“Yes, let me get my purse.”
Cora waits, her arms crossed defensively.
“Bye Cora, it was nice to meet you. We should all go out some time,” Gabe says, nodding to her ring finger.
That’s actually not a bad idea. “See you later, Cora,” I tell her, walking out with Gabe, his hand at my back.
“See you in the morning, Layla,” Cora replies.
While we wait for the elevator, I glance over my shoulder at Cora and she makes a gesture, like she’s squeezing ass cheeks. I laugh and shake my head, turning back around.
“I take it Cora is a bit of a skeptic.”
“She’s just a tad protective and wants me to be happy. That’s all. Once she gets to know you, she’ll warm right up to you. And going out to dinner with her and her husband is a great idea.”
“I figured as much.”
The rest of the drive to Gabe’s place is quiet. I’m tired from the day and he seems a bit subdued. Maybe he saw what I saw this morning?
“Gabe, we should talk.”
He glances over at me and looks worried. “About?”
“What I saw this morning.”
“And what did you see?”
“Cora showed me an article on some gossip website that had a picture of us on it. Basically, they said I was out of your league.”
He taps the breaks and pulls over into a parking stall. “Show me.”
I open the link and show him on my phone.
“Fucking hell. I’ll take care of this. Send me the link.”
Tapping a few times, I forward the link to him.
“Ignore it. I’ll have my agent get it taken down. It’s a load of bullshit,” he tells me, threading his fingers through mine.
True, but it still stings.
“Come home with me. Stay the night,” he growls softly, brushing his lips over my knuckles. “I’ll get this mess cleaned up and we’ll put it in the rearview.”
I relax, Gabe’s fingers still intertwined with mine. I have no doubt he’ll take care of it.
CHAPTER 13
LAYLA
I’m aboard a plane and headed to Miami for a meeting to discuss one of my startups. I still have another hour to go before the plane lands. Since I have ample time, I work on putting the finishing touches on my presentation. I’m confident the team I’m meeting with later today will be interested in what I have to say, the presentation just a necessary side piece. But, it could make or break it, so I need to make sure it shines. Lost in thought, my phone buzzes with an incoming text.
Gabe: I miss you already.
Layla: I miss you, too. I’ll be back tomorrow.
Gabe: That’s too long.
Layla: There’s always your hand…
