When I came out, Gabriel was standing in the doorway, and his presence startled me. I hadn’t expected to see anyone, especially him.
“What is wrong with you?” Our eyes stayed locked as I crossed the room and climbed into bed.
“There’s nothing wrong.” It was the truth. My feelings for him were right – too right.
“Answer me and stop telling me there isn’t something bothering you.” Again, he had it all wrong.
“There isn’t anything bothering me. I have a few things on my mind, that’s all.”
“A few things like…” His eyes widened as his hand waved me on.
“It doesn’t matter. I understand that you went ahead and got Mason to get the contract ready to expedite the annulment when the time comes, but-”
“You want it now. Am I right?” He crossed his arms and lifted his chin, though his eyes cut downward to meet mine.
“No, would you stop assuming for five minutes and let me speak!” I hadn’t realized how loud I’d gotten until his eyes widened and he cleared his throat.
“I suggest you get to the point; I’ve got work to do.” He released a long breath and waited as I shifted nervously in the bed.
“I have feelings for you that are growing. I know you want the annulment, but I’m not sure I do anymore.” I took a deep breath and let the rest of my confession spill from my lips. “I’m falling in love with you.”
The look on his face was all I needed to see as my heart slammed to the depths of my gut, shattering into a million pieces. I held my breath on the sliver of hope that he would say what I wanted to hear and pull me from the certain death that followed.
Instead, he stood silent, his face turned down in a scowl and his eyes regarding me with horror. I blanched back as he stepped forward.
“Please go,” the words croaked out of my throat. “I know you don’t feel the same way, and I can’t blame you. You married me on a whim, and it was a mistake. I shouldn’t have bothered you when you have so much else on your mind, but I had to get that off my chest.”
He stepped forward and shame burned through me as he made a move out of pity. He crawled onto the bed and pulled me into his arms, still silent.
Downstairs, his phone rang, and though the sound was faint in the distance, it could have been a siren blaring between us. “I have to take that, but we’ll talk about this, okay. You’re right; this was too important and I shouldn’t have pushed it.” He planted a farewell kiss to my forehead and staggered out of the room and down the stairs.
I broke down in tears as I pulled myself to my feet. I didn’t want to be in his bed. I couldn’t spend another day in this lie and decided that the best thing I could do is move down to the room where Kim had stayed.
I’d poured my heart out to him, and for what? To have him regret that I’d said it. I walked to the closet and gathered my things. By the time he’d return, I’d be gone; and though it wouldn’t be far enough away from the humiliation that wrecked me, it would have to do.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Gabriel
As sunlight broke through the window, I glanced at the clock and back to my computer. Apparently, the damned thing had been up for hours, but had only peeked in my window shade to remind me I’d been working too long again. It had taken me all night to gather my evidence, but I was on my way to clearing my name.
Now that was more important than ever as I considered what Luna had told me. She was in love with me. Falling or fell, the feelings were there, and although I felt as if I had pushed her in a weak moment to tell me, the words strengthened me and energized me through the night to get my work done.
Once I had my findings for Mason, I would go to Luna and make sure everything was right between us.
I wondered how long she’d had those feelings and wished I’d told her the way I felt weeks ago. I figured with all the sex and love making that she’d get the picture, but I guessed her inexperience led to too much confusion. She hadn’t ever had a relationship like ours before, and I hoped I hadn’t manipulated her feelings. Had the marriage forced the issue or the idea of a divorce? We were heading into the territory of needing one if things continued the way they had been. An annulment might not be enough.
Not that I wanted one. Looking back, I had to admit I never did. I’d not married her out of drunkenness as she had me. I’d married her for the connection that I’d always believed was there. No, it wasn’t love at the time, but down in my heart, I knew it could grow. She had agreed, though maybe I should have known it was all a blur to her and not gone through with it.
Then last night I’d stood there like a fool, dumbstruck and aggravated – not because of what she said, but because I shouldn’t have pressed the issue. I’d had no idea she would tell me what I’d longed to hear, no idea that she’d want to stay or that she loved me.
If we’d had only had time to talk things out properly, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. I had things going on that I couldn’t ignore, and besides, the night had gone to shit long before she arrived wanting to talk, and it only got better as the night progressed.
Joe came into the office around four a.m. with more news. The security system had gone out again, but only for a moment. I had my IT team on it and hopefully they’d figure out what was going on. I’d waited to hear back from him, so when I heard footsteps approaching, I’d assumed he returned with news.
Instead, Mason entered with a wrinkled shirt and an attitude to match. “I need a drink.”
“That’s not what I’d like to hear from the man responsible for keeping me out of prison at eight thirty in the morning.”