Chapter 27

Lori should’ve been concentratingon the ever-increasing price for the rust bucket as the eccentric and fabulously flamboyant auctioneer whipped the crowd into a bidding frenzy.

Instead, her attention was fully focused on Gabe looking every inch the dapper female James Bond-type in a suit that clung to her muscles. As much as she looked insanely hot in that outfit, Lori was mentally removing each garment and feasting on the package held within it. She was already imagining Gabe on her back in just the open shirt and bow tie draped around her neck. The view from where she liked to be, on her knees, was the most exquisite thing of beauty she’d ever seen. And better yet, she could be confident that the reality would far exceed anything her mind could conjure.

She caught their reflection in the wall of mirrors and smiled. They made quite the couple.

Lori gently peeled her dress away from her recently tattooed hip, which was still tender, and gave it some air. With the old and ill-advised tattoo finally obliterated, being naked in front of Gabe had gotten easier, and her brief stumble into body issues was all but forgotten, helped enormously by the lustful look in Gabe’s eyes every time she shed her clothes.

Rosie tapped her shoulder lightly. “I can practically hear your thoughts, vampy.”

“You should talk,” Lori said. “You can’t put a piece of paper between you and Shay.”

Rosie smiled and licked her lips. “You should be happy about that. I’ve finally forgotten all about your journalist friend. See, I can’t even remember her name.”

“I’m sure her soldier lover will be ecstatic to discover her competition has given up.” She leaned closer to Rosie. “Everything’s going okay with you two?”

“No sign of lesbian bed death here, no.” Rosie raised her champagne glass and glanced at Shay, who was laughing with RB. “Here’s to new beginnings.”

Lori clinked her glass to Rosie’s then took a sip.

“I have six hundred thousand online,” the auctioneer yelled.

Lori almost choked on her alcohol.

“Careful, sweetheart,” her mom said as she rubbed her back from behind.

“Are you okay?” Gabe asked.

Lori looked up into Gabe’s concerned eyes. She’d always be okay as long as Gabe continued to look at her that way. “I’m fine. I’d zoned out and didn’t realize where we were with the numbers. That was a shock.”

Gabe smiled. “I told you Woody had been drumming up interest.”

“I didn’t dare to hope that interest would turn into a figure like that.”

Lori’s mom put her hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “That’s a lot of horse and hound food,” she said.

“Six-fifty,” someone in the room shouted.

Lori grasped Gabe’s forearm. “Is this real? Were you expecting this?”

Gabe wrapped her arm around Lori’s waist and pulled her in tight. “I was hoping.”

Lori looked at the stage. The auctioneer squinted at his assistant, who was monitoring the online bids, then he consulted the computer screen himself. He appeared to have to steady himself before returning to the mic.

He caught her gaze and smiled widely. “I have an online bid for…one and a half million dollars!”

Lori leaned hard into Gabe, and the entire room gasped. The team from the garage looked just as stunned as Lori felt.

“Are there any bids in the room?” he asked, sounding like he didn’t expect a response. The room fell completely silent. “Going once for $1.5 million…”

Lori tugged on the lapel of Gabe’s jacket. “Did I hear that right?”

“If you heard 1.5 mill, then yeah, you did.” Gabe kissed the top of Lori’s head.

“Going twice…”

Lori scanned the room. The audience seemed to have been stunned into silence, and she couldn’t see a single bidder paddle even halfway to being raised.

“SOLD for $1.5 million to Elodie Fontaine!”

The room erupted into cheers, and there were hugs all around from Gabe’s team. Solo stood shaking her head, looking bewildered.

“Wait. What? Who?” Lori almost dropped her glass.

“Pretty sure he said Elodie Fontaine,” Gabe said.

“Oscar-winning movie star, Elodie Fontaine?”

Gabe shrugged and grinned. “And ex-Marine. I don’t know of any other Elodie Fontaine who could afford to drop that kind of cash for a car.”

Her mom enveloped her and Gabe in a hug. “That’s over five years of running costs, sweetheart. Well done!” She kissed Gabe’s cheek. “Thank you, Gabe. We can’t thank you and your team enough.”

“It was our privilege, Karen.”

“Do you think she’ll pick it up in person, or will she want it shipped?” Lori asked as the reality of the situation sank in. She liked the thought of meeting Elodie Fontaine immensely.

“I guess we’ll find out.” Gabe narrowed her eyes. “Do I need to be worried you’ll go back with her if she does pick it up?”

Lori laughed and kissed her hard. “You’re more than enough super soldier for me. I don’t need another one.” She pulled away and saw that familiar look in Gabe’s eyes and then turned to her mom. “We’re going home, Mom. Do you mind handling the party?” It didn’t matter that they were the guests of honor, or that people might want to chat afterward. All that mattered was getting alone time with Gabe.

Her mom raised both her eyebrows and glanced at Gabe, who looked everywhere in the room rather than meet her mom’s gaze. “Of course, sweetheart. That tummy bug’s going around, I hear.”

Lori hugged her mom and whispered, “Thank you.”

“Have a lovely evening,” she said.

Lori smiled, and heat flushed through her whole body. She and her mom were closer than sisters for the most part, but she wasn’t entirely comfortable with her mom cheerleading for her sex life.

They said quick goodbyes to Rosie, Shay, and the rest of the team. Janie wasn’t around, but Gabe had mentioned she and Solo were having some issues and not to expect her. Lori grabbed Gabe’s hand, and they exited the hotel.

“Are you sure you want to leave?” Gabe asked as they waited to get her truck from the valet. “This is a big night for you.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve asked if you wanted to leave.” Lori bit her lip. “Do you want to stay?” God, she hoped Gabe wouldn’t say yes.

Gabe grinned widely and pulled at the neck of her shirt. “Hell, no. I want to be wherever you are. And I’ve had about enough of this suit. I can’t wait to get it off.”

“About that…” Lori said then whispered her plans into Gabe’s ear.

Gabe sighed deeply and swallowed hard. “Dessert before dinner again, Miss Turner. You’re getting into some bad habits.”

“You must be a bad influence,” she said and ran a single nail along Gabe’s jaw. “I was such a good girl until I met you.”

“Lucky me,” Gabe said then drew her into a long and passionate kiss.

“Lucky both of us,” Lori said when they broke to draw ragged breaths. “What other bad habits can you teach me? I want them all. Just like I want all of you, all of the time.”

Gabe pressed her lips to Lori’s, and Lori lifted her foot from the ground, almost ready to take off with the magic of their kiss.

“You’ve got me, babe,” Gabe said, “for as long as you want me.”

“How’s your forever looking?” Lori had never asked a more serious question in her life.

Gabe looked deep into her eyes, and she softened under Lori’s hands. “Like it’s yours.”

Gabe’s response couldn’t have been any more perfect than if it’d been written for her, and Lori liked the clear promise of eternity in her eyes. “Forever it is then,” she said with a belief so strong in the depths of her soul, she knew it could never be broken. Gabe was her sanctuary.

~ THE END ~