Once Upon a Proposal by Allison Leigh Page A

grimaced. “A drip with no class. Politics is probably the perfect place for him.”
    An unexpected laugh bubbled out of her lips. “Don’t make me laugh. This is serious.”
    â€œI can’t take anyone seriously who is stupid enough to hurt the person he’s supposed to love. But it’s my luck that you’re free of him now.”
    She felt unsteady all over again, and it didn’t take stepping through the hem of her dress to do it.
    All it took was Gabe.
    She sternly reminded herself that he wasn’t talking about love and forever with her .
    He was talking about a pretend engagement for the next several weeks for the express purpose of salvaging his right to his own children.
    Could she do that?
    Help him, while remembering that helping was the only thing she was supposed to be doing?
    She stared up at him, at his blue eyes, which seemed to hold nothing but sincerity.
    â€œI—”
    â€œGabriel.” The cool, feminine voice cut across Bobbie’s words, making her start. “If you’re done flirting with the help, I’d like a moment.”

Chapter Six
    G abe barely managed to hold back an oath at the sound of his ex-wife’s voice.
    Bobbie had been about to agree.
    It had been as plain as the straight, slightly short nose on her pretty face.
    And now, the gaze that had been locked on his face had turned from that soft, warm gray to a panicky silver.
    He gave her a smile that he hoped to hell was calmer than he felt, and slid his arm around her shoulder as he turned to face his ex-wife, who’d entered the living room from within the house. Calling Steph on her rudeness would have been as futile as pointing out the same failure in his sisters-in-law.
    They just didn’t get it.
    â€œWhat is it, Stephanie? I’m fresh out of flies for you to pull the wings off of.”
    Her lips thinned as she strolled into the room as if she owned it. Her figure-hugging, sparkling gown was as icy blueas the eyes studying his arm around Bobbie’s shoulders. “This is a private matter. Regarding your children.”
    He felt Bobbie starting to inch away. “I’ll leave you alone—”
    â€œNo need.” He held her close, still watching his ex-wife. “Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Bobbie.”
    Stephanie lifted an imperious eyebrow. She didn’t even spare Bobbie so much as a glance, and Gabe’s jaw tightened until his back teeth felt on edge.
    She tossed her white fur wrap carelessly over the arm of a couch. “ This is the Bobbie person that Toddy mentioned? I thought he was a friend of yours.”
    â€œAs you can see, she is. More than a friend.”
    If anything, his ex-wife’s thin lips went even thinner. She walked toward the French doors, looking out for a moment before turning on him. “In that case, I don’t appreciate you parading your girlfriends in front of my children when you are supposed to be taking care of them.”
    â€œWe had dinner with Bobbie, Steph. It’s not like we got caught romping around in your bed,” he added pointedly.
    â€œGabe,” Bobbie murmured beside him. “Really, I should go.”
    â€œYes,” Stephanie agreed immediately. “You should. Gabriel needs to be considering his children, not making a fool of himself over a child.”
    â€œYou’re sinking to depths that are low, even for you, Steph.”
    â€œExcuse me.” Bobbie moved out from beneath his arm. Her voice was determined. “I’ll leave you both alone to discuss whatever it is you need to discuss.”
    She stopped next to Stephanie, who stood at least six inches taller than her, and Gabe nearly laughed when it looked to him as if she still managed to look down her nose at his ex-wife. “It’s been…interesting to meet you, Mrs. Walker. But let me just saythat in my experience, Gabe has never done anything where he didn’t have the