Dangerous for You (20 page)

Gabriel would most likely take a picture, hang it up in his office, and then tease me endlessly over it.

I pictured our wedding, hoping it’d be intimate and private. Maybe on the beach. Our honeymoon would probably be only a few days if we were lucky because of how busy Gabriel’s schedule tended to be. I’d still work because I loved my job, but I also knew that I would want to stay home when we had our first baby.

Wait. Baby?

My hand had instantly flown to my belly. I nearly melted at just the thought of carrying Gabriel’s child. Me who’d never given much thought to children—not because I didn’t like them but because I hadn’t come across the right man, much less dated him—instantly knew I’d want as many babies as possible with Gabriel.

I remembered how he’d brought up the possibility twins. I wanted them. I wanted to give him a large family full of children who’d love him even more than I did. I wanted Marie to have grandchildren who’d visit her every week and be as comfortable here in this house as our own. I wanted to create a family with these two people more than I’d ever wanted anything else.

I wanted my mom to see how far we’d come from that tiny, rundown house. That our legacy wasn’t just toil and suffering, but something beautiful and strong beyond mere survival.

By the time we reached our room I was in an altered state of mind. Reborn even. Normally, my logic would’ve reasserted itself. I would’ve shoved the wedding-planning, baby-crazy thoughts way back into the recesses of my mind. I would’ve attributed it to the newness of having a serious relationship with my first love.

I didn’t care if my logic took a hike for the foreseeable future.

Looking around the beautifully decorated space, I verbally admired the mahogany furniture and soothing cream, yellow, and blue palette. Marie smiled with palatable pleasure, admitting she’d done the decorating all herself.

“I love creating a happy space for me and Gabriel. It’s our refuge.”

We both looked out the wall of windows together while Gabriel grabbed our bags out of the car. Wide open water greeted us, the sun glinting on thousands of wavelets. Marie explained how the five acre property sat at the mouth of a cove, making it easy to hop on the docked boat and be in deep water instantly.

“Do you get seasick? Gabriel will probably take you in a few minutes. He loves to go out on the lake every time he visits.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been on a boat before.”

Marie clapped. “You’re going to love it, Emma. It’s like flying when you’re skimming over the water.”

She then told me how she bought the lakeside retreat within a year after her husband died. I’d caught the note of sadness in Marie’s voice. I wished I could’ve said something, but I didn’t have the gift of saying words without meaning that manifested into the perfect turn of phrase for the occasion. I doubted she would’ve wanted my pity and I also doubted she would’ve wanted me to know the tragic state of her marriage.

So I said nothing.

Marie had then briskly turned around and offered me a tour. Three levels, more rooms than a person could realistically use, and yet she managed to make it feel warm and livable. Gabriel joined us in the library, carrying a rather large wrapped box in his arms.

He set it down on the desk and stepped back expectantly.

“What’s this?”

“You didn’t really think I’d forget, did you?”

Lost, I shook my head. Gabriel placed my hands on the festive pink bow and urged me to open it. As mother and son looked on expectantly, I quickly tore through the paper and lifted the lid to peer inside. Neat stacks of paperbacks filled the entire space.

“I hope you don’t mind, Emma, but when we met at lunch I thought about book recommendations for you. These are books I’ve read and loved many times. I thought you might like to give them a new home.”

“They’re yours, Marie?”

She nodded. Impulsively, I flew into her arms and hugged her. “Thank you so much. I can’t wait to read them all.”

“You’re so very welcome.”

“Me too!” Gabriel cried out, enveloping us both in his arms. We all laughed together before my sweet boyfriend carried my box up the stairs to our room.

Just as Marie predicted, Gabriel asked me if I wanted to ride the waves with him. I did and we left the house to go to the boat. If everything had gone like planned, we would’ve been on the water as Gabriel impressed me with how fast the cabin cruiser went.

Instead, I got cold and turned back towards the house.

I also didn’t mean to overhear them. Really.

All I meant to do was grab my jacket from our room. But when I headed upstairs I heard my name. Thinking Marie had called me, I turned around and walked towards the study. That’s when I realized I was wrong.

Marie wasn’t talking to me at all. My stomach dropped and dread moved into the vacant space. Lucas was at the house. Why?

“You shouldn’t be here. I specifically asked you not to come.”

“I couldn’t stay away. I’m done keeping my distance.”

“Not now.”

“Yes, now. Especially now, Marie. He’s brought her here to see you. You know what that means.”

“He’s happy with her, Lucas. Happier than I’d ever seen him before.”

“It’s not enough.”

“For me it is! You don’t have the right to interfere with their relationship.”

“How can you say that to me?”

“I’m sorry, Lucas, but you have to know that Gabriel’s happiness is all that’s ever mattered to me.”

“You should’ve left Ryan a long time ago if you wanted Gabriel happy. He destroyed that boy and you know it!”

Silence. “You know why I couldn’t. He would’ve killed us both.”

“I wouldn’t have let that happen.”

“You couldn’t stop what happened behind closed doors. Instead, you got married and moved 500 miles away for three years.”

I winced at the implication. I took a step back, hoping to make my way upstairs without hearing anything more.

“And I’ve regretted every day of it since.”

“Lucas, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Again.”

“And you’re right. Again. That’s why I’m going to stop this.”

“No. You think you’re saving Gabriel but all you’ll do is hurt him. Why do you even want to? Because of Embry? That ship has sailed, Lucas, and you know it.”

“No.”

Marie’s voice sharpened. “Gabriel doesn’t love Embry. He never did. It was obvious that all he felt for her was pity and guilt.”

“He was gentle with her.”

“Yes, he was. Gentle and completely false.”

“She loves him and he’ll grow to love her.”

“Like the way you did with Delia?”

“It doesn’t have to be that way between them. Embry can fulfill Gabriel in ways Emma cannot.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Marie, trust me. I do.”

My face colored. Lucas knew about Gabriel’s tastes and how Embry fit into that. And how he assumed I didn’t.

“I know my son. He’s loved Emma since he was a boy. If it hasn’t changed by now it won’t.”

“Yes, I know about his silly infatuation with her. We both saw how well that turned out.”

“It wasn’t her fault.”

“I beg to differ.” Frustration deepened his tone. “We came so close to losing Gabriel because of that girl! Don’t ask me to support his relationship with her now, Marie. I won’t do it.”

Wait what? What happened to Gabriel?

“It’s different between them.”

“No, it’s not. It’s worse and I’ll tell you why. When that girl leaves Gabriel, and she will, he won’t be able to put the pieces back together again.”

“She loves him. She’d never do anything to hurt him purposely.”

Closing my eyes, I felt my heart surge with near-painful affection for Marie. She believed in me. She believed in us.

“Maybe Emma does. It doesn’t change the fact that she is all wrong for him.”

“She’s perfect for Gabriel. No, let me finish! Emma sees the man, Lucas, not what he has.”

“Sure she does,” he said a shade snidely. “A girl with a high school dropout for a mother really doesn’t care that her boyfriend is a billionaire. Don’t be naïve, Marie.”

I closed my eyes, feeling anger rise up. I should’ve already left but instead of feet I had paws. Hopefully, I wouldn’t end up like the cat on the bad end of curiosity.

“I know what I know. Emma is Gabriel’s equal.”

“Gabriel doesn’t want an equal! What Gabriel wants is a woman like Embry!”

“You’re wrong, Lucas. Gabriel wants a woman he can be completely himself with, one who hasn’t built up a fantasy of who she thinks he is. Emma is the kind of woman who will call him out on his crap when necessary. She won’t kowtow to him because of money or what she thinks he might do to her.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Because my son told me.”

Lucas made a rude snort. “It’s probably a game she’s devised to hook his interest.”

“Really? Then why wouldn’t she date him during school?”

“I’ve never been able to figure out teenage girls. Don’t ask me to start now.”

Things were silent between them for so long that I thought it past time to leave. So why wouldn’t my legs move? Curiosity had definitely killed the cat and it looked like I was in danger of it getting me too.

“You have to let Gabriel go his own way, Lucas. You have to trust him.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Marie. I’m sorry but I just can’t.”

“I’m sorry too because I won’t let you hurt my son, Lucas.”

“I understand.”

“But you’re still going to interfere.”

“I have to.”

Marie’s clipped tone did a poor job of covering her sadness. “I want you to leave. Now. Before Gabriel gets back.”

Instinct finally screamed at me to leave the area. Prudently, I listened. Taking off at a clip, I ducked down the hall and jogged up the stairs. In no time at all I was in our room. I forced myself to set aside everything I’d heard as I dug through my suitcase.

“Didn’t your mother teach you that the help shouldn’t eavesdrop on their employers?”

I whirled around, forgotten jacket clasped tightly in my hand. Redness stained my face, telling Lucas everything he needed to know.

He stayed at the threshold, shoulder leaning against the doorjamb. His relaxed posture reminded me so much of Gabriel that I almost faltered and apologized.

Almost.

Instead I raised my chin up a notch and waited Lucas out.

“I’m of the mind to tell Marie you were listening in on our private conversation but she wouldn’t believe me. Neither would Gabriel.” He looked me over slowly. “You’re only passably pretty and not charming in the least bit. How exactly have you managed to fool both of them so thoroughly?”

Because there’s fucking more to me than how pretty I am, you asshole!

“I’d say you’re ready to do me violence but you’re too dignified for that, aren’t you? Or are you afraid I’d hit back?”

I looked at Lucas a second longer than polite before walking towards him. “You have all the answers, Mr. Gordon, and obviously have no need for my input. You also have absolutely no interest in having your assumptions about me proven false.”

“You’re not going to even try, are you?”

“Why? I know it’s wasted on people are you. It always is.”

“Because you’ve known tons of people
just
like me throughout your sad little life. Now who’s making assumptions?”

The teasing lilt sounded so much like Gabriel that it sent a nail through my heart.

“Gabriel’s waiting for me.” When I reached the doorway, I expected to have to perform a show of dominance by pushing past Lucas. He merely stepped aside and waved me through.

“Do you like the house, Emma?”

I stared Lucas down again, waiting for the spiteful denouement I’d already guessed. Neither side was willing to break first. We probably could’ve continued forever except I suddenly pictured Gabriel’s boyish grin as he worked on getting the boat ready.

“Don’t take too long, baby, or I’ll play pirate, find you, and toss you over my shoulder. Mmm…better yet. Take a long time just so I can do that.”

Gabriel can’t see his uncle here and he definitely can’t hear what his uncle has to say about me.

Instantly, I reverted back to what I did best—I walked away.

“You won’t even fight to convince me that you’re the right one for Gabriel.”

“The only one who should be convinced is Gabriel. I’d be wasting my breath on you.”

“Cute but wrong. You see, Emma, we’re a family. You take one of us, you take us all.”

This time my silence wasn’t deliberate. I didn’t know the first thing about being part of a family beyond one. So I stopped and turned back around to face Lucas.

“Emma, may I be frank?”

“As opposed to what you’ve been?”