Gwen laughed. “Well I’m English, and I’m calling you on it. Hunter asked me to pry you from the kitchen.”
Gabi couldn’t help the smile on her face. Hunter continued to surprise her. Not only had he put most of his life on hold in the past week, but he selflessly offered more of his time and attention to her network of friends and family.
“I like to keep busy; he should know that about me by now.”
The staff buzzed around the room like a well-oiled machine.
“He does know you by now. And how is that?” Gabi grabbed a toothpick full of Gouda as the server passed and tossed it in her mouth. “I thought you two were an Alliance union .”
“We are.” There wasn’t any heat in her words. “Most of the time.”
Gwen lifted a very English brow. “Most of the time?”
Just then, Meg and Judy walked into the kitchen . . . the staff continued to work around them. “There you are . . . Hunter’s looking for you,” Meg said.
Gabi rolled her eyes.
“She’s in here,” Gwen said. “Telling me how she and Hunter are an Alliance union most of the time.”
Meg nudged Judy with a knowing smile. “Told you.”
“Most of the time? What exactly does that mean?” Meg asked . . . as if she didn’t know.
With a kitchen full of hired staff, Gabi turned toward them and placed her hands on her hips. “It means I’m not a saint,” she confessed with heat in her face.
Judy and Meg started to laugh and Gwen caught on.
“So what does this mean?” Judy asked.
Meg shoved her friend again. “It means they’re having sex.”
Gabi shushed her and Gwen laughed.
Thankfully, the staff dipped their heads and pretended they weren’t listening.
“Oh, for crying out loud . . . I’m intimate with my husband. What a crime.”
All three women simply stared.
Gabi shook her head, left the kitchen, and found herself straight into the chest of the man in question. “Oh, thank God.” She looked up into his face and sprang back. “Noah.” Her skin crawled.
“Mrs. Blackwell.”
“What are you doing here?”
Cooper exited the kitchen, on his heels the three teasing women. Gabi took a massive step back.
Noah wore a suit, one similar to that of her husband. But the way he held his shoulders . . . the cut of his hair, and more to the point, the way her looked at her, was completely off.
She shuddered.
“We found her,” Judy said in Noah’s direction.
Gwen stopped laughing first.
Gabi didn’t offer an explanation. “What are you doing here?”
Noah looked beyond her. “Gwen, it’s been a long time.”
“Noah?”
Judy and Meg grew silent.
Gabi stood back as Noah greeted Gwen as if she were a long-lost friend. It stood to reason that if Hunter knew Blake, perhaps his brother knew him and his sister as well.
When Gwen hugged Noah, something in Gabi’s stomach turned sour. Hunter’s words rang in her head, This is what he does. He shows up in the places I’m going to be . . . makes nice with those around me, and sprinkles doubt about my resolve on keep my distance from him.
Gabi waved Cooper to her side. “Find Hunter.”
Cooper frowned but moved to fill her request.
She said nothing as Gwen introduced Meg and Judy to Noah. Once she uttered the word twin, understanding filled the eyes of her friends.
Gabi wanted to quiz the man further on his presence, but Gwen seemed to think his attendance was acceptable, so she let it go.
Hunter pushed through the crowd and eased his pace only when he saw the people around her. His eyes shot to his brother and all conversation around them dried up like water in the desert.
“Oh, my.” Gabi couldn’t tell who blew out a breath, but she understood the desire. Seeing them close together was a shock to the system.
Neither man placed his hand out for the other.
Noah stood smiling . . . like a cat with a secret, and Hunter held tight control of his emotions.
“What are you doing here?”
“Paying my respects, brother.”
“Pay them . . . then leave.” Hunter’s deadly tone drew prickles all over Gabi’s skin.
Noah continued to smile as he broke eye contact with his brother and offered a nod to those who could hear him. Then he stared directly at Gabi. “A pleasure to see you again.”
Gabi grabbed Hunter’s arm to keep him in place as Noah turned and walked away.
“What the hell was that about?” Meg asked.
Gabi didn’t answer as she moved in front of Hunter’s gaze. “Hey.”
He finally looked at her.
He didn’t smile.
“He’s trying to get under your skin. Don’t let him win.” Gabi set her hand on his chest and felt his tight breath finally release.