For the first time, Paul looked genuinely flustered by the united front he was facing.
“I’ll speak to him privately,” Gabi said, interceding. She stalked past him and headed for the living room. “Five minutes, Paul. Not a second longer.”
Wade reluctantly watched her go. “I don’t like this.”
“I’m not exactly crazy about it, either,” Cora Jane said. “But Gabi knows him better than we do. She obviously thinks she can handle him.”
“And Wade and I are right here for backup if she needs it,” Jerry added.
Cora Jane gave him a tender look. “It won’t be the first time you’ve stood up for one of my girls,” she said. “You were always quick to take on any customer who seemed to be bothering them.”
“Of course,” Jerry said. “Family looks out for family.”
Wade gave Cora Jane a knowing look at Jerry’s words and saw the tears in her eyes. She glanced his way.
“Oh, I know what you’re thinking,” she grumbled. “Just because the man is sweet doesn’t mean I have to rush into anything.”
Jerry obviously guessed exactly what she meant because his booming laugh filled the kitchen.
“But one of these days you’ll give in,” he said with conviction. “After all, I’ve been told I’m irresistible.”
“If you’re so irresistible, why didn’t you marry years ago?” Cora Jane retorted.
“Because I’ve only had eyes for one woman and she was out of reach,” Jerry said.
Wade had the distinct impression, though, that those days might be coming to an end.
* * *
When Gabi was alone with Paul, she noticed that his face was more haggard than she could ever recall seeing it.
“What’s going on with you?” she asked, knowing that her concern was an old habit she hadn’t quite broken.
“Second thoughts,” he said tersely. “At least until I saw how easily you’ve moved on.”
“I haven’t moved on, not the way you mean. Wade and I are friends. He’s been a real rock for me. I needed that after you bailed.”
“Seriously?” he asked, obviously not believing it was possible for men and women to be friends. “You’re not sleeping with him?”
“Paul, I’m carrying your child. It’s not exactly the best time to think about being intimate with another man.” Even if that man was so appealing it sometimes hurt to force herself to keep resisting him.
“Makes sense, I suppose. He’s not really your type, is he? What’s he do? Farm tobacco? Maybe knock back a couple of beers on Friday night?”
She regarded him with disgust. “You are such an incredible snob. How did I miss that?”
“Because I was exactly the kind of man you wanted, one with ambition and big bucks.”
She shook her head. “Well, obviously that was a huge mistake. I must have missed the part about those things only mattering if the person has character. I think Grandmother and Jerry were right. You should go.”
“Not until we’ve talked this through,” he said stubbornly. “I want you to come back to Raleigh. Now that I’ve had time to get used to the idea of a baby, I think we could make it work.”
She shook her head. “Sorry. Too late.”
Her matter-of-fact dismissal clearly stunned him.
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do,” she said with conviction.
She realized that the past few weeks had changed her, made her stronger in ways she’d never imagined. She’d always known she excelled at her job, now she’d started to believe in herself as a person. She knew she could raise this child on her own, surrounded by a family who would fill her daughter’s life with love.
And, irony of ironies, seeing Paul had accomplished something else. He was such a stark contrast to Wade, who’d never had a moment’s uncertainty about being a part of her life or the baby’s. It made her realize how lucky she truly was to have found him. Though she was a very long way from taking the blind leap of faith she knew Wade was hoping for, she knew that when she did, he was the man she wanted in her life.
She leveled a long look now at the man who’d turned her life upside down, but in a twist of fate, given her far more than she’d lost.
“Go, Paul. There is absolutely nothing I want or need from you.”
He must have heard the certainty in her voice or perhaps she’d only said what he’d been hoping to hear, because he turned and left, without even looking back.
Good riddance, she thought, and went back to the man who understood the real meaning of character and commitment.
21
“I don’t like it,” Cora Jane said when Gabi had filled her, Jerry and Wade in on the reason behind Paul’s visit. “You may have gotten rid of him just now, Gabriella, but the fact that he came here in the first place strikes me as a red flag. Who knows when he’ll have second thoughts again? Maybe decide he can’t live without you?”
“Not a consideration,” Gabi said flatly.
“Okay, then, can’t live without claiming his daughter,” Cora Jane said. “It’s impossible to know what motivates a man who’s used to getting whatever he wants. He could decide being a family man would be an excellent career move.”
“I agree,” Wade said as he set a platter of burgers on the kitchen table that Cora Jane had set. “You need legal advice, Gabi. Talk to Louise. If this is beyond her expertise, she can at least point you toward someone who can make sure you and the baby are protected.”
Though Gabi wanted to believe they were both overreacting, she couldn’t deny that it would be smart to make sure the law was on her side. “I’ll talk to Louise,” she promised. “But could we drop this for tonight? I don’t want to get indigestion. I’ve been looking forward to this cheeseburger for days.”
Jerry put his big, comforting hand over hers. “Put this out of your mind. Something tells me that man came
