Under The Mistletoe

“No, I asked him. He says he probably won’t know for another week or so. I think he got in a fight with that nice girl he brought to Thanksgiving.”

“Sloane? Jeez, they looked like they were on their way to three kids and an SUV. That was what, like a week ago?”

“It only takes a minute or two sometimes. There were a couple of times I was happy as a clam with your father one minute and ready to take a frying pan to his head the next.”

Gabe leaned against the kitchen counter and grinned. “You never are going to forgive him for buying you that vacuum cleaner for your anniversary, are you?”

“I suppose I should finally let the poor man off the hook.”

He heard the smile in her voice, a smile that had disappeared for so many months after his father had died, and felt a wave of relief. “Generous of you. Anyway, what’s the deal with Nick? You want me to give him a call?”

“Would you? I hate to put you up to it, but I’m worried about him.”

“It’s okay. Just call me Mr. Fix It.”

Which he was, Gabe reflected as he hung up. He never set out to take care of people, but somehow he always wound up doing it. Hell, even his job was all about taking care of people. The funny thing was, he didn’t mind. Sometimes—lots of times—it made him feel like a world-beater. Then again, sometimes it backfired on him, like helping out Hadley Stone had backfired.

Of course, that hadn’t been why he’d approached her, not really. And it hadn’t been why he’d pulled her into his arms in the warm glow of the dining room.

He didn’t need to go there, though. The last thing he should be thinking about was what it would be like to taste that delectable mouth, to press his lips against her soft throat. It didn’t matter that he’d seen both heat and surrender in her eyes that moment on the dance floor. Things had changed. He needed to keep his distance, pure and simple. He needed to get her out of his mind. He definitely didn’t need to be thinking about her laughing at him in the candlelight, or the way she’d looked at the end, mouth tempting and full and waiting for his.

With an oath, he carried his dinner out into the living room and sprawled on the couch. With one hand, he dialed his brother’s number. With the other, he picked up a piece of pizza.

“Yeah.” Nick’s voice was flat and exhausted-sounding. Gabe understood, now, his mother’s concern.

“Do you have a dog?” Gabe asked.

“What? You know I don’t.” Irritable, which was at least a sign of life.

“Good. ‘Cause if you had I’d have guessed it just died.”

“You’re cute. How’d you get to be so cute?”

“Just natural, I guess,” Gabe said modestly. “Jacob’s surly, you’re antsy and I’m cute. Except right now you sound like Jacob. What’s up?”

“Talking with my brother the great conversationalist always does that to me.” In the background, a series of bells sounded.

Gabe took a bite of pizza. “You at the firehouse?”

“Yeah. It’s a call for another company, though. What’s going on with you?”

“Pizza, right now,” Gabe told him, chewing.

“And let me guess, you’re drinking some kind of fancy-ass wine with it instead of beer like a normal person would.”

“Yeah, so?”

“And with a fork and knife, instead of with your hands.”

“No fork and knife, and you’ll be happy to know I’m using a paper towel instead of a napkin.” Gabe wiped his fingers.

“What, are you turning into a savage?”

“You just can’t stand the fact that I have style, can you?”

“So are you calling to dangle your pizza in front of me?”

“Actually, I’m calling up to bitch.”

“Don’t tell me, you couldn’t get the right wine for pizza. What does a guy like you have to bitch about?”

“Stone Enterprises.”

Nick snorted. “Why don’t you add on Microsoft and Donald Trump, while you’re at it?”

“Because Donald Trump didn’t just take over my hotel.”

“Ah.”

“And didn’t send in a flunky to take apart everything I’ve built in the past five years.” The frustration that had been simmering in him bubbled up afresh.

“I take it you didn’t hit it off with him.”

“Her.”

“Ah.”

“Yeah, ah.”

“Our lives may be in sync. What about the her?”

“Besides the fact that she’s a corporate shark in the skin of a goddess?”

“Definitely in sync. A goddess, huh?”

“Enough to make me change my religion. Except for the fact that her job is to turn my hotel into a low-end chain joint.”

“That is kind of a problem.”

“You think?”

There was a short silence while Nick digested the news. “A wise man once told me that the way to get what you want is to help the people in a position to say yes get what they want.”

“I was the one who told you that,” Gabe said.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I meant a wiseass. It’s true, though. People operate mostly on self-interest. Convince her that it’s in her best interest to do it your way. Unless you’re a screwup and you’re doing it all wrong,” Nick added.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Gabe’s voice was sour.