Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
He wanted her to move in with him. They had already talked about it, and she did want to move in with him, but she was also a little nervous. Moving in was a big step, a giant one, and she didn’t want to run the risk of losing herself. Although, losing herself seemed like the right thing to do right now.
Her and Gabriel living together. She couldn’t think of a single reason not to.
“I’ll be there. Love you,” he said.
Nora glanced over to Trudy. This was the first time he had ever said he loved her. She didn’t know if it was a slip of the tongue, or if he meant it, or … there were so many possibilities.
“Love you too,” Nora said.
There was a brief pause, and then he hung up the phone. Nora handed it back to Trudy. The other woman looked excited.
She smiled at her and her heart raced. With her sandwich finished, she needed to get back down to work, and to think about what she had just said.
“I better head back,” she said.
“You can stay. We could have coffee?”
“Another time. I don’t want anyone to think I’m getting special privileges.” She offered Trudy a smile, got to her feet, and made her way toward the elevator.
She just told Gabriel she loved him. That was insane, but it was exactly how she felt. She did love him. She had fallen hard and fast for him, and now she didn’t have a clue what to do. This felt like such a revelation.
The elevator stopped at her floor, and she stepped out of it and got straight to work. It was easier to deal with her feelings when she was working, because she didn’t have to think about them.
Did Gabriel love her, or was it just an expression? Rather than saying “see you later,” he just said “love you,” to bring the call to an end? “Nora.”
She jumped as she turned to Felicity who had interrupted her internal panic.
“Felicity,” she said, hoping she didn’t look as crazy or panicked as she felt. “What’s the matter?”
“You got a call from Reception. Some guy is asking after you, and he wants to see you upstairs.” Felicity shrugged. “They were vague.”
“I’ll go,” Nora said.
She had no idea who could be wanting to speak to her. The only man she could think of was Lawson, or possibly her uncle.
****
“You think you’re ready?” Trudy asked.
“What do you think?”
“It’s your grandmother’s ring, Gabriel, and you’re telling me that tonight over dinner, you’re going to ask Nora to marry you.”
“Is there something wrong with that?” Gabriel asked.
“No, there’s nothing wrong. I just want to make sure you know what you’re asking and that you’re ready. Remember, your grandfather refused to give this to your dad when he married your mother.”
“I know. I know. He told me that only a special woman can have this ring. The woman you don’t divorce.” He took a deep breath. “It has to stay within the family.”
Trudy put a hand on his arm. “Nora’s the one?”
“She’s the only one.”
“I have never seen you this nervous over a woman, so that can only mean she is definitely the one.” Trudy kissed his cheek. “I’m proud of you and I know your grandfather would be too.”
That meant a lot.
“What do you think she will say?”
“Yes,” Trudy said. “There might be a little hesitation, but just slight. I think she is going to love you, and you two are going to have a wonderful life together.”
“You like her?” he asked.
“Yes, and so do Esther and Lawson. We all have given her the seal of approval.”
Not that he needed it. He would have married Nora regardless of their approval. He’d found the ring today. His grandfather had always been protective of this ring and had told him only the right woman for a Williams man could wear it. Throughout the day, he found himself reaching for it, and all he wanted to do was place it on Nora’s finger. He wanted to make her his wife.
“Right, I better get home as I have a dinner to cook,” Trudy said. “Good luck.”
He watched Trudy leave, and he told her goodbye.
Checking the time, he saw it was close to five-thirty. He promised he would meet Nora at her place, but seeing as she would still be at work, he didn’t see the point in them traveling separately.
He made his way into his office and dialed the mail room, only to not have Nora answer. Nora never left on time. She always stayed late. Gabriel hung up, redialed, and there was no answer.
She must have already left. Pulling out his cell phone, he found her number and dialed, only to stop as the sound of the ringtone came from his office.
He looked up, not expecting to see Nora standing in front of him, her lip bleeding, and his father standing behind her with a gun pointed at her head.