Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,63

rustic. Built into the side of a mountain and surrounded by a motion-sensor-activated fence, it had four thousand square feet of stone and wood aboveground. A place designed to his specifications with big rooms and high ceilings. Stuffed with comfortable furniture and housing a state-of-the-art kitchen. An indoor theater and a game room rounded out the specialty items.

He didn’t exactly skimp when it came to his home life. He liked to pretend it was all for Brandon, but truth was Gabe liked toys, too. That explained the hot tub and pool out back. Not that she could see either right now since he used the program on his phone to keep the place, including the grounds, dark. The contained and secure work area and communications center downstairs would also remain a mystery for a bit longer.

Then there were the photos all over the house. Those posed a problem. As soon as she looked at them she’d know Brandon was not some elementary school kid. That would lead to a discussion, possibly a lecture, and he’d never get her into bed. And that was the goal—her hair fanned out across his sheets. That needed to happen now.

Right now she stood at the edge of the flagstone entryway and stared into the great room. She seemed frozen in place.

“You okay?” he asked, knowing he wouldn’t like the answer.

She glared at him. “Did you forget to mention something?”

Everything. The whole place. The reality of the normal life he tried to live outside of the office. The seven televisions spread through the rooms so Brandon never missed a second of a football game. Well, that was mostly for Brandon.

Gabe went with an abbreviated response. “No.”

“Well, Mr. Mountain Man.” She took one step down into the great room. Then another. “You said you lived in a cabin.”

He didn’t bother turning up the lights. She could wait and explore tomorrow. He was fine to leave the arguments and debating until then. “I never said that. You assumed.”

Her eyes widened. She looked fully awake now. “You let me.”

“Okay, yes. That might be true.”

Dealing with her had been a lot easier when he drugged her to fly. Not that he would do that again. She’d never let him get away with that move a second time, especially now that the reason for it had disappeared. She’d long stopped fighting with him about sticking close.

She squinted and headed to the fireplace. He knew he had to stop her. The mantel served as a showcase for Brandon. Kid photos, prom photos. Gabe didn’t exactly hide Brandon’s life inside these walls.

“I know you want to look around.” Which was just about the last thing in the world he wanted, so he hooked her arm and turned her around until she faced him. Ran a mental inventory, trying to remember where all the wall photos of Brandon were in the house.

“Yes.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her in closer. “We should sleep.”

“I’m thinking about kicking you.” But her hands went to his chest and she didn’t fight back.

He frowned. “I’m not really into that.”

“You’re loaded.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” When she snorted he tried again. “I work hard, to the extent that makes the bank account fatter, so be it.”

“I had visions of her and your son living in this tiny two-bedroom.” She started telling a tale straight out of Dickens, complete with begging for food.

Gabe decided he probably needed to trim the beard and buy something other than a plaid shirt. Clearly he came off as if he made six cents per year, which was not really the look he intended. But he did get her theory. It wasn’t far off from the life they led in the beginning. Being an eighteen-year-old father didn’t exactly make a big house and fancy cars a possibility at first. Even now he kept that sort of thing to a minimum. Except for the house. He loved the house.

“Honestly, we did struggle for a very long time.” And he’d vowed to make things better for them and worked his ass off until he did. “I don’t come from money. I don’t flaunt what I have now, but I earned it all. Legitimately, I might add. Since I deal with stress, this is the place I come to burn all that off.”

She tapped a finger against his chin. “I feel like you’re leaving something out.”

That list was so long, but there was only one item on it that he cared