Jacob's Ladder: Gabe

by Katie Ashley

  Linc’s mouth gaped open. “You want my permission?”

  “Yes, I do. Although your mom loves her dad very much, you are the center of her world. You will be the one most affected by us getting married, so it only seemed fair to ask you.”

  When Linc’s brown eyes pooled with tears, my throat constricted, and I felt like someone had punched through my chest to squeeze my heart.

  “You’re the only guy in the whole wide world I’d want to marry my mom.”

  Linc’s statement sent me over the edge. Overcome by emotion, I jerked him against my chest. “You don’t know how proud I am to hear you say that, buddy.” After squeezing him tight, I eased him back to smile at him. “I promise I’ll be a good husband to her, and I’ll do my best not to hurt her or you.”

  “You better.”

  “I will.”

  A quizzical expression came over Linc’s face. “Have you gotten Mom a ring?”

  Once again, I had to laugh at just how much of an old soul he was. “No, not yet. I wanted to make sure things were square between the two of us before I dropped a chunk of change on a ring.”

  “Can I help you pick it out?”

  “Sure you can. You probably know more about what she likes when it comes to jewelry than I do.”

  He frowned a little. “I don’t know. Maybe I could also ask Aunt Kennedy and Aunt Ellie.”

  “Actually, buddy, I’d like to keep this just between the two of us.”

  As Linc nodded, he held up his right hand. “I won’t say anything. I promise.”

  I grinned at him. “I trust you. You did a great job of keeping our guitar secret.”

  “I did, didn’t I?”

  “Yep.” I jerked my chin at his guitar case. “Speaking of, we better pack up the sheet music and head out. Your mom will kill us if we’re late for dinner.”

  “Okay.” He started shuffling the music back into his folder. When he reached to pick up his case, he froze.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  He turned to stare intently at me. “Are you guys going to have kids?”

  Holy shit. He wasn’t holding back with that loaded question. I swallowed hard. “Uh, well, we really haven’t talked about it.”

  “I think Mom would like to have more kids, maybe a little girl,” Linc replied thoughtfully.

  “She probably would.” I smiled to myself at the thought of having a sassy little girl with Rae.

  “What about you? Do you want kids?”

  Since I knew Linc deserved absolute honesty, I decided it was best to tell him the truth and not sugarcoat it. “You know, I wasn’t sure I really wanted kids before I met your mother.” I smiled at him. “But then I met you, and everything about you has changed my mind.” When Linc remained quiet, I asked, “What about you? Are you on board if we decide to have more kids?”

  He nodded. “That would be cool.”

  “Then what’s with the mood change?”

  After nibbling on his lip—a trait that was so much like his mother—he peeked up at me. “I was just thinking that even if you guys did have kids, maybe you might adopt me.”

  Talk about feeling like I’d been sucker-punched and roundhouse-kicked in the balls. Linc had really pulled out all the stops with that question. Although I had thought about it before, it hadn’t seem real until the words had come from his mouth. I guess I’d never stopped to imagine that he would want me to adopt him. Sure, I thought he would be fine with me being his stepdad, but there was a whole new level of meaning with taking on my name and legally being my child.

  I drew in a deep breath. “Even though I don’t need to have a piece of paper that tells me you’re my son, of course I would want to adopt you. It’s just…complicated.”

  With his eyes lit up like one of the stage lights during a show, Linc danced around my chair. “I can’t believe I’m going to be your son!”

  “Wait a minute, Linc, didn’t you hear me when I said it would be complicated?”

  “Why does it have to be complicated?”

  “Because of a lot of legal bullshit. First, we’d have to get your mom on board—”

  Sweeping his hands to his hips matter-of-factly, Linc asked, “Do you seriously think she would say no?”

  I laughed. “No, I don’t think she would, but she’s only a small step. The big step is your real father has to give up all his rights to you. That means your mom would have to track him down and then he would have to sign the legal papers.”

  Linc’s face fell. “Oh. That does sound complicated.”

  Reaching out, I ruffled his hair. “Complicated, but not impossible.”

  “Does that mean you’ll try?”

  “Of course I will. After I talk to your mom about it, we’ll start looking into it before we get married.” With a laugh, I shook my head. “I’m probably putting the cart before the horse on that one considering I need to ask her to marry me first.”

  “When do you think you’ll do that?”

  I shrugged. “I dunno. After I get the ring, I’ll wait until the moment feels right.”

  “That sounds like a good plan.”

  When my phone dinged in my pocket, I grabbed Linc’s guitar case. “Come on. I bet you a hundred bucks that’s your mom giving me grief for being late.”

  Linc rolled his eyes. “Just tell her you’re a man and you’ll come to dinner when you’re good and ready.”

  Tsking at him, I said, “And here I thought you had women all figured out.”

  “Jeez, give me a break. I’m only ten.”

  Two months later

  “Pinch me,” I murmured.

  Gabe laughed. “Only if I can pinch your ass or your nipple.”

  I smacked his arm with my free hand. “Way to ruin a moment.”

  “My apologies.” Gabe released my other hand and brought his hand to my arm then gave it a gentle pinch. “There, how was that?”

  “I’m still standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, so it’s not just a wonderful dream. It really is real life.”

  Many, many months ago, I’d told Gabe how I wanted to eat French toast or crepes in Paris. Somehow, he hadn’t forgotten that random comment, and when my birthday month rolled around, he presented me with two first class tickets to Paris. We’d arrived the previous day just in time for my birthday the next day, and even though our hotel suite boasted the most amazing view of the Eiffel Tower, I hadn’t actually gotten to stand in front of it until this moment.

  After breakfast in bed led to a lengthy sexathon and subsequent nap, it was after five o’clock before we dragged ourselves out of the hotel room. After three orgasms, I certainly wasn’t complaining about being slightly delayed in seeing the tower in person.

  As I stood staring up at the intricate metal structure, I found it surreal that the girl who had barely been outside of Georgia was about to celebrate her twenty-eighth birthday in Paris. “I feel just like Carrie in Sex and the City.”

  With a chuckle, Gabe replied, “Does that mean I’m your Big?”

  I grinned. “Yes, except without all the douchey behavior.”

  “I’ll take it.” He wagged his brows. “Especially the big part.”

  Elbowing him, I said, “Don’t make sexual innuendos in front of the Eiffel Tower. It’s far too classy.”

  “Babe, I’m pretty sure it’s heard much worse, not to mention what it’s seen.” As he shielded his eyes from the setting sun, he added, “Man, it must be a rush to fuck up there.”

  “Only you would stand in front of the Eiffel Tower and think about sex. Besides, I seriously doubt that happens.”

  “Oh, I’m sure numerous people have been caught, not to mention the ones who threw enough money at the guards to have some after-hours fun.” Gabe waggled his brows at me. “Want me to see what the going rate is for a post-sunset quickie?”

  Although I normally wasn’t one to shy away from sex in public places, I didn’t think I could possibly have sex on the Eiffel Tower. I mean, what if we got arrest
ed? How would I ever explain to Linc why I was being detained in a Parisian jail? I quickly shook my head back and forth. “No. I’m good.”

  Gabe bent over to place his palm on my bare thigh. As his hand started underneath my skirt, he asked, “Maybe a finger bang in a corner?”

  With a shriek, I jerked away from him. “Once again, I’m going to have to say no.”

  “I’m really digging you in this dress. It’s very accessible.”

  I jabbed my index finger into his chest. “That’s it—no more horny sex-talk. I don’t want to hear anything else come out of your lips that isn’t romantic.”

  “Exactly how would you define ‘romantic’?”

  Rolling my eyes at him, I replied, “Um, hello, you’re the songwriter. Figure it out.”

  Gabe chuckled. “Fine. You win.”

  I cupped my hand over my ear. “And what sweet nothings would you like to say to me?”

  “That even though you’re a pain in my ass, I love you very much.”

  “You’re impossible,” I huffed.

  Tilting his head at me, Gabe smiled. “There isn’t another woman on earth I’d rather talk dirty to than you. You are my ultimate fantasy, live and in the flesh. I dream of your mouth against mine, your lips on my skin, the feel of your soft curves beneath my body. There is no greater heaven on earth than being buried deep inside you, our bodies joined together as one.”

  His words sent a shudder through me. I didn’t know why I was surprised that he had found a way to mix in sex with the romance. He was a songwriter for goodness’ sake. Pressing myself against him, I murmured, “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He dipped his head to bring his mouth to mine, his lips soft and tender against my own. Each and every time he kissed me, I fell just a little more in love with him. There was something about the way he exuded such emotion through his kisses. Even though he could pen such words of love in his songs, sometimes he still had a difficult time vocalizing them.

  When he finally pulled away, I was breathless, and damn him if I didn’t have a slow ache burning between my legs. I became utterly and completely wanton when it came to Gabe, an insatiable sex fiend who craved more and more.

  At what must’ve been the lust burning in my eyes, he grinned at me. “Ready to go to dinner?”

  “Yes, asshole,” I grumbled.

  With a hearty laugh, Gabe replied, “We can always go back to the hotel room.”

  I shook my head furiously from side to side. “Oh no, mister. There’s no way I’m missing out on my VIP dinner at Jules Verne.”

  Gabe held up his hands. “It was just a suggestion.”

  Pointing at the elevators, I commanded, “Let’s go—now.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  * * *

  After emitting a moan of pure ecstasy, I lay my napkin down on my now empty plate. “Oh my God, I don’t think I’ve ever been so stuffed.”

  “What about dessert?” Gabe asked.

  I widened my eyes. “Are you kidding me? I’m not sure I’ll eat the rest of the trip, least of all try to eat anything else tonight.”

  He chuckled. “Then how about we go up for drink at the champagne bar and take in the views?”

  “As long as it’s okay that I’m waddling slightly, then I would love to.”

  After Gabe paid the check, he held out his hand to me. “Come on, my little Oompa Loompa,” he teased.

  I playfully smacked his arm. “While I might feel like an Oompa Loompa, I most certainly don’t look like one.”

  “You are wearing a purple dress,” he remarked as he we headed to the coat check.

  “Keep it up, Mr. Renard, and you’ll be able to tell Trip Advisor how well that couch in the suite’s living room sleeps.”

  Gabe smirked. “Like you would really toss me out of bed.”

  “You should know me well enough not to tempt me,” I countered.

  Dipping his head, Gabe whispered in my ear, “But who would be there to give you orgasms if I wasn’t in bed with you?”

  I flashed him a wicked grin. “Considering this is Paris, I’m pretty sure I could find many devices to satisfy me.”

  “None of those devices are as good as my tongue or my dick.”

  “While I might disagree, there’s nothing like you spooning me or waking up beside you.”

  With a smile, Gabe said, “That’s more like it.”

  After Gabe helped me into my coat, he slid his on as well, and we then took the elevator up to the champagne bar. After weaving our way through the crowd, we got in line for a glass of bubbly.

  When we reached the front, a man in a crisp black suit asked, “Good evening. The rose or the white?”

  After glancing over at me, I said, “The rose.”

  Gabe nodded. “We’ll take two.”

  Once we had our glasses, Gabe and I moved to one of the less crowded corners of the observation deck. My hair and clothes rippled in the gentle breeze, and when I shivered in the cold, Gabe wrapped an arm around me. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern vibrating in his voice.

  “I’m fine.” Gazing out into the glittering night sky, I murmured, “Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?”

  “Yes.”

  I smiled up at him. “After traveling so much, I’m sure you have.”

  “Actually, I have the pleasure seeing my most beautiful every day.”

  When I got his meaning, my heartbeat thrummed wildly. “Aw, thank you, babe. I’d have to say you’re pretty impressive to look at every day, too.”

  Gabe grinned. “But do I compare to this view?”

  “You far outrival it.” Bolstered by both the champagne I’d been sipping along with the slight headiness the altitude brought, I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I’d say your cock alone is far more magnificent.”

  A shudder rippled through Gabe, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of my flirty words or because of the cold.

  “I like your way of thinking,” he said with a smirk.

  I giggled. “I thought you would.”

  Pulling back from him a bit, I leaned in to get a closer look through the crisscrossing wire. “It’s amazing how many buildings are squashed into such a small area. It’s so much different than home,” I mused while taking another sip of champagne.

  Suddenly Gabe wasn’t beside me anymore. When I glanced over my shoulder to see where he had gone, a screech erupted from my lips and my hands flew to cover my mouth. “Oh my God,” I murmured as I spun around to face Gabe. The man I loved with all my heart and soul was down on one knee with a turquoise box in his hands. Although I might not have been out of Georgia much, I knew that box could only be from one place—Tiffany’s. Once again, the only words I could muster were, “Oh my God!”

  Gabe smiled up at me. “Reagan Margaret Hart, my muse and my love, I want to spend the rest of my life making music with you. Two months ago, I asked Linc if I could have your hand in marriage. Today, I’m asking you.” When tears pooled in Gabe’s eyes, it was my undoing. “Rae, will you marry me?”

  His image blurred before me as I let myself go and sobbed openly. I couldn’t believe what he was saying. He had asked Linc’s permission to marry me. He loved my son enough to ask him if he would be okay with us getting married. Gabe loved me enough to want to include my son in one of the biggest decisions of his life. Just when I thought I couldn’t love him any more than I already did, my heart grew just a little more.

  “Rae?” he questioned.

  “Yes! Yes, of course I will marry you!” I cried as I lunged forward. I threw my arms around his neck and the momentum sent us toppling to the ground. As I lay there entwined in Gabe’s arms, I began kissing every square inch of him that I could reach—his cheeks, his nose, his mouth, his neck, his temples. I tried to emulate what he did with his kisses, to show him just what I wanted to say but somehow couldn’t. I wanted him to know he had made me the happiest woman on earth by loving me and loving my child.

  At the sound of applau
se behind us, I couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of the moment. There we were rolling around on the top floor of the Eiffel Tower while tourists clapped for us. I knew this was a moment I would remember for the rest of my life.

  “I guess we better get up,” I said.

  “They could just step over us,” Gabe suggested with a grin.

  “Whatever. Come on.”

  Once I pulled myself off him, Gabe rose to his feet. When we were both upright again, He reached into the turquoise box in his hand. I was shocked that he had managed to hold on to it after me tackling him.

  Taking my hand in his, he slid the ring on my finger. “Now it’s official. You are the future Mrs. Gabriel Renard.”

  Although it was dark outside, I held my hand up to gaze at the ring. “It’s beautiful.”

  “You really like it?”

  “I love it. It’s everything I could have hoped for.” I winked at him. “Okay, maybe it’s a hell of a lot bigger than what I ever hoped for, but I’ll take it.”

  Gabe laughed. “While I normally like to think when it comes to rings, go big or go home, it was Linc who brought me down a carat.”

  I widened my eyes at Gabe. “You picked a bigger ring?”

  He nodded. “But Linc made the very good point that it wouldn’t be very practical in your line of work.”

  I realized then that he had not only asked Linc’s permission to marry me, they had gone ring shopping together. “I’ve got to say I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when you two were looking at rings—and when in the world did you take him to Tiffany’s?”

  “When you guys flew up to New York for the opening of the tour.”

  I laughed. “Now I remember. You guys were acting so weird that day, and although you said you were just going shopping, you wouldn’t let me come with you.”

  Gabe nodded. “I had to lie and tell you we were going to hit several music stores to shop for guitars, which I knew was the easiest way to get you to stay at the hotel.”

  “You’re right, but it never dawned on me when you two got back that you didn’t buy anything.”