LITMIR.BIZ

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you. You’re my right-hand woman. Hope this makes up for all the other birthdays I’ve forgotten,” Tyler said.

      Out of the corner of her eye, Gabby saw Jon tense as he registered the occasion. As she’d suspected, Ally hadn’t told him tonight was her birthday dinner. In fact, given that small giveaway hesitation when he’d first entered, Gabby was pretty damn sure he hadn’t known she was going to be here. No doubt he would have come up with an ironclad excuse otherwise. Lord knew, she would have if she’d known.

      “Happy birthday, Gabby,” Ally echoed.

      Some instinct made Gabby glance at Jon as she took a drink. She saw him lift his glass to his mouth, tilt it and wet his lips. But he didn’t open his mouth. It was over in a split second, so fast she almost thought she’d imagined it, but she hadn’t.

      Jon had faked drinking a toast in her honor.

      Wow. He must really dislike her.

      She was surprised how much the realization stung. Then she gave herself a mental shake. She didn’t care what he thought of her. The idea was laughable. Ludicrous. She’d met him only two days ago, and what she knew of him proclaimed him to be a screwup of the highest order—she should consider it a badge of honor that he didn’t like her, not a slap in the face.

      Tyler crossed to the sideboard to collect a small, neatly wrapped box. “From us.”

      Gabby took the box, very aware of the tall figure standing at the edge of her peripheral vision.

      “This is awfully small for the company car I’ve been campaigning for.”

      “Next year,” Tyler said.

      Gabby tugged the pretty silver ribbon free and lifted the lid. Inside, a pair of stud earrings rested on a velvet cushion. Set with golden-brown gems, they sparkled in the overhead light.

      “They’re beautiful,” Gabby breathed.

      “They’re golden beryls. I saw them and thought they were a match for your eyes,” Ally said. “Tyler couldn’t remember if your ears are pierced, but I was pretty sure you wore earrings to his birthday in August.”

      “My ears are pierced.” Gabby touched one of the glittering stones, trying not to be hurt that Tyler couldn’t remember. He’d been in her apartment, in her bedroom, hundreds of times. Had he really forgotten her messy jewelry box? And what about the time she’d freaked out over sucking up one of her favorite earrings in the vacuum cleaner? Had everything pre-Ally been consigned to the archives of his mind?

      “If you don’t like them, we won’t be offended if you want to swap them for something else,” Ally said.

      Gabby realized she’d been silent for too long and she offered her hosts—her friends—a big smile.

      “They’re absolutely perfect. Gorgeous. In fact …”

      She eased the earrings from the box. A few seconds later she let her hands fall to her sides and offered herself up to Ally and Tyler’s scrutiny. “How do they look?”

      “Just as I imagined,” Ally said.

      Gabby stepped forward to kiss her cheek in thanks. “Thanks for thinking of me.”

      Ally drew her into a hug, squeezing her tight. “It was my pleasure.”

      Gabby squeezed her back.

      When Tyler had first introduced her to Ally, Gabby had been determined to like the woman who had made him so happy, even if it killed her. She’d been prepared to overlook anything, to be generous and accepting of any and all faults or shortcomings because Ally was Tyler’s choice, the woman he loved.

      The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

      Then she’d met Ally and realized that it would be no hardship to like her. She was warm and generous, smart and funny. Easily one of the most thoughtful people Gabby knew—witness the beautiful earrings, chosen with care and consideration. Not too dangly or elaborate—because Gabby was not a fussy woman—and, apparently, a match for her eyes. Although Gabby was pretty sure it was a stretch to compare her ordinary brown eyes to the warm golden gems. It hadn’t taken her long to understand why Tyler had fallen in love with Ally. She was very easy to love.

      Tyler patted her on the shoulder fondly as she and Ally broke their embrace. Gabby gave him a wry look, then her gaze slid to where Jon was standing at a distance, watching them. Their eyes met for a moment before he glanced down at his still full wineglass.

      “Okay, people. Make a beeline for the table, it’s time for the feasting to begin,” Ally said, waving them toward the dining table that occupied one corner of the room.

      Gabby dutifully followed orders, but Jon lingered at the counter, arms crossed over his chest.

      “That means you as well, my friend. The last thing I need is you hovering while I serve our meal,” Ally said.

      “Funny. I thought only men suffered from short person syndrome,” Jon said.

      “What’s that supposed to mean?” Ally asked.

      Jon looked at her, a smile quirking his mouth. “What do you think it means?”

      “I think you’re saying I’m bossy.”

      “Hey. If the shoe fits …” Jon said with a don’t-blame-me shrug.

      Ally laughed and gave him a shove. “Move, you big lug.”

      Gabby watched, fascinated, as Jon resisted Ally long enough to make her really work before finally deigning to shift from his position. There was a lazy, amused light in his eyes, not quite the same as the expression he’d had when he was chatting up the blonde in their showroom this afternoon, but certainly just as playful.

      “Next to Gabby, please. Since I’ve already been labelled a dictator, I might as well have it the way I want it,” Ally instructed.

      Gabby gave a silent sigh. Great. Now she was going to have to rub shoulders with Captain Studly through three courses and coffee. Not exactly the birthday celebration she’d been hoping for. But there was precious little she could do about it.

      Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy night.

       CHAPTER THREE

      GABBY FIDDLED WITH THE STEM OF her wineglass as Jon hesitated for a telling second before pulling out the chair next to her.

      Nice.

      “Don’t worry, I don’t have cooties,” she said as he sat.

      “Good to know. Although I’ve never really been sure what they are.”

      “I think they’re the equivalent of girl germs.”

      “Yeah? I’ve always been kind of partial to those.”

      Gabby flashed to the scene she’d witnessed this afternoon. “No kidding.”

      She realized immediately that he might take the comment the wrong way, but when she glanced at him askance he was smiling slightly.

      Don’t get too excited, but you may have had your first civil exchange with Jon Adamson.

      Not quite a miracle, but close to it given their record. Which probably meant she should make an effort to extend the cease fire.

      “So, um, how are you finding Melbourne after so long away?”

      “Busy. The traffic is nuts. I don’t remember it being this bad.”

      “You’ve been away ten years, haven’t you? Melbourne’s grown by about a million people in that time.”

      “That would explain it.”

      A small silence fell and they both glanced to where Ally and Tyler were serving the meal. To Gabby’s admittedly inexpert eye, it looked as though they were still several

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