A Billionaire's Redemption - By Cindy Dees Page 0,38
Willa said to Gabe, “Did they expect me to show up in widow’s weeds like it’s the nineteenth century?”
Gabe answered smoothly, “They’re jealous. Take it for the compliment it is.”
She smiled warmly at him. “Good point.”
“We can always leave if you’d rather not face the cats and their claws.”
“I’m no coward,” she retorted. “And I’ve got to face them sometime. I may as well get it out of the way tonight, when I’ve got this beautiful dress and a knight in shining armor to defend my honor.”
“That’s the spirit. I rather like the sound of Sir Gabriel.”
“Gabriel? That’s your real name?”
“Gabriel Michael.”
“Your parents went for the whole archangel theme, huh?”
“Fat lot of good it did them to name me after angels,” he retorted. “I’m anything but.”
The idea of him being a dark and dangerous bad boy turned her on more than she could believe. As far as she knew, she didn’t react in any overt way to the thought, but Gabe leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Hold that thought for later, baby.”
Her toes curled into tight little buds of lust in her shoes. “Can we leave now?” she asked hopefully.
He laughed quietly. “But the upstanding citizens of this fine town aren’t done skewering the two of us yet. You wouldn’t want to deprive them of their righteous pleasure, would you?”
Chapter 8
Dinner was served, and Willa spent the next hour dealing with plates and food and drinks and not spilling anything on her gorgeous gown or otherwise making an idiot of herself. But then the tables were cleared and, while the auction was set up onstage, the guests were free to mingle again.
Apparently, the wine with dinner had kicked in or some unspoken signal she wasn’t aware of passed between the members of the ladies’ auxiliary as everyone left the tables. Or maybe it was Gabe excusing himself for a moment to visit the restroom. But the second Willa was alone, the barracudas closed in on her.
“You’ve got some nerve showing your face around here after what you did to James Ward.”
“Just because you got your father’s job doesn’t give you the right to destroy a sweet, innocent man like James who never did anything to you.”
“You lying, pathetic bitch. How dare you accuse James Ward of laying a finger on you! And then you show up with a sleazeball like Gabe Dawson?”
“Who’d have guessed you were such a slut? Your father must be rolling over in his grave.”
They came at her so fast and from so many directions she had no hope at all of addressing any of their vicious attacks. And frankly, she had no idea what to say to any of them. Never in her life had anyone spoken to her like this. She was absolutely speechless over the hatred and jealousy in their voices. Had they always hated her this much? Had it only been her father’s power that held them at bay? Or was all this venom directed specifically at her?
And then a voice she recognized all too well separated itself from the others.
“What are you doing here? And dressed like that. I’m appalled, Willa Merris. Not to mention your choice of escorts. Gabe Dawson? Are you intentionally trying to rub your family’s nose in the slime that boy crawled out of?”
Willa whipped around to face that voice. “Mother? I didn’t know you were planning to come to this event. You should have told me.”
“And when did I have a chance? You’ve been too busy running around accusing nice boys of horrible crimes and grabbing at your father’s wealth and position. If you think you’re going to rob me blind, you’ve another think coming, young lady. I’ll fight you. I’ll get my own lawyers, and I’ll see to it you don’t get a penny of your father’s estate.”
Willa’s jaw dropped in complete shock. What was this? She didn’t want her father’s money...what little of it there was, if Gabe was telling the truth about the Vacarro wells. “I don’t want Father’s money, and I certainly don’t want to steal anything from you.”
Her mother ignored her and spewed, “You’ve disgraced our family. Splashing private business all over the news with your crazy accusations. Then trying to take over Merris Oil, and stealing your father’s senate seat. And look at you. You look like a cheap whore.”
Her mother’s eyes were overbright, maybe even a bit maniacal, as she pointed an accusing finger at Willa. And Minnie’s voice had risen enough that a number of