by Unknown
For the foreseeable future she was going to have to stay where she was. So just how would it feel to live, even briefly, in such safe, comfortable, attractive surroundings, only to have to give them up at somebody else’s whim?
Not too great, she imagined. And even if she could find a way to make peace with the situation, what about the truly alarming discovery that she hated the idea of Gabe leaving?
Here she sat, breathing in his scent, her lips still tingling from his kiss, with him so close that his every exhalation tickled against her cheek, and already she was missing him.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Last night should have lowered the stakes between them, put her crazy yen for him in perspective, freed her to walk away.
Instead, she wanted to throw her arms around him, drag him back into bed, beg him to stay.
She settled the sheet more securely around her, took a shallow breath. “Thank you, Gabe.” To her profound relief, her voice sounded remarkably even and steady. “But I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Somehow she managed to conjure up a careless smile. “Honestly? There’s a certain crowd at work who already think I shouldn’t have been hired. I’m sure they’d really go to town if I showed up driving your car or they found out I was staying at your house. I think it’s just better right now if I try to keep a low profile.”
She braced, expecting an argument. But to her surprise, although he didn’t look happy, after a second he inclined his head a fraction. “All right. Frankly, I think you’re worrying about nothing, but it’s your decision.”
“Gosh.” Her smile became genuine. “Gabriel Steele being reasonable. Do you think I could get that in writing?”
His eyes glinted, even as a corner of his mouth kicked up. “Careful, sweetheart. Don’t push too hard.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Yeah, right.” Once more, he leaned in and brushed his mouth over hers. Then he stood. “Don’t worry about the dog. Right now he’s outside, and if you’ll let him in when you leave, Deke should be by around noon to get him. Also, be sure and take the keys, as well as the card, which has my security code written on it.” He indicated the items on the nightstand with a thrust of his chin. “That way, if you change your mind, or something comes up, you’ll be able to get in.”
“All right. Is that it?”
“No.” Pausing near the door, he hefted the bag and looked back at her. “I’ll see you next week, so take good care of yourself in the meantime, all right?”
Ridiculously, a lump formed in her throat, since she couldn’t remember the last time anyone had expressed even polite interest in her welfare. She swallowed, telling herself she was just overtired. “I will. You, too.”
“Bet on it.” And then he was gone.
“I see you have your nose to the grindstone as usual.”
Seated at the desk in her spartan little office at Bedazzled headquarters, Mallory glanced up at the woman standing in her doorway. “Lilah. Hi.”
“Do you have a minute to chat?”
She made a phtting sound. “Like you even need to ask? Of course I do.” Setting aside her latest to-do list, she got up and came around to move the box of brochures that someone had dumped on her visitor’s chair. “Come. Have a seat.”
“Thanks. I know it’s ridiculous—” the princess-pretty blonde lowered herself down with an appreciative sigh “—since all I’ve done today is shop for draperies for the baby’s room, but getting off my feet for a while sounds heavenly.”
Of all the things that had happened to Mallory lately, her burgeoning friendship with Lilah Steele had to be one of the most unexpected. They’d crossed paths occasionally over the years, of course, but had always traveled in different circles and had very different objectives.
Lilah had been raised by her strict, demanding grandmother to have exacting standards and high expectations. Mallory, obviously, had not.
Yet when she’d approached the other woman after their initial talk in Gabe’s car ten days ago, about the idea of holding the fashion show at a private home, Lilah had been enthusiastic. Even better, she’d suggested they try to secure Cedar Hill, her grandmother’s palatial estate, for the event. The property was one of Denver’s largest and most exclusive, and since it had never before been opened to the public, its use would likely garner added interest and publicity.
With insight on Abigail Anson Sommers from Lilah, Mallory had put together a presentation, called on the autocratic old lady and enlisted her cooperation. And ever since, the two younger women had been busy working out details and finding that for all their differences, they just seemed to click.
Now, she looked at her new friend with sympathy and not a little concern. “Still not sleeping well?”
“No. The heartburn is better, but for the past few days Junior here—” she touched a proprietary hand to her pregnant belly “—seems to have decided it’s fun to dig his feet into my bladder at bedtime, so I spend most of the night running to the bathroom. But enough about me.” A concerned frown knit the blonde’s smooth brow. “Did the police have any luck finding whoever was trying to get into your apartment the other night?”
“No. And honestly, I shouldn’t even have mentioned it. Most likely it was just kids. Or maybe Mr. Androsky from down the hall. He tends to get trashed the days his pension check shows up and he may have simply confused my place for his.” She waved a hand. “Whatever it was, it’s over. And except for a few scary moments for me and some pry marks on my door—which believe me, was hardly a thing of beauty before—no harm was done.”
Lilah didn’t look convinced, but to Mallory’s relief she let it go. “Any word yet from Mrs. Buckingham?”
“Yes! I can’t believe I didn’t already mention it. She called first thing this morning. Once she got past her amazement that I wasn’t in rehab somewhere and that I’d actually managed to hoodwink someone into giving me a real job, she said they’d be happy to help.” Since not even Cedar Hill had a place to park several hundred cars, Mallory had contacted the principal at their old high school, Taylor Union, which was only a scant mile away from the mansion, to ask if they could use the school’s parking lot. “Not only that, but in exchange for us acknowledging TU on the program, she offered to donate the use of their buses to shuttle people back and forth.”
“That’s great,” Lilah said enthusiastically.
“It’s better than great,” Mallory countered, flashing a smile. “It’s one more thing I can check off my list.”
“Well, you can add another. I spoke to Gran yesterday and she suggested we go ahead and hold the after party at Cedar Hill, too.”
Mallory sat up straighter. “Really?” Traditionally, there was always a private party to thank the volunteer models after the fashion show, and not having to shift to another site would mean one less thing for her to worry about. “Lilah, that’s fabulous! Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Oh, yes, you did. Without you, I doubt your grandmother would have agreed to any of this.”
“I’m not so sure about that. She’s very impressed with you—and believe me, that’s no small feat. But then, even Nikki Volpe and her crowd, who aren’t inclined to cut you any slack, acknowledge that you’ve been working like a dog to get things back on track.”
“It really hasn’t been that bad. The bulk of the arrangements for the ball itself were well in place when I took over. Mostly it’s been a lot of little things that have needed attention.”
“Except for the fashion show.”
“Except for the fashion show,” Mallory agreed, “and with your help even that’s coming together. I talked to a supplier in Littleton this morning who can provide us with the runway, chairs and buffet tables. I’ve ordered the chocolates and champagne, confirmed with Dillon & Diegos regarding the stylists and with Marchant’s about the clothes. And I’m scheduled to meet with the man from Scaffoldi’s abou
t the tents out at your grandmother’s on Friday.”
“Good grief,” Lilah said with a most unladylike groan. “It’s wearing me out just hearing about it. Do you ever sleep?”
Mallory’s eyes glinted with good-natured self-mockery. “Darling, please,” she scolded in her best uptown voice. “I spent the better part of twenty-eight years on one long vacation. I’m sure I could stay up for a year and not even put a dent in my reserves.”
A dimple flashed in Lilah’s cheek. “I take that to mean you’re as sleep-deprived as I am. Although I know my situation will greatly improve once Dom gets home.” As Lilah had previously explained, Dominic had gone overseas to check on several operations so he wouldn’t have to worry about them when it was time for their baby to be born. “He has a talent for relaxing me.”
“I just bet he does,” Mallory said, amused by the contrast between her friend’s demure expression and the anticipatory gleam in her big blue eyes. “Any word on when that will be?” she asked, reaching for her to-do list.
“Yes, actually. He called this morning and he should be home by Sunday.”
“That’s great.”
“Yes, it is.” There was a brief silence during which Lilah considered her knowingly. “It’s all right to ask, you know. About Gabe.”
She picked up her pen, staunchly ignoring the way her pulse leaped at the mere mention of that name. “What about him?”
“Apparently there was some sort of security breach at the Makedonska Museum that required his expertise, which is why he went to Belgrade. But since they’ve about got things wrapped up, he should be coming home this weekend, too.”
“Well, good for him.” She made a quick notation to ask the tent man if he supplied his own electrician, and tried to tell herself that the sudden cartwheeling of her stomach was just a delayed reaction to drinking too much coffee.
After all, Gabriel’s longer-than-expected absence had proved to be a good thing, allowing her to focus solely on her job. She’d devoted every waking hour of the past ten days to putting Bedazzled’s business back in order, and as Lilah had mentioned, it was starting to pay off.
And even if the thought of seeing him again did make her feel a little nervous and unsettled, well, she supposed that was only to be expected. The single night they’d spent together had shown her a whole different side of him. And of herself.
“I’m sure he’s more than ready to get back,” Lilah observed. “Although I, for one, am going to miss seeing what new clever thing he can come up with to give you. And I’m not the only one. Your little surprises have been the talk of the office.”
Her hand went still. Her first “little surprise,” a beautiful but functional briefcase, had been delivered the day after he’d left, with a small, unsigned note that she’d known was from him since it had read, “Bronzed those shoes yet?”
In the time since, she’d received a bottle of her favorite scented hand lotion, a new bus pass, an exquisite lithophane night-light, a Starbucks gift card, a bouquet of lilacs in a lovely little china bowl and a small foam cooler packed with a dozen precooked entrees from one of Denver’s best restaurants.
Although none of the items had been terribly expensive, it was obvious some real thought had gone into the selections, and that meant more to her than anything else. Never before had a man cared enough about her to actually spend time—did she dare to say the word?—wooing her. It made her feel special, cherished, as if she actually mattered.
It was also absolutely terrifying, since now every time she thought of him she felt a little more of her defenses slipping away.
Setting down the pen, she looked at Lilah. She hadn’t said a word to anyone about the gift giver’s identity, which meant there was no way the other woman could know it was Gabe for sure. Unless, of course, Gabe had confided in Dom.
Yet even if he hadn’t, even if Lilah’s comment was pure speculation, she wasn’t going to lie about it. Their growing friendship was much too important to jeopardize with a lie. Plus it would be a relief to have it out in the open, to perhaps even confide some of her confusion about what she was feeling to another woman.
She set down the pen, pushed her list away. “How long have you known they were from him?” She wouldn’t swear by it, but she thought her friend’s slim shoulders relaxed a fraction.
“I was pretty sure right from the start,” Lilah admitted.
“Oh. I guess that means he sends gifts to women on a regular basis.” And the idea didn’t fill her with disappointment. It didn’t.
“No. Truthfully, I don’t think I’ve ever known him to pay another woman this sort of attention. Usually it’s just the opposite. Women are constantly throwing themselves at him.”
“Then how—”
Lilah gave a slight shrug and smiled. “I’ve seen the two of you together. And I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he doesn’t think anyone else is watching. Plus until your flowers came in it, that pretty little bowl used to decorate a shelf in his office.”
“Oh.” It was silly, but the idea that he’d actually given her one of his belongings was mildly alarming, for reasons she wasn’t ready to think about. “Does everyone know?”
“I don’t see how. I certainly haven’t said a word.”
She blew out a breath. “Good.”
“But why the secrecy, if I might ask?”
“Of course you can. I wasn’t trying to be secretive. Just…private. This is all so new—the job, our…relationship, me actually caring about more than the forecast for spring skiing in the Alps or whether I should wait for Mr. Kenneth to make up with his boyfriend before I let him near my hair with his scissors. For once in my life, I didn’t want everyone talking about my business.”
Lilah nodded. “Makes sense.”
“Also…I don’t know. At first, everything seemed so straightforward. My need to feel strong and independent versus Gabe seeing me as some loose end leftover from the mess with my dad that he needed to tie up. But now…”
She trailed off, only to have Lilah unexpectedly finish her sentence. “But now you think there’s more to his feelings than that.”
“Yes. I do.” Just hearing herself say the words made her feel panicky and elated all at once.
“I’m sure you’re right. And I’ll tell you why.” Tipping her head to one side, she said, “Just how much do you know about Gabe’s background?”
Mallory thought about it. “Pretty much what everyone does, I guess. That he comes from a military family, that he’s the oldest of a bunch of brothers, that his business is a huge success and everyone seems to respect him.”
“That’s all true, as far as it goes. But what you need to know if you’re going to have a chance of understanding him is that when he was fourteen he lost his mother in a car accident. Jake, the baby of the family, wasn’t quite two, with the other seven boys ranging in age between them. As Dom tells it, their dad, an army mechanic who was the big, strong silent type, just lost it. Oh, he provided for the family financially—what he didn’t drink away at the base bar. But other than that, the boys were on their own.
“I think they all would’ve wound up in foster care if not for Gabriel. They were all pretty traumatized, but he stepped up, made sure they had clean clothes and enough to eat, oversaw homework and bedtimes, arranged for day care and doctor’s appointments, pretty much took on the role of parent. Eli once told me that it was Gabe, not their father, who got up in the night to comfort him and the others when they had bad dreams or cried for their mother.
“Through it all, he did well in school, always had at least a part-time job. Eventually, he went to the local college on an ROTC scholarship, although he was still essentially raising the younger boys. Then their dad unexpectedly remarried, and he was finally able to throw himself into the military career he’d always wanted.
“Dom says he was burning his way up the ranks, doing special operations work overseas, when their father’s second marriage broke up and Steele Senior suddenly
announced he was retiring to the Philippines. Gabe felt he didn’t have a choice but to resign his commission and come home so he could provide a stable, financially secure home for the youngest boys, Josh, Eli, Jake and Jordan.”
Absentmindedly Lilah pressed a hand to the small of her back and shifted in her chair. “Not too surprisingly, his brothers are convinced he walks on water even though they’re the first to point out that he can be relentless when he thinks something should be done that hasn’t been.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is that he’s not someone who takes things lightly, Mallory. When he cares, he cares deeply and when he commits to something, he sees it through. But having said that, as far as I know, he’s never opened himself up to anyone but family. Certainly not a woman. So just…be careful with your heart, okay?”
Busy trying to sort through everything she’d just heard, it took Mallory a moment before Lilah’s last statement sank in. When it did, she momentarily forgot her tangled feelings regarding Gabriel, surprised that Lilah would be concerned for her.
“I…Thanks,” she said awkwardly. She fell silent, and then, because she was afraid she was making more of the other woman’s caution than she should, she reverted to humor. “Although I don’t think you need to worry,” she said lightly. “Just ask Nikki, and she’ll be glad to tell you that we Morgans don’t have hearts to hurt.”
“Right,” Lilah replied. “Like I’m going to be influenced by a woman who told me just two days ago about her plan to end world hunger by getting rich people everywhere to save their leftovers? Please.”
Mallory gave a snort of disbelief. “You’re not serious.”
“Oh yes, I am. And the really sad part is, even though she has all the sensitivity of a rock, just thinking about food is enough to make me hungry these days. So what do you think?” Climbing to her feet, the blonde slid her purse onto her shoulder and looked hopefully at Mallory. “Do you have time for lunch?”