by Sabrina York
She couldn’t believe she could laugh aloud with every one of her nerve endings on alert.
“Lauren, tell me to stop. I think you have to be the one in control tonight.”
His desire fed her desire and his desperation fed her desperation.
“We have to stop,” She panted. Of course, she didn’t mean it.
He licked his way up from her chest to her neck, biting her earlobe before exploring her with the tip of his tongue. The touch of his wet tongue was too much and not enough.
She grabbed his shirt, trying to tug it out of his pants.
He took a step from her, their intermingled heavy breathing the only sound in the room.
They stared at each other. Did she really believe she could have resisted Gabe and this fire burning between them? She tried. The well-ingrained fear of depending on an unreliable man, had reared its head. Thank God, he hadn’t caved in to her and her panic. She tried to resist, but who could resist a man like Gabe?
She had no idea how this would all work out. But for some reason she couldn’t make herself worry about the what-ifs. How could she worry with this caring, beautiful man in front of her, the first two buttons of his blue oxford shirt undone to show his thick throat, his broad shoulders encased in his Italian suit?
God, she had to go downstairs and look presentable. She pressed her hands to her hot cheeks. “You’re incorrigible. Now I’m going to have fix my hair and redo my makeup.”
“You don’t have to do a damn thing. You’re already too beautiful for that crowd. My brothers are going to hit on you to give me shit. Try not to encourage them. God, Aiden… I hadn’t even thought about Aiden.”
“What about Aiden? He’s your good friend. Why are you worried about him?”
Was that a blush on Gabe’s face? Bright red spots colored his high cheekbones.
“Well, I might have been a bit obnoxious … when Aiden announced his plans to marry Jordan.”
“Why in heaven’s sake would you be obnoxious?”
“It’s a guy’s thing. He and I have been through a lot of serious shit and I never saw either of us ...ever having a regular normal life. We’ve been nomads for a long time.”
Lauren couldn’t stop the well-being filling her chest and her heart. He admitted to wanting a normal life. What did a normal life mean to him? Not that she knew what that meant for her either, but with this man she would be willing to figure it out.
9
Gabe was losing his mind. When Lauren appeared for rehearsal in the tight-fitting green dress that hugged every generous curve, he’d lost any semblance of his steel-edged control. He was known for his calm under fire, but that apparently didn’t apply when it came to Lauren. His behavior at the rehearsal bordered on the ridiculous. His parents watched in their front row seats as he acted like a crazed person with mood swings ranging from lusting over Lauren to bashing his brothers for their leering smirks.
He was acting so out of character that maybe he should be worried. But looking down at Lauren, who now held onto his arm, every feeling clicked into place. This relationship stuff was full of land mines, but, like the good soldier that he was, he would learn to avoid and navigate.
He considered skipping the rehearsal dinner despite his family hosting the event, but Lauren had the will of a damn Delta Force operator to make sure they were on time.
His brothers and Aiden were going to enjoy watching him suffer through the five-course meal and the round of speeches, including his own. He chewed on all the words he wanted to spit out as he guided Lauren through the lobby to the dining room.
“Roger.” Lauren pulled away from Gabe’s arm to cross to the front desk where Roger, Aiden, and Jordan stood with their luggage.
Lauren hugged Roger before turning toward Gabe, who was muttering every four-letter word he could think of. Well, wasn’t this hunky-dory to have Roger appear in time to escort Lauren to dinner … over his dead body. Not Gabe’s. He had too much to live for, but over Roger’s body.
Aiden watched Gabe intently, not missing any of the subtext of the entire farce. Yeah, Aiden would be laughing his ass off this entire weekend after all the shit Gabe had given him about falling for a woman.
Roger, seeing Gabe’s scowl, dropped his arms from Lauren.
Gabe offered his hand. “Thank you, Roger, for joining our families for the wedding celebration.”
Lauren’s eyes widened in surprise by his gentlemanly reply. She had done up her eyelids to be darker, smoky, sexy.
Just because he had been acting like a caveman since their talk on the hill didn’t mean he didn’t know how to behave. So he tried to crash their sled to have physical contact with Lauren like he was twelve while Georgie and Olivia watched on.
“Wedding bells are ringing!” Aiden looked at Gabe, reading every damn emotion Gabe was trying to hide. Yep. Aiden knew exactly how to twist the knife. Then the big mother slapped Gabe on the shoulder with enough force that an average dude would’ve fallen over.
Gabe widened his stance, ready to mess with his friend despite his superior size if Aiden said or did anything to make Lauren uncomfortable.
“You must be the fabulous Lauren! Roger told us all about you. I’m Aiden Foster and this is my fiancée, Jordan Dean.”
Lauren smiled at Jordan. “You all came together?”
Roger explained, “I had business with Jordan’s father yesterday. I mentioned the last-minute invitation to the wedding and my plans to fly here. Dean asked Jordan if I could accompany her and Aiden. It worked perfectly.” Roger’s focus was only on Lauren.
“Are you behaving yourself?” Jordan hugged Gabe, then whispered for his ears only, “She’s a knockout.”
“You can let go of Jordan now, smartass,” Aiden growled.
Okay, so Gabe was holding Jordan longer than he should. But what were friends for?
“Lauren, I love your work. My sister Sophie has a few of your pieces. I understand that you designed Tiffany’s wedding dress?”
“Thank you. I remember when your sister came to New York.” Lauren beamed. “We had great fun. Sophie has a great sense of style.”
“Aiden and I are coming to New York after the holidays and I would love to arrange a visit with you.” Jordan took Lauren’s arm and led her toward the fire, signaling a need for escape from all the male posturing.
Roger, Gabe, and Aiden stood together. No one spoke; they just watched the women.
Gabe was about to explain to Roger that he’d no longer be Jordan’s date when a gust of cold air swept through the lobby, signifying that the door had opened for arriving guests.
A tanned blond man, accompanied by a stunning redhead wrapped in fur, entered the lobby. Thomas Turner had arrived. The woman who accompanied Turner couldn’t be his latest wife—she didn’t look old enough to be Olivia’s mother.
All the men stared as Turner escorted the voluptuous woman toward the front desk where the receptionist greeted them, his eyes bulging behind his black glasses.
“Oh, gosh. What a pleasure to welcome you to Mountain High… I mean Mistletoe Lodge.”
Thomas Turner smiled and nodded as he scanned the lobby.
“Lauren.” Turner projected his dramatic baritone voice.
Lauren looked up in surprise. Only Gabe noted the slight stiffening before she plastered a smile on her face, modulating her voice. “Dad.”
She said something as an aside to Jordan before walking toward her father.
Gabe’s entire being ratcheted into protective mode. Despite knowing that Lauren wouldn’t want his interference, he moved quickly to Lauren’s side. He wasn’t about to abandon her to face the bastard alone.
Jordan followed. Did she know about the fractured relationship? Or was it an act of understanding as another daughter of a famous father? Gabe hadn’t thought about whether Jordan faced similar challenges with her powerful father. He’d have to ask Aiden.
“Father, I’m so glad you made it for dinner.”
That was h
is woman—taking a positive spin on the bastard missing his own daughter’s rehearsal.
Turner embraced Lauren. Gabe was now grinding his teeth. He would need dental work before this weekend was over.
“How beautiful you look tonight. And who is this other lovely young woman?”
After working with Aiden for many years, Gabe knew all his tells. Turner had no idea what danger he was in.
Jordan extended her hand. “I’m Jordan Dean. It’s a pleasure to meet you and Ms. Clare. I’m a fan of the work you both do. This is my fiancé, Aiden Foster.”
Aiden nodded, making no effort to shake hands.
Ms. Clare, under her false eyelashes, checked out Aiden. Turner and his date made a fine pair.
“I’m Lauren Harrison, Ms. Clare, one of Thomas’s daughters. And these gentlemen are Gabe Griffin and Roger Thornaby.”
Was Lauren trying to remind Gabe that he should behave like a gentleman after his threat of hurting her father? God, he was bit of a barbarian—but only when it came to Lauren.
“I love your design work, but I didn’t realize you were Thomas’s daughter. I was fooled by your different last names.”
“It is confusing, but I wanted to establish my own brand.”
Gabe hadn’t realized that Lauren had tried to distance herself from her father by changing her last name. He was impressed that she didn’t rely on her father’s name for her success.
Turner scanned the lobby, barely looked at the men when they were introduced. “Once Liana and I get settled, we’ll come to dinner. We shouldn’t be too late, except Liana does need time to change.”
Was it just Gabe or did everyone else catch the implication? Turner was going to be late so he could get it on with the young actress.
Gabe was highly tempted to punch the guy. God, what an asshole. After missing the rehearsal, the father of the bride could at least try to be on time for the dinner.
Gabe took Lauren’s hand into his and squeezed. No wonder Lauren didn’t trust men and their promises. “Come on, Lauren, we don’t want to make the guests wait.”
“We’ll join you.” Jordan directed her comments to the young actress. “I don’t need to change.”
Gabe had never appreciated that underneath all of Jordan’s sweetness was steel. No wonder Aiden was hooked.
“Roger, do you need to go to your room?” Lauren asked.
“You bastard.” Tiffany’s mother’s shout echoed in the cavernous room. “You couldn’t even show up on time for your daughter’s rehearsal?”
Samantha Roth, a woman on the wrong side of forty, was still attractive with platinum hair, dramatic features, and definite implants—not that Gabe was looking.
“Tiffany had the wedding in this remote hole for you … you son of bitch.”
“Sammie, I see you’ve started with the martinis.”
Samantha stomped toward the couple, looking like she might get violent when she saw Ms. Clare clinging to Turner’s arm.
Gabe waited, ready to step into the fray.
“You’re disgusting. My God, she’s Tiffany’s age … at our daughter’s wedding.”
Lauren released Gabe’s hand, ready to intervene, when Tiffany rushed into the lobby. “Daddy, you made it.” She halted when she saw her mother and father.
“Come along, Tif. You don’t need the bastard at your wedding.” Samantha grabbed Tiffany’s arm and pulled her away. “Go back to Vancouver. You’re not wanted here.”
“I’m paying for the wedding. I decide when I leave,” Turner added firmly.
Tiffany yanked free of her mother. “You both promised you wouldn’t fight… For one fricking weekend…”
“Maybe you and Thomas could settle your concerns in private in the library?” Lauren looked between Samantha and her father, pleading.
Neither moved.
“Right there.” Lauren pointed down the hall.
“I have nothing to say to him.” Samantha crossed her arms.
“You both want Tiffany to have a wonderful wedding.” Lauren’s chin thrust forward, her battle sign.
“Well, aren’t you the wise one, Little Miss Goody?” Samantha sneered at Lauren.
“Careful,” Gabe closed the distance between Lauren and Samantha.
“Come along, Sammie. You can shout all you want at me.” Turner took his ex-wife’s arm and led her to the library.
Tiffany flung her arms into the air and stamped her feet.
A tantrum about to happen.
“This is supposed to be about me. Knowing them, they’ll probably have sex in the library and then be late for the dinner.”
An awkward silence descended
“I’ll see all of you at dinner.” Ms. Clare must either be a fine actress or she didn’t give a shit about Turner since she didn’t register any emotion as she signaled to the man waiting with the luggage.
“May I help you with your luggage, Ms. Clare?” Roger stepped toward the actress.
“Please call me Liana.” The woman flicked her hair over her shoulder. “You are?”
“I’m the fifth wheel.” Roger shot Gabe a bemused look.
Damn, in different circumstances, Gabe could like Roger.
“Right now, I might be too,” she purred, a signal to all male brains. “I’ll see you, fellow fifth wheel, at dinner.” And she strutted off behind the bellhop.
“And who are you?” Tiffany now directed all of her suppressed anger at poor Roger.
“Miss Turner, I’m Roger Thornaby, a guest of your sister. It would give me great pleasure to escort you to dinner. I’m sure your groom must be missing his stunning bride by now.”
Tiffany transformed from angry to charming by Roger’s attention and praise. She smiled and took Roger’s arm. “Thank you, Roger.”
All four watched as she leaned into Roger’s arm and giggled as if the whole drama hadn’t happened.
“Charming group,” Aiden deadpanned.
“Aren’t they? And that’s just the warm-up.” Lauren was back to her uptight stance, with her chin pointed and spine rigid.
“Dinner should be interesting.” Jordan winked at Lauren. “Shall we go in, Aiden?”
“Come here, honey.” Gabe opened his arms. And his heart swelled when Lauren didn’t hesitate but walked right to him, snuggled close, and rested her head against his chest.
“This isn’t on you. You aren’t responsible for the behavior of any of them. They are all adults making their own choices.”
“It just makes me sad.”
“Of course it does. You wouldn’t be the wonderful woman you are if you didn’t feel bad.”
She strained her neck to look up at him. “How do you do it?”
“Do it?” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
“Make me feel better so quickly.”
“I care about you. And will never allow anyone to hurt you.”
“Thank you.”
And now he had to make sure she believed him.
10
Lauren felt the sudden loss of Gabe’s steady support as he left her to join his family seated across the spacious room. Windows stretched from the floor to the coved ceiling and faced the mountains, but Lauren wasn’t looking outside. Mrs. Griffin and Samantha had created the seating arrangements weeks before the wedding, and Lauren refused to allow Gabe to change their plan.
The inn’s dining room was decorated with heavily scented pine garlands and a fifteen-foot decorated Christmas tree, as well as magnolias flown in from South Carolina. White lights and mistletoe covered the tree. White candles in hurricane glass surrounded by intertwined magnolias and mistletoe were the centerpieces.
Lauren stole glances at Gabe joking and laughing with his family. The smiling faces and frequent bursts of laughter reflected the close bonds in the Griffin family. She yearned to be part of the merriment at their family table instead of the icy strain at hers.
Her father and Samantha had come to an unexpected truce to the relief of all. Her father was seated
between Tiffany and Olivia. Liana was assigned to a friend’s table with Roger. Lauren also stole peeks at them. And by the body language—Liana angled toward Roger and he focused on her—they were doing just fine away from the family table. Who could blame them after the scene in the lobby?
Gavin was seated next to Samantha, who kept up both her side of the conversation and his. Gavin frequently smiled and nodded.
The only upside for Lauren was that Jordan and Aiden were seated at the family table. It was a strange arrangement since Jordan and Tiffany weren’t close, but Lauren assumed it was the Dean family name that had secured their placement at the family table.
Aiden dwarfed everyone at the table and at the wedding. Lauren guessed Aiden to be at least six foot six, but maybe another two inches taller. He was built like a linebacker. He frequently shifted his weight on the banquet chair built for an average-sized person.
She planned to learn more about Gabe from his close friend. Except so far, she hadn’t succeeded in getting anything from the tight-lipped man. She could believe he was excellent at covert work. Aiden didn’t go into details like other people but instead gave one-word direct answers to her questions.
She could feel Gabe’s constant scrutiny during the dinner. Every so often she would make eye contact, and heat flared between them, forcing her to look at her plate, hoping no one would notice the flying sparks.
“Gabe told me that you and he served together.” Lauren knew nothing about Gabe’s work except it was Special Forces, dangerous and absolutely secretive.
“That’s correct. I’m now retired.”
“Yes, he told me. It must be a big change from the rigors of military life.”
“That it is. But I find myself still pretty busy.” Aiden gazed warmly at Jordan. “It’s hard to believe it looking at her, but Jordan is a ruthless taskmaster, worse than any sergeant I’ve encountered.”
Hearing her name, Jordan focused on Aiden. Jordan turned almost fuchsia after the downright sinful, heated look from Aiden, the sexual tension ramping up between them. “Don’t believe anything he says, Lauren.”