Her eyes widened. “But you…kindof know me…” She trailed off, realizing that he probably didn’t; that all the connection could, quite possibly, be in her head.
“Amber!” Gabe called from just over her shoulder. She turned around to see Gabe looking daggers at Green-Eyes.
“Yes?”
“Dad’s just called and wanted to know if you’re still going to Belendroit.”
“Of course I am. I told him I am.”
“He wants you to call him back,” Gabe insisted, glancing between the two of them.
Green Eyes was either ignoring, or oblivious to, Gabe’s glare. He pocketed his wallet, nodded at Amber, and walked out the door without a backward glance.
Amber let a long, slow breath slide from her body, and looked around to find the few remaining lunch customers quickly looking back at their plates, except for Gabe, whose angry gaze was following Green Eyes out the door.
Amber walked without thinking to Maddy and slid into the seat next to her.
“Oh, Amber!” Maddy said, her beautiful face puckered into a frown.
“Bastard,” muttered Gabe, taking his seat opposite Maddy.
“No, he’s not,” said Amber automatically. Sheknewhe wasn’t, or at least shethoughtshe knew he wasn’t.
“Yes, he is!” said an indignant Gabe. “Anyone who treats my sister like that is a total and utter bastard. And next time I see him, I’ll tell him.”
“No!” said Amber.
“You’ll do no such thing!” Maddy added.
“Come on, he’s rude and obnoxious.”
Amber opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t think of anything to counter Gabe’s claim. “I know he comes across like that, but I see something different in him.”
Gabe scoffed. “What you see is an athletic body.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” asked Amber.
“Nothing is wrong with that.” He sighed and took her hands. “All I’m saying is that I can see him for what he is. I’m not blinded by pheromones.”
“Pheromones are important,” said Amber. “They are probably more truthful than words.”
Gabe sighed and sat back in defeat.
“And he bought my paintings.”
Gabe’s eyes opened wide. “He…”
“Bought my paintings. He told me he did.”
Neither Gabe nor Maddy spoke.
“Anyway.” Amber chewed her lip. “It was probably the coriander.”
Maddy tilted her head to one side. “Coriander?”
“Yes. He doesn’t like it.”
“Nor do I,” said Gabe.
