Page 32 of Claimed By the Boss

She frowned. “Gabrielhasn’t said anything about an inheritance, and I don’t think he needs it.”

Lawson leaned forward. “Ifhe demands a prenuptial agreement?”

Nora’s eyes went wide.“You mean, if we decided to get married?” she asked.

“You cannot tell me youhave not thought about that?” he asked.

Her heart raced. “Uh, Ican, actually. I’ve not thought about marriage or any of that.”

He frowned. “You expect meto believe that?”

“I don’t expect you tobelieve anything. I work hard for Gabriel. I’m not after his money and I knowthat is hard to believe, and if he needs me to sign anything, then of course Iwill. I want to protect him.”

“You do?” Lawson asked.

“Yes, I mean, he alreadyhas a lot going on with the way his parents treat him.”

“You know about that?”

“Gabriel told me. Did hetell you about the visit he got from one of his exes, claiming to be pregnantwith his child?”

She saw her words hadsurprised him, so she explained what happened.

“Fucking hell,” Lawsonsaid. “Pardon my language.”

“It’s okay.”

He sighed. “Just when Ithink his parents wouldn’t sink to a new low, they never fail to surprise me.”

“I’ve not met his parents.Are they really that bad?”

Lawson sighed. “I don’tlike to speak ill of family, and his dad likes to remind me that I am not aWillams, and I have no right to be here.”

“He tells you that?” Noraasked.

“Every time we see eachother, which is not often, trust me.” Lawson shook his head. “You’re reallyhere for Gabriel, aren’t you?”

“I know you don’t believeme, but I think he is quite something.”

Lawson stared at her forseveral seconds, and then he smiled. “I have a feeling you and Gabriel aregoing to do okay.”

****

“I don’t appreciate youdoing this,” Gabriel said.

“I know you don’tappreciate it, but I’ve got to make sure you’re not making any kind of rashdecisions, Gabriel,” Esther said. “We’ve not seen you in close to six months.You barely speak to us on the phone, and now out of the blue, you bring a womanhere.”

“Am I not allowed to bringa woman home?”

Esther sighed. “Do notattempt to guilt me, Gabriel. I am taking care of you, and if you were not sodamn stubborn, you would see that.” She glared at him, and he laughed.

“I know you are, and trustme, I love you for it. You don’t need to worry about Nora.”

“I don’t? There are a lotof women out there who would gladly manipulate you, to gain something!”

“And I know you’re rightabout that. Trust me, I’ve met a great many of them, and Nora is not like that.She is different, and if you stopped judging her, you’d be able to see, she isnothing like the other women I’ve dated.”

Esther snorted.

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