Lauren (Silicon Valley Billionaires 1)

We went through the doors to where my entire staff was assembled—Eva, Finn, Stephanie, Leo, Dave, Eddie, Timmy, everyone. They were all clapping and cheering. There was an enormous Congratulations sign hung across the lobby. I saw Hannah and Gabe, and I ran to them, enveloping them both in a hug, vowing silently to never let them go.

“Jesus, Lauren. Our post-fake-breakup sex might be even better than our makeup sex.” Gabe reluctantly slid out of me and flopped over onto his back.

I stretched luxuriantly, my limbs loose from spending the afternoon in bed with him. “I’ll say.” A wide grin spread across my face as I blushed, thinking of some of the things we’d done. We’d spent the last few days holed up at his house, only dragging ourselves from bed to eat or check in with our respective offices.

He pulled me onto his chest and played with my hair. “You did it. I’d say I was surprised, but I’ve learned not to underestimate you.”

I snuggled against him, feeling the thrill that only the warmth of his body could give me. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

He smiled at me, his dimple on full display. He’d finally shaved his beard even though I’d loved the scratchy feel of it…against my thighs. Along with other places…

Gabe’s face turned serious. “I never would have agreed to let you go to Li Na. But when you asked me to take over the launch, I knew you were putting your full trust in me. So I put mine in you. And Timmy. Thank God for Timmy.”

“I feel so bad about Timmy. The poor guy probably never expected his cushy civilian detail to end up the way it did.”

Gabe shook his head. “Timmy did the right thing, and he knows it. Even if he wasn’t your paid guard, he would have shot those men to protect you. They were mercenaries, babe. They would have killed you both without a second thought, just to get a paycheck.”

I buried my face in his chest. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

The fact was, I couldn’t get that day out of my mind. My nights were haunted by horrible dreams about the events surrounding our escape, and the men who’d lost their lives that day. Gabe had woken me up each night since we’d been home, saying that I’d been screaming in my sleep.

He wrapped his arms around me protectively. “We’ll get through this. You’re going to be okay, Lauren. Everything’s going to be okay now.”

I nodded against his chest, wanting to believe him more than actually believing him. “Tell me about the launch again,” I said, changing the subject.

“You’re like a little kid with a favorite story. This is, like, the thousandth time I’ve told you. But, since you insist…” Gabe chuckled indulgently. “Once upon a time, I was smuggled into Paragon in a food crate bound for the cafeteria.”

“I wish I could have seen that.” I laughed, my mood lightening.

“I had to be concealed,” Gabe said. “Eddie came up with the idea. I came in on a truck and was wheeled down to the kitchen. Not the most glamorous moment of my life. Then I headed down to the lab with Eva and Finn. We followed your directions and got the launch ready. Eva said I was a natural.”

He laughed. “She didn’t know that all I’ve been doing since I met you is following your damn directions, but I didn’t bother to enlighten her.”

“How did Hannah do?” I asked.

“She was a pro. She handled all the press leading up to the launch, and when we were ready, she organized an Internet blitzkrieg. Every news outlet was running the story. How are the domestic sales?”

“Amazing. We earned back all of our investments within the first twenty-four hours. How are the international numbers?”

Gabe smiled. “Amazing. Li Na is probably cursing you and crying into a bottle somewhere.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think she’s the crying kind.”

“What’s the latest from Agent Marks?”

“He said that they’re looking into Jiàn Innovations, and that the NSA had opened an investigation. But in terms of actually prosecuting them…he said it was difficult. He said the Chinese government was notoriously uncooperative with cases like these.”

“We’ll have to see how that plays out.” Gabe was quiet for a minute, stroking my hair. “She really thought she was going to win, didn’t she?”

I sat up and studied his face, which was, for the first time in weeks, relaxed and happy. “She didn’t count on you.”

“What do you mean?”

I stared out of the bank of windows at the mountains. The sun was starting to set, casting a hazy glow over the rugged terrain. “She said my weakness was my ‘singular brilliance.’ She didn’t think that I would have been able to trust my launch to someone else. She didn’t think I was capable of that, I guess.”

> I could feel Gabe watching me. “It was a big step for you. I’m honored that you trusted me.”

I turned to look at his handsome face. “I’m honored that you stuck with me through all this, and that you were there for me when I needed you. That was amazing.”