“I couldn’t sleep.”
He kicked off his shoes.
She blinked and waited for him to say more. He kept silent. “And?”
“Tiffany’s body was lying in the library.” He closed his eyes, looking haunted. “We couldn’t leave her there.”
“We said we’d bury her in the morning.”
He shook his head. “I should have buried her before. I made sure I did it now.”
Last night neither of them knew where to hold her body until spring arrived. Erica had collapsed in his arms, and he had told her to not worry. She swallowed, then met his gaze. “How?”
He unzipped his jacket and removed his hat. “I have a snow blower, torches, and a plow.”
She covered her mouth with her fingers. “You went outside.”
“She was lying on the floor of the house.” He opened his bloodshot eyes. “She is dead and buried.”
“You look like hell.” He must be exhausted. She massaged his shoulders. “You need sleep.”
He unzipped his snow pants. She caught a glimpse of his jeans. “Are you okay?”
Her hands brushed her sides. He slipped out of his outside layer. She then stared at his biceps and sheer muscular strength. She swallowed, then glanced at her shoulder. It burned again. “Yeah. I think so. Do you think I’ll have a scar?”
He nodded. “Probably.”
Her mouth fell open. “What?”
He sat next to her on the bed. Then he checked the gauze he had placed on her shoulder. “I’m not a doctor. The bullet grazed your shoulder, or I’d have buried you both.”
His fingers were icy cold. The man’s white pallor wasn’t good for him, and she refused to leave him alone, not right now. He spent the night in solitude. She had slept a little.
Without a question, she took his hand and didn’t stop walking with him. He followed, and she led him straight into the bathroom. With force, she twisted on the shower, and she pushed his shirt off his chest. He lifted his massive arms and let her slide the shirt off.
“I can’t have sex right now,” he mumbled.
“Of course.” She helped him out of his jeans. “That’s not what I want right now. We’re getting you in the shower.”
He stepped up and helped her undress him. “Why? I’m too cold.”
“The water will be warm.” With precise movements, she checked the temperature of the water, kissed his cheek, and undid her shirt. He didn’t struggle. She pushed him into the shower. “Because the water’s clean and pure. You saved my life, so stop feeling guilty. We’re taking this shower.”
Without any further argument, he stepped out of his pants and followed her direction.
The water could wash his skin and, hopefully, help cleanse his sorrow. Gabriel was her hero, and deserved far better than he’d received. Tiffany was dead now. Now she could take care of him, like he had watched out for her.
A few minutes later, she led him to the bed and changed him into clean clothes. He didn’t argue. Once his head hit the pillow, his eyes closed. She massaged his scalp until she was sure he was asleep.
She couldn’t sleep. Not at all. Not now. He took care of everything tonight. So she marched herself toward the kitchen.
A good meal cured people. Everything she touched had the energy of her love. Gabriel’s nightmare was over, and so was hers. They were alive. She’d make a grand dinner.
The hallway was silent now, except for the icy rain. Out of habit, Erica rubbed her arms and listened. No tingles inched their way up her spine anymore. Near the kitchen, she detoured back into Gabriel’s library. Perhaps she should clean up the remains. Cleanliness would help everything in the morning. She inhaled, held her breath, and opened the door.
Everything was in order. No sign of last night’s struggle remained. Gabriel must have done this too.
She exhaled and shook her head.
Gabriel had taken care of the details. He had shot Tiffany. She slowed her death, but she knew she’d die. At least she hadn’t won.
Erica rubbed her arms and checked her bandage. The whiteness of the gauze in the mirror struck her as strange. Shouldn’t there be more blood?
She swallowed, then went to work. He loved a lamb roast. So tonight, they’d eat that. She’d prepare a wholesome salad. What should she make for dessert? Last night Gabriel had put her to bed and taken care of the details. Today it was her turn. She’d take care of him. He had enjoyed her cupcakes.
The wolves howled outside the windows and Erica smiled. The animals would get no cupcakes and they weren’t scary anymore.
They were free.
She set to work and made everything ready for a feast. Cupcakes with buttercream frosting would be the best treat.
A few hours later, Gabriel came out of the room in his dark blue jeans and a simple formfitting gray T-shirt. She had never seen him with such lightness in his every step as he came toward her in the kitchen.
He kissed her cheek then stared at the table. His gaze stayed on the elegant cupcakes. “What are we celebrating?”
“Us.” She smiled and walked toward the champagne. The roast lamb was already on the table. “I found this in the kitchen you prepared for the staff. I figure we have so much to be thankful for.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“I’m one of a kind.”
He reached out to her side. The electricity in the air fueled her. The sparks were undeniable. He tilted his head. “Let’s check your shoulder.”
“No. It’s fine.” She shook her head. She had hoped for a kiss. “Tonight is about us and celebrating that we’re together and alive.”
He pressed her shoulder, and it stung a little. “You need to take it easy.”
She nodded, but moved out of his reach. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Are we together?”
She stilled. Did he not want her? “Aren’t we?”
Then he took a step toward her and took both of her hands in his. His hands were warm and inviting. Her heartbeat grew louder. His sexy brown eyes met her gaze, and he massaged her hands. “I’d love to spend the rest of my life with you, Erica. I love you far more than you know. You brought color into my life.”
“I love you too.” She stepped to the side and pointed to the table. She couldn’t continue to stare into his eyes. Not right now. “Sit. Let’s eat.”
He crossed his arms. “No.”
She stopped, then stared back at him. “No? What’s wrong?”
He dropped his hands, and instead circled her waist. Her entire body was mushy, and her eyes watered. She sniffed to stop her tears. Then he pulled her closer to him. Her lips came inches from his, and she smiled. “Do you intend to kiss me?”
He nodded and smiled. “I want far more than that, but a kiss is a good start.”
She wrapped her hands around his neck and laughed. “Deal.”
His lips brushed against hers and everything but him became blurry. She pressed her mouth closer to his, and every cell in her body came alive.
They had so many issues, but with love, anything was possible.
Her heart soared as he deepened the kiss.
29
Erica woke up next to her man. Her stomach fluttered, and she stared out the window. The sunshine somehow made the day softer. She glanced at Gabriel, still asleep beside her. Her muscles relaxed. Today, everything was peaceful.
No more cleanup around Tiffany.
The house was quiet, and no noises echoed in the halls.
Erica laughed. They were here. Last night, all they did was hold each other. She snuggled into Gabriel’s chest. His warmth kept her calm. Last night, the celebration of their love was overshadowed by the night and last night’s events. He’d told her he loved her. She refused to think about the recent horror. All her life, she’d hoped to fall in love with a guy. Today was almost like a dream come true.
She kissed his neck, and his rough, unshaven cheek stimulated her skin. The tingle sent a tantalizingly sweet fervor thr
ough her body.
All that was missing was her mother and sister. The snow had to melt. Then she’d introduce Gabriel as the love of her life.
No more ghosts would haunt them. The bad parts were over. The good parts remained.
She couldn’t sleep, and she settled into his shoulder. Her mother would approve of Gabriel.
She stilled until his hands squeezed hers a second. Her smile broke the moment he flipped over her and covered her entire body with his. Her shoulder hardly ached now, and she played with his short brown hair. She wrapped her legs around his spine, and he claimed her lips. A sweet moan of surrender and promise escaped her.
Slowly, she twisted her head and laughed. “Morning breath. I must smell terrible.”
“You taste better than candy, Snowflake.” Her mouth fell open, and he claimed another fiery kiss. Her body ached for him. His hard-on grew, and her legs spread to give him access to her secret entrance.
His tongue circled hers while her lower lips softened to open up to him. All sense of time disappeared with him.
To tease, he rolled his head back. Then his eyes met hers. She waited. He showed her his dimples, then squeezed one of the puckered pebbles on her breasts. Desire surged through her. His face rubbed hers, and her eyes rolled back in pleasure. He laughed, then whispered, “You’re always ready, aren’t you?”
“For you, yes.” She arched her back to give him better access to her breasts.
“Erica, I . . .” Instead of finishing his sentence, he pushed his huge member into her.
Sated, she closed her eyes, and her body was warm and ready. She let the sensation take over. He pushed into her, and she lost thought of everything else. All she could do was cry out, “Gabriel. Oh, yes.”
Emboldened, he used his fingers to find her clit as he continued to move in and out of her. Soon she became inarticulate waves of pleasure coursed through her.
Gabriel kept up a steady pace, then slowed to torture her. Then he sped up, matching her rhythm until she reached an explosive release.
“Ah.” Was that all she could say? Words wouldn’t form, and her spirit soared.
Her muscles quivered while she hugged him on top of her. He kissed her forehead, then rolled over next to her. She moved with him. “Gabriel, I’ve fallen in love with you.”
His body tensed. She tugged the sheet over her. He loved her too. He had told her last night. What had changed?
She stayed silent.
He walked over to his dresser and opened a drawer. He found something. She tilted her head to see.
He came back to bed and tugged at the sheet to let it slip. She stared at his hand. What did he have? She dropped the sheet and scooted closer to him. He stroked her inflamed body, and she arched her back to give him better access.
Then he stopped. She sighed.
His captivating eyes met her gaze. He froze for a moment. She stared at him, unsure what was going on. Then he held out a ring. She covered her mouth.
He went down to one knee. Her gaze and heart followed him. He held out the diamond toward her. “Erica . . .”
She laughed. His voice squeaked.
He stopped. Then she stopped laughing. “I’m sorry. I’m happy.”
He shook his head. “Let me ask.”
She swallowed. “Okay.”
He took a deep breath, then met her gaze. “I can’t live without you anymore. When Tiffany almost killed you, I realized I didn’t want to live without you.”
“Don’t mention her name right now.”
He blushed. “Sorry.”
She blinked. “No, continue.”
“I love you more than I’ve loved anyone.” He swallowed. “Will you marry me?”
Her huge smile grew, and she kissed his cheek. Then she took the ring. “Where did you get this?”
“It was my grandmother’s. She promised me one day I’d want to marry someone much better suited to me.” He slipped it on her finger. “She told me one day you’d show up in my life, even if I wasn’t looking.”
She laughed and stared at the diamond on her finger. “I think I like your grandmother.”
He let out a sigh and matched her smile, though he had a pinch of sadness in him. “Good. She’d like you too. I hope to meet your mother.”
Erica nodded. “She’ll love you because I love you.”
Gabriel stilled again. “I want to reach out to Raphael and apologize for being an unforgiving jerk.”
“I’ll stand beside you.” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I wish I knew how to get to my sister, Kimberly.”
He held her close, and she settled on his lap. “Together, we’ll handle everything.”
She gazed up at him. “Finally, you are determined and optimistic.”
“It took falling in love with you.”
Gabriel Murphy was the sweetest man she’d ever met. Erica gazed at the ceiling. She fought for everything in her life, and now she had someone to share everything with.
30
Erica was surveying her third New York restaurant. Gabriel spoke with one of her staff and they both laughed. Erica’s gaze narrowed as a customer caught her eye through the window. With a nod to her hostess, she hung up the phone. Now was the time. She took the spot next to the hostess. The customer walked in.
Gabriel sat back down with her mother. Their table was behind the false wall, so they didn’t see this customer. Erica licked her lips. Her plan had almost worked.
Everything became easy the moment Raphael walked through the door.
The two men had similar looks, though her Gabriel was far sexier. The brown hair, broad shoulders, and dark eyes were the same, but he didn’t have Gabriel’s aura.
Erica tilted her head. She supposed that they could almost be twins.
Raphael came closer to the hostess, unaware of whom she was. Erica crossed her arms and clicked her heels on the marble floor. His surprised eyes stared up. “Can I help you?”
He nodded at her as he scanned the room. “I’m a little early for my reservation. But I am meeting my brother, Gabriel Murphy.”
Gabriel stopped talking to her mother. They must have heard. Erica sucked in a breath. Gabriel needed to stay still. She hadn’t told him her surprise. “He’s here.”
Raphael looked through the door. “Where?”
Erica stepped in front of him and placed her hand on her hip. “Only if you can answer a few questions from me.”
His eyes narrowed on her, and she noticed the similar line down the middle of his forehead. Gabriel had that quirk every time she asked him a direct question too. “Who are you?”
With a tap of her shoe, she raised her eyebrows without an answer. Then she picked up the menu, shrugged, and held back her smile. “If you answer my questions correctly, you get to see Gabriel. If I don’t like what you say, then you’re out.”
He took a step back and stared at her like she was strange. He had no idea about anything. Then he nodded. “Okay.”
“Did you know Tiffany was alive?”
His eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. “What do you mean alive? She’s dead.”
“No. She didn’t die. Did you know?”
His face turned ashen. Then he placed his hand on his heart. He violently shook his head. “I never saw a body. I thought Gabriel took care of those details.”
“She was alive all this time and intended to kill him.”
“What?” Raphael’s entire face fell. “I thought she was dead.”
Now she could blink, and she nodded at him. “Well, that’s one plus for you. She’s dead now, and Gabriel is here. Everything’s fine.”
He swayed on his feet. “Where was she?”
Erica swiveled to stay in front of him so he didn’t bypass her and go into the restaurant. “Still in the chalet, in the secret rooms.”
Raphael dropped his hands to his sides. “Gabriel would never talk to me. I tried to tell him about that stupid room.”
“Did you set out to have an affair an
d betray your family?”
Red-faced, he tugged at his ear and shook his head. “Lady, I don’t feel comfortable talking about this with a total stranger. Who are you?”
“This is my new wife, and you are not touching this one.” Gabriel came out from behind the hidden seats and hugged her waist.
With a smile, Erica answered fast, “Gabriel, he’s not as hot as you, my love. Besides, no one is going to want me in a few months when I get rounder.”
“Gabriel.” Raphael stepped back and stared at how Gabriel held her close.
Her husband stared at his brother. Then he raised his hand and offered it to Raphael.
Raphael reached out and shook his hand.
Erica took her husband’s free hand, placed it on her hip, and raised her eyes at his brother. “Well, let’s sit. Eating together is a good way to smooth over any gaps.”
Raphael’s eyes never wandered from Gabriel. “What’s your wife’s name, and do our parents know?”
“Erica,” Gabriel answered. He kept his arms around her. “Our parents met her yesterday.”
Raphael’s mouth fell open. “Only yesterday?”
“The snow took a while to melt.”
Erica nodded. “We drove to the house in Connecticut on our way down.”
Gabriel then continued, “We met Michaela in Boston and stayed a few days for her mother, Katherine, to fly up.”
“Did she like you?”
Gabriel cocked his head to the side and Erica’s mother gave him the thumbs up. His brother saw.
“We’re going to stay in Miami for a few days for Gabriel to get to know my mother more after you both talk,” Erica added, then squeezed her husband’s hand. Her mother gave them all a knowing smile. They sat around the table, and Erica kept the conversation up. “Gabriel drove down the coast. He’ll tell you that I’m not good at driving these roads up north.”
Raphael refused to sit at the table she’d directed them to.
Gabriel asked, “Where’s Eileen?”
Raphael inhaled and stared at everyone. His face went red, but he didn’t say anything.
Hidden Gabriel Page 23
