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Chapter 42
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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
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 48
“He’s here! He’s here!” Emma shouted as she ran for the door.“Don’t you dare open that door, little missy!” Celina yelled, both hands securing an earring in her ear, as she jogged down the hallway after Emma.“It’s Gabe. I saw him through the window.”“I don’t care. You never open the door for anyone.”Gabe was almost finished with the bathroom remodel, so they’d agreed he should give it a rest for a day and just come pick them up early for dinner at Rusty’s. He was playing tonight and wanted to spend some time with them before his set.Celina opened the door to find Gabe, as she’d suspected, with one large box that stood as tall as his chest and a smaller box cradled in his arms.“Good evening, ladies.”Would his smile ever allow her to keep her breath? She hoped not. The happiness in his eyes had her insides doing a triple step.“Gabe!” Emma launched her tiny body into his arms, and he quickly moved the box into one hand to pick her up.“Hey there, sunshine.”“Is that for me?” Emma
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 49
On the drive home, Gabe sang the song four more times. Celina nor Emma could get enough. Emma was singing along from the back seat by the time they pulled into the driveway. He shut off the Tahoe and turned to Celina while the cab lights were still on. “Can I stay just a minute?” She nodded. It was late, past Emma’s bedtime, but they could tuck her in and have some time to talk. She wanted to tell him how much she loved the song. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, but old-seated insecurities twined their roots around her heart. Gabe got Emma out of her car seat and held her hand as they walked to the door. When Celina had unlocked it, she started flipping on lights. “Okay, missy. To your room. Bath will have to wait till morning.” Emma grabbed Celina’s hand. “Can Gabe tuck me in too?” “Sure, but let’s get changed first.” Celina looked up at him with a wink. “We’ll call you when we’re ready.” “I’ll just wait in here.” Gabe plopped down onto the couch, his long legs sl
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 50
Celina straightened her skirt as she stepped out of the car. The church parking lot was packed, and she’d had to park in the adjacent grass lot. Gabe sprinted toward them dressed in a blue-and-green checkered button-up shirt and khaki pants. The late-April morning was warm, and his sleeves were rolled up to just below his elbows. His smile was radiant as he approached her. It’d only been two weeks since he’d changed her world and told her he loved her. Celina’s days had been filled with a happiness equivalent to bunnies and rainbows ever since. Last weekend was Easter, and Gabe had attended church with her and Emma. After the service, they’d eaten lunch with Celina’s parents and Gabe hid and hunted Easter eggs with Emma until sunset. After a fun-filled day without a nap, Emma had fallen asleep in Gabe’s arms, and he’d carried her to Celina’s car and then inside her house to bed. This weekend, Celina and Emma were visiting Gabe’s church. She wasn’t convinced that a move needed to b
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