Chapter 12 - SHE CAME BACK AS A GUESTNorah returned to the Rossi estate for Thanksgiving.
Not in uniform.
That mattered more than she expected.
Mrs. Gable hugged her.
Then immediately denied doing so.
Vincent handed her wine.
“Is this poisoned?”
“Not unless Mrs. Gable finally lost patience.”
Gabriel appeared at the dining-room doorway.
He wore a dark suit.
No tie.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then:
“Norah.”
“Gabriel.”
His eyes moved over her navy dress.
Then quickly returned to her face.
Progress.
Dinner felt strange.
Not because men with dangerous histories sat around the table.
Because Norah was no longer carrying their plates.
She had a chair.
A glass.
An opinion.
At one point Dominic started complaining about labor costs.
Norah said:
“Maybe pay people properly.”
Dominic stared.
Gabriel took a drink.
“She’s a guest.”
“I know.”
“That means she can insult you.”
Norah smiled.
“Excellent policy.”
Later she found Gabriel in the kitchen.
Of course.
He was eating cereal over the sink.
She laughed.
“You have a dining room built for twenty.”
“It is full of people.”
“So?”
“I dislike people.”
“You invited them.”
“Tradition.”
Norah took the second spoon from the drawer.
Gabriel looked at her.
“You remember.”
“I remember everything in this kitchen.”
The humor faded.
His eyes moved toward the repaired delivery doors.
“I’m sorry.”
“For getting shot?”
“For bringing danger close to you.”
Norah rested the spoon against the bowl.
“I made my own choices after that.”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe that now?”
Gabriel met her gaze.
“I have to.”
She stepped closer.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I want you here.”
Her heartbeat changed.
“But I won’t ask you to come back as staff.”
“Good.”
“I won’t ask you to move in.”
“Also good.”
“I won’t offer money.”
“Very good.”
Gabriel looked increasingly irritated.
Norah almost laughed.
“What will you ask?”
His voice dropped.
“Dinner.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“With me.”
“A date?”
“If that is the modern terminology.”
“You sound eighty.”
“I feel eighty.”
Norah smiled.
“One date.”
Gabriel nodded.
“No security convoy.”
“Negotiable.”
“No.”
He exhaled.
“One car.”
“No.”
“Driver?”
“Gabriel.”
“Fine.”
She smiled wider.
“Look at you learning what no sounds like.”
May you like
His eyes held hers.
“I had an excellent teacher.”
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