his back to them.
He hovered in the far corner by the covered buffet trays. On the lower level, a deejay worked on setting up his sound equipment near the black-bottom pool. Beside the speakers was a draped table with a large cake flanked by fresh sunflowers.
It looked stunning, but even by her parents’ standards, this was over the top.
“This is incredible.” Gabe took her hand, and her fingers surprised her by twining with his as though she’d been holding his hand forever. “I thought we’d just have pizza and birthday cake.”
Tegan laughed. “My mother’s motto with a party is ‘go big or go home.’” She pointed toward her father. “Dad’s over there.”
She pulled Gabe with her and tapped her dad’s shoulder. “Daddy?”
He turned around and wrapped her in a bear hug that brought tears to her eyes. The world could be ending and her dad’s embrace would still make her feel safe. He was at least as tall as Gabe, with silver hair and a twinkle in his dark eyes as if he knew exactly what you were thinking.
He loosened his grip and straightened up. “You’ve brought a guest along.” He offered his hand. “I’m Maddock.”
“Gabe.” He shook her father’s hand. “Good to meet you, Maddock.” He released her father’s hand and clasped hers again. “That’s Welsh, isn’t it?”
The corner of her father’s mouth curved up. “Sure is. I was the first of my family to leave the island.” He chucked Tegan’s shoulder. “I like this one.” He glanced at Gabe again, all playfulness vanishing from his face. “You be good to my girl.”
“Daddy.” Tegan rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’m ten.”
But Gabe didn’t dismiss her father’s admonition. “She deserves no less.”
“Damn straight.” Her father’s grin returned. “Tegan, go tell your mother the caterers have the food all set up. We should eat before it gets cold…”
Her heart lurched a little at her father’s obvious attempt to get Gabe alone. The caterers could alert her mother the food was ready—in fact, they may have already done so. “I’m sure they’ve already told Mom.”
Her father didn’t relent. “You know how she is with a roomful of guests. The caterers won’t drag her away like you can.” He winked. “Take care of it for yer old dad.”
She couldn’t leave Gabe. There’d be questions. How would she answer? What if their answers didn’t match? They should have discussed this.
Panic threatened, but Gabe leaned in close to her ear; the sound of his voice sent a pang of longing through her, distracting her from worry. “Everything’s fine. We’ll compare notes when we get to the table.” His lips barely brushed her temple.
She gulped down the mass of conflicting emotions, squared her shoulders, and made herself walk away toward the houseful of guests.
Chapter Six
Gabe watched Tegan walk away. The woman had no idea how easy it was to pretend to care about her. Being this close to her, touching her, blurred the lines. He didn’t get involved with clients.
In fact, he didn’t get involved with anyone anymore. Those were dangerous lines to cross with demons nearby.
“What do you do for a living?” Maddock’s voice jarred him from his thoughts. “Are you some kind of karate wizard like my daughter?”
Gabe chuckled. “No, sir. I actually specialize in medieval weaponry.”
“Weaponry?” Her father dodged a caterer carrying glasses. “Like bows and arrows?”
“Sometimes. I also have swords, battle-axes, katanas, and flails. You name it. I sell a few replicas for renaissance fairs, too.”
“Huh. You make money at that?” Maddock crossed his arms.
“I do. You would be surprised what a collector will pay for an authentic dagger or bow.” Gabe reached into the inner lining of his coat and withdrew a leather-sheathed dagger. The blade was about six inches long, and carvings covered the handle. Welsh Gaelic carvings.
It couldn’t hurt to see if Tegan’s father
He hovered in the far corner by the covered buffet trays. On the lower level, a deejay worked on setting up his sound equipment near the black-bottom pool. Beside the speakers was a draped table with a large cake flanked by fresh sunflowers.
It looked stunning, but even by her parents’ standards, this was over the top.
“This is incredible.” Gabe took her hand, and her fingers surprised her by twining with his as though she’d been holding his hand forever. “I thought we’d just have pizza and birthday cake.”
Tegan laughed. “My mother’s motto with a party is ‘go big or go home.’” She pointed toward her father. “Dad’s over there.”
She pulled Gabe with her and tapped her dad’s shoulder. “Daddy?”
He turned around and wrapped her in a bear hug that brought tears to her eyes. The world could be ending and her dad’s embrace would still make her feel safe. He was at least as tall as Gabe, with silver hair and a twinkle in his dark eyes as if he knew exactly what you were thinking.
He loosened his grip and straightened up. “You’ve brought a guest along.” He offered his hand. “I’m Maddock.”
“Gabe.” He shook her father’s hand. “Good to meet you, Maddock.” He released her father’s hand and clasped hers again. “That’s Welsh, isn’t it?”
The corner of her father’s mouth curved up. “Sure is. I was the first of my family to leave the island.” He chucked Tegan’s shoulder. “I like this one.” He glanced at Gabe again, all playfulness vanishing from his face. “You be good to my girl.”
“Daddy.” Tegan rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’m ten.”
But Gabe didn’t dismiss her father’s admonition. “She deserves no less.”
“Damn straight.” Her father’s grin returned. “Tegan, go tell your mother the caterers have the food all set up. We should eat before it gets cold…”
Her heart lurched a little at her father’s obvious attempt to get Gabe alone. The caterers could alert her mother the food was ready—in fact, they may have already done so. “I’m sure they’ve already told Mom.”
Her father didn’t relent. “You know how she is with a roomful of guests. The caterers won’t drag her away like you can.” He winked. “Take care of it for yer old dad.”
She couldn’t leave Gabe. There’d be questions. How would she answer? What if their answers didn’t match? They should have discussed this.
Panic threatened, but Gabe leaned in close to her ear; the sound of his voice sent a pang of longing through her, distracting her from worry. “Everything’s fine. We’ll compare notes when we get to the table.” His lips barely brushed her temple.
She gulped down the mass of conflicting emotions, squared her shoulders, and made herself walk away toward the houseful of guests.
Chapter Six
Gabe watched Tegan walk away. The woman had no idea how easy it was to pretend to care about her. Being this close to her, touching her, blurred the lines. He didn’t get involved with clients.
In fact, he didn’t get involved with anyone anymore. Those were dangerous lines to cross with demons nearby.
“What do you do for a living?” Maddock’s voice jarred him from his thoughts. “Are you some kind of karate wizard like my daughter?”
Gabe chuckled. “No, sir. I actually specialize in medieval weaponry.”
“Weaponry?” Her father dodged a caterer carrying glasses. “Like bows and arrows?”
“Sometimes. I also have swords, battle-axes, katanas, and flails. You name it. I sell a few replicas for renaissance fairs, too.”
“Huh. You make money at that?” Maddock crossed his arms.
“I do. You would be surprised what a collector will pay for an authentic dagger or bow.” Gabe reached into the inner lining of his coat and withdrew a leather-sheathed dagger. The blade was about six inches long, and carvings covered the handle. Welsh Gaelic carvings.
It couldn’t hurt to see if Tegan’s father
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