Chapter 29

Gabe

“You’re right,” I say. “We will never know. Because the only good part I got of you was my daughter. That’s it.”

“I could fight you for custody, if I really wanted.” Her voice waivers and I narrow my eyes at her. She’s unbelievable.

My hands clench into fists. “Why? To hurt me?”

“You’d never get shit,” Grayson says from the front of the truck. He folds his arms over his chest. “We have the best lawyer in town. So don’t even use that as a threat.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m saying I could’ve, but I didn’t. I’m moving to Ireland. It may be the last time I see her.” She tucks her curls behind one ear and I stand and stare at this creature I used to love. I married her. Did I ever really know her? “It’s obvious you’re an amazing father. I know you question if I have a heart, but leaving was the best thing I could’ve done for her. I wasn’t in the right headspace to be a parent…”

“Or a wife,” I mutter.

“I was scared, Gabe. I was terrified of being stuck here, in this one-horse town.”

I shake my head. “I would’ve gone anywhere with you, you know that. You couldn’t wait to ditch your husband and child to live a single life. And you know what? You’re right, it is the best thing that’s ever happened. To me and to Trinity.”

She stares at me unsmiling, and I don’t care. She hurt me in ways that can’t be put into words. “No matter what I say, it won’t be right, so I think we’re done.”

“No, we’re done when you pack your shit and drive out of town. You saw her, your curiosity is satisfied. There is nothing more to say. Ever.”

She nods. “I understand you’re still bitter.”

I laugh without humor. “I’m not bitter. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy in all of this. I can’t even put into words how things were after you left, but now I can finally see it was all part of a bigger plan. It really was for the best. You missed out on everything.” My voice breaks. I feel Gray’s hand on my shoulder as he comes to stand next to me. “You missed out on our baby girl, and you’re the one who has to live with that.”

I turn as Gray stares her down. I know he wants to fire off at her too, but there really is no need.

“Gabe, I deserve that,” she cries. “I want you to know I’m sorry. I truly am. Please tell her… please tell her that her mother was a shit person. Selfish. Wrong. I never meant to hurt either of you.”

I turn and look back at her, and now all I feel is pity. “I forgive you,” I say. “But I never want to see you again.”

She wipes her tears, nods and stares at me for a few more moments. Then she closes the door.

Gray walks back over to me.“Hop in, I’ll drive.”

“I don’t want to leave my car here. She’ll probably key it.”

“Fine, dump it outside the Stones Throw. We’ll go for a drive.”

I nod, looking up as his hand grips my shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Gabe,” he says, his eyes hard. “She isn’t worth it.”

I swallow hard and climb into my truck. I don’t realize, until I’m pulling out of the motel, that my hands are shaking.

The idea that she could come and take Trinity is what gave me the most anxiety. But she doesn’t even care enough now. I’d given her so many chances, but she didn’t want to take them. She didn’t want to know our daughter. And that’s on her.

Half an hour later, we’re throwing stones off the trail where I took Skye stargazing.

“Do you think she’ll go without a fight?” Gray asks.

I laugh. “Mrs. Buckley evicted her, so the answer to that is yes.”

“Why now?”

“I really don’t know, but it scares me that she said she’s moving to Ireland.”

“Hartley told Travis, just to be on the safe side.”

I nod, not that I think she was going to snatch her. But you can never be too sure in these situations. “Appreciate it.”

“You deserve better,” he says. “You were always the giver. I hope you can see what a piece of shit she is and what an amazing job you’ve done with Trin.”

“I did what I had to do. I had no choice.”

“That may be true, but you don’t give yourself enough credit.” He grips my shoulder once more. “You never do. You have integrity and loyalty, brother. Something that clearly a lot of people in this world are lacking. Someday soon you’ll find the right woman. You just have to open your heart. Let those walls down.”

“Like you did?”

He chuckles. “Yeah, kinda like that. It’s easier to carry all this hate around inside of you, but that gets you nowhere. I never thought I would ever trust anyone again after my divorce, and the whole ex-wife-trying-to-kill-me thing, but it turns out I was wrong.”

“I’ve already met someone.”

Our gazes meet.

“Do not tell me…”

“It’s Skye.”

“Your nanny?”

I nod. “Yeah, she and I… we’ve been hooking up, but it’s not even about that. I knew when I brought her out here to look at the stars one night that she was different from the other women I’ve spent time with. We’re on the same page. We have the same values. Like she understands and gets me,” I say. “And I get her.”

“So GB was right after all?”

I turn to him and frown.

“We all had bets going on how long it’d take you to fall into her arms.”

My face drops. “What?”

“Brook lost. The idiot thought he had a chance.”

“I think Brook needs to look a little closer to home.” I chuckle.

Gray frowns. “Don’t tell me, him and Eden…”

I wave a hand. “It’s a long story. I’m sure he’ll tell you himself. All I know is that when the walls are down, it’s not as scary as I thought.”

He throws another rock off the edge. “Does she know that?”

I glance at him. “Well, she kinda does but it’s early days. We’re just getting to know one another.”

“Don’t let time pass you by being afraid.” His words of wisdom hit me in the chest. Gray and I have had our ups and downs, but he’s always there for me when I need him. And I can’t fault him for that. “Life’s too short to play guessing games. If you love her, then go for it. Fall, brother. Don’t waste a single second doubting yourself or how you feel. Not everyone is gonna do what your ex did. Good women still exist, and I think Skye is wonderful.”

“Glad you approve. And you’re right, life is too damn short. Nobody knows what’s around the corner. When I spent time around Skye, I knew the kind of man I wanted to be for her, and it’s exactly the man I am now. I can be myself. I don’t have to change because she wants me. Not the CEO in the suit.”

“You deserve to be happy.” He gives me a small smile. “Even if you annoy the shit out of me.”

I shove him with my shoulder. “Is my pep talk over now, Dad?”

“The family would be horrified if you’d had no backup. I know you can handle it, but it didn’t feel right about you facing her alone. She’s already done so much damage.” I know my brother cares, and I can’t be anything but proud of that fact.

“She’s gone now,” I say. “I’m gonna go collect Trinity early from school. I don’t trust her until she’s out of town.”

He pats me on the back. “I’m proud of you, brother. You’ve raised a child on your own, that’s no easy feat. Everyone in this town respects you. You act like it’s no big deal, but it’s a huge deal. For her sake, she’d be wise to get out of town before the vigilantes come after her.”

I chuckle. “With their pitchforks, I can just see it now.”

The anger has dissipated. All I feel is a tremendous amount of sadness for her because she’ll never know the joy that our child brings. The smiles. The hugs. The kisses. The I love yous. All the times she crawled into my bed and I held her when she was sick or had a tummy ache. All the times she reaches for me and wraps her little arms around my neck. Tiffany is the one who missed out. And for the first time in a long time, I admit to myself that it was for the best.

Closure.

Finally.

* * *

Skye

Three weeks later

“He really is a strapping man,” Dolly says as Aunt May hands her the cup of coffee. “Those Bassett brothers are certifiably gorgeous.”

I bite my lip. Dolly is actually a really nice girl. She just likes to flaunt her breasts in very low tops and laugh in a high-pitched voice. Not that I’m judging; each to their own.

“They certainly struck gold in the family gene pool,” I agree.

“Say, do you think Brooklyn is still single? I haven’t seen him around with anyone lately.”

I know that Brooklyn may still have feelings for his ex, and not just because Gabe told me in confidence, but also because I’ve seen the way he looks at her.

“I think he is seeing someone, but I don’t know who exactly.” I say the last part with haste, before she can jump on me.

“That reminds me, how is the new sheriff settling in?”

I try to hold in my laughter. Since he took over from Hank, he’s been given a home-made quiche, a regular coffee order free of charge from the bakery, and a lifetime pass to the local bowling alley, courtesy of the good women of Stoney Creek.

“Uh, he’s busy. You know, paperwork in this town.”

“I should pay him a visit. I’m sure it’s stressful settling into the job, he could probably do with a massage.”

I hide my smirk as Aunt May hands me a tray with the two cups. Gabe is outside on a call, and Trinity is spending the morning with her Aunt Georgia and Celeste. Freeing me and Gabe up to do whatever we want.

It’s getting colder now. Winter is upon us soon and I’m looking forward to telling my family this weekend that we’re together. We’re going to make it official.

We’ve spent the last few weeks really getting to know one another, and when Gabe told me about Tiffany and the stunt she pulled, I knew he was at breaking point.

None of us are really quite sure what Tiffany had planned, if anything, but her moving to Ireland was the peace of mind Gabe really needed to finally let her go.

Still, the idea she could just come back to town and uproot all of Gabe’s hard work just goes to show that she really isn’t the woman he thought she was.

She gave up those rights a long time ago, and rightly so.

“Thanks, Aunt May.” I smile.

“You’re welcome, honey.”

“Hmm, well, let me know if Travis might need a hand with anything. I know the charity auction is coming up soon. Everyone is asking if he’ll be taking part.”

Oh, lord no. I can no more see my brother up on that stage than I can Gene Simmons popping out of the giant cake Verne is making for the event. It’s the one night of the year that Stoney Creek really lets her hair down.

I nod, giving her a smile. “I’m not sure. I think he has a lot to organize with security and all.” I’ll get white spots on my tongue for those lies. But he is my brother after all; I can’t completely throw him under the bus. “Well, have a nice day, y’all.” I take the tray and walk to the door just as Gabe is coming in. He holds the door open and I scoot under his arm.

“Don’t look now, but Dolly is enquiring about Trav and Brook again.”

“Well, it’s about time Travis got himself a date. He can’t stay single forever in a town with a shortage of men to go around.”

“I thought it was the other way around?” I laugh, pulling his cup from the cardboard holder and handing it to him.

“Who really knows? It changes depending on who you ask.”

We make our way to Gabe’s truck, and when we climb inside, he leans over to kiss me.

I gasp, looking around as he cups my face. “You think I give a shit who sees?”

“No,” I laugh. “But I don’t think your family will take too kindly to being told about us by Dolly Simpson.”

He chuckles, moving back to his side of the truck. “Good point. Mom would have a fit.”

He begins to reverse, and I lay my hand on his leg as he drives. “Did I tell you today how pretty you look?”

“Only five times.”

“That clearly isn’t enough.”

I smile. “You’re quite the charmer when you’re not Mr. Alpha CEO.”

“As long as you don’t tell GB that, or she’ll have the name plaque changed on my door.”

I giggle. “I think it suits you. And I love how sweet you are in the bedroom.”

He turns to look at me. “Sweet?”

“Yes.”

“Sweet?”

“Like you don’t know you’re good in bed? And it’s okay to be sweet, Gabe. I love it.”

“I can pound you, too.”

I shake with laughter. “Oh, I’m fully aware of that. And for the record, there is nothing wrong with anything you do, sweet or poundy.”

He chuckles. “Glad we cleared that up.”

Just thinking about him on top of me, rolling his hips in that way he does, it has me pressing my legs together. “We could stop off,” I suggest. “Gran and Gramps are out at the farmer’s market. They’ll be gone for a while.”

He glances at me. “Stop off?”

I give him a sexy smirk. “I have needs, Mr. Bassett. And you talking about pounding went straight between my legs. Now I can’t think straight.”

“Oh.” He runs a hand through his hair, getting my drift. “Your place is quicker than mine.”

We’re like a couple of love struck teenagers, unable to keep our hands off one another.

“I like how you think.”

He grins. “You know I can be quick.”

“You’d better be. Or else we’d have some explaining to do.”

We’re hot and heavy as Gabe kicks the door to the caseta shut. Our clothes don’t even come all the way off, just enough for him to unzip his pants and me to shove my panties down my legs.

“I love it when you wear skirts,” he growls in my ear, pressing me against the front door. “It’s like you planned it all along.”

“What if I did?” I smile up at him suggestively.

The man is insatiable. He lifts me and I wrap around him as he lines himself up, sinking into me without warning. “How sweet is this, Red?”

I bite my lip as I cry out. “Oh, Gabe.”

“Who’s your daddy now?”

I burst out laughing and so does he.

“Oh, my God.”

“I know. It sounded better in my head.”

I kiss him as he halts, his cock buried deep inside. “I love how we can be like this.”

“What? A couple of horny teenagers who can’t keep from screwing any chance we get?”

I giggle. “No. I meant when we’re silly. You know. We can laugh, even when you’re soooo serious.”

“I’m not soooo serious. Maybe if my brothers spent more time working instead of concocting hair-brained ideas, I’d be a little more compliable.”

I pout like he’s a big baby. “Poor Gabe. I think I need to ride it out of you.”

He pulls out and then slides back in. “I think railing you against the door may whet my current appetite.”

“Ooh, you made a little joke there Mr. Serious. Good for you, honey.”

He slides out, and back in, this time he thrusts at the end, and I jolt. “That sweet enough for you?”

“It was a compliment.” My voice is shaky as he punishes my body in the only way he knows how; with love and care. That’s Gabriel deep down. He’s the ultimate romantic and a good guy at heart. And I love it. All of it.

“Faster, please, Gabe.”

“I think you’re being a bad girl, Red. And we all know what bad girls get, don’t we?”

I close my eyes and hold on for the ride. “Railed?” I breathe.

He laughs. “You can use my word.”

“Stop being so bossy.”

“I’m still your boss.”

“And what a pity we’re not on work time, or I’d be doing my boss a big favor.”

He laughs, then picks up speed just a little, hitting me right where I need it.

In two seconds flat, I’m coming and so is he. Roaring his release as he stills and I groan because it was over too quick. Not that either of us can help it.

“I know,” he pants. “But you had me all excited.”

“Oh, shit, is that my grandparents’ car?”

He stills, then we both curse at the same time.