“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded, too shaken, too wrecked to say anything at all. Anything she said wouldn’t make a bit of sense anyway.

He opened the door and got out and a moment later came around to open hers.

“You’re staying over again,” he said as they walked toward the entrance.

It wasn’t a request, but there was none of the usual arrogance in his voice. He said it matter-of-factly as though there were no other conceivable possibility. But then he looked at her, and brief uncertainty—so brief she wasn’t even sure if that was what she saw—flashed in his eyes.

But she nodded, confirming his dictate.

“Of course I’ll stay,” she said softly.

They rode up the elevator and as they stepped off, he pulled her back against him, using his body to block the doors.

“Wait for me in bed,” he said in a husky voice. “I won’t be too late.”

She leaned up and brushed her mouth across his lips. “I’ll wait.”

There was immediate satisfaction in his eyes. Then he nudged her forward and stepped back into the elevator so the doors could close.

Chapter twenty-two

Not surprisingly, the venue for drinks was at Rick’s in Midtown, a popular gentlemen’s club where Gabe, Ash and Jace were regular visitors. Jace and Ash were already there when Gabe strode into their VIP suite, and there were two waitresses flirting heavily with Jace and Ash. Their gazes immediately snapped to Gabe, interest flaring in their eyes.

He dismissed them with a glance, tersely ordered his drink, and they scurried away.

“Bad day?” Ash asked when Gabe took his seat.

He wanted to laugh. Bad day didn’t begin to cover it. It was one for the record books. He didn’t think twice about sharing. Jace and Ash were the only two people he ever trusted with anything personal.

Gabe grimaced. “Dad came to the office today wanting lunch.”

“Shit,” Jace muttered. “Sorry, man. I know that sucks. How’s your mom doing anyway?”

“I had dinner with her over the weekend. Had to drag her into the city. She’s been at that monstrosity of a house licking her wounds. I’d even thought to talk her into selling the house and moving into an apartment in the city. Though I guess that’s probably not going to happen now.”

Ash lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”

Gabe let out a long breath. “Dad’s decided he fucked up and he wants Mom back. That was the reason for lunch today.”

“Holy shit,” Ash said.

Jace frowned. “What the fuck? He’s fucked his way through half the gold diggers in Manhattan. What is he thinking?”

“According to him he didn’t fuck any of them and they didn’t mean anything.”

Ash rolled his eyes. “Wow. That’s the lamest line in the book.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Jesus, your day did suck,” Jace muttered. “First your dad and then Lisa.”

“Yeah. Mom’s been blowing up my phone bitching about all the women my dad’s been seen with. Now she’ll be blowing up my phone over Dad’s latest brain fart.”

“You want them back together?” Ash asked curiously.

“I never wanted them apart,” Gabe said in a dark tone. “I have no idea what the hell possessed my dad. It sounds like total bullshit when he tries to explain it. I don’t think he even knows what the hell happened. So yeah, I’d like to see them back together, but I want them to be happy, and if he’s going to pull this kind of stunt down the road, I’d rather they just quit now and call it good. I don’t want my mom going through that all over again.”

“Yeah, I hear you,” Jace said.

“So speaking of reconciliation,” Ash said casually. “What the ever-loving fuck was Lisa doing in your office?”

Gabe’s jaw tightened and his teeth ground together. The very last thing he wanted was to discuss Lisa, but he also knew his friends were going to be curious. They’d been there when Lisa had left him. They’d stood by him when she pulled her crazy-ass shit. It was only natural they’d be concerned when she started sniffing around again.

“Did you kick the crazy bitch out and tell her to fuck off?” Jace asked with a scowl.

Gabe chuckled, his mood lightening. He could always count on Jace and Ash to shoot straight.

“I made it clear I had absolutely zero interest in rehashing the past.”

“She wants money,” Jace said darkly. “I made a few calls. She’s already gone through most of the settlement, and the alimony payments you fork out every month are barely keeping her head above water.”

Gabe’s eyebrow lifted. “You checked up on her?”

“Hell yeah. Not going to let her fuck you over like she did last time,” Jace bit out. “She’s still living like she’s married to you. Hasn’t downgraded in that department. High-maintenance bitch.”

Gabe grinned. “No worries there, man. I’m not dipping back into those waters.”

“That’s good to hear,” Ash said, relief evident in his voice.

Gabe’s eyes narrowed. Had there been any doubt? Then he realized. Jace and Ash were worried.

“I can handle Lisa,” Gabe said easily. “She’s a manipulative, grasping bitch. Lesson learned.”

Jace and Ash nodded their agreement. The waitresses came back with the drinks and spent several minutes flirting with Jace and Ash. They left Gabe alone. Maybe they sensed he wasn’t in the mood. He had zero interest in these girls when he knew Mia was in his bed waiting.

Drink in hand, Jace turned to Gabe when the waitresses disappeared. “So how are things working out with Mia?”

Gabe was instantly on alert. He’d already had one come-to-Jesus moment with Jace over this. He didn’t want it to be a bone of contention between them. Before he could say anything, Jace continued.

“I know I busted your balls about it, and yeah, I probably overreacted. It just caught me off guard. I didn’t like Mia working in that damn pastry shop, but I figured she just needed time to figure out what she wanted to do. She worked hard in school. She probably just needs a break to sort herself out, and I’m not in a hurry for her to do that. She has me. I’ll provide anything she needs and I don’t want her to feel pressured.”

A huge surge of guilt hit Gabe right in the gut. He’d definitely pressured Mia. No doubt about that. Not that he regretted it. He’d be a damn liar if he said otherwise. But still…

“She’s working out great, Jace,” Gabe said in a casual tone. “She’s smart and she’s motivated. She’s already finding her place. She works her ass off and she has her shit together. She wowed investors at the cocktail party she attended with me. Everyone at work seems to like her and has responded well to her presence. I’m sure many of them figure she got the job because of who she is, but she’s proven she deserves to be there.”

“Well, and who can’t like her?” Ash cut in. “She’s sweet and friendly. Not a mean bone in that girl’s body.”

“If anyone says shit to her I want to know about it,” Jace bit out.

Gabe held his hand up. “I have this, man. And if you think about it, it’s a hell of a lot better for her not to work for you. This way she can prove she deserves the job because she’s not working for her big brother. I’m not going to be a hardass with her but I’ll expect her to do her job. You’d just coddle her and baby her to death.”

Ash burst into laughter. “He totally nailed you with that one, man. If she had so much as a hangnail, you’d be sending her home.”

Jace grinned. “Okay, okay, you both have a good point.” Then he grew more serious. “I just want what’s best for her. I want her to be happy. She’s all I have.”

Gabe and Ash both nodded. “I get it,” Gabe said. “In your position, I’d feel the same. But lighten up. Let her spread her wings a bit. I think you’ll be surprised at just how much she can do without you hovering over her.”

Then in an effort to move the conversation away from Mia so Gabe wasn’t in such an awkward position, he glanced at Jace and Ash with a half grin. “Brunette history or what?”

Ash groaned and Jace just looked pissed.

Gabe raised his eyebrows. “That bad?”

“Batshit crazy,” Ash muttered. “Not one of our better decisions to hook up with her for a few days. Hell, she even knew it was temporary. Very temporary.”

Jace kept silent, his face still dark.

“Let’s just say she didn’t take it too well and she definitely did not get the message. She blew up both our phones for a few days.”

Gabe’s brow furrowed. “You gave her your cell numbers? Are you out of your minds?”

“Fuck no,” Jace exploded, speaking for the first time. “She called the office. Repeatedly. Had to threaten to report her for harassment before she finally chilled out.”

Gabe laughed. “You two sure know how to pick them.”

“Crazy,” Ash muttered again. “I don’t know how much clearer we could have been.”

Gabe lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “Be more discerning next time.”

Jace snorted. “Maybe we should just have contracts like you. Get all that shit sorted out before sex.”

Ash choked on his drink and Gabe scowled at them both.

After an hour of drinks, more joking, and definite babe checking out on the part of Ash and Jace, Gabe glanced at his watch and saw it was close to eleven. Damn. He’d told Mia he wouldn’t be that late. To wait up for him. And he was stuck here bullshitting with Jace and Ash.

He’d give it fifteen more minutes and then make up an excuse.

He was saved when Jace and Ash became riveted by a private performance. Gabe didn’t have any interest. Not when he had something as sweet and gorgeous as Mia waiting for him at home.

And damn if that didn’t give him a huge measure of satisfaction.

She was at home, in his bed. And she was waiting for him.

That was all the motivation he needed to stand and say his good-byes, citing an early morning, and head for the exit. Jace and Ash were distracted, muttered an appropriate “later,” and then turned their attention back to the dancers.

It was a short drive to his apartment building, and he found himself hurrying to the elevator, an itch under his skin he couldn’t alleviate.

He walked into his apartment to find that Mia had left the foyer light on for him. He smiled at her thoughtfulness, his chest tightening at the thought that he didn’t need physical light. She was light. A ray of sunshine on a cold day.

He was already stripping out of his clothing as he entered his bedroom and he stopped, the smile broadening when he saw her curled in the middle of his bed, covers to her chin and her head resting on his pillow.

Sound asleep.

His cock was already rigid and straining, trying to break free from his pants.

“Down boy,” he murmured. “Not tonight.”

His dick didn’t pay attention. It saw what he wanted and it was demanding ease.

Ignoring the urge to awaken her by thrusting deeply into her body, he instead quietly undressed and then carefully pulled the covers back so as not to awaken her.

He slid in next to her, pulling the sheets back up. She didn’t awaken, but as if she sensed his presence, she immediately snuggled into his body, throwing her arm possessively over his side.

He smiled again as he settled more firmly against her and pulled her into his arms. Yeah, he wanted her, but this was…nice.

Chapter twenty-three

Mia woke the next morning to a hard body pressing her into the mattress, her thighs firmly spread. And then a cock thrust deep into her body. She gasped and came fully awake, Gabe’s eyes boring into hers.

“Good morning,” he murmured just as his mouth claimed hers.

She couldn’t even form a coherent response. She was on fire, her arousal sharp and rising higher with every single thrust.

He held her hips in his firm grasp, pressing her into the bed so she was pinned, unable to move. All she could do was lie there and take what he gave her.

It was quick. No lazy climb to release. He thrust hard and fast, his hips slapping against hers. He nuzzled her neck and then nipped at her earlobe. Chill bumps danced across her skin and she moaned, already so close to her own orgasm.

“Give me your eyes, baby. And get there.”

The guttural command fueled her arousal into a full-fledged inferno. She locked her gaze to him, her body tense, every muscle coiled tight.

“My name,” he whispered.

“Gabe!”

Eyes locked, his name tumbling from her lips, he leaned down, pressing his body to hers and surged into her, spilling himself deep.

For a long moment, he blanketed her, his body heaving, warm and comforting over hers. Then finally he propped himself up on his forearms and kissed her nose, his eyes warm as he stared down at her.