The Fall Of Jacob Del Garda (20 page)

When it came to women, Gabriella knew that Jacob lived by the rule, if you can't say something nice... say nothing.

Not once had he said she looked lovely.

Not once had he mentioned her hair, her dress.

And that meant how she looked hadn't met with his approval.

So his silence said it all.

She told herself she had her reasons for how she was dressed tonight and there was no point in feeling hurt.

As a grown-up, she was free to make her own choices on how she looked... how she acted. Now she wondered how he was going to react to what was going to happen when they arrived at the Blue Lagoon? Sure, she could have used Tobin to handle publicity. After all, that was his job. But she'd wanted to do the big reveal herself. In her own way. The tabloid journalist, Tabitha Crew, was a known bitch and a ball-breaker. A woman who had as much sympathy in her DNA, and teeth as sharp, as a Big Black River alligator.

And like a gator, the woman had snapped her hand off for the promised scoop of the year. Gabriella knew how the game worked. By asking Ms. Crew to roll up at The Blue Lagoon with a recorder and one camera, the woman would bring an army of press. That was how Tabitha Crew rolled. As far as Gabriella was concerned, the more the merrier.

The car slowed as it entered the road that held The Blue Lagoon club. The place was renowned for its cuisine, an electric atmosphere and live music.

The driver turned to speak to Jacob.

"Sir, there's a lot of press. Will I stop at the front or drive around to the side entrance?"

Before Jacob could respond, Gabriella interrupted, "Drop us at the front, please."

The car slid to a stop.

A doorman jogged down the wide steps to open the door.

Jacob got out first and offered Gabriella his hand.

It was just the moment she'd been waiting for.

As she stood, she turned to Jacob, grabbed his face and gave him a hot and hungry kiss right on his surprised mouth.

The crowd and the cameras went wild.

She stepped back, patted his cheek and whispered in his ear,

"Showtime."

By this time the other car had slid to a stop behind the first.

Sophie emerged first.

Gabriella did a model walk over to her sister.

She slid her arm around Sophie's waist.

"What's going on?" Sophie hissed in her ear.

Her twin hated cameras with a passion and looked like a rabbit staring down the barrel of a gun. And for a single second Gabriella wondered if she was doing the right thing.

Then she thought, to hell with it.

"Follow my lead. And for God's sake, smile."

Tobin stepped next to Gabriella, she turned to him with a grin and said through gritted teeth, "Back off."

His eyes went like saucers as he bent to kiss her cheek.

"What are you doing?"

Gabriella knew exactly what she was doing. One picture of Gabriella the supermodel was worth plenty. But one picture with Gabriella and her twin, would be worth a hell of a lot more.

The girls walked over to face the press.

Gabriella assumed her game face, it was second nature, tilted her chin and beamed.

"
Mi dios
, what is going on?"

Tobin turned to his friend, indicating to Jacob that he had red hot lipstick on his mouth.

Jacob whipped out a tissue, wiped his mouth.

"Dunno. Looks like someone's alerted the press about our little party this evening."

"You?" Jacob's voice was no more than a growl.

"Nope."

Tobin caught his eye, read the dismay and discomfort.

Oops, Jacob hated the paparazzi with a passion.

He hated the whole circus that surrounded celebrities.

Gabriella usually kept Jacob and Sophie far, far, away from her working life.

Now he turned to watch his client and friend as she posed with a Sophie who was standing to attention like a military soldier.

Jesus, what the hell was Gabriella up to?

"Nice dress," yelled a photographer Gabriella had known for years.

She waved back.

"Looking spectacular, Baby." He took another shot. Then frowned as he stared hard at her chest. Her heart beat too fast. This was it. "You had a boob job or something?"

"Yep," she said.

And the press went wild.

Tabitha Crew's microphone was thrust into her face.

"You've mentioned numerous times about your concern about the safety record of breast implants and how distorted young girls thinking has become about body image. How can you stand there and admit you've had implants? Don't you think your fans have every right to call you a hypocrite?"

Gabriella nodded, and felt Sophie's arms slide around her waist.

"They would have every right... if I'd done if for cosmetic reasons."

The journalist gave her wide eyes. "What other reason could there be except to further your career?"

The only sound that could be heard was the clicking of cameras.

"Eleven months ago I had a double mastectomy for breast cancer."

The journalist's jaw dropped.

Mission accomplished.

Gabriella turned to give the photographers a good look at her dress.

"And these babies are a thirty-two B cup. Just like the original version."

"And now you're going to resume your career?"

Gabriella laughed at the photographer who'd tossed the question.

"Nope. I've had a career change. These days I'm working behind the camera."

God, she was shaking like a leaf.

"That's enough now," Sophie whispered in her ear.

They turned to enter the club.

"Just a minute," Tabitha Crew yelled. "Are you back with Jacob Del Garda?"

Gabriella took a deep breath and gave her signature super-bright smile.

She turned to move next to Jacob. And draped her body over him in a way that made him stand utterly still. The cameras flashed. She chanced a look at his face. He looked as if he'd swallowed a lemon. She could only imagine what he was thinking.

The thought entered her head
, Welcome to my world
.

"No," she said, and felt the jolt hit his big body. "We're just... friends."

His growl sounded in her ear.

Then she added with a flourish, "With benefits!"

Before she could say another word, Tobin caught her around the waist and thrust her up the stairs and into The Blue Lagoon.

His fingers dug into her hipbone.

"You deserve a whupp'in for that little stunt. What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She turned to him, and almost flinched from the anger in his face.

"Being real, for once."

Gabriella's face was flushed, those sea green eyes too bright.

And Tobin had never felt more like strangling her. By the smouldering look on Jacob's face, he'd need to get in line.

"Evening, folks."

The voice was deep and serious.

Tobin turned and came face to face with one good looking son-of-a-bitch, Ethan Monroe, owner of The Blue Lagoon, and communications director of Monroe Industries. He was dressed in a sharp suit of black wool. The cut screamed Savile Row.

Ethan's deep blue eyes were pinned on Gabriella with a helluva lot more than admiration.

Jacob moved in to pull her close, his eyes never once leaving Ethan's.

Tobin moved fast to introduce his party.

"Evening, Ethan. This is Jacob Del Garda, Lucas's brother. Gabriella Dolman and her sister, Sophie."

The girls shook the big guy's hand.

Ethan smiled right into Gabriella's eyes. And she smiled right back.

"Ah yes," Ethan said. "Coco's been raving about your photographs. I gather the party went well. Shame I missed it, but I was in the States."

Then Ethan turned to Jacob and held out his hand.

"Nice to meet you. Lucas and I go way back."

Jacob's response was polite, but cool. "My brother has mentioned you, too. How do you do?"

By the quirk of his eyebrow, Ethan nodded his head as if to say he'd received the message loud and clear to back-off from Gabriella.

Instead, Ethan moved his attention to Sophie.

A Sophie who was grinning, and eyeing Charles Monroe's eldest son as if he was her favourite candy.

"Twins?" Ethan guessed.

"Yep," Sophie said. "I'm the oldest. Only here tonight to make up the numbers."

In other words, I like what I see and I'm free and available.

The slight to Tobin himself was crystal clear.

She was being incredibly rude and she knew it, too.

And didn't give a rat's ass.

Gabriella stared hard at her sister, but Sophie ignored her, as she accepted Ethan's hand and invitation to show her around.

Tobin had never felt more like tossing Sophie over his shoulder to take her to a private place where he could spank her ass until it glowed. But he couldn't focus on Sophie at the moment, because Gabriella was the one giving him a major headache.

She was dancing as she followed behind her sister and Ethan.

As she approached the dance floor, Gabriella did a wicked little bump and grind.

And two guys were right behind her admiring the view.

The music was hard rock, the beat vibrating through the sprung floor.

The restaurant manager approached Tobin to guide him to their table.

Once they were seated and had ordered a couple of stiff drinks, Tobin and Jacob sat back and watched their women behaving very badly.

Sophie was flirting outrageously with Ethan Monroe.

And Gabriella was showing the world by the sensual sway of her hips that she was in the mood to paaaaaarty!

Tobin glanced at Jacob's face and winced.

"You look as if you're about to spontaneously combust, pal. Wind it back."

Jacob's head didn't move, but his eyes slid to Tobin.

"I do not recognise that woman. What on earth does she think she is doing? And to call me a friend, with benefits... I cannot believe she would disrespect me publicly in such a way. My father is ferocious in his protection of the family name. He hates negative publicity. Can you imagine what the rags are going to print tomorrow? He has no idea she is back in my life, or that she has been ill. How dare she upset my
padre
like this?"

Tobin chewed on his bottom lip.

He knew exactly how fiercely Don Norberto Juan Ortiz Conde Del Garda championed the family name. Not only that, but Lucas Del Garda was not going to be pleased either. And Tobin had an idea that he would be the one to receive the flame thrower from Lucas, because
he
was on the spot and supposed to be responsible for public relations.

Without a word, Jacob stood, pulled out his cell and stalked out of club.

Probably going to call his father and brother.

Tobin whipped out his own cell and sent a text to his business partner.

Him: Shit hit fan. Gabriella gone rogue.

Lucas: WTF? Jacob needs to control his woman.

Him: Fat chance.

What was supposed to be a nice relaxing get-together was fast turning into a major cluster-fuck. Tobin narrowed his eyes, watching the body language as Ethan Monroe guided a laughing Sophie towards their table.

After giving Ethan a too friendly kiss on the cheek, Sophie sank to the chair next to Tobin's with a happy sigh.

A sigh that made Tobin want to wring her beautiful neck.

Little witch.

Being a very smart guy, Ethan picked up the vibe.

He winked at Tobin's death stare and strolled away.

"Such a lovely man. And so terribly attractive," purred Sophie.

Tobin refused to rise to the bait.

"Did you know Ella was going to pull this stunt tonight?"

The look she gave him, as if he was a dung beetle, made him grit his teeth.

"Nope. But I knew something had upset her. Thought it might have been your extracurricular activities with your... client."

In spite of himself the sting hurt.

He narrowed his eyes. "Ella gave me a chance to tell her what happened. She believed me," he said.

Those hazel eyes, filled with contempt, just stared right through him.

"Did she? Well, as we can all see, Ella's not quite herself tonight."

"Jacob's furious with her. What she said about him will be all over the press. And Don Norberto will be distressed. Something tells me she didn't think this through."