“Linzie.”
Vincenzo kisses my hand, earning a growl from Gabe and a huff from across the room. The woman, Mili, who came in with him is now sitting with Violet and scowling at Vincenzo. I catch the vibe in the room to be a hostile one and pull my hand back quickly.
“I don’t know you well, but I knowofyou, Mr. Parisi.” I smile back politely, leaning forward and speaking loud enough to be heard by those around us. “I see you like to piss off my man, but did you consider the fact that you are also, by default, pissing off the woman you came in here with?” I tip my head in her direction. When their eyes meet, she quickly turns away, back to her conversation with Violet.
“Hmm. Thank you for your concern, but I assure you, I can handle the doctor’s ire.” The way he says it and from the blush I see on her face from here, his innuendo hits its mark.
“Now, Gabriel, shall we go into your office and discuss the matter at hand?”
“The office? You don’t want to take over church and conduct the meeting like usual?” Gabe snarks.
“I don’t believe we need all your men for this conversation. I’m sure you can fill them in afterward. This is a simple conversation between friends.” Vincenzo gestures with his hands. “But you, Prospect. Please make sure Mili and I have a clean room to sleep in for the night. My men will leave after we are done here and return for us sometime tomorrow.”
“Whoa!” Gabe shouts. “Why aren’t you leaving with your men? And what the fuck are you doing giving orders to my prospect? Now who’s being disrespectful, asshole?”
Vincenzo’s head tilts to the side, the corner of his mouth tipping up in a smirk. He crosses his arms over his chest. “Miliwants to spend Christmas with Violet and see to her care in her delicate condition, and I chose to help save Christmas.”
“Wha—MASON!” Gabe shouts loud enough to wake the dead. “Where the fuck are you?”
“Mr. Gabe, why are you mad at Mason? Is he in trouble?” Kaylie’s small voice carries over from the other side of the room. She’s propped up on her knees next to her older sister, holding her babydoll against her chest, and facing over the back of the couch. The worry etched on her little face melts my heart.
“Gabriel,” I whisper. “Fix this. She’s scared for him.Of you.” That seems to get through to him. Gabe’s shoulders relax as he scrubs his hand over his beard.
“No, sweetheart. I just need to talk to him and Mr. Parisi about something important. Do you know where Mason is?” Kaylie nods but doesn’t answer. “Will you tell me?”
She shakes her head. “No. You’re angry at him. You shouted, and-and you scared my baby.”
Gabe sighs. “I’m sorry, Kaylie. I didn’t mean to scare your baby. What’s her name so I can apologize?”
He walks over to where she’s sitting and crouches down to make himself eye-level with Kaylie’s baby. “May I?” he asks softly, gentling himself to ease her fears. If I didn’t already love the man, I would fall for him in this moment for sure.
Oh my God!
Gabe told me he loved me, and I didn’t say it back! I know I told him in a roundabout way before, but I should’ve told him again. Instead, I lay there silently staring up at him. My hands come up to cover my face and to anyone else, it probably looks like I’m enamored by the bulk of a man in a leather vest, shrinking himself to a child’s level to comfort her and her babydoll. In all reality, I’m feeling embarrassed and ashamed that I neglected to affirm my feelings or accept his claim on me as his ol’ lady.
“What’s her name, sweetheart?” Gabe asks again.
“Bella,” Kaylie whispers, acting very shy now.
“Hello, Bella. I’m very sorry that my shouting scared you. I didn’t mean it. I’m not angry. I was looking for Mason. He’s helping me with a very special project for Santa, and I need to speak with him. Do you know where he might be?” Kaylie’s eyes light up as she nods.
“You know Santa?” she asks in an excited whisper this time.
Gabe smiles and nods. “Yep. We go way back. He asked me for some help this Christmas, and Mason was my partner for the job. So, you see, I need to find him so we can discuss—well, I can’t tell you. It’s a secret for Santa. But you understand now how important it is that I find him. I don’t want to disappoint Santa.”
“Oh, he’s good,” Andi says, sidling up beside me. Her hair is a little disheveled, and her cheeks flushed.
“Where’d you come from?” I ask. She opens her mouth to say something, when Cash stalks up behind her and smacks her lightly on the ass before squeezing past her and flopping down on the seat closest to Skyler. He reaches his arms out, and she hands him Emily and her bottle.
“Goddamn. And he’s good with kids.” I’m flabbergasted by Andi’s reaction, then it dawns on me what she’s just said.
“Did you fuck Cash?” I ask in a low, very shocked whisper.
“Oh, I can assure you, he was the one doing all the fucking. I was just his willing partner.”
“Oh. My. God!” I shout. The entire room spins to look at us. “I forgot about the cookies for Santa!” I recover quickly. “Kaylie, honey. Why don’t you tell Gabe where he can find Mason so they can do what they need to do, and you can help Miss Andi and me make some cookies to leave out for Santa tonight? How’s that sound?”
“Nice recovery.” Andi snorts.
