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She nods. “Yeah. Mom wore green. So, if he gave you flack…”
“That would be why.”
“Doesn’t mean he has any right to be an asshole,” Tempest mutters, “but he gets touchy about it. Obviously, we all loved our parents, and they loved all of us. But Dad and Gabriel were especially close. I know no parent on Earth is ever going to admit it, but, c’mon, they’ve gotta have favorite kids, right?”
I laugh quietly, shaking my head. “Dunno. Only child over here.”
“Lucky,” she grins. “Well, Gabriel was dad’s favorite. I mean, he was an amazing dad and loved all of us with all his heart. I never once felt left out, and I’m sure Alistair didn’t either. But especially as you get older, you can tell there’s a favorite. And, I mean, it made sense. Dad and Gabriel were cut from the exact same cloth.”
“Anything I can assist with, ladies?”
We both turn as Denise sashays back over.
“Yeah, we’re gonna need to try this puppy on,” Tempest grins.
An hour later, with the dress boxed up to be shipped via courier—hopefully with an armored truck, given what I, or rather Gabriel, just paid for it—we’re ready to go. I thank Bianca and Tempest profusely for all their help and promise to connect soon as they slip into a shared cab together.
Taylor and I remain on the curb outside the boutique as she raises her hand to flag down another cab.
“I’d say we should get a drink to celebrate, but I actually have to be a total buzzkill and head to the office,” Taylor sighs with a glum look. “Duty calls.”
“Lonely at the top, huh?” I grin.
She chuckles. “Well, it’s not boring, at least.”
“If you see my fiancé, maybe don’t mention how much of his money I just spent on a dress I’ll wear once.”
Taylor laughs. “Deal, but I doubt he’ll be there this late.”
I frown. “Really? He’s been out most nights the last week or so putting in crazy hours at work.”
At least, that’s what he told me when I dared ask.
When Taylor scoffs, I’m suddenly not so sure.
“On what? I’ve been burning the candle at both ends at the office all week and haven’t seen his sorry ass once.”
A cab swerves up to the curb as I try to process what she just said. More to the point, to process why I care.
“See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah.” I force a smile. “See you then.”
Gabriel is putting on a jacket as I walk in the front door of the brownstone.
“Uh…hi,” I mutter. I’ve spent the whole cab ride trying to make sense of A, why he’s been lying about where he’s been going late at night. And B, why in the holy hell I give a shit.
“Gotta run out,” he grunts, his eyes holding mine for a long second that ticks into another, making me shiver.
“Oh? Where?”
He breaks the eye contact when he looks away to grab his phone off the hall table. “Just out.”
I glare at his back. He’s not going “just out”. He’s dressed to go out-out. His suit is nicer than he’d ever wear to the office. His shoes immaculate. His hair perfect. The slightly spicy, clean scent with a hint of bergamot teases my senses.
My lips purse. “The office?”
“Where else,” he says, not turning back to me. “Don’t wait up.”
