Page 20 of For Always
He’d been the one to pull away this time. He’d stared down at her as his hands finally came unglued from her cheeks. She’d let her arms slide slowly down from his shoulders, her fingers trailing lightly along his chest, before dropping to her side.
“It won’t happen again,” he’d said solemnly, as if he were definitely making a pledge of some sort.
“Right,” she’d replied, nodding her head to cement her agreement.
And then the tour had ended. Gabriella had touched Brown Eyes one more time before telling Tyler she had to get back to her room to take a scheduled conference call. It was a lie, but he didn’t need to know that. She’d needed the space to breathe and think, and hate herself just a little for being so damn complicated.
Now, hours later, she was dressed and ready to see him again. Lord, she hoped she was ready to see this man again without jumping on him and begging for hot, sweaty sex.
Luckily—or maybe not—before she could be faced with that scenario, the front door opened and Brooke stepped out.
“Well, you finally arrived,” she said and pulled the door closed behind her.
Gabriella held her clutch with both hands in front of her and waited. She knew that after last night’s dinner, this moment was going to come. Women like Brooke needed to lay down the law first when faced with other professional and intelligent women. Gabriella didn’t mind, she just hoped that Brooke was prepared, because Gabriella just might have some law of her own to lay down.
“I thought Dessie said dinner was at seven-thirty,” Gabriella replied.
“Oh that’s right, only family needed to be here at seven to greet the guests.”
Brooke gave a triumphant smile. But Gabriella was not impressed. Still, she gave Brooke a brilliant smile of her own.
Brooke wore a classy one shoulder black dress and black patent leather pumps. Her hair was bone straight, hanging to her shoulders in a dark curtain. Her lips were red, plump, perfect as was just about everything else about her. Still, Gabriella wasn’t impressed. Her sister was a gorgeous model. Her mother was a princess. She had a sister-in-law who was an ex-marine and another who was an ex-exotic dancer turned artist. So Brooke Radison, junior marketing executive, did not intimidate her in the least.
“And since we’re on the subject, let me just make a few things clear,” Brooke continued. “This is a job. It’s a job that you don’t even officially have as of yet. There is no romance waiting to happen here. I saw how you looked at Tyler last night and I know that he went on a starry-night walk with you after dinner. But, please know that he’s above you. Even if your father managed to make some money and your mother escaped that dirty town she’s from. You are just a designer. And not a very experienced one, I recently learned. So stay in your lane or hit the road. Do I make myself clear?”
Well, Gabriella thought, as far as laying down the law that was pretty good.
“You are crystal clear, Brooke. Now, let me just add one tiny, little, thing,” Gabriella said as she took a step closer to Brooke. “I am here to do a job. I come from a family of hard workers who pride themselves on keeping their word. I told Tyler and Jagger that I would provide detailed proposals for them to review and that’s what I plan to do. As for who I intend to be romanced by, or even, take to my bed, that’s none of your business. Not tonight, without a signed business contract. And not tomorrow, when I guarantee I’ll be officially contracted to do this job.”
As expected, Brooke was shocked. Gabriella wasn’t supposed to reply. She was expected to cower and apologize and walk away. But Brooke’s research was faulty. She had no idea that of the Bennett clan, Gabriella was known as the fighter. And that didn’t mean she would physically assault someone—not unless it was necessary—it just meant that she didn’t take crap from people, especially not primped and bourgeois women with control issues.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a dinner to get to,” Gabriella said.
She walked around Brooke who was standing there with her lips clamped tight and opened the front door of the house.
As good as she felt about knocking Brooke down a peg, Gabriella was in no way prepared for the sight that greeted her in the foyer.
Tyler with his arms full of some blonde whose laugh sounded like someone was killing a chicken.
He saw it the moment their gazes locked. The questions and then the dismissal.
“Hello, Tyler,” Gabriella said as she came closer to where he stood with Hannah.
Tyler had already dropped his hands from Hannah’s waist. Seconds before Gabriella had opened the door, Hannah had run into him, wrapping her arms around his neck as if she were actually in danger of falling. He knew it was a lie, but hadn’t wanted to make a scene. Not tonight and not here with some of the ranch’s biggest customers in the other room.
“Good evening,” he said.
He had to lift his hands to take Hannah’s wrists and untwine her arms from around his neck.
“Gabriella Bennett, this is Hannah Palmer. Hannah’s father owns the P&P Steakhouse. He’s also a long-time family friend and customer of Westwind.” Tyler didn’t have to look at Hannah to know she hadn’t liked the way he introduced her.
Gabriella stepped forward, extending her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hannah.”
Hannah nodded and shook Gabriella’s hand gingerly. “Hello. You aren’t from Hobbs Creek? Are you a tourist?”
“Gabriella is a designer. She’s going to do some work here at the house and at the resort for us,” Tyler replied.
He didn’t want Gabriella to feel she had to defend herself to anyone, least of all Hannah. But he also knew women. More importantly, he knew Hannah.
