The Organized Bride (Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book 2) (15 page)

Chapter 22

MaKayla finished up with the vendors, handing out checks and making sure they didn’t need anything more from her before she left. As long as she focused on her to-do list, her heart kept beating and the wave of hurt stayed back far enough that she could think and move and function. The longer she kept it at bay, the bigger it grew. There would be a tsunami of tears later, much later. She didn’t want to break down in front of Gabe, didn’t want him to know how badly he’d hurt her.

She felt like such a fool allowing herself to fall in love with him, to trust him enough to let go of everything. She thought they’d shared something exceptional. And when he’d kissed her good night at her bedroom door, she’d felt cherished.

In the light of day, he’d jumped back into Natasha’s arms the minute she’d pranced by in her barely-there sports bra. What a fool she’d been to fall for a man’s pretty words and steamy kisses.

Once the vendors were all good to go, she went to find Brooke at her car.

“Hey, thanks for giving me a ride.”

“No problem. We just have to wait a minute for David.”

MaKayla pulled the passenger door open and dropped into the seat, sinking as low as she could. Her phone rang and she checked it, hoping it was a vendor and not Gabe. It was Gabe. She sent it to voicemail and immediately got a text from him.

I’m ready to go, can I drive you?

MaKayla ignored that as well. He had a car and he could get home anytime he wanted.
Home
. She dropped her head in her hands and groaned. How could she go back there?

David climbed in the back seat and Brooke slid behind the wheel. MaKayla needed to gain some perspective. Gabe had said he loved her and she wanted to believe him. But it was more than that: he’d shown her countless times how much he cared. So why would he hold Natasha like that? She wanted to ask him, but she was afraid she’d break down.

The atmosphere in the car was heavy with her thoughts when Brooke asked, “You’re not going to rub it in that you won?”

“Hmm?” MaKayla turned away from the window.

“What’s up with you?”

MaKayla glanced back and forth between Brooke and David. David! She turned so she could see him better and said, “All right, spill it. What’s up with Gabe and Natasha?” Yuck, saying their names together like that made her want to spit.

David shrugged. “Nothing.”

“Why was she here?”

“I guess to run the race.”

“Why was she, why were they ...?”

Her voice bordered on hysteria and the panic behind her words must have hit David. He was a quick study, and it took less than a blink for him to register what was going on.

David cursed and grabbed the back of Brooke’s seat to lean forward. “Look, I was there when she threw herself at him, literally.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I should have stuck around, but she can cause so much drama I didn’t want to be near her.”

“It looked like Gabe wanted to be near her.”

“Trust me, Gabe wants nothing to do with her.”

MaKayla studied her hands in her lap. “He said I didn’t compare to her in any way.”

Brooke gasped. “He did not!” David laughed and Brooke tried to hit him around her seat. “That’s rude!”

“If Gabe said you don’t compare to Natasha, it’s a compliment.”

MaKayla’s heart leapt. “It is?”

“Natasha’s a leech. If you knew half the crap she put Gabe through ...” He settled back in his chair. “The girl is bat-crap crazy, and Gabe knows it.”

He gave them a quick overview of Natasha’s thievery. With every word, MaKayla pieced together the puzzle she’d been trying to assemble since Natasha’s name first came up. The final image before her was of a man who not only was worth loving, but needed someone stable and trustworthy in his life. MaKayla wanted to be that someone.

Brooke gave David a smile in the rearview mirror. “Where did you need to stop?” she asked MaKayla.

“Can you just take me home?”

“But I thought you needed to go to a store or something.”

MaKayla shook her head. “I need to get home.”

Chapter 23

Gabe hovered on the front porch, unsure if he wanted to step into the empty house or not. He didn’t want to go in if MaKayla wasn’t going to be there, but he needed to get ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Since all of his shaving supplies and clothes were in the house, he’d eventually have to enter, but still he hesitated.

He had spent the majority of the day tracking down the owner of the flower preservation shop, and then he’d spent a small fortune to get him to retrieve the bouquet from his closed store. It would be worth it, though, if the flowers would get MaKayla to talk to him.

Looking down at the beautifully preserved bridal bouquet in his hands, he prayed MaKayla would appreciate his gesture and listen to his explanation for the things she’d overheard. Even though they’d woken up this morning and been in a hurry, the love between them floated in the air like bubbles. It was such a beautiful memory that he hated to ruin it by walking through the front door alone.

Resolving to wait on the porch till she came, he sat down on the step. It wasn’t long before Brooke and David pulled up. He held his breath, waiting for MaKayla to get out of the car. She didn’t. Gabe’s arms slumped to his side.

“Hey,” called David.

“Hey.”

Brooke walked around to the passenger side and picked up a bag.

“She’s not coming, is she?” Gabe asked. He’d messed it all up.

“MaKayla? I dropped her off hours ago.”

Gabe’s head popped up. “You mean she’s here?”

“She should be.”

Gabe was on his feet and through the door, calling MaKayla’s name, as he ran through the entryway.

“In here!” MaKayla called from her room.

Gabe ran right through the door he’d promised himself he’d never enter and caught her in her closet, slipping on a necklace. She was wearing the chocolate brown dress she’d worn on their wedding day. Her hair was loose and fell across her shoulders, and the shy smile on her face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Closing the distance between them, Gabe held up the bouquet and watched as MaKayla’s eyes brightened.

“How did you ...? I thought it was gone forever.”

“I had it preserved.”

She placed her palm against his cheek as she took the flowers in her other hand. “Thank you.”

“MaKayla, I need to explain about this morning.”

“I talked to David.” She moved past him and went into the bedroom.

Gabe followed.

She carefully laid the flowers on the center of her dresser before turning around to face him. “I should have talked to you, but it all felt so fragile. I felt fragile.” It must have taken everything in her to admit that to him. After what she learned about him today, she thought he could handle it.

Gabe circled his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I know. I was afraid I’d broken us.”

MaKayla wrapped her arms around his neck. “We need to talk.”

Gabe chuckled. “I’m glad you’re wearing that dress.”

MaKayla tipped her head to the side and asked, “Why?”

“Because I hoped today would be a new start for us, for our marriage. I don’t want to be married to you because you can manage my charities, sign checks, or schedule an amazing event like the one you pulled off this morning. I want to be married to you because I love you.”

Tears pooled in MaKayla’s eyes. “I want that too.”

“We can shred the prenup and we’ll have a recommitment ceremony. I’ll even wear a silly boutonniere, if that’s what you want.”

MaKayla paused. “You got the boutonniere and you didn’t wear it?”

Gabe shook his head. “I was so tired of having a woman run all over me, that I staged a small rebellion.”

MaKayla lowered her eyebrows.

“I know now that you weren’t trying to control me: you just can’t help making life’s moments special. It’s your gift.”

“And yours is giving and serving others.”

Gabe bent down, so that their foreheads touched. “Say you’ll stay,” he whispered.

“I’ll stay,” MaKayla whispered back.

As their lips met, Gabe was reminded of the sweetness they’d shared the night before. He lifted her off the floor, and applause rang from the doorway, where Brooke and David grinned like cats over a mouse. MaKayla smiled against his lips for a second before kissing him quickly. He set her on her feet, but kept one arm around her.

“Where’s my fifty bucks?” Gabe asked, and David’s smile quickly disappeared.

“What fifty bucks?” asked MaKayla.

“We had a bet over who would win this morning’s race between you two.”

“You bet fifty bucks on me?” Brooke stared up at David, who looked at the floor and nodded. Brooke threw her arms around David and kissed him soundly on the mouth. David, stunned by her reaction, didn’t respond for a full three seconds. Then he placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her back.

MaKayla let out a whoop, and Brooke jumped back like she’d been caught by the principal. MaKayla’s phone beeped somewhere in the room, and she checked the bedside clock. “It’s late.”

Gabe smiled as MaKayla shifted into mega-super-planner mode. Shooing David and Brooke out of the doorway, she said, “You two go out to the pool house and figure this thing out.” She waved between the two of them. “We have about forty minutes until the first guests arrive and I expect you back to help entertain.”

To their credit, they didn’t argue with her, but sheepishly made their way out the back door.

Once they were gone, MaKayla rounded on Gabe. “You need to shave and get dressed. I have to check with the caterer, make a quick round to see if the seating chart is correct, and ...” she bent to pick up Brooke’s grocery bag. “... put these rolls in the serving basket.” She checked the grandfather clock in the hall. “But we have five minutes to spare, so I think you’d better hurry up and kiss me.”

Gabe didn’t hesitate, and when they squished the bag of rolls between them, MaKayla let out a squeak, tossed the bag aside, and pressed her body to his.

Ten minutes later, when the caterer cleared his throat and said, “Ma’am, where do you want the turkey?” they finally pulled apart enough to breathe. Gabe couldn’t let her go.

“I’ll be right there,” she said, and the man went back to the kitchen while Gabe started kissing her neck.

“Gabe.” She breathed his name as she rose up on her tiptoes.

He stopped kissing and groaned. “This is going to be the longest Thanksgiving I’ve ever had. Can’t we just put a do not disturb sign on the front door?”

MaKayla giggled. “What if I promise to make it worth the wait?”

Gabe groaned again, but let her pull away this time. She retrieved the bag from the floor and made her way to the kitchen, pausing to smile at him from the doorway. It took all his strength, but he managed not to follow her and take her back into his arms.

Chapter 24

Gabe stood at the head of the table in his wedding suit and lifted his glass. A turkey, looking much the worse for wear, sat on the sideboard in the formal dining room. A basket with only a few smashed rolls remaining sat next to it, and various business acquaintances, family members, and friends gave him their full attention as he cleared his throat.

“I have a lot to be thankful for this year, but my biggest blessing was so unexpected that I’m still reeling with happiness.” He turned to face MaKayla and felt his voice catch. “MaKayla, you create moments that take my breath away, and I am truly thankful that you agreed to be my wife.” He lifted his glass in MaKayla’s direction, and everyone followed suit.

MaKayla blushed and took Gabe’s hand as he sat down.

David, who was holding Brooke’s hand, leaned over and said, “Speaking of your wedding ...”

Gabe smiled at MaKayla, who nodded her assent. He planned to shred the prenup and Pamela would have to understand the change in circumstances, besides, David was practically family. Lowering his voice, Gabe said, “I’ll tell you after the party clears out.”

“Actually,” MaKayla smiled. “He’ll have to tell you Monday morning. He’s busy for the rest of the weekend.”

Gabe raised an eyebrow.

“I told you, I’d make it worth the wait.” She winked.

Gabe about fell off his chair. “In that case, dinner’s over.”

MaKayla laughed. “We haven’t even had pie.”

“Okay, pie, and then I’m kicking everyone out.”

MaKayla laughed and signaled to the servers to clear the dinner plates.

Gabe had to admit: Pamela was right. Marriage
was
the answer to all his problems. MaKayla not only ran his charities with an expert hand; she filled in the holes in his life. No one could replace Michael, but as Gabe took in the people seated around the table, including David, Brooke, and even Rob from accounting and his wife, he realized MaKayla had built a family around her. Scratch that, she’d built a family around
them
. He was looking forward to Thanksgivings to come when they added seats to the table.

Picking up her hand, Gabe pressed his lips to MaKayla’s fingers. She smiled at him, and he knew his life would be full of breathless moments.