Lost Without You

by Yahrah St. John

  “You’re absolutely welcome,” Courtney answered. “I just know this is going to work out fine.” She had barely finished her sentence when Shane pulled up beside her in his Jaguar.

  Shane couldn’t believe his eyes. Was that really his sister with Gabrielle Burton, of all people? Why was she being friendly with the enemy? He jumped out of the car with a frown on his face. “Courtney…” He nodded at his sister. “What’s going on?”

  Courtney looked at Shane then back at Gabrielle, trying to gauge their reaction to each other. “I ran into Gabby in the hall and took our new employee out for lunch. Do you have a problem with that?”

  Gabrielle watched Shane’s eyes narrow at Courtney’s use of her nickname and her lack of response. Somehow Courtney using it didn’t seem to bother her nearly as much as when Shane did.

  “That’s awfully nice of you, sister dear,” Shane replied. “Remind me to thank you at dinner tonight. Gabrielle, if you’re finished, can we get back to work?” Shane turned his back and headed into the building.

  “Of course.” Gabrielle smiled at Courtney before quickly rushing behind Shane. “See you soon.” She waved to Courtney.

  * * *

  As he lay in bed, Shane stared at the ceiling and pondered how he was going to handle having Gabby in his domain. She was going to challenge him at every turn, just as she’d done in school, which had always been kind of a turn-on. Back then, he’d thought that all she needed was a good lay. You know, a man to work out all that inner hostility that she’d stored up and most often directed at him. And he’d thought that man might have been him, but Gabby had not been even remotely interested.

  Shane had no idea why she’d taken such offense to him back then. Although they’d been rivals for the top spot, he’d always treated her with respect like the true southern boy he was, as his mother, Elizabeth, had raised him. Thinking about his mother brought a smile to his face. He’d inherited her easy nature, quick wit, fair coloring and beautiful hazel eyes, unlike Kayla, who had favored their father with his fiery temper and mahogany skin.

  Although he loved his father, Shane had to admit Byron Adams was hard to handle and couldn’t be an easy man to love, yet his mother made it look easy. He’d always wondered how his mother had endured thirty-five years of marriage, all the while helping Byron start his own cosmetics company.

  His grandparents certainly hadn’t been happy when she’d decided to end her three-year courtship with their choice for a mate, Andrew Jackson. He was born to the right family and had the right pedigree, unlike poor Byron Adams, a lowly employee of Graham International. They’d tried to talk her out of the marriage, but his mother loved his father, and although she hated to break Andrew’s heart, she’d refused to give Byron up.

  Elizabeth Adams was beautiful, intelligent, courageous and steadfastly loyal. Shane admired his mother a great deal, which is why few women could ever live up to his high standards. As he drifted off to sleep, Shane wondered if there was any woman who could.

  * * *

  In her hotel room later that evening, Gabrielle kicked off her heels and plopped down onto the plush pillow-top mattress. It was not going to be easy working with Shane day in and day out. He was conceited and superior, but despite those less-than-admirable qualities, she had to admit Shane was a brilliant and dedicated chemist. She was amazed at just how much he’d been overseeing in the laboratory.

  He had projects in the works for every line of business at Adam Cosmetics. No wonder Ethan had looked at hiring him some help. If he continued at that pace, he would burn out. Of course, no one could tell him that. Like a typical male, Shane Adams was sure he could handle anything life threw at him.

  But fortunately for him, she had some ideas of her own. She’d been cultivating them since she was at L’Oréal, but the head chemist had been unwilling to try them out. She hoped Shane wasn’t as closed minded. She knew the lab was his domain, but she was determined to carve out a place for herself, even if it was by his side.

  She was just about to head into the shower when she heard a knock on the door. Gabrielle had no idea who it could be, as she wasn’t expecting anyone. Nothing could have shocked her further when she opened the door and saw the man standing on the other side was none other than Andrew Jackson.

  Chapter 3

  “Mr. Jackson?” Gabrielle gasped, touching her chest. “What are you doing here?” She hadn’t seen her father’s employer since she’d left Marietta well over eleven years ago. “And at this hour?”

  Andrew Jackson looked the same as she remembered. He was well over six feet, lean and dark as night. Nearly a dozen years had passed, but he still wore his black hair the same, slicked back from his face without a hint of gray, and he had the same mysterious dark eyes. As a child, she could never tell if he was happy or sad.

  “Gabrielle, how wonderful to see you again, darling,” Andrew Jackson said with a country accent. He kissed her cheek and walked into her hotel room without an invitation.

  Gabrielle was a little stunned at his rudeness, but closed the door anyway. Did everyone think she was supposed to follow them today? “I have to admit I’m surprised by the visit, Mr. Jackson.”

  “It has been a while, hasn’t it?” Andrew glanced around the hotel room, noting the elegant decor and plush surroundings. Trust Ethan Graham to spare no expense when it came to hiring the best. He’d scouted a chemist last year himself, but had he known Gabrielle Burton was open to moving back to the States, he would have snapped her up himself. Jax Cosmetics could use a chemist like her.

  He turned back around to face Gabrielle. “So, little lady, how has life been treating you in ole Paris? It’s been what ten, eleven years since you’ve been home?”

  “Give or take.” Gabrielle had no intention of discussing her personal life with anyone, much less her father’s employer.

  “What can I do for you, Mr. Jackson? I’m sure you didn’t come all this way to ask me about my years abroad.”

  Andrew laughed at Gabrielle’s forthrightness. Time had turned the once-timid little girl into an outspoken woman. “I came by to bring you up to speed on what’s been going on with your father.”

  “You’re here about my father? Is something wrong? Is he okay?” Gabrielle’s heart started pounding loudly in her chest. Although she may not be as close to her parents since Seth’s death, she certainly didn’t wish her father ill. And their family certainly couldn’t handle another loss.

  “No, no.” Andrew took a seat on the couch. He spread his arm across the back and folded one leg across the other. “It’s nothing like that.”

  Gabrielle preferred to stand while Andrew appeared to be making himself quite comfortable in her quarters. “Well, then, what is it?” What would bring Andrew Jackson all the way from Marietta to her hotel room at night uninvited?

  “You may not be aware, but James has developed a drinking problem and a gambling habit.”

  Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest as she digested the information. For some reason, she wasn’t surprised. Her father had always wanted more. A better house, a better job, more money, nicer clothes. It wasn’t a stretch for her to imagine he thought he could win it at a casino table.

  “He’s racked up quite a debt,” Andrew continued, watching Gabrielle carefully. She didn’t bat an eyelash and appeared unaffected by the information he’d just given her. Perhaps he’d underestimated how far she would go to protect her family.

  “What’s it to you?” Gabrielle asked.

  “To me?” Andrew asked. “I would imagine it would mean something to you since he’s in debt to the wrong sort.”

  “And what do you mean by wrong sort?”

  “The Goretti family,” Andrew answered swiftly. “You may not have heard of them, but they are the sort who don’t mind breaking a few ribs, if you get my drift.”

  “I do. But if the ‘wrong sort’—” Gabrielle used her hands to make quotation marks “—are looking for money, they are barking up the wrong tree.
I live within my means.”

  Andrew raised a brow. “You don’t sugarcoat your words, young lady, so let me get straight to the point. I would be willing to pay your father’s debt, if you do something for me in return.”

  “Of course.” Gabrielle laughed shrilly as understanding dawned on her. “You wouldn’t help him altruistically.”

  They had come to the crux of why Andrew Jackson was there in the first place. He wanted something from her. What? She wasn’t sure. She couldn’t fathom what she could possibly offer him that was worthwhile. She had some money in savings for a rainy day, but that was about it. “What do you want, Mr. Jackson?”

  A crooked smile spread across Andrew’s face. “I hear you’ve accepted a position with Adams Cosmetics. And that could be beneficial to me.”

  Gabrielle frowned and several lines formed across her forehead. “I don’t understand. How so?”

  Andrew couldn’t believe how naive Gabrielle was. He would have to spell it out. “You could supply me with information.”

  “What kind of information?”

  “Oh, you know…” He paused. “Their latest research, marketing and, of course, any upcoming products.” Andrew searched her face to ensure she was getting exactly what was on the table.

  “You want me to commit corporate espionage?” Gabrielle couldn’t believe her ears.

  “I wouldn’t call it that,” Andrew said. “I would say one hand is washing another. You give me information to help boost Jax Cosmetics and help level the playing field. In return, I save your father from a terrible fate at the hands of some mob henchmen.”

  Gabrielle swallowed hard. There was a reason she had never quite trusted Andrew Jackson even as a child, and now she knew why. He was the devil incarnate.

  “I think you should go, Mr. Jackson.” Gabrielle had heard enough and walked toward the door.

  Slowly, Andrew rose to his feet, buttoned his suit jacket. He walked toward her and when he reached her, he glared down at her. “Listen, little girl, your father is in a bind.”

  Gabrielle hated his condescending word usage, but couldn’t help replying much too petulantly to her liking, “My father is a grown man. He made his bed and he’ll have to lie in it.”

  “So you would leave your father hanging in the wind?” Andrew asked. When she didn’t answer right away, Andrew knew there was still hope he could get her to do his bidding. “Why don’t you take a little time to think about it?” He opened the door to her suite. “I’ll be back in touch.”

  Seconds later, the door closed behind him, and Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief. What the hell had just happened? Had Andrew Jackson really just asked her to risk her job, her freedom and commit corporate espionage to save a father who in the past decade hadn’t shown an ounce of interest in her?

  * * *

  “Morning,” Shane said unenthusiastically at the breakfast table the next morning. It was a beautiful day, and their butler had set up a table out on the terrace so they could enjoy the fresh air.

  “Hello, grumpy,” Courtney said as she poured granola over her fruit yogurt. She’d just enjoyed a leisurely dip in the pool and was famished.

  “I’m not in the mood for you today, Courtney.” He’d slept fitfully the night before, barely getting a few hours of sleep, and now he was irritable. He reached for the carafe of coffee and poured a cup. He drank it black, uncharacteristically.

  “Okay, okay.” Courtney held up her hands. “I will leave you alone.” She ran her fingers through her damp hair.

  “What has got you in a bad mood?” his mother asked, sipping her coffee. It wasn’t like her son to be so snippy with his sister.

  “No reason.” Shane lowered his head, adding some eggs and bacon to his plate from a nearby platter.

  “Are you sure about that?” Elizabeth looked at her son suspiciously. She could read him and knew when he was hiding something. “How did it go with your new employee yesterday? You weren’t at dinner last night, so I couldn’t ask you how it went.”

  “It went fine.” Shane dug his fork into his eggs and ate a generous amount.

  “You could have fooled me,” Courtney returned. “I ran into her in the hall and she looked positively flustered.”

  “Puh-lease,” Shane responded, taking a bite of bacon. “Gabrielle Burton can hold her own. She gave as good as she got.”

  “But you were professional?” his mother countered.

  “Of course, Mom. Courtney here even took her out for lunch on her first day.”

  “That was kind of you,” their mother replied, turning to her daughter. “Is she as bad as Shane says?”

  “No,” Courtney said, glaring at Shane. “She’s a lovely woman, though she could use a little fixing up. I told her I would help her.”

  “So she’s your new pet project?” Shane inquired, raising an eyebrow. “I believe you have better and more important things to do with your time at Adams Cosmetics than fix up some straightlaced prude.”

  “Shane!” Elizabeth was flabbergasted at her son’s response.

  “See, I told you, Mama.” Courtney pointed at Shane. “He has it out for her. He wants her to fail.” For some reason, she felt as if she had to fight for Gabby, maybe because she was the only woman who’d ever gotten under her brother’s skin.

  “I do not have it out for her,” Shane replied testily. “Nothing I’ve said isn’t the truth. You know as well as I do that Gabrielle Burton could stand to loosen up a bit.”

  “But there’s no reason to be mean,” their mother admonished. “That is no way to treat a lady. I’m warning you, Shane. I better not hear that you’ve mistreated the young woman.”

  Shane rolled his eyes at his younger sister. He didn’t appreciate a scolding by his mother. He was a grown man, after all. “If you’ll excuse me.” He scooted back from the table, nearly knocking his chair over. “I wouldn’t want to burden you with my presence.” He walked off the terrace and headed toward the front of the house, where he’d parked his Jaguar.

  * * *

  When he arrived at the laboratory, he was in no better of a mood. Gabrielle must have sensed his inner turmoil, because she gave him a wide berth that morning. She chose instead to work with several other members of his staff, and that was just fine with him. Shane didn’t know why her presence bothered him, but bothered he was. Even more so when he saw her dressed in a prim black skirt with a white silk blouse that tied at the neck. He wanted nothing more than to untie that knot and free her of her inhibitions.

  Shane shook his head. Where the hell had that thought come from? He turned around and glanced in her direction. Gabrielle must have sensed it because she looked up at him with her almond-shaped eyes and gave him a broad smile. He noticed that she was wearing her hair differently from yesterday’s prim look. Instead of having her hair in an updo, she’d decided for a half up, half down look.

  He looked away and returned his focus to his perfumer’s organ and pulled out several scents. He was determined to hit the right notes today and get this fragrance right, once and for all.

  * * *

  From the other side of the lab, Gabrielle reengaged herself with her coworker on the new skin-care products in development. She hadn’t meant to smile at Shane, but when she’d found him staring at her so openly, she’d thought they were off to a new start. She must have been wrong, because he hadn’t returned the smile; he’d ignored her and looked down.

  She didn’t know why she was thinking about him anyway. She had more important things to worry about. Namely, Andrew Jackson. Overnight, she’d had to time to think, and thanks to Jackson, she felt compelled to at least reach out to her father and find out exactly what was going on. She didn’t relish the task. She hadn’t spoken more than polite pleasantries to her parents in over a decade.

  She wasn’t sure if they even wanted to see her. If she didn’t call them, they certainly didn’t call her. Ever since Seth’s death, it was as if she didn’t exist. It hurt knowing they didn’t even think
about her, but she’d had to make her peace with being alone in the world.

  After much debate, Gabrielle decided to call her parents when lunchtime came around. She left the laboratory and walked outside to the courtyard, where most folks were congregated for lunch. It was a beautifully manicured garden. Gabrielle dialed her parents’ number and waited with bated breath for someone to answer. She was hoping no one was home and that she could just leave a message and walk away unscathed.

  No such luck. Her mother picked up on the third ring. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Mom, it’s Gabrielle.” She took a seat on a nearby concrete bench.

  “Gabby?” her mother asked. “What are you doing calling during the middle of the day? Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  “Trouble?” It was more the other way around. Though Gabrielle doubted her mother knew a thing about her father’s gambling habit. “No, of course not. I’m here in the States. Georgia, to be exact.” Her words nearly jumbled together as she tried to get them all out.

  “Well, that’s good to hear,” her mother replied. “You should come home and get some real food instead of all that French cooking.”

  Actually, Gabrielle had become accustomed to French cooking and quite enjoyed it, but that was another matter entirely. “That would be nice,” Gabrielle said, using it as an opening. “I was actually hoping I could stop by this Sunday for a visit, if that’s all right.”

  “We have plans this week,” her mother responded, “How about next Sunday? I can make your favorite dish, shepherd’s pie.”

  Tears formed in Gabrielle’s eyes. She was surprised her mother even remembered what she liked. “Th-That would be great.” Gabrielle choked the words out. Although she wanted to talk to her father sooner, she would have to wait. Andrew Jackson hadn’t given her a time constraint.

  “We’ll see you Sunday at three, right after church.”

  “See you then.” Gabrielle ended the call as fresh tears surfaced on her cheeks. How could one phone call from her mother make her come apart? She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn’t hear Shane come up beside her.