“Are you lookin’ to fight with me? ’Cause, that angry sex at the Marriott kicked ass, Cassie, so I’m down for a redo, but seriously. That call from your mom was no way for either of us to wake up.”
I whipped the sheets off my body, and grabbed the first piece of clothing I found on the floor. Luckily it was Gabe’s shirt, and I threw it on so I could use the bathroom in the hall. Since Brock and Cecilia had the master suite, it was unlikely they would see me, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
After I took care of business and brushed my teeth, Gabe was leaned against the wall outside the bathroom, and he pushed inside when I cleared the small room.
I curled into a ball on the bed, and debated getting dressed to go home. Maybe my mother was right. I should make it to the later Mass because I hadn’t been a good Catholic girl lately.
Gabe stood in his doorway for a while before he closed the door it. Then he molded his body around my back and forced an arm under me so he could hold me.
“You aren’t pissed at me, are you, sweetheart?”
After a moment, I realized I wasn’t. “No, Gabe. I’m just pissed in general.”
“So pissed you won’t be able to go back to sleep? Or so pissed you want to take it out on me?”
I wanted to cry from talking to my mother, but I wanted to laugh at Gabe, and in the end neither reaction won out. “You have a one-track mind after all, don’t you?”
“Baby, you’re hot as hell. I don’t tell you that enough, but there’s no way I can sleep next to your fine ass and not wake up ready to get busy.”
A half-smile pulled at my lips. “That’s sweet of you.”
He chuckled. “The things I got in mind for us, are anything but sweet, Cassandra.”
My silence stretched and Gabe filled it. “You never know, doll-face. Might work your anger and stress right out of you.”
I tried to turn toward him, but he held firm. “Gabe, I was going to kiss you.”
His hand came up to my chin and he turned my head to the side. Then his lips took mine in a fierce kiss.
He pulled away. “Time to restart our morning, baby.”
27Don’t Assume the Worst
Gabe
MONDAY, CASSIE HAD classes and I had one early morning class. When that was finished I just barely made it to an appointment with a lawyer. He was an old friend of Dad’s and I had called him when the idea of investing the money had first occurred to me. While I sat in traffic on the way to his office, I spoke to Ryan’s assistant and she said the only appointment he had available was at the close of business. Something in her tone told me she hoped I wouldn’t take the appointment, but I was determined.
Nearly an hour later, I left the law firm with a legally binding partnership agreement, if I could convince Pruitt to the terms. From what I overheard, my money would surely get his attention, but he might balk at me making decisions for the club.
I shoved those thoughts aside as I drove to a small cafe. Pauline agreed to wire the money, as long as I met her for lunch. After I parked my truck, I saw her standing outside the restaurant. She wore a chocolate brown suit with a tight skirt and a huge gold necklace.
“Gabe. It’s nice to see you again,” she said as I approached.
I smiled. “Good to see you again. This isn’t far from your office, have you been here before?”
She nodded as we entered the cafe. “Yes. They have the best patty melt in town.”
Customers seated themselves, and as I followed her to a table, my stomach rumbled. “I love a good patty melt.”
After we were seated, she said, “I know. That’s why I suggested this place.”
I nodded, but fell silent.
She shot me a wan smile. “Your father shared more than just events and what was going on with you three. Even though I wasn’t around, seems my tastes rubbed off anyway.”
“I guess they did,” I murmured.
When we had our drinks, she asked, “What are your plans for the money? Your text said you had a meeting with a lawyer.”
I had kept my plans on the down-low, but since I would meet with Ryan later, I figured telling Pauline wouldn’t hurt. “Yeah. I’m planning to invest in a nightclub I work at every so often. I know the owner’s having a tough time of it, and I have some ideas to help him improve.”
She didn’t say anything and her expression was unreadable. The silence irked me.
“You have nothing to say to that?”
“I am glad to hear you met with a lawyer, though, I wish you’d have consulted—”
“J.P. Daughtry is the silent investor in this club. Call me crazy, but I think he has pretty decent business judgment.”
Her grin seemed wry. “Yes, well. That doesn’t change the fact two hundred and fifty—”
“Not investing all of it. Sorry I keep interrupting, but really, I’m keeping some aside for me.”
She nodded. “That does make me feel better. So do you meet with Mr. Daughtry soon?”
I shook my head. “Since Daughtry’s only involved as a silent partner, I’m meeting with the owner-operator this afternoon.”
Our patty melts arrived before she could ask more questions. I took a bite, and my eyes widened. She was right. This had to be the best in town. I figured as simple as patty melts were, they were all the same, but apparently not. No doubt, I’d have to bring Cassie here for lunch.
Pauline moved to idle chit-chat with me as we ate our sandwiches.
While we waited on the server to return Pauline’s credit card, she said, “How about you drive me to bank? It’s about a mile from here, and that should give me time to read over the contract,
