Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,111
at you.”
The courage turned out to be inside her all along. She didn’t need to dig to find it. Of course the big smile on his face and in his voice didn’t hurt.
“I love you.” This time she said it in a full voice, dipping down to her soul and letting the words ring out.
He closed his eyes. “Oh, thank God,” he said in a whisper.
She slid a hand over the back of his head and leaned in to kiss his forehead. “I never expected it, certainly didn’t plan on it, but you crashed into my life and turned it upside down.”
He winked at her. “In a good way.”
“In the very best way.”
“That’s good since I am so stupid in love with you I can barely see straight.” His fingertips danced over her cheek then down to her lips. “I didn’t even know love could be like this, so overwhelming and bright and healing.”
Every word touched her. He wasn’t the type to break out in poetry or make big grand gestures, but he’d proven from the start that he would make concessions for her. He’d bend the rules and change his life around.
His love humbled her. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve it but she refused to push it away. “Gabe.”
“I don’t care how many days have passed or how much more we need to discover about each other. That future together, the one we hinted at and almost blew, I want it.” He repeated the words he said to her every night. “Stay with me.”
This time instead of saying she would, she went with the answer that played over and over in her head. “Always.”
He kissed her then. Not one of those sweet ones and not one that spiked her temperature. This one rumbled in the middle and held a promise. One she could feel and taste. This man had staying power. He would not break her. Would not walk away.
She lifted her head and stared at him. Even a few days ago she wouldn’t have broached this subject. She would have enjoyed what they had and not rocked their calm world. But she felt empowered. “We need to talk about something.”
His smile fell. “Uh-oh.”
“Rick.”
During a recent visit, Andy told her the divide between the brothers stretched even wider now. Rick didn’t call or contact any of them. Brandon, who didn’t know what had happened behind the scenes, didn’t understand the complete communication blackout. Andy was starting to worry. It was time for Gabe to step up and be the head of the family. Be the loyal, decent man she loved so much.
Gabe groaned as his head fell back into the pillows.
She kissed his chin. “It’s time.”
He opened one eye and peeked up at her. “Can’t we hide here and have more sex?”
She knew then he wouldn’t disappoint her. He’d step up this time like he did every other. He’d grumble and try to negotiate. She’d grumble back, though a part of her really loved that playful side of him.
She trailed a finger down his chest, down between their bodies. “I’ll make a deal with you.”
He nearly jackknifed into a sitting position. His head whipped up that fast. “I’m listening.”
“If you’re a very good boy and reach out to Rick . . .” She drew the comment out and could feel the excitement rise inside him while he waited.
“Yes?”
“I will be a very bad girl for you.” Right as she got the words out the room spun around. When it came into focus again she lay on her back with two hundred pounds of bearded hot male leaning over her. “That was subtle.”
“There is nothing subtle about my love for you.”
Her insides turned all soft and gooey when he talked like that. The sensation was new to her and she loved it almost as much as she loved him. “Something else we have in common.”
“And, Nat?”
“Yes, baby.” She used the endearment and said it in that smoky tone because she knew it drove him wild.
He lowered his head and whispered the word against her lips. “You have a deal.”
• • •
Gabe sat in the conference room at Tosh two days later and decided he would do just about anything for Natalie. The fact that she sat next to him, looking all cool and professional in a slim-fitting black pantsuit. So proper, except that she flashed him a peek of the lacy pink bra under her shirt as they got out of the car. The one that barely