“I’m in Houston. I’m at your office. They weren’t going to bother you, but I refused to leave without talking to you.”
“Wait, you’re in Texas?”
“I should have called.”
“No, well, I mean, yes, a heads-up would have helped, but… What are you doing there?”
“I needed to see you.”
His eyes closed. There had never been more welcomed words. “Don’t move. I’ll get to you as soon as I can.”
He asked to speak to his assistant, instructing her to let Perrin rest in his office undisturbed. When he returned to the bar, he couldn’t talk fast enough.
“I have to go. She’s at my office.” He paced back and forth, too drunk to figure out which way his bungalow was. “She came to see me!”
Tiffany laughed. “Good. Go get her.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You did. Let me pay you for your time.”
“Gage, do yourself a favor and stop assuming people always want something from you.” She smiled. “If it all works out, you can invite me to the wedding.”
He trembled at the thought of another marriage. “We’ll see.”
Chapter 14
A soft chime sounded and Perrin stirred from a dream, thinking she was at home in her bed. A door creaked and she frowned, squinting into the dark. A large form filled the doorway, and she bolted back, recalling she was on the couch in Gage’s office.
“It’s me.”
“Gage?”
He clicked on a desk lamp, and she blinked, her eyes adjusting to the soft amber light. “I made it.”
She sat up and scrubbed a hand over her eyes as he came to her, pulling her into a strong hug and hauling her close. She hummed at the pleasant feeling of being wrapped in his arms and strength once more.
As she pulled away and truly looked at him, she frowned. “Are you okay?”
“I haven’t slept in God knows how long, but I’m here.”
He looked terrible. His eyes were puffy. His hair was mussed. And he smelled like the bottom of a tequila bottle. “Where were you?”
“On an island in the middle of nowhere.”
“Oh.” Guilt knifed through her. “You didn’t have to come b—”
He covered her mouth. “Don’t. I’m exactly where I want to be.” His fingers laced with hers. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Resting his head on the sofa, he frowned. “How did you get here?”
“I flew. You’ve spoiled me for economy travel.”
He laughed. “I’m sorry. Next time, if you let me know, I can make arrangements.”
“I think I’m good with sticking to the ground for a while. I did this flight cold turkey with the help of some alcohol.”
“Poor baby.”
Relieved to have him there, she needed to get some things off her chest. “Gage, the guy you saw me with—”
“Your ex?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I didn’t, but I figured it out.”
“I’m not interested in him.”
“You better not be.” He tugged her closer, pulling her onto his lap and cupping her face. “Why are you here, Perrin?”
She pressed her head to his. “I’m in love with you.”
His eyes closed and he pulled her face forward, pressing his lips to hers. “I love you, too.”
She wreathed her arms around him and they simply hugged for a long moment. “I’m sorry I was so awful that day I came to the motel. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.” He put some distance between them and looked her in the eye. “And I should have told you about Tara.”
She bit her lip. “About that… I don’t want to be the other woman.”
“You’re not. My divorce was finalized over a week ago.”
Her breath caught. “It was? You’re not married anymore?”
“Free as a bird.”
She kissed him hard, pressing into his chest and nestling into his strength. “No, you’re not.”
“No?”
“Nope. You’re mine.”
He chuckled and kissed her deeply. “Come home with me.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
On the drive through the city, under the early dawn sky, Gage warned that he was in between homes. She expected a bachelor pad full of boxes and unfurnished rooms. What she found was completely different.
The house was a fully furnished McMansion with eighteen-foot ceilings, cathedral style doors, and two in-ground pools, one inside and the other, a heated saltwater pool, outside. “This just won’t do,” she said.
He chuckled and flushed. “It’s a little pretentious, isn’t it?”
“Just a tad.” Glancing up at him, her humor shifted to concern. “You look ready to pass out. Let’s get you to a bed.”
He led her through the home, neatly appointed with overpriced decorations sold with furniture displays. Not a single personal photo filled a frame. And there weren’t many boxes sitting around, just a few in the foyer marked SHOES and DESK. As a man with an ex-wife and no family, how much did he truly feel attached to?
A conversation for another time, she decided.
“I’m going to take a quick shower,” he said as they entered the bedroom. “Make yourself at home.”