A Billionaire's Redemption(17)

Oh, she needed him, all right. The smoky green of his eyes announced that he’d gotten that message loud and clear. But frustratingly, he still seemed determined to do nothing about it. The door closed behind him, and suddenly, her house felt horribly empty. Or maybe it was her who felt his absence so keenly. Yikes. She had it bad for him.

She headed ruefully for the kitchen. She’d always had a thing for Gabe Dawson but had never imagined there was a chance in heck of anything coming of it. Maybe there still wasn’t any chance. Maybe she was an idiot to throw herself at him like this. The poor man was just trying to do a decent thing, to keep her safe, and here she was making a complete fool of herself over him.

But if she’d learned nothing else from her father’s death, it was that life was too short to waste not going for the things she wanted. How did that saying go? In the end, you don’t regret the things you did in life; you regret the things you didn’t do. If she didn’t try for Gabe, she would regret it for the rest of her life. If he rejected her overtures, so be it. But maybe, just maybe, he’d take her up on her offer.

She kept the conversation light over breakfast and listened with interest as Gabe described some of his more exotic travels over the past few years. But as the meal ended, he pushed his plate back and took control of the conversation.

What are your plans for today, Madame Senator?”

I thought I’d add more locks to my doors and windows, maybe invest in a trained attack dog. Is Cujo for sale, do you suppose?” On a more serious note, she added, “Oh, and I’ve got a charity thing tonight.”

What charity thing?”

Vengeance Ladies’ Auxiliary Annual Ball and Auction. Raises money for some scholarship fund or other.”

Gabe made a face. She privately shared the sentiment, but habit prevented her from agreeing aloud. She was all for helping charities, but sending the child of an already wealthy auxiliary member to college tuition-free wasn’t exactly her idea of a worthy cause. She would feel better if the money went to a homeless shelter or battered women’s support group. She knew firsthand just how hurt and confused and terrified women could feel after being attacked by a man they’d trusted.

I guess I’ll have to dust off my tuxedo, then.” Gabe sighed.

Excuse me?”

I’m going with you.”

Her jaw dropped. Gabe Dawson never showed up at these local charity affairs. He was infamous for his steadfast refusal to participate in the Vengeance social scene. The charity-minded ladies of the auxiliary would dearly love to get their claws into his billions...not only for their pet charities, but also for themselves.

Why would you subject yourself to such a thing?” she asked, flabbergasted.

If you think I’m letting you out of my sight any time soon, you’re sadly mistaken, Miss Merris.”

But the break-ins only happen at night. You must need to rest after all the excitement last night. And you do have a life of your own. A company to run. I’ll be fine.”

You’re not fine,” he disagreed. He didn’t raise his voice or sound in any way angry, but he made it clear he wasn’t standing for any arguments. Her father could be stubborn the same way. She’d never bothered to fight with him, but she tried with Gabe, anyway. “Aren’t you worried about what people will say if you finally show up at one of these events? They’re going to expect you to donate a lot of money to their cause.”

He shrugged. “I don’t care what anyone says, and I’ll give my money to whomever I please. Though their little scholarship fund for one of their own isn’t high on my list of worthwhile charities.”

You have a list?” she asked in surprise.

He looked abruptly uncomfortable. “Yes, actually.”

She planted her elbows on the table, fascinated. Gabe Dawson did charity work? “Do tell.”

I support a women and children’s shelter in Dallas. And I fund a food bank for senior citizens. It’s also a pet food bank so the elderly won’t feed their pets their own food and go hungry themselves. Oh, and I built the Vengeance library building.”

That raised her brows. The anonymous donor was widely thought to have been her father, and John Merris had let people make the assumption without correcting them.

Why a library?” she asked curiously.

Books gave me an escape from the bad times in my life. And they showed me there was a big, wide world out there waiting to be experienced.” He shrugged. “They taught me to dream bigger than Vengeance.”

Huh. Who’d have guessed Gabe Dawson was a closet bookworm?

He continued, “Of course, I build schools in every place Dawson Exploration drills in for oil. They’re pretty well publicized, though. My company’s PR people have a field day with those projects.”

Why schools?”

I figure if we’re removing one natural resource from an area, we should replace it with a more valuable one. And what’s more valuable than education?”

Hey, I’m a teacher. You’re singing to the choir.”

And then I own an elephant sanctuary.”

Elephants?” she exclaimed.

We rescue them from zoos and circuses, mostly. And give elderly elephants somewhere to retire in peace. We help them form family bonds. For many of them, it’s the first time they’ve ever been with another elephant. Did you know they make friends with each other and are inseparable from their BFFs?”

Willa studied Gabe’s face with interest. He was animated and happy when talking about the elephants and books and his schools. The guy truly cared about his various causes. This wasn’t the coldhearted shark she’d grown up hearing vilified by everyone in Vengeance.

Since when did you become such an avid philanthropist?” she asked.

It takes having money to give it away. Melinda got me started, I suppose. Even before I made my first million, she was railing at me to give back to society.”

She railed at you?”

He smiled wryly. “On a good day. On the bad days, I’d describe it as simple screaming.”

Is that what broke up your marriage?”

He frowned. “It was a combination of things. I was traveling so much, and she was so involved with building her career. I’d like to say we grew apart, but I don’t honestly think we ever had all that much in common to begin with. She’s a hardcore feminist, and I’m...not.”

Willa reared back in mock horror. “You’re not one of those ‘women belong barefoot and in the kitchen’ types, are you?”

He grinned. “I like my women naked and in the bedroom, thanks.”

Her cheeks heated up, but she pressed the point. “What do you mean, you’re not a feminist?”

Don’t get me wrong. I think women should get equal pay for equal work, and with a few exceptions for jobs requiring heavy physical labor, I think women can do just about everything men can, and just as well.”

But?”

He sighed. “But, Melinda thought she should be in control of our marriage, and I happen to think the man should have a say at home. Or at least have equality.”

Women should cook and clean and men should drink beer and watch sports?”

He laughed. “Not at all. I cook very well, thank you. And I can do my own laundry and scrub a toilet if it comes to it.”

She scoffed. “When’s the last time you scrubbed a toilet?”

He shot her a chagrined smile. “Not since my bank account topped a billion. Still, I stand by the point I’m trying to make. Melinda wanted to make all the financial decisions, even though I was the one with business experience and decent money sense. She wanted to schedule all our free time to support her career and never mine.” As Willa opened her mouth to protest that women should be part of those decisions in a marriage, Gabe waved a hand to stop her so he could add, “And she wanted to be in charge in the bedroom.”

Ahh. Willa could see where a man like Gabe might balk at that. He was definitely a take-charge sort. She’d never even kissed the guy, and she could tell he would want to call the shots in bed. Personally, the notion made her feel fluttery and a little weak in the knees.

What time does the rubber backstabbing and blood-letting begin tonight?” he asked with certain resignation.

Seven.”

I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.” She frowned, confused, and he clarified. “They won’t serve dinner until at least eight, and I can only take so much judgment and condemnation before they get on my nerves.”

No one will—”

He cut her off gently. “Mark my words. Tonight will be a nightmare.”

Not if she had anything to say about it.

I do have one request, though.”

She looked up sharply at the serious tone in his voice. “What’s that?”

Wear something people will notice you in.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Don’t want me to ruin your reputation for dating hot chicks, huh?”