“Gunnar Sims.” Pain lacerated her heart as she said his name out loud. She shoved upright and dug deep for the ability to have this conversation without tears. The anger she’d felt earlier had deserted her, just like Gunnar. She directed her words to Noah’s reflection in the mirror. “We’ve been together for three weeks. Not long, I know, but I think that might have been a record for a woman to hold his attention. But today I went to his office and found him making out with the queen bitch of the universe, Ashleigh Aubrey-Smith.”
“Hmmm.” He met her eye in the mirror. “Malin, Ashleigh isn’t Gunnar’s type.”
“Jesus, Noah. Anyone with a vagina is his type. And remember, I saw them. She was sucking on his face like it was a damn lollipop. And he wasn’t fighting her off with a stick, if you know what I mean.”
“Well, that’s not the Gunnar I know. But that is Ashleigh’s MO. She gets like...I don’t know…a laser target lock on a man and goes after him with single-minded focus.”
Curiosity got the best of her. “Is that experience talking?”
Pausing, he frowned. “Yeah, actually it is. She came at me one day last week. Right after her fiancé dumped her. She had her ti— She was wearing some very revealing clothes and do-me-now stilettos. Cornered me in my office. Suggested we could lock the door, and I believe her exact words were ‘fuck like bunnies.’” He shuddered. “So I think you might not have seen what you thought you saw.”
Hope flared. She crushed it ruthlessly. Noah’s run-in with the former Bridezilla seemed typical of what she knew about the other woman. But Gunnar’s past behavior had to be taken into account. “I’m not sure what I think anymore. I wouldn’t be in this position if I’d never fallen in love with—”
She stopped mid-thought and stared into the mirror over the bar. Her pale face floated above the dark gray fleece she wore, eyes round. And damn...a bird could fly into her mouth the way it had dropped wide open. She’d fallen in love with a lothario when she wasn’t looking. She snapped her mouth shut and compressed her lips together in a tight seam. If she could negate the idea that she loved Gunnar Sims by calling back her words, she’d figure out some way to do it. Unfortunately, once out in the universe, words stayed forever, irreversible, irrevocable.
“Oh, hell. I’m in love with Gunnar Sims,” she whispered, shaking her head.
One knee behind her back, the other pressed against her thigh, Noah slouched to the side, resting his elbow on the bar. “You know, he’s not a bad guy. In fact, the more time I spend around him, the more he grows on me. He isn’t as big a player as you seem to think.”
“I’m calling bull on that. I’m his florist, remember? I know how many different women he’s sent arrangements to over the past four months. It’s like five.”
“Wait, five? That I know of he’s only dated two girls since he moved to town. He sends flowers to other people too. I know for a fact he had some delivered to Suzy at the Chamber of Commerce for her help with the gym’s grand opening because I saw them on her desk. And Millie Rankin told me he’d given her a very pretty sunflower bouquet after she painted his living room. Half the time, the flowers he sends don’t mean anything. That’s just the kind of guy he is. Rikki does it too. All the time. It’s how they were brought up.”
She distinctly remembered putting the sunflower bouquet together. Could she have been wrong? “Oh. I guess I hadn’t realized.”
He tucked his finger under her chin and nudged her face toward his. His blue eyes sparkled in the glow of the lighted bar signs. “You know you’ll never be able to resolve this if you don’t talk to him. I bet you ran out of his office without giving him a chance to explain. And given what you thought you saw, I don’t blame you. But why the hell would you leave him with a barracuda like Ashleigh? If you love him, you should have stayed and told the bitch to take her hands off your man.”
She lowered her gaze away from his. Shame burst in her head like a champagne cork from a shaken bottle, explosive and messy. The door behind her opened again. Next to her, Noah straightened away from her and turned his head to check out the new arrival. When she tracked his gaze in the mirror, her heart sped up and her breath shortened.
Gunnar had walked through the entrance and stood just inside, staring at her. Relief and longing swept over his face as soon as he caught her eye. Confusion flared, but dissipated when she looked at Noah. A ghost of a smile played over his face.
“You knew he was coming here,” she whispered the accusation as Gunnar approached.
Nodding, Noah drained the last of his beer, then jumped off his stool. “Sam called at Gunnar’s request to see if you were with me.” Gunnar stopped short of them, waiting. Noah shoved his phone in the pocket of his camelhair coat, then draped it over his arm. “I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d run away. And that wouldn’t solve anything.”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek then moved away, stopping to shake hands with Gunnar. Cold, viscous anxiety sloshed in her stomach while the two men held a low conversation. Gunnar held her gaze while Noah spoke to him. After a final pat on Gunnar’s back, Noah waved goodbye to her. Her shoulders tightened as Gunnar moved slowly toward where she sat.
“May I?” Gunnar asked, pointing to the stool Noah had just vacated. His smooth baritone flowed over her like a yummy chocolate river. He stood close enough to her for the clean scent of his soap to weave its way into her senses.
Mal shrugged nonchalantly, but her insides were jumping as if on a trampoline. Gunnar lowered onto the stool next to her then waved Molly off when the woman started in their direction.
“We need to talk,” he said. “Are you willing to let me explain?”
She nodded but focused on her hands, clenched together on the bar. She’d let assumptions rule her emotions. It was a fatal flaw she’d dealt with her entire life.
“Can you look at me, please?”
Gunnar laid his hand on her shoulder and brought his other hand to her chin. He lifted her face to his. The tenderness in his eyes nearly did her in.
He dropped his gaze to her lips, lingering there for a moment, as if deciding if he should kiss her. Dragging his eyes back to hers, he said, “Ashleigh kissed me. There was no reciprocation on my part. Believe me, the last thing I wanted was her tongue in my mouth. I have no idea where that thing has been.” He laughed at his own attempt at humor.
His laughter died when she didn’t join.
“It isn’t funny, Gunnar.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry for all of it. For her barging into my office—really, for even knowing her. Mostly, I’m sorry you were hurt. It should have never happened. I’d sooner cut out my own heart than hurt yours.”
The brittle shell around her own heart splintered. She did her best to ignore the sensation. She looked away and studied the full wine glass in front of her, running her finger up and down the stem.
“Oh, Jesus. I’ve made you so mad you came here to drink. I’m such a fucking idiot. I should have looked for you harder.” Dark anguish colored his words. “God, I’m sorry. Please don’t drink anymore. I know how you feel about alcohol. Please, let me make this up to you.”
Lifting her chin, she looked him square in the eye. “I didn’t drink. I wanted to. The urge was nearly out of control. But I couldn’t. What kind of message would that send to my dad, or—” Her voice broke. She drew a deep breath to continue, “Or Gaby if I started drinking to ease the pain?”
Was that admiration in his eyes? He tightened his grip on her shoulder and soothed his thumb along her jaw. “I’m proud of you, Daisy Mae.”
“Gunnar, I...” What should she say? She’d told him not to call her that anymore, but happiness had soared when he disregarded her order. Should she explain why she was so hurt? Explain that she understood now he wasn’t the player she’d thought he was? “Why didn’t you correct my assumptions about your dating habits? This whole time I assumed... You let me believe all those bouquets you’d been sending
were for girlfriends.”
He dragged a hand down his face. “I don’t know. I thought you knew. When I sent flowers, it usually didn’t mean anything.”
“All I could see was a man I wanted to spend time with sending flowers to other women with alarming regularity. I tried so hard to keep you in the friend zone. I was afraid to like you too much, then have you leave. I’m an idiot.” She ended on a whisper and looked away.
He pressed his forehead to her temple. “It’s my fault. I never gave you reason to believe anything else, Malin.”
“God, we are a pair, aren’t we? I was so wrong about you. I’m sorry.” Confession was supposed to be good for the soul, so why, then, did hers feel like a black, bottomless pit? “I was having a really awful day, and I came to you for comfort. When I saw Ashleigh with her greedy paws all over you, I—something just snapped. I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
Gunnar ran his hand down her arm. He uncurled her fist and twined his fingers with hers. The heat from his palm seeped up her arm.
“Look at me, Malin. Please.” He waited until she reluctantly complied. Hope flitted through the shadows in his eyes. “This isn’t your fault. I should have set the record straight with you. I’ve been sending women flowers for years as an expression of thanks. I send cigars or scotch to the guys I want to thank. It’s something I learned from an old boss. Always let people know you appreciate them.”
“You sent roses to most of those other women, Gunnar. Carnations are a good way to express appreciation. But roses mean something more significant. It was an easy assumption.”
His smile was self-deprecating. “I like the way they smell. I admit roses might be a little over the top. But if I sent roses to you, they’d be red. That’s the color for love, isn’t it?”
Tears gathered, and she blinked hard. Her throat worked convulsively, trying to swallow them away. She couldn’t speak. He brushed the pad of his thumb over the single tear that had leaked out.
“I’m not playing with your heart here, Malin. I know what you thought in the beginning. But this isn’t a game for me. We’re friends, but more. That’s what I love about our relationship. And that’s what we have. A real relationship.”
“Gunnar—”
He touched his fingertip to her mouth, stopping her response, heating her heart.
Replacing his finger with his mouth, he sipped at her lips. “I love you, Mal. I love you. I’ve never said that to anyone else. Honestly. All the Justines and Deidres and any other women in the world don’t matter. There is no one else for me.”
He claimed her mouth again, his lips tender, worshipful. Tunneling his fingers in her hair, he held her head in place. When he licked the corners of her lips, she opened, letting his tongue in. He deepened the kiss, pushing it toward passion.
Mal’s heart beat a hard, happy rhythm against her ribs.
The rasp of his tongue along hers sent shivers coursing down her back. This is where they were meant to be. Moaning softly, she laid her hands atop his thighs, finding comfort in the solid muscles there. Floating on a cloud of sensation, she allowed herself to get lost in his kiss.
When a roar went up around them as a goal was scored in the hockey game on television, she scarcely noted it. Gunnar pulled away, the lids of his eyes at sexy half-mast, doing little to mask the desire in them. He dipped close once more and nibbled her lower lip then soothed the nip with his tongue. Heaving out a big sigh, he pressed his forehead to hers, his breath warm against her face. “I do love you, Mal. Believe that.”
“I do. I love you too, Gunnar.” Her heart fluttered as she uttered the words she’d wanted to call back earlier.
A sexy, happy grin lit his face. He placed the palm of his hand on her cheek, smoothing the tips of his fingers over her temple. “Let’s get out of here. Gaby is over at Rikki’s house. They said she could stay.”
At the mention of Gaby, her other problem roared back to life, barreling into her chest like a freight train. “Oh no! I forgot about Gaby. Gunnar, they’re going to try to take her away from me.”
“What? Who?”
“My mom’s attorney called today. That’s why I came to the gym to talk to you. Another relative of Burton Jansen’s has stepped forward and indicated their desire to be her guardian.”
“I didn’t think there was anyone else.” Concern deepened the color of his eyes to azure.
“Neither did I. Mr. Fleming was just as surprised. He said with an estate the size of Harriet’s it’s common to have little known relatives crawl out of the woodwork. Apparently, they’ve claimed they were named guardians in Burton Jansen’s will. Mr. Fleming believes Mom’s will supersedes Burton’s, but he didn’t handle Burton’s estate, so he doesn’t know.” Fear sparked to life within her chest. “Gunnar, what if it doesn’t? What if I lose Gaby? I didn’t want the extra responsibility at first, but I’ve come to love her.”
“Malin, don’t get ahead of yourself here. We’ll fight it. We’ll beat them together.”
She couldn’t hide her worry from him. She whispered, “What if I lose?”
“You will lose if you don’t fight.”
“I’m just so tired of fighting. I’m tired of being the one to always take care of everything. Fighting to keep my dad sober. Having to work so hard to get Gaby to a place where she’s happy. Trying to keep my head above water during this season and open a new store. It’s all so exhausting.”
“I tell you what. I’ll do the fighting for you. Let me take care of you.”
With that simple offer, he solidified his place in her heart.
Chapter 24
Malin and Gunnar picked Gaby up from Rikki’s house and drove her home before breaking the bad news. The look of shock and horror on her face was almost too much for Mal to bear. The teen’s reaction mimicked Mal’s when she first learned of the other petitioners. Gaby wasn’t taking the news well.
“But I don’t know them!” Gaby exclaimed. “And I sure as hell don’t want to live in Missouri. I mean, come on! Have you seen Winter’s Bone?” Her words exuded equal portions of sarcasm and desperation.
Laughter burst from Gunnar’s mouth. “Gaby, that was a movie. There are a lot of nice places in Missouri.”
Gaby challenged him. “Name two.”
“St. Louis and Kansas City, for a start,” he retorted with an ear-to-ear grin.
The girl’s brows needled together over narrowed eyes. The corners of her lips turned down. “Kansas City is in Kansas.”
“Yeah, but it’s in Missouri, too. But we don’t have time for a geography lesson, and that’s not the issue,” he said. “The more pressing problem is that relatives of your dad’s have stepped forward and want you to live with them.”
“That’s a load of crap. They just want my trust fund.” Gaby snorted derisively.
It hadn’t taken her long to come to the same conclusion the attorney and Mal had arrived at. Mal ground her teeth together then mentally commanded her jaw to relax. Burton Jansen’s Missouri relatives were making a callous and obvious play for his money.
Gaby shot out of the comfy chair in the corner she’d claimed the night Fleming had dropped her on Mal’s doorstep. Crossing and uncrossing her arms, she hesitated, then flew over to the sofa where Gunnar and Mal were seated and threw herself down next to Mal. The clutch of her fingers on Mal’s shoulder echoed the desperation in Gaby’s voice. “They can have the money, but I want to stay here with you. We’re sisters. That has to count for something.”
Malin had remained silent since delivering the news, but she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. She gripped Gaby’s hand. “Damn straight, you’re staying here.” She allowed the voice of reason to rule when she continued, “But, you’re considered a minor by law. The courts will decide where you end up.”
“You’ll fight for me, won’t you?” Gaby’s voice was thin and whispery.
“With everything I have, Gaby. We might have gotten off to a rocky start, but I don’t want you anywhere other t
han here with me.” Since she was freely sharing her feelings with the universe today, she decided Gaby ought to know. “I love you, Gaby. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure you stay with me.”
Gaby squeezed her hand, clenching it like a lifeline. Tears glistened in her eyes. “What if we don’t win because you’re single? I’ve read online where a couple who were barely related to a baby was awarded custody because the mom wasn’t married.”
Mal had read of similar cases herself. What if the judge decided Gaby would be better off with two parents? The idea weighed on her heart, heavy and hurtful. She grasped at straws. “Those cases were usually because the biological parent wasn’t capable of taking care of a baby. I hope a judge will consider I run a successful, growing business, that I own my home, and I have money from Mom’s insurance policy.” Would these things sway a judge if it went to trial? “But I don’t know if it will be enough, Gaby.”
Gunnar put his arm around Mal’s shoulder, then reached across her lap and placed his hand over the sisters’ joined hands. “If it looks like Mal’s success might not be enough, I’ll marry her. Then we’ll be a couple, too. We’ll double our chances of winning.”
Gaby squealed excitedly.
Mal’s heart skipped a beat. “Gunnar, that’s a horrible reason to get married.”
Gaby’s squeak died, and her face fell.
“Actually, it makes sense. I love you, you love me, and we both love Gaby.” He searched her face, his look sincere. “I’m not just saying this to comfort Gaby. I’m one hundred percent behind the idea. We should combine forces. It will increase our odds.”
Excitement, happiness, and panic rose within her, creating a roadblock for her breath. “Gunnar, no!”
His eyes darkened, and his lips pressed together. His face was close enough his breath caressed her cheek. “I haven’t asked yet, so you can’t say no. I don’t want to rush into anything, but I do love you, Daisy Mae. Spending the rest of my life with you by my side would make me the happiest man on the planet.” He moved his hand and cupped the back of her head.
Bed Of Roses (The Five Senses Series Book 4) Page 25
