“I think Dallas gets it.” I wasn’t sure if I should mention her ghost issue with the house she owned. “Plus, you don’t entertain so why would you want anything more than this?”
“Along those same lines, if I had a bigger place would I be expected to have people over?”
“So you really don’t socialize here?”
Nolan tipped my head back and looked into my eyes. “No. There’s so many of us in the Lund Collective, when we get together we’re usually at one of our parents’ houses.”
“What about friends?”
“Socializing to me has always meant going out. So even when I had what my family called my flavor-of-the-week years I never brought them to my home.”
“You went to their place for hookups?”
“Sometimes. LI has a small studio apartment downtown for out-of-town business associates that’s rarely used on the weekends. It was easiest to go there.”
“Handy if you were drinking. And for parking. But I imagine some of those women were expecting you’d take them to the Ritz or someplace since you’re a gazillionaire.”
His eyes searched mine. “You really aren’t jealous, are you?”
“No.” I snaked my arms around his neck. “We’ve both got pasts. So what if you dated the beautiful people. They’re not here with you now. I am.” I kissed his surprised expression. “Any doubts I had about your attraction to me have been more than satisfied, Nolan, and I hope I’ve given you that same confidence.”
“You have.” He rested his forehead on mine. “Do you know how crazy I am about you?”
“Maybe.” I nuzzled his cheek, just because I could. “But maybe you’d better prove it to me again a little later. In front of the fireplace on that soft-looking rug.”
“Done.” Another smooch to my mouth. “But I believe I promised you a late lunch.”
I cut back through the foyer to grab my cell phone out of my bag. The only seating in the kitchen was one of four chairs tucked under the long side of the marble counter opposite the prep area. “Weird question, do you have a dining room?”
He shook his head. “That was another plus about this house. However, I did add another garage bay after I bought this place. The builder created a laundry room / storage area / mud room between the garage and the house. Made more sense to me than having the laundry room in the utility room downstairs.” He pulled a covered bowl from the refrigerator. “The one thing I kept was the double deck.” He pointed out the French doors. “On this level there’s a bistro table and a small grill. On the bottom level there’s a hammock. That’s about as much outdoor space as I wanted.”
“This is honestly one of the coolest houses I’ve ever been in.”
“You have been in Jax and Lucy’s eight-thousand-square-foot rooftop apartment, right?” he said dryly.
“Yes. That is a fantastic space for them. This place is just . . . you. I get why you keep it to yourself. I wouldn’t want to share it with anyone either.”
Nolan reached across the counter and tugged my hair. “Careful, or I’ll think you’d never want to move in here with me.”
Did he mean that? This was one of those times I didn’t know how to respond so I tossed off a flip, “Well, I don’t know, Charming. I would need some closet space.”
“For you, my Gabriella, I’d make space.”
“Nolan.”
He grinned. “No need to give me your answer now. I’ll wait until after you’ve seen my bedroom with the lights on. And the master bathroom. It has a Jacuzzi garden tub and a steam shower.”
Once again, I was speechless. Then my phone buzzed on the counter, startling me.
Caller ID said: Wolf Sports North.
I just stared at it until it nearly vibrated off the countertop.
Nolan said, “Babe. Answer it.”
“Why are they calling me on a Saturday afternoon?”
“You won’t know if it goes to voice mail.”
I hit answer call and said, “This is Gabi Welk.”
“Gabi! Alan Mayes from Wolf Sports North. How are you today?”
“Good. Curious.” I couldn’t believe I was basically taking this call naked.
“I imagine so, so I’ll get right to the point. We want to hire you as our co-broadcaster for the UMD college hockey TV program.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. You were the best qualified candidate and we saw an enthusiasm for the game that transcended our expectations. We’d love to have you as part of the Wolf Sports North family.”
I paced to the French doors. “I am in a happy shock right now, so excuse me if I’m coming across like an idiot. But yes, I am one hundred percent on board.”
“Excellent. We’re keeping this on the down low until we get a few more details finalized. But we will be in touch with you on a weekly basis to keep you in the loop as far as start dates and preproduction.”
“Do you have any solid dates in mind? Because I do need to let my boss know he’ll have to find someone to fill my position.”
“I understand. But if you could hold off until you get the all clear from us, outside guess is maybe two weeks?”
“Okay. That seems doable. As long as I have access to the financial details of the proposed contract for my attorney to look over.”
“Of course. We’ll send the links to your email. Congratulations and have a great rest of your weekend.”
“I will, sir. Thank you.”
I ended the call and stared out the window, not really seeing anything, the buzzing in my head was so loud. Had that really just happened?
So when Nolan came up behind me and set his hands on my hips, I jumped.
He murmured, “Easy.” He stayed warm and solid and strong behind me until I leaned back into him. “You all right?”
“In shock. I got the job.”
He squeezed me and kissed the back of my head. “I figured. Are you happy about it?”
“Yes. But it sucks because I can’t talk about it with anyone.”
“Not even to me?”
Especially not to you. After you practically invited me to live with you and now . . . I’ll be moving to Duluth.
God. How could I be so excited and yet so . . . unhappy at the same time?
“Gabriella?”
“No, I’m sorry, I can’t tell you either. My new boss reminded me I signed a bunch of NDAs and until they’re ready to announce this, I have to keep it under wraps.” I groaned. “I hate that I can’t tell Jax. Or Lena at Minnesota Youth Hockey League. And now, there’s no way I can try out for the new NWHL expansion team here in the Twin Cities.”
I spun and wrapped my arms under his, grabbing onto his shoulders and squeezing him tight. “Sorry to babble. Thank you for listening.”
“What is this about? Because there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“The truth? I’m crazy about you.” I nuzzled his chest and pressed a kiss to his heart. “While maybe you’re thinking this job is the greatest thing for me, the truth is . . . you’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. Maybe ever. I’ve never said that to a guy because I’ve never felt it before.”
“You . . . It’s . . .” He laughed softly. “Christ, I can’t even think straight after hearing that.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “Being with you has filled me with joy. I’ve tried to contain it around you because I wasn’t sure if you were there yet with how you felt about me.”
“But you didn’t doubt that I’d get there, right?”
“I was prepared to wait until you realized we’re right for each other regardless of how wrong we started out.” The way he gazed at me . . . stole my breath and weakened my knees.
“Let’s go to your room right now.” I tried to catch his marauding mouth, but he dodged me.
“Foo
d first. We’re both gonna need to keep up our strength to make it until morning.”
Twenty-Four
NOLAN
Waking up with Gabi in my arms might’ve been one of the best mornings of my life.
And that wasn’t solely because she blew my fucking mind in the shower.
Although she had done that.
My thoughts scrolled to the heat of her mouth enveloping me. The scrape of her nails up the outside of my legs. The little nuzzle across my abdomen before she reached her ultimate destination. The push and pull of her teasing. Her eyes dark with playful passion as she gauged my every moan and grunt of satisfaction before she sucked me into that morass of orgasmic ecstasy.
A loud smack sounded and my ass stung. My gaze followed her as she moved to stand beside me at the sink while I brushed my teeth.
“You were thinking about that blow job again, weren’t you?”
I spit and rinsed. “Yes. Every time I have a dopey look on my face, it’s because I’m reliving our epic fuckfest last night.”
“And this morning.” She kissed my sternum and plucked my toothbrush out of my hand.
Normally I’d be grossed out by her using my toothbrush, but we’d forged an entirely different path last night where I wanted to share everything with her.
I left her in the bathroom while I dressed in khakis and a white T-shirt.
Ten minutes later she emerged still wearing just my robe.
I’d toasted two English muffins and filled them with scrambled eggs, sharp cheddar cheese and a piece of Canadian bacon. I added sliced bananas and strawberries to the plate and slid it in front of her.
“This looks delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
Just then, my phone buzzed with a text message from my dad.
AL: You coming to brunch?
ME: No. I’ll explain later. Meet me at the club at 3?
AL: See you then.
She looked at me curiously over the rim of her coffee cup.
“What?”
“Isn’t Sunday brunch with the Lund Collective mandatory?”
“No. I haven’t been there the past two Sundays because I’ve been with you.”
“Which I’ve been happy about.”
“But?”
“But nothing. I was just making sure I’m not keeping you from seeing your family.”
“You’re not.” I shoved my hand through my hair. “Up until the last year or so I had a different woman to brunch damn near every week. Maybe it seems stupid, but by not taking you to brunch, I’m keeping our Sundays private until we’re ready to let my entire family know that you’ll be a permanent fixture at brunch with me.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Nolan.”
“I owe you the courtesy of making sure you understand I’m not hiding this relationship. Besides, I know you have to work today and I wanted to spend as much time with you before you have to go.”
She smirked at me. “Good answer. I wouldn’t have had the right clothes with me to wear to brunch anyway. It’d be the ultimate walk of shame.”
“Brunch has gotten chaotic. Jax and Lucy and Jensen and Rowan letting Mimi and Calder run around. Walker and Trinity’s kid crying when Trinity leaves him to go throw up in the bathroom because she’s pregnant again. Brady and Lennox keeping their baby in the stroller, practically wrapped in plastic against germs. Aunt Cilla looking longingly at Selka’s grandbabies and Annika avoiding her mother’s questions about when she and Axl are starting a family. Ash, Dallas and I have skipped brunch more often than we’ve attended since the first of the year.”
“Yikes.”
“Our cousins Zosia and Zach used to come down sometimes while their brother Zeke ran the fisheries, but even they’ve avoided it.” Although, to be honest, I doubted it was the family aspect that was keeping them away.
“You’re frowning. What’s wrong?”
“Just thinking about some corporate issues that you don’t give a crap about.”
“Hilarious. I only said that at Buddy’s that night because being contrary used to be my default response to you. But you can talk to me about business stuff. I can’t promise to understand it, but I am a good listener.”
“I know you are. I’ll probably take you up on it when you’re not dealing with other secret job stuff.”
“Speaking of job stuff . . . I have to take off in an hour since I’m refereeing two games at two different rinks. Then Dani wants to get together and talk, which I don’t want to do, but I’ve been putting her off for a while.”
“You never mentioned what your parents think about Dani and Tyson.”
“They weren’t super shocked. It was a pretty short conversation.”
“They didn’t ask if you’ve become involved with a sexy, well-dressed businessman who adores you?”
“Oddly enough, that didn’t come up.” She paused. “You think Jax knows about us? Or maybe I should ask if you’ve told him anything?”
I shook my head. “He’s dealing with four projects right now, so I don’t know if seeing us together more often has registered. Who have you told?”
“Besides accidentally spilling the deets to your mom?”
“She gave me an ‘atta boy’ for that, which was weird.”
“I’ll bet. Oh, speaking of weird . . . Dallas knows about us. I didn’t tell her though. She said she saw it in the stars.”
I snickered. “Of course she did.”
“This is super bizarre. I can’t believe I forgot to tell you. Remember I told you that she, Liddy and I had that girls’ night before they both skipped town, forcing me to ask you to help me with interview outfits?”
“Can’t say I’m sorry about them not being around since it led us here.”
“Me either. But when Dallas came back from Bali, she popped by and asked how it was going with us. The question flustered me. Then she told me to look on the top shelf where I keep my spices. She’d placed a note there, the night we were drinking together, that said, You and Nolan will get each other in all the ways that truly matter.”
“Jesus. That is spooky.”
“But entirely true.”
“Mm-hmm.”
I sat next to her and we devoured breakfast.
Afterward, Gabi pointed at yesterday’s newspaper on the coffee table. “You still get daily delivery?”
“I’m a throwback. I know most people read news online, but I like the paper version.”
“Me too! Did you get today’s Star Trib?”
I got up and snagged it off the catchall table in the foyer. “Right here.”
Gabi curled up in the corner of the couch with her coffee. “Can you pass me the sports section?”
In that moment, I could see us reading the newspaper together every morning while we fortified ourselves for the day. She’d gotten a panicked look in her eyes last night when I’d mentioned her moving in, so I’d have to be patient before I brought it up again. But she belonged with me.
After she left, I cleaned up the kitchen and made a grocery list for my housekeeper. Rather than go into the office, I logged into the LI server on my laptop and read through the million reports that defined my professional life.
At two thirty I changed into basketball shorts and a T-shirt, loaded my bag into my SUV and drove to meet my dad. I couldn’t wait until the weather warmed up and we could play racquetball at their outdoor home court rather than at the country club, which wasn’t my favorite place. But he’d been a member for years and we never had to wait for a court.
He’d booked enough time for us to warm up. He walked in, tossed me a towel and a bottle of water. “Go easy on your old man today, eh? I think I overate at brunch. Got some indigestion going on.”
“You wanna pos
tpone?”
“Nope. We’ve already skipped two weeks.” He started stretching.
I grabbed a ball and bounced it on my racket, rotating it forward to back as a wrist warmup.
“So we missed you at brunch again. You said you’d explain why.”
“Don’t pretend that Mom hasn’t already told you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Told me what?”
“That Gabriella Welk and I are in a relationship.”
A grin appeared. “Eeds did tell me. Sounds like it’s been going on a couple of weeks so it’s more than a one-off?”
“It’s the real deal, Dad. She’s just . . . it for me. I know it seems fast—”
“It’s not the length of time that’s the test, it’s the depth of the feeling in that time.”
I stared at him. My dad never said stuff like this.
“I like her. Is there a reason you’re keeping it under wraps?”
“Besides that it’s new? Not really.” I nudged him with my elbow. “Done stalling, old man?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re so damn competitive. No idea where you got that from.”
I laughed.
We’d been playing racquetball since my early teens. For a while there we’d been evenly matched. But the older Dad got, the slower he got, so our games weren’t as rigorous as in years past. After I trounced him the first game, and he was sweating and had lost some color, I’d made him sit and hydrate.
Of course, he grumbled the entire time. “You don’t have to treat me with kid gloves, kid. I get enough of that at LI.”
I snorted. “After the last round with Ash and Brady I’m the one walking around on damn eggshells.”
He mopped his face with the towel. “I know we have a policy of not talking business outside of work, but I get the feeling you’re really unhappy with some of the recent decisions.”
“Any disagreement I’ve had with decisions stem from the full autonomy the executive board has been accorded. I’ve made some mistakes, but I’ve owned up to them and dealt with the backlash. As far as I can tell, Brady and Ash don’t believe they’ve made wrong decisions. When I bring up the financial facts, then I’m told I don’t see the whole picture. If I’m wrong, I’d like someone to explain to me why, and so far, no one has bothered.”