Sebastian’s hand rested against Gabrielle’s. “You okay?”
She looked up into his beautiful dark eyes. “I am now.”
Chapter23
Not one fucking second.
He hadn’t had one single second alone with Gabrielle since this morning.
From the moment Dr. Marvin Hester had his public outburst at Sugarcanes, Sebastian had been relegated to the shadows to watch over Gabrielle. Hannah Ellerby, Gabrielle’s publicist, had arrived in time to see the end of the confrontation and launched a full pitch for Gabrielle to record videos for her Emerge Anew platform. The series would address her homecoming back in St. Felipe and her reaction to Damian’s death.
And the videos had to be filmed today.
The last thing he’d wanted was to spend the afternoon and entire evening surrounded by Gabrielle’s camera guy, the lighting guy, the hair and makeup guy, the cue card girl, and the overbearing publicist, yet here he was with the entourage crammed into his home in the Tango Lowlands as they filmed the last of four videos.
Sebastian sat on a tree stump stool, his back propped against the wall of his bungalow, tucked away in a corner as he watched Gabrielle. Coolness tinged the night air. A light breeze rustled through the trees, blowing strands of hair across her face. She wore an emerald green sleeveless dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. The spotlights illuminated the tropical brush and towering trees behind her, setting her aglow like a Caribbean princess in a place where she’d always belonged.
But that wasn’t why he was mesmerized and riveted by her.
Her voice floated in the air as she bared her soul to the camera, speaking candidly about the experience of watching the man who tormented her die in the ICU at the Rakestraw Blake Center. She was raw and unfiltered. Vulnerable and authentic. Her words soothed her weariness and healed herself as she spoke to the world.
“I always say Emerge Anew is a journey, not a destination. It’s a daily process where you strive to be your best self while not allowing life’s challenges and obstacles to hold you back from the life you want,” Gabrielle said, a sad smile curving her lips. “I didn’t realize how much of my life was still on hold until Damian died. Things I shied away from because I had this ticking clock in my head of when he’d be released from prison. Thirty years until he’s released. Twenty-six years until he’s released. Twenty-two years until he’s released. It was always in my mind, limiting me, and I didn’t know it.”
Sebastian sucked in a deep breath as a pain he hadn’t felt in years gripped him. Those words were familiar, infecting him with grief. Words he’d heard from his mother.
No, Seby, we can’t go. Your father might see us.
Come back, Seby. Your father might find us.
Don’t do that, Seby. Your father might come after us.
She’d realized too late what kind of love his old man had for her.
His relentless attention and incessant adoration had enamored her until she realized it masked a love hell-bent on dominance and destruction.
In the end, his mother hadn’t survived his old man.
The old man’s obsession had driven him to track them down and take the only person in the world who’d loved Sebastian out of his life.
But Gabrielle had survived Damian.
She was free to live beyond the shadow he cast over her. She could do the things her heart desired. Her liberation tempered his mourning. Quieted the thoughts raging in his mind that he would turn out like the old man. Gave him hope that he could move beyond his past and not succumb to the same crazed, obsessive love his father had for his mother, even though that was the only love he’d witnessed his entire life. Even though thoughts of Gabrielle dominated his days, he wanted more than anything to be good for her. Not a man she’d grow to fear and loathe.
Gabrielle said, “The fears that have shackled me have fallen away. I’m excited about exploring new things in my life.” She took a few steps toward the camera. “Like coming home to St. Felipe and reuniting with my friends and family. Like giving myself a chance of finding true love.”
Sebastian locked eyes with Gabrielle as she said those words. A smile spread across his face, which caused her to wink at him. How in the hell had this woman decided that he was worthy of her? After all the shit he’d done, this shouldn’t be possible. Maybe it wasn’t.
“Until next time, I’m Gabrielle King, and I challenge you to embrace each day and emerge anew.”
The entourage erupted into applause. Hannah rushed over to Gabrielle and wrapped her in a big hug.
“That was amazing,” Hannah gushed. “You gave me goosebumps. You will inspire so many people with that video, girl.”
“I hope so,” Gabrielle responded, but her eyes were still on Sebastian, speaking directly to his heart.
Hell, she’d inspired him, alright.
He had demons to face. But he wouldn’t fight the burning need to be with her. He couldn’t. Not anymore.
