Dangerous for You (24 page)

I hated him for that alone.

Gabriel didn’t give any indication that he knew how I felt. Instead he squared his shoulders and commanded, “Stop threatening Emma and stop insulting her mother.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll make you stop.”

“Is that a threat, Gabriel?”

“It’s not a threat. It’s a guarantee. You’ve crossed the line.”

“Look at us, son. Look at what she’s done to us. How can you turn your back on our family and take her side against us?”

“I’m not. Emma’s my choice, Lucas, and you’re the only one who won’t respect it.”

“You can’t be reasoned with and so you can’t be trusted. If you won’t back down then I’ll have no choice to recommend your removal from Gordon Industries.”

“Do it. I don’t give a shit and never have. I’ve got enough money to last me two lifetimes.”

My legs shook and nausea churned. Gabriel picked up the gauntlet. The words couldn’t be unspoken. Nothing could be saved now.

Maybe it never could.

“Perhaps, but are you willing to lose your livelihood and pride for this girl?”

“I won’t lose. Besides, you like the money I bring in too much to let it all go to hell.”

“I have enough money to last me a couple of lifetimes as well. Imagine all the layoffs that will happen once you’re gone. You think they’ll be as well off as us? Why don’t we ask Emma’s opinion?”

“Fuck off!”

Gabriel was losing control and we all knew it. My eyes became liquid with grief.

I’m so, so sorry for everything that’s happening. I wish I could make it go away for you.

“You have no power in this situation, Gabriel, and you know it. I control the board. Not you. I’ll have you ousted. You’ll be on the street faster than a phone call and so will a significant portion of our workforce.”

And there it was. The ultimate threat. The one I could never let Gabriel or anybody else suffer.

“Tell me how many fucks I give, Lucas. Don’t threaten Emma or her mother again. I won’t tolerate it. If anything happens to either of them, I don’t care what it is—someone bumps into them on the street—I’ll burn everything down to the ground myself. Understand?”

That’s not true, Gabriel. You care about your employees—even the ones you don’t know. You’d never let me down like that.

Lucas won and he knew it. He left with a parting shot.

“I’m finished here. I trust you’ll both make the right decision.”

“I’ve already made it for us,
Uncle
.”

He stopped and turned around. “Embry will be expecting you to make this up to her, Gabriel. So will I. A romantic trip to Paris will be a nice start, don’t you think? It’s the least you can do considering everything she’s been through because of you both.”

And then Lucas was gone, taking all the air with him. All the air, hope, faith, trust, and joy.

I’d always thought it was my own fear I’d have to fight through to win the boy. Now I knew differently.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I never thought he’d be this way. I should’ve seen it coming. I should’ve…”

I relived our past week, seeing something things in such minute detail and others with a hazy cast. Memories were all I was going to have left…

I’m so numb.

Wrapped in his arms, I tried to latch onto Gabriel’s heat but come up cold. “It’s okay.”

Why was I lying to him? Nothing was going to be okay again. Ever.

“No, it’s not. I’m sorry you had to hear that. I should’ve thrown him out as soon as we got here. I would’ve if I had any clue he’d be this damned unreasonable.”

“You’re not responsible for what your uncle said.”

“Maybe not, but he’s not going to be allowed entry up here anymore. I promise.”

“Are you sure? He’s your uncle.”

Gabriel grimaced and shook his head. “I won’t risk you. He goes against you, I’ll cut him off.”

And so it began. Gabriel was willing to cut off his uncle to respect and protect me. Who next? Business associates? Friends? Casual acquaintances?

I don’t want this.

A sob worked its way up my throat. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Really it wasn’t.

“Emma, you still love me, right?”

“Always.”

SIXTEEN

Gabriel and I spent the rest of our weekend hidden away in my apartment. We left after Lucas did, moving slowly as if we couldn’t believe what had just happened. The ride over was spent silent but with hands clasped tightly.

We trudged inside my place, emotionally beaten and worn, and closed the door. We didn’t leave it until Monday. We didn’t try to pretend as if Lucas’s threat didn’t hang over us. We just spent that time reaffirming our love physically and emotionally.

We made love.

We slept.

We ate.

We made love again.

We bathed together.

We repeated the cycle many times over.

When we spoke, it was mainly Gabriel who whispered in my ear, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll fix this, Emma. I’ll make it work.”

I couldn’t utter the expected reply. Instead, I kissed him. I kissed his lips, his neck, his hands, his stomach, and his shaft. I wanted Gabriel to imprint himself on every part of my body. I didn’t allow one inch to go untouched, to go unpossessed.

It was the most intimate thing I’d done with Gabriel, losing my virginity twice. During and afterwards, he was so tender I almost cried but I remained dry eyed. Experience had cruelly taught me that there’d be plenty of time for tears later.

So I lost myself in new pleasures until the only thought in my head was how sinfully good Gabriel could make me feel.

Not wanting to lose one second, we stayed up together until exhaustion overtook Gabriel. Sprawled in my bed, arm wrapped tightly around my waist, Gabriel’s face lost its customary innocent expression. Pale and drawn, he wore a frown even while he slumbered. I brushed his golden hair back and hoped I could give him a bit of comfort.

Sunday was a repeat of Saturday.

We made love.

We slept.

We ate.

We made love again.

We bathed together.

We repeated the cycle many times over.

When we spoke, it was mainly Gabriel who whispered in my ear, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll fix this, Emma. I’ll make it work.”

I kissed him until the words turned into moans.

Monday dawned with an urgent call to Gabriel from Rick. Several minutes were spent with Rick speaking and Gabriel listening. Finally, he said, “Call a car for me and send it to Emma’s.”

Gabriel laid back and covered his face with a muscled arm.

I didn’t bother to ask what was wrong. Everything outside of this apartment was wrong now.

“I’ve got to go to Melbourne.”

“I see.” Real life came back with a vengeance. “Is Lucas the reason?

“No. It’s business as usual.” He moved his arm to look at me. “Come with me, baby.”

“You know I can’t do that,” I whispered sadly.

Gabriel nodded once. “I know. I was just hoping the answer would be different this time.”

Me too.

We showered together, unable to keep from making love one last time. Solemnly, I helped pack his bag. Gabriel asked me to fasten his tie. When I admitted I didn’t know how, he patiently taught me.

“Once around the tree, the dog chased the rabbit…twice around the tree the rabbit ran with the dog close behind…”

This time I couldn’t keep my tears at bay.

Gabriel froze. “Emma, what’s wrong?”

Summoning a shaky smile, I let out a watery laugh. “I’m just going to miss you so much.”

He hugged me and rested his cheek against my head. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“When?” I sniffled.

“Friday.”

“Okay.”

Gabriel kissed my ear. “We’ll go to the lake house when I get back, okay?”

My lips found his and we kissed hungrily. His tongue swept into my mouth, dominating me until I could barely breathe. Limp in his arms, I wanted time to stop.

But of course it didn’t. Time never did. It simply charged over us, leaving us broken in its wake.

Gabriel pulled back, panting and hard against me. “I don’t want to go, Emma.”

“I don’t want you to either. I wish we never had to leave this apartment. I wish we could knock down the wall separating us and double our space.”

Normally Gabriel would’ve said something cocky along the lines of “Well, that can be arranged, my love. I’ll just buy the building. Done!”

Instead, he closed his eyes. “Me too.”

A few minutes later his phone chimed. The car was waiting for him. When I made to put on a robe, Gabriel stopped me. “It’s still early, baby. Stay in bed.”

“I want to see you off.”

His wounded smile pierced my heart. “I won’t be able to leave if you do.”

“Okay.” I understood. Really I did.

Gabriel picked me up and tucked me into his bed. His hand smoothed across my hair and down my cheek. “I love you, Emma.”

“I love you too, Gabriel.”

“I’m not going to give you up.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” Suddenly, it became much harder to breathe. I scattered my tears with a shaky hand.

“Don’t cry, Emma. It breaks my heart when you do.”

“I’m sorry. I just love you so much and I’m so sorry things have turned out this way.”

He pressed his finger against my lips. “Ssh. I forbid you to talk like that.”

“That’s why you wanted me to sleep in your bed. So you can boss me around.”

Gabriel grinned, momentarily looking like the confident man I’d always known. “You know me so well. Being the master of all things Emma is the highlight of my life.”

“Bossy.”

“Yep. Gabriel ‘Bossypants’ Gordon is going to be printed on my newest business cards. Just watch.”

Things felt normal between us, as if Lucas hadn’t poisoned the well of our life. I closed my eyes, mute with longing and despair. Gabriel took it as me being tired. I didn’t correct him.

“Go to sleep, baby. I’ll be thinking of you the whole time. Call me if you need me, okay? I don’t care what time it is.”

Once Gabriel reached the doorway I called out, “I love you, Gabriel Gordon. Always and forever.”

“I know.”

“No, listen. I. Love. You.”

Despite the darkened room I could see his hand tighten on the frame. “Baby, I’m coming back.”

“I know. I just want you to know.”

“I do know. Now stop looking at me as if you’ll never see me again. I’m about to get on a plane and you know I’m superstitious as hell.”

“Sorry.”

“I’ll call you when I land.”

I nodded and closed my eyes. “Goodbye, Gabriel.”

“See you soon, Emma.”

The difference was distinct but it wouldn’t change anything. I heard his footsteps fade away, the door opened and closed, and then he was gone. I stayed there, staring at the ceiling for half an hour before I reached for my cell phone.

Several rings and then “Emma Adams, Sales and Marketing. I won’t be able to come into work today. Last minute emergency so I’ll be taking a personal day. Thank you.”

I then dialed the number that arrived via text Saturday night while Gabriel was sleeping.

He picked up on the second ring. “Emma?”

“Lucas.”

“I take it you thought about the situation.”

Rage stormed through my heart. My entire life with Gabriel was not a ‘situation.’ I kept my voice calm only by the slimmest of margins. “I did.”

“And what’s your conclusion?”

I would never, ever say he was right. “I won’t let Gabriel lose everything important in his life—including his legacy at Gordon Industries.”

“So you’ll leave him.”

My eyes clenched shut. I felt all the energy and life seep out of my body.

“Emma, are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“Your answer?”

“Yes.”

A moment of silence and then “When?”

“Now. Before Gabriel gets back from Australia.”

“Where will you go?”

Resentment sharpened my words. “That’s not your concern, Lucas. I’m clearing out of town.”

“So you’re leaving Med-Tech then?” he asked all-so-innocently.

Laughter spewed, making me sound maddened and bitter. “As if you’d be satisfied with me staying in the same building as Gabriel. Of course, I’m leaving my job.”

“You are a clever girl. I was afraid I’d have to spell that part out for you. What do you need from me?”