He absently closed the computer and moved it off his lap as Solomon brought the car to a stop.
In a daze, Hunter slid from the backseat and gawked.
He hardly recognized the house, lights exploded everywhere with tasteful design and elegance. “Gabi,” he whispered.
The giddy excitement normally reserved for children grew as he approached the front door.
He stepped into the foyer, smiled at the Santa that greeted him. A high table that hadn’t been there when he left warmed the space. The crackle of a fire and the scent of pine met the visual feast as he rounded the corner to the great room. Christmas had arrived.
He ran his hand over the back of the sofa Gabi had chosen. The closer he moved toward the tree, the better it smelled. There were even wrapped gifts under it. How had she done so much in so little time? Twisting his head around the feat of creating a home where it was only walls and empty space hours before was impossible.
“Do you like it?” Gabi’s musical voice interrupted his thoughts.
Dressed in a soft white silk jumpsuit, Gabi watched him from across the room.
“You did all this?”
She tilted her head. “Me and a small army. I wanted to surprise you.”
“Goal obtained.” He turned to the tree again. “It’s real.”
“Of course.”
He caught the dark orbs of her eyes and crooked his finger in her direction. “Come here.”
When she was close enough to touch, he placed a hand on the side of her face. “It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“It’s just a tree.”
“It’s so much more. You know it . . . I know it.”
She leaned into his palm and he kissed her. Gabi softened, parted her lips, and let him pull her closer.
He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. “I don’t deserve you.”
Gabi tugged on his hand. “C’mon. I have more to show you.”
The master suite was complete. Bedside tables, a plush chaise for two by the fireplace. Potted plants filled empty space. Gabi pulled him into several rooms, all of them completely furnished. She muttered about art for the walls, suggested a trip to Italy to find the right pieces. The last stop, however, was the best. The smell of fresh paint told him more had been done to the last room than the others.
A fresh white coat of paint wrapped around the wainscoting with a light blue topping. The ceiling had fluffy clouds. A crib sat center with a dangling moon and star mobile just waiting for tiny, eager eyes. A changing table, a dresser, and a gliding chair with a large stuffed bear sat to the side.
Not only had Gabi embraced the idea of Hayden being a part of their life . . . she’d taken it to a very real level.
“Say something,” she told him.
“I don’t know what to say.”
She came up from behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Every child should reach for the sky.”
He glanced up, felt emotion threatening his dry eyes. “This morning,” he started. “This house was real estate. Tonight it’s a home.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Meg sat at her computer and waited for the Internet video feed to go through.
Sam answered with a practiced smile. “Hello, Meg.”
There was a sense of relief when Meg noticed a lack of circles under her friend’s eyes. “You look good.”
“We’re doing all right.”
They talked briefly about the kids, about some of the aftermath of Jordan’s passing. News of Meg’s pregnancy had spread quickly. “I’m happy for you both.”
“You should see my mother-in-law . . . she’s going crazy already.”
Sam pulled at her mop of red hair and flicked something on her right. “So what’s this about a potential client?”
It was good getting back into business and away from personal drama. “She’s thirty-four, owns a big chunk of Manhattan, and wants to piss off her ex with a hot younger man.”
Sam’s smile grew into a full-blown laugh. They exchanged information, made notes, and a plan to help “rich in the city” find a spouse.
“This is exactly what I need right now,” Sam said when they finished. “A challenge.”
“I thought so, too.” Meg leaned back in her chair. “Do you have another minute?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“It’s about Hunter.”
Sam groaned. “I feel like I dropped the ball on that one.”
“I saw the notes in the file. It didn’t sound like you approved him as a client at all.”
“I didn’t. I was wrapped up when he came to us, told Gabi to take the interview and make a final decision. I never thought she’d approve him, let alone marry the man.”
That’s what Meg thought. “If it’s any consolation, I haven’t seen Gabi this happy since I met her.”
Sam looked at her through squinted eyes. “Really?”
Meg nodded. “The man has an edge, but I like him. Even Val is coming around.”
“Blake said he’s unpredictable and savage when it comes to getting what he wants.”
“Criminal?”
“I didn’t find anything to put him behind bars.”
“He’s too rich to leave a trace,” Meg mused.
“True. He does seem to have Gabi’s safety at heart. Neil has set up quite the system at their new place, two personal bodyguards.”
“What?” Bodyguards? This was news.
Sam snapped her lips shut. “I thought you knew.”
“Knew what? Why does Gabi need a bodyguard?”