Steal My Heart

by Lisa Eugene

  Greed. Power. Wealth. It had all the makings of a juicy story. Irresistible. She struggled to remember the details. It was thought he’d killed his father to inherit the family fortune. She hadn’t paid much attention to the trial. She did remember feeling sorry though for the young man who had been found guilty by the media before the trial had even started. He’d been vilified. He’d spent a considerable amount of time incarcerated because they thought he was a flight risk. It must have been a nightmare. In the end the jury had ruled it an accident. It had been a close decision that had sparked many debates and public protests. Why would he say he’d killed his father?

  “Gabe, it was determined to be an accident.”

  She watched pain darken his tormented eyes. His lips thinned to a slash. “It was my fault. I was home from school. I’d just finished tough exams. I had a lot of energy to burn. I pleaded with him to come race with me,” Gabe explained rapidly. “He didn’t want to go, Maggie. I convinced him. He did it for me! He could never say no to me.”

  “Gabe, it was an accident. You couldn’t have known,” she insisted.

  “I was only thinking about myself. I was selfish. I killed him.”

  Maggie had to blink back tears at the tremor in his voice. His guilt was so deeply embedded she didn’t know how to smash the thick layers to get through to him. Surely his family had been supportive.

  “Was Thomas there? Your mother?”

  Gabe shook his head. “No. Thomas never enjoyed racing. He never enjoyed the things that father and I did together. Mother never came either. Like me, they were both devastated after the crash. Mother barely spoke to me. Every time she looked at me I saw despair in her eyes. Thomas took over the family responsibilities. I left.”

  She let a finger run over the cleft in his chin. “You have to forgive yourself, Gabe. It wasn’t your fault. You’re not to blame. There’s so much good in you.”

  “I hurt so many people. I don’t want to hurt you. You deserve so much better.”

  She let the pads of her fingers play over his lips, and then she leaned forward and swept her lips against his in a feather-light kiss. Her heart ached for him. She knew her words did nothing to free his mind from his emotional quagmire. She felt helpless. The only way she knew to sooth him was to give him absolution with all the love she had in her heart. She snaked her arms around his broad shoulders and drew closer to him, opening her mouth and her body to let him in.

  He was gone from bed when she awoke, disoriented. She’d slept in so many different places in the past few weeks that for many moments she didn’t know where she was. There was a tangle of soft cotton sheets woven around her, and evidence of robust sex in the delicious throb of her body. She remembered the conversation she and Gabe had had in the wee hours of the morning, and she dove headlong into awareness. Gabriel Masters. Holy shit! It was still hard to believe that her hot hobo was this infamous man. Hard to believe that he still blamed himself for an accident that occurred so long ago. He’d mentioned Masters Communication back at the rustic house and seen the MC emblem. Her brain had woven the threads, but had not been able to tie them together.

  She hopped out of bed and padded across the luxurious carpet to the adjoining bath. Picking up her damp clothes hanging on the towel rack, she clicked her tongue. She’d washed them last night before bed. Her clothes were still soggy and now wrinkled beyond recognition. Plus, last night Gabe had insisted on helping her get undressed and tucking her in. She smiled. It was more like he was eager to get underneath her shirt. So much so that he’d caused a small tear in the front. She loved the fact that he was so touchy-feely, but the man was a menace to her meager wardrobe.

  Maybe she could borrow something from Victoria, but what would she do until then? She couldn’t very well walk around naked. An idea formed, and although not loving it, she figured she had very little recourse. She went back to the bedroom and started rummaging through Gabe’s clothes. God! Almost everything he owned was black and huge! She pulled out a pair of black jeans and a large tee, her gaze painfully assessing the clothing. She’d have to make some alterations.

  At least she’d have something to wear, and if she could find Victoria and borrow some clothes at least no one would see her in her makeshift ensemble. A few hours later she poked her head into the hall and made sure it was clear. She tip-toed out, hoping to sneak to Victoria’s room. When she found it empty she decided to brave it down the quiet back stairs. Maybe she could grab something quick to eat and locate Victoria in the process. Stepping off the last landing she almost jumped to the ceiling when the butler from last night seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

  “Ms. Lawson. How lovely to see you,” he intoned formally.

  Maggie clutched the banister, her blue eyes wide like the infamous cat who’d swallowed the canary. She almost turned around to look for her mother. Ms. Lawson?

  “We missed you for breakfast. Please, lunch is now served.” He swept a gloved hand in front of him, indicating she should precede him down the hall and into the dining room.

  “AAaaa…ummm…no, I…” she stammered inanely, but for the life of her could not produce a cogent excuse for declining. She looked down at her makeshift outfit and girded her resolve. She was a hot mess! There was no way she could deal with facing Kate and suffering her excruciatingly polite censure. The stoic butler looked as though it was his sworn duty to make sure everyone made it to the dining room for lunch, and panicking, she thought of David and serious contemplated initiating a shaking frenzy. She could say she was having a seizure and claim she had to run back to the room to get her medication. She sighed, dismissing the idea as crazy. Plus, as efficient as the butler seemed, he’d probably produce a bottle of seizure meds from his pocket and pop it into her mouth as he ushered her into the dining room. Maggie stood rooted.

  “No, thank you. I think I’ll just take something back to my…” she was starting to speak, when further up the hall a pair of French doors opened and soft laughter flowed into the passage.

  Maggie groaned inwardly when she saw Kate emerge with a gaggle of a least six or seven tittering women at her heel. Each woman turned to stare at her with condescending appraisal; each was attired in designer pastels and growing a set of pearls from her neck.

  Maggie could feel the blood drain from her face. It was too late for her to duck away as Kate fastened her frosty gaze on hers. Kate was the first to step forward, her face a blank mask and a plastic smile on her lips. Maggie saw her disapproving gaze dash over the black jaggedly ripped cut-offs and the oversized black tee that clearly belonged to her son. The shirt had been so long that Maggie had knotted it in front of her. A decision she sorely regretted now—like leaving her room in the first place. She wanted the earth to open and swallow her up.

  Gabe’s mother glanced back at her friends then spoke evenly. “Good afternoon, Maggie. Will you be joining us for lunch? I had a prior engagement with friends from the club that couldn’t be rescheduled on such short notice. You are most welcome to join us. We are about to go into the dining room now.”

  Maggie stared at the woman. Her words were welcoming, but she viewed her as though she was a stain on her perfectly tailored suit. Did this woman ever say what she was truly thinking?

  “No, thank you,” Maggie retorted, glad her vocal cords were still functioning. She turned to leave, noticing that the astute butler had sprung into action and ushered the curious group into the dining room, leaving her alone with Kate.

  “By the way, do you know the whereabouts of my son? Gabe.” Kate’s previously moderate voice suddenly plummeted to lower temperatures.

  Maggie shook her head, trying to remain calm.

  “I haven’t seen him.”

  Kate pursed her lips, regarding her suddenly with angry suspicion. “Are you certain?”

  She sighed, growing annoyed. I have him tucked under my shirt! In fact I’ve kidnapped both your boys. I shrunk them both down and hid them. These aren’t boobs. One’s lump is Gabe and th
e other is Thomas! Why would she lie?

  She watched Kate’s face pull tight, her gaze taking slow inventory of Maggie’s face and body.

  “I don’t know where you come from, but here we do not parade around like a common trollop.”

  So much for not saying what she’s thinking!

  Surprisingly, Maggie felt her embarrassment drain away. It was instead replaced by irritation and disbelief that the woman before her could be so judgmental. Kate knew nothing about her, yet was quick to cast aspersions. It was only for Gabe’s sake that she bit her tongue and decided not to go as David would say, all Brooklyn on her.

  “I’d expect my son to demonstrate better judgment—” Kate was saying.

  “That’s enough, Mother.” A steely voice cut through the moment.

  Maggie turned, expecting to find Gabe, but her brows shot up as Thomas approached them. His face was impassive as he regarded his mother.

  “Maggie is Gabe’s guest and should be afforded courtesy as such.”

  Maggie watched Kate’s ire recede, but her lips pinched like withering fruit.

  “She’s important to him,” Thomas added mildly, and Maggie watched the woman’s eyes dim before she turned stiffly and, without a word, headed for the dining room.

  The air was left with an electric charge that Maggie felt singe the fabric of her lungs. She exhaled deeply, hoping to soothe the discomfort and quell the tumult inside her.

  “I’m sorry you had to endure that,” Thomas said, stepping closer. He was wearing a polo shirt with a sweater tied around his neck and light colored slacks. His short blonde hair was parted at the side and combed neatly. “Please forgive Mother, she hasn’t been herself lately.”

  Maggie nodded silently, desperately wanting to abscond back to her room. He gave her an easy smile and Maggie couldn’t help but smile back. After all, he did just step in in her defense.

  “I trust everything else is well?” Thomas inquired convivially.

  She nodded again but was in no mood for casual conversation.

  “Thank you for intervening,” she said politely and turned to leave, but stopped as his voice followed her. “Let me know if Mother is ever a problem. I’d like for you and Gabe to stay a while. I haven’t seen my brother in a long time.”

  Maggie smiled, her heart filling with hope for the two brothers. She nodded and turned away as his cell phone rang. She reached the bottom step when his booming voice stalled her.

  “I need to schedule a meeting with Director Miller!” His voice was yelling now, bounding down the hall, and Maggie couldn’t help noticing the difference from the mild mannered gentleman who’d stood before her a few moments before. “I don’t care if he’s meeting with the prince of bloody England. You tell him that Thomas Masters needs to speak with him as soon as possible! It’s urgent. I expect a call by this evening!”

  Gabe had told her that Thomas would help with contacting the proper authorities. She was glad that Gabe had his support. She had a feeling that his backing would mean a lot to Gabe.

  She was about to place her foot on a step when the ubiquitous butler made another appearance.

  “Ms. Lawson?”

  Maggie groaned and turned to face him.

  “You have a visitor, Ms. Lawson.”

  Maggie’s eyebrows jumped into her forehead. “A visitor? Me?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “That’s impossible.” Maggie frowned, but followed him out into the hallway. Who would be visiting her? And, here? There must be some mistake.

  The butler showed her into a delicately furnished sitting room. Tiny settees and tufted ottomans were scattered about the room in pinks and greens. He pulled the door closed after announcing that he’d be bringing in refreshments. Yeah! Her stomach danced happily. A young lady sat stiffly on the edge of one of the chairs. A large folder was perched on her lap.

  Maggie’s frown deepened. She was sure she’d never met the petite lady. She had large hazel eyes in a pixyish face.

  Upon seeing her, the woman rose with a beaming smile. She approached, her hand extended in greeting.

  “Hi, my name is Giselle. I’m a personal shopper. Gabriel Masters asked me to come by to assist you with selecting a new wardrobe.”

  Maggie’s jaw dropped. She started to protest, but they both looked down at her current outfit then looked up again. Their gazes locked, silence ticked for a few seconds, and then they both dissolved into a bout of shaky laughter. Maggie, for the first time that day relaxed. She instantly liked Giselle.

  “I can have some clothes here as soon as late this evening,” Giselle informed, walking back over to the settee. Maggie followed her. “I’ll need to take your measurements. We can use the internet. Plus, I brought some catalogues from the finest designers. Mr. Masters said to get you whatever you desire, so don’t worry about cost.” The young lady turned and smiled. “Oh, he said no bras.”

  Maggie’s eyes widened in shock and Giselle giggled. “That was my reaction as well. Men! Don’t worry, we’ll sneak in a few. We’ll call them support tops!”

  Maggie shook her head with an exasperated grin. She didn’t know whether to be eternally warmed by Gabe’s considerate actions or to fume at his outlandish request. Either way, her heart overflowed with love for him.

  Gabe made an appearance sometime after lunch, just as Giselle was finishing up. He poked his head into the room, and upon seeing them, strolled in. He was wearing black slacks and a black button down. Maggie couldn’t help but admire the way his shirt stretched across the landscape of his chest, or how the sleeves shimmied over his strong biceps when he moved. His hair was pulled back and tied behind his head, revealing the aristocratic lines of his face and his strong square jaw. The sight of him took her breath away, and she looked away, afraid that she looked like a love sick puppy. She sat beside Giselle on one of the settees, a catalogue in her lap. He walked over and kissed her lips, lingering for an extra heartbeat.

  He smiled. Her heart raced.

  “Sorry I disappeared,” he whispered. “I had to meet with security down at the gate house.” He straightened his tall body. “You two having fun?”

  Giselle stood and smiled, shouldering her bag and clutching her folder. “It was great. Maggie is a pleasure to work with. I’ll have my assistant come by within the hour to drop some things off. The rest will follow shortly.”

  She bid them goodbye, winking slyly at Maggie, and refusing Gabe’s offer to walk her out.

  When they were alone Gabe turned to her and grinned, his eyes roving over her body and her makeshift attire.

  “Don’t even ask,” she groaned. “Huge fashion faux pas. My clothes were all wrinkled and wet.”

  He sat next to her and pulled her onto his lap, tucking her hair behind her ears. He nuzzled his nose into her neck. “I don’t know…” he intoned, “there’s something very sexy about you wearing my clothes.”

  “Not in public. Certainly not in front of your mother.” She cringed visibly, lacing her arms around his shoulders and staring into his smiling eyes. She searched those eyes. He seemed relaxed. There was no trace of the remorseful man who’d awoken with a terrifying nightmare in the dwindling hours of the morning. She knew though that his turbulent emotions always lay just beneath the surface of his calm demeanor.

  “Don’t worry about my mother,” he said thoughtfully. “If she’s seen you she probably hasn’t noticed.”

  Right! “Why would you say that?” she asked, deciding not to tell him about their interaction. He had enough on his mind.

  “Thomas said she’s been preoccupied lately. She apparently has been seeing someone.”

  Maggie’s brows furrowed. She searched his face, trying to ascertain his feelings on the matter. She could tell he wasn’t thrilled.

  He sighed heavily. “Thomas is worried. She’s been very secretive about him. He’s some wealthy business man. That’s all I know.”

  Maggie brushed back a lock of his hair that had fallen onto his forehead. S
he was pleased that Gabe felt close enough to her to share this concern. She surmised it must be difficult for him and Thomas to see her involved with someone.

  “Your mother is lovely, and still young,” she observed.

  Gabe sighed and hugged her close. “I know, it’s just that the idea doesn’t sit well with me.”

  He seemed about to say more, but just then the door opened and Victoria Rollins walked into the room.

  “Hi, sorry to interrupt,” she apologized, her face coloring when she saw them sitting intimately. “I was told I could find you here.”

  Maggie slid off Gabe’s lap and stood, her smile cordial. She was still reeling over the fact that Gabe had confided in her, that this very private, stoic man was actually sharing his feelings with her. She was again afraid to read too much into it, afraid to seed hope in her heart.

  “Please, come in,” she said to Victoria.

  “I was just wondering if I may have access to a computer. I would like to go through the research, make sure none of the files have been corrupted.”

  Gabe stood. “I can assure you that everything is intact. All of the data is there.”

  Victoria nodded stubbornly. “I’m sure, but I’d still like to go through it. I want to make sure for myself.”

  “Certainly. I’ll have a computer brought to your room. You can peruse it at you leisure without interruption. I went through a bit of it. It’s fascinating. If you have time later, I’d like to discuss it with you. I’m fascinated to know how the Sonic Scalpel uses sound waves to interpret the data from the cells, and how it differentiates the normal cells from cancerous cells.”

  Victoria’s lips tilted proudly. “It’s just like how animals use sonar to differentiate things in the environment. That part is easy. It’s recognizing the different traits and DNA hallmarks, and being able to ascribe them to a specific group, that has everyone going crazy after my research. The genome discoveries were quite accidental.”