Lucky Charm (27 page)

Gabrielle shook her head. “I wouldn't do that to her.”

“I know you wouldn't,” he said, his voice deep and husky. Warm and inviting. Understanding.

She shivered beneath the sun.

“Derek, the barbecue won't light!” Hank called out to him.

“I have to help him if we're going to eat. Make yourself at home.”

Make yourself at home.

She wondered if he knew how deep his words sliced. She'd done that once. And though he hadn't promised her anything, she hadn't realized until she'd had to pack up and leave immediately after the fire, how much she'd counted on changing his mind about them.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and headed to a cooler that held cans of soda. She filled a cup with ice, then poured herself a cold drink before settling into a chair overlooking the back of the old barn.

“Mind if I join you?”

Gabrielle glanced up at Marlene, who'd walked up to her. “Of course not,” she said warily.

Their last meeting hadn't exactly been warm and friendly. And considering the other woman had threatened to use Gabrielle as a means to pry Holly away from her father, Gabrielle worried about what the other woman wanted now. But it couldn't hurt to find out.

“I owe you an apology,” Marlene said, taking Gabrielle off guard. “I wasn't all that pleasant the first time we met.”

“It's okay.” Gabrielle shrugged casually. “I'm really not one to hold a grudge.”

Marlene smiled. “I'm glad. Because my daughter adores you and I'd like it if you'd give me another chance.”

Gabrielle wasn't sure where this sudden peace offering was coming from, but she owed it to Holly to be civil with her mother. Besides, after today they wouldn't be seeing each other all that often.

Gabrielle swerved in her seat so she could face Marlene. “You have a wonderful child, so I have to assume you're a good person, too.”

“Thank you. I think she's special.”

Their gazes drifted to Holly, holding court among a circle of her friends.

“I didn't think she knew that many people in town,” Gabrielle said.

“She doesn't. John and I brought her closest friends with us for the weekend to celebrate Holly's birthday.”

Gabrielle nodded. “Aah, that explains the big group.”

An awkward silence followed, punctuated by occasional giggles and girlish screams across the way.

“I wanted to hate you,” Marlene said at last.

Gabrielle raised an eyebrow, startled by the other woman's blunt words. “Excuse me?”

Marlene tucked her short hair behind one ear. “I wanted to hate you. Maybe I needed to, because for all the years I was married, you still had the one thing I wanted.”

Gabrielle shook her head, confused. “I really don't understand.”

“You had his heart. His love. The one thing I desperately wanted, belonged to you.”

Gabrielle opened her mouth, then closed it again, struggling to find the right words. “I was alone, trying to find a life and a world that could make me happy. But…you had
him.
And you had his child. All the things I wanted but could never have,” Gabrielle said, admitting the painful truth out loud.

“I guess neither one of us had the whole package,” Marlene murmured.

Gabrielle nodded in agreement. Her throat grew thick and her eyes damp. She turned away to compose herself before glancing back at Marlene. “But you have that now?” she asked.

The other woman nodded. Her fingers went to the diamond ring and matching wedding band. “I'm very lucky. I think I forgot that for a minute. The night you walked into the house beside Derek, all the wonderful things in my life flew out the window and I went back in time.” She shook her head, her cheeks pink. “Anyway, I just wanted to apologize. I appreciate you letting me explain.”

“Thanks. I wish you all the best.” Gabrielle rose from her seat. She suddenly needed to be alone for a few minutes to pull herself together.

Marlene's words had brought up emotions Gabrielle wasn't ready to handle. She might have had Derek's love, but it didn't mean anything. It never had. He wasn't hers. He never would be.

She headed for the street, hoping Holly wouldn't notice. She'd just take a short ride, blast some music, open the top of the convertible and clear her mind. Once she could breathe without wanting to cry, she'd come back and celebrate.

She reached the car when she heard Derek calling her name. God, not now, she thought, yanking open the door.

“Gabrielle, wait.”

He caught up to her before she could shut herself inside. “Where are you going? You just got here and we haven't even had a chance to light the candles yet.”

She leaned against the open door for support. “I'll be back. I just need a few minutes alone.”

“Why? What did Marlene say to upset you?” he asked, his voice dark. “I saw you two talking. If she said anything—”

“She didn't upset me. She apologized for how she acted the first time we met. She's lovely. Now, can I just go get some fresh air? I'll come back for Holly's cake, I promise.”

He put his hand on the top of the window. “Not until you tell me what's wrong.”

Gabrielle exploded. “You're wrong. Inviting me here was wrong. Hearing Marlene tell me how much she resented me because I had your heart—that's wrong.” All the frustration she'd never vented at him came pouring out now. Frustration that he'd made her leave him again when they had so much to fight for. “Because really, Derek, what good has me having your heart ever done?” she asked, half yelling at him, half crying.

She turned to duck inside her car, but he pulled her back, turning her around and sealing her lips with his.

She fought him at first, not wanting to succumb, not wanting to feel the love he aroused so easily, only to have him take it away from her again. But he was relentless, kissing her until her lips softened, until she melted against him and kissed him back.

Only once she'd completely relaxed, did he step back. “Better?” he asked.

She drew a deep breath. “That's playing dirty,” she said, her lips stinging wonderfully from the assault.

“Its only playing dirty if I'm not playing for keeps.” His gaze never left hers.

Her heart skipped a beat. She was sure she'd heard him wrong or she was misunderstanding him somehow. “Derek?”

He grasped both her hands in his. “I'm not telling you I don't believe in curses. I'm not saying my family hasn't been proof of the Corwin Curse for the past who knows how many generations.”

Her heart beat fast in her chest. “Then what
are
you telling me?”

“That I can't go on living without you anymore. Not one more day. Not even another minute.” His eyes were as dark and as serious as she'd ever seen them. “Whether it's a curse or Fate, we'll just have to fight it together, because without you, I'm lost.”

Her head spun with the impact of his words. It was everything she'd ever wanted, everything she'd ever dreamed of. Everything he'd sworn he couldn't give her.

“How? Why?”

She needed to hear what had finally changed his mind before she could let herself believe.

“Would you believe it was my ex-wife who convinced me?”

“At this point, I'd believe anything.” She covered her eyes from the glare of the sun as she glanced up at him. “What did she say?”

“Nothing that you hadn't already told me, except for one thing. The same thing she apparently told you. That you've always been a part of me and you always will be. Then she asked me what I was willing to do about it.” He shrugged, but Gabrielle knew nothing about this was easy for him.

He'd been fighting the curse for a lifetime. His family had been fighting it even longer.

“What are you willing to do about it?” she asked softly.

He cupped her face in his hands and her heart felt like bursting. “I love you, Gabrielle Donovan. I loved you when I was eighteen, I loved you in between and I love you now.”

Tears flowed unchecked from her eyes at the words she'd longed to hear for so long. “Aren't you afraid of what will happen now?”

They both knew she meant the curse.

He shook his head. “No. Well, maybe a little,” he said, laughing. “Old habits die hard. But I feel pretty sure we can overcome anything life throws at us together.”

She grinned and Derek swore to himself he'd make it his mission to keep her smiling for the rest of their lives, the curse be damned.

He loved her. He'd told her. And the earth hadn't opened up and swallowed him whole.

“You really believe our love can overcome anything?” she asked.

He nodded. “I do. Want to know why? Because I have you by my side.”

The look on her face filled him with everything he needed.

“I love you, too,” she said, her gaze never leaving his.

“So what do you say we go give Holly her birthday present?” Derek suggested, taking Gabrielle's hand.

She tipped her head to one side. “Which present is that?”

“News of our engagement…if you'll marry me,” he said, pulling a ring from his front pocket.

He'd purchased it the day Holly had asked him to invite Gabrielle for her birthday. Derek had asked his daughter how she'd feel to have Gabrielle as her stepmother. Lucky for him, Holly had loved Gabrielle as much as he did.

“I'm stunned.”

He grinned. “I do think we've waited long enough, don't you? Gabrielle, will you marry me?” he asked.

“Yes!” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

He knew, together, they'd make it. After all, he had his very own lucky charm.