Page 94 of Eleven of a Kind

“I love your family so much,” Piper said.

“They are the best people in the world, and they love you too.” I ran my hand down her cheek. “Just like I do. I’m going to make you happy, Piper. I promise you that.”

“You already have, Gabriel.” She smiled. “I love you too.” Her lips met mine.

CHAPTER33

Piper

For the next three mornings, roses were delivered to the suite about fifteen minutes after Gabriel left for the conference. He was an amazing man, and I still couldn’t wrap my head around how I got so lucky to have him in my life. When I rebooked my flight home, only one first-class seat was available on the same flight as Gabriel’s. It was in row four, two rows behind his. I wasn’t worried, though, for I knew someone would be kind enough to switch seats with me.

I headed to the mall while Gabriel was attending his conference. A new boutique had just opened up, and I wanted to see what it was all about. After walking through the mall and finding its location, I stepped inside and looked around.

“What are you doing here? I thought you left.” I heard a voice from behind.

“Victoria.” I smiled. “I would say it’s nice to see you again, but I’d just be lying. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m leaving Seattle in the morning.”

“Good,” she scowled. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? My children are so angry with their father. They haven’t spoken to him since the day you were at my house.”

“And I haven’t spoken to him in nineteen years, but you don’t seem to care about that. You’re just as much to blame as he is. Now, get out of my way.”

“I better never see you again,” she said.

“You don’t have to worry about that because you never will. But make no mistake. I will be keeping tabs on my sisters, and when they turn eighteen, I will be in contact with them, if not sooner, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.” I walked out of the store and went back to the hotel.

As soon as the door opened and Gabriel stepped inside the suite, I ran and jumped on him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs tightly around his waist.

“Now that’s the kind of greeting I like.” He smiled as he kissed me.

“I’m so happy to be leaving this godforsaken city in the morning,” I said.

“What happened?” He chuckled as he carried me over to the couch and sat down with me still wrapped around him.

“I was at the mall and ran into Victoria.”

“Uh, oh. You didn’t hurt her, did you?” He smirked.

“As badly as I wanted to, no. We exchanged some heated words, and then I left.”

“I’m proud of you. Seeing that it’s our last night here, I thought we could order room service and spend it in bed.”

“I like the way you think, Dr. Kind.” I grinned. “I’d be happy to stay locked in this hotel room all night with you and only you as long as you play the guitar and sing to me naked.

“If it’ll make you happy.” He chuckled.

“Oh, it will definitely make me happy.”

The following morning, after we showered together and got dressed, we headed to the airport.

“I can’t stand the thought of possibly not sitting next to you.” I reached over and stroked the back of his neck.

“I have no doubt in my mind that you will get whoever is in the seat next to me to switch with you.” A smirk crossed his lips.

“I love how much confidence you have in me.” I smiled.

We were two hours early to the airport, so we decided to sit in a restaurant and grab something to eat before heading to our gate. The service was awful and took longer than it should have. By the time Gabriel paid the bill, our plane was already boarding. When we stepped onto the plane, I took note of the little girl, who looked to be about eight years old, sitting in the seat next to Gabriel. The woman across the aisle must have been her mother, and there was no way I could ask her to switch seats with me.

“Shit.” I looked at Gabriel.

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