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  She rose and propped her hands on her hips, turning slowly in a circle as she surveyed the apartment. The walls closed in on her, squeezing the life from her. She hugged herself, although she wasn’t cold. This place had been a haven for a while after the divorce. She’d needed the security of having her parents nearby. But it was time to move on. How could she not have seen it before? She didn’t even have room for all her possessions—most of her things were boxed up in her parents’ attic. No room here for her drafting table—

  She couldn’t help smiling a little. Gabe definitely had her thinking about her art again. If she moved that bookcase closer to the other one, could her drafting table fit—she sighed. It wasn’t just her drafting table that didn’t fit in here. It was her. This place had been great for a while—no rent, convenient to her work, washer and dryer just across the lawn in the main house, not to mention free meals.

  Laughter and music traveled over the breeze from the main house. She straightened her shoulders. It was time to face the music.

  Her hand was on the doorknob when she remembered her ring. Evan had insisted on keeping their separation a secret. She flipped open her small jewelry box, not wanting to create a stir by having to explain why she wasn’t wearing her engagement ring.

  As she slipped it onto her finger, she noticed the velvet pouch tucked back into the corner. She pulled it out and shook Gabe’s ring into her palm. The small diamond and white gold glimmered in the light. She took off Evan’s ring and slid Gabe’s into its place. She held her hand in front of her face, twisting it this way and that, as if a simple piece of jewelry could make this decision for her. As if one or the other would feel right.

  She was tempted to wear Gabe’s ring on her right hand, thinking no one would notice. But her mother would. It would be the first thing she’d notice. With a sigh, Louisa put Gabe’s ring back into its velvet pouch and slipped Evan’s back on.

  ****

  Louisa hadn’t taken ten steps through the back door of her parents’ house and already she was tired of hugging people. She reprimanded herself and forced a polite smile as she made her way through the rooms. Why was she so cynical? Usually, she enjoyed her mother’s parties.

  Scanning the living room, where most of the guests gathered, she looked for Evan, anxious to see him. She breathed a small sigh of relief when she couldn’t find him. Why was she so nervous? He was her fiancé for goodness sake—well, ex-fiancé. A man she wasn’t sure she wanted to spend her life with anymore...

  Yup. She was nervous all right. She swallowed hard and searched the crowded rooms for Sarah. She could really use a good talk with her best friend right now.

  She didn’t see the newlyweds but spotted the guest of honor sitting on the brocade couch in the bay window, not even bothering to hide her disdain at all the hoopla.

  “Hey, Gram,” Louisa said, giving her grandmother a kiss on the cheek before sitting beside her. “Happy birthday.”

  Gram waved her hand at the room. “I told your mother I wanted a cozy little get-together for my birthday. Does this look cozy to you? There are more people here than’ll be at my funeral some day, mark my words.”

  A few nearby guests glanced their way, overhearing the remark. Instead of looking offended, they just smiled tolerantly at Gram and winked at Louisa, as if to say such a crotchety comment was to be expected from someone her age. Louisa smirked and patted her grandmother’s hand. Gram was probably right. A funeral was one thing, but a Beverly Rhodes party wasn’t to be missed.

  “You left your handbag here earlier.” Gram shoved the leather purse into her hands. “If things are out of order it’s because I dug through it hoping you had some chocolate.” Before Louisa could respond, her grandmother asked, “How was your weekend with the ex? Or should I say, the conference as you told your parents.”

  Louisa figured the little white lie was easier than telling them where she’d really disappeared to these past few days. “Uh, it was fine.” She cleared her throat. “So, Gram, have you seen Sarah and Arty around? Or Evan?”

  “Hmm, you asked about your brother and sister-in-law before your fiancé.” Gram gave her a knowing look. “Your mother put Sarah to work somewhere, Arty snuck into the back to watch the Mariners game, and I haven’t seen Evan.” She shifted in her seat. “Your mother’s parties were tolerable when I was younger, but now I find them a complete bore.” She motioned a gnarled hand at the crowd. “If I didn’t know for a fact that this party was going to get a shot in the arm soon, I’d join your brother in the den.”

  Louisa was about to ask about the shot-in-the-arm remark when Gram touched her sleeve. “Man your battle stations, or whatever it is they say. You’ve been spotted by the task-master.”

  Louisa glanced in the direction Gram nodded and saw her mother glaring at her. “Great,” she muttered. “What do you think my chances are of getting out of this room before she hunts me down?”

  Gram cackled softly. “Slim to none.” She nudged Louisa’s arm. “Run along now. Nurse Ratched is zeroing in on the target.”

  Louisa made a face, kissed Gram’s cheek, and jumped up. She’d reached the hallway when clicking heels tapped on the marble floor behind her.

  “Louisa! Go tell your brother I know what he’s doing and that I want him out here and mingling with our guests. Your Aunt Elna was just asking me where he’d run off to. Then go help Sarah in the kitchen,” Beverly ordered, then floated off toward the front door where some cousins had just arrived.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Louisa muttered, grinning as she headed for the kitchen.

  Sarah’s back was to the door as she put together some last minute hors d’oeuvres platters near the vegetable sink in the center island. Louisa tapped her shoulder.

  Sarah spun around, and her eyes brightened. “Oh, it’s you. Thank God. I thought your mom was going to reprimand me for not making straight enough lines with the appetizers.”

  Louisa hugged her as she worked. “I’m glad you and Arty made up.”

  “We’re going to go to a few specialists in the coming weeks. If they all say the same thing, then we’ll look into adoption.” Sarah nudged the stuffed mushrooms into place.

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  Sarah sighed loudly. “Yeah. I mean, it’s still hard obviously, but I’ve been thinking a lot about our options. There are tons of babies and little kids already born who need a family. Maybe that’s my calling.”

  “You’re a good person, Sarah.”

  She poked Louisa with her elbow. “So? Spill it, girlfriend. How was it with Gabe?”

  Incredible, exciting, thrilling, awful, nerve-wracking, scary as heck. “Interesting,” Louisa answered.

  “Interesting? I’ve been waiting on pins and needles to get you alone and that’s all you can say? I was hoping for something more along the lines of sweaty sheets, hot sex, and a knight in shining armor.”

  Louisa smiled. “Well, he forgot to pack his armor, but the rest…”

  “I knew it!” Sarah wiped her hands on her apron and leaned the side of her hip into the counter. She made a scooping gesture in the air between them. “Come on, come on. Tell me everything. I want details.”

  Where to begin? Louisa cleared her throat. “Well—”

  They turned at the sound of the kitchen door swinging open.

  “There you are,” Evan said to Louisa, directing Sarah the briefest of nods.

  Sarah mumbled something about the coffee and scurried from the room, leaving the couple alone. They watched each other warily a few moments, neither saying a word. Then his gaze went to her hands which twisted in front of her.

  “You’re wearing my ring,” he said, his face and entire demeanor relaxing ten-fold. In two steps, he was in front of her, grasping her hands. “I knew you’d come back to me.” Before Louisa saw it coming, he pulled her against him for a kiss.

  She tried to enjoy the embrace, but it felt like she was kissing her brother, not that Arty had ever kissed her on the mouth. Ha
d Evan’s kisses always felt this…bland? It was in no way distasteful, yet she couldn’t help comparing it to Gabe’s sizzling, passionate kisses.

  Stop it! She didn’t need to do a mental comparison of each man’s kissing prowess, because Evan would fall short. Physical intimacy wasn’t what made a lasting relationship. Commitment was. Stability was. Dependability was. Evan definitely offered her those things.

  “When did you get back?” he asked when he stepped away.

  “Not long ago.” She prepared herself for twenty questions.

  “Where did you go?”

  She told him.

  “Separate rooms?” he asked, his tone a bit too casual.

  She nodded.

  Evan stared at her a moment, then pressed his lips together in a satisfied grin. “Well, you’re home now and that’s all that matters.” He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward the door.

  That’s it? He doesn’t want to know anything else? Louisa supposed she should be relieved, but shouldn’t he be more curious? She held back. “Evan, we need to talk.”

  “What’s there to talk about?”

  “Well, for starters, Gabe and I—”

  “Hopefully, you got him out of your system and we’ll never have to see him again.” He pulled her toward the door again. “We have all the time in the world to talk, Louisa. In fact, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about our relationship and have made a decision about something that I think will please you a great deal. But that can wait. Your mother will be upset if we don’t get out there.”

  Did he really not want to know more about her weekend? Was he that confident that she would’ve remained faithful to him, despite their break up? Or did he really not care?

  Louisa shoved the questions aside and let him lead her to the living room. Sarah caught her eye from the entry hall where she and Arty stood with Aunt Elna. Louisa grinned at their bored expressions.

  Sarah’s brows lifted in question as she looked from Louisa to Evan and back again. Louisa couldn’t hold her gaze.

  She tried to cruise into the old comfort zone with Evan, but everyone they spoke to asked about their engagement and the wedding date. She gave vague answers and was thankful Evan seemed not to notice.

  He acted like nothing was amiss, even though she’d never actually told him they were back together. She felt like she was on a stage, floating through her movements and dialogue like a well-rehearsed actress.

  Everything seemed fake.

  Nothing seemed real.

  She had all the right moves, smiled in all the right places, said all the right things, but it was all wrong.

  She missed Gabe.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Gabe covered a yawn and unlocked his hotel room door. He kicked it shut behind him and tossed his things onto the bed. Lack of sleep and the tension of the day had formed a knot the size of a melon in his upper back.

  He glanced toward the bar in the corner. No. One drink would relax him and make him feel better, but he wouldn’t be able to stop at one. He grabbed a bottled water instead.

  His cell phone beeped, signifying a text message. Louisa’s name was above the envelope icon. His breathing sped up a notch as he clicked the message open. WLD LUV U 2 COME 2 GRAMS PARTY. C U THERE.

  Gabe smiled and clicked off the phone.

  ****

  Louisa and Evan stood in the front hall speaking to her father’s political aide. The doorbell chimed. She excused herself from the two men, glad for a reason to escape the boring conversation.

  Expecting another distant cousin two or three times removed, she swung open the door.

  The polite smile on her face brightened when she saw who stood on the front porch. “Gabriel,” she said breathlessly. Then her smile vanished as she chanced a look over her shoulder. Thank goodness Evan wasn’t paying attention. She stepped over the threshold and onto the porch, pulling the door closed behind her.

  “I got your text,” Gabe said. “I hope this means what I think it means.” A huge smile split his face.

  For a split second, his expression crowded out the questions in her mind. His dark eyes crinkled at the corners in genuine pleasure. She’d never seen him look happier. His words hit her. “What text?”

  “The one inviting me to the—” His brows furrowed and his smile disappeared. “You didn’t invite me here, did you?”

  Louisa shook her head slowly, just as confused as he looked.

  “And by your apprehensive expression, I take it you haven’t made any sort of decision yet.”

  She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Gabriel, I’ve barely had a quiet moment to myself since you dropped me off.”

  She would have said more, but the door opened behind her. “Louisa, who are you talking—? What’s he doing here?” Evan snarled.

  She wrung her hands. “Well, he—uh, he—”

  Gabe stepped forward and took his place beside Louisa. “I was invited.”

  Evan’s look was ugly. “By whom?” His gaze swung to her. “Did you invite him?”

  She glanced at Gabe and cleared her throat again. “Well, not exactly, but—”

  “Well, then,” Evan said with a plastic smile. “I’d say you were mistaken, D’Angelo. You’re not wanted here.”

  “Evan!” She glared at him. “There’s no need to be rude.”

  “You want him to stay?”

  She looked to Gabe, hoping for help, but he appeared just as interested in her answer as Evan. What was the proper etiquette in this type of situation? She searched her mind for all the lessons drilled into her by her mother over the years, and came up with absolutely nothing.

  She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter who invited him, he’s here now.” She turned to Gabe. “Please come in and join the party.” His eyes narrowed a moment, but he finally nodded.

  Louisa forced a bright smile and ushered the two men inside. Her heart beat a million miles an hour.

  As she shut the door behind them, Evan moved closer to Gabe and hissed, “The only reason Louisa is inviting you inside is because she was raised to be polite.” He sneered. “But I’m sure I can speak for both of us by saying we hope your visit is short.”

  “Why don’t you let her do her own speaking?” Gabe replied in an equally clipped voice.

  They both turned to her.

  Evan’s rudeness appalled her. Sure, he was feeling jealous—that was to be expected, but she hadn’t realized he had such a mean streak. She realized the two men were waiting for her response. “Well, I—”

  “I have every right to speak for my fiancé,” Evan said, interrupting. “You’ll notice she’s wearing my ring.” His expression was smug.

  Louisa hid her left hand, but Gabe was too quick. The jolt in his gut almost staggered him. That was most definitely Evan’s ring. Sick inside, he met her eyes. “Lou?”

  She swallowed. “Gabriel, I—”

  Beverly Rhodes came over to greet the new guest, her high heels practically skidding on the marble entry when she saw Gabe. “What’s he doing here?” she asked, glaring at Louisa.

  Gabe wondered how on earth Louisa could accept being spoken to in such a tone. If it wasn’t by her mother, it was by Evan.

  Louisa’s face was pale and white, like an overexposed photograph. She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything, another voice said, “It’s my party. I can invite anyone I damn well please.”

  Gram shuffled toward them, relying heavily on the gnarled wooden cane in her left hand. Nearby guests pretended not to pay attention to the exchange. “I also invited him to the wedding, if you must know.” Her mouth twisted into a satisfied smile.

  “Mother!” Beverly said with a gasp, her jaw dropping.

  Gram rolled her eyes at the dramatics. “Close your mouth, dear. It’s unbecoming.” She turned to Gabe. “It’s good to see you again, honey. Don’t let any of these goons talk you out of staying.”

  Gabe leaned down and kissed Gram’s weathered cheek.
She might be 85 years old, but her clear blue eyes still had the spunk of an eighteen-year-old girl. “Thanks, Frannie.”

  Gram hooked her arm through his. “Here, walk me back to the couch.” She lifted her cane and pushed it against Beverly’s arm, nudging her out of the way. Gabe had no doubt she’d use the cane as a weapon if necessary. “Everyone is staring, daughter,” Gram said quietly, in a voice that proved she still expected to be listened to. “Unless you want to create more of a scene, I’d suggest you bring out the cake as a distraction.”

  Beverly glanced around and saw the curious stares. She turned and hurried toward the kitchen.

  Gabe turned to find Louisa watching him, a helpless expression on her face. Evan stood beside her, glaring at him. What an ass.

  “We need to talk,” Gabe said to her, ignoring Payne.

  She nodded. “After the cake.” Her eyes pleaded with him.

  He didn’t want to wait until after the cake. He wanted to know here and now how she felt, even though he suspected the answer. But she wouldn’t be rushed. He led Gram to the couch. It was difficult to miss the whispers and stares directed his way as they crossed the room. Most of these people knew who he was. Most of these people had heard only the Rhodes’ version of the story, meaning they probably despised him, too. But he was long accustomed to censure. He’d become adept at deflecting animosity like water from a duck’s wings. Nothing much fazed him anymore.

  Louisa and Evan stood side by side, just a few feet away from him. The knife in his heart contradicted his last thought. She definitely fazed him.

  With an inward sigh, he helped Gram onto the uncomfortable looking couch, which was obviously chosen for looks over comfort.

  Gram obviously had the same thought. “I think my daughter forgot to order batting in these cushions,” she muttered. “I might as well be sitting on a wooden plank.”

  He squeezed her shoulder affectionately, then moved aside as Arthur Rhodes wheeled an elaborate birthday cake into the room on a glass and brass serving cart. Gabe found an unobtrusive spot in the entry hall away from most of the other guests.

  His eyes sought out Louisa through the crowd. He could barely see the tops of her curls beyond the massive body of one of her great aunts. Evan hovered close to her. Too close. Gabe frowned. Why had he bothered coming? He should have stayed at the hotel. At least that way he could have fantasized a while longer about a life with Louisa. As it was, his dreams were on the verge of being spit back into his face.