Gabby Revealed (Finding Perfect) (14 page)

“But. You. You knew then?”

“Yes, darling, I told you I was already packing my office up when you called about John.”

“Yeah, but I thought you were, you know, just trying to make me feel less guilty for bugging you?”

“No.” He smiled. “Absolutely not. I want to be the one to protect you, Gabrielle. Those ghosts from your past, they still haunt you. I want to be the one to banish them altogether. I want to show you that the woman you’ve become, out of necessity in part, is indeed perfect in every way. I love that girl, Gabby. I want that girl. You…just the way you are.”

Shane held the diamond band at her fingertip, its solitaire caught the lamp light and shards of color danced across her white
T-shirt. “What do you say, Gabby, can you trust me?”

Her chest expanded, she swallowed as her lower lip began to tremble. Like so many times before, she held his eyes locked with her
s. Reading him. Shane had never felt so naked and exposed as he did when she looked past the pretty face, his work title, and into his soul.

The tears that had welled up spilled out and rolled down her cheeks. Finally
, Gabby nodded.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Gabby sat behind the counter
in the store focused on the screen of her laptop, reading each line of her latest manuscript word for word, searching for any mistakes or changes that to make. The two differences: John hadn’t come into today and she had a diamond almost blinding her as she moved her hand. Closing her eyes briefly, she knew John would want it this way.

Hearing footsteps above her, Gabby grinned. It was nice to know the man she loved was close, working on his own projects above her as she sat in the store.
Shane had magically healed parts of Gabby she didn’t know needed it, filled in empty places in her life she didn’t know existed. They moved around each other as if they had always been one couple, sharing their mornings, their work, and their bed. Shane was someone she didn’t think she deserved, but he was working on proving her wrong. Especially at night.

The bells jingled and Gabby’s smile fell away as she glanced away from her laptop. Shoring herself, she inhaled deeply. Three of the four women she’d spent half her life fearing made their grand entrance, feigning subtle when they wanted nothing less than to be the center of every scene. Their two hundred dollar jeans, thousand dollar purses and overdone hair and nails were out of pl
ace in this town, yet they were the only ones not to notice. If the rumor mill worked against them, like it did her, then at least two of four had husbands cheating on them.

Gabby felt a change within her. Seeing them didn’t knot her stomach like it always had. She still couldn’t stand them, but her breathing was regular, her pulse wasn’t spiking
, and she was able to hold her head high. A grin tipped her lips, that was all her fiancé’s doing. Ignoring the women, she went back to reading her final draft without acknowledging them.

“Are you going to greet your customers or not?” Maggie asked sharply.

Sliding a raised eyebrow in their direction, Gabby briefly glanced their way and went back to her work. “Oh, I know you’ll demand of me when you need, so until then, I’m busy.”

“You’re so rude, Gabby
,” Elise replied.

“Well, damn
ed the bad luck. I guess it’s just that some of us have a real life, with real demands, and real needs to be met. Oh, but I don’t mean your weekly nail appointments.” She’d lost her place and reread the same paragraph for the third time since they’d entered. She gave up, but didn’t give them the win by showing them.

Gabby heard
him walk across the floor above her. Thinking about him brought a smile to her face. God he was hot, and he was hers. It was surreal to think he, one of the most eligible bachelors in New York thanks to the inheritance he was due, moved across the country to be with her. He could have had anyone, not that she cared about the money, and he didn’t either, but he fit her life so seamlessly she couldn’t imagine her life without him now.

The back door to the store opened. “Gabby. Gabby
, I got it, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.”

His voice neared as she stared at the doorway waiting for him to walk through. “Got what?”

“The cover art proof I ordered. Oh my God, you’ve got to see this.”

Her knight in shining armor appeared, his wardrobe a bit less New York than a few weeks ago. Instead
, he flashed a million-dollar smile at her, standing in jeans, loafers, and a short-sleeved Polo. His enthusiasm was normally contagious, but he caught the other sets of eyes on him and his smile vanished instantly, replaced by a glare in their direction. In his hand, an over-sized picture still carefully secured to cardboard for shipping. “Ladies,” he said flatly as he made his way to where she was behind the counter.

Gabby felt his strength even before he reached her, his strides long, his breathing low
, and his demeanor had fallen from excitement to a slow simmer. In all the years she’d known him, called him names, hung up on him, Gabby never managed to see him pissed off. Not until the first time he’d met Maggie. He was such a loving, easygoing man, so professional on the phone with his clients, and he hadn’t lied to her. He never flirted with any of his other women clients. For the first time, Gabby had someone physically on her side. Not that her grandparents, or John and Edith hadn’t been there, but her parents, though they loved her, always acted as if it was normal childhood bullshit. Shane saw otherwise. She’d been a punching bag for no reason, and he didn’t seem to be taking to it very well.

Shane walked behind the counter as he did often now, grasped her hip and pulled her back toward him, closing and space between them. The old Gabby might have fought off his territorial attitude, but it felt so amazing to have him
shower her with love and protection. She’d always handled things herself, but there was a relief knowing he saw what was really going on. It wasn’t her imagination, and he didn’t give a fuck if they bought something or not.

The cinnamon candle she’d lit drifted
through the old building, but Gabby hadn’t turned on the stereo, the soft music was suddenly missing, replaced by dead silence as they stared at each other from across the antique counter top. She studied Elise’s eyes, staring at what Shane was still holding but had lowered to his side. Marley, the ditsy one of their group, was apparently oblivious to the standoff; she glanced at her two friends and simply asked what he was holding.

“Yeah, Shane.” Maggie hissed his name. “You’re hiding something.”

“None of your business ladies. I brought it down to show my fiancé.”

“So it’s really true?” Elise raised her lip, her brow bunched. “You’re really marrying…her?”

Shane stepped to her side and Gabby reached for his hand. He let out a low growl. “If you have nothing you need to purchase, I am kindly going to ask you three to leave this store.”

Ignoring him, Maggie pushed on
, “It said ‘Jamieson’, like as in G. Jamieson. I’m sure of it. Why would you have something of a famous author’s? Is that like your client or something?”

“Or something
,” Gabby said calmly.

“Darling?” Shane tipped his head, the worry clear in his lined face, his light brown eyes.

Pulling their connected hands, fingers interlaced, to her lips, she kissed his skin. “It’s time.”

“Are you sure?” Gabby nodded, breathing in deeply as Shane slowly raised the artwork and placed it on the glass counter. “Yes. I have the new cover for her upcoming release.”

“I always knew it was a woman,” Maggie gloated.

“I can do you one better
,” Shane replied, an eerie anger toward the women sparked a sense of pride within Gabby. Biting her lip to keep her features schooled. “Would you like to meet her?” From bitch to fan-girl, in two seconds flat. Gabby rolled her eyes, trying not to gag. “Ladies.” Shane presented her, still sitting on the stool, him standing beside her. “G. Jamieson.”

“What in the hell are you talking about?” Elise gasped.

Curling her lip and shaking her head, Maggie remained quiet. It was Marley that put it together first. “I get it! Gabby James, G. Jamieson…you’re her. You’re really her? Like all that time you wrote back in school. Like you’re really famous now.”

“Loved
by the whole world over. And see, ladies, it never pays being a bitch. I’d bet money, your husbands don’t even like you most of the time.”

“I’ll never buy another one of your books again
,” Maggie hissed.

Warmth ran through her. The secret was truly out, no more hiding from anyone now. Grinning, she practically laughed in Maggie’s face. “I prefer that you don’t. But let me tell you a little something…each and every time you’ve come in over the years
, and bought one, it was just like a little bit of ‘fuck you’. So, even if you never get over yourself and really never buy another one, I’ve had my fun. And I’ll never be your victim again. See, Maggie, in the end, I won. I never did anything to you, never said anything to you to ruin our friendship. And all that pain you put me through, it’s over, done. I’ve got everything I’ll ever need right here with me. I’ve got the store, my books, and best of all—” She stood and put her arms around Shane’s neck. “I found the love of my life.”

His arms came around her back, pressing her closer, his lips softly touched hers. Gabby heard heels clicking on the scratched wood floor and bells chimed as Shane deepened the kiss, possessing her lips, her mouth like she loved so much.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Gabby paced the loft, glancing at Shane every few seconds with the corner of her thumb between her teeth. The man was slowly killing her. He hadn’t said a word. No grunts, no noises, nothing. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. He’d been in the same spot on the couch surrounded by almost a ream of paper for hours. In her tank top and jeans, she opened the front door and walked barefoot down the stairs to the store’s back door.

After fighting with the antique lock and door handle, she claimed victory and enter
ed the back storeroom. With her hands on her hips, she let out a sigh of disgust. “There’s not any inventory to shelve. Damn it Shane and your helpfulness.”

She needed something to do but at the thought of his name, she held out her left hand in front of her, moving it to see the diamonds sparkle under the overhead lights.

So much had changed in one month’s time. She’d lost someone very important to her, but gained a soul mate. Gabby smiled, but bit her lip. Walking into her office, she hit the light switch and sat down at her desk. Scanning the area, she let out a nervous breath. There was nothing to be done, her Post-It notes were all in order, everything color-coded and lined up as she needed. Fiddling, Gabby moved her stapler a half inch to the right, threw away a piece of scrap paper, and slumped back in her chair. The store had long been closed for the night, and she had absolutely nothing to do to keep her mind occupied.

Propping her toes on the edge of her desk, her legs bent at the knee, she pushed gently back
. The springs in her ancient desk chair creaked and moaned. “Shut up you noisy piece of shit.” She huffed staring at the clock. “God, he’s taking for-fucking-ever.”

The back handle jiggled as the door opened. Half
startled, Gabby’s arms and legs went flying as she lost her balance.

“Gabs, you down here?”

Shane walked to her office door in time to see her land arms out straight, palms flat on the desk. “Shit. You about gave me a heart attack!”

“I see that.” He grinned as he perched one ass cheek on the corner of the desk. “So…I’m done.”

Her gazed drifted slowly up his bare chest. His dress clothes were one thing, but Sunday evenings in nothing but a faded pair of blue jeans, she loved that look more. She forgot what she’d been impatiently waiting on as she traced each line of definition with an imaginary finger, thought about how it felt when she nuzzled her cheek against the smattering of light brown hair on his chest. She blinked watching his Adam’s apple working, his jaw clenching. Making eye contact was a mistake. She’d felt it before confirming, but the light brown eyes were definitely pinned on her.

“
Why’d you come down to the store?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.

His voice was different, laced with an edge. “I. Uh. Oh, I couldn’t handle it.”

“I’ve read your work before. One might even say, I’ve read your manuscripts on multiple occasions—in case you’ve forgotten.”

“No
, jackass. I haven’t forgotten. Just…it’s, well.” Gabby picked up a pen, twisted the lid and tossed it back on her desk. “I’ve never had to sit there knowing exactly what you’re doing, watching you read it. You were always clear across the country before. This time—it’s…damn it, Shane. It’s just different.”

“Because you care what I think?”

“I cared before,” Gabby slapped back.

“Gabrielle James, you would have had no problem telling me to go fuck myself if I wasn’t right here, right now. And as I recall, you have done just that on several occasions.”

“So. Are you going to tell me or not?”

“Is it ready for the editor?”

“A copy edit. Yes. By only you, I’m not fucking with other people. Content—no. I’m not changing a damn thing.”

Shane smirked. “For being so nervous about my opinion, you’re still
full of sass and fire I see.”

Gabby crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the gorgeous man dangerously close to his death. Fictional or not, she’d have to decide.

“You’ve never written a book with any sex scenes in it. As a matter-of-fact, you’ve never written a book that has a happy ending before.” He uncrossed her arms as he spoke, and started to place a line of kisses down her neck, crossing over the fabric and continuing on her bare shoulder. “I loved it. It’s the hottest book I’ve ever read. It’s the best of yours yet.”

“It’s not the best book you’ve ever read?”
she asked as her eyes closed. His hands slid down her sides, fisted her tank top, and began shimmying it back up to remove it.

“Oh yeah. Best I’ve ever read. I promise.”

His voice was getting heavier as she continued to fall under his spell. “Liar,” Gabby whispered back.

“I’ll show you liar.” At his word, Shane picked Gabby up from the creaky chair
, and laid her on flat on the desk, her legs dangling off the end. “See. Now who’s lying?”

With no bra on under her tank top, Shane made quick work of unzipping her jeans and removing them and her panties as well. Starting at her neck, Shane bent, running his fingers over every inch of her skin. Taunting her, tormenting her, wringing out each long moment of anticipation. “Shane…please.”

“I do have to tell you, I love the sound of my name on your lips. You know what else I like to do to your lips?” The sound of denim moving rushed loudly in her ears, but then his hands were on her again, pulling her body toward the end of the desk, closer to him. Gabby had nothing to brace herself against, nothing but flat surfaces, nothing to hang onto. Shane had her defenseless against him. All she could do was whimper, her body arched off the desk as he slid into her.

Her eyes fluttered but remained closed. “Shane, I…I’m close. Please.” He
had his arms under her knees, dragging her along the length of him, and with no barrier between them he guided her back and forth, harder and harder. “More!”

Shane did as he was told, slamming deep into her, the one move sent her flying, gasping for breath and chanting his name, praying he wouldn’t stop, the tingles from head-to-toe, he made her feel so good.
Like no other had ever been able to.

One last deep push into her and he stilled, holding her, letting her feel him inside her.

“It was perfect,” she whispered, her eyes still closed.

“I got it right?”

Gabby opened one eye to see the man she loved smiling proudly down at her and shook her head. “Just because I wrote sex scenes in this book…doesn’t mean you have to re-create them.”

“Oh, but
, Gabrielle.” He grinned, stepping back and helping her to sit up. “Won’t it be fun? Think of it as research.”

She chuckled
. “You’re such a smartass.”

“And you’re perfect. I love you.”

“I love you too, Shane. I love you too.”

“Now take me back home…to bed.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Shall I carry you up the stairs naked?”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Darling…there’s a whole list of things I’ll dare to do to you. Just wait and see,” he teased as he picked her up, naked as the day she was born.

“Shane. No!
Someone will see.”

He nuzzled her neck. “It’s pitch dark out. And if someone does see…you can tell them it’s research.”

The End