Nothing Short of a Miracle (22 page)

Memories of last night washed over her in great detail. She stomped her foot on the padded carpet as if it would chase all the sensual longings away. It didn’t do a thing except bring tears to her eyes. He’d been so kind, caring and so very good at making love. No, facing him this morning wasn’t going to be easy.

Gabriella forced her mind to focus on her responsibilities. She lifted Nina, freshly fed and changed and snuggled her in her arms. Nina squirmed, smiled, her eyes sparkling, and Gabriella’s heart melted.

Gabriella entered the small morning room with Nina to find Chad drinking coffee and reading the morning paper. His elbow casually leaned on the table, his legs crossed. He looked vibrant, happy. Gabriella recalled just how securely and seductively those legs had been wrapped around her last night. She wanted to run for her life. Faltering, she turned to head in the opposite direction.

“Running away, Gabby?”

So much for escape. Resigned, she turned to face him. His magnetism after last night was powerful.

“Last night was a mistake. I had too much Wassail.” She patted Nina’s back, and rocked her back and forth.

“Really? Try again. It wasn’t spiked—nothing but hot cider and orange juice. The cinnamon stick wasn’t that potent.” His dimpled smile stung.

“Don’t make fun of me. I can’t handle it right now.” She spun away to avoid his probing eyes.

He stood, circled the table, and placed his hands on her shoulders. “It wasn’t a mistake,” he whispered.

He kissed her temple. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to savor his warm, affectionate touch. So much for keeping her distance.

“I’d never make fun of you.” He placed another kiss to her cheek. “Please. Don’t say it was a mistake.”

She was afraid to look at him, his closeness driving her crazy. He smelled of fresh coffee, cinnamon, and uniquely Chad. He’d showered, but it hadn’t washed away the tangy male scent of him from last night. Her face grew warmer just thinking about their lovemaking. His kiss infused her senses, and a flood of desire spiraled through her body. She shook herself free of the emotion, but it was useless. She would never be free of Chad. She would remember last night forever.

“We’re good together, Gabby. Real good. You can’t deny it.” He continued to hold her while he ran a finger over Nina’s chubby cheek.

Gabby’s eyes focused on his finger, remembering how it had slid over her sensitized skin, and the things it made her feel.

“Chad, please…” She swallowed.

“You know I’m right. I told you...”

“Don’t say it.”

He put an arm around her, Nina now between them, and her legs almost gave out from the need his touch invoked.

“It’s too soon. Last night was too soon.” She couldn’t meet his eyes.

“It’s too right. Last night was too right. We’re too right—the three of us are very right. I told you this munchkin has stolen my heart.”

Gabriella leaned her head on his shoulder, a small moan escaping before she could call it back. She wanted to believe him.

“Tell you what,” Chad whispered, “this afternoon when Nina’s asleep, we’ll talk. I want to spend time with you. Get to know the real you. For you to get to know the real me.”

“Chad…”

“Gabby? What can it hurt? Just talk. I promise that’s all it’ll be. Although,” his smile turned sexy, “I can’t promise not to think about last night while we talk.”

He kissed her temple. She had all to do to step back from the spell he was weaving around her like a dreamy sea mist. “It’s not a good idea.”

“Trust me, Gabby. Please,” he whispered in her ear.

She looked up into his crystal blue eyes, now pleading with her to trust him.
How could she resist him when he looked at her like that?

“Just talk,” she whispered.

“Just talk,” he confirmed. “Now sit. Have some breakfast. For some reason I’m ravenous this morning. How about you?”

His words, although meant to be playful, embarrassed her and made her on edge again.

“If that’s the kind of talk you have in mind, I’ve changed my mind.”

“What? What’d I say?” He threw his hands up in the air, and stepped back in a dramatic sweep of having done or said nothing wrong. “I’m hungry, that’s all. Here, let me take Nina while you eat breakfast. Coffee’s great. I’ve already had two cups.”

Gabriella stared. Was she hearing right? Was he willing to hold Nina while she got something to eat? Sure, he’d said he cared for Nina, but to actually offer to hold her? She’d seen the look on his face the other day when he’d carried Nina over to Helen. Was this the same man who wanted nothing to do with kids? The same man who had guarded his well-ordered life for so long? Someone who’d sidestepped his mother’s matchmaking like the plague because he didn’t want to complicate his life? He wanted her to trust him? The man who trusted no one? Had he really changed?

Speechless, Gabby could only stand in disbelief as he took Nina from her and cuddled the small baby in his own arms.

“See—a piece of cake,” he beamed.

When had he become so adept at holding a baby? And why did he look so natural and comfortable doing it?

“Are you sure…? You don’t have to do this, you know. She’s not your responsibility.”

“Eat. I promise if she cries or spits up, she’s all yours. In the meantime, Nina and I will sit here and get to know each other.”

“You don’t have to do this,” she repeated. “I’m serious. Last night was a mistake.”

“And I told you
I’m
serious. We’ll talk later. We don’t want to argue in front of the baby.”

Gabriella sat. She liked the sound of that. It sounded as if they were a married couple arguing. She could get used to being around this man day and night if she wasn’t careful.

“This isn’t going to work,” she said. “Your life is perfect—uncluttered, successful. Mine is anything but.”

He hadn’t said he loved her—so where was this relationship going? She sipped her coffee, the warmth of it, usually soothing, did little to calm her shaky nerves.

“For the moment, but things will work out. We’ll talk later. Now, eat,” he ordered as if she were a stubborn child.

“Chad…”

“Do I have to take Nina in the other room so you’ll eat? You need your strength. Eat. Pretend we aren’t here.”

“Like that’s going to happen,” she muttered in her coffee cup.

“I heard that.”

She looked up. Oh, my. He was rocking Nina back and forth in his arms. But how long would his interest in Nina and her last? She had meant it when she said last night was a mistake. A wonderful mistake, but a mistake nevertheless. He hadn’t said he loved her.

What exactly was he looking for in this relationship?

****

“Where are we going?” Gabriella asked, buttoning her jacket and wrapping her scarf around her neck later that afternoon. “It’s too cold for a walk down by the lake.”

Nina was snuggled warmly in her crib, the baby monitor on for Ethel in case the baby woke. Ethel had conveniently ignored them, not saying anything as Chad ushered her out the kitchen door. Embarrassed, Gabriella felt as if she was a teenager caught sneaking out on a clandestine date.

“Not where we’re going. Come on, it isn’t far.” Chad put his hand on her back to get her started down the walk. He let his arms hang at his sides. “I have the perfect place where we can be alone without being disturbed. Trust me. You’ll love it.”

Trust him?
She wanted to, she had to, she loved him.

The sun was high in the clear periwinkle sky, a slight breeze blew off the lake, and the snow-covered lawn was chilled. Chad stood next to her, not touching her, but still close enough she could breathe in his essence. His look was serious. She shivered, nervous at his intent. If he so much as touched her again, she’d turn and hightail it back to the house and safety. She’d been keyed up all afternoon just thinking about their “talk” and where their relationship was or wasn’t going. She was afraid to find out.

She tucked her gloved hands in her pockets and tipped her head down against the wind. Chad didn’t bother. He was enjoying the elements and the cool breeze coming off the lake. Thinking about their first kiss suddenly made her feel a little warmer, thinking about last night made her entire body explode like an overheated furnace.

The wind cooled her warmed cheeks as they circled the side lawn where snow-covered shrubs lined the cleared walkway. A full grove of Rhododendron, their leaves curled like tiny tubes to protect themselves from the cold, Azaleas tucked in between small evergreens, and Christmas Holly bushes sprinkled here and there lined the stairway leading down the slope to where the water met the shoreline. To the left stood an enchanting, enclosed white gazebo on a platform overlooking Cayuga Lake. In the summer it would be a great view of the many sailboats dotting the glistening waters. Now, the boats were tucked away for the winter. But the gazebo was glowing, the windowpanes frosted. Garlands circled the outside of the structure as if waiting for Santa to arrive. It looked inviting, cozy.

Too inviting. Too cozy.

Gabriella paused just as the wind picked up.

“Don’t worry,” Chad said behind her. “We’ll be warm inside.”

His words startled her. Had he read her mind, or had she spoken her thoughts aloud?

“I hope so. This wind is much colder next to the water.”

Chad opened the glass door for her to enter. She stopped. He bumped into her.

Gabby looked around the closed interior. A small heater emitted warmth at the far end of the room. Scented candles flickered, casting a romantic atmosphere. Her heart melted. Cushions, piled high, lined the window seats, while others were scattered on the floor. A small table held a bottle of wine, and two fluted glasses waited to be filled.

“You set this up.”

She turned on him, jabbed her finger into his firm chest, her first mistake—touching him.

“If you don’t stop poking me with those sexy fingers of yours, I’m not going to be able to maintain control of my emotions. Obviously you don’t know what they do to me.”

“What are you trying to do? Seduce me? Again?”

“I want us to be comfortable. Relax.”

“Relax?
Relax
? I know what you have in mind and I want no part of it. I told you…”

“Yeah, yeah, last night was a mistake. I know. I’m tired of hearing it. Especially when I know it was the most right thing I’ve ever done. You are the most right thing. You, Gabby. Only you.”

He approached her.

She stepped back.

“Chad. Don’t…”

He kissed her. Wrapped his arms around her. She lost what little fight was left in her and kissed him back. This was right where she wanted to be.

“See how perfect that was? How right we are together? Now that we’ve gotten that over with, let’s sit down and talk.”

Gabriella, in a daze over how easy he could melt her defenses, allowed Chad to lead her over to the window seat lined with pillows. She sat down. He unzipped her jacket and helped her out of it before taking his own jacket off. He sauntered over to the table and poured a wine that sparkled with the flickering of the candles. Mesmerized, she could no more take her eyes off him than she could stop breathing. His burgundy sweater and black slacks were a perfect match against his dark good looks. His black curls, windblown and hanging over his forehead made him look so boyishly handsome and so very enticing.

“Chad…”

“Here, drink this. Then we’ll talk.”

She sipped the wine, enjoying the tingle and warmth as it slid down her dry, nervous throat. He settled next to her, close, and sipped from his own glass all the while watching her.

Close, very close, but not touching.

“God, Gabby, I want to wake up with you lying beside me every morning. After last night—the most incredible night of my life, I don’t know how I can live without you by my side. You gave yourself to me… I’m speechless. I keep asking myself why?
Why me
?”

Gabriella opened her mouth. He smoothed a finger over her trembling lips.

“Don’t tell me it was a mistake again. You have to let go of the past and trust me. I know I’ve let go. You can, too. I trust you with my heart.”

Gabriella wanted to believe him.

“It’s not that simple. I’ve Nina to think about, now. She’s my responsibility and I need to see this through on my own.”

“We can do it together.”

“For how long? How long until you tire of someone else’s baby?”

“If she’s part of your life, never.”

She wanted a lifetime together with this man, but did he want a lifetime with her? Was he asking her to marry him? Hope blossomed in her heart.

“You also told me you didn’t want me—need me.”

Their eyes met.

“After last night, I know that’s not true. Here, have more wine.” He filled her glass.

“Nina and I are not a charity case.”

Chad put his arm around her and held her close.

“I’m the charity case. I’m the one who’s needy. Needy for you.”

His nearness, his touch, his scent…dear, Lord…she wanted more. Much more. He leaned into her, their noses touched. The contact startled her. He inched her back into his arms and kissed her, leaving her in no doubt as to his need—leaving her trembling with a need of her own. Maybe it would work between them. Could she take the chance? She ended the kiss, but he wouldn’t let her break from his hold. She found herself leaning into him, initiating a kiss of her own, and was lost. She threw her arms around his neck. Her glass tipped sideways—wine spilled to the floor.

“I love you, too,” he whispered.

It took a moment for Gabby to realize what he’d said. She couldn’t believe her ears.

“You love me?
Too
?”

“Yes.”

“But I didn’t say I love you.”

“You trusted me enough last night to give yourself to me. It was the most precious gift anyone has ever given me.”

“Oh, Chad,” she whispered, still in his arms.

“Tell me it wasn’t a mistake, Gabby. I need to hear you say it.”