Design for Love ((Women of Landry's Landing and The Fabrizio men) (3 page)

Gabe didn't reply right away because he was too busy keeping an eye on what London was doing.

"Why didn't any of you stop London from wasting time with that guy? We don't know anything about this guy other than what's on his resume. What if she leaves with him, and something happens to her?" Gabe said as he continued to stare at London and the man she was sitting with.

"Well this is a fine time to be worrying about London now isn't it? I mean with your date sitting across the table from you and her on the other side of the room with hers." Gigi said.

"Well since all of you are being so damn nosy. This isn't a date it's a business dinner. I was interviewing Brenda here for the secretarial position we need to fill at the new office." Gabe said as he glanced at each of them before turning his gaze back to London and the man sitting with her.

"Why in the hell didn't you just say that in the first place?" Gigi asked.

"If you hadn't noticed I'm a little busy trying to keep an eye on London and that shady looking guy she's sitting with." Gabe replied as he continued to keep his gaze on London.

"Here's a suggestion, since you don't seem to be in the right frame of mind to conduct an interview tonight maybe you should send Becky home for the night." Asia said.

"For the last time people my name is Barbara, not Brenda, not Becky and definitely not Barbie." The woman said in irritation.

"Oh honey, we could not care less what your name is. Besides it’s time for you to go." Asia said in a tone that matched her words. "Luc darling why don't you show Barbara out. I think Gabe is done with her for the night." She added politely.

"That sounds like a good idea come on Barbara let me walk you out." Luc said as he proceeded to walk the woman out of the dining room and to the front door.

London didn't notice when Gabe's dinner companion left the dining room because she was too busy trying to keep Justin at arm’s length. He’d started to get a little grabby with his hands shortly after she’d sat down to join him, touching and feeling way more than he had any right to. Whether he knew it or not he was about two seconds from getting the hell slapped out of him.

"Look, Justin you're cute and you seemed like a really nice guy before I decided to join you. Now you just seem like a real jerk, and if you try to grab at me one more time, I will bust you in your lip." London said.

"Oh so you're trying to play hard to get or is it that you just like it a little rough?" Justin whispered as he reached for her once again grabbing her upper arm and began pulling her towards him.

"Do you think that I was joking with you a minute ago? Because you're about to find out right quick and in a hurry just how serious I was if you don't get your damn hands of me." London yelled as she struggled to free her arm from his grasp.

Within seconds, Gabe had crossed the dining room and was at her side. He reached down and grabbed the man tightly around the wrist.

“
You seem to be putting your hands where they don’t belong. Now I suggest that if you want to keep them attached to the rest of you, then you might want to keep them off of London.” Gabe said in a serious tone.

“
Excuse me, but shouldn’t you be minding your own business Mr. Boss man?” Justin asked sarcastically.

“
London is my business. She's a member of my family, and you seem to be a problem for her right now so that makes it my business.” Gabe said as he pulled the man to his feet.

“
You may be my boss when I’m on the clock but on my own time you’re just a regular guy about to get his ass kicked.” Justin said as he narrowed his gaze at Gabe.

Across the room, Luc had just returned as Gigi and Asia, were starting to get worried. The two of them had never really seen Gabe get truly angry. On occasion, he’d gotten a little irritated with London or his brothers but nothing serious. The expression he had on his face at the moment was anything but calm.

“
Shouldn’t one of you go over there and do something before the construction worker hurts Gabe?” Asia said sounding worried.

“
Nay, he’ll be fine Gabe has handled guys a hell of a lot tougher than him.” Luc said with a grin.

“
Yeah, don’t worry this is nothing he can’t handle.” Pierce said with a smile.

“
Are you two sure because Gabe just seems like such a softie to me?” Gigi said as she glanced across the room at him.

“
Hey don’t let his kindness fool you, Gabe’s been boxing since he was a kid, and in college, he even did some professional boxing for a while. He was and still is pretty good at it.” Pierce said with pride.

“
Yeah, so if you want to worry about somebody you might want to make it the guy, who's about to get his head knocked off.” Luc said lightly.

London watched as the expression on Gabe’s face changed from irritation to amusement. She’d known him long enough to know that was not a good thing. London could see the dangerous glean in his light-brown eyes. She noticed that his grip on Justin’s arm tightened making the man wince from the slight pain.

Justin tried unsuccessfully to pull his wrist free of Gabe’s grasp. He realized that he’d made a terrible mistake when he looked up and saw the look in Gabe’s eyes. The scary one-sided smirk Gabe wore did nothing to soothe the man’s rapidly racing heart. The fear he felt was about to strangle him to death as it impaired his breathing.

Gabe pulled the man closer but still did not release the grip he had on the man’s wrist. “I’m sorry, who’s about to get his ass kicked?”

“
I…I...I may have had a few too many drinks. I wasn’t trying to cause any trouble tonight, boss.” Justin stammered.

“
Then I think this is a good time for you to apologize to London and leave while you still can.” Gabe replied as he loosed his hold on the man’s wrist just enough so that he could turn slightly to face London.

“
London, I apologize for my behavior tonight I was out of line, and I promise that it will never happen again.” Justin said hoping that would grant his release from the death grip that Gabe had on him.

“
You bet your ass it won’t because if you so much as breathe in my direction. I'll slap you so hard that you’ll end up in another time zone. You got that, cream-puff?” London said.

“
Yeah, I got it.” Justin murmured as Gabe released his hold on him allowing the man to leave. Gabe tried helplessly to contain his laughter as the man stalked from the room.

“
What are you laughing at and who asked you to butt in I could’ve handled that…that…” London let her words trail off as she searched for a name to call the annoying construction worker, she’d mistakenly that was a good guy.

“
That cream-puff, is that the word you’re looking for?” Gabe said with a grin.

“
Stop trying to change the subject and answer my question.” London demanded.

“
What was I supposed to do just sit there and watch him put his hands on you like that? Yeah, I don’t think so there was no way in hell I was going to stand for that.” Gabe said angrily.

“
And why in the hell not, it’s not like you have feelings for me or anything. Besides what’s the point in getting beat down for someone you aren’t even involved with?” London asked as she gazed up at him.

Gabe laughed humorlessly. “Really is that what you think would’ve happened?”

“
Uh oh, this is going to be some argument.” Asia whispered as she and the others watched from across the room.

“
Yeah, but it’s been a long time coming maybe if they get it all out in the open, they can finally learn to play nice.” Gigi whispered in response.

Indy came out of the kitchen carrying little Dante and with Gio following close behind as they walked past Gabe and London and headed over to the others.

“
What is with all the shouting out here, why are those two at it this time?” Indy asked as she sat down in one of the empty chairs closest to her.

“
Girl would you be quiet we’re trying to hear what they’re saying, and if you keep talking, we won’t be able to hear them.” Asia said.

“
Heifer please. Those two are so loud you can hear them in the next county.” Indy replied.

“
What, you really think you could’ve beaten Justin? You do know that he’s one of the construction workers who works for you right? And you, well you’re Gabe.” She said cautiously.

“
And just what in the hell is that supposed to mean? You seriously don’t think I could have beaten that guy do you?” Gabe asked loudly.

“
Look all I’m saying is that he’s use to being physical because of his work and your work keeps you sitting behind a desk all day crunching numbers. So it probably wouldn’t have been a fair fight.” She said attempting to explain what she was saying.

“
Okay so you think that because I sit behind a desk, I have no physical skills, and I’d allow a guy whom you call cream-puff to take me down?” Gabe asked as he stared down at her.

“
Just forget it. I’m tired and all I want to do is take a hot shower and go to sleep.” London said as she turned to leave, but before she could take a step Gabe stopped her by grabbing her hand.

“
I have half a mind to take you over my knee and spank your little smart ass.” Gabe said in frustration.

“
Wow, that’s surprising.” London said sarcastically.

“
What’s so surprising, that I’d like to give you the spanking of your life?” He asked.

“
No, the part about you having half a mind, that’s one half more than I thought you, had.

However, I shouldn’t be surprised that you only have half a mind, which is probably why you act so damn stupid sometimes.” London replied loudly.

“
Uh oh, this could get real ugly, real quick.” Indy said as she and the others watched the fiery exchange between London and Gabe.

“
Shh!” Both Asia and Gigi said in unison.

“
What, oh hell naw, I know ya’ll aren’t shushing me?” Indy said in irritation.

“
In all fairness gattino, they did ask you to be quiet.” Gio said with a smile.

“
Thank you!” Asia said politely.

“
Little girls, after I have this baby. I'm going to dedicate a whole day to whipping ya’ll asses one by one. And tiger if you aren’t careful you’ll be joining my sisters for one of those ass whipping’s.” Indy said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

“
Gattino, unlike your sisters I know a few tricks that will calm you right down.” Gio said wearing a devilish smirk.

Indy smiled. “Yes, you certainly do baby.”

“
Yeah, so I think I’ll pass on any ass whippings you had in store for me.” Gio said as he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead.

“
Any tricks that can calm Indy down must be pretty damn good.” Gigi said laughing.

“
Woman you infuriate me so much at times, if you were a man, I’d be tempted to belt you in the mouth.” Gabe said through tightly clenched teeth.

“
And if you were a man I wouldn’t have been with that ass hole in the first place, so this conversation is over.” She yelled before attempting to walk away, forgetting the fact that Gabe was still holding onto her hand.

When she struggled to break free of his hold, he tugged her towards him until her body slammed against his. The minute her body was pressed to his, he slipped his arms around her waist. She gazed up at him startled by what he’d done as her breath caught.

He gazed down at her as he kept his eyes fixed on her slightly parted lips. Gabe slowly began to lower his head forward as she leaned closer hoping and anticipating the kiss she’d longed for all this time. When his mouth captured hers, she slipped her arms around his neck returning his steamy kiss tongue stroke for tongue stroke.

“
That’s our cue to leave.” Luc said as he took Asia by the hand and headed for the door.

“
We’re right behind you.” Pierce said lifting his son from Indy’s arms before taking Gigi’s hand to follow Luc and Asia out.

“
Yeah, it took them long enough, but I think they’re final headed in the right direction.” Gio said as he put his arm around Indy’s waist to walk her out.

“
They’d better be because, frankly. The two of them are really starting to get on my damn nerves.” Indy said as she let her husband walk her out of the dining room behind the others.

London felt her body melting into his, and she wanted to give in to that feeling so badly, but she was still a little pissed that Gabe had brought a date here when he knew she’d be working tonight.

She tore her mouth from his and shoved him away. “How dare you kiss me like that after having the nerve to bring Bambi here so that you could flaunt her in my face?”

“
I was not flaunting anything in your face, and she was not my date. I was interviewing her for the secretarial position that needs to be filled.” Gabe said in frustration.

“
Oh is that what you’re calling it
an interview
?” London asked in a tone laced with sarcasm.

“
Yes, that’s exactly what I’m calling it because that’s exactly what it was.” He replied.

“
Please, don’t play games with me Gabe, I’m not stupid. That bimbo looked like she could fill many positions, but a secretary isn’t one of them.” London yelled.