Kissing Under the Mistletoe - By Marina Adair Page 0,82
is not and never will be the new black. At least not one that you could pull off attractively. You are smart and beautiful and a wonderful pain in the ass.”
“Is this where you tell me ‘It’s not you, it’s him’?” Regan smiled, a little.
“No, this is where I tell you that Gabe is not ready for a woman like you. He already raised a family and he’s convinced himself that he doesn’t want another one.”
The realization that Jordan was right knocked the wind out of her. Gabe had told her the same thing. And until this moment she hadn’t understood that deep in her heart she had been clinging to the hope that maybe he’d change his mind.
“Do I think he will always be a familyphobe? No.” Jordan took Christmas Kitty’s mittens out of Regan’s hands. They were wrinkled and the fur on the thumb was worried into small tufts. “But I don’t want you and Holly to be the experiment to see if he’s ready. Especially when, for a DeLuca, family always comes first.”
Even his home spoke volumes for how much he loved his family. Sure it was a bachelor pad with lots of dark furniture, stainless steel, and a television bigger than her Christmas tree. But on nearly every wall and surface were family photos, mementos, signs that Gabe DeLuca was a family man—and he already had a family.
“Maybe Jordan was wrong about talking to Gabe,” Frankie said, gathering up the leftover sequins and plastic stones and leveling Jordan with a look. “I know if she did that to me, I’d kick her ass. No question.” She looked back to Regan. “If you want me to, just say the word. But I think what she’s saying about the DeLucas is spot on. Do I think he could fall for a girl like you? Totally. You’re all girly and maternal and shit. Do I think he would someday screw you over if his family asked him to? In a heartbeat. So before you go bringing him home for dinner, remember that having someone you love walk out sucks golf balls. But when you’re a kid...you never get over wondering what you did wrong.”
With that, Frankie stood, shoving the fabric scraps and beads in a bag, and grabbed her keys. “I’ll finish the frog’s head on my own. I’m practically OD-ing on all the estrogen in the air.” She got to the door and stopped, her shoulders slumping. Without turning around she said, in a none-too-nice tone, “I would like nothing more than to hop on my bike and breathe concrete for the next two hours. But since Jordan refused to let me drive the hog in the rain, she’s my ride home.”
Jordan folded the cape and frog’s body. She was reaching for the broom when Regan grabbed her hand. “I’ll get it. You take Frankie home and I’ll clean up. Thank you...for everything.”
Jordan threw her arms around her and hugged her tight. “I never meant to make things harder on you. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
“I know.” Regan tightened her arms around her friend.
“You don’t hate me?”
“No.” Regan laughed even though she felt like crying. Gabe had been put on notice, and Jordan’s intent was heartwarming. But the result was quite the opposite. Regan had worried all week about what she had done wrong. Now she realized that the answer was nothing. She was a single mom, struggling to balance career and family and toting around a lifetime of baggage.
Her problem didn’t lie in the fact that she wasn’t enough—she was too much.
She gave Jordan one last squeeze and pulled back. It was better this way. She knew the score, and Holly wouldn’t be hurt later on down the road.
“Good.” Jordan took her shoulders. “You gonna be okay?”
Regan nodded. What was she supposed to say? She’d already admitted to attacking Gabe. There was no way she was saying aloud that she might have been stupid enough to actually fall in love with the guy, and that her heart was breaking because she knew he would never love her back.
CHAPTER 13
Gabe heard the front door shut and walked out into the front of the house to find Regan. He wanted to talk to her about the last week. He wanted to apologize.
After she’d scurried off Monday, Jordan had cornered him. Told him that he’d better have his intentions clear with regard to Regan because if he so much as hurt her, Jordan would have his nuts.