Once Upon a Friendship

His time alone with Gabrielle was over.

They’d made it safe and sound.

And right then he cared more about his friends’ safety than anything else. Once he drew attention away from them, he’d find some way to get to his father. The old man had a lot to explain.

Liam wasn’t going to put up with Walter’s refusals to speak to him. Not anymore.

“Yo

u absolutely will not leave.”

“No way.” Marie and Gabrielle spoke simultaneously. “You’re going to come home. We can figure out ways to get you in and out when you need to go,” Marie continued.

“Then they’ll just hound you,” he told them.

Gabrielle was walking beside him. “I’ll be happy to give them our statement.”

As his attorney. He’d forgotten about that for a second. “And think what the publicity could do for Marie’s business,” she added, her words hitting him hard.

Not because of what they said, but because she knew just what to say to calm his concerns. He wanted to go home. To be in the building they’d all bought together. She was giving him a way to do so and still live with his conscience.

As soon as they had their luggage—including the suitcase of Walter’s things—Tanner herded them to an elevator farthest away from baggage claim. “I don’t think anyone knows we’re here,” he said. “There were only a couple of die-hards parked out front when Marie and I left out the back. And I’ll be around to make certain that no one gets in to bother any of the three of you.”

“You’re one body,” Liam said, still not convinced.

“They’re reporters, not bandits with guns.” Gabrielle’s laconic reply brought a smile to his lips. And there he was wanting to hug her. To loop his arm through hers. And feel her shoulder pressing up against his.

He wanted to know that when they all went home, when all goodbyes had been said for the day, Gabrielle would still be with him.

Not downstairs with Marie.

And that thinking was going to get him in far more trouble than any reporter could.

Tanner held the elevator door for the three of them, waiting to board last. “I plan to hang out at the coffee shop,” he said. “And I’d suggest, for now, the three of you hire a security guard to cover the private entrance in the back. You don’t want someone getting aggressive with any of your older residents as they come and go.”

“It’s probably all going to die down in a day or two,” Liam said aloud, allowing himself to believe it. Glad to focus on something besides Gabrielle. “News’s shelf life is shorter than a gallon of milk’s these days,” he continued. “I’m assuming there have been no more mysterious letters left, or new paint jobs?”

“Until the reporters showed up this afternoon, all was quiet,” Marie told them. She’d reported the quiet part both times Gabrielle had called from Florida.

The three of them agreed that Elliott should find twenty-four-hour security for the back of the property for at least the next week. And then Marie spent the rest of the trip home bombarding them with questions about their weekend. Most particularly about Tamara.

All in all, Liam figured it was good to be home, despite Denver’s thirty-degree drop in temperature after Florida’s balmy winter weather. There was no snow on the ground. He was in a warm car. There were groceries in his cupboards. And he had good friends.

The only blight that he felt more acutely than was called for was his jealousy of Marie, who was in the backseat with Gabrielle. In Florida, that had been his place.

And he’d liked it there.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

GABRIELLE MADE IT to bed late due to Marie’s continuous questions about her weekend. She was happy to share everything but her inappropriate feelings for Liam. They’d disappear with time.

She also didn’t mention his obvious distaste at the idea of his little sister thinking there could ever be anything romantic between Gabrielle and him. That memory was for her alone. To pull out anytime she started to daydream about his kisses.

Or get jealous about his girlfriends.

Or feel the hurts in his heart as though they were her own.

Dressing with care the next morning—in a short, slim black skirt, a white blouse and a jacket, with a black-and-white polka-dotted scarf—she applied more makeup than she normally did for work and slipped into pumps that she’d bought for a Christmas party one year. She did it all with one thought in mind—not embarrassing Liam.