Once Upon A Time(82)

My tears were flowing freely now down my face as I stared at him in shock. He’d just declared his love for me. This man loved me. Could I really trust him after he crushed me so deeply?

“You hurt me,” I whimpered.

“And I’m so sorry, princess,” he said, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight. “I’m so sorry.”

I allowed myself to hold onto him, to feel the warmth which radiated from him as he held me close. Then I was hit with a familiar scent: autumn rain. I inhaled deeply as the scent invaded my senses and I realized why I was so addicted to his scent. It was the smell of Kentucky I could never put my finger on, the scent that’s evaded me since I lived in the small town. He smelt like home.

My grip tightened as he bowed his head, his lips a breath away from my ear and whispered, “Fairy tales exist, princess.”

“Fairy tales are for morons,” I whispered.

“Then I guess we’re morons.” He laughed, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

We stayed in an embrace for what felt like hours but was only minutes, just holding onto each other as both of our worst fears had come to light: him breaking my heart and me running away the moment I found out about his past.

I still couldn’t really get my head around it. Gabriel had been married; he’d been married for five years to Melissa. Then I thought about the tragedy following. He’d lost the woman he loved and was blamed by her family for it, and through it all, he still asked his sister-in-law to run the PR side of his business out of, what he thought was, obligation. He was hurting just as much as I was.

“I’m sorry about your wife,” I whispered. “I’m sorry about Melissa.”

“Thank you. I know I hurt you and I’m sorry. I was going to tell you after the opening, I swear. Kate caught me off guard with her usual confrontational guilt. You were never meant to hear that conversation.”

“I believe you.” I sighed, remembering what had happened in his office. “I can’t believe I told her to stick her job up her ass.”

“I believe it was 'stick your job up your implanted ass.'” He chuckled warmly. “I was so proud of you for that.”

I looked at him. “For becoming financially unstable? Gabriel, you know I can’t go back to New York, right?”

“What’s stopping you?”

“I have no job, so I can’t cover the rent on the apartment. I can’t go back without a place to stay or a job to cover it.” I paused, wondering what the hell I was going to do. “I think I’m going to stay here for a while. You know, help Momma and Daddy with the house. I’ll get a job at the local bar and help them out with the bills. I’m sorry, Gabriel, I’m not coming back.”

“You’re going to probably slap me for saying this, but you are fully aware of my financial situation, right?” he said, arching a brow. “Payton, I’ve already got contractors on their way over here to help your parents.”

“What?!” I shrieked, looking at him as if he’d just grown two heads and was really a woman. “Why would you do that?”

“Why do I do anything when it comes to you?” He shrugged. “Because that’s what you do when you’re so deeply in love with someone and you want to spend the rest of your life with them. You’re it for me, Payton. You’re my princess and with that comes your family, not to mention your friends.”

“Gabriel,” I whispered, “What have you done?”

“I’ve spoken to your parents. They don’t want to move out of the home they raised you in, so I suggested… expanding it. Although the house is small, they have an acre of land that they can use. The contractors should be here in a couple of hours to discuss it with your parents. They have full rein on what they want, although I know whatever they want will be with taste and modesty. They’re fully aware there is no budget.”

“Then there’s Quinn.” He laughed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “He’s your best friend, princess, and like us all, he has a dream. You know which dream I’m referring to, right?”

“Vogue.”

“Yeah, Vogue.” He chuckled. “I have a good relationship with the editor in chief of the magazine since I’d been asked to do some fashion shots with Gucci's business line a couple of times. I told her about Quinn’s skills in hair and makeup. He starts next week.”

“Gabriel, all this money...” I sighed. “I don’t know how I feel about it.”

“Money can be here one moment and gone the next, princess. I’m merely using it while I have it to support people with their dreams. Your friends and family deserve it.”