Treasured by Thursday

Gabi looked around the church at the multitude of the Harrisons’ friends. She knew that many of the couples were together because of Samantha’s service. Alliance was born in an attempt to make the money Sam needed to care for her sister. In a way, Jordan was partially responsible for the marriages surrounding her.

For that, Gabi kept a smile in her heart for the young woman whose life touched so many.

Family and close friends took up the front of the church. There were politicians, businessmen, members of parliament who flew in from London to show their respect. Toward the back of the church sat dozens of caregivers who had taken care of Jordan over the years. From the care home she’d lived in before Sam and Blake married to the private care nurses who were round the clock in the Harrison home, the venue was filled.

When the procession moved to the graveside, the numbers thinned . . . and then again when they finished at a reception at the Harrisons’ Malibu estate.

Gabi took the role of coordinating staff, keeping the kitchen moving, the servers working. With so many dignitaries in attendance, there was an equal amount of bodyguards and security staff. To make matters worse, the three different service attendants wore wires to their ears, but instead of sidearms, they held cocktail trays.

Gabi made it a mission that no one bothered Samantha with anything. Being far removed from an emotional connection with the deceased made it easier for her to act as ambassador to the event.

The house appeared to swell with people. Just when Gabi thought they were at capacity, more arrived.

Cooper, the man assigned as her bodyguard for the day, tried his best to blend into the background. He sucked at blending.

“What are you doing in the kitchen?” The question came from the doorway. Gwen stood with a hand on her hip. “You don’t need to do this.”

Gabi glanced in her direction and then back to the tray in front of her. “These are ready, Alice, thank you.” The server lifted the tray over her shoulder and into the fray.

“You’re ignoring me.”

“I’m Italian . . . I ignore what I don’t want to hear.”

Gwen laughed. “Well I’m English, and I’m calling you on it. Hunter asked me to pry you from the kitchen.”

Gabi couldn’t help the smile on her face. Hunter continued to surprise her. Not only had he put most of his life on hold in the past week, but he selflessly offered more of his time and attention to her network of friends and family.

“I like to keep busy; he should know that about me by now.”

The staff buzzed around the room like a well-oiled machine.

“He does know you by now. And how is that?” Gabi grabbed a toothpick full of Gouda as the server passed and tossed it in her mouth. “I thought you two were an Alliance union.”

“We are.” There wasn’t any heat in her words. “Most of the time.”

Gwen lifted a very English brow. “Most of the time?”

Just then, Meg and Judy walked into the kitchen . . . the staff continued to work around them. “There you are . . . Hunter’s looking for you,” Meg said.

Gabi rolled her eyes.

“She’s in here,” Gwen said. “Telling me how she and Hunter are an Alliance union most of the time.”

Meg nudged Judy with a knowing smile. “Told you.”

“Most of the time? What exactly does that mean?” Meg asked . . . as if she didn’t know.

With a kitchen full of hired staff, Gabi turned toward them and placed her hands on her hips. “It means I’m not a saint,” she confessed with heat in her face.

Judy and Meg started to laugh and Gwen caught on.

“So what does this mean?” Judy asked.

Meg shoved her friend again. “It means they’re having sex.”

Gabi shushed her and Gwen laughed.

Thankfully, the staff dipped their heads and pretended they weren’t listening.

“Oh, for crying out loud . . . I’m intimate with my husband. What a crime.”

All three women simply stared.

Gabi shook her head, left the kitchen, and found herself straight into the chest of the man in question. “Oh, thank God.” She looked up into his face and sprang back. “Noah.” Her skin crawled.

“Mrs. Blackwell.”

“What are you doing here?”

Cooper exited the kitchen, on his heels the three teasing women. Gabi took a massive step back.

Noah wore a suit, one similar to that of her husband. But the way he held his shoulders . . . the cut of his hair, and more to the point, the way her looked at her, was completely off.

She shuddered.

“We found her,” Judy said in Noah’s direction.

Gwen stopped laughing first.

Gabi didn’t offer an explanation. “What are you doing here?”

Noah looked beyond her. “Gwen, it’s been a long time.”

“Noah?”

Judy and Meg grew silent.

Gabi stood back as Noah greeted Gwen as if she were a long-lost friend. It stood to reason that if Hunter knew Blake, perhaps his brother knew him and his sister as well.

When Gwen hugged Noah, something in Gabi’s stomach turned sour. Hunter’s words rang in her head, This is what he does. He shows up in the places I’m going to be . . . makes nice with those around me, and sprinkles doubt about my resolve on keep my distance from him.

Gabi waved Cooper to her side. “Find Hunter.”

Cooper frowned but moved to fill her request.

She said nothing as Gwen introduced Meg and Judy to Noah. Once she uttered the word twin, understanding filled the eyes of her friends.

Gabi wanted to quiz the man further on his presence, but Gwen seemed to think his attendance was acceptable, so she let it go.