The Texas Bodyguard’s Proposal Page 18

  They’d made love all evening, but she had a shoot early tomorrow morning, so she’d teasingly told him tonight she needed to get her beauty rest and it might be better if they slept in their separate rooms. He’d seemed to understand. She didn’t like deceiving him, but she certainly didn’t want him with her when she picked out his present.

  Sometimes a girl had to do what she had to do on her own.

  A few phone calls had arranged it. Joe and Roger from the hotel staff were eager to help. She’d be back in her room before Rafe even knew she was gone.

  Marjorie was sitting on one of the stools at the diamond case, going over inventory sheets.

  As Gabby approached, she said, “I’m sorry to bring you out so late, but I didn’t know how else to do this.”

  “I’m a night owl. Don’t worry, there’s always plenty of work here for me to do. What can I show you?”

  “Is it all right if I just look around on my own awhile? I’m not sure what I want. Rafe’s not a diamond cuff link kind of guy.”

  “More rough-and-tumble?” Marjorie asked with a wink.

  “You could say that,” Gabby returned with a smile, remembering their last tumble in bed. If she left and never saw him again…She couldn’t think about that. She just couldn’t.

  She knew he wouldn’t accept an over-the-top gift, so she had to keep this simple. Peeking in one case after another, peering at watches, keyrings, diamond rings and other masculine jewelry items, her attention was focused on choosing a gift. She was looking so hard, wanting to get back so quickly, she was barely aware of the glare of headlights outside. When she saw the flash of beams in the window, she didn’t think much of it. This was a busy street, even at night.

  She’d looked over most of the inventory when Marjorie came over to her.

  “Can’t find what you’re looking for?”

  “It seems ridiculous with everything that’s here, but nothing seems just perfect.”

  “I have something in the back that just came in. Let me get it for you.”

  “I can come with you,” Gabby said, and followed Marjorie around the back of the desk down the hall to her office. When Marjorie opened the door, Gabby saw a few boxes sitting on her desk.

  “Each piece is unique and handcrafted.” She picked up a gray box lined with black velvet and handed it to Gabby. At once, she was excited. “Now this I like.” She was holding a fourteen-karat gold tie bar inlaid with turquoise and onyx.

  “Here’s the second one,” Marjorie said, giving it to her. The second tie bar was more of a mosaic in lapis, carnelian, onyx and green turquoise.

  Gabby ran her hand over the robin’s-egg-blue turquoise on the first one. “Is this from the Kingman mine?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  She didn’t hesitate. “This is the one I want, no doubt about it. I think he’ll like it. Do you have any of those little black gift bags left? The shiny ones with the lavender straw?”

  “I might. Let me check my closet.” Marjorie looked and found the bag in question. Gabby put the box inside, tied the bag with a black satin ribbon and then gave Marjorie her credit card.

  “I’ll take this out to the desk.”

  As they came down the hall to the main part of the store, they heard noise outside.

  Gabby stared out the front window. She was horrified at what she saw. There were people there looking in—women and men—and she saw some were talking on cell phones. That was the last thing she needed. People meant press…photographers. She felt like throwing a tantrum, but knew that wouldn’t do any good. She had to think practically. Maybe she could still get out the back where the chauffeur waited.

  “I’m going to try to sneak out the back.”

  “Wait. I still have your credit card.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll pick it up another time. I’ve got to get going.”

  When Gabby reached the back exit, there were two photographers waiting, standing outside their cars blocking in her car and driver. She was trapped. There was nowhere to go. She could do something stupid. She could try to get out of this without Rafe. But she knew she shouldn’t. She knew he would know the best thing to do.

  She took out her phone and dialed his cell.

  “Gabby?” he asked when he answered, in a sleepy, almost languorous voice that caused a tremble up her spine.

  “Hi, Rafe. I need your help.”

  “Can’t get to sleep? Need a massage?”

  There was humor in his voice. Before he left his room and figured out she wasn’t there, she’d better tell him. “Rafe, I had something I had to do tonight and I’m not in the suite.”

  Silence. She imagined he was getting up and going to check. In a matter of moments he asked in a tense voice, “Gabby, where are you?”

  “I’m at McCord Jewelers, and there’s a crowd growing outside. Somebody must have caught sight of me in here and called someone else and they called the press.”

  He swore. “What in the hell are you doing at McCord’s?”

  “I told you, there was something I needed to do on my own.”

  “Yeah, well, you can see where that got you. Don’t move. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I suppose the back isn’t clear, either?”

  “No. Some photographers have our car blocked.”

  “Whose car?”

  “Marjorie sent one for me.”

  He digested that.

  “If I tell her to send him home, maybe the photographers will leave.”

  “Don’t be naive. You know better than that. Don’t stick your head outside the door. Tell Marjorie not to, either. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

  He clicked off without even saying goodbye.

  Rafe hadn’t spoken to her since he’d arrived at the store. Gabby knew he was mad. He didn’t yell or throw things, he just set his jaw, scowled and spoke in a low, controlled voice—not to her, but to the two men he brought with him, to the officers in the two patrol cars who had driven up behind him.

  In the back of the store he put his arm around her, moved her close to him and bodyguards walked on either side of them. The patrol cars sent a warning to everyone else not to make a move. Once Rafe had Gabby inside the car, they sat in the backseat a good two feet apart. He didn’t touch her. He didn’t look at her.

  Because he was afraid he would say something he shouldn’t? She was sure that was going to come. Determined not to let him see it, she’d put the little black bag in her purse.

  Back at the suite he opened the door, checked the place as he usually did and gave her a nod. He went to the living room. She went to her bedroom and left her purse on the dresser.

  He called to her. “Gabby, are you coming out?”

  “It’s late.”

  “We need to talk.”

  “Not if you’re going to yell at me.”

  He peered in her bedroom door. “This isn’t funny.”

  “I didn’t say it was. But you’re acting as if I committed a crime.”

  He raked his hand through his hair. “Why would you do something so stupid?”

  “Rafe, I told you before. I feel trapped here sometimes.”

  “Have you felt trapped since last night?”

  He meant when they were making love. “No, of course not. But once in a while, I just have to do something on my own. I needed a present for someone.”

  “So why didn’t you take me with you?”

  “You really don’t understand, do you? You’ve had this assignment for two weeks, but this is my life, day and night, all the time. Once in a while I have to do something out of the ordinary. Once in a while I have to take a risk or I’ll go crazy. I don’t always have a bodyguard—it depends on the town and what I’m going to do, if I’ll be recognized or not. As I said, back in Italy I don’t have to worry. That’s why I can’t wait to get back there. I won’t have a bodyguard, and I’ll feel normal.”

  “For you, normal could be dangerous. Don’t you realize that?”

  “I realize I have to
take precautions. I thought I did tonight. Who would expect me to be at the store after midnight? But I didn’t wear a disguise, and I should have. I’m sorry, Rafe. I’m sorry I interrupted your sleep. I’m sorry I snuck out. I’m sorry our lives are so different.”

  His gaze locked on to hers and for a moment, just for a moment, she thought he might tell her they weren’t that different. She thought he might kiss her and lead her to bed. She thought he might hold her through the night.

  But he didn’t. Instead, he just said, “I’ll see you in the morning. You’ve got to get some sleep for that shoot tomorrow.”

  And then he was gone.

  Gabby sank down on her bed, wishing she could postpone the shoot tomorrow. She was afraid she was going to look as if she had lost her best friend.

  The following afternoon, Rafe went to his room in the suite with a heavy heart. He’d done a great job of damaging everything he and Gabby had shared, and he wasn’t even sure why.

  Yes, he was sure why. He was distancing himself from her and had taken the first opportunity to do it. Her little escapade at the jewelry store had been the perfect jumping-off point. He had to distance himself, didn’t he? She was leaving. He wasn’t ready to commit to anything or anybody.

  He’d avoided answering the question running in his mind. Why had he acted so strongly when Gabby had called for help?

  He knew why. He hadn’t been able to protect his wife because she’d gone somewhere on her own. Gabby had brought it all back. Thank goodness Gabby’s recklessness hadn’t led to disaster.

  He’d wanted to gather her up and make love to her all night. But he’d known if he had done that, it would be even harder to let her go.

  They’d come back from the shoot a little while ago. He’d ordered room service, but she said she didn’t want anything. So he’d eaten a burger in the kitchen by himself. Now she was still in her bedroom.

  As soon as he walked into his room, he stopped. There was a shiny black bag on his bed. He went over to it and stared at it as if it might bite him. There was a note with it, written on hotel stationery. He took the letter from the envelope.

  Rafe,

  I want to thank you for all you’ve done while I’ve been in Dallas. I so enjoyed meeting your family, but most of all, spending time with you. I’ll never forget what we shared. Thanks again for everything you did for me.

  Gabby

  He didn’t want to open the gift…he really didn’t. But another part of him was too curious to let it be. He untied the black satin bow and stuck his hand into the lavender straw. When he pulled out the gray velvet box, he just stared at it. Finally, he opened it. The tie bar was exquisite. Gabby had wonderful taste. But he didn’t know what to think. Had she risked being followed by photographers to buy him a gift? Why would that mean so much to her? Simply because of good manners? Gabby always confused him and this wasn’t an exception. But he had to know what she was thinking. That was all-important to him.

  As he was coming out of the room, there was a knock on the door. He was surprised. Usually the doorman or the concierge called on his cell phone to tell him if someone was coming up. Maybe Roger was just delivering another package.

  Rafe went to the door, peered out the peephole and froze. He knew who the man was. Mikolaus Kutras.

  A visceral reaction to the man gripped Rafe. His stomach clenched and he felt adrenaline rushing to his fingertips. One main thought pummeled him—this was the man who had taken Gabby’s virginity and squandered it. This was the man she’d run from. This was the man she hadn’t finished with yet. Every instinct told him not to open that door.

  But his reason told him he had to. He just wished—What? That he hadn’t blown up at Gabby?

  He never blew up. He always remained calm. But since she’d been here, she’d encouraged him to act in ways he never had before.

  He tamped down every feeling that had rushed to the forefront, forced calm onto his features and opened the door.

  “Is Gabriella McCord in?” Kutras asked, with a quick, dismissive appraisal of Rafe.

  Rafe stared back at the tall, lean, dark-haired man in a penetrating way. “Who’s calling?” he asked in a voice that sent the message no one would get by him without a good reason.

  “Just tell her Miko’s here. She’ll want to see me.”

  Rafe hoped from the bottom of his soul that that wasn’t true, yet he had to give Gabby the choice. She was a free agent. And he suddenly didn’t like that idea any more than he liked her meeting with Kutras.

  Rafe stepped back and let the man in. Without another word he went to Gabby’s bedroom and knocked on the door. When she opened it, he forced himself not to notice that she looked beautiful in her tan linen slacks and cream silk blouse. He forced himself to deny his response to her, as well as everything else that had happened since he’d begun this assignment. This man could be sorry for everything that happened, and persuade Gabby to accompany him in his private jet back to the Greek Islands.

  Rafe found himself saying stiffly, “Mikolaus Kutras is here to see you.”

  Gabby went a shade paler and he didn’t know if it was a good sign or not. He offered, “I can tell him to leave.”

  To Rafe’s chagrin she hesitated, then said, “I’ll see him. But I need to see him alone.”

  Rafe didn’t like that idea any more than letting the man in.

  “You want me to leave?”

  She studied Rafe’s face for a long time. Then she squared her shoulders. “Yes. There’s no need for you to stay. I’ll be fine.”

  He so wanted to step into that room with her and lock the door behind him. He found there were a few things he’d like to say before he left, but they were all muddled in his head and he couldn’t quite clear them or make sense of them. So instead, he stepped aside when she exited her bedroom and went into the living room to meet with her former lover.

  Rafe did not want to leave, but the way Gabby and Kutras were staring at each other, he knew he had to. He left the suite, letting the door lock behind him.

  Gabby’s hands trembled a little as she gazed at the man who had changed her life. He’d changed it because, after their disastrous relationship, she’d known exactly what she did want and didn’t want in a partner. She’d learned what infatuation was. She’d learned what a man said and what a man did were often two very different things, at least in Miko’s case, though not in Rafe’s.

  “Hello, Miko.” She was proud of herself that her voice didn’t shake, that she could stand coolly facing him, knowing she had to finish this.

  He came toward her then, and would have enveloped her in a huge hug, but she stepped back.

  He studied her quizzically. “What’s the matter? How did you like the bracelet I sent? I see you’re not wearing it. Does it need some adjustment?”

  “I returned the bracelet to your London flat.”

  “I haven’t been back there. But I don’t understand why you returned it. Don’t you realize I’m trying to make up to you for what happened?”

  “There’s no way to make up for what happened.”

  “Now, Gabby, don’t be immature about this. Men and women’s relationships are always in a state of flux.”

  “Flux? Don’t take me for a fool, Miko. Or maybe you just don’t understand the difference in our points of view.”

  His handsome features pretended puzzlement. “What point of view is that? We had fun together. You know we did. And we can again.”

  “No, we can’t. You only want me back until you have me. Then you’ll run off to someone else again. I don’t want to be in that kind of relationship. I’m not interested in that type of relationship. If I ever decide to commit to a man, he and I will be life partners. We’ll share our dreams and our ideas. We’ll cooperate to make a life together, never lie to each other, never cheat. Fidelity, loyalty and friendship are the basis of any good relationship. I didn’t know that when I met you. You did sweep me off my feet, but I had a hard landing and it taught me what
I needed to know.”

  Miko laughed. “I think you’ve been in Dallas too long.”

  “The place doesn’t matter. It’s my outlook that’s changed.”

  “Outlook?” he scoffed. “Maybe you’ve been spending too much time with provincial relatives.”

  “The McCords aren’t provincial. And even if they were—”

  Miko looked angry as he approached her again and reached out. “You don’t understand what you’re giving up.”

  She quickly sidestepped him. “I know what I want.”

  After a tense moment, he asked with less temper. “Something has changed, hasn’t it?”

  “A lot has changed. I’m figuring out what I want to do with my life.”

  “You have everything you could want.”

  “Maybe I once did, but now I want something different. I’m figuring out what will fulfill me. I’m figuring out what love is.”

  The quiet between them in the suite was palpable.

  “Does this have something to do with the man who let me in? Do you think you love him?”

  She could deny it, but what was the point? The truth really could set her free. “It does.”

  “You’re making a mistake. Do you know what I could give you? Caviar on my yacht every morning, sunsets in the Alps at night.”

  Gabby could now see clearly what she wanted, and it wasn’t any of the things Miko was suggesting. “I want children and a loving husband who puts us first.”

  He dismissed her yearning sarcastically. “You want a dream.”

  “Maybe. But I hope it’s a dream I can make a reality someday.”

  One thing Gabby knew about Miko, whether he was gambling, investing in global markets or running a new business venture, he knew when to cut his losses and leave. That’s what he did now.

  He actually gave her a sad smile and said, “If anyone can find what you’re looking for, it’s you.”

  Then he left the suite and didn’t look back.