Chapter 19
They were married three days later in a small civil ceremony, with only family attending.
Chloe couldn’t stand the pain of not having Ellie with her for her wedding, and neither one of them cared how the ceremony was conducted. All they wanted was for their life together to start.
She’d opted not to have a band to go with the beautiful ring Gabe had given her, and they’d gone together to pick out a ring for him. He’d picked a plain platinum band. Chloe had wanted something nicer for him, but he’d refused, saying he didn’t want to have to take it off his finger when he was working. So, touched beyond words by his reasoning, Chloe had let him purchase the ring he wanted without another word.
In the days before their wedding, Chloe had tried to tell Gabe everything she’d ever omitted, including the two times she’d taken James down by using the fighting techniques Lara had taught her. He’d been happy she’d had her shot at James, and relieved to hear that she hadn’t taken any shit from him even when she’d been at his mercy.
They’d also had a session with Natalie together, and they planned more in the future. Chloe wanted to lose any remaining baggage she carried, even if it took awhile.
Everybody had agreed that traveling was a fantastic idea, giving Chloe time to get away and complete her healing process.
With every day that passed, Chloe felt stronger, more capable of handling whatever came her way.
Her only sorrow was Ellie. “It’s so hard to leave still not knowing what happened to her,” Chloe told Gabe the day after their wedding as they packed their suitcases in the big master bedroom.
They were leaving the following afternoon. They’d be in Thailand for a few weeks, and then probably move on to hit some other, less touristy destinations around the world they both wanted to see. Gabe had covered the ranch for a couple of months, plenty of time for them to take a break.
Chloe was looking forward to it, but the trip was bittersweet in one way in particular.
“I know,” Gabe answered solemnly. “Do you want to postpone?”
She looked up and met his gaze, both of them on opposite sides of the bed throwing items they needed into suitcases.
He’d been so patient, so loving and accommodating. The truth was, she didn’t want to put off starting their lives together. Ellie had been gone for months. “I have to face the truth, don’t I? She very well might never be found.”
“We don’t know the truth, so you handle this however you want to, sweetheart.”
Chloe sighed and sat on the bed. “I want to believe she’s still alive, that she’s out there somewhere. I want to believe that she had her reasons for leaving and that she’ll contact me when she’s ready. Mostly, I want to believe that she left because she had to or wanted to, not because somebody took her.”
“Then believe that,” Gabe said simply.
“If they find her body someday, then I’ll deal with it, but for now I’d rather think of her out there somewhere, still alive and still okay.” While the situation was in limbo, it was all she could do.
“Zane’s still looking. He isn’t going to stop,” Gabe said as he sat down beside her, pushing her suitcase aside so he could wrap his arms around her.
“I know. He was always fond of Ellie. I know he wants to get to the truth.” Chloe looked at her new husband with determination. “Whatever happens, I know I can handle it.”
Gabe kissed her gently before answering. “I know you can, too.”
“Then let’s run away for a while,” she said, standing to continue packing. “I’m ready for the beach.”
The weather had turned colder in the last few days, and Thailand was sounding better and better. She’d miss the ranch, but this was time that she and Gabe needed. Neither of them had ever had time to just enjoy themselves and wind down. While they were away, they could just enjoy being together.
Remembering that she’d bought him a wedding gift, Chloe went across the room and pulled a box from the back of the closet.
“For you,” she told him, holding the large item out to him anxiously. She was hoping he’d take it in the way she meant it.
He took it from her with a confused expression. “What is it?”
“A gift. Open it.” Chloe hoped he understood, and he wouldn’t be hurt. She’d taken a shot, hoping her gut instinct was right.
He slowly removed the wrapping paper. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”
“I wanted to get you this.” Chloe knew Gabe had more money than most men in the world, and between the two of them, they were obscenely rich…but this was…different.
She held her breath as he opened the box, his expression appearing astounded as he pulled out a brand new black Stetson.
Chloe’s heart accelerated as his face grew dark, hoping her gift wasn’t bringing back bad memories or disheartening ones about how he could never seem to fill his father’s shoes.
“I can take it back if it doesn’t fit,” she told him hastily, meaning much more than if the size wasn’t right. She knew it was his size. She just wasn’t sure if it would fit.
It was different from the one that had belonged to his father. It had a little less rim, and the band was a nice design, black with small metal studs, but not as fancy as the one his father had given him. Still, when Chloe had seen it, she’d been reminded of Gabe, thinking this particular hat would suit him.
Slowly, he put it on his head and pulled the brim down to a comfortable position. “Why?” he asked in a subdued voice.
Chloe shrugged. “I grew up watching you wear that hat. It was like a little piece of Texas that you brought with you. I thought maybe you missed it just a little.” She took a breath before continuing nervously. “When I saw this one, I just thought it would fit, that it was you. I wanted to give you a hat that seemed to fit your personality. I guess it was my way of saying that you don’t ever have to be anyone else because you’re perfect just the way you are.”
“Is that so?” he asked in a gruff voice.
She nodded.
He walked over to the mirror and looked at his reflection, and then turned around and grinned at her as he adjusted the hat a little bit. “Feels pretty damn good.”
“The hat?”
“The sentiment, sweetheart. It feels good to know that you love me for who I am.”
He lunged forward and picked her up and swung her around. Chloe laughed delightedly as he chuckled.
When he finally lowered her feet to the floor, she looked up at him with her heart in her eyes. “I’m serious. If it bothers you in any way, I’ll get rid of it.”
“The hell you will,” Gabe grumbled. “I plan on dying in this hat now. It’s my gift from the woman I love, and it fits perfectly. Honestly, I did miss my hat, but I could never bring myself to replace it. How did you know?”
“I didn’t really. I just know you, and I really like that hat. I knew it would look good on you.”
“It helps with the sun,” he told her honestly.
“Just stay out of stalls with angry stallions,” she told him with a laugh, happy that he’d accepted the gift in the way it was given…as a token of love.
“Thank you for loving me,” Gabe said in a rush.
Chloe’s heart started to hammer. “You’re an easy man to love, Gabe Walker.” She tightened her arms around his neck. “Thank you for saving me.” Without Gabe, she wasn’t sure where she’d be right now, and it wasn’t pleasant to think about.
She probably wouldn’t have married James, regardless. And she’d probably be in counseling, but he’d brought her so much further along in the healing process by loving her unconditionally and teaching her to trust again.
“I didn’t save you, darlin’,” he denied. “You saved yourself. You’re a strong woman, Chloe.” His arms tightened around her protectively. “Just try not to scare the hell out of me again.”
“I’ll try,” she promised.
Loving someone as much as she loved him, Chloe could understand his heartache. If anything happened to Gabe, her entire life would be destroyed. He’d become everything to her, and she wasn’t sure how she’d go on without him.
They had the same fears, but they shared the same love. Eventually, they’d get over their unease. Their love was new and precious. In the future, it would still be treasured and cherished, but without the intense fear of losing each other. The trauma had been painful, but it had also made Chloe even more grateful and appreciative of what she had.
Gabe took off the hat and dropped it on the bed. “I love the hat, but I think I need to kiss you.”
“You do?” she said playfully.
“I think I do,” he answered gravely with a slow nod.
He lowered his head and Chloe’s heart skittered as he gave her one of the sweetest kisses she’d ever experienced, one that showed her just how much she was adored.
She sighed as he pulled his lips from hers slowly, as though he didn’t want to stop kissing her.
“I love you, Chloe Walker, and I plan to make damn sure nobody will ever hurt you again,” he rasped, his voice full of tenderness and emotion.
Loving the sound of her name on his lips, she replied, “I love you, too, and I promise I’ll try to make you happy, Gabe.”
“Sweetheart, I already told you that you don’t have to try. You just have to be to make me happy. Now that you’re mine, I’m fucking ecstatic,” he rumbled.
Tears sprang to Chloe’s eyes, knowing he meant every word he said. Gabe wasn’t always smooth, but he was honest. How did she explain to him how much his words meant to her after what she’d gone through in the past? She’d tried, but he shrugged it off, thinking his words were no big deal.
They were a very big deal to her.
“Thank you,” she said simply, knowing he’d understand.
He held her close for a minute, rocking her body slowly in an attempt to comfort her. Finally he said, “You ready for tomorrow?”
“I’m ready,” she answered adamantly.
He pulled back from her and grinned, a mischievous smile she’d come to love so well. “I might not let you get dressed for a while once I get you naked.”
She was on board with that. “Are we ever going to be able to see the sights?”
“After,” Gabe said gruffly and noncommittally.
Chloe laughed and hugged him. She knew that all she needed to do was ask and Gabe would do anything she wanted to do just to please her. Knowing she could bring this big, strong, proud man to his knees was heady, but something she’d never take for granted. “After,” she agreed.
They’d take some time to get used to loving each other with such intensity that it was almost scary, and then they could indulge in making other memories together.
Thinking back about the times she didn’t feel ready for anything, and about how confused she’d been, she was grateful that she could now say that she was ready to start a new life, one free from fear and sadness.
She’d been given a gift, and she was going to seize it.
Sadness, fear, and heartache were her old life.
And then there was Gabe.
As he lowered his head to kiss her again, Chloe shuddered, knowing she was truly leaving her old life behind, closing the door on it forever.
Gabe was her future, and that was all she’d ever need.