“Why didn’t you bring them?” Ellena demanded to know.
His expression intensified. “I had other things on my mind.”
“Like what?”
He scoffed. “Like wondering whether or not you were going to be okay.”
It was her turn to raise a brow. “You expect me to believe you were so worried about me you didn’t think to grab them before flying all this way?”
“Yes.” He dropped his arms to the side, moving close enough he was almost right next to the mattress. Gabe looked her square in the eye when he said, “That’s exactly what I expect you to believe.”
Ellena took a moment to study him. He was worried about her, sure, but her gut said there was more to his being here than he was letting on.
“Why are you really here, Gabriel?”
His eyes darkened, just like they used to when she’d use his full name. He slid a quick glance in Jenna’s direction, but when his gaze found hers again, the cold shield that was there before had returned.
“Tell me about the bike.”
“How did you…” Ellena felt nauseated as the disappointing realization finally settled in.
He may not be here to put an end to their estranged marriage, but he wasn’t here to fix it, either. In typical Gabe fashion, he thought she was in trouble and had swooped in to save the day.
The man was nothing if not protective.
It was like he seriously couldn’t help himself. If someone needed the kind of protection he could offer—especially a damsel he believed to be in distress—Gabriel Dawson didn’t hesitate to rush in and save them.
His alpha heroism was as engrained in him as breathing.
If Ellena was being perfectly honest, it was also one of the many reasons she’d loved him.
You still love him.
Ignoring the useless thought, she turned to her friend. “You told him, didn’t you?”
“Gosh.” Jenna stood and smiled back at her with a little too much enthusiasm. The other woman made it a point to glance at the clock. “You know, you were right. It’s really late, and I have to work again tomorrow, so I really should be going.”
“Jenna,” Ellena warned.
“As you, yourself pointed out earlier, I’ve been working all day and…” Her friend feigned an exaggerated yawn. “Man, I’m beat.”
More pieces of the crazy reality she’d woken up in began falling into place.
Gabe being called instead of Jenna.
His knowing about the bike.
The guard outside her door.
I’m going to strangle her.“Oh, no you don’t.” Elle gave her friend a stern look. “You’re not leaving here until you tell me the truth about what’s going on.”
With an innocent tilt of her head, Jenna asked, “What do you mean, sweetie?”
“Don’t you sweetie me. I know very good and well thatyouare listed as my emergency contact person because I changed that when we got our new system a couple of months back. Not to mention, the only way Gabe could know about what happened with the bike is if you told him, because you’re the only personItold.” Ellena’s gaze bounced back and forth between her soon-to-be-ex and her frustrating best friend. “Somebody had better start talking. Now.”
Looking as if he were fighting a smile, Gabe looked across the bed at Jenna. “Go on, Jen. I’ve got this covered.”
“I’m sorry,this?” Ellena balked at the comment.
