Still Mr. And Mrs. (12 page)

“Well I better be going or we’ll all be late for the party,” she said, and continued walking down the hall.

Rebecca sighed and followed the others into the banquet room at the Indian Springs Country Club where Evelyn had put together an intimate farewell dinner party for all her guests.

“Here, let me get your chair for you.” Jonathan stood behind her seat as everyone sat down.

“Thank you.” She sat down, feeling herself blush.

She glanced across the wide table, catching Gabe’s stare. His expression was closed and unreadable as if he was in deep thought. At that moment she would have given anything to know exactly what those thoughts were.

“I dare say, Rebecca”—Jonathan pulled his seat up next to hers—“you look extraordinary tonight.”

“Thank you, Jonathan.” She ran her hand down the flare of her short gold metallic dress.

“Giving you compliments is certainly an easy thing to do,” Jonathan said. “You’ve been by far the loveliest of company on what has turned out to be a rather tedious mission.”

Rebecca accepted the glass of champagne the waiter poured for her. “I hope your
mission
was successful.”

Jonathan raised his glass and clinked it against hers. “Very. I won’t be seeing you before I go. But rest assured I will certainly continue to help with your day care center.”

Rebecca smiled again, knowing he was sincere.

“I’ll miss you, Jonathan. And I truly thank you for all your help. I hope that when the merger is complete, we’ll have another chance to meet.”

“I suppose that will depend on your husband.”

Some sixth sense brought her attention across the table of china, silverware, and crystal stemware to meet Gabe’s dark, penetrating gaze.

Gabe raised his champagne glass to her and then took a sip.

Yes, she thought, feeling her stomach tighten. It all depended on her husband.

“I suppose you’re right, Jonathan.” She dragged her gaze away from Gabe.

“Would you care to dance?” Jonathan asked.

Rebecca shot one last glance at Gabe, longing for the protectiveness of his warm embrace.

“Of course, Jonathan. That would be lovely.”

Gabe silently observed his wife across the room as she danced gracefully in Jonathan’s arms.

The wily old man had managed to monopolize all of Reb’s attention throughout dinner, dessert, and finally the last dance of the evening.

Gabe watched Jonathan turn Rebecca. The glittery flare of Reb’s gold dress flipped the other way, exposing a shimmering, silky leg to his view.

He took a deep breath and tried to ease the knots of tension in his neck.

Ever since the morning after they’d made love, Reb had maintained her cool demeanor and her distance.

The sweet smiles were gone, as well as every luscious bit of attention she’d heaped on him in the last two weeks.

Never to return.

Gabe had never felt more alone in his whole life.

You can’t have it both ways, he sighed to himself. You can’t have Reb and divorce her too.

He looked across the dance floor when the song ended. He couldn’t tear his gaze from Reb as Jonathan walked her to the table.

Rebecca picked up her purse, and a fire stirred in Gabe’s body as he watched her lithe
movements. He wanted to get her attention, let her know he still cared for her, something.

A smile, a look, anything.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment.” Before he even had a chance to speak, she was gone.

Jonathan straightened his tie and sat down. He picked up his champagne glass, and motioned for Gabe to sit down.

“You know, Gabe,” Jonathan said after a few seconds, “you remind me of myself when I was a young man.”

Gabe sighed. “So you’ve told me.”

Jonathan raised his glass in Gabe’s direction. “Except that I’m honest and you’re not.”

Gabe shot straight up in his chair. “Jonathan, I beg your pardon. I have never once been dishonest with you. The dealings with The Toy Factory are above reproach, and my grandmother and I—”

Jonathan laughed. “Please calm down. I’m not talking about your business dealings or this merger.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you are not honest with yourself. Or Rebecca.”

“Jonathan, I don’t think—”

“Let me finish. I know about your divorce. I
know Rebecca is only here to put on a show for me.”

Gabe felt the color drain from his face. His stomach started to churn as he saw his entire future vanish.

Jonathan straightened his tie as though he realized he’d said too much. “Excuse my bluntness, but I’m a man who speaks his mind. A woman like Rebecca is one in a million.”

Gabe could only nod, he was so stunned.

“Perhaps it is none of my business what you do in your personal life, but I’d never let a woman like her out of my grasp.”

Gabe knew exactly what Jonathan meant.

Jonathan stood as Rebecca returned to the table.

Gabe caught her gaze.

She gave him a smile.

The warm smile he’d been waiting for all night.

A hundred emotions sprang inside him. Yearning, need, hope.

He wanted to touch her, wanted to remove the pearl-studded pins that held her hair up on top of her head.

He wanted to bring each silky strand to him and breathe in the clean scent.

She was an aphrodisiac to his senses, and he could feel his heartbeat vibrating with pure energy.

He wanted her heart more than anything else.

And what he wanted right then was to dance with her, hold her in his arms. He knew the band was about to leave, but he’d just have to change that, he thought reaching deep in his pant’s pocket for his wallet.

Hell, he’d paid for the band and if it cost him triple the fee to have the last dance with his wife, then it would be worth the price.

She was his lady, and she simply took his breath away.

She’d gone into hiding, and he wanted her back.

Rebecca went still at the touch of Gabe’s hand on her shoulder.

“I want to dance with you,” he whispered in her ear, sending shivers up her back.

She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his breath fanning the back of her neck, feeling the strength of him standing so close to her.

“The last dance.”

Her heart pounded.

“I want to hold you in my arms, Reb. Feel you close to my heart.”

“Gabe, ah, I—”

“We have one last night together. Don’t take it away from me … from you,” he added.

Gently and without any words, he took her by the elbow, and she let him guide her to the empty dance floor just as the musicians tuned up for the last song of the evening.

He took control in one easy motion, wrapping his strong arm around her waist, drawing her up against him.

She took in the woodsy scent of his cologne, the smoothness of his clean-shaven cheek as he lowered his face next to hers.

“You feel so good in my arms.” His words were barely a whisper. “I love holding you like this, as if we’re one.”

“I know.”

The song, a soft romantic lullaby, played across the dimmed banquet room, making her feel lost and loved at the same time, as he expertly moved her across the floor.

“I want to be alone with you,” he said after a few moments.

She looked up at him, wondering if he could
hear the crazy pounding of her heart, wondering if he could see the love in her eyes. “Gabe, tell me what you’re talking about.”

The song ended on a low but sweet note, the sound sending shivers up her arms.

“I want to spend the night with you.”

“But I thought you had said that …”

They stopped their movements, and he touched her lips with the tip of his finger. “We have this one moment to share. Let me, please.”

Her breathing was becoming more and more erratic, her pulse beating wildly at her throat.

“Wait for me, my dear sweet Rebecca.” He ran his finger along her bottom lip. “Promise me, you’ll wait.”

All she could do was nod.

Later that evening, Rebecca had showered and dressed in her new cotton knit pajamas. She sat down on the bed anxiously fingering the satin trim of the rose-print top.

She didn’t know if Gabe had been serious when he’d told her to wait for him.

She thought about the pajamas she was wearing and how she’d bought them on a whim to tease him. She’d wanted to see his reaction when
he saw her dressed in the conservative loose top and long-legged bottoms.

Though she never had the chance … until now.

What was keeping him? she thought. Their last night was slipping away.

She sighed and tossed the parenting magazine she’d been reading into the small trash can that was across the room.

“That was a lucky shot,” Gabe said from the doorway of the bedroom. “Bet you can’t do it again.”

Rebecca looked up and felt her heart jump a beat.

“Care to make that bet?” she asked. “Put your money down.”

“I think I better not.” He walked into the bedroom. “I only like to bet when I know I’m going to win.”

He was still dressed as he’d been at the dinner party except for his jacket. His tie was loose and his blue shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows.

He’d never looked more handsome.

She scooted across the mattress, making room for him on the cozy bed.

He sat down and rested against the headboard.

She watched him.

He smiled warmly at her.

Her breath caught, and she felt the heat flush up to her cheeks.

All of a sudden the air turned sultry.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d come or not,” she confessed.

“I had a couple of farewell drinks at the house. Everyone is leaving tomorrow.”

“I know.” She willed her emotions to stay calm.

“This last week, these last few days, actually, I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s time for me to slow down, take it easy. I think that I’ve been working too hard.”

“I’ve thought that many times too.” She paused for a second. “Evelyn told me about the boarding schools your father sent you to.”

Gabe took her hand in his. “I’ve thought a lot about that just this past week,” he said. “It’s funny how you think something is long forgotten from your past but really it isn’t.”

Rebecca nodded. “Maybe we have more in common than you thought.”

He looked at her.

“Did you resent your parents for sending you away?”

He shrugged. “A little, I suppose.” He gave a humorless laugh. “Hell, my mother, Ellen, split before that. I don’t remember much about her. She hasn’t been a part of my life since my parents divorced.” The anger was clear in his voice.

Rebecca let him continue.

“I guess my father couldn’t handle it. That’s probably why I was sent away. He hid himself in his work.”

The last few quietly spoken words trailed out of his mouth as though he realized what he was saying.

“Just like you.”

He acknowledged her with a slight nod.

“I understand, Gabe. Really, I do.”

“I know. And believe it or not, Reb, I think you were right.”

She wanted to cherish the last quiet hours alone. She didn’t want to think about tomorrow. And she didn’t want to dwell on the past. It was all too painful.

“I’m glad.” She stared into his eyes, wishing he’d kiss her, wishing for so much more.

“I’m glad you waited,” he murmured.

He reached over and rubbed the satin trim of her pajamas. His warm fingers brushed underneath
the cotton fabric, bringing a rush of pleasure to her already-heated skin.

“What in the world are you wearing?”

“Pajamas.” Her breath caught as his fingers traced the curve of her neck.

“That’s quite a switch for you. From satin and silk to cotton.”

Slowly, he ran his finger back down her neck, stopping at her cleavage. He eyed the rose-print top, and then unfastened the top button with ease.

“You like?” she asked, feeling her temperature rise a few degrees.

He smiled. “Yeah, I like.”

His finger stroked the soft skin between her breasts, sending shivers up and down her arms.

He removed his tie and tossed it to a nearby chair. Reaching for her, he drew her into his embrace, sighing loudly. “I’m tired.” He pressed his lips to her temple in a light kiss.