Temptation on Ocean Drive - Jennifer Probst Page 0,103
and stood beside her, stiff and quiet.
Andrew approached with Daisy. “Sorry, I don’t think we met?” he asked Gabe, leaning over to shake his hand. “I’m Andrew.”
“Gabe.”
“Oh, you work with Bella?”
Daisy cocked her head in anticipation, as if she were expecting Bella to jump in and correct him or explain they were dating, but she fell silent after glancing back and forth between them. An awkward silence descended as Andrew waited for the answer.
“Yes,” Gabe finally said.
Bella remained silent, too overwhelmed by the shaky anger inside, bursting to get out. If they were really involved in a relationship, he would’ve told her about the job. He deserved to feel rejected.
Just like her.
Daisy cleared her throat. “Bella, Gabe, Avery, and Taylor all work at Sunshine Bridal. They’re a pretty big deal and even got written up in some big magazines.”
“Cool,” Andrew said.
Bella jerked as she caught the look on Gabe’s face. A twist of pain and betrayal. His lips tightened, and he held his shoulders stiff, as if trying hard not to show how badly her silence had affected him.
Well, what had he expected? Why wouldn’t he tell her the truth? Did she owe him anything at this point?
“Excuse me,” Gabe said politely. He stepped away from the circle, walking across the deck while some more PTO moms drifted over to socialize. Bella tried to concentrate on the lively conversation, but Gabe’s face haunted her.
She needed to find him and talk.
She crossed the room, looking, but didn’t see him. She tapped Avery on the shoulder. “Have you seen Gabe?”
“He just left. Said something came up—everything okay?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
She raced off the boat and through the exit. She caught the sight of his lone figure heading to his car in the lot and called out his name. He waited for her, but when she reached him, his expression stopped her cold.
It was barren. Closed off. The usual light and pleasure in his gaze were now replaced by stone-cold resolution.
“Do you need something?”
She swallowed and hugged herself for warmth. “I’m sorry. I wanted to talk.”
He stared at her for a long time and then shook his head. A humorless laugh escaped his lips. “I’m sorry, too. For not realizing how hard this is for you.”
Her heart slammed against her chest. “It’s not. I was just angry and trying to get back at you.”
“Why?”
The hurt ripped through her. “You lied to me. Endless Vows called. They said you’d interviewed for a position and they hadn’t heard back from you.”
He muttered a curse, then rubbed his head in frustration. “Dammit, I should’ve known they’d call. Palmer’s a smart SOB, and he wanted to make sure my current job knew I’d interviewed.”
A bitter laugh escaped. “Oh, so that’s the only thing you’re worried about? That your dirty little secret got spilled before you could tell us?”
“No. I was going to tell you, but much later. There was no reason to confuse us any further.”
Her jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? Am I someone you now try to handle to have the least amount of messiness? How dare you do this to my family? My sisters trusted you—if you were so intent on going to some big-time company for money and glory, you could’ve warned us. Don’t you feel you owe us anything?”
“Bella, you don’t understand. I was never looking to leave. I got a call that the CEO wanted to interview me, and yeah, I felt like I owed it to myself to hear what he wanted. But I was never going to take the job. I love my work, and I love Cape May, and I love—” He stopped, his face a hard mask, emotions ruthlessly banked between that icy wall.
He loved her.
The unspoken statement ripped through her. What was happening? She’d been so sure of his intentions.
He cleared his throat and continued, “When did you get the call?”
“Yesterday.”
“And you didn’t think to ask me right away? You waited until we were in a public place to finally show me you’ll never be ready for this relationship?”
She jerked back. “No! How do you think it felt to hear you were pursuing a job that would take you away after all of your declarations? I have a daughter to protect. This isn’t about just me, Gabe. You have the power to hurt Zoe in ways that you’ll never understand.”
His features softened with regret. “I’m sorry. I’d never hurt Zoe, or you, or your family. You mean too much to me. I didn’t want to tell you I’d