While Georgia was bringing him up to speed, he let the front desk take his calls. But when his father buzzed him, he picked up.
“It’s about time you got here,” Davis growled.
“You’re slipping, Dad,” Gabe teased, trying to establish a lighter tone. “Took you a full half hour to find out I was in the building.”
Davis had no intention of lightening up. “Don’t give me attitude. We need to talk. My office. Ten minutes.”
“I’ll be there.” He hung up and nodded at Georgia. “Continue.”
His assistant never failed to amaze him. In another seven minutes, she had him fully caught up on everything he’d missed. She returned to her desk to start working through the list of new tasks he’d given her. And he went up one floor to his father’s office, which had windows on three sides and great views of the Riverwalk and the Alamo.
Davis was waiting in that giant oxblood-leather swivel chair of his, behind his heavily carved mahogany desk, San Antonio spread out behind him. He looked like the king of Texas. Which he more or less considered himself. He wore Armani—because he could. And at fifty-eight, he was still a handsome man, with erect posture, broad, straight shoulders and a belly that didn’t hang over his belt.
Ash, not only the oldest of Gabe’s brothers, but also CEO of BravoCorp, was there, too. Davis didn’t rise from his throne-like chair when Gabe entered, but Ash got up.
“Gabe.” His big brother came toward him, wearing a smile. Since he’d lost his memory in California and found it again—along with his new wife, Tessa—Ash smiled a lot. He even held out his arms for a hug.
Gabe hesitated. Even lately, since he’d married Tessa, Ash wasn’t that affectionate. But as soon as he got his arms around Gabe, his real intention became clear.
He whispered, “Watch your ass. He’s on the warpath.”
Gabe already knew that. One look at Davis’s face had made the coming storm perfectly clear. Still, he clapped his brother on the back to let him know he appreciated the warning.
“Have a seat.” Davis made the offer into a command. “Both of you.” They took the leather armchairs opposite the desk. Davis wasted no time getting to the point. “I’ve got a meeting set up. Ten o’clock tomorrow morning, with everyone involved in the Bravo River project.” Davis’s ice-green gaze bored into Gabe. “We postponed the meeting Tuesday since you couldn’t make it to give your report. Now we’re on for tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure about you beforehand.”
Gabe sat back in the chair, faking an ease he didn’t feel. “I’ll be there.”
“All right, then. And you’ll give your report.”
“Sure.”
“What’s the downstroke?”
“Meaning?”
“Give your brother and me a preview.”
“What do you need, Dad?” As if he didn’t already know. As if Davis didn’t know he knew. But it would only put Gabe in a weakened position to name the main issue before his father did.
Davis quit dangling the carrot and said it, flat out. “I need you to tell me Mary Hofstetter’s on board. Now, before the meeting. Better still, I want to see her signature on the relevant pages of that more than generous offer we sent you to make to her. You’ve had since Monday to work that woman around to the right point of view. For you, that’s more than enough time and we both know it is.”
Gabe went ahead and laid it on him. “I can’t tell you she’s on board. She’s not on board. She’s never getting on board. She isn’t going to sell. And while I was out of the office, I did some research online. I’ve found two other properties that might work for the project. I think we ought to—”
Davis put up a hand. “I didn’t ask you to find other properties. I sent you out to do your job, which is to fix this situation.”
“There is no fixing it. We need to move on.”
“I want that land.”
“You won’t get it.”
“I’ll do what I have to do.”
Gabe had been kind of worried it might come to this. To threats and dirty dealing. Shades of Grandpa James. While Davis was usually above such tactics, now and then, he went too far.
Ash spoke up. “Dad.”
Davis turned his lowering gaze on his older son. “You got a solution? Great.”
“Only this. If the woman’s firm on not selling, why not check into the other possibilities?”
“Because that land is perfect for the project. We’ve already eliminated the other possibilities. You both know that.”
“Times are tough,” Gabe said. “What wasn’t available six months ago is going for a damn song today.”
“Gabe’s right,” said Ash. “Let’s have a look at what he’s found. We can—”
Davis’s big fist hit the desktop. And when he spoke, it was much too softly. “Gabe. Go back to the widow again today. Don’t leave until she’s agreed to sell.”
Ash started to speak.
Gabe stopped him with a hand on his arm. “I’ll say it once more. Mary Hofstetter is not selling the Lazy H. We need to find somewhere else to build Bravo River.”
A silence. A bad one. Then Davis folded his hands on his desk blotter and leaned toward his second son. “What the hell is going on with you, Gabe?”
“Not a thing.”
“You vanished for three days with hardly more than a word. That’s not like you. Something is up. You been sleepin’ in the widow’s bed, is that it? You got a soft spot for a Hill Country nobody when you can have any damn woman in the whole state of Texas?”
Gabe gripped the chair arms to keep from leaping up and punching the old man’s lights out for calling Mary a nobody. But he answered honestly. “No. I’m not sleeping with Mary. She turned me down.”
He watched with satisfaction as his father gaped. “She what?” Davis demanded as Ash choked on a laugh.
Gabe seized the moment. “You heard what I said. Mary turned me down. But that’s not the issue. The thing is, I do have a soft spot for her. I’m real fond of her and I don’t want her bothered. I don’t want you going too far with this, making life difficult for a good woman who only asks that you leave her alone. So I’m going to need your promise that BravoCorp will look elsewhere for the Bravo River property.”
Davis seethed. “No way will you get my word on that. I want that land. If you want off this project, fine. You’re off. I’ll find someone else to convince the widow to sell.”
It was a step, Gabe thought. If his father was willing to let him off the hook on this, maybe the light was beginning to dawn.
He tried one more time to get Davis to see reason. “You’ve sent four men already, including me. How many ways can the woman say no? She’s not going to sell. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can find someone who will.”
But Davis held firm. “Enough. I’m not accepting any such thing.”
Ash stopped by Gabe’s desk later. “Give me what you’ve got on those other properties you found. I’ll put a couple of people on it, have them go out and have a look at what’s out there. And talk price. If Dad sees it on paper, if it’s there in black and white that he can get exactly what he wants from someone who’s actually looking to sell…he’ll snap out of it.”
“I hope you’re right.” Gabe had Georgia give him the files.
The next morning, Gabe’s mother was waiting for him when he got to the office, looking great as always in a soft red sweater and snug gray slacks, her brown hair cut short and sleek, which brought out those gorgeous blue eyes of hers.
She jumped up and kissed his cheek. “Can you spare me five minutes?”
He took her by the shoulders and gazed at her fondly. You love your mom, Mary had said. That’s good. A man should love his mom….
The memory hurt. Because he wished he was back there, sitting beside her in the plastic chair under that tin awning. Just talking. Just being there, with her.
“Gabe?” His mom looked worried. She touched his face. “What is it?”
“Not a thing.” He gave her his most charming smile. “This way.” He led her into his office. “Coffee?”
“No, thanks.” She took a chair in the conversation area near the door. “I’m so glad to see you’re all right. We did get worried when we didn’t hear from you at the first of the week.”
“I’m good, Mom. Fine. Sorry to be out of touch.”
She set her purse on the side table next to her. “All right, then. Just checking.” She sent him a look. The one that said she really wanted to push for more information, but she wouldn’t.
“So what can I do for you?” he asked.
“Well.” She sat back, crossed her ankles and delicately turned her knees to the side. He knew then. Something in the movement, both elaborate and too casual, tipped him off. She asked, “Do you remember Tippy Onstott? We went to UT together, back before the dawn of time.”
“Vaguely. Tippy has a couple of daughters, right?”
She slanted him a look. “That’s right. Arabella and Courtney. Arabella married Chance Doubray just last year.”
“So then, it’s about Courtney.”
His mother laughed. “Gabe. Don’t look so grim. You’re usually only too happy to meet my friends’ daughters. And Courtney is lovely, truly.”
“I’m sure she is.”
Aleta thought it was time Gabe found a good woman and settled down, and she was always trying to help him with that. Usually, Gabe was happy to take out the “suitable” women she chose for him. Though nothing ever came of her matchmaking, his mother kept trying. And Gabe enjoyed women. Plural. He knew how to treat a lady, so it always worked out fine.
But now the thought of meeting Courtney Onstott only made him feel tired.
Aleta sat straighter. “Something’s wrong. Your father told me that someone you really like turned you down.”
“Mom. Come on. ‘Someone I really like?’ That’s not what he said.”
“It was…what he meant.”
Gabe let that pass. “He shouldn’t have said anything.”
“We don’t keep secrets, your father and I. It’s one of the reasons we’ve lasted so long.”
“Have you told Courtney or her mother that you want to introduce us?”
Aleta looked honestly hurt. “I would never do that without your okay.”
“Good, then. I’m sure Courtney’s beautiful and smart and fun to be with….”
“But you don’t want to go out with her.”
“Not this time, Mom. Thanks.”
“At the risk of sticking my nose in where it’s not welcome, sometimes it helps, in a situation like this, to go out with someone else, to have a little fun, just for fun’s sake.”
If he wanted fun for fun’s sake he could hook up with Carly again. But he wouldn’t.
And he wouldn’t be going out with the lovely and suitable Courtney Onstott, either.
Damn. This was bad. He really should snap out of it.
And he would, he kept telling himself. He would forget Mary. He just needed a little time.
On Monday, a week after Ginny was born, Ida moved back to her house in town. That afternoon, a woman in high heels, a pencil skirt and a great-looking jacket rang Mary’s doorbell.
Her name was Emily Gray and she was from BravoCorp. She had a beautiful, friendly smile and she couldn’t wait to present Mary with another of those offers that Mary wasn’t supposed to be able to refuse. Mary turned her down politely.
“Emily,” she said. “I’m so sorry you had drive all the way out here. I’ve said ‘no’ to selling my place four times before you. I’m not going to change my mind.”
“I know you’re hesitant, Mary. That’s what I’m here for. To help you get past your fears.”
“Honestly, I’m not fearful. I just don’t want to sell.”
“Mary—”
“Goodbye, Emily. Sorry you had to waste your time.” Mary shut the door.
After a moment, she heard the sharp tap-tapping of Emily’s high heels as she turned and went back down the steps. A minute later, Emily’s car started up. There was the crunch of tires on gravel as she pulled away.
Mary listened to the car drive off, the sound of it backing and turning, and then fading into the distance. She was crying, out of nowhere, big old tears just running down her face.
She wished that Emily had been Gabe. She wished it with all her heart.
Oh, she missed him so, even though she kept telling herself that missing him was stupid and pointless and she needed to get over it. She’d sent him away. She’d told him no.
And now she wanted him back?
She was starting to remind herself of the kind of woman she couldn’t stand. A woman who told a man to get lost—and then cried because he left.
She kept telling herself to snap out of it, but she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She, well, she longed for him. She did. She wished she could turn back time to that kiss they’d shared. If she had another chance, she would ask him to do that again—not push him away.
But she’d gotten scared, that was all.
And she was still scared.
The minute Gabe’s lips met hers…it had been like a door opening. Into a kind of yearning she’d never felt before. The love she’d felt for Rowdy was a sweet love, and gentle. Safe.
This new feeling she had for Gabe?
Like a fire, burning. Not safe in the least.
Oh, please. She was a single mom on a limited income with a newborn to care for. She needed to keep her mind on her baby and making a living. She had no time for romance.
Mary swiped the pointless tears from her cheeks and told herself for the hundredth time to get over this silliness. Gabe Bravo was not the man for her.
From the bedroom, Ginny started fussing. Mary put her hopeless yearning away and went to feed her daughter.
Ginny’s first checkup, the next day, went great. Dr. Breitmann said she’d gained two ounces, even though Mary’s milk had only come down the Friday before.
Mary was doing well, too, healing quickly, feeling more her old self every day. She went back to her desk on Wednesday for three full hours. And she worked on Thursday, too. She turned in the canning article on Friday and got going on the next couple of projects she had in the works. She had everything to be happy about and nothing to mope over.
But still, she did mope. She had that burning desire for a certain smooth, rich lawyer. It didn’t go away. She kept telling herself that time was what she needed. In a month or two, she’d be saying, “Gabe, who?”
The following Monday, a week after her previous visit, Emily Gray came to see Mary again, at seven in the evening. She wasn’t smiling this time.
“Before you shut that door on me, Mary,” she said, her voice coated in ice, “I just want you to consider how foolish you’re being. I hate to have to say this, but things could get unpleasant if you don’t see reason.”
Mary blinked. “Is that a threat?”
“Of course not. Let me in and we’ll work this out.”
Mary wanted to spit in Emily’s perfectly made-up face. But she didn’t. She held it together. “I’m sorry. Nothing you can say to me is going to make a difference. Goodbye.”
“Mary, wait—”
But Mary had already shut the door. She twisted the lock for good measure as Emily rang the doorbell again and called her name.
“Mary. Mary, please…”
Mary did nothing. She waited until she heard high heels tap-tap-tapping back across the porch. Then she sagged against the door. And started crying just like she had the last time.
Ida, who’d come by to help with dinner and spend some time with the baby, emerged from the bedroom holding Ginny before Mary could pull herself together.
“My Lord,” said Ida. “What in the world…?”
Mary told herself to suck it up and stop blubbering. Now. But she only cried harder, in great, gulping sobs. “Ida. Oh, Ida…”
“Wait right there,” said her mother-in-law. “Do not move
. I’m just going to put Ginny in her bassinet….”
She was back in under a minute, reaching for Mary, pulling her into her capable arms, clucking her tongue, saying, “There now, you cry, now. It’s all right. It’s okay.”
Mary clung to her, whimpering like some spoiled, self-indulgent baby. “Oh, I just hate myself. This is so…dumb….”
“Of course it’s not dumb. It’s not dumb in the least. You feel what you feel and sometimes you just need to cry it out. Now, you come on. Come over here to the sofa…” She guided Mary down and handed her a couple of tissues.
Mary blew her nose and wiped her eyes and then just sat there, gulping back more sobs, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole. “I’m such a fool….”
“You are no fool. You are one of the least foolish people I know.” Ida sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. “Come on,” she coaxed, reaching over to smooth Mary’s hair out of her eyes. “Talk about it. Talking always helps.”
“Oh, Ida. I just…” How to say it? “I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know how to even begin.”
Ida prompted, “Who was that at the door?”
“Her name’s Emily. Emily Gray. BravoCorp sent her.”
“Another offer on the ranch? But haven’t you told them you’re not going to sell?”
“I have, yes. Over and over. She came last week and I told her no. And this time, well, she kind of threatened me. She said how if I didn’t see reason, things could get unpleasant. And it scared me a little.”
“Well, I should think so.”
“And I wished she was Gabe, but I know that’s so stupid. Because I sent him away and now all I can think about is how he’s not here….” She dissolved into sobs again.
Ida passed her more Kleenex and waited. When Mary had pulled it together somewhat, she asked, “Does Gabe know about how his company is threatening you?”
“It wasn’t a big threat….” Mary’s voice trailed off. Ida only looked at her with an expression of limitless patience. “Oh,” Mary cried. “I don’t know. How would I know? I haven’t talked to him since the day you got home. I…I told him I wasn’t ready, you know, to get anything started with him.”
The Bravo Bachelor Page 10
