Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“I told you,” Henry said. “He’s the head architect on the build.”
My jaw slackened. “You mean he’s the Gabriel?” I asked, stunned. I turned back to Gabriel. “Henry says you’re one of the top three greatest architects in the whole world.”
Gabriel laughed the kind of laugh that made his left dimple deepen as if it had been carved out by Michelangelo himself. “I’d hate to know who the other two are. I’m a jealous man and would turn it into a competition to be first.”
“My wife didn’t mean any harm by the comment,” Henry urged. “Sometimes she speaks without thinking.”
Oh, screw you, Henry.
I smiled. “Yes. I didn’t mean anything bad by it. It’s very impressive.”
Gabriel’s hand brushed against his slight beard. “I took no offense. I’m not that sensitive. And thank you. That means a lot to me. I’m surprised we haven’t met yet. Henry has spoken so highly of you.”
I wasn’t surprised that we hadn’t met. Henry left me out of many things. I didn’t even know the building plan for the new property was ready to go until a week ago. A construction team showed up to clear the land of trees, rocks, and debris. I had to force Ava to stay out of the way because she was so intrigued by construction and architecture. Buildings fascinated her even more than novels—which was saying a lot.
Gosh, Gabriel looked remarkable. So grown up. I’d never envisioned him with facial hair when I was younger, but it worked well for him. He looked so…adult. A handsome adult with a full beard. I bet someone was in love with him. How could they not fall in love with a face and stature like that? He was tall, dark, and handsome. And he definitely no longer dressed like a toad.
Armani now, it appeared.
“An architect,” I muttered, amazed. “You always wanted to be an architect.” The three looked at me confused. I shook my head. “Sorry. I meant that as a question. Did you always want to be an architect?”
I knew the answer because I knew him.
The answer was yes.
Just like his father.
“Yeah, for a long time. My father was an architect. He passed when I was young, and unfortunately I don’t remember much of him. I was in an accident as a teen and suffered from memory loss.”
“Oh?” I breathed out, pretending I didn’t know every freaking detail, which I did because I was there the night it happened.
“Yeah.” He smiled, but it felt a bit sadder. “But from the stories my mother told me, I looked up to my father quite a bit. It only seemed right to take after him. I studied his blueprints for a long time. They’re framed in my office. He was a genius. I just hope I’m making him proud. Even though I don’t remember much about him, there’s still something in me that wants to make him damn proud.”
“He loved you so much,” I blurted out.
Again, strange looks from the three.
Luckily for me, Lena appeared from the kitchen and said, “Sorry to interrupt, but dinner is ready if you’d all like to take your seats in the dining hall.”
Saved by the roasted chicken, creamy pasta, and mashed potatoes.
Henry gestured for Gabriel and Ramona to head in the direction of the dining room, guiding me behind them. He leaned in and whispered, “What the hell is wrong with you?”
I managed a tiny smile and shook my head. “Sorry. Tired.”
“Well, wake up. You’re embarrassing me.”
***
Henry, Ava, and I lived on more than fifty acres of land. When we bought the property, there was only the smaller house on it. Living in that house had been fine, especially after all the issues we’d had with people stalking my husband. After those scary moments, I’d rather only a few people knew where we lived. I’d never forget the night I went outside and found a hooded woman dumpster-diving in my trash bins. She ran before I could see her, and our cameras didn’t have a good angle on her face, but it wasn’t the first time we’d found people lurking. The downside of being married to a visionary like Henry was that he came with both enemies and fanatic fans.
I felt comfortable knowing our safety was intact. Sometimes, I argued with Henry about how hosting such extraordinary dinner parties put our solitude in jeopardy. With how his parties went, I was certain it wouldn’t take long for people to find our new location.
He told me I was being too dramatic and that the security cameras on the property were the best of the best, since he’d created them. He believed we just needed more space to improve our safety, not fewer drunken parties.
Even in our current house, we had been able to host gatherings with twenty individuals for dinner, so I supposed “smaller house” was in the eye of the beholder.