The Billionaire's Matchmaker(17)

Music to fall asleep by, T.J. thought, just before he drifted off with the most amazing woman in the world in the last place he’d ever thought she’d be…

His arms.

But sleep remained elusive, his mind filled with the knowledge that in the morning he’d have to tell Gabby the truth—

And risk losing her forever.





Chapter Seven



Gabby paced outside the motel room, blowing clouds into the cold January morning. She’d been up early, before T.J. woke, trying to work out what was bothering her about this whole trip. T.J. was holding something back, leaving some detail out, she was sure of it. He kept clamming up when she asked about his job, and redirecting the conversation. It didn’t make sense. Maybe a little Girlfriend Therapy would help. She’d missed having her friends as sounding boards over the last few days.

Charlie nosed around on the snowy ground across from the parking lot, picking out his morning bathroom location. Gabby clutched her cell, muttering “come on, come on, answer” while she waited on the dog.

“Gabby!” Marney’s warm voice filled the connection. “How’s your trip going?”

A simple question, but oh, such a complicated answer. “Not how I expected.”

“In a bad way? Or a good way?”

“Both.” She sighed. “I don’t know what to think. I need some advice.”

“Well, you called at the right time, because I’m here with all the girls at coffee. Want me to put you on speaker?”

“Sure. Speakerphone is great. It’ll almost be like being there.”

Marney, Mia, and Jenny had become her best friends a few years back when the four of them connected at the same coffee shop in downtown Chandler’s Cove. Each of the women brought something different to the group—pragmatic Jenny always had a word of advice, while witty Mia offered a snarkier view of life’s events. Marney was the steady one, the one Gabby relied on most for a sensible shoulder. She thought of her friends, gathered around the scarred wooden table at the back of The Cuppa Cafe, chatting and laughing over lattes and muffins. She missed them, especially now, with her world in turmoil and her heart in a tangle.

“Except without all the calories.” Marney laughed. “They made chocolate chip muffins today. I know I’ll be paying for that later. I’ll just work it off, putting in extra hours to pay for that crazy mortgage.”

Gabby laughed. After a pause as Marney switched the phone to speaker, then Gabby heard the trio of voices saying hello. “Hi, everyone! Wish I was there!”

There was a chorus of agreement, then Jenny’s warm voice came over the phone. “I hear you’re having more fun than all of us. With a certain sexy passenger.”

Gabby laughed. She knew exactly who’d been peeking out of her lace curtains when T.J. had gotten into Gabby’s car. “Let me guess. Mrs. Perkins called you to tell you that I was canoodling with a strange man.”

“Actually, she used the word cavorting. She wanted to make sure I knew, in case you ended up on ‘Dateline.’” Jenny and the others laughed.

“There’s no chance of that,” Gabby said. “He’s not a stranger. It’s T.J.”

“Really? T.J. from high school? The guy you used to like so much?” Marney said. Of the other three, Marney was the one Gabby had bonded with the most. They’d spent hours talking about exes and mistakes, including Marney’s divorce and Gabby’s missed chances with T.J. “I thought you said he was the classic studious type.”

How did Gabby begin to explain that her attraction for T.J. had always gone beyond the physical? That it was about the way he brought out the best in her, something she didn’t fully realize or appreciate until after he was gone and out of her life.

“He was. But now he’s all grown up, and well…hot.” Speaking the words sent a little fissure of desire down her spine. Even now, even after two amazing times last night.

She told the girls about the mistake with the pictures and the night with T.J., leaving out the intimate details. “I just get the feeling that I’m missing something and this whole relationship is going to blow up in my face. Or maybe I’m just overthinking things and worrying for nothing.”

“Sounds to me like you did nothing more than have a good time and take a couple risks,” Mia said. “You’ve been playing it safe too long, Gabby.”

“Safe keeps you from getting hurt,” Jenny put in. “I think she’s being smart.”

“The important question is, was he good?” Marney asked.

Gabby laughed. Leave it to Marney to get to the heart of the matter. “Yes, very. But—”

“There is no but,” Marney said. “Do what Mia said and take a risk. Isn’t that what you’re always telling me good art is about? Well, the same applies to good artists.”

“And true love,” Mia added. “You can’t find Mr. Right if you’re too afraid to jump in with both feet.”

Charlie twined his leash around Gabby’s legs and plopped down at her feet. She leaned against the exterior wall of the motel and exhaled a long breath. She hated it when her friends were right. “I’m going to remind you all of this down the road.”

“Hey, if a Mr. Right ever comes knocking at my door out here in the middle of nowhere, feel free,” Marney said.