ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY–EIGHT

GABRIELLE’S POV

Anya raised her head. “Ah, Gabrielle. You look rough. Are you good?”

I stood by the door, my hand gripping tightly around the door knob. “I’m fine. Just wondering what’s happening here.”

She stood up and walked over the closet room. “Didn’t Lila tell you her birthday was coming up?”

“Yay! Birthday,” Lila squealed in her father’s arm.

Damon flipped through her storybook, obviously not interested in the conversation.

Anya walked back into the room. “So I decided to come stay here for a few days. She always celebrates her birthday her with her daddy and her friends.”

Oh.

That made sense.

But something about it didn’t seem right with me.

“That’s very nice,” I said, watching her check her reflection in the mirror. “When did you get here? I can have Susan clean up one of rooms for you.”

She waved her hand at me. “Nonsense. I’m not a guest, Gabrielle. You don’t have to host me. I once lived here too.”

Her words hit something in my chest.

I looked at Damon but he didn’t glance up. His hand traced the storybook like nothing around him mattered.

“Right,” I said. “Of course.”

Anya smiled like she had just been crowned queen of the house. “You don’t mind, do you? Damon never complained. He always let me in.”

My jaw tightened.

He let her in.

I stepped farther into the room. “I don’t mind. I just didn’t expect to walk in and see…” I paused. “All of this.”

Anya laughed lightly. “Gabrielle, please. This isn’t your first time seeing me with my family.”

My throat went dry.

“Family,” I repeated. “Of course.”

She shrugged, walking back to the bed and adjusting Lila’s hair. “We’ve been doing this long before you. It’s normal. Lila, tell Gabrielle. Who do you always celebrate birthdays with?”

Lila grinned. “Daddy and Mommy.”

Anya gave me a look I understood too well. I was under the impression that she didn’t care for Damon anymore but maybe I was

wrong.

“I’ll be around,” she said, sitting back beside him.

Her hand rested on Damon’s arm again as the three of them read Lila’s storybook. I suddenly felt like an intruder in my own marriage.

CHAPTER THIRTY–EIGHT

I swallowed hard. “Enjoy your story.”

I turned to leave before any emotion slipped out of me, but Lila’s tiny voice stopped me.

“Gabby, aren’t you staying?”

Anya answered for me. “She needs rest, sweetheart. Let her go.”

I forced a small smile. “I’ll see you soon, Lila.”

And then I walked out, my chest tight.

My heartbeat was too loud in my ears and my steps were too fast.

*

**

+25 Bonus

I was on my bed, reading a romance novel alone when Damon walked in without knocking as usual.

A slight scowl was etched on his face.

He paused by the door, his expression unreadable as usual.

“Anya’s family are coming in for Lila’s birthday party tomorrow,” he started.

Oh well.

I might as well just accept the fact.

I definitely won’t be getting laid anytime soon.

“The idea of being around that many people makes me sick,” he said. “It’s going to be a full house and I was wondering if we could get a little escape.”

I stood up, unsure I heard him correctly.

My lips parted but I couldn’t form words.

He walked into the room and shut the door behind him. “Why do you look surprised?”

“Nothing,” I answered hurriedly. “Where did you have in mind?”

“The penthouse,” he answered, his cologne clouding my senses as he stepped closer. “But you’d have to get used to my cooking for a day or two.”

I smiled. “It was that bad. You actually surprised me the with breakfast the last time I was there.”

He stared at me for a few seconds, his gaze softening slightly. “How do you feel now?”

I closed the space between us. Standing on my toes, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

He kissed me back, his hands holding my waist and pulling me closer. The kiss was slow and sensual.

Then I pulled back. “How do you think I feel?”

He didn’t answer immediately. His eyes dropped to my lips, then back to my eyes.

“I think,” he said quietly, “you feel better than you did this morning.”

A knock on the door distracted us.

The door pushed open and Lila walked in.

“Daddy,” she started. “We were waiting for you. Grandma just got here.”

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CHAPTER THIRTY–EIGHT

He gave me a kiss on my temple. “Pack light and fast. We leave in an hour.”

I nodded and watched as he scooped Lila into his arms with a smile on my face.

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