“The Street needs someone to do emergency coverage. If I don’t take these children, they wouldn’t have anywhere to go.”
Emilia takes a hand off the baby and waves it at me. “That’s total nonsense. Paisley has half a dozen people who do exactly the same thing. She would be thrilled for you to adopt this little guy. He reminds me so much of Max as a baby. Wouldn’t he look cute in family photos?”
Um…What?
“That reminds me. I want to introduce you to Gabe. He’s Viola’s grandson. I think he’s in the billiard room talking to Max. Go say hi to him.”
“But—”
“No buts. Hurry along. We’ll take care of this sweet baby.”
It’s just easier to do what she says than to try to explain that I’ve already met him. Now all I need to do is find the billiard room. Is it near the ballroom or the movie room? They need to put maps on the walls around here, like they do at hotels.
After two wrong turns, I find Gabe and Max playing pool and drinking. Max has a cue and an amber glass of something in his hand, while Gabe is lining up a shot.
“Are you as good at pool as you are at football?”
He lifts his head up and gives me a slow smile. “Nope, it’s not even close. Max is killing me, like always.”
“Would you like a drink?” Max nods at the bar.
“Sure, a bourbon neat, please.”
Max walks over to pour me a glass.
“Gabriel, you need to tell Emilia that I came and talked to you. I’m pretty sure she’s going to ask for verification.” I walk over to a stool by the wall and sit down.
“Will do. And call me Gabe. All the family does.” He leans over and lines up the shot, missing by a mile. “See.” He walks over, picks up what looks like a glass of water, and sits down on the stool next to me. “Now we’re going to watch Max clear the table. It’s thoroughly irritating playing with him.” Gabe’s cheerful smile belies his words.
“I bet.”
“It’s all math and angles.” Max hands me my glass and walks to the table.
Gabe looks at me and rolls his eyes. “So says the genius.”
“A photographic memory doesn’t make me a genius.” Max leans over and lines up his shot.
The two men are vastly different in every way. Max has the kind of bulk that makes a person feel safe around him. He could protect them through any kind of battle. Whereas Gabe has a bodybuilder’s physique. All those perfect muscles that look like they’re only there for show.
Which is totally wrong since he literally fights his way through men trying to smash him for his job, whereas Max sits behind a computer all day.
Max sinks stripe after stripe until there are only solids left on the table.
“See what I have to deal with? It just kills my ego.”
I laugh at his silliness. “I’m sure you’ll survive with your millions of adoring fans.”
Gabe winks at me.
The crack of balls colliding makes me jump a little as Max sinks the eight-ball.
Talon walks in with Dash sleeping on his shoulder.
Emilia’s right. Dash looks like he belongs in their family.
“Good, Mom said you three were in the billiard room. Gabe, would you see that Fiona gets home safely for me.”
“Of course. It would be my pleasure.” Gabe stands up, setting his glass down.
