Текст книги "Pure Abandon"
Автор книги: Jeannine Colette
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Текущая страница: 18 (всего у книги 20 страниц)
Unfortunately, I let other people into my world. I let Malory in, and look what she did. I don’t know what to do next, but I can’t stand still. I hate running but, for some reason, I feel compelled to move. My feet lift off the ground and I run the perimeter of the harbor until my heels hurt more than my heart, and I head home.
Gabriel’s car is gone when I return. I’m half relieved and half disappointed. I open the door to Gwen holding her finger over her mouth.
“Gabriel put Jackson to sleep before he left.” She places the baby monitor on the counter. I look at the black-and-white screen to see Jackson sleeping with his butt in the air. It’s the sweetest little position.
“Did you tell him he took his first steps?” Gabriel is probably devastated he missed it.
“I did, but I didn’t embellish. Jackson put on a little show for him. He took a few more steps with Gabriel than he has with us. I think he was holding out for his dad.” Gwen stalls for a second to make sure her words don’t hurt me too much.
“He is a daddy’s boy; that’s for sure. I hope he stays that way.” My words assure her. I walk to the fridge and sigh as I open the door.
“Tired, honey?” Gwen asks, still standing by the counter.
“No.” I scan the refrigerator. It’s freshly stocked, yet there’s nothing I want. “The opposite actually. I feel restless. I don’t know what to do with myself.”
Gwen walks beside me and closes the refrigerator door. “Why don’t you go to the batting cage? Take a few swings,” she suggests. “It will help get a little aggression out.”
She’s right. I felt good after my run, but I still have more energy in me to burn. I kiss Gwen on the cheek and head to the batting cage.
Imagine my shock to see I’m not the only one who had that idea.
I haven’t seen him look this free in a long time. Black T-shirt, jeans, and an old pair of Jordans. He looks a lot like this guy I once kissed at McCloon’s.
Crack!
I assume he’s picturing that to be my head. I walk toward the fence and stop just behind him. I’m safer behind the fence for more reasons than one.
His back is to me as he keeps his stance for the next ball to be launched. “I take it Gwen had the same great idea for more than one of us,” he says, bracing for his next swing.
Crack!
Oh, Gwen. My mother the meddler. She still hasn’t lost her touch. Gabriel must have seen me pull up.
“I suppose so. I’ll go. You were here first.” I try to appease him when I’m really longing for him to turn around. Please look at me.
Crack!
“No, stay. I’m almost done here,” he says, taking one last swing of the bat. He steps out of the box and removes the helmet. He replaces it with a baseball hat. I haven’t seen him wear one in so long. I smile at the memory. “What are you laughing about?”
Shit. I only make things worse. “I’m not laughing. I’m just remembering.” I look up into his navy blues. The fence between us does nothing to still my nerves. I just want to touch him.
His eyebrows rise, tempting me to share my thought.
“I was remembering our first date.” I have to speak quick or else he’ll walk away. “You brought me to a batting cage just like this one. You were terrible.” Crap. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
Gabriel pulls his hat lower over his face, but I can see his lips curl up on the ends.
“You’re right. I was trying to impress you. I didn’t know any other way.” He shakes his head. “Lots of good that did.” He bends down to collect his bag and opens the gate to the batting cage and heads to his car. “It’s all yours.”
“Gabe, wait.” I charge after him.
Gabriel turns around. “What do you want, Kat? Haven’t you done enough?” His face is hard and cold, not the sweet Gabriel I know.
“I’m sorry. I am so sorry for everything,” I plead. “I let other people and other voices get in my head. I know now there was nothing going on between you and Becca. I was so terribly wrong.”
His fist is clenched around his bag. The other points in my face. His body is radiating with tension. “You threw away ten years of happiness, five years of marriage!”
“I know. I’m sorry.” What’s the use? It’s over. I might as well just bare it all. “I felt so lost for a while. You were off every day, working this fancy job, and lately, you’ve been staying later and later.”
“You think I like my job? I do it for you and Jack.” He throws his arms up in the air. “I hate my fucking job! I hate every client, every deposition, every amendment and appeal. I hate it all.” His eyes are on fire. “But I do it for you. I do it to give you the life you deserve.” He spits on the ground. “Or at least the life I thought you deserved.”
“I don’t want this life, Gabe! I never asked for it.” How dare he blame me? “I hate it out here. I don’t fit in. This isn’t us. It never was.” I don’t even remember how we made our way out here. That’s when we lost each other. “If you’re not happy, Gabe, quit. I’d rather have a husband who’s happy and home than a miserable one.”
He balks at my response. “Because I’m miserable? Is that why you went to bed with the first man who gave you the time of day?”
“How dare you?” Now it was my turn to be angry. “At least he wanted to touch me. At least he wasn’t too tired to return my advances.” My words were like a slap to his face.
“You are a whore. It is all sex with you.”
“You know that’s a lie. Take it back!”
He doesn’t say a word.
Taking a deep breath, I hug my denim jacket to me and walk toward Gabriel’s car. I lean my head against the door and concede. “You’re right. You’re right,” I repeat.
His body stills. I think I see his shoulders relax a bit. We stand in silence. I want to say something, but I’m afraid if I breathe too loudly, he’ll move. After an eternity, he finally speaks.
“How’s this for a cherry on top? Oswald Thompson is blackmailing me. Can you believe it? That fucking criminal is blackmailing me?” Gabriel hisses through his teeth, shaking his bead in disbelief. “I’ve been trying to get out of the case, but he said if I do, he’ll release those photos to the media.”
I turn into Gabriel, exasperated by what he’s telling me. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“I know I don’t.” His words are calm, yet they hit me like a slap in the face. “I owe it to Jack to not have his mother smeared across the tabloids.”
I close my eyes and breathe in deeply. I have made a mess of everything, yet Gabriel is still trying to protect our family. How could I have doubted him? It’s no surprise Malory is obsessed with him. He had to have known.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Malory?”
His mouth nearly drops at the mention of her name. “What did she tell you?”
“Basically that she’s in love with you and she fucked with my entire life to get her hands on you.” I can’t believe I was so blind.
“Kat, listen, there is something I have to tell you about that.” He places his hands on his head and squeezes his cap a little. “Damn, I was hoping I’d never have to tell you. I guess it doesn’t matter now.”
My interest is piqued. “What doesn’t matter?”
“I dated her when I first moved to the city.”
I blink back at his words. My Gabriel dated Malory? We were together when he moved to the city. He sees my concerned look and continues.
“You were still in school then, and I was young and dumb… One night at a bar, I was missing you so badly, and there she was. I was so stupid.”
My mouth goes dry. Despite what I have done, it hurts to think he betrayed me at a time when we were still drunk in-love. “How stupid were you?”
Gabriel is quick to answer; his hand rests on my arms in reassurance. “Nothing happened. It was just dinner. I broke it off after a few dates. She started harassing me after that. Always making comments and telling me she was available if you and I ever broke up. And for some reason I can’t figure out, you started working with her. What are the odds?” He takes a breath, relieved to be unloading this information.
“I was so happy when you stopped working with her. I didn’t think it mattered anymore. Then you got this job, and I was hesitant at first, but you were so happy. I never had a problem with you returning to work. I was afraid of what would happen with you working with Malory again…” He trails. He removes his hand from my arm and takes a step back. “Who knew the bitch would actually drive us apart?”
There is an awkward pause. I don’t want to say anything. I’m lucky he’s talking to me this much.
His head is bowed, looking at the ground. I assume he pictures me on the same level as the dirt. He’s standing so close, yet he feels miles away. How is someone I was closer to than anyone in my entire life now my most distant acquaintance? It doesn’t feel natural. This isn’t the Gabe I know. Then again, I’m no longer his Kat.
Gabriel’s eyes start to redden. “It doesn’t feel like it really happened. Like the last few days were just a dream.”
“I wish they were just a dream. If I could take it all back…”
“No, Kat. You cheated on me. Don’t you get it? You broke our vows. Everyone waits for the husband to screw up. It’s the women you have to watch out for.” He turns his back and heads toward the car. He pauses just before opening the door. “You know, if I didn’t see it, I would have never have believed it. I just never thought you would do that to me.”
I never thought I would either. Just a few weeks ago, I was devastated when I heard my cousin’s wife had an affair. I was the wreck, and it was Gabriel who seemed so nonchalant about the whole thing.
“What about those couples you were telling me about? The ones who moved on? You said it yourself. Couples get back together… These things happen…” I try to bring back some of his own words from that conversation not too long ago.
“Not to us, Kat!” His words nearly spit at me. “Don’t you dare try to throw my words back in my face. Shit happens to other couples, but not to us. We’re better than this.” His jaw tightens as he calms himself down. “I thought we were better than this.”
I take a step toward him as he lowers himself into the front seat, and ask, “Where do we go from here?”
He takes a deep breath before answering my question. “I’m going to see my lawyer in the morning.” He closes the door. He turns the ignition and lowers the window. “I’ll be at The Inn until I find a place.”
I regret my decision for going to this damn gala. Even though I know I should stay away, I feel like I need the closure. I started this project, and I have to see it through.
I step out of the bathroom, and Gwen beams at me like I’m going to the prom. Her one-week stay has turned into two. Believe it or not, I still don’t want her to leave.
“Kathryn, you look…” Words fail her. “Oh, honey, after everything you’ve gone through, you deserve to see this event in all its glory. You worked so hard. I am very proud of you.”
I give her my best Grayson smile. “Thank you, Mom. For everything.” We embrace and she holds me, really holds me, for the first time since I was a little girl.
The dress looks as goddess-like as the day I tried it on, and with zero markings of the department store floor. I have on the most beautiful pair of silver strappy stilettos that cost me a fortune and will be the last big purchase this single mom makes in a long time. Gwen did my makeup, and I did my own hair in long soft curls. I looked demure, yet I’m ready to kick some ass if I have to.
Asher arranged for a car to pick me up. I think it’s his way of ensuring I actually make it to the gala. I haven’t seen him since that day in the office, and tonight will be my last. I am all too happy to see Devon round the SUV and open my door. I’m immediately thankful to have the escort when we pull up to the gala and Devon has special permission to cut the limo line and accompany me to the front entrance. When we pull up to the curb, he opens my door and takes my hand to lead me onto the black carpet.
It’s everything I hoped it would be and more. Topiaries of dahlias, peonies, and roses line the carpet in an archway, leading people to the venue. At the far end is the photographers’ pit with a step and repeat for interviews. The fountain is illuminated in lights and a handmade marquee hangs special for the evening, announcing Asher’s benefit concert. Spotlights stand on both sides of the venue, letting people know there is an event happening right now that people have to take notice of.
I bypass the main entrance and make my way toward the side. I am all too thrilled to see Trish wearing a headset and holding a clipboard. Looks like Erik and Asher did the right thing and promoted her to my spot. I want to say hello, but a quick wave and a nod good luck is all I can spare, as she looks like she’s in full producer mode. I can hear her telling the cameraman to get a pan of the exterior.
I walk into David Geffen Hall and make my way toward the theater entrance. Standing there is a man wearing a black tuxedo, bow tie included. His golden highlights glisten in the pin lighting of the room, and I don’t have to wait for him to turn around to see his eyes.
As if he can feel my presence, Asher turns and faces me. His is a mixture of elation and relief.
Golden eyes look me up and down. I know he approves. “I’ve told you this before, and I will tell you again. You are beautiful.”
“Thank you, Alex. So are you.”
“So we’re back to Alex. Looks like I’m not in trouble anymore.”
“No, you’re not in trouble. We’re friends, right?”
“Yes. Friends.” He takes my hand in his and leads me around the room, introducing me to New York elite. One person I don’t see is Malory. “She’s fired,” Asher answers my unspoken question. “I want you to know I never paid any mind to those emails. Once I got to know you…” He lifts my hand and brushes my knuckles against his lips. “I knew what was true.”
We chat with dignitaries and celebrities, socialites and scholars. The room is filled with old money and new, and for Asher, they are willing to empty their pockets. Asher praises me to each and every one of them. And when he thinks I’m not looking, I catch him staring at me. He looks proud, and he should be. He put on a spectacular event. No, two spectacular events. The other I’m sure Heather is doing an incredible job at.
Before the curtains go up and the speeches begin, Asher leads me backstage. Trish is keeping everything close to itinerary, and I pat myself on the back for doing such a great job putting everything together.
Asher and I stand backstage together, waiting for his cue to make his speech. I wonder if this is the life I would lead sticking by Asher? Fancy productions, big events every weekend. If I met him at another time, would we be together?
He takes the stage with charisma and magnitude. The women in the audience gasp at his incredible good looks, and I hear a few backup dancers backstage talk about getting in his pants after the show. I’m sure a few of them will succeed.
Harvey did an excellent job with Asher’s speech. The audience eats it up, and I can hear the wallets in the crowd opening up.
Asher is soon by my side, and he takes my hand. “Come, let’s go for a walk.”
I hear a few whiney voices in the background. Calm down, ladies, he’ll be back!
I take his hand and follow him out into the courtyard. He looks beautiful in the evening light. I will never tire of looking at this exotic Adonis of a man. Even at night, his perfect mouth and square jaw are illuminated against his tanned skin.
“Are you going to the park? I’m sure Heather will need you at some point. You are the face of the organization.” I look over toward the park. You can see the lights of the event from here.
Turning back toward Asher, I catch him staring at me, mesmerized. “No, Kathryn. I am exactly where I want to be.” He’s smoldering, and I don’t know if my heart can take it.
“No. Please. I know that look.” I beg him for a reprieve.
“Good. Then you know exactly what I’m going to say.” His eyes lock onto mine.
“There is nothing we can do. It’s over. It was a one time—” Before I can get the words out of my mouth, his lips are on mine. Warm, soft, passionate lips. They feel just as good as they did that sinful weekend.
I part my lips just enough, allowing him entrance into my soul. Our tongues meet and his passion pours into me. With one hand wrapped around my waist and other around my neck, Asher pulls me into his body, and I fall helpless.
My arms lock around his neck and my fingers lace into his hair. I lose myself so easily when I’m with him. I have to stop. This isn’t what tonight is about.
I release his lips from mine and try to step out of his embrace, but his hold is firm on me. “Don’t leave. Stay with me.”
“Stay with you? And then what? I move in? We get married? We raise my son together?”
He’s not letting me go. Tobacco and vanilla eradicate my senses while golden, caramel eyes show something I’ve never seen before on him.
“I love you.”
What? Love? Alexander Asher doesn’t fall in love. Once, but that was a long time ago.
I stare into those forbidden eyes and get swept up in the emption behind them. Deep, soulful wanting is hiding behind those shades of gold turning into warm caramel. My breath is momentarily taken away by the angst hiding inside. Conviction he has, but what he needs and what he wants are two different things.
“Asher… you don’t love me. You think you love me. You’re panicking and you think the only way you can keep me is by telling me you love me.”
“Listen to me.”
“I am listening. I’m listening to a man who is so scared of losing his friend that he will do and say whatever it takes. You’re ready to be loved and to love someone, but it’s not me. You don’t love me.” I place my hands on his face and take in his beauty.
“Stop it!” He grabs my waist and pulls me into him, close and protective. “Can’t you feel it? Even Malory knew. She said it on that damn tape.
“I love you, Kathryn. Ever since I saw you in the rain. I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I loved you when you told me off in the elevator. I loved you when you came up with this crazy idea for two concerts. I loved you when you danced with me on that stage and when you let me share myself with you at the tomb. I loved you standing in the halo of the streetlights, and I loved you when you let me make love to you.
“And I don’t care if you’re married or if you have a kid or if I have to give up everything I have to make this right. You make my life make sense.”
My heart falls and loses beats in the process. His words are everything a girl can dream of, yet they’re not right. I shake my head and try to pull away from him. He holds on tighter.
“Kathryn. What can I do to prove it to you?”
I don’t know what’s right anymore. Do I love Asher? I never took the time to even think about that being a possibility. I had fallen for him, but how deep? In love? In lust? I certainly wanted him, but have we both fallen so far when fate wasn’t looking?
Maybe it was fate all along.
“I need time.” It’s the only thing I can think to ask.
“Time.” He registers my request and appears to be satisfied. “I can give you time, but not too much. I know you, Kathryn. You’ll run. I knew I should have never taken you out of that hotel room.” He smiles that gorgeous smile and brushes a lose strand of hair off my face, cupping my face in the process. “Tomorrow. Meet me at the W Hotel. I’ll be waiting for you. Take the night, but that’s it. I love you, Kathryn, and I’ll take you any way I can get you.”
Time. I’ve bought myself time.
I lean up on my toes and kiss this impossible man on the cheek and hold on to it for what feels like an eternity. This gorgeous, successful man who is also a philanthropist and classically trained musician who has the world at his fingertips wants me. Me. A soon-to-be divorcee, mother of one, with no job and no friends. There is something incredibly wrong with the universe.
Asher leads me back to the SUV where Devon is waiting. He sends me on my way, hoping I’ll return to him with the answer he desires. As magical as it seems, this isn’t how I envisioned the night playing out.
Devon has special permission to drive through the park, as it’s closed for the evening’s special event. I’m glad to be able to see it in all its hectic glory. The lights, the people, the security. It looks incredible. The music soars through the air, and I revel in the amazing production that was put together in a few short weeks.
And tomorrow, it will all be gone. This concert is just like Jackson’s building blocks. Build them up to knock them down. And tomorrow, there’ll be another production for Erik, another sparring partner for Heather, another Twinkie for Asher.
Oh, Asher. Why did you have to turn my world upside down? You are amazing in so many ways, but you had to play the love card.
Is it possible for him to love? Yes. He can love and will love deeply, but is it for me? And do I love him? Did I fall in love with him in Miami?
I did fall in love once. At a beer pong table? No. That was lust. I fell in love with Gabriel the next day, at breakfast. I fell in love when he made those god-awful pancakes. I laugh to myself at the thought. Gabriel is a terrible cook.
Memories assault me of Gabriel and me on our first date at the batting cage where I taught him how to swing a bat. When I met him, I thought he might be a baseball player. He wasn’t. He was on crew, but I didn’t know that, so I thought he might enjoy the cages. It was something I did often and hoped we could share it together. Well, one look at his swing and I knew I was dead wrong. Sure, he hit the ball with power, but it went in every other direction.
He was sweet about it, though. He let me show him the correct stance and proper follow through. Luckily for both of us, he was a fast learner. Now he hits the ball fast, far, and on target every time.
My thoughts are disrupted when Devon pulls up in front of my house. I kindly thank him for the ride and wave politely from my front lawn as I watch him pull away. I take one look at my front door and know I’m not ready to go inside yet. However I do, for a second, only to grab Gwen’s keys. I hop in her car and drive away.
I could go to the batting cages, but I’m in a dress. I could keep driving, but for some reason, I find myself in front of The Inn. I don’t know why, but I’m parked right in front of the hotel Gabriel is staying at.
I’ve never been at The Inn before. It has a gorgeous rustic feel. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by a large foyer with a stone fireplace. Tonight the fire is roaring even though it’s warm outside. To the right is a reception area with a beautiful birch mahogany desk and a large winding ornate staircase leading up to the second level just beyond it. To the left is a bar area. It’s still early, and although I may be slightly overdressed, I think I’ll have a drink.
The bar is empty except for a few guests in the corner that are seated at a table, enjoying a nightcap. I decide to take my party of one to the bar. I hop on the stool at the corner and order a whisky. I need the strong stuff to survive.
I take one swig and my throat burns. I don’t drink enough to know if it’s because he gave me the good expensive stuff or the cheap lower shelf brand. I might as well keep on drinking. I deserve the burn.
“Since when did you start drinking hard liquor?” I’m surprised to see him standing there. Not for the fact that he’s standing there, since I am drinking in the hotel he’s staying in. I’m surprised because the sight of him still does things to me.
“I guess I just wanted to feel like a grownup for the night.” I watch his navy blues for any sign he doesn’t want me here.
Shifting from one foot to the other, Gabriel scans the bar area before taking a tentative step forward and takes the seat next to me on the corner of the bar. He motions toward the bartender. “Make that two.”
The bartender hands Gabriel his glass, and I watch as he takes a slow and steady sip. He looks good. He’s in jeans and a plaid button-down shirt. No tie, no top button, sleeves rolled. His hair is long, much longer than he’s worn it in a long time. He needs a haircut, but I like the mess of waves. He grabs his glass and I hear the unmistakable clink of his wedding ring hitting the glass. My breath hitches.
“Guess I forgot to take this off.” He motions toward his hand, flexing it out to feel the weight of the metal on his skin.
I look down on mine. “Me too.” I raise my glass. “Here’s to our rings’ last night out on the town until they get pawned and sold to some lowly sap.”
He raises his glass to mine and adds, “And may their marriage last longer than ours.” We clink our glasses even though his words sting.
Gabriel stretches his strong arm across the counter, plucking an olive from a bowl off the counter behind the bar. He pops the green olive in his mouth and swirls it around with his tongue.
I twirl my glass in my hand, watching the amber liquid dance in the glass. It’s like a mini tornado. Glancing up, I look over and catch Gabriel staring at me through his beautiful lashes.
“What?” I ask.
His jaw shifts from side to side before his hand rises to rub his jaw and swipes over his mouth, coming to rest on his glass. “You know, when I came down the stairs just now, I saw this beautiful woman enter the hotel lobby. She was the most gorgeous thing I ever saw in my life. It made me stop and catch my breath. I actually followed her in here to buy her a drink, and I get here and she is… you.” Gabriel laughs at his idiocy and takes a swig of his whisky.
I don’t know if I should be flattered or disappointed by his words. At least he’s still here having a drink with me. “That reminds me of this guy I once met. You see, we were at this bar in Maryland. He had this beautiful wavy dark hair and navy-blue eyes. I waited for him every day after class to ask me for my name, and each day I refused, secretly hoping he’d be back there the next day.”
Gabriel let out a shy smile at the memory. “I came back everyday, hoping to learn your name. I fell in-love with you on those walks.” His eyes lit up. “When I saw you, that night, in the bar, my life changed forever.”
“I threw that game of beer pong just so you would take me on that date,” I finally admit. It’s been an ongoing joke between us that Gabriel knew I wanted him as soon as I walked through the door. He’s right. He was always right.
“I knew it!” His face shoots up in surprise.
I can feel the crinkle around my eyes from smiling. “Doesn’t matter, though, because we didn’t have to wait until that date.” I looked him right in the eyes. “We were so hot for each other we walked right out of that bar and almost didn’t make it out of the cab.”
Gabriel takes a final swig of his whiskey and lets out a deep grunt, stands up, and takes his wallet out to pay for the drinks. “It was the best day of my life. Please don’t ruin it.”
Still sitting at the bar, I continue, still caught in the memory. “The next day, he made me these terrible pancakes because he wanted to impress me. As much as he wanted to do something nice for me, I knew I would spend the rest of my life doing everything I could to make him happy. But you see, I failed him.”
Gabriel’s body is tense. He looks like he’s about to leave but stands there as I speak, his back half to me as he holds on to the back of the barstool he just rose from.
“When he proposed, he promised to share my dreams, but I never did the same for him. He took a job he was brilliant at yet secretly hated, all so he could provide an amazing life for me and his son. I took it for granted. I thought I wanted more, yet I had everything I wanted. I forgot to give him what he needed.”
“And what did he need?” he asks over his shoulder.
“Support,” I say.
Gabriel runs his hand down his face and holds his mouth for a second, as if trying to think of the right thing to say. He turns back toward me, placing both hands on the barstool. “Kat, it’s not all your fault. I know I’m not supposed to say this. My lawyer would kill me if he heard me say this, but I was a shitty husband. I wasn’t listening when you said you were unhappy and I certainly wasn’t as affectionate as I used to be. I just… I got so damn tired.”
He took his wallet off the bar and put it in his back pocket. “I am so damn tired, Kat. This is not what I pictured our life to be. I swear to you I planned it out differently. The truth is we both screwed this up. I drove you into his arms.”
I have to pull my mouth up from the floor. I wasn’t prepared for him to take the blame. I don’t know how I feel about that.
“And listen.” He continues. “As much as I still hate you for doing it, with Malory torturing you and Becca… Oh, that’s another story. Let’s just say you were right about that girl. She definitely thought I was sending her signals that weren’t there. Maybe I was. I can’t say I entirely blame you.”
“Gabriel, please. I hate myself so much right now I can’t bear the thought of you thinking this has anything to do with you being at fault.” I lower my head.
Running his hand through his hair, he says, “Listen, it’s late. I’m going to head up. Do you mind if I take Jack for the day? I miss him so much.”
I look up to see pain in his eyes. I shake my head in disagreement. He shifts back, but I clarify. “Why don’t you go home and spend the night in your bed? You’ll be there when Jackson wakes up. I’ll stay here.” I open my bag and take out my set of keys. I place them in his palm and close his fingers. “You should go and be with your son.”
Gabriel’s eyes relax, and I see a calming and almost appreciative tone in them. A hint of that Robert Redford grin I fell in love with makes an appearance. “Thank you,” he murmurs, handing me his room key.
He tells me his room number and to help myself to anything from room service. I have no choice but to watch as he turns on his heel and heads out through the lobby.
All dressed up and nowhere to go, Cinderella retires to her tower for the night.
I make my way up to Gabriel’s room and unlock the door. The room is spacious and elegantly decorated, yet it’s nowhere for a man to call home, even if it is only temporary. There is a large canopy bed in the middle made of rich mahogany with luscious cream-and-red paisley bedding. I stroll over to the mini bar and take out a bottle of water from the inventory.
