Kayla noticed how adamant Shane was that Gabrielle couldn’t possibly be the culprit, which could only mean that her brother was falling for Gabrielle. Kayla recognized the symptoms because he had the same look of denial she’d had about Ethan last year when she’d found herself falling in love with the man who’d taken over her family’s company.
“Shane, you have to consider it. She is the newest employee to the lab,” Kayla pressed the point.
“You don’t know Gabby like I do.”
Ethan noticed the intent look passing between both siblings as Shane spoke. He wondered if more was going on between the two chemists than he knew about. If there was, and Kayla knew, she would never tell him and break her brother’s confidence. And he would never ask her to. “I agree with Kayla, Shane. We have to consider all possible suspects.” He reached across the table and pressed his intercom. “Myra, can you please contact the head of security and have him come up here immediately?”
“Will do, Mr. Graham,” a female voice said through the phone.
* * *
Gabrielle’s stomach was a mass of nerves. Shane had never spoken to her that way, not even when he’d been angry with her when she’d first started at Adams Cosmetics. She couldn’t believe he’d ordered her out of his office. He’d slammed his door and then minutes later come bursting through it and, without a word to anyone in the lab, had stormed out.
Did this have anything to do with the design leak to the press? Should she have told him before now what was going on with her family and Andrew Jackson? Would he have believed her if she had?
When Shane returned to the lab, his expression was masked. Gabrielle knew something was amiss, but what? She decided she’d wait to approach him until they were alone. That moment didn’t come until the end of day, because Shane dropped a bombshell that had the entire lab rattled.
“Everyone, gather around,” Shane said, motioning for all the chemists to come forward in a circle.
“Is something wrong?” one of the other chemists asked.
Shane nodded. “It has come to my attention that someone accessed my safe without my permission.”
“What does that mean?” Gabrielle asked.
“Ecstasy has been compromised,” Shane replied. “Someone has the formula.”
“Ohmigod, Shane!” Gabrielle’s hand flew to her mouth. How could something like this have happened with the high level of security at AC? You had to have an access badge to get anywhere near the lab, and the process to get a badge included a background check and fingerprinting.
“It’s not good,” Shane said, “but at least they don’t have all the notes.”
Gabrielle wasn’t buying Shane’s positive spin. She knew this was a catastrophe. “But a good chemist could get darn close.”
“They can imitate Ecstasy, but our product will be superior in quality and packaging.”
“The bottle design has already been leaked to the press.” One of the chemists, an Asian woman who typically was very shy, spoke up. “What’s next?”
Shane rolled his eyes upward. “Does anyone want to offer anything positive? Because trust me, the executive board and I have thought about every worst-case scenario.”
“What’s going to happen now?” Gabrielle inquired.
“An investigation will take place.”
“Meaning that all of us are under suspicion?” the Asian woman spoke up again.
Gabrielle glanced up at Shane and knew the woman had hit the nail on the head. Every chemist in the lab would be under suspicion as the possible culprit, even though they’d each signed a nondisclosure agreement when they were hired.
“Shane, I’ve worked for this company for five years,” the woman pressed. “You know me. You know I would never do this.”
“Mai-Li,” Shane said as he walked toward her and touched her shoulder. “I know you. I know all of you.” He turned and faced his staff. “And I know you will all be cleared. But we must find who did this.”
“We’re here for you, Shane, whatever you need.” Gabrielle offered a hesitant smile.
Shane turned, and this time he dazzled her with one of his trademark smiles. As always, Gabrielle’s stomach did a somersault. “Thank you, I appreciate that.”
* * *
Gabrielle waited for everyone to leave before she knocked on Shane’s door. She poked her head inside. “Is it safe to enter?”
Shane lowered his head. “I’m so sorry, Gabby.” He felt terrible. “I didn’t mean to yell at you earlier. I was just really stressed. C’mon in.” He motioned for her to enter.
“Do you have any idea who could have done this?” Gabrielle asked, sitting down.
“No.” Shane shook his head, rose from his chair and came and sat on the edge of the desk. “But it has to be someone with high-level access.”
“Someone obviously has it out for your family.”
“And there’s only one person I know who hates my family enough to want to sabotage us, and that’s Andrew Jackson.”
“He’s the owner of Jax Cosmetics, right?” Gabrielle asked. She’d decided to play it safe. Although she didn’t have confirmation, she suspected Andrew was behind her father coming to her apartment with a sudden change of heart only to steal a photo of the prototype.
“Yes. He’s my father’s archrival and has been since the day my father stole my mother from Andrew.”
Gabrielle’s eyes grew large. She’d never heard this story before. “What happened?”
“Andrew and my father were friends and business partners. My father was poor, but Andrew was from a wealthy family, as was my mother. Back in the day, Andrew and my father talked about starting a cosmetics company together, but Andrew had a wandering eye, and my mother got fed up with Andrew’s philandering ways and broke it off. She ended up marrying my father, much to Andrew’s and her family’s consternation. They disinherited her for many years.”
“But didn’t your father used to work at Graham International?”
“Yes, he had to,” Shane answered. “He didn’t have the capital to start his own business. So he toiled under Carter Graham, Ethan’s father, for many years until he could save enough money to start Adams Cosmetics on his own. Needless to say, Carter felt betrayed when he left. All the time he’d spent cultivating my dad was lost, so there was a lot of animosity. Eventually, my grandmother forgave my mother and reinherited her and put money in trust for us, but by then Adams Cosmetics was a success. That’s when Andrew started Jax Cosmetics as a rival company, just to rattle my father.”
“That’s an amazing story,” Gabrielle said. “No wonder your family fought so hard to keep AC away from Ethan.”
“My father was no saint,” Shane replied. He respected his father a great deal, but he didn’t have false illusions. Byron Adams had his faults. “He made a few bad decisions near the end and we had no choice but to merge with Graham International to avoid going under.”
“So it all came full circle, back to GI,” Gabrielle replied.
“And sometimes Ethan never lets us forget that he saved our hides,” Shane replied. “And I have to admit, I resent his interference. But Kayla loves him, so I keep my mouth shut. It’s just when he mouths off about my failures in the lab, it really gets my goat.”
Gabrielle couldn’t believe how much Shane was confiding in her. It was the first time he was allowing her a glimpse into his head. For the longest time, he’d given her surface information. Perhaps she’d misread the situation and he did truly care for her?
Nervously, Gabrielle wrung her hands. She really needed to talk to Shane about their relationship and her father, but after hearing his story, the timing wasn’t right. She desperately wanted to get back to how they were in Paris. “I was thinking…that perhaps we could spend some time together this weekend…” Gabrielle’s voice trailed off.
Shane looked at Gabby. Although he didn’t know why she’d pushed him away several nights ago, he was happy to see that she’d had a change of heart. He had
missed her. “I would love that, but I have some family commitments this weekend.”
Gabrielle’s mouth formed an O. She’d hoped they could have some alone time and she could finally tell him the huge secret she’d been keeping from him about her father stealing the design.
“But…” Shane’s mind started racing. “You could come with me. It’s Kayla’s baby shower, and instead of it being just the girls, it’s going to be unisex. Ethan claimed that he’s having the baby too and wants to open gifts.” Shane could understand that. Carter Graham had been a cold son of a gun, and Ethan seemed determined to be a different kind of father. He’d only missed the one Lamaze class that Shane had subbed in for.
“I don’t know.” Gabrielle rose from her chair and paced his office. “Sounds like a family event and…”
“Listen.” Shane jumped out of his chair and came over to stand beside her. “Courtney and Kayla already know we’re dating, so why not tell my parents and Ethan?” He shrugged. “Who cares? We’re adults, right?”
“Right.” Gabrielle smiled back.
“Then I will pick you up tomorrow morning, bright and early. The baby shower is at 2:00 p.m., and that’ll give us plenty of time to ride up and get unpacked and freshen up.”
“Where are we going?” Gabrielle inquired. She’d assumed they’d be at the Adams family estate.
“Oh, you’ll see,” Shane said. “My family doesn’t know how to do anything small.”
Chapter 12
Shane picked Gabrielle up at 9:00 a.m. and, without telling her where they were going, headed toward Interstate 85. The conversation in the car was still somewhat strained, but she hoped to rectify that once they were alone, which would hopefully be sometime in the evening.
Gabrielle was shocked when less than an hour later they drove through the gates of Château Élan and arrived at the sixteenth-century-inspired inn. A bellboy greeted her and helped her out of the car. As she stepped out, Gabrielle was treated to a panoramic view of the north Georgia foothills, well-manicured lawns and surrounding vineyard. Shane wasn’t lying when he’d said that his family didn’t know how to celebrate small.
“This is where the baby shower is?” Gabrielle asked as the bellboy removed their overnight bags from Shane’s trunk.
“Oh, Kayla had nothing to do with this spectacle,” Shane said, walking around the car. “This was all Mother. You know, this is her first grandchild and all. She wanted it to be grand.”
“That it is,” Gabrielle said as they walked inside the chateau.
The inside was bright and airy with lots of sunlight from the skylights overhead, white columns and marble floors. Tons of planters sprinkled throughout the lobby held various plant species.
Once checked in, they went to their suite, which had a lush king-size bed. It was modern, yet simply decorated. Gabrielle peeked in the bathroom and found it held a bathtub for two. Memories of her and Shane in the marble tub in Paris came to mind, and Gabrielle warmed all over.
“Is everything to your liking, ma’am?” Shane came behind her and circled his arms around her waist.
“Of course.” Gabrielle turned around in his arms. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here?” She gave a nervous sweep of her tongue over her suddenly dry lips.
Shane caught that nervous moment and it made him want a taste. “Absolutely!” he stated fiercely. Hungrily. He crushed his lips against hers and parted them to deepen the kiss. His tongue surged inside Gabby’s mouth, tasting every sweet cavern. He pulled her tightly against him, eager to feel those slender curves pressed against him. It had been too long.
Gabrielle felt his passion. Shane was kissing her as if she was the drink he’d been thirsting for all day. “Easy, boy.” She pushed her hands against Shane’s chest. “We do have a baby shower to get to in a couple of hours and…”
“If we get started, we won’t want to stop?” Shane offered as he released her.
Gabrielle smiled. “Exactly!” She walked back into the bedroom.
“You promise to make it up to me later?” Shane asked.
Gabrielle gave him a wink. “You better believe it.”
* * *
Shane walked hand in hand with Gabrielle into one of the immaculately decorated ballrooms. He had to hand it to his mother. She knew her stuff. The room was done in white and blue since Kayla was having a boy. His mother had thought of every detail, from the white drapes hanging from the ceiling, to the linens on the table, to the blue fabric across the chairs—even the gift boxes for each guest had a blue ribbons around them.
Shane noticed some of the surprised faces on his family members as they walked over. Courtney and Kayla were not as surprised, but Ethan and his parents were clearly floored.
“Dad, Mom.” Shane motioned Gabrielle forward. “I’d like you to meet Gabrielle Burton.”
Although his mother was temporarily taken aback, she recovered with her usual aplomb and gave Gabrielle a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome, dear. We’ve heard nothing but the best things about you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Adams.” Gabrielle smiled. “And Kayla,” she said as she turned to Shane’s sister, “you’re looking as radiant as ever.”
Kayla chuckled. “I look like a big whale, but thank you for saying so. How was the drive over?”
“We made it in good time,” Shane said.
While Shane and Kayla talked, Courtney immediately zeroed in on Gabrielle. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” she whispered.
“Because I had no idea I was. It was a last-minute thing.”
“You know this is big,” Courtney replied. “Shane never introduces us to his women.”
Gabrielle took that as a good sign until Ethan came over. “So you and Shane, huh?” he asked. “Why am I the last to know?” He’d watched his wife with Shane, and clearly she’d known about the relationship, because her mouth hadn’t dropped open when they’d arrived.
“Mr. Graham…” Gabrielle began, but Ethan held up his hands.
“You owe me no explanation,” he replied. “Who am I to judge? Kayla and I fell in love under the most unusual circumstances.”
“Shane and I aren’t in love,” Gabrielle responded.
“Are you sure about that?” Ethan said, tilting his head in Shane’s direction, who at the moment was staring intently at the two of them.
* * *
“Wow! You sure do like to surprise your mama,” Elizabeth Adams commented to her son as the guests began arriving. Gabrielle had already been recruited by Courtney to help direct guests to their seats. “Why haven’t you told me about Gabrielle before now?”
“There wasn’t much to tell,” Shane answered honestly. He watched as Gabrielle attended to one of the children who had wandered away. She was squatting down to the little girl’s level and laughing with her. “We’ve been seeing each other for a while, and I guess you could say things heated up between us in Paris.”
“And…?” She wasn’t going to let Shane give her a pat answer.
“And I’ve come to care a great deal about Gabby.”
“Enough to settle down?”
Shane glanced sideways at her. “Whoa there, Mom. Who said anything about settling down? Gabby and I are just enjoying each other. You should be happy you have a new grandbaby on the way to love and spoil.”
“And of course I’m happy about that, Shane, but I want love for you, too. I can only hope that you find the kind of lasting love your father and I have had over these last forty years.”
“I don’t know,” Shane said. “What you and Dad have is pretty rare.”
“But not impossible to find,” his mother replied, “if you’re willing to let love in.”
Shane thought about what his mother said as the baby shower got under way. He and Gabrielle, his parents and Courtney sat at one table, while Ethan and Kayla sat center stage with small circular tables around them. Family, friends and many of their work colleagues had driven up to Château Élan to celebrate with them.
It showed Shane just how well liked they were by those who worked for them, which is why he was finding it hard to believe that any of his chemists or anyone else at AC could have stolen from them. The questions were driving him crazy, but Shane refused to let them spoil the day. He reached across the table and squeezed Gabrielle’s hand, and she smiled back at him. When he glanced up, he noticed Courtney watching him.
Surprisingly, the shower turned out to be fun, with both men and women contributing in the games. Not to mention, the loot of gifts that Ethan and Kayla collected for their son. When it was all over, it was nearly dinnertime.
The party continued as their mother had arranged for a private family dinner at Le Clos, an intimate restaurant inside the winery. They savored the three-course menu prepared with local organic ingredients and everyone, except Kayla, tasted some of the finest wines the winery had to offer.
“You realize this bites,” Kayla commented. “You know I’m pregnant, and you know I love wine, and you have my baby shower at a winery? It’s cruel and unusual punishment.”
They all laughed and continued to talk throughout the evening. After dessert, they shared coffee and cappuccinos before Kayla and Ethan eventually retired to the Governor’s Suite for the evening.
“Poor thing looks pooped,” Courtney commented.
“Well, she is due in a few weeks,” her mother replied.
Shane faked a yawn himself and stretched out his arms. “Hmm… I’m pooped, too. I think we’re going to head off to bed.” He scooted his chair out and helped Gabrielle out of hers.
She noticed the looks of disbelief on Courtney’s and his father’s faces, and she blushed several shades. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Mr. and Mrs. Adams.” She inclined her head to Shane’s parents. “Courtney, good to see you as always.”
“You get some rest now,” Courtney said.
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