Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
GAbrIEL
After leaving Charlotte’s house, I went back to my condo, showered, shaved, and changed into a suit and tie.
Then, with my overnight bag, I pointed my car northbound toward the Los Angeles office.
The drive should’ve been a few easy hours, but with rush hour clogging the freeway, I started to question my choice to hit the road as the train or a short flight would’ve been smarter.
Still, I could probably use the drive to clear my head. I should’ve been grateful for a buffer day before I would see Charlotte again, a little space to collect myself, to get my head straight after having spent the night with her. But relief never came. My mind kept circling back to her.
Raking one hand through my hair while I drove with the other, I cursed under my breath. What the hell was happening to me?
At least the traffic gave me the time to reach out to the one person who might be able to offer perspective.
The call picked up on the second ring. “Do you realize what time it is?” my youngest brother, Dominic, grumbled.
Despite everything, a smile tugged at my lips. “Don’t you have a job? Why aren’t you up yet?”
“I’m in sales now. Which means civilized hours after eight a.m. What’s up? Everything okay with Leo?”
I winced at the reminder of the scare we’d had a few weeks ago with our middle brother. “Yeah, he’s fine. This is…about someone else. Do you remember me mentioning my boss? Charlotte?”
“Yeah. Beautiful, closed off, and driving you nuts?”
A humorless laugh escaped. “Yeah.”
Pause. Then his voice sharpened. “Oh, shit. You didn’t sleep with her, did you?”
“It’s not like that,” I snapped, defensive out of the gate.
“But you did?”
I exhaled, shoulders tightening. “Yes. But it’s different. I guess it’s why I’m calling.”
Dominic made a sound low in his throat. “Huh.”
I rolled my eyes skyward. “Maybe I called the wrong brother.”
He chuckled. “Chances are you have no right brothers in this kind of situation.”
I heard him mutter a good morning to his dog, the click of the back door, the sound of her whining for attention. Normal morning stuff. And here I was, spiraling.
“Okay, I’m awake.” He sounded more alert now. “How did you leave things?”
“Awkward,” I admitted. “I’m sure she’s worried about professional fallout, but I’d never say a word to anyone. And although I agree the waters are murky now, I told her we’d put a pin in it until after the announcement of who got the CEO job. The problem is she called it a one-time thing.”
“And you want more?”
The question hit hard. There was also no doubt about my answer. “Definitely.”
Another beat of silence, before Dominic laughed softly. “Good. I kind of like you having to work for it.”
He didn’t know the half of how I’d have to work for it. “How did you recognize you wanted more with Kelsey?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Easy answer. One kiss was never enough. One dinner, one night also not nearly enough. I couldn’t keep her out of my head. And there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to convince her to give me a shot.”
I thought of Kelsey, of everything she’d done to pull herself out of the wreckage of the relationship she’d had before Dominic. “So how did you do it? How did you convince her to give you a shot?”
“Perseverance. Patience. Learning when to press and when to back off. Showing up until she believed it was different. That I was different.” He paused.
“That’s what you’ll need to do, I suppose.
Prove it’s not a fling. Prove she can trust you.
Time will be your test. Which means patience, big brother. ”
Patience. Great. My kryptonite.
“And not losing your temper when she asks for space,” he added.
Great. Another flaw exposed.
“And did I mention patience?”
“Jesus, Nicky. Don’t rub it in.”
He chuckled, the sound irritatingly smug. “It’s kind of nice, seeing you like this. Makes you human. You’ve had your walls up since your divorce. Considering what you’ve been through, you deserve someone who can make you happy.”
“I haven’t been through anything special. Millions of people get divorced.”
“True. But can I ask you something?”
“Maybe.” I knew whatever he asked wouldn’t be comfortable to answer.
“Have you ever fallen in love? Ever had a serious relationship outside of marrying Tanya?”
I’d never really desired a relationship.
Throughout college and into my early twenties, I’d been focused on my career and hadn’t wanted anything serious.
Then when Tanya had gotten pregnant, something casual had turned quickly into a situation demanding permanence.
Marriage hadn’t been in my plan at that time, but I told myself I could make it work.
I’d always made things work. But relationships didn’t operate on logic or effort the way businesses did.
When the marriage was finally over, I convinced myself I wasn’t built for relationships. That there wasn’t someone out there who could hold my interest or intrigue me enough to want to try.
“No,” I replied quietly. “I haven’t been in love before.”
Guilt pressed at my chest over the truth. I’d never loved my ex-wife.
As if he’d read my mind, he leveled with me. “Tanya wasn’t your person. You deserve to know what it feels like to find your person, Gabe.”
“Maybe,” I muttered. Maybe not. Considering my shortcomings, I wasn’t sure how much I deserved.
But damn if I didn’t want a chance anyway.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime. And, Gabe?”
“Yeah?”
“Patience.”
I hung up with a low curse under my breath but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my mouth.