She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m done.”
Chapter 32
Gabe stood at the windows in Ella’s penthouse, staring out at the park. He stuffed his cell phone back in his pocket, his mind on the call with Dane. After a week, things at the ranch were settling into a routine. The men Ella hired with Dr. Potts’s help were doing a good job. Several of them had moved into the bunkhouse on the property.
Ella’s hands ran up his back to his shoulders. She squeezed and kneaded, massaging his muscles. “Longing for the great outdoors?”
She read him so well. The city and massive amounts of people were closing in on him. Claustrophobic, he longed to be out in the wide open spaces of Montana again, atop his horse, breathing the fresh air.
He pulled her around him to lean against his side. “I just got off the phone with Dane.”
“How’s the ranch?”
“Well, Miss Wolf, your cattle are getting fat and happy. The friend you sent to move me and unpack the contents of the storage lockers back into the house is all finished. Blake delivered Angel and Belle two days ago. They are settled in their stalls and under his spell. I think he means to horse-nap them.”
“You’ll break his nose if he tries, right?”
“Anything for you, darlin’.” They’d come to a silent understanding these last days, keeping things light, neither of them discussing or even hinting that their time together was drawing to an end neither of them really wanted, but was inevitable all the same.
“How about something you want?”
Interested, he leaned down, nuzzled her neck, and whispered in her ear, “I always want you, honey.”
She giggled, a genuine show of happiness. Closure with her uncle allowed her to find her comfort zone, running the company her way. She smiled more often, and it did his heart good to see the joy come back into her eyes.
“I’m taking you out tonight.”
“You are?” he asked, surprised.
“To meet my friends.”
“I heard there’s something going on today.” He dipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out the charm bracelet he bought her yesterday. He held it up and let the ruby heart charm catch the light. On either side of it hung a gold E and an L.
Ella gasped and covered her open mouth with her hand. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart.” He held the bracelet up and tapped the red heart. He’d already given her his, but this one she’d wear, a reminder of him and their time together, because soon all they’d have were their memories.
“Gabe, it’s beautiful. It’s perfect.”
Ella held out her hand. He secured the bracelet around her wrist and kissed the back of her hand.
“Thank you.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I have something a little different for you.”
“What? No jewelry?” he teased.
“Come upstairs. We need to get ready to go.”
“Honey, if I take you upstairs, there’s no way we’re going anywhere.”
She pulled his hand and he followed her to the stairs. Smiling over her shoulder, she said, “We’ll leave after we do that.”
“What?” he asked, still teasing her.
She turned back to him before taking the stairs up and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. “We don’t have much time, but take me to bed, cowboy.”
“You city girls sure are bossy.” But it was his pleasure to do her bidding, keep her in his arms as long as possible, because soon his arms would be as empty as the days stretching out in front of him.
She opened her mouth to protest his jibe, but he shut her up with a deep kiss and walked right up the stairs and into her bedroom. They landed on the bed in a tangle of arms and legs.
Gabe kissed his way up Ella’s back. She lay on her stomach, her pretty face buried in the pillow. She didn’t open her eyes, but rolled over, grabbed him by the back of his head, and kissed him long and deep, reminding him of last night and all the fun they had both in bed and out.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
Ella stared up at him, a soft smile on her face. “Hi. Did you sleep well?”
“I guess.” After making love to her again, he spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, holding her close, and dreading what he had to do this morning.
“We had a late night, huh?”
“Well, that’s what happens when you go out with a wild party girl.”
After he made love to her yesterday evening, she’d rushed him through a shower, ordered him to put on dressier Western wear, and dragged him into a limousine that took them to a country bar she’d rented out for all her and Lela’s friends. She stood onstage and gave a lovely tribute to Lela, telling stories about them together growing up as kids. Friends stood up with her and each one started with “Remember the time . . .” and told one story after another. Most of them were filled with fun and happiness, a few more poignant, but the thread throughout remained the kind and loving woman had left her mark on each of their lives and would be remembered as a true friend.