Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“You don’t sound too bent out of shape about it,” Ethan muses, his eyes studying me critically.
“It’s a necessary evil,” I reply, blowing off his keen perception. I have to admit, Gabe amending that trust agreement has gone a long way toward soothing some of the disdain I have for the man.
Not all of it though.
Ethan looks out the window, the sun setting over the rolling pastures. “Gabe sure is making some bold statements when it comes to family loyalty.”
“What do you mean? He’s done something else other than amend the trust?”
Gaze coming back to me, Ethan nods with a half smile. “It hasn’t been in the news, but I heard through the grapevine that Gabe had Lionel removed as chairman of the board of Mardraggon Enterprises. Apparently staged a very successful coup and had himself named the new chairman.”
“Oh, wow,” I murmur in amazement. That indeed makes a very loud statement about his loyalties to his father.
Then again, I could argue the only reason he amended that trust was to see Sylvie so he could have a direct influence over her. Gabe has only ever been loyal to himself.
Unbidden and most certainly unwanted, a flashback hits me hard of a time when I didn’t think that about Gabe.
A cool fall day in Lexington, Gabe and I were studying together. The sun was bright and we both wore UK sweatshirts, the outdoor temps comfortable enough to spread out on a blanket. He’d been helping me with math the last few weeks and I’d found a surprising comfort in his presence.
Gabe had his nose buried in a textbook for his economics class and I was lying on my stomach, diligently working through complex equations that were admittedly a bit easier to digest with Gabe’s easy style of teaching.
I was comfortable in the silence with him and ignored the other students walking by as I concentrated on the work. It was a difficult problem and I tapped my pencil’s eraser against my chin while I contemplated. I was determined to figure it out on my own and not ask Gabe to guide me through it. I’d rather rely on him to check my answers.
My entire body locked tight when Gabe reached out and moved a lock of my hair back behind my ear. It was the first time he’d ever touched me and I looked at him in surprise.
His golden eyes shone bright in the sun and we just stared at each other a long moment. Finally, I had to ask. “Why did you do that?”
“Been wanting to do that for a long time,” he replied.
It was such a tender moment of touch, soft words laced with yearning. A stark contrast to the animosity of our families and the natural rift that stretched between us.
It was utterly confusing because Gabe never came across as anything other than a new friend who was willing to help me with my schoolwork.
“Can I take you out to dinner tonight?” he asked.
“As in a date?” My mouth gaped. “You can’t be serious.”
He waved an impatient hand. “Of course I can be serious.”
“Our families hate each other. We hate…” My words trailed off as I realized… I didn’t hate him the way I’d been taught to. Something had changed in the last few weeks, and he no longer seemed like an enemy. “Our parents won’t approve.”
“They don’t have to know,” he replied, and there was something very appealing about having a secret like this. It was exciting, being away at college in this new little bubble of freedom and experiencing new opportunities.
Gabe Mardraggon was forbidden and God help me, it made him sexier.
My answer sealed our fate. “Okay… I’ll go out to dinner with you.”
“Want to come out to dinner with us tonight?” Ethan’s voice busts through my memories. He’s staring down at the trust agreement which is lucky for me, as my cheeks feel heated.
“Um, no. Thanks. I’m working on Shadow this evening.” I stand from the chair, move to the edge of the desk and put my hand over the trust agreement so Ethan is forced to look up at me. “I think Gabe has earned the right to see Sylvie.”
That suggestion troubles my brother, as I expected it would. He shakes his head ruefully. “I don’t know, Kat.”
“Sylvie wants it,” I point out. “Your daughter wants this relationship.”
Ethan scrubs his hands over his face, his expression miserable as he sighs. “Fine. I’ll set something up with him.”
“I’ll be glad to chaperone if you want me to. I’m already dealing with him on the winery.”
“Would you really?” Ethan asks, his expression lighting up with a surge of relief. “I just don’t have it in me to be around anyone in that family. Logically, I understand he’s not his father, but all I see is a Mardraggon and it makes me furious what they did.”