His Answered Prayer

“What things?” She gaped at him, her mind numb.

“An excavation crew is set to come in here Monday morning.”

“Excavation?” Blair blanched at the thought of her beautiful valley, destroyed. “Why?”

“I’m building a house. I intend to live in this valley, Blair. It’s going to be my home.”

She couldn’t take it in, couldn’t understand what kind of a joke he was playing.

“But you live in Los Angeles,” she reminded him, depicting the picture she remembered late at night when she should have slept. “You crave bright lights, fast cars and people you can impress by ignoring them.” Yes, that was the real Gabe. “Why would you move here, to the middle of nowhere?”

It didn’t make sense. None of this did. Gabriel Sloan was as city as they came. Going out with starlets, winning at squash, traveling on the big showy jet, those were the things he needed to prove himself. Gabe craved all the glitz and glamour of the nightlife that L.A. offered. There was nothing around here that would interest him.

His voice roused her from her introspection.

“I’m experimenting, Blair. Isn’t that what you used to encourage? I want something different from my life. The company just isn’t enough anymore. It bores me. I’ve hired a manager. I want to take some time and relax for a while. Consider what’s next.”

“You’ve let go of the reins?” She squeaked in disbelief. “You? The guy who thinks everybody’s out to take him?” It was a direct quote. He’d said it over six years ago on that fateful morning when all her dreams had died.

Oh, God, where are you? Does he know about Daniel? Is that why he’s here?

The very thought made her head spin, and all the blood rushed to her feet. He was going to steal Daniel! And he had money and power enough to do it.

“Blair? Sit down.” He pushed her onto a huge granite slab of glacial rock whose quartz sparkles flashed in the bright sun. His hands rubbed hers, his surprisingly warm and gentle. “You’re still as thin as a reed,” he muttered, pausing to brush a ringleted tendril from her cheek. “And this hair is still a riot of curls. I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re thinner. Are you still so busy taking care of everyone else, you don’t take care of yourself?”

She pulled away, but she had no energy to get up. Not yet.

“I’m fine. I’m just busy. I guess I forgot to eat breakfast.” As if that would have changed anything. She glared at him. “Why now, Gabe? Why here?”

“I wanted a change. And I was intrigued by his description. Heaven on earth. Who wouldn’t want that?”

There was a bitter tilt to his lips that made her wonder if Gabe had suffered some financial setbacks she didn’t know about. Or perhaps he’d lost the edge that put his company out in front.

“Who indeed?” She was going to strangle Mac when she got hold of him. How could he have sold this land out from under her, especially to Gabe? How could he have set this all up when he knew the risks? And it was a setup. She had no doubts about that.

Gabe picked up her hand. “You’ve got calluses here,” he murmured as his thumb brushed across her palm. “You shouldn’t work so hard, Blair.”

Yeah, right! Like how else would she live? Blair shifted away from him and clambered awkwardly to her feet. Why was she always so ungraceful whenever he was around? Why did he make her so nervous?

Because of Daniel.

But she hadn’t had Daniel to think about back then. In the old days just the sound of Gabe’s voice had made her skin prickle with anticipation.

She shoved the memories away.

“I’m going home to talk to my grandfather,” she murmured. “Something isn’t right here.”

“I assure you it’s all perfectly legal. I don’t do business any other way.” He sounded angry that she’d suspect him of subterfuge. “You should at least remember that much.”

Blair didn’t respond. Instead, she walked to her truck and climbed in, mulling the whole thing over inside her tired brain.

“No, I know. It’s just that Mac said—” She glanced at him, vaguely surprised that he’d followed her. “Never mind. I’ll sort it out. You’ll probably get a letter canceling the whole deal.”

Gabe shook his head and shoved her door closed.

“No, the deal’s already been finalized. I’m not allowing anyone to back out now. If you wait a minute, I’ll get my vehicle and follow you. I’d like to know the answer to a few questions of my own.”

Blair glanced at her watch, then nodded grimly. Daniel wasn’t due home for at least another hour. If she hurried, she could get this all sorted out and have Gabe on his way before kindergarten was dismissed for the afternoon.

Twenty minutes later they pulled up in front of her grandfather’s old house. She couldn’t help contrasting its ramshackle appearance with the elegant, glossy glass-and-chrome condo Gabe had lived in seven years ago. Her battered brown half-ton sat rusting on the spot while his polished black and silver sport utility screamed money. Night and day.

Still, what did it matter? He’d always known that she wasn’t in his league, didn’t have money to burn. Her part-time job had been a good one, and she’d been comfortable sharing digs with Clarissa Featherhawk and Briony Green. But every extra cent she hadn’t needed for college went home to Mac and Willie, to repay them.

“Having second thoughts about introducing me to your family?” The mocking query brought her to the present.

Without a word Blair tripped up the stairs to the back door. She opened it, then moved back to allow Gabe in. He stepped out of his expensive boots first, then through the doorway and into the kitchen, his eyes curiously appraising the old farmhouse.

“Mac? Can you come in here? Now?”

Blair stepped out of her boots and grabbed the coffeepot. Without wasting any movements, she poured two mugs of the steaming black brew, set them on the table and motioned Gabe to sit down.

Gabe raised his eyebrows at her silent order, but took his seat without speaking. He took one sip of the coffee, coughed, then added a generous measure of cream and sugar.

Blair sat and pretended to ignore him.

“Hey, Busy Bee. You’re early. How were the hives?” Mac strolled through the hallway and into the kitchen, his eyes widening as he caught sight of Gabe. “Hello.”

“Mac, this is Gabriel Sloan. He thinks he’s bought the south quarter from you. Gabe, this is my grandfather. The infamous Mackenzie Rhodes of your letter.”

Her grandfather flicked an eyebrow at her acid tone, then turned his attention to their guest.

The two men silently sized up each other, shook hands and then sat. Blair glanced from one to the other.

“Well?” she demanded of her grandfather. “Aren’t you going to tell him that it’s a mistake?”

Mac smiled tenderly and reached out to fold her hand in his.

“No,” he murmured. “I’m not. I sold Mr. Sloan the land. It was mine, I had a right to and I did it.” His face showed no sign of repentance.

“But, Grandfather, you know that I depend on that land!” Blair felt the sting of his betrayal to the soles of her feet. “How could you sell it to him? Why not to me? I would have bought you out!”

She glared at Gabe, who kept his head bent, studying his coffee as if it would metamorphose into his favorite mocha latte. Blair switched her focus to her grandfather.

“Why?”

“You know why,” he returned evenly, his face stern. “We’ve discussed it before. I think it’s the right thing to do. It’s time. You know that.”

Blair pursed her lips, mindful of the heated arguments she’d had with him for months now. Mac believed she owed it to Gabe to tell Daniel’s father he had a son. She thought she’d made him understand how foolish it would be to expect Gabe to accept the boy, to believe Gabe could father his child the way Mac had fathered her.