Rush

putting those bids in a presentation for my meeting with Jace and
     Ash?” Gabe asked from across the room.
    Mia glanced up to see him staring at her, warmth and tenderness lighting his eyes.
     Yes, he’d definitely changed in his actions toward her. He’d become more…human. Someone
     she believed could love her in return.
    “Just finishing up,” she said. “There are spots for the other two bids. As soon as
     I receive them, I’ll input the information.”
    Gabe nodded approvingly. “We’ll make our selection this week. It’s possible that I’ll
     need to return to Paris closer to Christmas. Would you want to go?”
    That was another thing that had changed with Gabe. Before, he’d never asked her what
     she wanted to do or if she wanted to travel with him somewhere. He told her where
     he expected her to be. She hadn’t had a choice in any of it.
    Now? Now he never demanded. Though she could often discern what he wanted her decision
     to be, he never made it for her.
    “I’d love to go to Paris at Christmas,” she said, excitement squeaking in her voice.
    He smiled, relief welling in his eyes. “I’ll make our arrangements and I’ll include
     an extra day so you can see anything we missed the first time.”
    If she’d felt ridiculously spoiled before, it was to the point ofabsurdity now. He was a complete dream. So very attentive to her needs. Responsive
     to anything he perceived she wanted or needed.
    It was an experience she thoroughly enjoyed. She savored every gentle touch, every
     look of concern, every attention to exacting detail where she was concerned.
    Gabe’s phone rang, and he answered. She realized quickly it was his mother. His entire
     demeanor changed when he spoke to her.
    He’d likely be a while. He and his mother had been talking more and more lately as
     she navigated the tricky waters of her reconciliation with Gabe’s dad. She relied
     heavily on Gabe for emotional support.
    She checked her watch. It was past lunchtime and Gabe had been busy all morning. She
     doubted he planned to take a lunch break at all and work on through until his afternoon
     meeting.
    Making a decision, she rose and collected her purse. Gabe looked up, his eyebrow raising
     in question as she started toward the door.
    Lunch
, she mouthed.
I’ll bring you back something.
    He nodded and then slid the phone down his chin so his mouth was free.
    “Wear a sweater, Mia. It’s cold out. There’s a chance of snow, so be careful on the
     sidewalk.”
    She smiled, heartened by his concern. She went back to her desk, pulled on the warm
     sweater she kept there for just such occasions. Then she blew him a kiss that made
     his eyes gleam.
    When she stepped outside the building, an excited thrill raced up her spine. She could
     positively smell snow in the air. There was a brisk chill and moisture with that gray
     overcast sky. Perfect holiday weather.
    She practically danced her way down the block toward the deli where she and Gabe often
     had takeout. She loved this time ofyear. Loved the change in seasons. And she always looked forward to Christmas.
    With Thanksgiving a mere week away, many shops were already decorating their windows
     with Christmas lights and displays.
    She hugged her sweater tighter as a gust of wind blew over her. She ducked into the
     deli and placed her to-go order.
    Five minutes later, she collected the plastic bags and pushed her way through the
     crowded interior to step back onto the sidewalk. A raindrop hit her nose, and she
     picked up her pace as light drizzle began to fall. She hadn’t thought to bring an
     umbrella. She’d only planned to be a few minutes.
    Figures it would start raining now. It couldn’t have waited the five minutes it would
     take her to get back to her building?
    She had her head down as she rounded the corner to the front entrance of Gabe’s office
     building when she ran smack into another person. She dropped one of the bags and she
     bent, apologizing as she picked the food back up. Hopefully it would all still be
     intact. As she rose, the person she’d run into was still standing there.
    Nausea curled in her stomach when she got a good look at the man’s face. Charles.
     The man who’d assaulted her in Gabe’s Paris hotel suite. There was no way it could
     be a coincidence that she’d run into him outside the office building.
    She took a wary step back and he grasped her arm, pushing her out of the way of pedestrians
     and against the