he continued. “I loved you then, Deb. Enough that it almost killed me when you walked out.”
“Gabe-”
“But I won’t love you again.”
Debbie’s heart broke at his quiet words because she knew they would never have the second chance together that she wanted so much. Maybe the brass ring really did only come around once in a lifetime. And if you missed your shot at it, then it was just too bad for you.
“We got lucky,” Gabe said late the next morning as he studied the windswept grounds stretched out in front of him. “If the hurricane hadn’t veered off sometime last night, we’d be in much worse shape.”
“I suppose so,” Debbie said from right beside him. “But, Gabe, everything looks…”
He knew what it looked like. A war zone. Trees had broken and lay splintered across the ground like toys discarded by a petulant child. The pools were filled with dirt and leaves and God knew what else. Awnings were ripped, signs torn from their posts.
But there hadn’t been any injuries, so he called it a win.
And now that the storm was over, it was time to get things back to normal. All the way around. He blew out a breath. “We’ll get it cleaned up within the next few weeks. But with any luck, the airfield should be clear in a couple of days. You can catch the first plane out.”
She was quiet for a long moment, then said, “All right.”
He turned and looked down at her. They’d come through the storm and having survived it, they were both a little stronger, a little more sure of themselves and a little further apart. That bothered him a hell of a lot.
He’d seen her in action and knew what an amazing woman she really was. When things were toughest, Debbie had come through. Having her with him had made everything easier. She’d helped him when he needed it most and now that she was leaving, he could do the same for her.
Even things out between them as best as he could.
Then they’d each have a clean slate. No guilt. No…unfinished business.
“There’s something else,” he said, his gaze locked with hers.
All around them, the resort was slowly coming back to life. Workers hustled, cleaning up debris, guests staggered out of the main club like shipwrecked survivors getting their first glimpse of land, and the sun spilled down on all of them.
“What is it?”
“You came through for me during the storm-”
“You already thanked me,” she said quickly.
“This is something else.” He smoothed a strand of her hair back and tucked it behind her ear. “When you get back to Long Beach, I want you to draw up a plan-a travel package plan. Fantasies will offer discounted vacations through your company.”
She took a step back and stared at him in stunned amazement. “Gabe, are you sure? That’s huge. Why would you do that for me?”
Because he didn’t want to worry about her. Because he wanted her dreams to come true. Because maybe she and Victor had been right and he really wouldn’t have had this success without the nudge she’d unconsciously given him ten years ago.
“It’s good business,” he hedged, not wanting her gratitude. “We’ll get guests we might not have had otherwise and the packages will save your company.”
“More than,” she said. “I’ll be the only travel agent in the country with a packaging deal for the most sought- after resort in the world.”
He gave her a half smile and shrugged. “Good business. Like I said.”
Reaching out one hand to him, she whispered, “Gabe…”
He took her hand, squeezed it, then let her go. “I’ve got to get to work.” He walked off, then stopped and said, “You can stay in the suite till you leave. I’ll bunk in my office.”
He left her standing there amid the rubble that had once been his only dream.
And he didn’t dare look back.
“He did what?” Janine demanded.
Debbie gripped her cell phone a little tighter and told her friend about Gabe’s offer again.
“That’s amazing, girl,” Janine said with a low whistle of appreciation. “Okay, I’m feeling a little more charitable toward good ol’ Gabe again. This’ll make your little agency the hottest one in the state. Maybe the whole country.”
“I know.” Debbie wandered through Gabe’s suite and stepped out onto the terrace. The suite was too empty without him. And knowing that he’d be avoiding the place until she was gone only made it-and her-feel emptier.
Below, the golf course was looking a little wind-blown, but she could see teams of employees out there now, working to bring it all back to rights. Everyone on Fantasies had been working like maniacs all day to restore the resort to its pre-hurricane splendor. It might take a few weeks to get it all back to what it had been, but she didn’t doubt for a minute that Gabe would pull it off. Heck, he’d probably make improvements and have Fantasies even better than before.
The man was unstoppable.
“You’re not jumping up and down with excitement.”
“I should be,” Debbie agreed, tilting her face up into the sunlight. “This is the answer to everything. It’s more than I’d even hoped for.”
“Yet…”
She smiled at Janine’s coaxing tone.
“Yet,” Debbie said with a sigh, “this packaging deal with Gabe just doesn’t seem as important to me as it once would have been.”
“Because you’ve got your much-loved security but you don’t got Gabe?”
“Nice grammar, but yeah,” Debbie admitted. “That’s about the size of it.”
“Well, yippy-skippy,” Janine said with a hoot of laughter. “It’s about time.”
“So happy to amuse,” Debbie said, frowning at the phone in her hand. “Care to explain?”
“Love to-” Then Janine broke off, held her hand half over the receiver and called, “Max, please don’t help the movers, you’ll break that lamp and-” The sound of splintering glass came through the phone just before Janine sighed. “Never mind.”
“Which lamp?” Debbie asked, smiling as she opened her eyes and stared out at the horizon.
“The glass one with the faux Tiffany shade.”
“Bummer.”
“Yeah, well, Max is great, but careful he’s not. Sorry, honey.” The sound of a kiss came across the line, then Janine was talking again. “Okay, Max is outside, directing the movers, which I’m sure they totally appreciate, so now back to you.”
“Oh, goody.”
“Hey,” Janine reminded her, “you wanted the explanation, remember?”
“Fine,” Debbie said, and dropped down to the stone floor to sit. No point in trying to sit on one of the chairs. The red-and-white cushions were waterlogged and filthy. At least the stone floor had had enough time to dry out. Besides, she didn’t want to be inside, in that empty suite. “Explain why you’re so pleased with my misery.”
“Not your misery, Deb. But I’m loving the epiphany.”
“I didn’t mention an epiphany.”
“Sure you did, you just didn’t recognize it. Think about this,” Janine continued in an oh-so-patient tone. “You’ve got the deal of a lifetime. One that’ll not only save your business but probably make you stinking rich, right?”
“Yeessss…”
“You’ve got built-in security. Even enough for you, my slightly crazy friend.”
“Thank you so much, but, yes, I get what you’re saying and I still don’t see the epiphany.”
“Here it is. You’ve got security, but it doesn’t mean anything without the love.”
She groaned. “Janine…”
“Deb, security’s overrated.”
“So says someone who’s never lived in her car.”
