Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
A heavy crowd filled up the space. Cal, Eddie and Vanna, another bartender she’d met in the last few weeks were all working. Before she checked out the office, looking for Maddox, she stopped at the bar entrance.
“Vanna, have you seen Maddox?” she called out.
“He’s sitting over there.” The bartender, a cute woman with short spikey hair topped with pink, tipped her head toward a cocktail table where Maddox was, along with the owners, Zach and Remy.
Gabby nodded. “Thanks.” She started through the crowd, making her way to the table where they all sat.
Maddox caught sight of her first, a genuine grin lifted his lips, relieving her earlier anxiety.
With that worry out of the way for now, her excitement returned and she quickened her step. “Guess what?” she asked before she even reached him, unable to wait.
“Tell me.” He rose to greet her.
Her gaze swept over him, once again knocked on her butt by how well-built and sexy he was. And from the way he stared at her approvingly, she knew he was all hers and she pushed her worries aside.
“The gallery sold one of my paintings!” Without waiting, she threw her arms around his neck and he returned her hug, lifting her off the ground as he embraced her.
“I’m so damn proud of you,” he said, his voice husky and gruff in her ear. “I knew you could do it.”
At his words, her heart slammed hard inside her chest. It wasn’t that she needed his approval but receiving it from anyone was rare. Sure, her grandmother always gave her blessing. Annabelle loved Gabby and would do anything to compensate for her parents’ lack of caring and support. But coming from Maddox, as with Rhonda, Gabby knew the sentiment was genuine.
Rhonda thought she had talent.
Maddox believed in her and that meant everything.
“When I heard we could find you here, I didn’t believe it,” a familiar and unwelcome voice said.
Gabby jerked in surprise and her stomach twisted with dread. “My mother,” Gabby whispered in Maddox’s ear.
He didn’t release her or react, didn’t allow her to jump back and put distance between them, not that she’d tried. He slid her down his body, letting her feel his strength, keeping one arm firmly around her waist.
She drew a deep breath and turned to see her parents, along with Preston and her grandmother standing in front of them.
Maddox drew her more firmly to his side, staking his claim and being in her corner. It was all she’d ever wanted from someone important in her life, and here he was, sensing her need and stepping up to provide it.
This was it. Time to stand up for herself or her life would never be her own.
Since Preston’s visit to the bar, her parents had turned suspiciously silent. No more voicemails or texts. Gabby had a feeling they were biding their time until ready to strike. She’d tried to convince herself she was ready for any upcoming confrontation. After all, what more could they do to hurt her? They’d already cut her off financially and there’d been no emotional connection in any of her childhood memories.
Gabby pulled her shoulders back, facing her mother. Her father stood by his wife’s side while her grandmother leaned on her colorful cane, no doubt waiting for the fireworks. Annabelle winked at Gabby, confirming her suspicions.
“Who told you where I was?” she asked her parents, then turned her gaze to Preston. “Was it you?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Her father let out a huff of annoyance. “What does matter is that the entire country club is talking about you slumming at this bar, cleaning dirty glasses and serving alcohol.” The disgust in his tone was evident.
Maddox gripped her tighter but remained silent. He was trusting her to handle things and she was grateful.
“The only thing that tells me is someone in your crowd was here too, which makes any comment about this establishment hypocritical,” Gabby said.
Her father took one step forward, but Maddox put a hand out, stopping him from moving closer. Her father clenched his jaw but didn’t say a word to him. Yet. No doubt his judgment was coming.
“What are you wearing in public?” her mother asked, her eyes wide, lips parted, her expression horrified.
Gabby glanced down and shrugged. “Clothes.”
“Workout clothes,” Annabelle added. “Don’t you keep up with trends, Madeline?”
“Mother!” Aaron snapped. “Stay out of this. Now, Gabriella, we’re leaving tonight and you’re coming with us.”
Gabby blinked in surprise. “You usually stay for the season. Why are you leaving when your summer isn’t over?”
“Preston isn’t leaving, we are. But he wanted to be here. We are all tired of this rebellious phase. It’s gone on long enough. Playing house with this…this…” her father stumbled over his words to describe Maddox.
“Bar manager and independent contractor?” Gabby deliberately needled her parents with words they’d find cringeworthy. “Oh, and I wonder if Preston mentioned that Maddox used to work on Wall Street? I believe you know of my father, Aaron Davenport, right, Maddox?”