A Billionaire's Redemption(21)

Willa shuddered. It sounded a lot like her father’s murder—a life interrupted completely without warning.

Gabe continued, “The only unusual thing the police found was a grocery list in Melinda’s handwriting. It stopped in the middle of a word. Maybe the phone rang or someone came to the door, or someone snuck up on her from behind and grabbed her. It’s a mystery.”

And there were no witnesses or anyone with any more information?” she asked.

No one legitimate has come forward in spite of the hundred-thousand-dollar reward I put up, and there have been no ransom demands.”

Is there a chance—” Willa broke off. “No, never mind.”

Go ahead. Say it.”

Willa winced. “Is there a chance she was murdered, too? She did disappear right about the same time my father and those other men were killed.”

Gabe went very still. “I would be lying if I said it wasn’t possible. But I can’t think that way.” His voice gathered force. “I won’t think that way. She’s alive. I’m standing by that until I have positive proof to the contrary.”

Willa felt like he’d just stuck a knife in her gut. He did still love his ex-wife. But she couldn’t exactly blame him for revealing it. After all, she was the one who’d brought up the subject of Melinda’s possible murder. And in all fairness, if she’d been kidnapped and was alone and terrified, she’d be desperate for her family and friends to continue fighting to find her, to continue believing she was alive, to continue their efforts to rescue her.

Is there anything I can do to help find her?” Willa asked soberly.

Gabe looked over at her in genuine surprise. “No, but thanks for the offer. That’s kind of you.”

Willa frowned. “You say that like you thought I was wishing Melinda would turn up dead.”

His answer was surprisingly bitter. “Let’s just say neither she nor I were ever embraced by the scions of Southern society in this corner of the world.”

What does that have to do with me?”

They were stopped at a red light, and Gabe stared across the vehicle at her in open shock. “You do realize that you are as blue-blooded an insider to the halls of old-school power in Texas as they come, don’t you?”

She blinked at him, uncomprehending.

You’re the daughter of one of the richest and most powerful men in Texas for the past thirty years or so. And you’re beautiful and single, to boot. There have to have been young men falling all over themselves to marry you since you got out of school.”

If there have, they’ve been invisible,” she retorted. Not for lack of her father constantly throwing her at every son of some powerful, old-money family or another from Dallas. It was just that none of the boys had ever called back. It was as if they’d taken her out as a favor to her father. But once they’d met her, they’d moved on quickly to greener pastures. Heck, her father had set up the date with James Ward.

The light turned green, and Gabe accelerated before demanding, “Tell me you’re lying.”

I’m serious, Gabe. My social life has hovered between life support and dead pretty much forever.”

That’s not possible,” he announced. “A woman as beautiful and intelligent and charming as you?”

How embarrassing was this, having to confess that no one had ever wanted to date the shy, awkward daughter of a scary man? “It’s not like I’ve ever run around looking like this before. And after the reaction I got tonight, I’m not going to try it again any time soon.”

Her own mother had called her a whore and a slut, for goodness’ sake. Tears welled up in her eyes to recall it. She’d thought this dress was beautiful, and for once in her life, she’d felt pretty. And the way Gabe’s eyes had lit up when she’d opened the front door—she’d thought that maybe he’d found her pretty, too.

Speaking of Gabe, she risked a sideways glance at him. His jaw was set, and if she wasn’t mistaken, muscles in his neck were tensed in irritation. Was he mad she wasn’t the social catch he’d thought she was? Had he expected that with her on his arm, people wouldn’t treat him like dirt for once? She sincerely wished she’d been able to give him the social acceptability he seemed to crave beneath his I-don’t-care attitude. But instead of lifting him up, apparently, she’d succeeded in dragging them both down.

How could a simple charity ball have gone so horribly wrong?

The Escalade turned into a driveway she didn’t recognize. It led to a garage behind a small craftsman bungalow near Darby College. “Is this your place?” she asked. She’d known his childhood home was somewhere in this neighborhood, but she’d never seen it before.

Yup.” He got out of the Cadillac and came around to open her door for her in grim silence. Grim enough that she decided not to ask just now why he’d brought her here. She followed him up the wide steps to a gracious porch and waited while he unlocked the front door.

Don’t call the place cute,” he growled as he stepped inside. “I despise cute.”

She stepped into a living room as masculine as any room she’d ever seen. Flagstone floors, cedar paneling, oversize leather furniture and a massive fieldstone fireplace dominated the space. “There’s nothing remotely cute about this room,” she assured him. “I’d call it rustic or comfortable or perfect for its owner. Or I might even say that Ralph Lauren would approve. But I would not call it cute.”

He grunted in what she thought might be thanks as he moved swiftly through the room and disappeared down a hall. At a loss, she waited inside the front door, unsure of what to do with herself. Lights went on in other parts of the house.

We’re alone,” he announced as he swept back into the room. As masculine as it was all by itself, the room seemed bigger, more alive, with him in it. It was as if he wore the space like a favorite pair of old blue jeans. He untied his bow tie and let it hang around his neck as he unbuttoned his collar. His neck was tanned and powerful, and yet again she was struck by how strong and forceful a man he was.

Every ounce of awkwardness and shyness she’d ever experienced flooded her as she stood there. She ought to say something sophisticated and smart, and all she could do was stare at him. God help her if she was drooling. If she’d ever thought she was woman enough to seduce Gabe Dawson, she knew, positively knew, in that instant that she was completely out of her league. She would never be woman enough for Gabe Dawson.





Chapter 9

The sight of Willa Merris in his living room, blushing like a nervous schoolgirl, brought Gabe to a complete halt. He could stand there and look at her all night long and never tire of the sight. She was the soul of innocence and oozed sex appeal all at the same time.

He’d never gone much for younger women, but he couldn’t ever remember desiring any woman the way he wanted her right now. He wanted to debauch her, to tease her and teach her, to take her innocence for himself and unleash all the simmering sensuality she didn’t even know she had within her.

If only he was a dozen years younger. He’d give anything to have her think of him as someone other than a safe uncle. This morning, when she’d sashayed out of her bedroom in that sassy little T-shirt and skimpy shorts, he’d thought maybe she was flirting with him. And then that backless dress...

But who was he kidding? At the moment, she looked on the verge of bursting into tears, or maybe bolting altogether. She might need reassurance that she was still desirable after Ward’s attack on her, but she didn’t want him, personally. Hell, for all he knew, Willa Merris was looking for a father figure. Lord knew her old man had failed her miserably in that department.

Can I get you something to drink?” he asked her in resignation.

Umm, why am I here?” she responded.

So I can protect you from whoever seems determined to break in to wherever you’re staying?”

Shock registered on her face. Didn’t want to spend the night with him, huh? It might have been okay once, in Dallas, where no one would catch her and she had an entire suite to herself. But heaven forbid that she get caught with him in Vengeance. Had she honestly not known just how giant a pariah he was among her friends and associates?

He hated himself for wanting her to want him, and he hated himself for lying to her about why he’d brought her here. But hey. In for a penny, in for a pound. He added another lie on top of the first.

Not to mention, Paula Craddock is gunning for you. She told me so herself. And after you sicced Jacquelyn Carver on her, she’s going to be madder than ever at you. I figure she’ll hang out at your house or your mother’s looking for you. If, for some reason, she comes sniffing around here, she and my shotgun have an appointment to get better acquainted.”

Willa’s musical laughter made him look up sharply from the whiskey he was pouring for himself. “Can I be there to see that?” she asked.