The Alpha’s Nanny (Lori and Gabriel) novel Chapter 30

**The Ocean Remembers Everything**
**By Julia Allan**
**Chapter 30**

Gabriel cast a furtive glance at his watch, the seconds ticking away with an almost mocking precision. He didn’t want to rush Lori, but the clock was merciless, and they had quite a journey ahead. A reservation awaited them at a restaurant in the city, a place he had chosen with care, but it was far enough that they needed to pick up the pace.

Grace had approached him with a request—to let Lori wear one of Suzie’s dresses for the evening. He had readily agreed, feeling no hesitation. Suzie had always had an eye for fashion, amassing a collection of dresses she had planned to wear after the baby arrived. With Gabriel’s generous allowance, she indulged in her passion for beautiful things, and it was heartbreaking to think of all those exquisite garments now hanging in silence, untouched.

The reality of her absence weighed heavily on him. After Suzie’s untimely death, the staff had meticulously packed away her belongings, sealing them in the garage like memories locked away in a vault. Her room had been shuttered, a sanctuary of grief that Gabriel couldn’t bring himself to enter. The night she passed was etched in his mind, a tormenting memory that seemed to echo with her laughter and warmth. It felt as if her spirit lingered in the air, a ghostly presence that suffocated them all, and he was certain that not a single soul had found peace that night.

The following morning, overwhelmed by sorrow, he had ordered her things to be stored away. It was too much to bear. Now, as he prepared for the evening, he realized he would have to sift through those memories to find something—anything—that connected him to her family. It felt like a daunting task, perhaps even a hopeless one, but for Emilia’s sake, he was willing to undertake it.

The sharp clicks of heels echoed against the staircase, pulling him from his reverie. He looked up just in time to see Lori descending, a vision in a simple black dress. Her hair was elegantly pulled back, with a few rebellious strands framing her delicate face. The dress clung to her figure, with spaghetti straps that highlighted her shoulders and a fitted bodice that flared gently at the waist. It was short, enough to grant Gabriel an enticing view of her long, creamy legs.

She wore black heels that elevated her stature, the heels appearing to be about four inches high. Her makeup was minimal, just a hint of lip gloss, a stroke of eyeliner, and a touch of mascara, yet it was enough to accentuate her natural beauty.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, a radiant smile lit up her face, and Gabriel couldn’t help but wonder if this lovely gown was indeed one of the pieces Grace had persuaded her to wear.

“You look absolutely lovely,” he said, his voice warm as he struggled to divert his gaze from her. His wolf stirred within him, howling for attention, and he fought against the instinctual urge to draw her closer.

“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t bring myself to wear any of Ms. Suzie’s clothes. Grace mentioned you were okay with it…”

“But I just couldn’t,” Lori admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she stood before him.

Gabriel shrugged, trying to dismiss the weight of the moment. “It was merely a suggestion. Honestly, it’s not a big deal.”

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