Once Upon a Proposal by Allison Leigh Read Free Book Online Page B

sweater with the sleeves shoved up his forearms. The sturdy watch circling his sinewy wrist gleamed in the soft light coming from the wine bar as he set the glass down again, and she had to swallow a little. He was so incredibly masculine.
    â€œMy ex-wife’s husband is a corporate lawyer,” he said, managing to jerk her from the entranced haze she was in danger of slipping into. “He’s been offered a prestigious contract in Europe that will run for at least the next five years.”
    Since he’d left the coffee shop that afternoon, Bobbie had mentally run through at least a dozen scenarios about what Gabe wanted to discuss. His ex-wife’s husband had not been one of them. “Um…congratulations to him?”
    Gabe’s lips twisted. “I know. This makes no sense to you. What has Fiona told you about me?”
    â€œBesides you being successful and very, very eligible?” His hooded blue gaze sharpened on her face and she managed a wry smile that hopefully hid the shivers dancing down her spine. “We’re usually busy talking about what’s going on at Golden Ability. It doesn’t seem to leave a lot of time to chatter about her family. Or mine.” She reasoned that the white lie was better than admitting how much his grandmother praised his qualities.
    His dark head tipped a few centimeters. “My wife and I divorced nearly eight years ago.” He slowly turned the wine glass on top of the white linen table covering. “It wasn’t what you’d call amicable.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œI share plenty of the responsibility in that,” he admitted.“But that’s beside the point. What is the point, are my kids. Steph was awarded custody of them when we split. The ink was barely dry on our divorce decree when she became Mrs. Ethan Walker, and then within a year they’d moved to Switzerland. It had been hard enough to keep her to the terms of my visitation before she moved, but after—” He shook his head. “A few years ago, though, her husband’s job brought them back here to Seattle. Supposedly to stay, so I decided to move here, too. It was the only sure way I had of reminding my kids that I was their father—not just some guy who came to visit for a few days once a year.”
    Bobbie’s heart squeezed at the pain on his face.
    â€œAnyway, my business partner remained in Colorado, and I started up another branch here. We’re making it when a lot of companies aren’t, but it hasn’t been easy.”
    The shivers that had been dancing down Bobbie’s spine suddenly felt like jagged little spears instead, as realization dawned. “Harrison Hunt might be a family friend, but I have no influence when it comes to HuntCom.”
    Gabe’s brows yanked together. “What are you talking about?”
    She sat up straighter in her chair. “It’s not like I don’t understand. Or…or sympathize. Even in this economy, HuntCom still has building projects going on all over the world.” If they weren’t building a new manufacturing facility for themselves, they were building something else. She knew, because she had to make an appearance at least once a year at the board of directors’ meeting, at which time she always gave her proxy to Gray, who’d been running the privately-held company since Harry’s health had forced him into retirement. “But the best I can do is get you a name.” She’d have to call Harry and find out who the chief architect was now. Since J.T.—one of Gray’s younger brothers—had vacated the position to hangout his own shingle in Portland, she couldn’t even hazard a guess who was responsible for the property development arm of the enormous company.
    â€œI’m not looking to do business with HuntCom,” Gabe said slowly. “Is that what you expected?”
    â€œIt’s what most people