Chapter 100
“Look after her,” Gabriel says. He bends and kisses my forehead. “Til just be in my office. Call if you
need me.”
He strides down the hall to his office and closes the door behind him.
left alone in the awkward silence with Mark
“I really don’t need to be babysat, Mark, thanks anyway.”
“I’m going to get to making you some lunch. Any requests?”
“Got any leftovers from the beef stroganoff you made last night?” I smirk.
His eyes widen and then flick down the hall to where Gabriel is. “I? —
“Was just helping.” I shrug. “I get it, I won’t tell him that I know.”
“What gave it away?”
“Seeing he doesn’t know how to turn on my oven and he somehow miraculously cooked everything in record time, it wasn’t rocket science to work it out.”
“Oh.” He smiles. “Ile’s trying,”
“I know.”
“Do you, though?”
I frown. What does he mean by that?
Mark has something to say, I want to hear what it is.
“Why don’t you make us a cup of coffee and we go sit by the pool?” I say.
His eyes drift down the hall.
“I’ll get Gabriel to help me out.”
Chapte
“Okay” He disappears into the kitchen and I text Gabriel.
Sorry to bother you.
Can you give me a quick lift out to the pool?
I want to sit in the sun.
The office door opens and Gabriel comes striding out, he has his AirPods in and is talking on the “Phone. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he says,
he bends and lifts me into his arms and kisses my
arm.
All these arm kisses today….
We stride to the back door and he opens it as he carries me. “No, that won’t do. I want the report by Monday.” He listens as he walks me down the steps. I can hear a man talking on the other end but not well enough to know what’s being said. He carries me down to the pool and sits me down on the deck chair, he kisses my shoulder and smiles. “You okay?” he mouths.
I nod as my stomach flutters.
Without another word, he turns and marches back inside.
Five minutes later, Mark appears with two cups of coffee. He sits down beside me on the deck chair. and passes me my cup. “Thank you.”
“How hungry are you? You feel like a cooked meal for lunch?”
“I’d kill for a grilled cheese sandwich.”
He smiles. “I can do that.”
Isip my cup of coffee as 1 try to work out what to say next. “So…you cook for him?”
He chuckles. “Not usually. He has a chef at home.”
“A chef.” I frown. “I forget how exotic his life is in New York.” “I know,” he replies.
My eyes shoot up in question.
“I didn’t mean…”
“No, no, please go on. This is a private conversation; I would never tell him what we talk abofl agree to never tell him that I know he didn’t cook last night.”
He chuckles.
“You’ve been with him a long time?”
“Nine years.”
let you’ve seen a lot in that time.”
“Yes and no.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that…Gabriel’s a creature of habit, not much has changed with him at all…that is, until the last seven weeks.” “Since he came here, you mean?” He nods.
“I guess it was very different when he was going to marry Ariana too.”
“No, not at all.” He goes to open his mouth and then stops himself from saying something.
“What?”
“It’s not my place to say.”
“No, please. Say it. Your perspective would be very helpful; you know him better than anyone. Lord. knows I need some help working this all out.” “I just…I don’t believe he was ever going to marry
Ariana.”
“Why not?”
He frowns as he looks over the pool. “I’m not sure how much he’s told you about…” His voice trails.
off. “About what?”
“About the period of time after you and he were together in New York?”
“When he broke my heart?”
“When he broke his.”
Chapter 100
My eyes flick to him. “What do you mean?” “He was never the same after you left.” “I wish I could believe you.” I sigh.
He sips his coffee. “Have you ever wondered why he came looking for you?”
My eyes hold his.
“All I’m saying is…”
What are you saying?”
–
“He always said that you were his one that got away, you were the girl he was supposed to live. happily ever after with.” I get a lump in my throat as I listen.
“Pride ruins a lot of relationships, Violet.” “You think I’m going to ruin this?” I whisper.
“Look…it’s…” He shrugs. “He deserves to be happy.” He gives me a stifled smile. “And so do you and
the kids.”
O(0)
