She gave me a smile. “Good. She’s here, by the way. We rode in together.”
My grin grew. “You shared a car with Tori and Reid?”
“I put up with sharing a car with them. The child never shuts up. I haven’t heard so much about cars since you were an annoying brat.” A tug at her lips told me she’d enjoyed it more than she would ever admit to me. “Next time you need a babysitter, pay for one.”
“I’ll make sure Auntie Liv is available,” I teased as she walked to the door.
“Don’t you dare, or I’ll take a pair of scissors to every one of those designer suits you love and shred them.”
“Ouch. That’s extreme.”
“You owe me, Gabe.”
“And I know you won’t let me forget it.”
After she left, I made my way to Tori’s office. Her door was open, and she was studying her computer screen, a pencil between her teeth. She wore a navy dress that brought out the hues in her eyes and deepened the ebony in her hair. I watched her, fully aware that it was a creepy move, but she had me mesmerized, and the idea that she could be mine again left me frozen.
Eyes lifting, she jumped slightly before a gorgeous smile lit her face.
“Morning,” she said.
I moved from where I’d been leaning on the doorframe and closed the office door before I made my way to her. Leaning over, I tangled my hand in her hair and kissed her. She clutched at my shirt, and I pulled her up, needing to feel her body against mine. A reminder that I hadn’t dreamed this, that we were really getting our second chance.
“I’m not sure how appropriate this is for work,” she mumbled against my lips, her hand in my hair.
“Since I own the company, I’m making an exception.” My hands followed the curve of her waist. After years of yearning forher to be in my arms again, now that she was, it was difficult not to touch her. “Have dinner with me tonight,” I said.
“But I have Reid.”
“Then we make it pizza and a movie. Just like we used to do.”
She tipped her head, giving me a smile. “You’ll bring the beer?”
I laughed, trying to think of the last time I’d had a beer. “Definitely.”
“Sounds like a date, but I have to warn you, movie time isn’t what it used to be.”
Shrugging, I said, “Whatever Reid wants. As long as I’m with the two of you, I won’t care.”
Eyes the color of a clear summer day shimmered. “Why don’t you pick him up with me?”
My stomach knotted as the air in my lungs froze. “Really?”
“Yeah. But Gabe,” she dropped her arms from my neck, taking a step back, “he can’t know yet. Not until…”
Her eyes fell to the floor, but I put my finger under her chin and lifted it, saying, “Until we figure this out?”
A simple nod and melancholy eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You need to protect him, and I’ve already hurt him. You don’t want to take the chance of that happening again.” It hurt to say, to know she didn’t fully trust me, but how could she? One night of confessions couldn’t erase years of pain.
“I want to let you back in, but I’m frightened.”
I stepped back into her space. “I’m never going away again, Tori. Nothing could make me leave your side or his. If I must spend the rest of my life proving that to you, I will.”
“Not the rest of your life. Just a little while.”
“Then you have whatever time you need, as long as you let me in enough to prove myself to you.” My fingers brushed over her cheek as I tucked a strand of her hair back. “Starting with pizza and a movie.”
