Authors: Lisa Eugene
“I’m sorry you had to endure that,” Thomas said, stepping closer. He was wearing a polo shirt with a sweater tied around his neck and light colored slacks. His short blonde hair was parted at the side and combed neatly. “Please forgive Mother, she hasn’t been herself lately.”
Maggie nodded silently, desperately wanting to abscond back to her room. He gave her an easy smile and Maggie couldn’t help but smile back. After all, he did just step in in her defense.
“I trust everything else is well?” Thomas inquired convivially.
She nodded again but was in no mood for casual conversation.
“Thank you for intervening,” she said politely and turned to leave, but stopped as his voice followed her. “Let me know if Mother is ever a problem. I’d like for you and Gabe to stay a while. I haven’t seen my brother in a long time.”
Maggie smiled, her heart filling with hope for the two brothers. She nodded and turned away as his cell phone rang. She reached the bottom step when his booming voice stalled her.
“I need to schedule a meeting with Director Miller!” His voice was yelling now, bounding down the hall, and Maggie couldn’t help noticing the difference from the mild mannered gentleman who’d stood before her a few moments before. “I don’t care if he’s meeting with the prince of bloody England. You tell him that Thomas Masters needs to speak with him as soon as possible! It’s urgent. I expect a call by this evening!”
Gabe had told her that Thomas would help with contacting the proper authorities. She was glad that Gabe had his support. She had a feeling that his backing would mean a lot to Gabe.
She was about to place her foot on a step when the ubiquitous butler made another appearance.
“Ms. Lawson?”
Maggie groaned and turned to face him.
“You have a visitor, Ms. Lawson.”
Maggie’s eyebrows jumped into her forehead. “A visitor? Me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“That’s impossible.” Maggie frowned, but followed him out into the hallway.
Who would be visiting her? And, here?
There must be some mistake.
The butler showed her into a delicately furnished sitting room. Tiny settees and tufted ottomans were scattered about the room in pinks and greens. He pulled the door closed after announcing that he’d be bringing in refreshments.
Yeah!
Her stomach danced happily. A young lady sat stiffly on the edge of one of the chairs. A large folder was perched on her lap.
Maggie’s frown deepened. She was sure she’d never met the petite lady. She had large hazel eyes in a pixyish face.
Upon seeing her, the woman rose with a beaming smile. She approached, her hand extended in greeting.
“Hi, my name is Giselle. I’m a personal shopper. Gabriel Masters asked me to come by to assist you with selecting a new wardrobe.”
Maggie’s jaw dropped. She started to protest, but they both looked down at her current outfit then looked up again. Their gazes locked, silence ticked for a few seconds, and then they both dissolved into a bout of shaky laughter. Maggie, for the first time that day relaxed. She instantly liked Giselle.
“I can have some clothes here as soon as late this evening,” Giselle informed, walking back over to the settee. Maggie followed her. “I’ll need to take your measurements. We can use the internet. Plus, I brought some catalogues from the finest designers. Mr. Masters said to get you whatever you desire, so don’t worry about cost.” The young lady turned and smiled. “Oh, he said no bras.”
Maggie’s eyes widened in shock and Giselle giggled. “That was my reaction as well. Men! Don’t worry, we’ll sneak in a few. We’ll call them support tops!”
Maggie shook her head with an exasperated grin. She didn’t know whether to be eternally warmed by Gabe’s considerate actions or to fume at his outlandish request. Either way, her heart overflowed with love for him.
Gabe made an appearance sometime after lunch, just as Giselle was finishing up. He poked his head into the room, and upon seeing them, strolled in. He was wearing black slacks and a black button down. Maggie couldn’t help but admire the way his shirt stretched across the landscape of his chest, or how the sleeves shimmied over his strong biceps when he moved. His hair was pulled back and tied behind his head, revealing the aristocratic lines of his face and his strong square jaw. The sight of him took her breath away, and she looked away, afraid that she looked like a love sick puppy. She sat beside Giselle on one of the settees, a catalogue in her lap. He walked over and kissed her lips, lingering for an extra heartbeat.
He smiled. Her heart raced.
“Sorry I disappeared,” he whispered. “I had to meet with security down at the gate house.” He straightened his tall body. “You two having fun?”
Giselle stood and smiled, shouldering her bag and clutching her folder. “It was great. Maggie is a pleasure to work with. I’ll have my assistant come by within the hour to drop some things off. The rest will follow shortly.”
She bid them goodbye, winking slyly at Maggie, and refusing Gabe’s offer to walk her out.
When they were alone Gabe turned to her and grinned, his eyes roving over her body and her makeshift attire.
“Don’t even ask,” she groaned. “Huge fashion faux pas. My clothes were all wrinkled and wet.”
He sat next to her and pulled her onto his lap, tucking her hair behind her ears. He nuzzled his nose into her neck. “I don’t know…” he intoned, “there’s something very sexy about you wearing my clothes.”
“Not in public. Certainly not in front of your mother.” She cringed visibly, lacing her arms around his shoulders and staring into his smiling eyes. She searched those eyes. He seemed relaxed. There was no trace of the remorseful man who’d awoken with a terrifying nightmare in the dwindling hours of the morning. She knew though that his turbulent emotions always lay just beneath the surface of his calm demeanor.
“Don’t worry about my mother,” he said thoughtfully. “If she’s seen you she probably hasn’t noticed.”
Right!
“Why would you say that?” she asked, deciding not to tell him about their interaction. He had enough on his mind.
“Thomas said she’s been preoccupied lately. She apparently has been seeing someone.”
Maggie’s brows furrowed. She searched his face, trying to ascertain his feelings on the matter. She could tell he wasn’t thrilled.
He sighed heavily. “Thomas is worried. She’s been very secretive about him. He’s some wealthy business man. That’s all I know.”
Maggie brushed back a lock of his hair that had fallen onto his forehead. She was pleased that Gabe felt close enough to her to share this concern. She surmised it must be difficult for him and Thomas to see her involved with someone.
“Your mother is lovely, and still young,” she observed.
Gabe sighed and hugged her close. “I know, it’s just that the idea doesn’t sit well with me.”
He seemed about to say more, but just then the door opened and Victoria Rollins walked into the room.
“Hi, sorry to interrupt,” she apologized, her face coloring when she saw them sitting intimately. “I was told I could find you here.”
Maggie slid off Gabe’s lap and stood, her smile cordial. She was still reeling over the fact that Gabe had confided in her, that this very private, stoic man was actually sharing his feelings with her. She was again afraid to read too much into it, afraid to seed hope in her heart.
“Please, come in,” she said to Victoria.
“I was just wondering if I may have access to a computer. I would like to go through the research, make sure none of the files have been corrupted.”
Gabe stood. “I can assure you that everything is intact. All of the data is there.”
Victoria nodded stubbornly. “I’m sure, but I’d still like to go through it. I want to make sure for myself.”
“Certainly. I’ll have a computer brought to your room. You can peruse it at you leisure without interruption. I went through a bit of it. It’s fascinating. If you have time later, I’d like to discuss it with you. I’m fascinated to know how the Sonic Scalpel uses sound waves to interpret the data from the cells, and how it differentiates the normal cells from cancerous cells.”
Victoria’s lips tilted proudly. “It’s just like how animals use sonar to differentiate things in the environment. That part is easy. It’s recognizing the different traits and DNA hallmarks, and being able to ascribe them to a specific group, that has everyone going crazy after my research. The genome discoveries were quite accidental.”
“I want to hear about that too.” Gabe smiled.
“Of course.” She regarded him hopefully. “Is it possible to go to my lab?”
“No. That wouldn’t be wise now. As far as everyone is concerned, you were on the plane that crashed. Right now it’s better if that’s the general belief. I’ve made sure your name will stay on the manifest.”
“I can go by myself, take a car. You can monitor me. I’d go and be back without anyone knowing. I just can’t imagine the chaos that’s occurring at my lab.” Maggie watched Victoria twist her fingers with worry.
Gabe sighed and shook his head. “Although all of our cars have a tracking GPS system, it won’t matter if Cane finds you. There’s no telling what would happen. It might be too late by the time we get to you.”
“I’m just worried about my scientists, the lab.”
Gabe sighed and Maggie saw regret fill his eyes. “I promise that when this is over I’ll help you get your computer files in order and restore the software for your research.”
Victoria looked relieved. “Thank you. That would really help.”
“It’s the least I can do.” Gabe nodded and gave Maggie a quick kiss, stepping towards the door. “I’ll see about installing that computer upstairs.”
Alone in the sitting room, Victoria turned to Maggie. “I can’t thank you both enough for your help. I don’t know what I would have done without it.”
Maggie waved a dismissive hand and her eyes grew serious. “Please, we are happy to help. Your research is very important. I’m very sorry for the loss of your husband.”
She watched Victoria hug her torso and walk towards a window. She couldn’t read the woman’s features, but felt the sorrow and anger emanating from her.
“Paul was an idiot. He was easily duped by Cane Howard. He was never really interested in the research. I had him come work with me in hopes of keeping him out of trouble. But Cane used him. Cane got him out of a huge malpractice case a few years ago, sent in his top notch lawyers, bribed the plaintiff, and since then Paul has been indebted to him,” she explained.
“I’m sorry,” Maggie said, and the words sounded banal even to her. Cane Howard had no scruples. Nothing seemed off limits to him. The man had to be stopped. “Hopefully this will all be behind us soon and you can continue your research.”
“Yes.” Victoria turned from the window and offered a wan smile. “I’d like to put this behind me.”
Maggie’s brow wrinkled, a niggling question surfacing. “Do you know Kate Masters?”
Victoria frowned, shaking her head. “No. Should I?”
Maggie smiled, chasing away her plaguing concerns. “Just curious. That’s all.”
Maggie was so excited to finally have her own clothes that she tried everything on—all at once, and paraded around the bedroom while Gabe looked on with amusement. She loved the sound of his laughter. It was deep and sensual, and bubbled inside her like an unending stream of pure joy. It was a sharp contrast to her first few weeks with him and his constant surly, irritated disposition. She hoped that she was the cause of the delight in his eyes. He lounged lazily in bed, propped against the headboard with his long legs stretched out in front of him.
“You’re just giving me more work, Maggie.” His kissable lips pulled with a teasing smile as he regarded her mish-mosh layers of outfits. “I’ll have more clothes to peel off of you.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” she crooned in what she hoped was a sexy voice and started a slow stripteases.
She saw him shift his hips on the mattress and adjust the growing bulge in his pants.
“I hope you plan on giving me more than a hand.” His onyx eyes sparkled with promise. “A lot more.”
She tossed him a flirtatious wink and blew him a kiss, puckering her full lips in a way that had him swearing under his breath. Her fingers rolled down the Burberry shorts over her khaki capris. She folded them and laid them on a nearby divan. She was still wearing another pair of shorts under her capris and three shirts covered with the softest blouse she’d ever felt, made of Dupioni silk. She sent him another kiss and shimmied the blouse off her shoulders, then she folded it neatly, taking her time to make sure none of the fine silk got crushed.
Gabe chuckled, sending her that odd look he always gave her.
“No offense, but this is the strangest striptease I’ve ever seen. I don’t think you’re supposed to fold the clothes you take off. Actually, I’m pretty sure.”
Maggie stood with her hands on her hips and gave him a vexatious huff. She struggled to hide her smile, but she was entirely serious. “Do you know how much bacteria we track into a room with our shoes? I can’t very well throw my new clothes on the floor!”
His eyes crinkled at the corners. “You’re wearing about ten different outfits. It’ll take you forever to strip and we have to go down to dinner soon. At the rate you’re going I’ll be finished before I even see any skin.”
Maggie shot him a silly face, and ignoring his complaints she moved her hands to her capris. Smiling again, she turned with her back to him and swung her hips. She had no clue what she was doing, but popped a button and started to slowly drag the material down. She’d always fantasized about doing a striptease for a hot sexy man. Hot sexy man? Present. Maggie? Present. Clothes to take off? Finally present. Her roll call was complete. She had everything she needed…
She frowned and straightened suddenly.
Wait a second… Finish? What was he talking about?
She swiveled around abruptly and her breath stopped still in her chest, refusing to shuttle in or out. Just stopped.
Oh, God…
She groaned. Loud. A bolt of potent lust struck her body right at the center of her sex. The sight of Gabe on the bed, pants open, and mouth-wateringly tempting erection jutting out of his pants was mind numbing, especially with his fingers leisurely stroking his large stiff shaft. His eyes were darkly saturated with arousal.