Thrust Under

by Michelle A. Valentine

  Maggie’s quiet when we get into the elevator, her lips pinched together. When she finally speaks, I’m stunned to hear her defend that shithead. “He takes care of his mother, Gabe, and—”

  “And he should have thought about that before he fucked a maid in one of my executive suites,” I say roughly, staring straight ahead at the elevator door. “Any of the times. This isn’t the first time he’s done this shit; it’s just the first time he’s been caught. If he really cared about keeping his job here, he’d take it more seriously.”

  “Ryan’s never been very good at being loyal to those he loves.” Her words are barely a whisper.

  There’s pain in her expression that takes me by surprise, and even though he obviously hurt her, she cares what happens to him. And that makes me fucking worry.

  15

  Maggie

  Even though over a day has passed, the image of Ryan fooling around with his co-worker won’t leave my stupid brain. I shouldn’t care about what he does. It’s not like I’m still in love with him or anything. But seeing him come out of that room had hit me hard and reminded me of the reasons why I left O’ahu.

  His fling with my cousin had started during a trip I made to the mainland to visit a specialist for my dad. There were rumors about what they had done behind my back while I was away—so many rumors, each one kinkier than the last, that they made my head spin—but I bought into Ryan’s bullshit. Let him convince me that they were lies and that I was letting people get into my head that were jealous of us.

  Of what we had.

  And then, a few weeks later, I had caught them, red-handed—well, red-assed. They were in the parking lot of what is now the O’ahu Elite, his bare ass pressed up against the window of his car as he screwed my cousin.

  I can still remember standing there, fury rolling through me as the tiny hatchback rocked from side-to-side. And I vividly recall the exact words that came out of my mouth, just before I knocked on the window to let him know that I knew.

  “So much for what we had.”

  He had tried to explain, jumping out of the car with his dick still exposed, but I hadn’t listened. I couldn’t because there was really no explanation. And thank God, I ignored him and contacted the recruiter that had approached me right after I graduated high school the year before. Otherwise, I would’ve continued to be duped by Ryan while he plowed his way through every female on this island. He had made a fool of me, and I never want to be the laughingstock again. Ever.

  But the thing is, other than the other day when he showed up to Alamea’s party and then yesterday morning, I haven’t given him a lot of thought. I’d shoved every awkward encounter with him since I’ve been back to the back of my mind because I’ve been too focused on my parents and the future of the Bungalow. And Gabe.

  I’ve spent so much damn time thinking about Gabe that it’s scary.

  But I’ve been … happy. Happier than I ever thought I’d be after returning home to find out the situation my parents were in. I know that has a lot to do with him, but that sensation of floating on air isn’t even about the money. No matter how much he infuriates me, how much he makes me roll my eyes, Gabe is unlike any man I’ve ever known. He’s a frustrating mixture of self-assuredness and charm and generosity. And when he looks at me, I lose my mind and my breath.

  “You’re usually quiet tonight,” he murmurs, pulling me away from my thoughts. I startle, almost knocking my wine glass over, but the waitress he’s hired for the evening grabs it just in time and pours me another glass. She leaves the rest of the bottle on the table before returning below deck.

  Gabe wasn’t screwing around when he told me he was a sailboat kind of guy. Tonight, he’d kept his promise about showing me his boat—after he gave me an encore of his talented tongue just before we left the Elite. I was still starry-eyed and shaking all over when we boarded the sleek white catamaran at the Ko Olina Marina, and my thighs clench together at the memory. He shifts an eyebrow and licks his lips, as if he’s also remembering all the ways he made me scream and claw at the sheets on his bed.

  “Something wrong?” he probes when I don’t say anything.

  I bring the glass to my lips and take a sip. I’ve never been huge on drinking wine—I’ve always preferred fruity, Captain Morgan concoctions—but the man has good taste. Whatever he’s picked out is delicious, sweet without giving me a case of dry mouth like every other wine I’ve tasted. I clear my throat. “No. I was just thinking.”

  He levels his hazel eyes on me. “Let me guess, about Ryan?”

  His words snap through me, bowing my shoulders forward in defense. “No—” I pause, because lying never does anyone any good, especially when it comes to Gabe. It’s like the man has bullshit goggles. “Yes.”

  His broad shoulders go rigid as he curls one corner of his lips. “I see.”

  “It’s probably not what you’re thinking,” I add. Far from it, since he’s wining and dining me under the sunset on a sailboat, and he used his tongue to send me into oblivion right before we boarded. There’s no way in hell I can think about another man sexually after everything that’s happened between us. “I promise it’s not what you’re assuming it is.”

  “Are you sure?” He draws in a shallow breath and rubs a hand over the shadow on his chin. “Maggie, I should tell you up front, I don’t share well. I never have, and I don’t plan to start anytime soon. If you’re still in love with him—”

  “I’m not.” I reach over and place my hand on top of his, stroking my thumb over his knuckles. That familiar shock zips through my skin, down to the marrow in my bones. “I promise, as far as Ryan goes, that’s in the past. You—you’re my future. And I’m not just saying that because I promised to marry you. I’m saying that because after being with you, I can honestly say I...” He stares at me, the look so intense that I dip my head before I finish. “I care about you, Gabe. A lot.”

  Too much.

  He flips his hand over, capturing mine in his, and interlaces our fingers. “Then why should we wait?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  He studies our linked fingers, the slight contrast between our skin tones, then shrugs one shoulder nonchalantly. “Let’s get married now.”

  My eyes pop wide. “Wait … now?” Oh God, why did that come out in a squeak? “Are you serious, Carter?”

  He laughs, but the thoughtful look behind his hazel irises tell me he’s definitely not joking. “Yes,” he drawls. “We both … care about each other. And I’m looking forward to waking up with you in my bed every morning. Why put it off? Everyone on the island is already talking about it, so why not just make it official? We can head over to city hall and do it tomorrow morning.”

  The thought of saying I do, and officially becoming Gabe’s wife, sends a thrill through me, but the silly grin on my face gradually dies away. When I was younger, envisioning what my wedding would be like, I never pictured a trip to city hall. I always imaged getting married on the beach I love, in a beautiful white dress with flowers everywhere.

  Gabe slides a finger beneath my chin and lifts my gaze to his. I flinch at the panic in his expression. I’ve never seen that look on his face before, and it catches me off guard. “What’s with the frown? You change your mind about marrying me?”

  “No,” I say and shake my head. He relaxes, everywhere from his face to his taut shoulders, so I continue, “It’s just that … city hall isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

  “Anything you want. Say the word, and I’ll make it happen for you.” I melt at those words. Damn, I melt like a fool. “Tell me what you want, Maggie.”

  I launch into explaining my vision to him, my voice high-pitched from the excitement. Other than Lani—and Ryan, back when I was dumb enough to believe that catastrophe would work—I’ve never told anyone about my dream wedding. Gabe listens intently, though, with one elbow in the table and a nod every now and then. As soon as I’m finished speaking, he smiles, and the butterflies make their tr
iumphant return, dancing around my ribcage and into my stomach.

  “You’ve had your heart set on this for a long time, haven’t you?” I nod and he runs one finger over his top lip. “So, we’ll make it happen. I’ll make some calls.”

  “Seriously?”

  Nodding, he stands, shoving one hand in his pocket. He comes around to my side of the table. I hold my breath as he kneels in front of me and takes my fingers in his free hand. “I’d planned to give you this after dinner, but since we’re moving things along…” My breath finally comes out, in an airy gasp, when he draws his hand out of his pocket and reveals a ring. It’s simple but stunning—a single stone that glitters beneath the sunset. Electricity shoots through my hand as he slips it onto my finger.

  It feels right.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I murmur, dragging my gaze from the ring to his face. He’s beaming, and I can’t help but do the same. A wave of something I can’t quite identify, something that wakes up everything inside of me, sweeps through me. “I never expected … I didn’t expect anything like this.”

  “Get used to it. You deserve everything, Maggie. Everything.” He’s silent for a few seconds, his focus on my hand, before he lifts it high to examine the ring. A smirk forms on his lips and he shakes his head. “Fuck, I feel so traditional.”

  “It’s scary, isn’t it?” I tease.

  “Not scary.” He comes off his knees and slants his lips over mine. When he pulls back, he feathers his thumb over my cheek. “I’ll do anything for that smile on your face, beautiful.”

  My grin widens so he kisses me again.

  And again.

  Less than a week later, I find myself at one of the local bridal shops trying on the dress I chose a couple days ago after having it altered. I step up on the platform in front of the mirror and admire the simple, flowing white gown and how it hugs the contours of my body. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better one even if I tried.

  “Gabe is going to die when he spots you in that thing!” Lani gushes as she dances from her spot next to my mother and sips from a glass of champagne. She’s on her third, and I’m afraid if she asks for more, the store will add it to our bill. “It’s perfect. Ugh … you make me want to tie the knot!”

  “Words I thought I’d never hear before we turn forty,” I say dryly, and she rolls her eyes. I spin away from the mirror, my dress floating around me as I face them. I smooth the soft, chiffon fabric down with my hands and turn my focus on my mother. “So … what do you think?”

  She’d opted for water instead of the complimentary champagne, and she takes a long swig from the bottle before answering. “Honey, it’s stunning, and so are you.” Her words are full of praise, but her expression—it tells an entirely different story. Lines etch her features. Paired with the hint of concern in her dark eyes, and it’s obvious she’s holding something back.

  I worry my hands together, running the pads of my fingers over my freshly painted nails. “But…?” I prod.

  She rocks back in her chair and presses her fingertips to closed eyes. “All of this feels … really fast.”

  “Gabe’s parents only knew each other for a couple days before they got married.” Even though it’s the truth—he’d confirmed that what he told Ryan the day I accepted his proposal was one hundred percent accurate—I sound numb. I race my fingers over my bare arms and swallow hard. “And you and Dad … you only knew each other four months.”

  She opens her eyes and nods, the worry still strong behind her brown irises. “I don’t want to see you get hurt again. God knows, me and your father can’t take seeing you once or twice a year for another four years if you decide to take off again.”

  I drop my head, guilt washing over me for the way I handled things when Ryan crushed me. Running out on everyone hurt them more than they all lead on, I suspect. Leaving everyone, no matter what the circumstance is, isn’t something I will ever do again.

  “Gabe and Maggie are a perfect couple,” Lani chimes in. I shoot her a grateful look. She grins, swirls her champagne around her glass, and adds, “All anyone can talk about around the Elite is how happy Gabe is. I mean, the guy is giving us all a bonus on our next check in celebration of this wedding.”

  I shuffle back a couple steps, nearly falling right off the platform. Gabe’s giving his employees a bonus? I tilt my head questioningly at Lani, and she confirms with a nod. “Wow.” I take a moment to gather my composure again then look at Mom.

  “I know what I’m doing,” I say confidently. “I mean, you seemed so excited when you found out about Gabe and me…”

  She’s on her feet, rushing to reassure me before I can say another word. “And I am excited! I just … it’s just sudden.”

  Mom doesn’t know I’m marrying Gabe to save our hotel, and I plan on keeping it that way. She would tell me I’m out of my mind for doing this, and maybe she’d be right, but marrying Gabe feels right. I’ve gotten to know him, and underneath all of his assholisms is a man who does have a heart. A man who chooses to celebrate his wedding by treating his employees to a gift that will help them and their families.

  And while what’s going between us right now may not be love, I can’t deny that my heart beats faster whenever I’m around him or that he occupies my thoughts from morning to night. Love has no specific incubation period rule it has to abide by. Hell, I was with Ryan for three years and look how that turned out. Just because I’ve only known Gabe a few weeks doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t work out.

  I step off the stand and Mom strides toward me. Her dark hair, pulled up into a low-set ponytail, makes her worried eyes stand out more. I put my hands on her shoulders and meet her gaze head-on.

  “This is a good thing, Mom.”

  She nods, but moisture pools at the corners of her eyes. “You deserve happiness. I just want to make sure you really think this through and don’t rush into something you’ll regret later.”

  My lips pull into a taut line. I want to tell her that I’m doing this for us—our family—and she’s got nothing to worry about because I’ve got everything under control, but I can’t. I don’t want her to view me as a woman who will do anything for money, because that’s not the case. I’m a woman that will do anything to take care of my family.

  And in a few days, Gabe will be my family, too.

  16

  Gabe

  I’ve considered myself on top of the world before. Back when I was still playing baseball, and had more money than I knew what to do with, I thought I was one lucky bastard. With my parents and grandparents gone, I didn’t think there would ever be anything in my life that could top the feeling of having everything I ever wanted—talent, money, fame, booze, and women who graced the pages of magazines.

  It’s been almost two weeks since I gave Maggie the ring. Twelve days of enjoying each other’s body every night—and every morning. Of listening to her witty retorts and the dramatic roll of her eyes whenever I say something that pisses her off. I’ve gotten used to watching her smile, the way it stretches across her beautiful face as her lashes lower. That smile is what’s made me come to terms with just how wrong I was in the past.

  I wasn’t on top of the world, nowhere near it—and I sure as fuck didn’t have everything. Because I hadn’t met Maggie Kinsella.

  “The champagne they’re serving tonight looks familiar,” she mutters from beside me, and I cast a shit-eating grin down at her as I grab a glass from one of the server’s trays.

  “You know exactly why it looks familiar.” I down it fast and lift a shoulder into a shrug as her eyebrows go up. “I figured it was fitting. After all, our relationship started over a bottle of spilled champagne.”

  She twists her lips to one side and stares at me for a long time before she bursts into laughter, her slim shoulders shaking. “That’s the way it happened?”

  “It’s sure as shit what we’re going to tell our kids someday, beautiful.”

  Her breath catches mid-laugh, and she goes back to giving me
a wide-eyed look before dragging her teeth over her bottom lip. “I—” she starts, then lets out a breath as she waves enthusiastically at someone approaching us. “Aunt Kilani, you came!”

  I watch her take off toward her aunt, nodding encouragingly when she pops a look over one shoulder. I’ve got no clue where the kids bit came from, but I wouldn’t mind having a kid or two—or hell, three—with Maggie. In fact, I anticipate it. There’s no way I want her to take off once the expansion to the Elite is done.

  She belongs with me because I won’t let things go back to the way they were before her.

  Grinning to myself, I take off to greet more of our guests. Tonight’s beach front engagement party was all Lani’s doing. She had gotten together with Elite’s executive chef and threw everything together at the last minute. Maggie had mentioned her best friend’s plan was always to go into party-planning, and I can see why. She’s done a hell of a lot better, with only a fraction of the time, than any of the planners I’ve hired in the past.

  From the decorations to the food and the music and fire-knife dancers, it’s everything Maggie talked about the night she told me about her dream wedding.

  Seeing her so happy is distracting enough that I don’t give a fuck that I’ve got no clue who fifty percent of our guests are. For all I know, guests from the Elite are crashing, but there are still plenty of old faces. Just about everyone I met at her aunt’s birthday party came, except for her cousin, along with my uncle that I only see every ten years or so. Milo’s here, too, along with a handful of investors who couldn’t resist getting a peek at what I’ve been up to. Hell, even a couple of the guys she served with and several of my former teammates made the trip to O’ahu.