The Organized Bride (Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book 2) by Lucy McConnell Page B

forward to not paying rent, not fighting with the landlord about the dripping faucet, and not hearing the neighbors yelling at odd hours of the night.
    But moving in with Gabe did have one big drawback, and that drawback was Gabe. When they started teasing, she kept finding her hands on his arm or his shoulder.
    It wasn’t like he was discouraging her. Kissing her hand yesterday had nearly sent her to the cardiac center. Thankfully, the heart center was on Gabe’s list of regular charities, and they probably would have taken good care of her.
    Then, last night in the car, when he’d brushed her cheek with his thumb, she thought someone had sucked the air out of the vehicle. If the valet hadn’t opened the door, she would have passed out from lack of oxygen.
    If she wanted those moments to stop happening, then she needed to set the example. The trouble was that she wasn’t sure she wanted them to stop. Gabe brought a sense of excitement to her days that she hadn’t had before—ever. When she’d woken up, this morning had been a thrill, because she knew she’d see him. Her reaction to his touch was probably a consequence of the daydreaming she’d done before the wedding. Picturing him as this rogue business-type who rode in on a Harley had been a lot of fun. MaKayla enjoyed looking at the bad boys, but she was totally thrown off by Gabe’s tenderness. It was unexpected, and judging by the way she soaked up the attention, totally charming.
    The last two days of flirting, if she could call it that, was an indulgence she’d have to forgo now that they’d be living together.
    She nodded once to herself, as if agreeing that it was the best solution, while a rebellious part of her snickered in the background, eagerly anticipating her next opportunity to be close to Gabe.

 
 
    Chapter 13
     
     
     
    MaKayla stuffed her dirty clothes into a pillowcase and threw it to Brooke, who walked it out to her car. Trish’s voice echoed down the tiled hallway. “Those two boxes are fragile, so please make sure they’re labeled correctly.”
    Grabbing a flat box from the entryway, MaKayla folded it on her way back to the bedroom. This box was for her stuffed bear and the other items from her childhood that she’d rescued before her parents sold their house. In her closet was a shelf full of finger paintings, English papers, and report cards that spanned across kindergarten through twelfth grade. That could go to storage, but Stuffy Bear, defender against all things nightmare, was going with her to Gabe’s house.
    Brooke passed through and set to work emptying the medicine cabinet. Within a few minutes Trish called, “Kitchen’s done.”
    “So is the bathroom,” said Brooke.
    Trish poked her head in the bedroom, “What’s left in here?”
    MaKayla used the huge tape dispenser to close Stuffy’s box. “This is the last box for Gabe’s, and I think we’re ready to go.”
    Trish reached out to take the box from MaKayla. “I’ll take that and send the truck off.”
    “Thanks.”
    Brooke stood by the door with an armful of dirty sheets as MaKayla sat on the bare mattress that stayed with the apartment. “Are you going to miss this place?” Brooke asked. She had a strange look on her face, like she was the one moving and her life was flipped. This was a change for both of them. No more morning runs. No more late-night ice cream binges.
    MaKayla looked around at the empty walls, shelves, and open closet. She’d been so proud to move in, to be able to afford rent without a roommate. Quite grown-up. But she soon found out that working long hours meant that all she needed was a place to lay her head and she missed having built-in friends around.
    Well, that was about to change. Good things were on the horizon. She had a new job full of perks. The work was stimulating and the office environment was positive. Plus, she didn’t have to stare at that ugly Berber carpet every day. She was moving out of her condo and into an