“I can’t believe those are the only ornaments you have.”
Gabe glanced over at her, his brows drawn. “What’s wrong with them?”
Chelsea didn’t even attempt to hide her laughter. “You used one of your hats as the tree topper and the rest of your ornaments are shot glasses from around the world and plastic horseshoes. Don’t you have any beads or ribbon or even a star for the top?”
Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Gabe glanced from the tree back to her. “I suppose your tree has all of that and is weighed down with glittery ornaments?”
Chelsea shrugged. So he’d described her tree perfectly. Well, the tree she’d always put up. This year she’d been so preoccupied with so many other things and she’d rarely been home.
“I may like a little glitter in my Christmas decorations,” she admitted. “It’s festive and happy. Besides, most of my stuff belonged to my father. They’re ornaments we hung when I was little.”
She remembered her dad letting her pick out most of the decorations. Even though she’d been young, she’d chosen all the sparkles and, still as an adult, she loved the shiny stuff.
“Do the holidays upset you?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder to meet her eyes. “I imagine it’s difficult without your parents at times like this.”
Chelsea wasn’t quite sure what to say. Yes, it was hard, but she couldn’t quite focus on her response. Was Gabe trying to get to know her more? Did he want to take this relationship somewhere they hadn’t discussed? Because placing her past front and center in the conversation was most definitely putting them on another level.
“Losing my father was the worst,” she admitted, staring at the tree because it was easier than looking into those caring gray eyes. “I know he died of a broken heart. He gave up his will when the only woman he loved walked out and was never heard from since.”
Chelsea bit her lower lip, willing the burn in her throat and the threat of more tears to cease. “I actually know where my mother is. I have for years.”
“Chels.” Gabe crossed to her, sliding his hands up her arms, curling his fingers over her shoulders. “Have you contacted her?”
“No. Why would I?” Now, she did meet that mesmerizing gaze. “She made her choice. At first I just wanted to see if I could use my skills to find her, and I did. She doesn’t live that far from here. She has a new life, and is clearly not concerned with what she left behind.”
“Baby, I’m sorry.”
Baby. He’d not called her such an endearing term before. Well, he’d drawn out darlin’ once or twice, but always in that devil-may-care attitude. The way he spoke to her now, the way he looked at her, was completely different.
She found she wanted to open up more now that she’d started. Never before had she felt like this, like she could trust a man with more than her body. Gabe was worth the risk.
“When she left and then Dad passed, I didn’t handle things very well. I was on the verge of a breakdown and I broke.”
Shame filled her. She’d never actually said the words out loud. When everything had happened, Daniel and Brandee were well aware of the situation and had gotten her the help she needed. She’d never had to fully tell the story. Even when she spoke with counselors, Chelsea had glossed over details or kept her feelings veiled.
“Hey.” Gabe slid his finger beneath her chin and tipped her face up. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to tell me. I want to help, but don’t torture yourself.”
She pulled in a breath and reached up to grip his wrist, as if drawing strength from him. “I tried to end my life.”
Gabe’s gasp had her cringing. “Chelsea.” Her name came out somewhere between pain and fear as Gabe pulled her into his arms. He encircled her in a vise-like grip. “I don’t even know what to say.”
He held her another moment, the silence settling heavily around them. She knew by the way he held her that he was stunned, struggling with how to react.
“I felt so alone,” she went on, clinging to him. “I know I had Daniel and Brandee, but my foundation was gone. My trust had been shattered when my mom left. I didn’t know how to approach my dad to talk because he was so distraught. Then once he was gone...”
Gabe eased her back and framed her face, forcing her to hold his attention. “I hate that you had to go through all of that. I hate that you felt alone and that there was no choice but to... Damn it, I can’t even think it, let alone say it.”
There was so much affection in his tone, so much, dare she hope love? Had his feelings changed toward her? It certainly hadn’t been her intent to influence him when she’d decided to open up about her past. She’d grown to love and trust him, and decided that if she was going to go after what she truly wanted, then he needed to know the full story.
“Needless to say, that’s why Daniel has always been so protective.” Chelsea pulled in a breath, thankful the story was out and off her chest. “I guess I wanted you to know.”
“You trust me.”
There was almost a relief in his voice. Chelsea smiled through her tears and nodded. “I do trust you, Gabe.”
She went up onto her toes and kissed him. She wanted to feel him, to taste him. She wanted to ignore the pain from her past and concentrate on what she hoped was her future.
Gabe flattened his hands on her back, urging her closer. From mouths to hips, they were joined. Chelsea knew she could never get enough. She only hoped he was starting to feel the same way.
When Gabe eased back, she had to stifle a groan. She wanted him to take her to the bedroom—or here on the floor would be fine—and finish what that kiss promised. She wanted to feel alive after the anguish of her admission.
“Want to go put your Christmas stuff up?” he asked, his brows drawn in.
Seriously? He was worried about her tree?
But the closer she looked at him, the more she realized he was out of his element here. He was unsure of how to approach her now, of how to handle her. There was so much affection in his eyes. She was used to the desire, the passion and fire. But seeing this side of Gabe warmed every single part of her and only added to the growing hope she had for them.
“It’s late and we’re so close to Christmas.” Chelsea waved a hand in a silent gesture to just forget it. “Besides, is that really how you want to spend our time together? I mean, I could probably procure some mistletoe and we could toy with that. You can even decorate me if you want.”
Longing instantly filled his eyes. “I can think of several ways for us to spend the rest of the night and you won’t need to go get mistletoe. I’ll have you unwrapped and begging in no time.” He nipped once again at her lips. “You’re staying, by the way.”
Little did he know she’d never had any intention of leaving.
* * *
As he lay in the dark with Chelsea sleeping in the crook of his arm, Gabe couldn’t stop replaying their conversation. The idea that this strong, independent woman had thought there was no way out of her stressful life, well, it absolutely crushed him. A world without Chelsea would be dull and lifeless.
Gabe realized now that he didn’t want a world without her. She’d become part of him, part of everything he did and every thought he had. Somehow she’d managed to consume more space in his mind than work and that had never happened. Ever.
Chelsea made his days brighter. As silly and adolescent as that sounded, it was true. When he knew they were going to see each other, he found himself counting down the hours. Yes, the sex was amazing, better than he’d ever had, actually, but there was more. So much more.
He trailed his fingers up her arm and over the curve of her shoulder. They were supposed to end things in a couple of days but he wasn’t planning on letting her go. She’d exposed too much of herself, of her troubled past, and he knew his Chelsea wouldn’t have done that if she weren’t having strong feelings for him.
Between the wedding and Christmas, Gabe figured this was about as magical as the timing could get. He wanted Chelsea to know that she was it for him. He wanted her to know that she would never feel alone again, not as long as he was in her life.
But he wanted her to know he meant it. He wanted her to see that he wasn’t just in this for their time between the sheets. He wasn’t sure when he’d started falling for her, but he’d done it just the same.
Their quick, whirlwind affair had forced him to realize that she was so much more than just a sexy woman who challenged him. She’d overcome so much in her past, yet she’d come out on top in her career and her life.
Still, the guilt hadn’t subsided. She’d suffered even more than he ever suspected and hadn’t said a word to anyone except her brother, her best friend, and now him.
That in and of itself told him all he needed to know about her feelings.
Gabe smiled into the darkness and rolled over to face her. Even though she continued to sleep, he couldn’t let himself relax. He wanted to formulate the perfect plan to show Chelsea just how much he wanted her in his life, just how much he cared for her and, yes, just how much he loved her.
This would be the greatest Christmas yet.
* * *
Chelsea ended up going into Hunt & Co., after she’d gone home, showered and changed her clothes. After their emotional night, she’d woken with a smile on her face and Gabe had promptly given her something else to smile about.
Gabe couldn’t wait until this evening. They planned on taking more decorations to the church for the wedding, which was closing in on them. That meant the deadline to achieve his goal of keeping Chelsea in his life was also closing in on him.
They hadn’t spoken about it since before her heartfelt admission last night. He hoped she’d forget all about it, that she’d ignore the end date they’d set.
As much as he wanted to be with her, he was glad to have this time alone because he needed to plan. As soon as the wedding was over, he intended to bring her back to his place and tell her everything. That he didn’t want to be without her, that he was so proud of her for learning to trust, and that he trusted her, too...with his heart.
Gabe headed down to the first floor to check his mail. He planned on swinging by the TCC to make sure everything was in place for the outdoor reception. He’d promised Chelsea he would and she’d even sent him a text of her notes so he didn’t forget anything. Which was fine, considering he didn’t have the first clue about wedding receptions.
Fortunately, he’d discovered quite a bit on this journey, though, and if Chelsea wanted a large wedding, he’d damn well give her one. Anything she wanted, so long as he was in her life.
Once upon a time the thought of a wedding with him as the groom would’ve scared the hell out of him, but not anymore. Having Chelsea all to himself forever had quickly become a dream he wanted to make a reality.
Gabe exited the elevator on the first floor and nodded to the daytime doorman standing at his post. Sunshine flooded the floor of the old building, highlighting the gleaming black-and-white-checkered flooring.
When Gabe checked his mailbox, he was surprised to only have one piece of mail. He hadn’t checked it for nearly a week. But considering that most everything he did was online, and with the holidays fast approaching, it probably made sense there wasn’t much mail.
He flipped the envelope over and noticed a note taped to the front.
This letter was placed in my box by mistake. I was out of town so I wasn’t able to get it back to you until now.
Your Neighbor in 2C.
So the elderly lady who lived below him had received his mail. That rarely happened. She’d been out of town for the past several weeks visiting her kids across the state.
Gabe tore off the note and stilled. The letter was postmarked four weeks ago, but that wasn’t the part that chilled him.
The return address was Dusty’s. Seeing his uncle’s handwriting, receiving this from him after his death, was a bit eerie.
Gabe had no clue what Dusty could’ve sent out only one day before his death, so he sure as hell didn’t want to open this without privacy. He couldn’t get back to his loft fast enough. Gabe had a sinking feeling whatever Maverick had started almost a year ago was about to come back to life in this piece of mail.
Once Gabe finally made it to his apartment, he barely got his door closed before he was tearing into the oversize envelope. He pulled out the contents, cursing under his breath when black-and-white glossies spilled out onto the floor at his feet. Glossies of the woman he loved.
Gabe crouched down and sifted through the images, one after another after another. His heart sank, his stomach turned.
He searched through each photo, but they all had the same theme. She was naked or partially dressed, in the locker room of her gym. From the angle, Gabe could tell someone had planted the camera in a vent or a light fixture. Each photo brought a new wave of rage. She’d had no clue these were taken. Were these just copies of the others that were out there? Because he’d deliberately never looked at those.
Or were these completely new?
Dread coiled in his gut as he gathered the photos and stalked to his kitchen. He tossed the images on the counter and started reading the letter.
Gabriel,
I don’t know how much longer I have, so I’m reaching out to my only living relative.
By now, you may have figured everything out. Yes, I’m Maverick. I have my reasons for doing what I did, which I’ll lay out below. But I also have some unfinished business and need your help.
As you know I was shunned at the Texas Cattleman’s Club. My attempts to gain membership were constantly turned down. They let women in a man’s club and kept me out? Well, I had to take matters into my own hands and, once I explain why, you’ll understand. I hope you carry on where I had to leave off.
Years ago I had an affair with Colleen Humphreys. Her husband was a longtime president of the TCC and on the board until his death just a year ago. When he found out about the affair, he threatened to ruin me. But blacklisting me only backfired on his precious club. I mean, who had the last laugh? The revenge I took on the members was so sweet. I do feel a tad guilty for the lives I ruined, but they were merely pawns caught in the game. I had no choice.
Gabe gritted his teeth at his uncle’s words. So Dusty had done all of this, terrorizing Royal for months on end, to get back at a man who’d been his victim to begin with? What kind of sick person had his uncle been?
Disgust filled Gabe as he focused on the rest of the letter.
Here are some final photos of Chelsea Hunt. I never shared these and I know you’ll help me out by finishing this. You always were so loyal. I’m counting on you, Gabriel. Do what you see fit to ruin the TCC and all those who were allowed in when I was not. Women like Chelsea and so many others think they’re too good, walking around all high and mighty. It’s not right, but we’ll make sure they suffer.
Gabe gripped the paper so tightly that it crinkled in his hand. Then he tossed it onto the counter, unable to even touch it another second. He had no clue what to do. He had to think. He’d believed this situation was behind them but it had just reared its ugly head once again. Now, he was in control...whether he wanted to be or not.
At least Dusty had mailed the photos and letter to him. Gabe hated to think what would’ve happened had they gotten into the wrong hands.
Disgusted, Gabe turned away from the heap of photos on the counter. He didn’t want to see them anymore, didn’t want anyone to see them. Gabe would have to turn them over to Sheriff Nathan Battle to be processed with the rest of the items. They were still trying to figure out who could’ve helped Dusty because obviously the man couldn’t have planted a camera in a women’s locker room by himself. Not with his poor health.
Gabe would get to the bottom of this. He’d find out who was helping his uncle, he’d make sure this was all in the past, and then he and Chelsea could move forward with their future.