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Chapter 39
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The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 40
She wanted to want to go to Bible Study, and her hesitation brought about the nagging guilt that slipped up her back like a snake. Sissy and Lindsey had invited Celina to their weekly Tuesday night Bible Study, and she truly had wanted to go. Instead, she’d said she’d think about it, and she had. When she mentioned it to her mother in passing, she was relieved her mother had offered to keep Emma for an hour on a weeknight. She’d told Gabe the day before that she had plans and wouldn’t be home. He’d sounded disappointed, but she kept telling herself he would enjoy a night off. So why was she feeling guilty? She was aware that her inability to be away from her daughter for over eight hours was unhealthy, and she knew Emma was well-taken care of with her parents. The uneasiness in the pit of Celina’s stomach was because of Saul. Celina still hadn’t told her parents about his recent visit or the phone calls. They’d become more frequent lately, and he was growing increasingly desperate.
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 41
After the meeting, Celina called her mom and mentioned the invite to Rusty’s. “That sounds like fun. Just go on, and Emma can stay with us tonight.” Celina shook her head as she slid into the driver’s seat of her car. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to come and bring Emma.” “Hmm, well, Em’s already in her pajamas, so I think we’ll skip it.” “Then I’ll just come get her. I don’t need to be out anyway.” The clock on her dash read seven fifteen. Emma’s bedtime wasn’t for at least another hour. “No, no. Just let her stay. We’ll have fun. Go on and tell Gabe I said hello.” “I told you Natalie invited me,” Celina corrected, starting the car and adjusting the heat. “Yeah, but I bet Gabe’s there, especially if he knows you’ll be there.” Celina ignored her mother’s insinuation. “Are you sure it’s okay?” “Of course. You want to talk to her?” Celina listened as Emma gave an excited account of a game Paw-Paw was teaching her and promised to call her again before bedtime to say
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 42
Gabe. Gabe was certain he’d never felt as stupid as he did when he’d driven away from Celina tonight. He banged the heel of his hand against the steering wheel and huffed. How could he have done that to her? He wanted her to know he would never leave her, not walk away when things got rough. Gripping the steering wheel, he pushed the accelerator closer to the floor. He needed to see her face and tell her again how sorry he was. He really would wait for her. Sometimes, the fear that she wouldn’t let him in got the best of him. When he pulled into her driveway, his headlights fell on an unfamiliar, beat-up truck, and he parked beside it. A man was pushing on Celina’s front door. Without hesitating, Gabe jumped from the vehicle and ran. Only a few long strides separated him from the man, and the darkness did him no favors. Why hadn’t he replaced the burned-out porch light sooner? When his heavy boot hit the wood of the porch, the man abandoned his mission to push the door in and turn
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 43
Gabe. Gabe stared at the cards in his hand. Seven two off suit. “Raise.” He slid two chips into the pile and let his cards fall facedown. Gabe played poker most Wednesday nights with his friends, and the understanding was that if you could win the hand with seven two off suit, presumably the worst hand in poker, everyone at the table owed you five dollars. It was the only actual money exchanged in their poker games. They played with numbered chips, but no one ever went home richer on Wednesday nights. They’d been playing the same way since high school, and Gabe was thankful. He still hadn’t learned how to win the game. Measurements, construction, electrical wiring—you name it, and Gabe could figure it out. Poker was a mystery, right along with foreign languages and spreadsheets. Tyler called, then Dakota followed suit. Ian cracked a rare smile and called. Sissy stepped up behind Tyler and leaned over his shoulder to kiss his cheek. “We’re off to Celina’s.” Lydia stood beside her
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 44
“An inflatable house and slide?” Celina stared at the enormous blow-ups in her parents’ yard on Saturday morning. Celina’s dad was finally up and about, and he’d agreed to watch Emma until Celina and her mother could get the decorations up. Her mother met her at the car to help unload the party supplies. “She’s gonna love it! Gabe went all out on this one.” “This was Gabe?” Celina asked, although she wasn’t surprised. Her mom grabbed a box of gift bags from Celina. “He rented them for the whole weekend. She can come back over and play after church tomorrow.” “I can’t believe he did this!” She couldn’t have afforded the rentals on her own, and they were even a bit out of her parents’ reach as well. Celina dropped off the boxes in her parents’ living room. “I’ll be right back.” Stepping outside, she pulled her cell from her pocket and called Gabe. Gabe answered, “Matthews Rentals where the fun never ends. How can I be of service?” Celina laughed. “Mr. Matthews, I seem to have tw
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 45
The next Friday night, Celina and Gabe finally managed that date she’d agreed to. Emma was spending the night at Celina’s parents’ house, and Gabe had picked Celina up at six o’clock, just as he’d promised.Gabe reached for her hand as he drove along a quiet, country backroad away from town. “You nervous?” he asked.“A little,” she admitted.Nervous was an understatement. The skin of her hand tingled where it touched his. The only worry she had for the night was that their dynamic would change without Emma around to lead the conversation. Celina knew a lot about Gabe, but it wasn’t because they’d been able to get to know each other in a conventional way.He lifted her hand and kissed it. The sun was sinking behind the tall pines as they drove, and the lengthening shadows stretched across the road. She wondered if she should’ve insisted they go somewhere more public. Being alone with someone meant that every moment that wasn’t spent in conversation held a quiet that sounded like the de
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 46
Gabe.Gabe had assumed she’d have a beautiful voice, but he hadn’t known it would shatter his world to hear her.It was the sound he’d been searching for his whole life. He was in awe. His hand had taken on a mind of its own when it reached out to feel the song, and she’d let him.He’d been on dozens of dates, and most of them ended without the sparks. It wasn’t something he could put a label on, but he knew when it wasn’t right.When he’d met Celina, she’d felt different from the start. Maybe it’d been her insistence that she wanted to fix her own leaky sink. Her determination had been admirable. Then he’d seen her with her daughter, and he’d been a goner ever since.But that voice. He’d known from the moment he’d heard her voice that he wanted to hear it again and again.He’d been overcome with the need to hold onto it, and she’d let him. When she sang that first word, he knew he’d never be the same again.She finished the song, and his hand had drifted to her cheek. He wanted to ki
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 47
Gabe. “One. Two. Three. Ding, ding, ding!” Celina shouted. Emma jumped up, raising both fists straight into the air. Gabe lay lifeless on the living room rug, tongue hanging out one side of his mouth in mock defeat. He’d been teaching Celina self-defense in small doses since the last time Saul stopped by, but he’d been worried Emma would get the wrong impression if she saw him “attacking” her mother. Their lessons quickly became matches where Gabe was teaching Emma the theatrical art of wrestling WWE style. Emma turned to her mother as they celebrated her win. Gabe, resurrected from his comatose state, growled and grabbed for Emma’s ankles. A squeal followed by a laugh filled the room. Celina grabbed Emma’s wrists and began tugging. When Gabe had pulled Emma to him, Celina released her daughter into Gabe’s care as he tickled the toddler into a fit of giggles. “Okay, okay. It’s time for bed, little missy.” Celina squatted next to them and helped Emma regain her footing as she cr
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