Chapter Seven

Gabriel

 

“I don’t know what you have planned, Gabriel, but you’re not using my father as a pawn in your scheme.”

Gabriel balked. He’d only just opened the door to find Seraphina on the front steps of his villa, her face flushed and hands balled into tight fists at her sides. “Good morning to you, too, Fiery One. What scheme are you referring to?”

Her eyes flashed in anger as she crossed her arms. With her three-inch diamond-encrusted heels on, she was still half a head shorter than him, so she lifted her chin to stare into his face. “The one where you’re going to get my family’s hopes up, only to let us down in the end. I know you spoke to my father about a treatment for his cancer. He actually believes there’s a chance he’ll get better. You got his hopes up, Gabe! How could you?”

Shocked and speechless didn’t even begin to describe what Gabriel was feeling. Any hope he had of Sera coming around quickly faded. Not only did she not appreciate the olive branch he’d handed her, she had broken it in two and burned it to ashes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sera. I’m not playing games here. I was on the phone half the night with my scientists reviewing our research. After I got a hold of your father, he gave me access to his medical records. Everything looks good. I can’t promise you a miracle, but this is the best chance we’ve got to give your father some more time. I’m just trying to help.”

“Trying to help? Right.” Seraphina took a step closer until they were nose-to-nose. She poked a manicured finger into his chest as she pinned him with her gaze. Her next words came out curt and harsh. “You’ve never wanted to help me, Gabe. Especially after what you said to me yesterday, I can only imagine how little you think of me. You’ve always wanted to get the upper hand, the last word. You’ve never given me a reason to trust—”

Throwing all logic aside, Gabriel took her by the shoulders and claimed her mouth with his. He felt her lips move as she struggled to finish her sentence then soften against his as she gave in to the kiss. Her arms went up around his neck, causing his skin to tingle. He pulled her flush against his body, splaying his hands on her waist. The heat from their contact drove him to deepen the kiss, to pour out all the pent-up emotions he’d had for this woman who made him both crazy and happy at the same time. In that moment, Gabriel realized there was one thing he and Sera did better than fighting—and that was kissing. And boy, did he enjoy kissing her.

Only when Gabriel heard the sound of a woman clearing her throat behind them did he finally pull back. He turned around to find a petite redhead peering at them over her designer sunglasses with a huge grin on her face. Behind her stood Noah giving him a thumbs-up.

“Excuse us, we were just on our way out.” She grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled him through the front door. “It was nice meeting you, Seraphina!” she called out over her shoulder as the two of them disappeared down the driveway.

Gabriel winced and cleared his throat. The ramifications of what he’d done started hitting him. He’d thought Sera had enjoyed their kiss, but the stony look on her face proved otherwise. “That was my sister, Laurene. And you met Noah yesterday.”

She nodded, her cheeks still flushed from their kiss. She eyed him warily as she crossed her arms over her chest. “What was that about? Why did you kiss me?”

“Why?” Was there a right answer to this question? Gabriel rubbed the back of his neck, missing the feel of Sera’s hands there. If only they hadn’t been rudely interrupted, he’d still be kissing her. “Why else would a man kiss a woman? Because he’s attracted to her.”

She scoffed. “You’re attracted to me? You sure have a funny way of showing it. Do you argue with every woman you’re attracted to? Are you sure you weren’t just trying to get the last word in, Gabe? Cut me off with a kiss so I couldn’t talk anymore?”

“That was not my intention. But now that you mention it—” he paused to chuckle “—it worked quite well.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, clearly not amused at his humor.

He held up his hands in a gesture of peace. “That was a bad joke.”

She eyed him cautiously. “You’ve never been on my side, Gabe. Why now? What changed?”

His expression sobered as he digested her words. She didn’t trust him. He didn’t blame her though; she was right that they’d always been at odds with each other. But it was time to put the past behind them, once and for all. “Sera, would you please hear me out? I’d like to apologize.”

Her brows rose in surprise. “Okay.”

“I said some very harsh and insensitive things to you the last time we talked. I had no right to make those assumptions or accusations. I went too far in competing with you, and you have every right to call me a jerk—or worse. But I would like to leave the past behind us and start fresh. I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”

He seemed to have said the right words because she was speechless for once in her life.

Gabriel rushed on to explain further. “I would never play games with someone’s life. I intend to help your father as much as I can. My offer is genuine; there are no strings attached. You can trust me, Sera.”

He waited expectantly, watching emotions he couldn’t decipher flicker across her face. He and Seraphina may have shared an amazing kiss, but that didn’t mean the past was water under the bridge. Would she give him a second chance?