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  It was all that needed to be said. Sliding off the bar stool, she came up on tiptoe and kissed him once on the mouth, then took his hand and set a course for the bedroom.

  Shifting restlessly onto his side in bed later that night, Gabe spared a glance for the clock on the nightstand. The digital readout read two-forty-five.

  His mouth tightened impatiently It wasn’t often that he suffered from sleeplessness. He’d long ago perfected the art of switching his mind off, diving straight into dreamland and waking refreshed and ready to go five or six hours later.

  So why was he lying here, spinning his wheels in the dark, tension churning in his gut?

  Well, duh. The answer to that happened to be curled bonelessly beside him, her breath tickling his back, one slender arm draped trustingly around his waist.

  He couldn’t count the number of times in the past week he’d had lethal thoughts about Cal Morgan and what the bastard had done to Mallory. Or found himself once more hearing Mallory’s distraught voice in his head saying, “I felt so stupid. I don’t ever want to feel as if I’m not competent to run my own life again.”

  The thought of her being hurt and subsequently doubting her own worth twisted him up inside, made him want to shield and protect her, as well as assure her that from now on she had someone on her side she could depend on. Someone she could trust.

  Except wasn’t trust precisely the problem? Wasn’t it the bogeyman in the room that had recently taken to stalking him, popping out at crucial moments to stab at his peace of mind?

  All right. So maybe his conscience was bothering him just a little bit about certain steps he’d taken at the start of their relationship to provide Mallory with some help getting on her feet. It had seemed like the right thing to do at the time. And even now, given how well things were going for her, he couldn’t honestly say he regretted it.

  But he wasn’t an idiot. He knew she wasn’t likely to view what he’d done the same way. At least initially, until she had time to think about it, to get things in perspective and realize he’d had no choice but to take the actions he had for her own good, she was probably going to be angry.

  Just the thought added to the tension twisting through him. Not that he doubted for an instant that they’d get past it, since he had no intention of accepting anything less. He might not be so far gone that he had thoughts of happily ever after—he’d learned the fallacy of that as a youngster—but he was damned if he was ready to give her up, either.

  The night of the break-in he’d shocked the hell out of himself when he’d heard himself staking a claim, informing her in no uncertain terms that she was his. Yet the minute he’d said it, he’d known it was true. She belonged with him, at least for the foreseeable future, he thought, shifting onto his back and pulling her securely into his arms.

  What’s more, sometime over the past few weeks her happiness had really begun to matter to him. More than he would’ve thought possible just weeks ago. And that meant he’d do whatever it took to look out for her.

  Which was precisely why he wasn’t going to say anything now, he thought, covering her hand with his own and pressing it to his heart. There was less than a week to go until the ball, and he was damned if he was going to risk ruining her big night just so he could get a few extra hours of sleep.

  Afterward, however, they were definitely going to have to talk.

  So this is what genuine accomplishment felt like, Mallory reflected, fielding yet another sincere congratulations from a passing partygoer as the Bedazzled Ball glittered its way past midnight.

  It was having someone she didn’t even know tell her they were having a great time.

  It was looking up to see elegantly clad men and women dressed in a veritable wildflower garden of colors sitting at small, intimate tables on the balcony overhead, chatting and enjoying the spectacle of the dancing below.

  It was gazing out at that very same dance floor to see a hundred plus couples dip and sway to a band she’d handpicked.

  It was breathing in the sweet night air wafting through dozens of French doors thrown open to a terrace she’d transformed into a fairyland of twinkling lights and fragrant flowers.

  It was having just been informed—by Nikki Volpe of all people—that the preliminary tallies showed this year’s event had raised the most money in the charity’s entire history.

  And it was knowing that while she’d had a hand in it all, it wouldn’t feel nearly so sweet if she didn’t have someone with whom to share it, she decided, as she accepted her first glass of champagne that evening from Gabe’s outstretched hand.

  “Thank you.” Indulging herself, she took a moment to simply admire him in his faultlessly cut Armani tux. “For the drink. And for being such a good sport tonight. As busy as I’ve been, I noticed you took time to dance with all the elderly ladies on the board. That was really sweet of you.”

  He shrugged. “It was fun. Plus a number of them are long-standing Steele clients, so it was nice to have a chance to visit with them.”

  He wasn’t fooling her for a moment. He could brush off what he’d done as self-serving, but beneath that tough guy facade, the man had a compassionate streak a mile wide.

  And it just so happened that at this perfect moment in time, he was hers. Wondering if there was such a thing as being too happy, she took a sip of bubbly and gave a small, breathless laugh. “Umm. That tickles.”

  His eyes lighting with appreciation for her good humor, he touched his hand to her back, which was dramatically bared by the high-necked emerald gown she’d chosen for its perfect fit—and because it was the same green as his eyes. “Enjoy. You deserve a moment to savor your success.” Leaning closer, he added softly for no one’s ears but her own, “Just keep in mind I have plans for a private celebration when we get home.”

  Arching an eyebrow, she reached out and ran her fingertip over his lapel. “Do tell.”

  His mouth quirked. “All I’m prepared to say is that it involves a better brand of champagne and a certain pair of high heels.”

  Anticipation sparkled through her like the wine in her glass. “Oh, my.”

  “No matter what he’s promising, I can do better,” a different male voice promised confidently from just behind her.

  “Not on your best day, little brother.” With deceptive ease, Gabe took a step that effortlessly put him between Mallory and his brother Cooper.

  Bemused, Mallory turned to smile at the other man, and found he’d arrived just a few steps ahead of Lilah and Dominic. The three brothers somehow wound up standing shoulder to shoulder, a sight that made her feel slightly light-headed.

  Lilah came to her rescue. With a wry look on her lovely face, the blonde moved to Mallory’s side, linked their arms and drew her slightly away from the men. “Breathe,” she advised, her voice ripe with amusement. “I know it can be a little overwhelming the first time you find yourself face-to-face with all that unbridled testosterone, but it doesn’t do to let on. As it is, none of them suffers from a lack of confidence.”

  Lilah was a hundred percent right. Like some recruiting poster for the tall, dark and devastating club, each man had a physical presence that came from being in top-notch shape and an ease of manner that stemmed from knowing they could handle anything that was thrown at them.

  Individually, they were a sight to make any woman’s pulse flutter. Together, it was a wonder they weren’t hip deep in bodies from the female occupants of the room swooning at their feet.

  “Just wait until the Fourth of July,” Lilah advised, “when the whole family gets together to celebrate. It’s always too hot for words.” She fanned her face with one delicate hand. “And I’m not referring to the weather.”

  Unable to help herself, Mallory chuckled, thinking again that things just couldn’t get any better. The ball was a success, it was beyond terrific to have a friend with such an unexpected sense of humor and the man she loved and respected desired her in return.

  While it was true the two of the
m had yet to talk about a future, and she wasn’t taking anything for granted, for the first time ever she was starting to feel as though she was making a real place for herself.

  “You about ready to call it a night, sweetheart?” Stepping close to his wife, Dominic’s entire demeanor turned protectively tender as he briefly touched one big hand to Lilah’s cheek.

  “Yes, I certainly am,” she replied, with a little sigh of contentment as he reached around to knead the small of her back with one big palm. “I just need to go grab my wrap.”

  “I’ll get it,” Mallory said promptly. “As one of my last official duties of the night, I really should go make sure everything’s going all right in the cloakroom.”

  Clearly enjoying her husband’s attentions, Lilah didn’t demur, just fished her ticket out of her evening purse and handed it over. “Thanks. You’re a doll. We’ll head in that direction and meet you.”

  “Okay. I’ll be back in a minute,” she said with a polite smile meant to include the other two men. Before she could take more than a single step away, however, Gabe tugged her close and kissed her boldly on the mouth.

  “Don’t be long,” he said, watching with satisfaction as she blinked up at him a little dazedly before hurrying away.

  Glancing around, he found he was the center of a number of pairs of interested eyes. Yet it was only the reactions of the three people closest to him that he gave a damn about.

  Lilah’s expression reflected warm approval. She’d clearly taken to Mallory and it was obvious the two of them were becoming genuine friends.

  Dom’s reaction, though more guarded, also seemed to be positive, as well as a little smug, no great surprise since he’d had a hell of a good time in Belgrade needling Gabe by murmuring, “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” under his breath at the most inappropriate times.

  Only Cooper appeared to have some reservations. Not that anyone who didn’t know him like a brother would notice—the smile he sent Gabe was totally pleasant. But Gabe saw the shadow of concern in his eyes just the same.

  He wasn’t in the mood to worry about it tonight, however. So it was just as well that Dom slapped the younger man on the shoulder and said, “Come on, kid. Do me a favor and hunt down a valet to bring the car around, will you? That will give me a sporting chance to get my lovely bride to the door without every woman in sight trotting up to share her labor and delivery story.” He gave a slight shudder. “Trust me. Some of the stuff is scarier than trying to evade a sniper while picking your way blindfolded through a minefield.”

  Family, Gabe thought minutes later, as he watched the members of his get swallowed up by the crowd. As crazy as they sometimes made him, he couldn’t imagine his life without them. For exactly that reason it had been good for them to see him with Mallory, he reflected, to let them see for themselves that she was currently an important part of his life.

  “There you are, dear.” Separating themselves from an elderly trio of friends, sisters Eleanor and Annalise DeMarco, longtime Steele clients, permanent Bedazzled board members, and both spry and sharp as tacks—although they’d long passed their eightieth birthdays—approached. “Alone at last, you handsome young devil.”

  Smiling, Gabe held up a hand in surrender. “I’m not sure I can handle another dance, Anna, if that’s what you came for,” he said to the older, more effusive of the two, who was resplendent tonight in diamonds and pale blue silk that closely resembled the shade of her hair. “You wore me out the first time around.”

  “Oh, you!” she said, her faded brown eyes twinkling. “That was nothing. If I were forty years younger—”

  “Hmph,” Eleanor, tall and angular and wearing mauve and rubies, interjected tartly. “More like fifty.”

  “I swear I’d put you through your paces somewhere other than the dance floor,” her sister said, giving Gabe a naughty wink.

  “She always was a trollop,” Eleanor said with sniff a of disapproval, throwing a long-suffering gaze his way.

  Amused as he always was by their bickering, Gabe let them go on for a few more minutes before he finally intervened. “Ladies, you know I’m always glad to see you, but as it happens I was just on my way to find Mallory.”

  “Who is precisely the reason we came to talk to you,” Eleanor said, abruptly perking up.

  “Yes, she most certainly is,” Annalise agreed with an actual nod of approval at her sister.

  “You know, of course, that we were a little dubious when we first agreed to take her on. There was all that unpleasantness with her father—”

  “Odious man,” Anna remarked.

  “—and despite the time she’d spent as a Bedazzled volunteer over the years, she did have a rather flighty reputation.”

  “Clearly exaggerated, we can see now.”

  “But whatever her difficulties in the past, she’s come nicely up to the mark now and we just wanted to let you know how truly grateful we are that you brought her to our attention,” Eleanor said firmly. “Even without your extremely generous pledge, this year’s event has been the most successful ever—”

  “No doubt in part due to the wonderful fashion event your young lady put together.”

  “—and we couldn’t be more pleased with her performance. Now, don’t worry—”

  “No, no, we wouldn’t want you to do that,” Anna said.

  “Sister and I will continue to honor your request for anonymity. But we thought you’d like to know that we board members have been talking amongst ourselves tonight and have decided to ask her to stay on for next year. We really can’t thank you enough for twisting our arms and insisting we give her a try.”

  He couldn’t contain a smile as he imagined Mallory’s elation when she learned the good news. “I just gave things a nudge in the right direction. The credit is all Mallory’s.”

  “Apparently not,” said a cool, achingly familiar voice.

  His heart dropped to his shoes and he slowly turned, almost afraid of what he would find.

  For good reason as it turned out.

  Because Mallory stood not a foot away, staring at him as if he were a stranger, a shattered look in her eyes.

  Ten

  “D ammit, don’t look at me that way,” Gabe said fiercely.

  Swallowing hard, Mallory said nothing. No matter what, she assured herself as he pulled her with an inescapable grip into the first deserted meeting room they came across outside the hotel ballroom, she was not going to break down.

  Not when she’d managed to keep a firm grasp on her composure while Anna and Eleanor DeMarco had fussed over her, smiling and patting her shoulder as they’d reiterated what she’d already heard them tell Gabe.

  How the ball was a smashing success. How exceedingly pleased everyone on the board was with what she’d managed to achieve in such a short time. And how, in light of her impressive performance, the board had agreed that the coordinator’s job was hers for the upcoming year if she wanted it.

  It had been her moment of triumph, the fulfillment of what only six weeks earlier had seemed like an unattainable dream.

  So she’d smiled and nodded, said thank you very much and yes, please, acting thrilled in a truly Oscar worthy performance.

  And all the while her mind had been riveted on what the sisters so very discreetly had not seen fit to say.

  That she owed her success to Gabriel who had promised a large amount of money to the charity in order to secure her present position for her.

  The knife that seemed to be jammed in her heart twisted a little harder at the reminder.

  Somehow she’d gotten through the exchange with the sisters without losing her aplomb. Just as she’d managed not to succumb to the tremors that had threatened to overtake her when Gabe had encircled her wrist with his hard fingers before she could bolt.

  She hadn’t let loose with the furious denial that had crowded her throat when he’d declared, face grim, “We need to talk.” Much less dug in her heels and shrilly refused to budge when he’d
hustled her out of the room like some fugitive he was determined not to let escape.

  No. Her effort to be viewed as someone other than the despicable Cal Morgan’s useless daughter was far too new, and her quest to be taken seriously still too important to her, to jeopardize either by making a scene.

  But there was nobody watching now.

  “Just how should I look at you, Gabriel? Why don’t you tell me?” Feeling his touch like a brand to her soul, she tugged at her wrist, profoundly relieved when he let her go. “Should I simper with gratitude because you bought me my job?”

  Stepping back out of reach, she saw a nerve jump in his jaw, and the small seed of hope that she may have gotten it wrong withered inside her.

  “Or wait, maybe I’m supposed to gaze at you with admiration for the way you duped me into actually believing you respected me.”

  “I do respect you,” he said forcefully.

  “Oh, please!” Turning away, she fought to hide the pain that was starting to radiate through her like cracks spidering across a shattered windowpane. “Don’t insult us both! I told you I could take care of myself. And you went behind my back anyway! You manipulated me, dammit!”

  “No.” Catching her by the shoulder, he swung her around. “I merely provided you with an opportunity—and look how well you did with it!”

  She knocked his hand away, filled with increasing sadness and frustration as he refused to see reason. “But don’t you see? It was an opportunity I couldn’t secure on my own!”

  “So? What does that matter when you weigh it against everything else? I mean, honestly, are you going to stand there and tell me that if you’d known I was involved, you’d have passed up the job to flip burgers someplace?”

  “That’s not the point!”

  “The hell it isn’t.” Untying his bow tie with a jerk, he heedlessly yanked the top few studs free on his shirt, his face growing more and more shuttered. “All I did was get your foot in the door, Mal. You did the rest.”

  “Okay, Gabriel. Let’s say you’re right. If, as you just so arrogantly pointed out, I couldn’t afford to turn down the position, then why bother to lie about it? I’ll tell you why. Because you knew all along that going behind my back was wrong!”