Since I hadn’t brought other clothes, I slipped my pants back up, kicked my shoes off, hung up my suit coat and snagged the ice cream before I went looking for her.
She had her back to me in the kitchen as she tipped tequila into two margarita glasses.
I put the ice cream in the freezer. Then I moved in behind her, kissing the curve of her neck, from the base of her hairline to the slope of her shoulder. I loved the loose sweatshirts she wore that were always slipping off one shoulder, providing me the perfect access to one of my favorite parts of her. “Thank you,” I murmured as I tasted her skin.
Gabi turned her head and nuzzled into me. “I love unraveling you as much as I love winding you up.”
“Mmm. Same. I’m looking forward to the drink, but I did bring ice cream.” I nipped her earlobe. “You unraveled me so fast it didn’t even have time to melt.”
She snickered. Then she sidestepped me and turned to hand me the glass.
The drink was perfectly tart, sweet and cold. “Delicious drink, Happy.”
“It’s one of the few things I’ve mastered.”
“I can think of one other thing you fucking rock at too.”
That brought a cocky curl to her lips. She snagged her glass and said, “Let’s sit in the living room.”
We sat side by side on the couch and she snuggled into me.
“How’s your dad?”
“Better. They’re letting him out tomorrow. He’s still being an asshole about the whole thing.”
“I think that’s a default reaction. I remember my dad being the same way. I thought he’d be thankful to be alive, but he was pissy because he wasn’t aware his body had reached the point of failure.”
“That sounds about right.” I took a sip. “How was your day?”
“Follow-up tourney meetings for the state refs at HQ. Then training and teaching. Same old, same old.”
“For now. Any word from Wolf?”
Gabi shook her head. “I’m guessing it’s because they know I’ll be out of reach the next couple of days. This is the last tourney, so I imagine they’ll get with me first thing next week.”
I twined a section of her ponytail around my finger. “If your team makes it to the finals . . . that game is the last one on Saturday night, right?”
“Yes. While I’m hopeful, we’ve got about a twenty percent chance of that happening. Why?”
“There’s this Grant Foundation Gala on Saturday night. Attendance is required for me so it sucks I can’t come and cheer you on when your team makes the finals.”
She snorted.
“That said, since I knew you had a conflict and couldn’t attend the gala as my date, I’m giving you a heads-up that I did have to arrange to take someone else.”
Her entire body stiffened.
“Don’t be mad, this is one of the unavoidable CEO things we talked about.”
“Who?” she demanded.
I don’t know what tempted me to mess with her, other than I liked seeing her jealousy. “I’ve known her for a long time. She’s been to a bunch of these events so she’s familiar with them.”
“That is not easing my mind, Nolan.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could skip it.”
“Me too,” she retorted. “I hate the idea of some other woman having your undivided attention all night. Seeing you in yet another one of those fuckable suits you own. Touching you. Makes me wanna rip her hair out by the roots.”
I smiled against her ear. “I don’t think my mother would look good bald. Then again, maybe she would.”
She froze.
I laughed. “Yes, I’m taking my mother to the gala. Dad should be going, but since he’s not, and I have need of a date, and she has a dress . . .”
“You jerk.” A hard punch landed near my ribs. “That’s for making me believe I could be so easily replaced in your life.”
Grabbing her chin, I forced her to look at me. “You can’t. Ever. I don’t even want to try.”
She blinked at me.
“I had this whole . . . scenario in my head of how I’d do this. There might’ve been wine. Roses.”
“Weeping violins?” she teased.
“Perhaps. I definitely needed more time to craft romantic words to tell you—”
“Holy shit, Nolan, you’re not kidding.”
“No.”
“But you don’t have to—”
“Yes I do, so please listen to me.” I stroked her cheek. “I wanted it to be special when I talked about how this seems to have happened so fast between us. Yet, maybe that’s why I know it’s real, because I’ve never felt this way about anyone else.”
“How do you feel?”
My heart pounded like thunder when I said, “I love you.”
A pause and then she said, “I know.”
“You do?”
“Well, yeah. You told me like three times when I was blowing you.”
My jaw dropped. “Are you messing with me right now?”
“Nope.” She set our drinks on the coffee table and returned to straddle my lap, facing me. Keeping our eyes locked as she brushed her soft lips across mine, she said, “You don’t remember?”
“Of course I don’t remember,” I half scoffed. “Christ, I lose all brain synapses when your mouth is anywhere near my dick.”
“So you didn’t mean it when you said, ‘Fuck me, I love you so much.’” Her mouth gravitated to my ear. “Or when you said, ‘Love you, baby, that’s it, take me all the way.’”
I groaned. Half-mortified / half-turned on.
“Or when you said, Goddamn woman, I love love love you.”
“Yes, I meant it. all of it.”
“Oh good.” She looked me in the eyes. “Because I love love love you too.”
Then she kissed me softly. Sweetly. Thoroughly. Giving me the heart-melting moment I’d wanted to give her.
She paused long enough to whisper, “Stay with me tonight.”
“Yes.”
The kiss heated up, our bodies began to move together . . . and then my stomach growled.
I tried to ignore it, but Gabi wouldn’t let me.
“Nolan. Did you eat tonight?”
“No. I was busy and then I was anxious to get here.”
“But you stopped for ice cream.”
I kissed her nose. “I didn’t want to show up empty-handed.”
“Instead you show up with an empty stomach.” She pushed back to her feet. “I can make you an egg-white omelet with ham and veggies or heat up a frozen dinner.”
“You don’t have to—”
A quick kiss shut me up. “Yes, I do want to take care of my man. So let me. Choose.”
“Omelets.”
“On it.” As an afterthought she said, “If you’d like to change out of the fantastic suit and want to wear something besides your equally fantastic birthday suit, there’s a robe hanging on the back of my bedroom door.”
“Is it pink and fluffy?” I said with a quick grin.
“Do I look like the pink and fluffy robe type, Lund?”
“Point taken.” I headed down the hallway to her room. After I stripped to my boxer briefs and T-shirt and hung up my clothes, I checked behind her bedroom door for the robe. My eyes narrowed on the plush fabric—the plush familiar fabric.
What the hell?
I snatched the robe off the hook and headed for the kitchen. “When did you get this?” I demanded.
“Today. Surprise.”
“How? This is the exact same robe I have at my house.”
Gabi smirked. “I know. I called Q and made him tell me where to get one for you.”
“Why?”
“Because I know you’re particular about that stuff. I want you to be comfortable when you’re with me.”
I was at an utter loss of what to say.
Thankfully she took pity on me, crossed over and hugged me. “It’s just a robe, Nolan.”
No. It was so much more than that. It was everything.
Just like her.
Twenty-Seven
GABI
The final buzzer sounded and my girls’ team jumped the wall and raced onto the ice.
Anna and I hugged, exchanged high fives and basked in watching the team’s exuberance at coming in third place in their division.
“This is all you,” Anna said loudly. “If you hadn’t taken over and pushed them, they wouldn’t have believed this was possible.”
“Two coaches on this team, Anna. Never sell yourself short. We did great.” Another hug, a couple more fist bumps and we turned to watch the girls skate across and congratulate the opposing team members.
We waved to the crowd of parents in the stands, who were almost as giddy with excitement as their daughters were.
Anna said, “I’ll head to the locker room with the team if you want to deal with them and make sure they all know where we’re going.”
“Sure. I won’t be long.” I glanced at the clock. Seven thirty.
When I reached the group of parents, I was surprised to see Jax there with them.
He grinned at me. “Congrats, Coach Welk, on a well-played game and a great season. I’m thrilled this is Lakeside’s first trophy under this new ownership.”
“Thank you. The girls worked hard, all year. So to say they’re pretty pumped right now is an understatement.” I focused on Parker’s mom. “We’ve reserved the back room at Marco’s for the pizza party. And just to be clear it is the Marco’s closest to this rink, not the one by Lakeside. That locker room isn’t big, so I expect your daughters will be out shortly.”
“Coach Welk, will you be at the pizza party?” Keena’s dad asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
While they returned to talking among themselves, Jax took me aside. “I admire your dedication, Gabi, but isn’t tonight the Grant Foundation Gala Nolan’s attending?”
“Yeah. He knew I had a game so he’s taking your mom since your dad can’t go either.”
Nolan had attended the game last night. His in-person support meant everything to me, especially when I understood how much pressure he’d been under since his dad’s heart attack.
After we’d won and shared congratulations and I’d dealt with excited teens and parents about what to expect playing in the consolation round, Nolan had been my calming sea. Treating me to a lingering hug, a chaste kiss on the cheek, a quick peck on the mouth and sweet praise murmured into my hair.
Suddenly we’d been on the receiving end of wolf whistles.
Parker, the nosiest kid I’d ever met, had gasped after seeing Nolan so openly affectionate with me. “Coach Welk! Is Stonewall Lund’s brother your boyfriend?”
“As I’m sure you wouldn’t like to be referred to as Abbie’s sister, he has his own name other than Stonewall Lund’s brother.”
“But that doesn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, Parker, I’m very, very lucky that Coach Welk calls me her boyfriend,” Nolan had inserted smoothly.
Even my heart sighed at his confession.
“Gabi?” Jax prompted.
I blinked, clearing the memory. “I’m sorry. What?”
“I’m not telling you what to do, but if you make an appearance at the pizza party and stay for a slice or two, there’s still time for you to get to the Grant Foundation Gala. Nolan will squire my mom around for a while; I’d be shocked if she stayed past ten. I know she doesn’t like leaving my dad, even if he isn’t alone. Nolan will feel compelled to stay at least until midnight.”
“If you’re here, and Nolan is at the gala, who’s with Archer?”
Jax smirked. “Lucy and Mimi. Meems brought every board game she owns and a tub of crafts.”
“If nothing else, she’ll tire him out,” I said dryly.
“True. So I am headed over there after the pizza party.”
“You’re coming?”
“Hell yeah. Someone’s gotta pay for the free food.”
Of course the man would pay for the party, rather than everyone chipping in as Anna and I had planned.
“That also leaves you no excuse not to show up at the gala fashionably late. Besides, if you’d planned on attending before everything happened this week, I know you’ve got something to wear, so that ain’t gonna be an excuse for you not to make my brother’s whole night.”
I studied him. “You really are happy that Nolan and I are together.”
“Very. From the moment we met it’s felt like you were part of the family. You make Nolan happy, Gabs. I see that he does the same for you.”
“Don’t you make me cry, asshole.”
He laughed. “Heaven forbid.” From inside his sport coat, he pulled out an envelope. “This is literally an engraved invitation that’ll get you into the gala. Doesn’t matter whose name is on it as long as you have it.”
I hugged him. “Thank you so much, Jax. I hope Nolan doesn’t mind me showing up late.”
“He will be thrilled. Mark my words.”
“But don’t tell him, okay? I’d like it to be a surprise.”
* * *
* * *
I returned to my apartment by nine fifteen.
In lieu of a shower, I rubbed on lotion since that’s the scent Nolan preferred on me anyway.
Once I’d reapplied my makeup, using a heavier hand on the eyeliner and lipstick than usual, I pinned my hair into a messy bun. For once, it looked great on my first attempt.
The dress fit beautifully. I scarcely recognized myself. I still had a few days before I had to return the accessories I’d borrowed and when I opened the case where I’d stored them, there was a jewelry box I hadn’t noticed before. A jewelry box with a big bow on it and a tag that read:
To wear with the blue dress, no peeking beforehand—Nolan
When I opened it, I nearly blinded myself from the jewels’ shininess.
This was no costume jewelry. Only real gems shone that brightly.
The earrings were chandelier-style. Platinum inlaid with diamonds until the last stone, which was a very round, very blue, very big sapphire.
My hands shook when I put them on. They were really heavy, but damn they were exquisite.
Next I donned the necklace. It was every bit as modern and abstract as the earrings were traditional. With the diagonal strip of fabric across my chest, I worried that anything would look off. But I needn’t have worried, the heaviness of the metal, coupled with the weight of the diamonds, sapphires and blue topaz added interest to the lines of the bodice rather than detracting from it. The last item in the box was a bracelet. Two ropes of pavé—platinum inlaid with diamonds—that looked like four strands of diamonds when clasped around my wrist.
I took one last look at myself in the mirror. No surprise that Nolan knew his jewels too.
After calling for an Uber, I placed the invite, my cell phone, lipstick, house key, ID and credit card into the small satin-covered purse. I slipped on my heels and the silver fur cape and took the elevator to the main floor to await my ride.
The Uber driver wasn’t chatty, which sucked when I needed a distraction. The venue was a private country club I’d never heard of, but that wasn’t saying much since the only country club I’d been to in the Twin Cities was the one Nolan’s parents belonged to—and only the parking lot of that one.
Although this club didn’t appear fancy on the outside, I guessed it’d be crystal chandeliers and polished marble on the inside.
A young man wearing a full coat-and-tails-type tuxedo helped me out of the car. He immediately escorted me to the concierge.
“Good evening
. How may I help you?”
“I’m here for the Grant Foundation Gala. My previous event ran late.” Ooh, didn’t I sound posh? I handed him the invitation. “Hopefully I haven’t missed too much.”
“Just the dinner and the speeches. The silent auction is still in progress. Dancing started half an hour ago.”
I glanced at the clock behind him. Ten thirty. I hoped Jax was right and Nolan was still here.
“Coat check is on your left inside,” the concierge continued. “Then follow that hallway until you reach Ballroom A.”
“Thank you.”
After I ditched my wrap, I headed to the party, which I heard as soon as I entered the building.
The people who passed by smiled quizzically, as if trying to place me.
Good luck with that. I’m so far out of my realm I’m in another world.
The doors to the ballroom were open, the lights were still up on high. No shadowed corner for me to lurk in and get the lay of the land, so to speak.
Inside the ballroom, I snagged a class of bubbly from a passing waitress and roamed the periphery of the room. Did I see anyone I knew? Not a single soul—including my boyfriend. So I kept moving. It took an entire glass of champagne to navigate one quarter of the massive room. If I kept up this drinking pace, I’d knock back four glasses before I finished where I’d started.
Tempting. Especially when I reached the halfway mark and still no sign of Nolan.
I had attracted two male admirers, who approached me as soon as I quit moving.
“Hello there. How did we miss such a ravishing beauty at dinner?” pseudo-charmer number one asked.
“I’m afraid I missed the dinner. Previous engagement.”
“I can hope you were breaking it off with your boyfriend. You’ll crush me if you admit you’re not single,” guy number two said with mock sorrow. “Not a good end to the evening.”
The nerve of these guys. And this forced charm . . . not charming at all.
“Please at least tell us your name.”
“Gabi.” I glanced away from my would-be paramours and finally saw my man across the room.
Women hanging on his every word. Some men too. Quick with a smile. Quick to toss off some comment that had his groupies laughing again.