Chapter 17

17

Tonight was the night.

Leah pressed a jittery hand to her belly as she stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, wrapped in her dressing gown. Delilah and Louie lay on her bed, with Rosie creeping closer to the open closet so she could curl up with the shoes. Sylvie had wound herself up on the chaise longue at the end of Leah's bed, and Ralph was...well, who knew?

She ignored all of them as she stared at herself. Because tonight was the night.

Of the charity gala.

And for her to seduce Gabriel Goodnight.

"Breathe," she told herself as her lungs squeezed. "Just breathe."

Pressure mounted her shoulders, squatted there as she rolled them. More so about the gala than the seduction, though both presented their own challenges. But she was as prepared as she could be, more prepared than she'd even expected, thanks to the planner her mom had hired to help stage the event.

If only she could be there to see it.

Leah swallowed the pang of longing. Her mom and George were headed to Spain and sounded so excited about it, she hadn't had the heart to ask them to come to Chicago for one night, especially since they'd already given a generous donation.

She'd be fine. No, they'd be spectacular. Leah—and Gabriel.

Because after days of back and forth, of questioning what was right, what was wrong, heart or head, she'd made her decision.

She would be brave. Knowing Gabriel would eventually leave her would help keep her walls, shaky as they were, blocking any deeper emotions. Sex with friendship was fine. Sex with feelings was not.

Okay, there might be some feelings. But she'd like to meet the person who wouldn't fall just a little for Gabriel Goodnight. It didn't change her mind. She had to see this through, be with him in every way she could. While she had him.

She dressed for seduction: black lace, garter, stockings. And an utter dream of a dress. A spill of baby pink, the floor-length gown was halter neck and dipped in a perfect curve to the small of her back, with shimmering pink-and-silver beading that caught the light and gleamed.

She left her curls down, arranged over one shoulder, jamming in enough pins to ensure it, and went heavier on her makeup. Finally, she stepped into silver strappy heels that would give her enough height to comfortably tangle with a tall warlock.

Here's hoping.

The doorbell went and Rosie and Delilah took off, Delilah yipping as they charged down to greet who Peggy let in.

Gabriel must have come to escort her. He'd made it obvious he didn't like her walking these perfectly safe streets alone. Such a father hen.

Her pulse scrambled as Peggy called up. "Leah, there's an attractive man here for you."

The beading pressed into her fingers as she held her jumping belly. This was it.

She turned off her bedroom light and headed for the stairs, slowing to a dramatic walk—she didn't want to trip over her heels and make a swan dive—and descended to greet her escort.

The man's hair was dark, but not black, and while he was unfairly handsome, this man didn't have intense green eyes, a sharp face and a mouth slow to smile.

Her own mouth dropped in surprise as she stopped halfway down. "Kole. What are you doing here?"

Emma's brother grinned charmingly, outfitted in a tuxedo that had Peggy panting by the window. As she caught her eyes, Peggy pressed a hand over her forehead and pretended to faint.

Unaware of her roommate's antics, Kole held out a hand to help her the rest of the way. "I'm here for you."

Leah accepted his escort, holding up her gown so she didn't tread on the delicate fabric. Confused, she glanced from where her dogs were sniffing his tux to his face. "But you're supposed to be out somewhere doing secret spy things."

He snorted. "I'm not a spy."

"Sure." She winked dramatically. "You're not a spy. I get it."

"Give me strength." He lifted their joined hands and made her twirl. "And the tongue back in my head. I'm an old man, Leah. Have some compassion."

"Is it your heart or your knees?"

"You have one already, could have me on the other in that dress."

She crowed a laugh and smacked his chest with her clutch. "Seriously, what are you doing here?"

"Em called, said you'd need some backup." His face stayed casual.

Annoyance scraped down her skin. "She's called in the big guns because of Gabriel, hasn't she?"

"Please, enough flattery." Kole posed, biceps pumped so his muscles were outlined in the tailored jacket. Peggy moaned. "More medium. Bigger applies elsewhere on my body."

"I don't need a brother."

"I thought I was the spy who loved you."

"Try Dr. No. Because that's my answer: No to a chaperone." She shook her head in disbelief. "I'm twenty-eight, for Christ's sake. I don't need a babysitter."

"Maybe I'll just...leave you guys alone for a minute." Peggy smiled awkwardly as she backed toward the kitchen.

As soon as she was out of sight, Kole lost the grin. "What were you thinking? Playing around with Goodnight? You know he could recognize you from the balcony."

God, that was so long ago; she'd almost forgotten. He'd become so much more than the beautiful masked stranger fulfilling a fantasy. Now he was...Gabriel.

"If he hasn't by now, he won't," she said, evading the question. "And it's my life, Kole. I don't need another helicopter friend."

He dared her disapproval and cupped her cheek with his calloused hand. "We care about you. We don't want anything to happen."

"I've heard it. I understand. But I've been choosing my own path and lovers for a long time now."

His hand fell away. "Lovers? Are you sleeping with him?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but no. Not yet."

A muscle popped in his jaw. "It's a bad idea, Leah. He's a warlock. You can't have a future with him."

"I'm not writing his name on my binder." Uncomfortable, she shrugged her shoulders, the echo of his words prodding at something raw inside. "I like him."

"The Warlock of Contempt?" he sneered.

Dangerous emotion washed up her. "Don't call him that."

"Unbelievable." He paced away, then back, a show of frustration. "He's not good for you. It won't end well."

"How do you know?"

"Because he's a warlock," Kole repeated. "And you're a human. There are too many obstacles between you."

He was right. She'd already acknowledged that to herself, but it still hurt.

She took his hand, squeezed it, aiming for a light tone. "I'm not looking for forever. You know me, it never lasts. Worst taste in men, right?" She waggled her eyebrows.

His smile was reluctant, rueful. He squeezed back. "You're setting a whole new record this time."

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

Leah's eyes shot to the doorway. In her chest, her heart kicked hard.

Gabriel stood as stiff as his voice, every muscle in his lean body locked and outfitted in a tuxedo that rippled over him like black water. His hair was styled back, ebony silk against the fine bones of his face.

The intensity there made her breathless. "Gabriel. Hi."

When he didn't respond, she followed his gaze to her and Kole's joined hands.

She dropped Kole's instantly. "Uh, you know Kole Bluewater, right? He's come to support the event."

Gabriel didn't soften. "Bluewater."

"Goodnight." Kole's voice was cold as he eased closer to her.

She wrestled the unladylike urge to kick him as Gabriel noted the movement.

This wasn't going as she'd planned. For one thing, Gabriel was supposed to be all eyes for her, not her unwelcome chaperone.

Best-laid plans , she sighed internally, and ignored both the idiots as she went to tell Peggy she and her two escorts were leaving.

The evening was a smash. The dinner was incredible, the champagne flowed. Leah's speech to thank everyone for coming and supporting the shelter had gone over very well, especially when Chuck and a few others were brought out. Chuck had behaved himself beautifully, giving everyone the big eyes, which had resulted in four—count 'em, four —people coming up to Leah and asking about him.

She'd laughed, twinkled, charmed, did everything but tap-dance to keep everyone smiling and open to donating. She'd checked in with Mitch and Frankie, who were in charge of the table set up with materials about the shelter, and they'd confirmed several checks had been slipped in their cashbox. Sonny, ill at ease in an ill-fitting suit, just looked relieved. Leah was sure he would celebrate now he was on his way back with the animals to the shelter. Not one for parties, that man.

With the gala a success, Leah finally throttled back on her hostessing enough to take a sip of champagne. Her feet hurt but she refused to take the shoes off just yet, not when she hadn't had a chance to implement her seduction plan.

God. If the gala was a smash, the seduction was a crash. After Gabriel had seen her and Kole holding hands, he'd withdrawn into his mask and had barely spoken. Not on the very, very long Uber ride into the city—three was definitely a crowd in the back seat of a car—and not to her all evening. Some seduction if she couldn't even pin him down long enough to proposition him.

She kept one eye out for him as she circled the room, shaking hands and directing servers to fill their trays. Impatience twinned with irritation as he continued to be elusive. When she saw her friends, irritation pushed to the fore.

She made a beeline, planting herself in their way. "You got some 'splainin' to do," she accused.

Dressed in a teal sheath that bared her shoulders, pearls gifted from Bastian at her neck and ears, Emma screwed up her face. "Huh?"

Leah pointed to where Kole leaned against the wall, flirting with a pretty server.

Emma's cheeks flushed bright red. "He wanted to come."

"Didn't get an invite, did he?"

"You'd have wanted him here before."

"I do want him here if I don't have to suffer big brother censure."

Tia arched her eyebrows, stunning as always in an ivory mermaid gown shot through with gold overlay. "I'm not sure that's him being a big brother."

"Whatever." Leah struggled not to show her annoyance, aware there was a photographer working the room. "You said you'd trust me. So, do it. I like Gabriel. Deal."

"How, though?" Tia wrinkled her nose. "He's so...cold."

"Not all the time."

Two pairs of eyes locked on her.

"Yeah, we kissed." Leah dared them to say anything, folding her arms. Then unfolded them and posed for the photographer as she came up, calling out for a smile. Likewise, her friends moved into position.

All three faced off again when she moved away.

"I supported you," Leah said to Emma, voice tense enough to hum. "When Bastian came back, I supported your decision to make the best of things. I trusted you. Trust me."

There was nothing but the tinkle of the piped-in music, the murmuring of the crowd. Emma reluctantly nodded. "She's right."

"Emma, don't be soft."

"She's right, T," Emma reiterated. She looked away, at her fiancé dancing with an elderly lady dripping with diamonds and laughing her ass off. A soft smile touched her face. "We have to trust her."

"I don't trust him."

" Tia. "

Tia held Leah's unrelenting glare for ten seconds before huffing. "Fine. Fine, make a mistake. But don't tell him the truth."

Leah made an as-if noise, pretty sure a guilty blush colored her skin.

Tia ran a hand down her necklace to toy with the pendant. "And if he so much as hurts a hair on your head, I will use the hex bag that's tucked under the counter at work."

"You already made one up?"

"No." Her eyes gleamed. "I made six."

"You're a scary woman," Leah told her, but had to laugh. She touched each of their arms. "Are we okay?"

"Always," Emma said instantly.

"It'd take a lot more than one warlock to get in the way of us." Tia grabbed her hand, squeezed it, much as Kole had. "You know I love you. It's just...you've never really liked someone before. I hate that it's him."

Instant denial rose. "That's not true."

"Name me one man you've liked longer than a month."

"Well...there was...okay, not him. Paul was...well, he isn't the best example." Leah trailed off, irritated when she couldn't name anyone. That hidden truth mocked her. "I have bad taste," she argued, flushing hot.

Tia snorted. "You're telling me." Leah made a face at her and she smirked back. "I'm just saying, be careful. This isn't the guy to finally commit to—because he can't commit back, and I'd honestly have you commit ted before it went that far. He'd never choose you over the rules. That warlock is too black-and-white."

Leah wanted to argue, but now wasn't the time to get into it. Besides, "I'm not in love with him or anything. God, Kole was acting the same way. I just..." She tried to find the words to explain why she needed to pursue this, couldn't.

"I honestly don't get it." Tia looked across at Gabriel, who'd emerged from whatever rock he'd been under. "He's too uptight to be a good lover."

"Shhh," Emma hushed, seeing a woman turn to them in surprise. She smiled weakly, then swatted Tia. "Would you keep it down?"

"C'mon, tell me you don't agree."

"Don't get me involved." Though she couldn't resist adding, "But if you ask me, he's got a real Tarzan, Jane vibe."

Tia gagged as Leah's smile widened. "I'll find out, report back."

"Please." Tia held up her hands, gestured. "Don't."

It was another twenty minutes before she worked around to where Gabriel was standing alone. Warmed from her friends' wary acceptance—because that's what that had been—Leah was all set to barrel through any objections he had. She was done thinking.

Goodnight, you're mine.

Pleasure bloomed at the sight of him. Not a hair out of place, he looked as suited to this finery as any of the elite here. She knew what they saw: someone cold, someone formal, someone unapproachable.

She saw Gabe.

He looked up, neutral at her approach.

She didn't bother with small talk. "Dance with me?"

Something electric leaped between them as he slid his hand into hers, turned toward the dance floor. Something slow played now, moody, as they joined the other couples.

Bastian had stolen Emma, tucking her into his body and whispering in her ear, making her blush. Tia had struck up a conversation with a good-looking guy at one of the tables but would be portalling off soon to check on the bar, which they'd left in the care of a recent hire.

Leah forgot them both as Gabriel placed a hand on the small of her back, bared by her dress. Skin to skin. The intimate touch ignited a liquid warmth low in her belly as he moved them to the music.

"It's going well, don't you think?" Her eyes traced the dark soon-to-be-stubble on his chin, the angle of his jaw. She wanted to nip there. "Even Chuck behaved."

"Except for the one woman," he agreed.

"I'm sure she'll be able to get wine out of that dress."

"Is that why you threw more on her?"

"Look, I heard white wine helps get red wine stains out."

"Fire also works but I wouldn't recommend it."

She'd have laughed, but it wasn't Gabe speaking to her. He was using his social voice. He was hiding from her.

She wouldn't allow it. "Thanks. For all of this."

"I did nothing."

"Sure." She snorted, enjoying the swish of her skirts as his legs glided against hers. "Except come up with the idea, help plan it, implement it."

"I was bored."

"I think you like me," she teased.

His eyes locked on hers, blazing jewel green for one instant. "Apparently I'm not the only one."

She imagined her eyebrows practically disappeared into her hair. " Kole? He's a friend."

"Mmm."

She lifted the hand that rested on his shoulder to poke him in the ribs. He jumped, startled. "Don't do that. I'm serious."

"It's not the first time he's come between us."

Her breath hitched as he referenced the balcony. He knew. How? When?

It wasn't the place to ask, but later...after.

"No," she agreed softly, acknowledging that truth. "He's overprotective. Like a brother."

"Trust me, he is not acting like a brother."

She was hearing that a lot tonight. "Please. I've known him for years. We've only ever been friends."

His jaw flexed. "It's not my business."

"You're being an idiot again," she informed him, delighting in how his mouth turned down in annoyance. "Of course, it's your business. If you want it to be."

He didn't look at her. "I don't know what you mean."

Okay, now she was annoyed. "You know exactly what I mean, you're just not admitting it. Where's the blunt guy who always tells the truth, huh?"

"The truth?"

"Yeah."

"You want me to tell you the truth?"

" Yes. "

"You want me to tell you that I wanted to rip his hand off you?" His grip tightened on her waist. "You want me to admit that I hate feeling that way? More, that I despise every man that sees you in that fantasy of a dress, knowing each one is imagining you removing it for them?"

Her heart was in her throat, and it was beating so hard, she couldn't breathe.

His mouth brushed her temple as he brought her even closer, so his words sank into her skin. "I can't think of anything but you, Leah. How I could make you feel just as crazed. Lips. Teeth." He grazed his along her skin and she almost moaned, melting against him. "Body." He dipped his head, whispered into her ear. "I am Gabriel Goodnight. I do not indulge in scandalous behavior. I do not cause scenes. But you tempt me to it, Leah." His breath was hot and made lust pulse everywhere. "Oh, you tempt me."

She had no idea what to say, if there were even words to say.

Her head tilted back, watched as his gaze settled on her mouth, lifting to her eyes. Her lips felt swollen, her body aching. Empty.

"Yes," she rasped. "Tell me all of that."

He stared at her, a small smile slowly commanding his face. He shook his head. "You're trouble."

"You're the one asking for it." Leah wet her lips. "But you don't have to."

He blinked in incomprehension, still somehow moving their bodies to the beat.

She grabbed her courage with sweaty hands and went all in. "Ask," she clarified. "Tonight, I'm yours for the taking."

She watched his eyes darken, felt his hold on her change. To her delight, his eyes glittered, as though magic manifested in them.

He might have surrendered then. She really thought he might have gone against all that was Gabriel Goodnight and swept her into a kiss of legend in front of everyone—if they hadn't been interrupted.

"Gabriel."

His hands dropped away fast enough to give her friction burn. "Uncle," he greeted above the music, striding over to welcome the man who'd spoken. A man with a face that resembled Gabriel's—or what Gabriel's face might look like in twenty years. Or longer. Witches were slower to age, according to Tia. Which meant Gabriel would still be gorgeous while Leah was buying up boxes of Goodnight's wrinkle cream.

That thought effectively killed her desire, as much as watching Gabriel walk away from her did.

Well. Fine. That was fine. She didn't need to be introduced to his uncle. She'd just...give him some space.

However, she'd only taken a couple of steps when she saw Gabriel leading the man back to her.

"Leah." Gabriel nodded at the older man next to him. "This is my uncle."

"Um," she said awkwardly, hiding her shock at the introduction. "Hi. Leah Turner." She belatedly held out her hand.

The warlock eyed it before accepting. "August Goodnight." It wasn't welcome that sparked in those eyes, but wariness. Maybe even a hint of dislike.

Perfect. Just what she needed. Cockblocking relatives.

I just want to have sex with him , she wanted to throw her head back and scream. Throw me a bone here.

Instead, she chatted politely as August asked her about Chicago, the gala, the shelter, how it came to be. How lucky she was Gabriel had come along at the right time, had done all of this for her. Without her even lifting a finger, imagine, he'd fallen right in her lap. Etc.

After ten minutes of this, she was one dig away from seeing how a warlock went mano a mano with a Cubs fan.

When the conversation lagged, she saw her opportunity. "I'll let you catch up while I go check something out with the planner," she lied, mustering a social smile. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Goodnight."

"I'm sure."

She ground her teeth, sliding a look to Gabriel. "Find me later?"

He nodded and she made her escape.

"Goodnights," she muttered, as she pushed through the doors to the blessedly quiet hall beyond the ballroom. "All of them, a lot of work."