In her breasts.
The simple stroke of Gabe’s hands had that same effect on her. But unfortunately, Brianne was not dreaming. She needed to wake up and put a stop to all this right now before things ventured into even more forbidden territory.
She needed her job, now more than ever. Too much to risk a misstep with Gabe, no matter how much she wanted to run her lips along his whisker-rough jaw and inhale the woodsy cedar scent of him.
“Very funny.” She tugged her hands out from between his, tucking them between her knees. That way, she wouldn’t be tempted to touch him back. “I can see where marrying your gardener would be a nice, in-your-face gesture to your megarich grandfather, but I’m sure you’ll come up with something better than that.”
“I’m not joking.” Gabe’s voice was even, his expression grave. “My back’s against a wall with Malcolm’s will, and a marriage is the simplest way to ensure my son’s future.”
In that moment, she realized he hadn’t been joking. Which made the proposition all the more unsettling.
“So marry. Fine. I get it.” She knew how much value he placed on giving his son every advantage in life. She admired that about him, but she couldn’t possibly help him. “But you have to know I can’t take part in a scheme like that. There’s far too much for me to lose.”
His gaze narrowed slightly. “You haven’t let me outline the full extent of the plan or what you stand to gain.” He seemed to shift gears, appealing to her on a business level. “Half the reason I want to do this would be for your benefit. If you help me with the marriage, I will extend to you every advantage that comes from being a McNeill in return. That means no more worrying about your grandmother or where she’ll live. As my wife, you’ll have access to the best doctors and round-the-clock nurse aides, if you need help caring for her.”
The possibilities spun in front of her eyes, as she contemplated the way Gabe could wave the wand of his wealth and power over her life and fix things—just like that. It brought into sharp focus what he was offering.
Not just to her. To Nana.
“I couldn’t marry someone for the sake of money.” What kind of person did that make her? She shook her head. “It’s too...bloodless. Not that I have any great romantic plans for my future, but I also never pictured myself heading to the altar for the sake of a hospital bill.”
Shifting positions, she straightened in her seat and placed her feet back on the floor. No more cozy intimacies with this man. It was too risky. Too tempting.
“There are worse reasons to marry, I promise you.” The dark resentment in his voice reminded Brianne of how devastating marrying for love could be. “And the reason I thought of you, Brianne, is not just because this marriage would benefit you. But also because I trust you.”
Her gaze snapped up to meet his.
“Yes,” he said, answering her wordless question. “It’s true. This marriage would place a tremendous amount of power in a woman’s hands for the next year. It also gives my wife access to my family, which means more to me than anything. I can’t think of anyone else I would trust the way I trust you.”
“Why?” She shook her head, not understanding. “We only just work together. I mean, we share a few laughs and things, but—”
“Two reasons. One, you’re good with Jason. I see how gentle you are with him. How your eyes smile when you look at him. You can’t fake that kind of warmth or enjoyment of kids.”
She opened her mouth, but snapped it shut again; she wasn’t sure what to say. “Everyone loves babies.”
“That’s not true. Not even close,” he said with unmistakable bitterness. “But the second reason I trust you is this.” He took her hand again and held it. Firmly. “There was a spark between us from the moment we met.”
“No.”
“Don’t deny it. We both ignored it and that was good. That was the right thing to do.” He squeezed her fingers gently and that warmth trickled through her veins again, like an injection of adrenaline. “Not many women would have ignored that spark. At the risk of being immodest, Brianne, the McNeill wealth attracts way too much feminine attention, and I haven’t always done a good job of appreciating the women who wanted me for my own sake versus the ones who wanted to get close to the lifestyle our world affords.”
She’d never thought about that before, but knowing what she did of human nature, she wasn’t surprised, either. Had Theresa been one of those women? She didn’t dare to ask; she was too overwhelmed by this shocking outpouring from Gabe.
“You, on the other hand—” he tipped up her chin to see into her eyes, and the warmth of his touch there made her mouth go dry “—you respected my marriage and my family, right through the day it all went up in flames and long afterward. That’s how I know I can trust you.”
“Gabe.” She couldn’t find the right words, was still stunned by his admission. He’d known about the attraction all along and hadn’t said a word. Hadn’t acted on it. “If what you’re saying is true, that there is a...spark—”
“Do you doubt it?” He loomed closer.
Her heart beat faster.
“Just, let’s say that there is an attraction.” The word scraped her throat. “It would be playing with fire to get married and play house. I can’t throw away my job—my future—for the sake of one year. I wouldn’t be able to work for you anymore.”
The fact that she’d tossed out an excuse rather than outright saying “hell, no” made her realize she was actually considering it in some corner of her mind. She guessed that he sensed as much since he leaned forward, a glint in his eyes that she recognized from when she’d seen him close a deal. He spotted an advantage.
“We’ll have a prenuptial agreement. You can name your terms for a settlement so you don’t need to concern yourself with work.”
“I like my job.” It was more than just a paycheck. She lived at the Birdsong. The gardens were a work in progress she hoped to develop for years to come. “I had plans to make the grounds an attraction people would visit there just to see.”
“So we’ll add in job security as part of the settlement.” He shrugged like it was such a small concern.
The plane dipped on a patch of turbulence and her belly pitched along with it. Gabe’s arm went around her shoulders automatically, steadying her.
She didn’t even realize that she’d grabbed him—his thigh, to be exact—until the plane was sailing smoothly again. Releasing him, she peered up into his eyes and tried to regain her equilibrium.
The heat glittering in his gaze didn’t come close to helping.
“We’d have to keep ignoring it.” The words slipped from her lips before she had time to think them over, making her realize she was already mulling over how this crazy idea might work.
“What?” He tensed, his arm tightening a fraction around her shoulders where he still held on to her.
“The attraction.” She plowed forward, knowing she might regret it but unable to turn down the offer of help for Nana. The level of help that Gabe could give her—the comfort his wealth could provide for her—was the kind of thing her selfless grandmother deserved in her late years. There was nothing Brianne wouldn’t do to repay Nana Rose. “We would have to keep a lock on any attraction, the same way we’ve always done.” That was nonnegotiable. “I don’t want to feel like I sold my soul for the sake of Nana’s care.”
His eyes dipped to her lips. Lingered for a moment, then came back