by Sara Orwig
Suddenly she saw this as a big moment, and one that made her feel as if her life were about to change, all because of the next few minutes.
“Open your present.”
She smiled at the drama Gabe was adding to their plan. The quiet restaurant had grown even quieter and she realized they had an audience. He was right. Comments and pictures would fly on social media.
She untied the ribbon, glancing up at Gabe, whose blue eyes twinkled with mischief. She raised the lid, expecting to see the ring she had purchased. Instead a smaller black box was inside the bigger box. Unbuttoning his jacket, Gabe took that box as she looked up at him expectantly. He opened the box, tossed the lid on the table, removed the dazzling fake diamond she had selected herself and knelt on one knee in front of her to take her hand. She looked at his well-shaped hands as they held hers and she felt her heart seize.
The violin player stepped closer, still playing sweetly.
“Megan Louise Aldridge,” Gabe said loudly enough for his voice to carry, “will you make me, Gabriel Callahan, the luckiest man in the world? Will you marry me?”
She couldn’t help it. For this one moment in time, she suddenly wished the diamond was real, this proposal was real. Gabe was her best friend. He was the most exciting lover possible. He was handsome and intelligent, caring and kind. For just an instant, she wished that his words were sincere and their lives would be joined forever. Wished she would be Mrs. Gabe Callahan. She saw it all playing out in front of her. The wedding, and a lifetime of happiness.
Then, just as quickly, the lovely images faded away.
She could never have a permanent relationship with Gabe. She could never live with a wild risk-taker, never love someone whose safety she would be in constant fear for.
Then she realized Gabe, as well as their audience, was waiting for her answer.
“Yes. Oh, yes, Gabe,” she said, as he slipped the ring on her finger. He stood up, holding her wrist as she rose, and drew her to him to kiss her. Their audience clapped while the violin player broke into a snappy rendition of Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.”
She barely heard it, because though the proposal hadn’t been real, his kiss was. She held him as tightly as he held her and for a few seconds she forgot where she was or what was happening. All she knew was she was in Gabe’s arms and he was kissing her as thoroughly as she was kissing him.
When she stepped back, she met his gaze. The spell was broken by the resounding applause and a couple of whistles. The violinist continued playing “Wedding March” as Gabe held her hand, and they bowed and smiled at the diners before sitting down again and letting quiet return to the restaurant.
“Gabe, let’s go. You’ve already paid the waiter. I want to leave.”
“You’re not going to get to leave for a little while longer,” he said. “Here come some people we know, and they probably want to congratulate us. Let’s just hope everyone in the restaurant doesn’t decide to wish us well.”
“Oh, my gracious,” she said, smiling as friends came to congratulate them.
The minute the last person left, Meg picked up her purse and present and the boxes. “Gabe, we have to get out of here. We’ve posed for pictures, and people took pictures of us when you proposed. There were probably people who even got videos of it. Our families will know about this. Justin will know before we can tell anyone.”
“This worked out to be a little more of a response than I had envisioned in this quiet, staid, expensive restaurant. I’m ready, darlin’.” He stood up, came around to pull out her chair. “They’re probably all thinking we’re going somewhere to make love. How I wish.”
“Come on, let’s go.”
They walked out together and as soon as she was in the car, she called her mother. “Mom, can Gabe and I come by the house? I have some news.”
Meg listened a moment. “We’ll see you in about half an hour,” she said, thinking about how long it would take. “See you then.” She ended the call.
“They hadn’t heard?” Gabe asked.
“No. My folks aren’t on social media. Let’s go tell them we’re engaged.”
“I hope your dad doesn’t slug me.”
“My father would never do any such thing.”
Gabe smiled. “I really didn’t think he would, but he is not going to like this and your mom isn’t, either. And I hope it doesn’t give your poor grandparents fainting spells when you call them.”
“Stop being a pessimist.”
Gabe shook his head. “I know one thing. Your folks won’t hug me and say, ‘Welcome to the family.’”
* * *
While Gabe watched traffic, he dreaded facing her folks and announcing they were engaged. Even though he’d agreed to this situation, it went against living an honest life. Meg’s folks should never have tried to push her into a loveless marriage. She was too loving and full of life to settle for a guy who was marrying her solely to get a promotion in his dad’s firm.
He heard her phone ring and glanced over at her as she checked the screen.
“Well, Justin must have seen a picture of us because this call is from him. I might as well talk to him about it now.”
Gabe wondered if Justin had already heard about his proposal and was angry about what was happening, but he didn’t care to hear her conversation.
“Seriously?” she gasped. “Seriously? You mean that?” She sounded so shocked Gabe glanced at her to see her staring at him wide-eyed with her mouth hanging open and her face pale.
Wondering if someone had died in Justin’s family, Gabe signaled and once again got off the freeway and into a residential area where he parked.
“When did this happen?” she asked.
Now Gabe wished he had told her to put the call on speaker. Something had happened to someone in Justin’s family. Hopefully Justin was all right himself.
“I’m shocked. I wish you the very best. I really mean that. I hope you’re so happy and that everything good comes your way.”
Gabe stared at her, trying to guess what Justin was going to do that had her wishing him the best. His curiosity grew and he wondered what had happened and how it would affect her.
“Thank you, Justin. That’s nice of you. Yes, we’ll do that sometime. Tell your family hello and I’m thrilled for you, for all of you.” She nodded as Justin must have been talking. “Sure. I’ll see you then for sure. Congratulations. I’m so happy for both of you. Goodbye.”
She turned to Gabe, but he wondered whether she saw him or not.
“I can’t believe what he just told me,” she said, sounding dazed. She focused on Gabe and he waited patiently. “Justin is engaged. He’s getting married. He’s engaged to Pamela Gatersen. They went together all their senior year in college and then went to different law schools. They just got back together and it was a whirlwind courtship and everything worked out perfectly. He sounded as if he had won the lottery. They’ll have a Christmas wedding and travel around the world for a honeymoon.”
Gabe knew of her. “Her dad owns Gatersen Equipment, which is a nationwide company—heavy-duty stuff, tractors, backhoes, trucks. Hon, she probably has way more money in her family than you do in yours and that seems to be highly important to Justin.”
“I’m in shock. I didn’t expect that. He sounded so happy to tell me.”
“I imagine he is because you’ve given him grief. He must have wished you well, though. I heard you thank him.”
“He did. He said, ‘Best wishes for a happy life with your cowboy,’” she said, smiling at Gabe.
“Think he heard about my proposal?”
She nodded. “Yes, he did. He has us to thank for getting him out of a loveless marriage.”
She looked at Gabe. “This lets you off the hook, too. We don’t have to announce our fake engagement now. Y
ou can have your life back, and peace and quiet.”
“Don’t be so hasty. We’re going to see your folks. What about them?”
“Right. I’ll call and tell Mom about Justin and say that was what I was going to tell her, but it isn’t necessary to drop by. Let me call them now.”
She made the call and as soon as she finished, she turned to him. “That was quick and easy, and Mom is happy for Justin, and for me since that was what I wanted. I’ll talk to my dad next time I’m home.”
Gabe took her hand in his, and he looked her deep in the eyes. “Come home with me tonight, Meg. Don’t change tonight.”
* * *
Before she could answer, Meg felt as if she’d been hit by a truck. Out of nowhere the thought entered her head. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t realized the problem right away.
“Oh, Gabe. What about your proposal in the restaurant?”
He shook his head. “Damn, that backfired, I guess. Justin’s engaged and so am I.”
“No, you’re not. I’ll just tell people we aren’t getting married. I can tell my friends that my folks were pressuring me into a marriage and you did that to get me out of being pushed into one. It’ll blow over with tomorrow’s news. And your family already knows what the situation is. Mine might hear the rumors, but I’ll tell them not to worry.”
“True enough. So that’s that, I guess.” Gabe started up the car and pulled back onto the freeway.
“I think I owe Justin one for getting me back with you for a little while. It’s been fun hanging out again, Meg.”
She was deep in thought about this being her last night with him. Gabe had come back into her life and been all the great things he had been when they were kids, plus all the wonderful things he was now.
She twisted the big dazzling ring on her finger.
She smiled at him and placed her hand on his thigh, feeling his warmth through his trousers. Once again, she was struck by what a kind man Gabe had grown up to be.
She agreed to go to his house. Gabe was right. There was no reason to change that part of their plans.
Once he closed his front door behind her, he took her into his arms to kiss her.
“I want to put on my necklace,” she told him when she stepped away.
“Sure,” he said, pausing. “Get it out and I’ll put it on you.”
She opened the box to look at the dazzling necklace again. “Gabe, this is magnificent. I’ve never had anything like it. It’s so beautiful.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it.” He picked it up and stepped behind her, scooping up her long locks to lift them out of the way. “Hold your hair up for me,” he said. He bent to fasten the clasp and the safety and then he trailed kisses on her nape.
Gasping, she closed her eyes and stood for a moment, relishing his kisses before she dropped her hair and turned, putting her arms around Gabe’s neck, standing on tiptoe and kissing him.
His strong arms banded her and held her tightly while he kissed her in return and made her heart pound. She could hardly believe this was the night she would tell him goodbye. After tonight Gabe would disappear out of her life again and she wouldn’t see him, except for possibly some social events around Dallas. The knowledge hurt and she wondered how important he had become to her. Had she fallen in love with him? She didn’t have to search deeply to know the answer was yes. And she was going to hurt badly when she told him goodbye.
Ten
Running her hands over Gabe’s body, Meg wanted to kiss every inch of him. In her heart she was certain this was goodbye. There was no reason to stay now and every time they made love it bound her more closely to him and made him more important to her.
The longer she stayed, the more difficult it would be to leave. And maybe the more in love with him she would be.
Regardless, she wanted tonight with Gabe.
But what if he asked her to stay longer? Would she stay?
She couldn’t. If she did, she would never want to leave him. Gabe had been her best friend as a child and growing up—he was still her best friend in too many ways.
Running her hands over him, she pushed away his jacket and let it fall. She twisted the buttons on his tailored white shirt free, taking out the gold cuff links he wore and dropping them in his trouser pocket while they continued to kiss.
She looked up at him. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m not gone,” he said. “Not yet.” He tangled his fingers in her hair, tugged lightly to tilt her head back and then kissed her, his tongue stroking her lower lip, the corners of her mouth, before going deep with slow thrusts that made her hot, made her want him.
She unfastened his trousers to free him. Unbuckling his belt, she pushed away the trousers and briefs and he stepped out of them, yanking off his boots and socks.
He had already pulled down the zipper at the back of her dress and it fell around her ankles. He held her away from him while his gaze roamed over her and his hands followed.
“You’re so incredibly beautiful. I want to look at you and touch you all night. I want you in my arms, your naked body against mine all night. I want everything, Meg. You’ll never know how much I want you.”
As he looked at her, she studied him, tingling at the sight of his strong, virile male body. He was fully aroused, ready to love. He was tan, fit, all hard muscles and flat planes. She knelt to caress him, running her hands between his legs along his inner thighs and taking his thick shaft in hand to stroke and run her tongue over him.
He tangled his fingers in her hair again, groaning quietly, his throbbing manhood dark and hard.
With a harsh cry, he slipped his hands beneath her arms to pull her slowly to her feet. She rubbed against him while his hands roamed over her and she showered kisses over him. Her hands traveled across his belly and down his legs, moving in feathery caresses all over him.
Finally, he picked her up and carried her to the nearest bedroom, tossing back covers and placing her on the bed, coming down to hold her close.
She loved him with abandon, kissing him and knowing it was the last time, memorizing how he looked and felt, and exciting him until he shook.
She did everything she could to pleasure him, to give him a night he would remember, lovemaking that would be important to him and intimacy that he couldn’t forget. Her hands were everywhere over him, touching, stroking and teasing while she showered kisses on him, rubbing and caressing him and letting him do what he wanted to her.
With a groan, he stilled her hands and moved between her legs, pausing to put on a condom before he lowered himself and entered her in one thrust.
She locked her legs around him and held him while they kissed. They drew out their lovemaking, rising to a brink and falling back, then rising again until she could take no more. She gasped and clung to him, crying out when his control went and they climaxed together, hard and fast.
Exhausted and euphoric, they held each other. He stroked her lightly, his hand caressing her, moving over her. “You’re marvelous, every inch of you,” he whispered, showering light kisses on her temple, her cheek, her ear and her throat. He gently combed long strands of hair from her face with his fingers.
“Meg, I want you to stay. Stay this month.”
While she felt a pang and longing enveloped her, she shook her head.
“I can’t do that, Gabe. I’d be so in love I could never leave. The month would end and we would be right back where we are now.”
“Stay this week then. That’s not long and you won’t fall in love in the few days left in the week.”
She ran her hands over him. She lay pressed against him, her leg thrown over his while her hands continued to roam over him. She couldn’t tell him that she was already in love with him. “No. You have your life and your things you like to do. I have my work that
I need to get back to. I can’t be casual about lovemaking. Physical love for me is still all tied up with my emotions and my heart.”
“You always were sentimental. I guess that’s why you still have that silly brown bear I gave you so long ago.”
“I suppose.” She turned on her side to face him. “I want you to know that this has been special, Gabe. You did a good job and saved the day for me. You gave me that beautiful necklace. You’re the one who should get a present because you did just what I asked.”
“This is my present, Meg, holding you in my arms, loving you all night, kissing you. Will you go to dinner with me next Friday?”
She looked down a moment while she twisted her fingers in his chest hair. Finally, she shook her head. “No, I don’t think I should, because you’ll want me to come back here and sleep with you and I’m not going to continue to do that.”
“If you change your mind, call me,” he said, looking solemn.
“I will. I haven’t looked in the mirror at my beautiful necklace that I’m still wearing. I’m going to do that, then shower and get dressed and go home to Downly. We’ll say goodbye.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
“No, you won’t. You’ll find a pretty lady who will be fun and you’ll forget all about me.”
She rolled over, wrapping the top sheet around her and stepping out of bed to go shower. “See you in a few minutes.” She left, letting out her breath. She wanted to say yes to every question he asked her. She wanted to stay the rest of the month. She wanted to stay tonight. But anything more she did with him would bind her to him just that much more. She was in love with him. In the past it had been friendship and that had been all, but this time together had been different from the moment they first kissed. She wondered if she’d fallen in love with him right then.