“I’ll call him,” she said, as she buckled up. Then she leaned back in the plush leather seat and heaved a tired breath.“Tomorrow,” she clarified. “I want to be clearheaded. Which means today I need to catch up on four months of sleep.”
She ended up dozing off, not waking until Emily shook her arm gently.
“That was rude of me,” Gaby said, blinking, realizing she hadn’t seen a single second of the twenty-minute drive.
“You needed it. No worries.”
She gripped Emily’s hand before getting out. “Thanks for everything, Em. You’re a good friend.”
“Same,” Emily replied. “Which is why I need to tell you something. It’s minor in the context of everything you’ve been dealing with.”
Gaby blinked, suddenly wary. “What now?”
“You’re in my wedding next weekend.”
Gaby stared at her then slumped against the seat. “You scared me. I thought you were about to tell me something terrible.” She rolled her head on the headrest and smiled at her friend. “I’d love to come to your wedding. I’d be insulted if you didn’t invite me.”
Emily’s smile turned sheepish as she shook her head. “Not coming to. In it. As a bridesmaid.”
“Isn’t it awfully last-minute for a fitting?”
“Nope. Cari’s dress fit you perfectly, so we used her measurements. I hate to spring this on you, but you were so caught up—”
“I’d love to stand up for you,” Gaby said, truly honored that she’d asked.
“I was counting on it,” Emily said, beaming. “I’ll bring the dress by tomorrow. When you’re more rested. It’s a small ceremony. Just close friends and family, and it wouldn’t be complete without you.”
“I can’t wait,” she said. They hadn’t known each other long, but they had forged a deep bond—based on shared trauma, maybe, but real all the same.
Chapter 27
Gaby kicked off her shoes and was halfway to her bedroom, ready to collapse, when the knock came. She froze, turning only her head toward the door.
Instinctively, she knew who it was.
As eager as she was afraid, she walked forward. Her fingers fumbled with the lock, then she yanked the door open before he could knock again. Or leave.
Rhys stood there, hands in his pockets, looking like a man who had tried very hard to give her space and failed.
“We should talk. May I come in?”
She stepped aside.
He paused just inside the door, his gaze lingering on her. “You changed your hair.”
Gaby touched it self-consciously. The dark curls tumbled around her shoulders again instead of the sleek blonde blowout she’d worn for the mission. “Natalie and I had a spa day. I figured we both needed one.”
A faint smile tugged at his mouth as he stepped closer, lifting a loose spiral and winding it once around his finger. “The blonde served its purpose,” he said softly. “But I prefer this. The dark suits you. And these…” He released the curl and watched it spring back. “These are dangerous.”
Warmth crept into her cheeks. “Dangerous?”
“For my concentration.”
The moment of easy playfulness felt strange but was welcome after weeks of tension. It didn’t last.
His expression sobered. “I wanted to tell you myself. Álvarez cut a deal.”
That was the last thing she expected him to say. Her back straightened instantly. “What kind of deal?”
