Shane’s eyes narrowed when he spoke. “I don’t know.”
“That’s unacceptable, Shane.”
“What’s going on?” Gabrielle whispered to Courtney.
“The design for the bottle was leaked on the internet,” Courtney replied.
“What?” A sinking feeling came over Gabrielle. She’d had several photos of the prototype in her briefcase at her apartment. And her father had been there a few days ago. Could he have looked in her briefcase?
“When I got back, after showing Kayla, I immediately put the prototype in the safe,” Gabrielle heard Shane say, but she was too distracted by the fear that was coursing through her veins to focus. Would her father have gone that far for Andrew Jackson? Would he have acted sincere and hugged her if he hadn’t meant it?
“Then how was it leaked?
“Why don’t you tell me?” Shane hissed. “You’re the one with the top-notch security, Ethan. Why don’t you tell me how someone could get in the safe?”
“Did it ever leave your possession in Paris?” Kayla inquired, trying to avert an explosive situation. But Shane shook his head. He’d ensured the prototype was locked in the hotel safe.
“What about Gerard?” Ethan replied, rising from his chair. “He didn’t want to sign an exclusive… Perhaps he wanted more money?”
“It wasn’t Gerard,” Shane stated emphatically.
“How can you be sure?” Ethan stood over Shane and glared at him.
“Because I know him,” Shane said, looking up at his brother-in-law without batting an eye.
“And I thought I knew you,” Ethan replied. “I trusted you with this and you dropped the ball.”
“Ethan…” There was a warning tone in Kayla’s voice. She did not care for his accusatory tone.
Ethan glanced at his wife and then returned to his seat. “Clearly, security needs to be beefed up. In the meantime, I need you—” he turned to his publicity and marketing executives “—to do damage control. We need to get control of this situation. We can’t let Ecstasy’s launch be damaged by this leak.”
Several executives nodded in agreement.
“Meeting adjourned,” Ethan announced and everyone began filing out, with the exception of Shane, Courtney and Kayla.
Gabrielle glanced at Shane. She didn’t want to leave him without backup. She knew Shane was conscientious about his work in the lab and couldn’t imagine he’d made an error. And if she was responsible for this travesty, she would never forgive herself. But Shane mouthed for her to go back to the lab.
Once everyone had gone, Kayla turned to Ethan. “Was that really necessary?”
“I don’t need you to fight my battles, Kay,” Shane responded testily. “I am in charge of the lab, and it’s my responsibility to guard our intellectual property.”
“I know that,” Kayla replied. “But you were right in that we need to ensure this isn’t a security issue, either.”
“And we will look into that,” Ethan said.
“As will I.” Shane swiftly rose from the table and left the room, causing the chair he’d been sitting in to spin out of control.
Courtney went to follow behind her brother, but Gabrielle was waiting for him. Clearly, Gabrielle had stayed behind to make sure Shane was okay, and that concerned Courtney. Shane was known for loving and leaving women, and although Courtney hoped Gabrielle was the woman to tame Shane, she also wasn’t sure Gabrielle would be prepared for the fallout if their affair should end.
“Let him go,” Courtney said, walking toward Gabrielle. She knew when Shane needed to blow off some steam.
Gabrielle turned around guiltily, as if her hand had been caught in the cookie jar. “But he needs me.” He’d been so furious that he hadn’t even noticed her sitting in the hall.
That was a telling statement, and Courtney grabbed Gabrielle by the arm. “Come with me,” she ordered and led Gabrielle into her office on the same floor.
Once inside, Courtney closed the door and leaned back against it. “You’ve fallen for Shane, haven’t you?”
Gabrielle’s eyes grew large. Courtney had her answer.
Courtney grasped her by the hand and led her to the cream leather sofa. “And Shane, how does he feel about you?”
“We haven’t discussed our feelings,” Gabrielle answered honestly. “I mean, I don’t even know what I’m feeling. This is all so new to me.”
“But you do have strong feelings for Shane?”
Gabrielle nodded. “I do, but I’m such a mess, Courtney. I’ve so much going on in my life.” That was the understatement of the year, considering her father could have very well have stolen from her! “Perhaps I’m making more of this than it actually is…. I have always had a slight crush on Shane, so maybe that’s all it is. But then again, whenever I’m around him, I get butterflies and sometimes my mouth goes dry and when he kisses me I get weak in the knees. Oh, Lord, I sound like a schoolgirl.” Gabrielle put her head in her hands.
Courtney laughed. “No, you sound like a woman in love. Maybe you should try feeling Shane out to see how he feels?”
“I know how he feels. He wants me in his bed every night.”
Courtney held up her hands. “Okay, T.M.I., he is still my brother.” She smiled. “Seriously, though, have a talk with him and see where his head is.”
“What will he say?” Gabrielle asked.
Courtney shrugged. “I don’t know, but whatever he says, you’ll have to decide for yourself exactly what you’re willing to accept.”
* * *
It was well after 5:00 p.m. when Courtney made it down to the laboratory. She had waited until everyone had left so she could speak to Shane alone. She would have tried at the mansion, but Shane had made a habit of staying at his loft in the city these days. Courtney suspected it had something to do with a certain brunette, but Shane would never admit to it.
“Hey, you,” Courtney said, walking uninvited into Shane’s office.
“Hey.” Shane barely looked up from the papers he was reading.
“Ethan was pretty hard on you earlier.”
“It was well deserved,” Shane said. “The lab is my domain, which I made clear from day one when we merged with Graham International. It’s just—” he sighed “—I don’t know how something like this could have happened. I’ve been so careful.”
“Don’t worry,” Courtney said. “We’ll find the culprit. And in the meantime, we’ll get some free press for Ecstasy and have the public hungering for the fragrance when it launches.”
Shane couldn’t help but smile. Trust his little sister to always look on the bright side. “Thanks, kid.”
“So…” Courtney said, leaning forward. “How are things going with you and Gabby?”
“You mean this wasn’t a professional visit?” Shane’s voice rose slightly, as if he were shocked by his sister’s question. But he wasn’t surprised. Courtney had shown amazing restraint, considering she was the orchestrator of the relationship. She’d given him that extra boost and he’d finally seen Gabby for the beautiful, smart woman she was.
“No, it isn’t.”
Shane’s eyebrow rose questioningly.
“I’m worried about you two.”
“Worried, why? Everything is going smoothly,” Shane replied. “Actually, better than that.”
“That’s the problem.”
“How so?”
“You need to be careful with Gabby’s heart, Shane,” Courtney responded. “We women get easily attached after becoming intimate. Although, I would have to say I’m not one of them.” Courtney was similar to her brother in that respect. She didn’t want or need love. She was having too much fun living in the moment. Unlike Shane, who always seemed to need companionship, though not for the long-term.
Shane frowned. “Has Gabby said something?” Was she starting to develop strong feelings toward him, as he was toward her? If so, she hadn’t said anything. She was good at covering up her feelings, but then again, she’d invented that
art form. She’d had a lifetime of hiding her emotions from her parents. But he’d hoped that after she’d opened up to him the other day, she was beginning to feel as if she could trust him.
Courtney shook her head. She would never betray her friend’s confidence, but she also didn’t want Gabby to get hurt, and she knew Shane’s track record.
Courtney’s lack of response told Shane that perhaps there was more to the story. His little sister always had something to say, so if she was silent it meant he needed to speak with Gabby. But he had to get his sister off his back. “You needn’t worry. Our relationship is strictly casual. You know I don’t do long-term. Never have.”
“Duly noted,” Courtney said, rising from her chair and heading for the door. “I guess I should have known it’s hard for a leopard to change its spots, but you be sure Gabby knows the score. I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” Shane said and saluted her.
Several seconds later, she was out the door. She didn’t notice that Gabrielle had been standing behind the door and had heard their entire conversation.
* * *
Gabrielle was having a bad night. She’d tried unsuccessfully to reach her father to find out if he had anything to do with the design leaking onto the internet. Not knowing was driving her crazy. She couldn’t allow Shane to take the blame for something that could have been her fault.
And if that hadn’t been bad enough, she’d overheard Courtney and Shane openly discussing their relationship. She’d thought about walking away, because it was a private conversation between the two siblings, but then her curiosity had gotten the better of her and she’d listened in.
She wished she hadn’t. Shane had made it clear to Courtney that he didn’t do long-term relationships. Just like in perfumery school, in a couple of months, Shane would tire of her and move on to the next woman. She’d told herself that she just wanted to know what it was like to be one of his women and when it was over she would move on, no big deal. She was wrong.
Now she knew exactly what it was to be one of Shane’s women, and she’d loved every minute of it and didn’t want to give it up. But clearly Shane had other ideas. Despite the time they’d spent in Atlanta and in Paris, nothing had changed for Shane. They hadn’t grown closer, as she’d thought. Instead, he seemed just as untouchable and impenetrable as he’d been in school. Gabrielle didn’t know how to digest it all. She wasn’t used to letting anyone get this close, but she’d opened up to Shane as she had no other. So it was a hard pill to swallow that he wasn’t as affected as she by the time they’d spent talking, laughing, sharing and making love.
A knock sounded on her apartment door and when she opened it, Shane was on the other side.
“Hey, baby.” Shane kissed her cheek and went to move forward, but Gabrielle held the door in her hand, not allowing him entrance. “Is something wrong? Do you have someone else in there?” he asked jokingly.
“No,” Gabrielle responded, not budging. “I’m just in the middle of something, so now isn’t a good time.”
Shane’s mouth curled into a frown. “Are you asking me to leave?” They hadn’t spent a night apart in over a month. He didn’t understand why Gabby didn’t want to be with him. They’d just had a long romantic weekend in Paris, which he had enjoyed immensely. And if her multiple orgasms were any indication, so had she, so why the brush-off?
“If you don’t mind…” Gabrielle’s voice trailed off.
The look of disappointment etched across Shane’s face made Gabrielle instantly regret her decision. But it was too late. Shane had already begun backing away from the door.
“Okay, then—I guess I will see you at the office tomorrow.” Shane came forward for the briefest of moments to brush his lips across hers and then he was gone.
Gabrielle closed the door and sagged against it. Seconds ticked by as she fought with her mind and her heart. Her mind told her to play it safe, and that by not sleeping next to him that night, she could keep her feelings hidden. But on the other hand, in her heart, she wanted to be with him, to be close to him.
In a split-second decision, she opened the door, praying that Shane was still waiting at the elevator landing. But it was empty. He’d gone, and so Gabrielle closed her apartment door and went to bed alone.
Chapter 11
Gabrielle was on edge. She hadn’t heard back from her father, and she’d left half a dozen messages at the house for him. Even her mother wasn’t responding, which could only mean that her father was behind the leak to the press. He’d used her desire for a connection with him to gain access to confidential information. She needed to tell Shane what happened, but she was ashamed by how deeply she had wanted her father’s embrace and affection toward her to be true. She hoped Shane would understand, but he was keeping his distance. Ever since she’d sent him away a couple of nights ago, he’d been polite and courteous to her at the office, but nothing more. Not so much as a phone call or text.
Clearly, she’d hurt his feelings by not wanting to spend time with him and by claiming she had things to do. Now Shane was giving her all the space she needed.
Courtney had called and left a message about inviting her to an event that weekend, but Gabrielle was too embarrassed to admit that she’d listened in on Courtney’s conversation with Shane. She knew Courtney meant well, but it had still stung.
Last night, when she’d finally gotten up the nerve to go into Shane’s office to talk after work about the leak, he’d been on the phone and had waved her off. Gabrielle was beginning to wonder if he had already lost interest in her. Could his feelings have cooled that quickly?
* * *
“So what’s wrong with you?” Courtney asked when she found Shane sitting alone at the breakfast table on Friday morning. Their parents were nowhere in sight, so they could talk freely.
“Coffee?” their butler Victor asked, holding up the carafe.
“Love some, thanks, Vic.”
Courtney eyed her brother suspiciously.
“Why would you think something is wrong?” Shane asked, glancing up from the business section of the newspaper.
“Could it be because I can count on one hand the number of times you’ve been back to the estate the last couple of months?” Courtney inquired.
“It was time for a change,” Shane said, continuing to read his paper.
“Is the honeymoon over already?”
Shane rolled his eyes. He didn’t really care to discuss his relationship with Gabrielle right now. He was still smarting over the fact that she had sent him away. He couldn’t understand why she’d didn’t want to be with him when he wanted her so badly. Last night, he’d had to do something he’d never done. Take a cold shower. Had he done something to upset her? He couldn’t think of anything. And then at work, she’d been standoffish and cool toward him. Shane didn’t know what to make of it and decided it was best to give her a few days’ reprieve. He hoped that after the weekend, she would be ready to discuss whatever it was that was bothering her.
* * *
Shane didn’t get the opportunity to follow up with Gabrielle because all hell broke loose on Monday morning. When Shane went into his office, he noticed several items on his desk were out of place. A knot formed in his gut, and he instinctively knew something was wrong. And when he went to check the safe where he kept all his formulas, he saw one was missing. And not just any formula. It was Ecstasy.
Anger coursed through him at the thought that someone had stolen his ideas, his hard work, his passion. It was unthinkable.
Gabrielle came breezing into his office. “Shane, I was hoping we could talk.”
“Not now!” Shane roared.
“Shane…” Tears sprang to Gabrielle’s eyes at his harsh tone and she went flying out of the room.
Shane’s first reaction was to go after her. He’d never yelled at a woman before. His mama had raised him as a Southern gentleman and that just wasn’t how he spoke to his woman, or any woman. But he had m
ore important matters on his hands. Namely, finding out who had stolen his scent. And then the unwelcome scene of telling Ethan and Kayla of the theft.
Neither was too happy to hear the news when Shane called a meeting in Kayla’s office. “How could this have happened?” Ethan yelled. “What the hell is going on in that lab?”
“Ethan,” Kayla said then breathed in deeply, “yelling will not get us anywhere.”
“This is a catastrophe, Kayla, and you damn well know it.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Shane yelled back at Ethan. “This is my work that’s been stolen!”
“And it’s my money and my company that’s putting up the backing for this venture,” Ethan responded. “We’ve already put so much time and effort into promoting Ecstasy. What are we going to say when it’s time to debut it?”
“The thief may have major notes in the fragrance,” Shane replied, “but they don’t have all the pieces. It’s here in my head.” Shane pointed to his forehead.
“But they have enough to put an imitation out there that will question the integrity of Ecstasy.”
“I admit it’s a blow,” Kayla replied, jumping in as the voice of reason, “but it’s not the end of the world. Many of the top designers have had their fragrances imitated. It doesn’t mean that Ecstasy will fail. We just have to make sure that we deliver the best product and the best campaign.”
“Since when did you become the optimist?” Shane asked, glancing at her sideways. He’d never known Kayla to be this way.
“Since the both of you started acting like Neanderthals.”
Ethan smiled. Only Kayla could put him in his place with a quick lash of her tongue. “I just don’t like having our plans thwarted,” he said, softening his voice.
Kayla gave him a look that said much better. “We have to find out who is behind the leak and this theft.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Shane said.
“I know you’re going to hate to hear this, but we need to look at every employee in the lab,” Kayla replied, “including Gabrielle.”
Shane shook his head. “Gabby would never steal from us. She has the highest degree of integrity I’ve ever seen. She would never do this.” Even though they weren’t speaking at the moment, Shane felt as if he knew Gabrielle well enough to know she wouldn’t steal his hard work. She wouldn’t seduce him to get close to him, would she?
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