Gabriel didn't take the time to get on his feet and pulled Nina behind the tree. The old gardener was narrowing his eyes to check if someone was there, or if he was imagining it.
Gabriel and Nina held their breaths as they waited for him to leave.
"Who is there?" The elderly gardener announced in the darkness in a weak voice and only got the sound of the breeze, "I'm getting too old to hear anything."
He muttered while walking away leaving the two lovers in fits.
"For a minute, I thought it was Shane," Nina told him, leaning her forehead on his chest. He regarded her head with a warm smile, "Stop fearing him. Now you're with me."
His deep voice was dangerously low near her ear and then Nina realized how close they both were standing.
She tried to pull back, but Gabriel didn't let her, "Stop!" his command took her by surprise, "Now we're engaged."