Evie's pulse skipped. She searched Gabe's face for any sign of insincerity but found only earnest intensity in those striking green eyes.
"But... why?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Gabe's lips quirked up in a half-smile. "Because you're real, Evie. In a world of plastic smiles and hidden agendas, you're refreshingly genuine. Your determination, your kindness, the way you light up when you talk about your son or a new recipe - it's captivating."
He reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. The gentle touch sent tingles across her skin.
“You made me feel things I wanted to embrace… and then I saw your wedding ring, so I settled for being friends.”
Her heart stuttered. “But… but you were Adrian’s friend.”
Gabe pursed his lips. "Adrian and I became friends because I put myself inyourpath, Evie,” Gabe said, his jaw tightening. "And I’m not sure we were ever actually that. I mean, he hasn’t bothered to keep in touch. Our friendship suited his purposes while he lived here, and more, I think, because of my social standing than anything else. I always thought he took his friendships for granted, like he could take them or leave them.”
He paused for a moment as if weighing his words. “And I thought he took you for granted."
And Adrian had certainly left her when it no longer suited him.
"I don't understand," Evie said, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you were interested, why didn't you say anything after... after Adrian left?"
Gabe's fingers trailed down her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. "It’s not been that long, Evie. You had a lot going on, so I wanted to give you time. And honestly, I wasn't sure how to approach you. I'm not exactly known for my romantic gestures."
A laugh bubbled up in Evie's throat, part disbelief and part nervous energy. "So, bringing me hot chocolate every night isn't a romantic gesture?"
Gabe chuckled. “The hot chocolate is Shepherd’s romantic gesture. It seems I have competition.”
Evie's heart raced. She was acutely aware of how close they were standing, but his words were confusing her. What did he mean about Shepherd? And why did those words send a thrill through her? She was attracted to Gabe, without a doubt, but Shepherd… Spun sugar! Why did this all have to be so hard?
“I can see you’re having trouble with this,” Gabe said with a smile in his voice. “But please believe I'm here becausebeing around you makes me want to be a better man. Not the staunch businessman everyone expects, but someone worthy of a moment of your precious time."
Evie's breath caught in her throat. She did believe him, and it made her insides turn liquid. He bent his head towards hers.
"In the meantime…”
The kiss was incendiary. Behind those three-piece suits and honed business instincts was a passion Evie had never expected. Gabe's lips moved against hers with a fervor that made her knees weak. His hand cupped the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair as he deepened the kiss.
Evie's mind went blank, overwhelmed by sensation. The solid warmth of his body pressed against hers, the faint scratch of his neatly trimmed beard, the taste of mint on his tongue. She found herself clutching at his shoulders, needing something to anchor her as the room seemed to spin.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Evie struggled to form a coherent thought. Her lips tingled, and her heart raced. She stared up at Gabe, taking in his usually impeccable hair now slightly mussed from her fingers, his intense green eyes dark with desire.
"I... wow," she managed, eloquence deserting her.
Gabe's lips quirked up in a smile that was equal parts smug and tender. "Something to think about," he murmured, brushing his thumb across her cheek.
Before Evie could gather her wits, he was gone.
Chapter
Fifteen
EVIE
Okay, so if she was going to start something with Gabe, she needed to cut Shepherd and Asher loose. It wasn’t fair to have them running errands for her if she was taking up with another man. No matter that they’d insisted they were acting out of friendship, they’d both said things that made her wonder, so it didn’t sit well with her to feel like she was stringing them along.
Except it seemed both men had other ideas.
Ignoring the spanking comment that had soaked her panties, Evie tackled Asher first, the next time they were playing Santa and his elf together at the festival.
Watching how amazing he was with the children, no matter how scared, bratty, rude or tantrummy they were, tugged at maternal strings inside her. She had a son, after all, and couldn’t help imagining what a fantastic father Asher would be. But no, she shouldn’t be thinking like that when Gabe…
