“Can you believe tomorrow is the day?” Chelsea resisted a girlish squeal, but she hugged her best friend tight. “Everything is going to be perfect.”
The rehearsal dinner was going exactly as planned. The food was perfect, the décor similar to what would be used in the actual wedding. Chelsea couldn’t be more excited for her best friend.
“Everything is going to be perfect,” Chelsea exclaimed.
Brandee eased back and nodded. “You and Gabe have gone above and beyond. I can’t thank you guys enough.”
“We were happy to help.”
Brandee’s brows rose as her smile widened. “Maybe we’ll be planning your wedding next?”
As much as the idea gave Chelsea the warm fuzzies, she wasn’t sure Gabe was ready for that. She wasn’t even sure he was ready to hear her say how she truly felt. But, after the wedding tomorrow, she was going to tell him.
This was their last night together and she had every intention of making it unforgettable. She would love to open herself up to him tonight and tell him every emotion she’d kept bottled up, but if he turned her down, she didn’t want the awkward tension at the wedding, especially since they were walking down the aisle together.
“We’re just...” Chelsea wasn’t quite sure how to describe the current situation. “Taking this one day at a time.”
“You love him.”
The chatter around them, the music from the DJ, the soft breeze, everything faded away at those three words. There was no use denying them, not to Brandee. The girl knew Chelsea better than she knew herself.
“I just hope he feels the same.”
Brandee tipped her head. “If the way he’s staring at you right now is any indicator, I’d say he feels more than lust.”
A thrill shot through Chelsea. She so wanted Gabe to be on the same emotional page as she was. They’d had a breakthrough moment when she’d fully opened herself to him. He’d taken her to his bed and made love to her like she was the most fragile, most precious thing in his life. She only prayed that was true.
“Just be honest,” Brandee urged. “I almost lost Shane, but we both fought for what we wanted. You’re going to have to do the same.”
Chelsea opened her mouth to reply, but Brandee squeezed her hands and shot a look over Chelsea’s shoulder.
“I better go talk to the other guests,” Brandee stated. “I’ll see you in the morning at the church.”
Chelsea watched as her friend went to talk to a couple of the other bridesmaids. The outdoor rehearsal dinner at Hope Springs Ranch was perfect. With the temperatures hovering around fifty, they were able to have the event outside in comfort thanks to the heated tents.
This laid-back atmosphere was perfect before the rush and drama of tomorrow. The caterers had done a phenomenal job; of course, they’d used some beef tips from Hunt & Co. for the main course.
Strong hands curled around Chelsea’s shoulders and she didn’t even hesitate when Gabe eased her back against his chest.
“These little dresses of yours drive me out of my mind,” he growled into her ear. “I think you enjoy teasing me.”
Chelsea smiled and reached up to cup her hands over his. “I love wearing dresses with boots when the occasion calls for it. Driving you out of your mind is just a bonus.”
“What are you wearing under this? Something else new?”
“Perhaps.”
She’d put on the slinky teddy with him in mind, and had been counting down the time until they could leave so he could take it off.
“We practiced coming down the aisle and going back up, plus we’ve eaten.” He nipped at her earlobe. “Are we done here yet?”
Chelsea turned in his arms. “You know, if we keep leaving parties early, people are going to know what we’re up to.”
His hands settled easily on her waist. Those gray eyes she’d come to love sought her from beneath the rim of his black hat.
“I don’t care what people think,” he told her. “I care about you and that’s it.”
He cared about her. Not quite a declaration of love, but it was more than what they’d originally started with. Hope blossomed.
“We should at least say goodbye to our friends,” she told him.
“Fine. Say your goodbyes. Be quick.” He smacked a kiss on her mouth and stepped back. “Be at my place in fifteen minutes.”
Chelsea laughed. “It takes me fifteen minutes to get there from here.”
“Then you better just wave goodbye instead of saying it.”
He turned and headed toward Shane. Chelsea watched as they did the one-armed man hug and then Gabe headed off toward the field where they’d all parked their cars.
“I imagine you’ll be leaving, too.”
Chelsea turned to see her brother eyeing her with concern. “I am,” she confirmed.
“You’re going to get hurt, Chels. I know guys like Walsh. Hell, I know Gabe. I can see the hearts in your eyes.”
She attempted to tamp down her anger as she crossed her arms over her chest. “You’ve tried to warn me before. Do I look like I’m hurt? Don’t interfere, Daniel. I’ve got this under control.”
When she started to turn away, he grabbed her elbow and forced her to focus on him. “I hope your eyes are wide-open here. And I hope that he feels the same way as you do because you’re in deep.”
She hoped Gabe was on the same page with her feelings, too.
With a simple nod, Chelsea pulled her arm from Daniel’s grasp. She knew he was just looking out for her, but this was ridiculous. No one was going to come between her and what she wanted—and she wanted Gabe Walsh in her life.
By the time she made it to his loft, her entire body was humming. Chelsea smiled at the doorman as she entered the building. The elevator ride seemed to take forever, then finally she was at Gabe’s door. She didn’t bother knocking as she turned the knob beneath her palm and eased the door open.
The only light in the loft was the sparkle from the Christmas tree and the city lights streaming through the wall of windows.
She’d barely gotten the door closed when Gabe’s arms banded around her. Chelsea melted against him, more than ready to spend the night here.
“You’re three minutes late.”
Chelsea pushed away from him and crossed the apartment. She wasn’t quite done driving him out of his mind.
“I had to talk to my brother,” she explained. “And say goodbye to Brandee and Shane. Then I thanked the caterers.”
“Take off your dress.”
Chelsea turned back to face him. The large loft seemed to close in on her as Gabe took one slow step after another toward her. His eyes never left hers, giving her all the thrills. How could a look make her feel like he was touching her all over? How did he have so much control over not just her body but her mind?
“Come take it off me,” she countered.
A low growl emanated from him as he closed the distance between them. In a flash move, he gripped the hem of her dress and jerked it up and over her head. The second he tossed it aside, his swift intake of breath had her confidence soaring. She propped her hands on her hips, thrusting her chest out and cocking her head to the side.
“Was it worth the wait, cowboy?”
“Damn,” he whispered. “Had I known you were wearing that, we never would’ve made it to the dinner.”
Chelsea couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m pretty sure there’s a rule against that.”
“Maybe, but nobody would blame me.”
She reached out, jerking on his silver buckle. “Why don’t you just take me here? This is technically the last night in our agreement, right?”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to take them back. But seeing the flicker of annoyance in his eyes told her he wasn’t ready to see this end.
Maybe she should tell him now. Maybe she should just throw it all out there and take the risk now.
But, no. Because if she’d read him wrong, she would never forgive herself for the resulting awkwardness at Brandee and Shane’s wedding.
Gabe lifted her into his arms. With one arm behind her back, one arm behind her knees, he nipped at her lips as he walked through the loft. Romance had entered their relationship. This had all started with frenzied, passionate sex. Somewhere along the way love had settled in deep.
Chelsea wrapped her arms around his neck and nestled her head against his shoulder. “I expected you to take me against the window again,” she murmured into his ear.
“Maybe tonight is different.”
Maybe it was. As Gabe kicked the door shut to his bedroom, Chelsea finally felt like things were going her way. She’d found her happily-ever-after.
* * *
Early the following morning, Chelsea slid from bed. The sun still hadn’t come up, but she couldn’t sleep. Between the wedding, the fantastic night in Gabe’s arms, and the talk she wanted to have with him later today about their future, there was just too much going on and her mind simply wouldn’t shut down.
Chelsea glanced back to the bed where Gabe lay sprawled on his stomach, his light hair in disarray after she’d run her fingers through it. Her body still hummed as she snagged his T-shirt and put it on. She eased the door closed behind her as she made her way to the kitchen. Gabe was every bit the bachelor, but hopefully he had something she could make for their breakfast. She didn’t have to be at the church for a few hours, so maybe breakfast in bed was a great way to start the day.
Humming as she started searching through his cabinets, Chelsea figured if all else failed, she could do coffee, eggs and toast. He at least had those on hand.
She pulled out a pan and the eggs. Once she had them cracked into a bowl, she tugged on a drawer for a whisk. Of course his utensils weren’t in a drawer she would put them in. She tried another, only to find a junk drawer. She started to shut it when something caught her eye.
It was a black-and-white photograph. Chelsea focused on it, her heart hammering in her throat. No. That couldn’t be. Gabe wasn’t the accomplice. Was he? The sheriff had said they were searching for a female.
With a shaky hand she pulled the picture from the drawer, only to find more underneath it. She pulled them all out, then she saw a letter with Gabe’s name on it.
Nausea settled in the pit of her stomach as she shuffled through each picture. These weren’t the same ones that had circulated months back. These were actually newer, maybe a couple of months old. She knew that because she remembered the exact day at the gym. She recognized the outfit; she’d tried racquetball for the first time. Pretty soon after that, the first nude photos had been leaked and she hadn’t been back to that gym since.
Pulling in a deep breath, she set the pictures on the counter, facing down. Her attention went to the letter; she quickly saw it was from Dusty. Did she really want to read this? Did she want to know what he and Gabe had discussed?
Her eyes scanned the scratchy penmanship first before she went back to the top and absorbed every single word.
She couldn’t be reading this right. She just...she couldn’t. This was important evidence that had been sent to Gabe weeks ago. Why was he hiding these photos in a drawer? Shouldn’t he have turned these over to the sheriff by now? Was Gabe covering something up?
Dropping the letter on top of the pictures, Chelsea took a step back and stared at the pile. Such damning evidence of Gabe’s involvement with his uncle mocked her and the future she’d been foolish enough to believe in.
Trust hadn’t come easy and now she knew why. She should’ve trusted her instincts to begin with where Gabe was concerned.
The tears came before she even realized it. All the hurt, all the anger, and so much resentment flooded her. She should’ve listened to her initial suspicions. Hell, she should’ve listened to Daniel. Hadn’t he been trying to warn her she’d get hurt?
She wasn’t just hurt, she was utterly, completely, destroyed.
The glow from the Christmas tree in the living room mocked her, trying to pull her back to that night when they’d put it up. He’d completely played her for a naïve fool.
At least she hadn’t told Gabe how she felt. He’d probably get a great kick out of knowing he’d duped her.
Chelsea blinked the tears away and went to the living room where her clothes were. She quickly changed, trying to figure out exactly what her next move should be. Did she really want to confront him? Did she want to hear more lies?
And that’s what all of this had been. A relationship built on lies.
Once she was dressed, Chelsea tucked her hair behind her ears and glanced at the closed bedroom door. As much as she didn’t want to even look at him and hear his excuses, she deserved answers. She deserved to know the real man...not just the one she’d fallen in love with. That man didn’t exist.