“You’re not him, Gabe.” Head swiveling to her, I saw the understanding in her eyes. “You’re not your father. You may have his traits, his mind, his skills, but you’re not him, and you never will be.”
I looked down at our hands. “But what if I become him?” It was a fear that had followed me through life. That, as much as I fought to be different, I would succumb to the inevitable.
She lifted my chin. “You won’t.”
“You don’t know that, Tori.”
“I don’t? I see you with Reid. See the softness, the love you have for him that would never allow you to hurt him. You are not your father, and you won’t become him.”
She caressed her hand over my jaw and drew my face to hers. “You love us too much to ever be him.”
“But…”
Her lips were on mine before I could argue more. “No more,” she said. “Now tell me where you’re taking us tonight.”
Her kiss muffled my laugh. “Good try.”
The stress lifted from me the longer she was with me so that by the time we were at the hotel, I’d left the thoughts behind. It didn’t matter if I was like my father. I would neverbehim, and if I ever came close, Tori would be there to stop me from falling over that ledge. She was my lifeline, my calm, my peace, my everything.
Chapter 36
Tori
The reflection in the mirror was that of someone I no longer recognized. I’d lost her so long ago that I had to adjust to seeing her again. Happy and glowing. Dressed in the cocktail dress I’d bought earlier in the day, I touched up my makeup one more time before leaving the bathroom and crossing through the bedroom I was sharing with Reid.
A month had passed since I’d told Gabe I wanted to slow down, and he’d kept good on his promise. Too good. He was the perfect gentleman, just like he’d been when we were first together, respecting my boundaries a little too much. He’d done no more than kiss me since we reconnected, except for that moment in my closet. The heat of his touch lingered, and I missed it. But I had done this to us. Needing to be sure, to understand my emotions and to ensure nothing convoluted them.
As I walked out of the room and Gabe’s eyes filled with adoration, that certainty came. I was ready for this, for more, for him and the rest of our journey together.
“You look amazing,” he said, wonder emphasizing his words. His eyes glided over me, and he took my hand, twirling me around before he drew me into his arms.
“Mommy, you look so pretty.”
I looked down at Reid. Backing out of Gabe’s hold, I stooped down and adjusted his tie. In his suit, he looked like a mini version of Gabe. I stood and stepped back, taking them both in. Gabe wore a black suit, designer of course, with silver cufflinks and a black tie. He looked so handsome it was difficult to catch my breath. But seeing the two of them together like that had tears pricking the back of my eyes.
“My boys,” I said. “You both look dashing.” I stepped back into Gabe’s body. “And you, I don’t know if I want to let you out of this room because too many women are going to be looking at you.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I think I’m the one who needs to worry with as ravishing as you look. If women look, it will only be because they’re jealous of you.”
“You two are funny,” Reid said, munching on a piece of crust from the pizza Gabe had ordered for him.
Gabe planted a kiss on my nose. “Don’t want to mess that lipstick up,” he said. His cheek brushed over mine. “Not until I’m ready.”
Heat rushed through me, and it warmed my face. This was what he did to me. Constantly destroying me with his words, small comments that left me flustered and rethinking my decision to keep this slow. But he’d always had that effect on me, leaving me a wreck with just a word or two before he completely devastated me with his touches. And I missed those touches.
The ringing of his phone stopped whatever comeback was forming in my addled brain, and he released me.
“Yes,” he answered. Terse and confident. Sexy.
I walked away, brushing crumbs from Reid’s jacket to calm myself.
“The car’s here,” Gabe said as his eyes dropped to my wrist.
He lifted it, his finger gently touching the charms that dangled from the bracelet he had bought me for our first Christmas together. I had dug it from under my other jewelry, ready to welcome the firsts it represented for me and Gabe.
“Is that…” His throat bobbed, and I could see the emotion brewing in his eyes.
“I could never convince myself to throw it away,” I admitted. “It held too many wonderful memories for me to let it go.”
