by Sabrina York
His apology helped a bit. She understood he knew better than his family how bad the match truly was.
“My parents don’t really interfere in our lives, but I’ll try. Why didn’t you have Roger come to the wedding?” He grinned. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not going to suggest you use him as bait.”
So he could see that she wasn’t thrilled. Did he think one sexy grin that shouldn’t be allowed for the well-being of womankind would have her doing whatever he wished? Was this some part of his plan to still convince her to use a date as bait? She crossed her legs. No way would she fall for a charming, handsome man. Did he forget who her father was?
“It seemed to be unfair to ask a stranger who doesn’t know anyone when I’ll be busy. And then there is my family. He’d be alone part of the time and have to deal with them.” Lauren didn’t add that she knew from Gabe’s mom that he wasn’t bringing anyone and she’d wanted the chance to see if her fantasy was in any part real. “Why didn’t you bring anyone?”
“I wanted the time to be with my family. I’m away so much that I didn’t want to feel guilty for not spending time with them.”
“The concept of wanting to spend time with family is foreign to me.”
He reached over and enfolded her hand in his. His hot hand warmed her as he gently squeezed.
“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what it must be like to not have a family who loves and supports you.”
She had made her own family over the years—the girls at her boarding school, her friends at design school, and now the people in her company. But facing the wedding during the holiday season was stirring up all the old feelings.
“You do have a family who cares about one another, don’t you?”
“Yeah. That’s why I feel so damn guilty and frustrated. In my work, we solve problems. It’s what we’re trained for. I can see the outcome if there isn’t an intervention, but I don’t have a solution for this damn wedding. And I never don’t have a solution.”
“You’re taking too much on. Gavin is a grown man and he wants Tiffany. Maybe he can offer Tiffany the love she never got from our father.”
“Do you really believe that?”
He was sincere in his question. She could hear it in his voice.
“I honestly don’t know. Since I’m in the same boat as Tiffany, I don’t know if any man can fill the shoes of a self-absorbed, absent father.”
“Your dad sounds like a bastard, even if he’s famous. I hope you don’t mind my saying, but why have kids if he doesn’t want anything to do with them?”
His genuine concern resonated deep within her. No one understood what her glamorous childhood had been like. Everyone was impressed and repeatedly told her how lucky she was to have Thomas Turner as her father.
“I’ll invite Roger to be my date. But I’ll tell him the truth. No lies. I’ll tell him again how busy I’ll be and he’ll have to be with my family. Then we can see what happens. But I won’t have Roger pressured to make any kind of moves on Tiffany. He’s a sensitive guy, and I don’t want him in the middle of a scandal.”
Did she feel a strong need to help Gabe because of all the years she spent soothing the hurt feelings caused by her father and his disastrous marriages? Or maybe because Gabe was a nice guy trying to help his brother?
Gabe turned to glare at her. “I meant someone you worked with. Not a guy who is hung up on you.”
“Roger is perfect. I don’t see him falling for Tiffany’s games, and that will make Tiffany more desperate to get his attention.”
“You don’t have to do this…” His voice grew rough. “I don’t want you to have to deal with Roger…”
“It won’t be a problem, although I can’t guarantee Roger will agree to attend.”
Why did he suddenly care whether Roger came? It was his idea for her to bring a date. She didn’t have a clue what she expected seeing Gabe again. She barely knew him except for his mother’s descriptions and this telling conversation where his love for his family became apparent. His understanding about her father made him real and better than her silly girl crush. Roger attending the wedding was probably a good thing, or she might do something really stupid—like falling for Gabe for real.
4
Gabe didn’t want to wake Lauren. She had been asleep for the last two hours of the drive. She had shifted from leaning against the cold window to leaning against him, her hand on his thigh, so close that he was semi-erect the entire drive through the valley and then climbing the next range. Nothing like sweet torture.
He smiled down at the sight of her thick lashes curved on her angular cheekbones, her soft lips open, her face relaxed, her knees tucked under her skirt. A warm feeling of protectiveness and tenderness spread through his chest. He didn’t want to wake her, knowing that she’d soon have to deal with Tiffany.
Tiffany. Gabe swallowed all the swears in his vocabulary. He was working on cleaning up his act before seeing his family. His parents didn’t approve of strong language. After spending ten years in the military, his vocabulary tended to make his churchgoing mother’s hair stand straight up.
And how could his years in Delta, the elite spec forces unit, not prepare him to tackle one disastrous wedding? For a man trained in orchestrating people, he behaved like an amateur with Lauren. He spilled his guts about sabotaging the wedding to her half sister. And, unfazed, she took it all in stride, offering to help.
He tracked the entire labyrinth of their talk and how, like a dumbass, he’d manipulated Lauren, a woman who sparked a hunger in him that he didn’t know existed, to invite another man as her date to the wedding.
And not just a physical hunger, which was there in spades. What man in his right mind wouldn’t lust after a woman like Lauren? She sparked other needs. He hadn’t spoken to a woman so honestly in years. Lauren, with her direct stare and her openness, instilled trust which, for a suspicious son of a bitch who searched the corners of the world for bad guys, was saying a hell of a lot.
His respect for her grew exponentially during the car ride. Hardened criminals folded under his interrogation, but she didn’t back down, even when he pressured her. She demonstrated her integrity by her outrage in misunderstanding that he’d wanted her to manipulate her date. She lived by her principles. He wasn’t sure how it happened in her messed-up family. Her willingness to be a sister to Tiffany should qualify her for a medal of honor, or at least a Purple Heart.
She stirred before snuggling to his chest as if in search of heat. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders, pressing her closer.
She was exhausted from all the wedding prep and worrying about facing her family. He read all the signs: the little furrow between her brows whenever she mentioned Tiffany or her father; her desperation to get the dress to Tiffany; her admission that she agreed to designing the dress in an attempt to be supportive of Tiffany’s wedding.
And instead of being a true gentleman and offering to be a buffer with her family, he tried to get her to help ruin her half sister’s wedding … unlike “sensitive” Roger, who’d offered to come and be a support.
He couldn’t totally fault himself. Lauren was an empathetic listener, and she understood Tiffany, the real Tiffany, the one his family didn’t know. He didn’t want to bash Tiffany since the chances were high that she’d be part of the family. Talking to Lauren gave him an outlet for all his pent-up frustrations over the terrible match. And Lauren agreed to have Roger as her date.
What a twisted mess. He could hope that Roger wouldn’t agree to attend. But he wasn’t a blind man. Roger would definitely come to spend time with Lauren. What man wouldn’t? He had the chance but blew it.
Now she had sensitive Roger to turn to. No one ever accused Gabe of being sensitive. If she understood what his job was, she wouldn’t have gotten into his car. Was she attracted to a man like Roger?
Hell, the man wore matching clothes and smelled like a perfume counter. But Lauren was a fashion designer, and she wore matching clothes
and smelled like… He took another whiff of her sensual scent that promised long nights and tangled sheets. He was so in trouble.
High Mountain Lodge loomed ahead. He regretted the end of their time together. He doubted he’d have any time alone with Lauren for the rest of the weekend, especially now that she’d have a date.
A wooden sign was posted before the circular drive. “Welcome to Mistletoe Lodge.” The sign reminded him again why he didn’t want Gavin to marry Tiffany. He pulled the car under the covered port. At least Lauren wouldn’t have to walk through the snow in her high heels.
“Lauren, time to wake up.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Lauren, we’re at the lodge.”
Her eyes shot open, staring as she searched his face, just inches from hers.
He brushed away the soft wisps of hair that fell across her forehead. “We’ve arrived.”
Having her this close, her breast crushed against him, the scent of her wafting over them, sent the blood rushing through him. It would be so easy to lean down and kiss her awake, like a Sleeping Beauty.
Her eyes widened, and she licked her lower lip, pushing him to follow the same path for a taste. Her hand squeezed his thigh, driving the need higher, the tension intensifying between them.
She stiffened, dropped her hand. and scooted to the center of her seat.
“How embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. I don’t mind being used as a pillow.”
Not meeting his gaze, she twisted her hair into a knot at the back of her head. “Did I drool on your shoulder?”
He was mesmerized by the gesture of fixing her hair. The simple feminine movement felt sensual and intimate. If redoing her hair was such a turn-on, he must be spending way too much time with men. “My shirt will dry.”
She smiled as she dug into her purse and applied lipstick. “I’m sorry for using you. But I usually can’t sleep in cars or planes…”
“You can use me anytime. And I enjoyed the mauling part.” He grinned, waiting for her reaction.
Color dotted her high cheekbones.
“You’re having way too much fun at my expense, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am, I am.” And he decided impulsively to ask her not to invite Roger. He’d figure out a way to get to Gavin.
As he reached to touch her, to savor the private moment, the door swung open. Gavin leaned in and offered his hand. “Lauren, thank God you’re here. Tiffany has been so worried about your safety.”
Lauren swung her legs out the door but twisted back to roll her eyes at Gabe. Right, if you believed Rudolph was real. They both knew she wanted her hands on the dress.
Gabe’s mood soured with the demonstration that Gavin really was a goner, believing Tiffany cared about Lauren’s safety. No words of warning from Gabe would bring Gavin back.
Gabe jumped out of the car and opened the rear door to lift the dress that was spread across the luggage. He handed the dress to Lauren, knowing she had to make the grand gesture of presenting the dress to Tiffany.
“If you and Gavin don’t mind bringing the other bags, that would be great.” A little notch of worry stood out above her eyebrows.
She hurried to the front door with chin lifted and spine ramrod straight.
His brother came around the car and punched Gabe in the arm.
“Man, it’s great to see you. Tiffany has been beside herself worrying that you had to drive.”
Glad to see his brother, Gabe pulled him into a one-arm man hug. “Just glad that I could deliver Lauren and the dress all in one piece.”
Lauren, with her hand on the door to the lodge, turned and gave him the sweetest smile. “Gabe would never let you down, Gavin. You can trust him.”
Hearing her supportive words, a warmth spread through his chest. And yeah, the highly trained operator might have to derail his mission of interfering with his brother’s wedding. Gabe didn’t want Roger to attend. He wanted Lauren for himself.
5
Gabe followed Gavin into the yellow-oak, open-beamed lobby. A stuffed American bison stood guard at the entrance. The two-thousand-pound animal had a Christmas wreath strung with lights around his neck. The indignity to the magnificent animal was as wrong as calling this natural setting “Mistletoe Lodge.”
He handed the luggage over to the doorman then followed Gavin to the center of the room where Tiffany was holding court.
Tiffany used the floor-to-ceiling windows framing the spectacular view down the mountain valley as her backdrop. Tree trunk-sized logs burned in the stone fireplace that covered one entire wall, filling the large space with a warm glow. A thirty-foot Christmas tree standing in the corner gave a festive air. Evergreen garlands with mistletoe hung everywhere.
Lauren, with the heavy dress draped over her arm, stopped and turned to inspect the lodge. Her expression softened, and the fire glow shone on her bright face. Her look of wonder made Gabe’s frozen heart thaw. When had he stopped looking with wonder at the world?
Tiffany’s brash voice echoed off the high ceilings.
“Lauren, I can’t believe you’re so late. If you had listened to me and come on Wednesday, you would have missed the storm.”
Lauren hurried toward her sister.
Gabe now had a good read on Lauren’s tells. Her spine went rigid and her chin thrust into the air, like a model from one of her fashion shows.
Gabe quickly moved to position himself at Lauren’s side.
“Tiffany, Lauren has a life.”
“Gabe, you’re looking rather rough for the best man.” Tiffany’s lower lip curled as she took in Gabe’s scuffed boots, faded blue jeans, and his trucker jacket.
“Darling, I told you that Gabe just got back into the country. And he was good enough to drive Lauren and the wedding dress through a blizzard.”
Darling? Gabe caught Lauren’s gaze. She chewed on her lower lip, stifling her reaction.
“I’ve been waiting”—Tiffany made a big deal out of looking at her watch, pulling up the sleeve of her sweater before looking at the studded diamond watch—“seven hours for you to arrive since you landed in Seattle. You know how worried I was that the dress wouldn’t make it... I’m supposed to be spared undue stress for my big day.”
“I’m sorry, Tiffany.”
A well-practiced performance, Tiffany’s chest puffed up, pleased with Lauren’s apology.
Gabe silently willed Lauren to stand up to her wicked half sister. Come on, Lauren, don’t let that raving— Not calling Tiffany all the names that floated around his brain was already a challenge and he had been with her less than five minutes.
“I explained to the pilot that you were waiting for your dress, Tif. But I just couldn’t convince him to endanger lives by flying into the blizzard.” Lauren’s face didn’t change, but her eyes were bright with amusement.
Why did she worry about dealing with Tiffany? Lauren was great. She wasn’t unkind like he would’ve been, but she didn’t give in to the tirade.
“I’ve been on pins and needles, haven’t I, Gavin?”
Gavin looked adoringly as Tiffany, who kept up her rant. Gabe didn’t recognize his older brother. Nothing explained Gavin’s inexplicable behavior. Not waiting for Gavin to respond, Tiffany started up again. “What if it doesn’t fit? What if I hate it? I have to try it on tonight. I won’t sleep if I don’t.”
“Tiffany, honey, Lauren just arrived after a grueling trip. You’ll have time to try on the dress again tomorrow.”
Gabe sighed in relief. There was his sensible Nebraskan brother.
“Tif, you can try it on.” Lauren started to pass the garment bag to Tiffany, but Gavin intercepted it.
“But, Lauren, I want you to help me. I may need help. What if—” Tiffany’s “what if” whine was cut off by a squeal from Gabe’s thirteen-year-old sister, Georgie, who came running across the lobby.
“Gabe, you made it.” Georgie threw herself into his arms. He swung her around in a circle. “Hey, squirt.” While swinging his sister
, Gabe noticed a young blond girl watching, her wide eyes the same cool green as Lauren’s.
“Olivia, I didn’t know you were here. When did you arrive?” Lauren pulled the young girl into her arms. The resemblance was uncanny—the same wheat-blond hair, the same pert nose, and the mesmerizing green eyes.
“Gavin arranged for me to be on the same flight from Seattle to Winthrop to be with Georgie and her parents.”
“You flew by yourself from LA?”
“I’m thirteen years old. I fly by myself all the time. Father isn’t coming until tomorrow night for the rehearsal. I wanted to come early and spend time with you and Georgie and get to be in the snow. We’re going sledding and ice-skating.”
Gabe was bewildered. Olivia already knew Georgie? It was strange his mother hadn’t mentioned any of this to him.
“Gavin, darling. Take my dress up to my room. I’m going to the bar. All this commotion is too much. You girls will need to act like ladies once the guests start arriving.” And Tiffany tramped away, her heels clicking on the oak floors.
“She sounds just like the headmistress at my school,” Olivia moaned.
Lauren brushed the blond hair from Olivia’s face. “You’re all grown up. And taller. Are you sure you’re going to fit in your dress? I swear you’ve grown an inch.”
Georgie shifted on her toes. “Lauren, Olivia and I have your room key. We thought we could help you get settled in.”
“How does everyone know each other? What am I missing?” Gabe asked.
“You feeling left out?” Lauren teased Gabe, her eyes dancing.
“We FaceTimed to plan our dresses. Lauren designed ours too. Isn’t that cool? And talking with them isn’t a big secret like Skyping with you. Lauren and Olivia aren’t all mysterious about where they are or what they’re doing.”
His sister was all about knowing her brothers’ business and, according to his mother, Georgie was upset and worried about his covert assignments.
“Lauren, is it true that you’re doing Alizada’s gown for the Met Gala next year? Georgie and I are dying to know.” Olivia rocked on her toes in excitement.