by Emme Rollins, Julia Kent, Anna Antonia, Helena Newbury, Aubrey Rose
“Admiring yourself, my dear? You should, you know. You’re very beautiful.”
Startled, I spun towards the doorway. “I didn’t hear you come in!”
“That’s because I have ninja feet.”
Laughter sprang free. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going to wait outside.”
“I couldn’t wait any longer.”
“I’m sorry. I thought I hardly took any time.”
“You were quick.” Gabriel leaned against the doorjamb. “It was still too long. I missed you already.”
Overcome by impulse, I crossed over to him in two steps and wrapped my arms around his neck. Gabriel immediately picked me up, lifting me off the ground, and held me tight. I wanted to kiss him, but more than that, I just needed to be close to this darling man.
“You’re turned my world upside down, Gabriel.”
“I know.”
“No, really.” I nuzzled his neck with the tip of my nose. “You smell so delicious. Like sunshine and Gabriel.”
“And you smell so sweet. Like vanilla. I just want to tuck you away in my pocket and carry you around all the time.”
“That would be nice.”
Gabriel lifted me up higher until I wrapped my legs around his waist. “Are you done in here, Emma?”
I nodded.
“Good. Then let’s go.” Gabriel shut off the light and walked into the living room, still carrying me like a little monkey. “Where’s your purse?”
I pointed him in the direction of the ivory side table. Gabriel strode over and picked up my purse. “Got your keys?”
“They’re in here.”
“Okay, you ready to roll?”
“Sure.”
Gabriel paused at the door. “You know I plan on keeping you all weekend?”
“I’d be mad at you if you didn’t.” My world became a better place every time he smiled.
Chapter Seven
I picked up the phone and answered crisply, “Emma Adams.”
“Emma, I know you got my text. It’s lunch time. C’mon!”
“Hi, Gabriel.” I didn’t have to look at a mirror to know I smiled giddily like a school girl.
“Hello, my dear. Lunch. Now.”
“Hmm…” I switched back to concentrate on the computer screen, scanning the numbers and importing column after column.
“Emma?”
“Just a couple more minutes…” I answered distractedly.
“You already said that twice.”
“Did I?”
“Yes, you did.”
“I’m sorry. Really. It’s just I don’t think I can eat lunch right now. Can we postpone?”
Gabriel neatly cut my excuse down. “Unacceptable. You have to take care of yourself, Emma. Pushing off lunch isn’t going to help keep your mind fit and sharp. You need to feed it.”
“I will, but can’t lunch wait for another hour?”
“No, it can’t. Now will you come and meet me in the lobby or do I have to come and get you? If I get you, I might make a detour and find your supervisor. From there I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse to let you go into the loving bosom of Gordon Industries where you’ll be able to eat at a proper time…”
I rolled my eyes and minimized my screens. “Fine, fine! I’ll be down in five minutes.”
I heard the smile in his voice. “Good girl. See you then!” The phone clicked off. I checked the clock, mentally making note of when I needed to be back. Mondays were always a beast and today was no exception. I leaned over and rapped on my neighbor’s plushy wall. “Kevin, I’m off to lunch. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
He waved me on, calling out “Have a good one.”
“Will do.”
Gabriel, resplendent in a charcoal suit with matching shirt and tie, grabbed my hand as soon as I got off the elevator. “I’m starving! Let’s go.”
“Poor baby, is that my fault?” I crooned sympathetically.
“As a matter of fact, yes. I demand you make it up to me.”
The frenetic morning lifted off my shoulders as I gave into the charm that was Gabriel Gordon. “Oh, I’m sorry then. Let’s eat then.”
“Glad you’re finally seeing things my way. I’d swear you didn’t know just how important it is for me to spend time with you!”
I did because I felt the same way.
We’d spent the majority of the weekend together. Gabriel had driven me into the city in his luxury SUV to pick up my car.
“Is this new?” It had the new car scent all over. I’d also noticed the temporary tags.
“Yes. I just got it this morning.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I told you already—I don’t sleep much. Besides, the parking spaces here are tiny. I’d doubt our neighbors would appreciate my limo taking up a whole row of them.”
‘Our neighbors’ made all the fuzzies inside me bounce around. “I hope you got a good deal on this.”
“Always do.”
After we’d picked up my car and brought it back, Gabriel took great pleasure in giving me the grand tour of his place. Never mind the fact that I had the same exact apartment.
“They’re hardly the same, Emma. You live there and I live here. Totally different.”
Considering Gabriel had secured the lease on the apartment, bought a new car, and had breakfast cooked for us, I figured he’d also managed to furnish his place.
“No. I’ll need to do that this weekend. Or maybe next week. Sometime soon.”
Suddenly shy, I busied myself with looking in his kitchen cabinets. “Do you still want to go to the zoo today?”
Gabriel leaned against the bar counter. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well, I could help you get settled here today. Do you want to pick up some things from your place now?”
“Nope.”
“Not even your clothes?”
“Rick will have those brought over on Monday.”
“Gabriel, are you sure there’s not something more concerning your penthouse?”
He stilled, eyes wary and body stiff. “What do you mean?”
Considering how serious he looked, I almost regretted my teasing. Almost. “Are you sure you’re not hiding something serious from me?”
Gabriel watched me, smile vanished as it never was. “What could I possibly be hiding from you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe like your place is haunted.”
“Haunted?”
“Yeah, haunted. You don’t believe in ghosts? You should, you know. They really do exist.” I busied myself with turning on the faucet. “Is that why you’re afraid of going back there, Gabriel?”
A pregnant paused passed before he said, “Emma, you amaze me.”
“What?”
Gabriel came around the bar and lifted me off my feet. He peppered my face with kisses and spun me around. “Ghosts? You think I’m afraid to go back home because of Casper? I love it!”
I wanted to be cross at him for making fun of me. Instead, I clung to his broad shoulders and laughed. “Fine, it’s not ghosts. Still you need some things unless you plan on sleeping on the floor. Here’s what I’m going to do—I’ll help you pick out the essentials and help you get set up today. How’s that sound?”
“Perfect, Emma. Absolutely perfect.”
So that’s how I spent my Saturday. I helped Gabriel pick out a bed, nightstands, mattresses, couch, armchair, coffee table, and dining room set. (Apparently same day weekend delivery was possible at certain high-end establishments.) We also stopped at a big box store for the TVs, DVD players, microwave, and coffee maker.
“You probably think I should go small, huh?” he asked while checking out a 32” flat screen.
I planted my hands on my hips and surveyed the wall of sleek entertainment. “Absolutely not. Get the biggest one you can get that can still fit in the car.”
“Go, Emma! I knew I liked you for a reason.”
I reluctantly declined his offer of a 72
” TV for myself. It was hard. Given the choice between last night’s gorgeous gown and the gorgeous screen, I would’ve chosen the screen.
Gabriel didn’t press. He must’ve seen the envy on my face because he cheerfully said, “You can watch all the chick flicks you want at my place.”
“I do not watch chick flicks.”
“Then what do you watch? Documentaries?”
“Fast & the Furious. Bourne Identity. Shoot ‘Em Up. Taken. And that’s just last week.”
Gabriel lifted my wrist with two fingers. “One would never know how much testosterone you hide behind this dainty exterior. My apologies.”
“Accepted. Chick flicks…pfft!”
When I went to lift the heavy boxes into his vehicle, Gabriel firmly took them away. “I draw the line, Emma. You are not going to lift this stuff as I stand here and watch.”
“I can help, can’t I?”
“Only if I need it.”
He didn’t.
We went back to his apartment and unloaded all his loot before going back out. Gabriel’s idea of living like a “normal person” was shopping at Macy’s for sheets, towels, and other essentials.
I did my best not to let on that most normal people did not drop $500.00 on sheets nor did their final bill approach five figures. Still, Gabriel was having so much fun that I couldn’t bear to point those things out. I agreed with whatever he wanted, lending my opinion only when he asked and never about the price.
Apparently it was the right tact, because several times he spontaneously reached out to hug me. Everything was “What do you think of this, Emma? Should I get guest towels in a different color or keep everything in the same palette? How do you like this rug? What about these plates? Should I get a full set or only enough for us both?”
I’d quickly realized Gabriel had never set up his own place. There’d always been a troop of professionals to ensure he always had the right glasses, dishes, and towels.
I’m not sure why it touched me so, but it did. There was so much I’d always taken for granted, but seeing Gabriel’s delight over the little things reminded me that maybe I didn’t appreciate enough about my own life.
After we’d filled his SUV to the brim, Gabriel’s belly demanded nourishment. I didn’t want to get him addicted to fast food, but he refused to go to anywhere he was familiar with.
“Emma, this is my hood now. Don’t you think I should become acquainted with all the restaurants here?”
“You did not just say ‘hood’, did you?”
“Damn straight I did.”
I took him to a strip mall where we ate pizza and calzones. The music was loud, the tables utilitarian, and the menus laminate. Gabriel declared it the best he’d ever had. We left hand in hand, looking like every other normal couple in the country.
By the time we’d gotten back home, the delivery truck had just pulled into the complex. I watched how in no time flat, a crew of men delivered and maneuvered all the furniture into place. Gabriel tipped them all generously, thanking them for coming out on such short notice.
Then the heavy work began.
I ran over to my apartment. I came to a stop when I saw the neat little blinking box attached to the wall. Gabriel followed me over, poking his head in the door and seeing me standing there in fixation.
“Good. It’s up and running.”
“Gabriel, what’s this on my wall?”
“Your alarm.”
“Yes, I see that. How did this get installed without me being here?”
“I let them in.”
“How?”
“Details that don’t bear repeating. Needless to say you’re safer than you were before.”
“Gabriel, when did you get a key to my place?”
“Ah, well, you see…”
“I want my key back.” I held my hand out and waited.
He looked wounded as if I were a mean kid trying to take away his favorite toy. “Why? I already have mine on my keychain. Look how cute it looks on here.” Gabriel held a ring of keys up in the air. “I promise it’s in good hands, Emma.”
I threw my hands up. “You are so lucky I trust you and am used to your…viewpoint…on life.”
“Good! Here, Emma. I have one for you too.”
“I already have a key to my place.”
“I know, silly. This one is to mine.” Gabriel pressed it into my hand. “Now you can come in anytime you want. You don’t even need to call ahead of time.”
Although I grumbled, I couldn’t deny the thrill coursing through my veins. Gabriel had a way of making the insane sane. Honestly, if any of this were coming from anyone else I’d lay him out. No doubt. But Gabriel…
“Hey, if you have the key how’d they get in? I didn’t see anybody over here.”
“Emma, did you need to grab something?”
“You’re not going to answer, are you? Do I even want to know?”
“You can trust me. Honest!”
I shook my head, wondering if I truly had driven off the deep end. I grabbed my cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaner. Gabriel neatly plucked it from my grip. We locked up my place and went back to his apartment. I zipped through his place, spraying, wiping, and sweeping in fast, sure movements. Gabriel followed me from room to room and watched me work with something close to awe.
“You make it look effortless. Can you teach me?”
I didn’t even snipe over Mr. Billionaire getting his hands dirty. Instead, I waved him over and showed him the techniques my mother had taught me. Every task had a system, designed to minimize time and unnecessary movement. Gabriel took the work seriously, showing a meticulousness that my mother and her coworkers would’ve enthusiastically approved of.
“If being crazy wealthy fails, you can always get a job on a cleaning crew.”
“Really? That’s good to know!”
After I was satisfied that the apartment was clean enough, we then set to work on putting away all of his newly purchased things. His unit came with a washer and dryer so I taught him how to use them, assuming he’d never touched the machines in his life.
He hadn’t.
“Keep things separate. Lights with lights. Darks with darks. Whites on their own. Towels by themselves. Sheets by themselves.”
“Got it.”
“Let’s wash your sheets first. Then the towels.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t want any of the colors to run on you while you sleep.”
Gabriel looked at the packaged sheets blankly. “Would they really do that?”
“Yes, sweetie. They would.”
I couldn’t get over how much he hadn’t experienced and how much joy he took in learning them. If things were like this with Gabriel, what was missing in my life that I was completely ignorant about?
What’s Gabriel going to teach me about life? Maybe how to enjoy it better?
Once we got everything washed, put away, or laid out, I took Gabriel to the local grocery store.
“Do you shop here, Emma?” he asked while looking around him in curiosity.
“Every week.” I didn’t have to ask him if he shopped for his groceries.
“Good. Then I’ll shop here every week as well. We should do it together, Emma.”
I tickled his neck. “You’re really going all out, aren’t you?”
Gabriel lifted his chin, reminding me of a cat giving access to the sensitive parts. “It’s the only way I want to live—all out.”
We shopped for well over an hour. I showed Gabriel how to go about picking fruit and vegetables. He listened intently, doing everything short of taking notes. At one point I had to stop and ask him, “Are you sure you’re not putting me on?”
“What do you mean?”
“This. Are you sure you don’t already know how to do this?”
Gabriel clasped his hands behind his back. “No, I don’t. Emma, I usually pay people to do this for me.”
I guessed correctly then. “All right. Here’s how yo
u shop for canned goods…”
I put up his groceries while he set up the TVs, but only after Gabriel assured me he was quite familiar with the contents of his refrigerator and pantry. I popped some popcorn and we settled on the couch to watch one of my DVDs.
Wrapped up in a blanket, my head resting on his shoulder, I felt content and happy.
This can be my life. Everyday spent just like this.
Gabriel ordered a couple of pizzas for dinner. We ate and talked about our lives directly after high school. We both skirted around any mentions of failed relationships, especially our own. I admired how hard he worked to keep his family’s company from going under after his father’s untimely demise. He admired my degree, lamenting that he’d never had time to go back and get his.
“Can you see forever, Emma? I can.”
The question had come out of nowhere. I could see forever, yet I feared how fast I was falling for Gabriel. I busied myself with picking off a piece of pepperoni and popping it into my mouth. He continued on without a hitch.
Still, my lack of answer dug at me. Why was I so afraid to take us at face value?
Because it’s never that simple with Gabriel. I can’t say yes now when I still don’t know exactly how this is going to work.
Later, Gabriel walked me to my door like an old-fashioned suitor. “I really enjoyed today, Emma. Thank you for all your help.”
“You’re welcome. I had fun. Let me know if you need anything. You have my number, right?”
Gabriel reached out and played with a tendril of my hair. He lingered, silent and thoughtful. “Emma?”
“Yes?” I hoped he would kiss me. I’d been dying for it since I saw him yesterday. I’d wanted it at Macy’s, I craved it in Aisle 7, and I yearned for it during the whole time we watched “Ocean’s Eleven”. Every time we touched, every slide of his hand against mine, stirred my desire until it fairly boiled. I know I didn’t mistake the lust in his gaze because I recognized it as my own.
He smiled and took a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Disappointed that I was denied his kiss again, I whispered, “Good night.” As I lay in bed that night, hand between my thighs, I thought of the enigmatic man just on the other side of the wall. I came again and again with his name on my lips.