Treasured by Thursday

Hunter pushed through the crowd and eased his pace only when he saw the people around her. His eyes shot to his brother and all conversation around them dried up like water in the desert.

“Oh, my.” Gabi couldn’t tell who blew out a breath, but she understood the desire. Seeing them close together was a shock to the system.

Neither man placed his hand out for the other.

Noah stood smiling . . . like a cat with a secret, and Hunter held tight control of his emotions.

“What are you doing here?”

“Paying my respects, brother.”

“Pay them . . . then leave.” Hunter’s deadly tone drew prickles all over Gabi’s skin.

Noah continued to smile as he broke eye contact with his brother and offered a nod to those who could hear him. Then he stared directly at Gabi. “A pleasure to see you again.”

Gabi grabbed Hunter’s arm to keep him in place as Noah turned and walked away.

“What the hell was that about?” Meg asked.

Gabi didn’t answer as she moved in front of Hunter’s gaze. “Hey.”

He finally looked at her.

He didn’t smile.

“He’s trying to get under your skin. Don’t let him win.” Gabi set her hand on his chest and felt his tight breath finally release.

Hunter captured her cheek in the palm of his hand and kissed her gently . . . briefly. “Thank you.”

“For what?” she whispered.

“For keeping me from killing him. I owe you.”

She laughed and leaned closer.

“Well,” Meg said loud enough for everyone to hear. “Seems I have more questions . . . and only a few answers.”

Instead of facing her friends, Gabi slipped a hand around Hunter’s waist as they walked away.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“That goes in the kitchen.” Gabi waved her hand in the direction of the door.

“It says bedroom,” Meg argued.

“I lied. When I was packing I mixed up the boxes . . . placed a heart on the box.” She rolled her eyes. “Doesn’t matter, it goes in the kitchen.”

Meg lifted the box a second time and started back down the stairs. “I’m really thankful that most of the Tarzana household didn’t belong to you.”

Gabi grinned as she unpacked a box of bathroom essentials.

In a few minutes, Meg was back at her side. “We have some serious shopping to do in order to get this place looking like a home.”

Gabi glanced into the bedroom sans an actual bed. With everything exploding around them, furniture shopping didn’t make the list of things to do.

“So?” Meg motioned toward the empty bedroom. “Where is Hunter going to sleep?”

They hadn’t been together in days. Between his schedule and hers, there was very little time for phone calls and a simple text.

“It better be in here with me,” she said under her breath.

Meg nudged her.

Gabi shoved her back. “I really shouldn’t care about him as much as I do.”

“I’m trying to see the bad, Gabi . . . I really am.”

She shook off her thoughts and continued to fill the cubbies of the en suite bathroom with useless crap that might be better off in the trash. “He’s a good man . . . just doesn’t always know the right way to get what he wants without hurting people.”

Meg held still and stared. “Has he hurt you?”

Scared her . . . in the beginning. It didn’t take long for her to see under the facade that encompassed her husband. Even then there were flowers . . . playful banter between them that was only half meant in the space of a week. “It took me less than twenty-four hours to see the vital differences between Hunter and Alonzo.”

Meg hopped up onto the counter. “What was that? Other than the obvious hot factor.”

“Hunter is gorgeous.”

“Not as amazing as your brother . . . but that’s weird for you. Tell me what you see as different, other than the physical.”

Gabi cocked her head. “You sound like a counselor.”

“I’m sure I do. I just wanna know what you see. Then I’ll tell you what I see.”

Gabi went ahead and took a place on the counter next to Meg. “He’s driven. You can say Alonzo was driven, but I never knew the reason for his drive until it was too late. God . . .” Gabi lowered her head and shook it. “I shouldn’t be comparing the two of them.”

Meg placed a hand on her leg. “It’s OK. You were in love with Alonzo—”

Gabi shook her head. “No. I wanted to love Alonzo. I thought he was something he wasn’t. After I knew his secrets, I wanted nothing to do with the man. I know Hunter’s secrets . . . what drives him . . .”

“And your feelings toward Hunter are . . . ?”

She couldn’t solidify them . . . not with words. Not yet. “Do you know why he needed to get married?”

Meg shook her head.

Gabi popped off the counter and grabbed Meg’s hand. She led her into a room across the hall from the master suite. “I’m thinking blue walls . . . dark blue with stars on the ceiling . . .”

“I’m not following you.”

Gabi tilted her head toward the ceiling and smiled. “His name is Hayden. Not even a year old and already in the middle of family drama.”

Meg sucked in a breath. “Hunter has a son?”

Gabi wasn’t sure how much she should say. The house was wired with sound . . . the monitors already recording their movements.

“Let’s just say . . .” Gabi started, “Hunter’s need to marry wasn’t as selfish as I first believed.”