Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 41

forty-one

NORAH

A Few Days Later

Havana and I are making Gino a snack in the kitchen when I glance at the clock above the stove. 3 o’clock. Gabriel’s practice should be done, and once again, I’m sending up a quick prayer that everything went well. I trust him about his knee, but I don’t trust everyone else around him.

I grab some yellow crackers and place them on the blue plastic plate while Havana cuts the cucumber slices and cheddar cheese. Gabriel has a meal service that brings him food, but we haven’t decided whether that will change when I’m here. I envision the trays of smoked beef ribs and vegetables prepped for the oven in the refrigerator.

There are some perks to having someone else cook for once. I can focus on Gabriel and Gino rather than cooking and cleaning.

“You’re much different from Ms. Sloane.”

“Yeah?” I tilt my head and study the older Hispanic woman who previously worked for Sloane’s ex-boyfriend and raised Gino for the past two years.

“Yes.” Her eyes are hard as she slices off a piece of cucumber. “She was rude and dismissive of both the staff and Mr. Gino.” My heart aches for Gabriel’s son. Her jaw flexes. “I’ll never understand a woman like that. Always shifting to the next best thing without regard for others.”

“Well, I’m not sure how this Finn was better than Gabriel and Gino.” The woman needed her head examined.

She glances over at me. “Money.”

“Bitch,” I growl under my breath. What a bitch. I inhale and count to five. Don’t think about her. She got what she deserved. At this moment, she’s in jail for assaulting both Gabriel and a law enforcement officer. She’s right where she belongs.

“That….” Havana smiles as her eyes lose some of their hardened glint. “Is a true statement. I’m glad Mr. Gabriel called me. Mr. Gino is such a sweet boy, and I missed him.”

I place my hand on her forearm. “Thank you for loving him when you didn’t have to.”

She presses her lips together for a second. “Same to you.”

Tears fill my eyes, and I blink them back. “I hope I’m good enough for him.” I inhale to steady my breath. “Especially with going back and forth–”

“Don’t fret, dear. He knows you care about him. Even if you leave him for a few days. Kids are smart. They know when people care and when they don’t. Here….” She hands the plate to me. “The snack is done.”

As I leave the kitchen and walk into the living room, her words fill my head. I pray she’s right because I don’t want to cause Gino anymore sadness.

He glances up from the toy car he’s driving between the rugs and furniture legs. “Watch.”

“Of course, I’ll watch.” I settle on the sofa, letting the buttery-leather cushions suck me in and nearly whimper at the soft comfort.

Gino takes the car and vrooms around the table leg, through the chair legs, and back out from under the table. “I fast.” His eyes dance with joy.

“Yes, you are. The fastest car in the land.”

At my praise, he increases his speed until he’s nearly a blur of movement. Each time he passes me, he grins and gives me a high five.

“Good job. You’re an expert driver.”

“I am.” He points at his chest and returns to his game.

I’ve not spent a lot of time around kids. As an only child, I don’t have nieces or nephews, and Angelo is only a year old. But Gino is a joy to be around. Maybe it’s because he has Gabriel’s eyes and complexion. Gino laughs, sets the car at the finish line, and claps. “Norah, watch.”

“I’m watching.” He beams when he looks over to ensure I don’t have my phone in my hand.

Twenty minutes later, he climbs onto the sofa and snuggles next to me. “I tired.” He yawns as his black lashes flutter down and frame his cheeks.

“Come here.” I pull him onto my lap and sigh as his weight sags into me. I can’t stop the desire to be a mom, to be Gino’s mom, if Gabriel will let me. I wrap my arms around him and take in his scent. It’s a mixture of baby shampoo and cucumbers. It’s perfect.

He glances up with his head on my chest. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, pumpkin.” I kiss his forehead and settle into the feeling of contentment.

Moments later, or thirty minutes later, I’m roused awake by Gabriel standing at the threshold watching us. I struggle upward and stretch as Gino mumbles in his sleep. Gabriel is wearing shorts and a T-shirt, but they’re clean. It’s not the same outfit he wore when he left. And his hair is curled and darker from his shower at the stadium. His blue eyes travel over us as he strides through the room. “You’re beautiful together.”

My body heats as his predatory gaze sends my heart thudding in my chest. “You look pretty fine yourself.”

“Thank you.” His lips rise into a grin, and he stops a few feet in front of us. “How was today?”

“Good. Havana and I got along great. Gino adores her.” I haul him closer to readjust on the sofa.

“I think he adores you.”

I glance down at him. His features are soft with sleep. “He’s just like you. Perfect.”

He groans, takes him into his arms, and holds him tightly to his chest. “How long has he been asleep?”

“About thirty minutes.”

“Good,” he growls. “That gives me thirty to forty-five minutes to thank you for being here.”

I shake my head and stand, limping slightly because my leg went to sleep. “You don’t have to thank me. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

He readjusts his son in his arms, causing Gino to wrap his arms around Gabriel’s neck. “I know, and I don’t know how I got lucky enough to get you. Especially with my amazing skills at first impressions.”

I brace my hands on my hips. “Yeah, you suck at first impressions.”

“It takes a certain skillset to pull off prick, but it takes even more talent to pull off sexy prick.” He waggles his eyebrows and holds out his hand. “Come on. I’m going to put Gino to bed, and then I’m going to worship you.” A flash of guilt flips across his face.

“What?” I eye him with trepidation. I’m not worried about anything in particular because Gabriel is loyal to a fault and won’t ask me to do anything I don’t agree with.

“The guys are coming over in a couple of hours.”

My heart pounds in my chest as my palms sweat. “I anticipated meeting some of the team this weekend, but that would be outside the dressing room as they rushed home. I’ll hide up in the master suite and let you all–”

“No.” His eyes narrow. “You will not. It’s only three of the guys and their wives, and they want to meet you and welcome you to the family.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yes.” He wraps his free arm around my shoulders and kisses the top of my head. “They want to meet the woman I can’t stop gushing about.” He winks. “So I’m going to ensure all your nervous energy is depleted and then fawn all over you in front of them.”

“Stop.” I laugh and swat his chest. But that doesn’t halt the butterflies from swarming my belly.

“Daddy?” Gino blinks and lifts his head. “Daddy!” He grins and wraps his arms and legs around his father, squeezing him with happiness.

“Hey, Buddy.” Gabriel closes his eyes and hugs him back.

“It’s okay, slugger.” I pat his back and laugh. “You can make it up to me later.”

His eyes snap open. “Oh, I definitely will.”

“I can wait.” The savage heat in his gaze elicits a shiver to rake down my spine. He bites his bottom lip and gives me a smoldering look. Damn it. “Never mind. I can’t wait. I have one of those rose things in the shower that might help me relax.” The walls on my sex clench in anticipation.

He grasps my arm. “You will–”

“Oh, there you are.” Havana breezes into the living room, collects Gino from Gabriel, and backtracks toward the kitchen. “Let’s get you cleaned up and ready for the evening. How about we play a game of Candy Land?”

“Yes!” He pumps his arm into the air.

Gabriel leans down and nips my neck. “How about we play a game of Ring Around the Rosie?”

I should laugh at his joke, but I don’t. “Parents don’t get two free passes.” I grab his hand and march up the stairs.

On the third one, I stumble as I realize what I said. Heat covers my face until Gabriel grabs my chin. “Baby, you’re a better mother to Gino than he’s ever had. He’s lucky to have you.” He lifts my hand and kisses the back of it. “I’ll make things official between us, but I can’t say how long that’s going to take until I can. But as far as I’m concerned, you’re Gino’s mother and my future wife.”

My knees buckle as I sling my arms around his neck. “No one has said anything that sweet to me before.”

He smirks. “Besides Sawyer.”

“Stop,” I growl and smash my mouth against his. I’ve never been happier in my life, and I can’t imagine how I could ever be happier.