where your friends have gone.”
    â€œYou trust this boy?” Sadie’s blue eyes bored into Kris.
    â€œGrams, he’s not a boy. And please don’t call him that when he gets here. And yes, I do trust him.” With the mystery of the missing retirement residents. Definitely. But not with her heart. She’d tried once. Wasn’t going to repeat that mistake.
    Sadie grinned. “Protective of his feelings, are we?”
    Kris kept her expression dispassionate. “No, of course not.”
    â€œAh, so you just don’t want to be embarrassed by your old grandmother.”
    Trapped, Kris shook her head. “You calling him a boy would be embarrassing. But I’m never embarrassed by you.”
    Sadie squeezed her hand. “At least you aren’t. Your mother, on the other hand…very embarrassed.”
    Kris frowned, hating that her parents weren’t as loving toward Sadie as she’d wished they’d be.
    The doorbell rang, sending Kris’s heart pounding. Taking deep breaths, she walked slowly to the doorthough her feet wanted to rush. But she wasn’t going to let Sadie see her eagerness to see Gabe. Eagerness born out of curiosity to know what he’d found out, not because she longed to see him again. Or kiss him.
    Wait a sec! Where had that thought come from? She flashed to when he’d pulled her into his embrace and shielded her from view with his body. Okay, so maybe she did want to kiss him. But only to see if kissing him as a grown-up would be different than when she was a naive girl mooning over a handsome uniformed police officer.
    She tugged on the hem of her shirt and smoothed a hand down the silky fabric covering her stomach, wishing she could as easily smooth her nerves. With a smile she hoped didn’t look too eager or too contrived, she opened the door.
    Gabe held a bouquet of colorful flowers in his hand. Kris blinked back the sudden mist in her eyes. When was the last time a man had brought her flowers?
    A very long time.
    Gabe smiled but didn’t offer her the flowers. “Hi.”
    Should she reach for them or wait until he presented them? “Hi, yourself. Come in.”
    She moved aside so he could