Still Mr. And Mrs. by Patricia Olney Page B

don’t love each other.”
    Her words stung.
    “And so, I don’t want anything more from you,” she said, “except for you to fulfill your promise to help me set up my day care center. I have my license already and with Jonathan’s donation I’m sure I’ll be able to pull it off.”
    She didn’t mention the other part of their bargain, and he didn’t know what to say.
    “I’ll keep my word about the business.” He swallowed. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
    She gave him a weak smile just as Evelyn walked back into the room.
    “Good. Then, there’s nothing left to discuss,” Rebecca said. “Let’s have breakfast.”

TEN
    It had been a couple of days since he and Rebecca had their rather tense encounter in the garden room when she’d told him the biggest lie of her life.
    In his heart he knew she loved him, almost as much as he loved her. He could tell by looking into her eyes.
    And with each passing day it was getting more difficult to concentrate on the business at hand—if the mounting paperwork on his desk was any indication—and he hadn’t heard a word Jonathan had said to him all morning.
    “I think that takes care of all the details to date.” Jonathan gathered up the papers in front of him.
    “What? Oh, yes, Jonathan,” Gabe said, feelingas though he’d just had a bucket of cold water thrown in his face. “I’ll have our proposal ready by the end of the day so you can look over the final offer.”
    Jonathan chuckled as he watched him. “Do you still feel that thrill of closing a deal?”
    “Ah, what, Jonathan?”
    Jonathan leaned back into the leather chair as though measuring his words. “You know, I see you making the same mistakes I’ve made.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “When I was younger,” Jonathan said, “my mind was always on business. Nothing else. Almost ruined my marriage and my family.
    “I’d oversee this or restructure that,” Jonathan continued, his voice taking on a softer tone than Gabe had ever heard him use. “I always had my fingers in the day-to-day running of the business, whether it was going to battle over some managerial decision or the fun parts that came with owning my own company. I was always at my best during a crisis. It always gave me a real thrill, a high. Do you understand what I mean?”
    Gabe nodded. The truth was the thrill was gone. And had been long before the negotiations had started on this merger. The only difference was now he had finally admitted it to himself.
    Jonathan put his papers in his briefcase and walked to the library door. “This merger is important. I don’t want you to think otherwise. But I do hope you can recognize when the excitement isn’t there anymore and that you do something about it before it’s too late.”
    Gabe looked up at the older man at that moment, realizing the truth in his words.
    And he knew why the thrill of high stakes and balancing a multimillion-dollar corporation had died for him.
    Reb.
    Plain and simple. She’d captured his heart and soul.
    “I hope you’re right, Jonathan.” Gabe silently thanked the older man for some good fatherly advice.
    “I suppose I’ll see you later this evening for our last formal dinner together with the board members. Oliver and I will be leaving for London first thing tomorrow.”
    Gabe walked to the door and shook Jonathan’s hand. “Whatever the outcome on this merger, I want you to know, Jonathan, it’s been a pleasure.”
    “Thank you.” Jonathan gave Gabe a smile before leaving.

    Rebecca walked down the hallway from Evelyn’s bedroom suite with an armful of clothing and a notebook in her free hand. She didn’t see Gabe until she ran smack into his chest.
    “This is a pleasant surprise.”
    She felt herself blush. It was silly, of course, that he could still get to her. That just being near him made her skin tingle and her heart do flip-flops.
    She stared at him. “If you’re looking for Evelyn, she just left for her hair