The Organized Bride (Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book 2) (10 page)

Chapter 13

MaKayla stuffed her dirty clothes into a pillowcase and threw it to Brooke, who walked it out to her car. Trish’s voice echoed down the tiled hallway. “Those two boxes are fragile, so please make sure they’re labeled correctly.”

Grabbing a flat box from the entryway, MaKayla folded it on her way back to the bedroom. This box was for her stuffed bear and the other items from her childhood that she’d rescued before her parents sold their house. In her closet was a shelf full of finger paintings, English papers, and report cards that spanned across kindergarten through twelfth grade. That could go to storage, but Stuffy Bear, defender against all things nightmare, was going with her to Gabe’s house.

Brooke passed through and set to work emptying the medicine cabinet. Within a few minutes Trish called, “Kitchen’s done.”

“So is the bathroom,” said Brooke.

Trish poked her head in the bedroom, “What’s left in here?”

MaKayla used the huge tape dispenser to close Stuffy’s box. “This is the last box for Gabe’s, and I think we’re ready to go.”

Trish reached out to take the box from MaKayla. “I’ll take that and send the truck off.”

“Thanks.”

Brooke stood by the door with an armful of dirty sheets as MaKayla sat on the bare mattress that stayed with the apartment. “Are you going to miss this place?” Brooke asked. She had a strange look on her face, like she was the one moving and
her
life was flipped. This was a change for both of them. No more morning runs. No more late-night ice cream binges.

MaKayla looked around at the empty walls, shelves, and open closet. She’d been so proud to move in, to be able to afford rent without a roommate. Quite grown-up. But she soon found out that working long hours meant that all she needed was a place to lay her head and she missed having built-in friends around.

Well, that was about to change. Good things were on the horizon. She had a new job full of perks. The work was stimulating and the office environment was positive. Plus, she didn’t have to stare at that ugly Berber carpet every day. She was moving out of her condo and into an actual house. She might not own the house, but by the end of her year she’d have a nice down payment saved and be able to afford something in a good neighborhood. And, best of all, she was meeting new people. Good people. People she could see herself hanging out with even after the marriage was over. People she was about to introduce Brooke to as well. This was a good thing, for both of them.

“Nope.” She smiled as she jumped up and walked out of the condo without looking back.

They settled into the car and MaKayla pulled up directions to Gabe’s house on her iPad. Brooke’s mood remained low, and MaKayla started to worry. “How’s school?” she asked.

“It’s fine.”

“Any interesting classes?”

“Yeah. I spend a lot of time studying.” Brooke sighed.

MaKayla tried again. “Have you met anyone lately?”

Brooke shrugged. “At this point, I know everyone in the program, by reputation if not by name.” She paused. “We need to run more.”

And there it was. When MaKayla had been in college, there were always people around. However, marketing and public relations students tended to be social. Maybe law school was different.

MaKayla smiled down at her chipped nails, thinking of David. He could be good for Brooke. MaKayla hadn’t mentioned anything about a setup or blind date. She just wanted to wait and see how things went between the two of them. “You need to meet someone and you need to turn left at the next light.”

Brooke gave her a look. “Just because you’re married doesn’t mean we all have to be.”

MaKayla shifted in her seat. “You don’t have to get married. I just thought it would be nice for you to have someone you want to be with.” She hoped she was planting a seed that would help to open Brooke up for when David arrived later that day, but she didn’t want to be too pushy or Brooke would suspect something. “I am excited to move into Gabe’s because I’ll have someone around again. I didn’t realize how isolated I was in that town house until this morning.”

“It helps that your new roommate is also good-looking.”

MaKayla twisted her long ponytail around her fingers. “It’s not like that and you know it.” She flicked her ponytail back and sat up. “Speaking of that, can you not mention the particulars about the prenup—or even that there was a prenup—to anyone, ever? I think Gabe’s assistant David is coming over later, and we don’t want people from the office to find out that the marriage is for show.”

Brooke shrugged. “Sure.”

MaKayla relaxed against the seat. “Thanks.”

Brooke pulled up to a closed gate and turned to MaKayla. “Is this right?”

MaKayla scanned the instructions on her iPad. “Yeah. The code is 0927.”

“Your birthday? Not very original or safe.”

“I’m sure it’s just until I can pick my own code.”

Pulling through the gates, they rolled down an asphalt road with no sidewalks. Right off the pavement, trees rose high above their car. Every so often the two would see a mailbox perched next to an asphalt driveway. The house numbers were marked on each box with gold foil.

“It’s this one.” MaKayla pointed to the right and Brooke made the turn. At the end of the drive was another gate, this one wrought iron with little spikes on the top. “Same code,” said MaKayla as she tried to see the house beyond the fence. Instead of asphalt, Gabe’s driveway was stamped concrete. It turned sharply to the left, and all she could see was a line of trees and manicured bushes. They followed the false cobble path for a moment, and then the forest opened up before them to reveal a three-story mansion set in the middle of a huge lawn.

Brooke whistled. “Yeah, I wouldn’t feel too bad about leaving my condo either if this is what I was moving into.”

MaKayla stared in shock at her new home. The exterior was done in a marbled stone and creamy-yellow stucco combination. The tiled roof was the deepest of browns, and the lighting fixtures were Venetian bronze. It appeared someone had taken an Italian villa and plunked it in the middle of the forest. She jerked as she realized the fixtures were the same color as the lighting fixture in her parents’ beach home. They’d bragged about it being the latest in home design. At the time she found it hysterical, the way they cooed over their lighting; now she wondered if Gabe was the same way.

There were three wide circular steps, a small patio, and then three short steps that led to the front door. A half wall enclosed the patio and sported two large old-fashioned streetlights. Surrounding the stairs were planters set at different heights. They all had the same type of flowers, though they looked a little worse for wear this late in the season.

“I don’t see the moving truck.” MaKayla bit her cheek. It had a ten-minute head start on them.

Just then, Gabe opened the front door and jogged out to their car in the circular driveway. MaKayla warmed at the sight of him in a nice fitting pair of jeans and a T-shirt snug enough to show off his broad chest and muscular arms. She didn’t remember ever seeing him in short sleeves before and liked the cords and sinewy muscles they revealed.

MaKayla rolled down her window, and Gabe rested his forearms on the door and leaned in. Smiling at MaKayla, he said, “Hi.”

Caught off guard at having him so close, and admiring his physique, MaKayla barely stilled her hand before it reached up to feel the skin on his neck.
Set an example
, she reminded herself. “Hi.” It came out breathy, and she cleared her throat to mask her embarrassment.

“I’m Gabe,” he said as he reached his hand out to Brooke. MaKayla could smell his aftershave, and discreetly turned her head toward the open window. She’d always been a sucker for the sharp lemony smell of men’s shaving products.

“Brooke.”

They shook, and Gabe pulled his hand back, smiling easily like having his wife move in wasn’t a big deal. “If you want to pull around back, it should be easier to unload. The truck is here, but they’re almost done.” He tipped his head toward MaKayla, and she pushed her hands under her legs so she wouldn’t reach up and run her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck. At least her mind was one step ahead of her hands, which seemed to have ideas of their own.

“You aren’t leaving much here. Are you okay with that? I have a storage shed we can leave your things in so they’re on the property,” offered Gabe.

“No, it’s mostly rugs and dishes. I brought the important stuff.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you at the back door.”

MaKayla watched Gabe jog up the stairs.

“Here.” Brooke handed her a bottle of water.

“What’s this for?”

“You need a cold shower. Crap,
I
need a cold shower. That man is fine.”

MaKayla giggled. “I know, but don’t encourage me. I’m being professional.”

“Sweetie, you’re married. Can’t you have a little fun?”

“Nope. Not part of the contract.”

Brooke rolled her eyes as she drove the car around back. “I read your contract, remember?” She continued in a sing-song voice, “‘Marital relations are not required by either party; however, they are not forbidden as long as both partners agree to participate. Participation in physical intimacy will not void any other section or subsection of this agreement.’” She put the car in park. “If sparks fly, you’re good to go.” She looked up as Gabe opened the back door for one of the movers. “I say spark away.”

MaKayla shoved her. “Okay, let’s set some ground rules. If I don’t get to ogle my husband, then neither do you.”

“What’s your problem?” Brooke rubbed her shoulder where it had hit the door when MaKayla pushed her.

MaKayla undid her seat belt. “This is a temporary situation. I can’t
spark
with him and then just walk away from it.”

“Oh my gosh—you like him!”

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

“Don’t.” MaKayla jumped out of the car hoping to have the last word, but Brooke followed.

“Do!”

Brooke hit the button to open the trunk.

MaKayla leaned against the car, her energy drained. “I don’t know what I feel about Gabe, but I do know he’s my boss, and it is inappropriate to mess around with your boss, even if you’re married to him.”

Brooke screwed up her face. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Brooke, I have an opportunity here. A good one. I don’t want to mess it up. Please, help me stay strong.”

Giving a salute, Brooke grabbed the dirty sheets out of the trunk. “Fine, if that’s the way you want it.”

MaKayla nodded. “That’s the way I want it.”

“Then let’s go unpack.” She grinned like she had the time she planned the great cookie jar caper. “And I’ll try not to ogle my brother-in-law.” She stopped midstride. “Ew. That just sounds wrong.”

MaKayla bumped her with her hip. “And don’t you forget it.”

They laughed, and MaKayla breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t have to worry about Brooke and Gabe: Brooke was as true-blue as they came, and with David arriving in just a couple of hours, there would be plenty of other things for Brooke to ogle.

Chapter 14

Gabe watched MaKayla and Brooke laugh as they unloaded the trunk. Brooke was pretty, though not as pretty as MaKayla. No one was as pretty as MaKayla; even with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, she managed to look elegant. Brooke, on the other hand, had a sporty thing going for her. She had the same hair color, though she wore it shorter, just past her shoulders instead of long. She had on a tight T-shirt and a pair of running pants. He could see this girl with David, and so quickly sent a text reminding him about the pizzas before turning back to watch MaKayla and Brooke.

They were so happy together, each feeding off the other’s energy, that he felt a stab in his heart.
Is that what it would be like if Michael were still alive?
He rubbed his chest, where that familiar ache sprang to life. His brother had been gone for fifteen years and he still missed him. Every moment he worked to build the Boys’ and Girls’ Center for Healing was done in Michael’s honor. It was the very least he could to do honor his memory. Wiping at the moisture in his eyes, Gabe readied himself for when MaKayla crossed the threshold. It was a moment he wanted to remember. This was the moment their lives would truly be joined together. No more avoiding questions about his marriage, no more white lies. Today, it would all come full circle, and he—and MaKayla—could embrace their marriage-ness.

The glass doors opened into the great room, which included a kitchen, an informal dining area, and an informal living room. This end of the house was the private area. Just past the living room was a short hallway with two rooms at the end: one for him and one for MaKayla. As the girls tripped through the back door, he grinned, anticipating their response.

Brooke let out a low whistle, and MaKayla stared wide-eyed, taking in the space with just one sweep. He’d seen her do that at the hotel that first night. She could process loads of information in one breath. She was beaming and Gabe let out the breath he’d been holding. He wanted MaKayla to be happy here. She was making so many changes in her life, and he hoped they were for the better. The way her eyes shone led him to think she was pleased with the way things were turning out.

Brooke bounced the box in her arm and asked, “Which way?”

“Just down here.” Gabe walked in front of them down the hall.

“Let me guess: this is my room.” MaKayla indicated the one on the right with a tip of her head.

Her long hair swung back and forth, and Gabe grinned. Relaxed, off-the-clock MaKayla was bouncy and carefree. Maybe it was having her sister around, or maybe she was just really serious at work. Whatever it was, he was thankful he’d gotten the opportunity to see this side of her.

“How’d you know this one was yours?” he asked. “You haven’t seen it yet.”

Her eyes danced as she replied, “It’s just like our offices. Yours is on the left and mine is the one on the right.”

Gabe laughed. “I guess so. Why do you think I always pick the one on the left?”

MaKayla bumped the partially open door aside. “It’s probably because you’re left-handed.”

Gabe glanced down at his left hand, surprised that she’d noticed. Writing with his left hand hadn’t been a big deal since grade school. Not that she was making a big deal about it. Her attention to detail was amazing, and Gabe warmed knowing she’d paid attention to him.

He followed them into MaKayla’s room to give the tour. The girls were in the bathroom oohing over the décor and practically giggling.

He called, “I ordered some basic furniture because the agency said you’d need a bed and dresser. If there’s something else you’d like, just let me know.”

There was a reclining sofa under the window, along with a reading lamp. He’d had book shelves built in that matched the white bed frame and he filled them with new releases in several genres. He’d thought white would go with anything, so it was a safe choice for the sleigh bed, matching dresser, and night tables, one on each side. The one on the left had an alarm clock, and the one on the right had a reading lamp. There was a step stool in the closet in case she couldn’t reach the top shelf, and the walls had nature photos, close-up pictures of dew on leaves and things like that, because he thought a drop of color here and there would be a welcoming gesture.

He didn’t normally consider interior design, but he’d enjoyed planning this room while waiting for Pamela to find him a wife.

MaKayla came bouncing out of the bathroom. “A shoe rack!”

Brook yelled, “Holy closet space!”

“It’s perfect.” Laughing, MaKayla threw her arms around his neck. Gabe didn’t have time to react before she jumped away and shoved her hands into her back pockets. Her cheeks flamed red, and she looked at the ceiling. “Sorry.”

Gabe felt his face flush and realized they probably matched. “It’s okay. I’m glad you like it.”
Really glad you like it.
He ran his hands through his hair. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to do something he would regret, like pull her back into his arms. This infatuation needed to end as a matter of self-preservation.

Brooke skipped out and said, “Let’s finish unloading. By the time we’re done, you’ll be all set up.”

“What can I do?” asked Gabe.

“Um,” MaKayla looked around. “Like you said, there isn’t much. We’re just going to hang up my clothes and lay down some rugs in the bathroom.”

“I guess I’ll go make some phone calls and see about lunch.” He winked at MaKayla when Brooke wasn’t looking, and went to leave.

Pausing at the door, he touched the handle. This would be the last time he came in here until after she moved out. Building an imaginary wall in his head, he placed himself in the hall and slammed the last imaginary brick into place.

His defenses up, he hurried to the study to call David and tell him to get over here. The more people were around, the easier it would be to stay on the appropriate side of that wall.

***

Gabe knocked on his side of MaKayla’s door frame. “Pizza’s here.”

Brooke dropped the hanger and shirt on the bed. “Thank goodness. I’m starving.”

MaKayla came out from the bathroom/walk-in closet and asked, “Did someone say pizza?” When she saw Gabe, she pressed her lips together, hinting at the dimple in her cheek. As she passed him, she placed her hand on his chest and leaned close. “Here goes nothing.”

MaKayla followed Brooke, and Gabe realized he’d pressed his palms against the wall behind him in an effort to refrain from resting them on MaKayla’s waist. It would have been a simple move, a natural one that he was sure wouldn’t have shocked her, but he congratulated himself on staying in control.

David held four pizza boxes over his head and wagged a finger at MaKayla and Brooke. “I didn’t bring enough for you two. These are for me and the boss.”

MaKayla laughed. “Like you two could eat that much pizza.”

David pouted. “You think so little of me.”

“I’ll get some plates,” said Gabe.

“Fine, we’ll share. But this means I’m going to have to stop at the drive-through on my way home.” When Brooke made a face, David teased, “Don’t judge. I’m a growing boy.”

After a quick, almost off-handed introduction between David and Brooke, Gabe offered grace. It didn’t take long to open the boxes on the counter, pull out some sodas, and gather around the table.

David waved a hand at MaKayla, “What’s the worst thing that ever happened at one of your events?”

Brooke burst out laughing. MaKayla’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “I’m not telling.”

“I will,” said Brooke.

“Don’t you dare!” MaKayla glanced at Gabe and flushed red, deep red.

“Oh, come on. Now, you have to tell us,” pled David.

MaKayla grabbed her plate and headed to the sink, while Brooke leaned in toward the table and pressed her palms together. She had a glint in her eye that said she was about to embarrass her sister and she was loving it. “First off, it wasn’t MaKayla’s fault.”

Gabe and David nodded in unison, a captive audience if there ever was one.

Brooke continued, “When she was in college, MaKayla was over organizing events for the dorm kids. They had this hill behind the dorms; it wasn’t huge, but students used it for sledding in the winter, and she had this great idea to hold a first week of school get-to-know-you party and set up a slip ‘n’ slide.”

“Oh no,” said David.

Gabe glanced at MaKayla, who was scrubbing pizza sauce off her plate and ignoring them all.

“Oh yes! She put up fliers and sent out emails inviting everyone in the dorms and told them to bring their friends. In the first twenty minutes, there were two broken fingers, a dislocated shoulder, and one concussion. And some guy stripped down to his skivvies and ran screaming through the crowd, picked up MaKayla, threw her over his shoulder, and ran off toward the parking lot.”

“What? No way.” David slapped the table.

Gabe’s jaw dropped and he turned to stare at MaKayla.

She threw the dishcloth in the sink and placed one hand on her hip. “In my defense, I told them they couldn’t surf down the slip ‘n’ slide en mass.”

“How’d you get away from naked guy?” asked David.

MaKayla threw up her hands. “He dropped me when campus police showed up.” They all laughed, and even she cracked a smile. “They didn’t want to tackle a naked guy, so they chased him off campus property. He hid in the cemetery until I sent his roommates after him with some clothes. Idiot freshman.”

“The ugly truth about event planning.” David shook his head and turned to Brooke. “Your turn. Weirdest case you’ve studied.”

For the next hour they traded horror stories and ate pizza. Gabe enjoyed the lighthearted teasing. David and Brooke seemed to hit it off and more than once, Gabe and MaKayla exchanged knowing looks over their obvious flirting.

When the food was gone, David suggested they play pool, and they went to the billiard room.

“I must say, you have some nice digs, Gabe.” Brooke walked around the table, pulling balls out of the holes and sending them rolling down to David.

David’s eyebrows came together. “You haven’t been here before? As close as you and MaKayla are, I thought she would have invited you over.”

“When would she have done that?” Brooke asked and then looked up at MaKayla in horror. Gabe could see their silent conversation as MaKayla told Brooke to zip it and Brooke apologized for slipping. It was awesome and enviable, since Gabe didn’t have anyone he was that close to in this world.

“I don’t know, anytime.” David racked the balls while MaKayla and Brooke mouthed an argument silently behind his back. The whole thing was rather comical.

The code of conduct outlined who they could tell about their marriage and who they couldn’t. Brooke was on the to-tell list because she qualified as legal counsel. David was not on the list, because he qualified as employee/friend. Gabe decided to just make it easier for all of them.

“With the wedding in the middle of the week, we hadn’t had a chance to move MaKayla’s things over. They just got here this morning and Brooke came to help us unpack.”

David waved his hand between MaKayla and Gabe. “You mean you weren’t living together before?”

MaKayla folded her arms. “That’s none of your business.”

“Yeesh.” He turned to Gabe. “No wonder you were so touchy about the pillow talk thing. It’s all starting to make sense.” He tapped his finger to his temple.

“Whatever.” MaKayla waved him off. “I’m about to kick your trash, so move over.” She lined up her shot and broke, sending three balls into three different pockets.

“What the ...?” David looked at Brooke, who smiled.

MaKayla rubbed the chalk on her cue. “Setting up slip ‘n’ slides wasn’t the only thing I did in college.” She lined up another shot and sank her ball into the corner pocket.

“Did you know she could do that?” David asked Brooke.

Brooke wiggled her eyebrows. “Wait until it’s my turn.”

MaKayla made her way around the table, checking different angles and looking for her next shot. Gabe cursed under his breath in appreciation as she passed, and she trailed her hand across his shoulders, saying, “You have no idea.”

As MaKayla leaned over the table, Gabe forced himself to look away. He pulled his T-shirt away from his chest and let it snap back. Feeling like he’d stepped out of an air-conditioned car into the middle of the desert, he went to check the thermostat, but it was normal. MaKayla finished the round, and David had to rack the balls so he could take a turn.

David had a good break, but couldn’t make his second shot. Brooke finished out the round.

“Now, I’m just embarrassed.” David ran his hand down his cheek.

“Don’t be,” said Brooke. “It’s not like we bet money.”

David did an exaggerated swipe across his forehead.

Gabe was first to break, and he sank half his shots before MaKayla got another turn.

As she finished up, David asked Brooke, “Do you want a tour of the house?”

“Don’t you want to play again?” asked Brooke.