“Pole dance,” Gabe repeated. “Where?” He was trying so hard to look engaged in the conversation when I knew his mind had gone straight to the gutter.
“I have a studio in my attic.”
Gabe nearly knocked over his glass of Coke. “Studio?”
“Mmm hmm,” I replied nonchalantly. “I took lessons for a while and then decided to turn my attic space into my own studio.”
“Are you good at it?” The lust I saw in his eyes nearly made me giddy with pleasure because the thought of my spinning on a pole surpassed his exuberance of the food he just woofed down. Or was he imagining me spinning on his pole.
“Oh yeah,” I said confidently. “I’ve won a few competitions even.”
“They have pole dancing competitions?” Gabe looked both shocked and amazed that something like that existed.
“Yep, and they’re stiff too.”
“Not yet, but it’s getting there,” Gabe replied.
I had been referring to a tough competition, but I wasn’t unaffected by his words. I could feel my body responding to the thought of making him hard. My skin suddenly felt too tight to fit my body and my mouth began to water for something more than the food I had been consuming. I wanted to tell him to order the pie to go, but I cautioned myself to take things slow. There was no doubt in my mind that Gabe would have his fill of me at some point and move on; I had no desire to rush the end.
Daniella arrived just as I finished my last tasty bite of food. “Dessert?”
“Banana cream pie for me,” I told her.
“Make that two,” Gabe added. “I think I better steer this conversation back to safer topics for public dining,” he said once she walked away to get our pie.
“Probably for the best,” I agreed. “Did you have a break in Georgia’s case today? Was that the emergency that kept you from eating?”
“I really wish I could talk about it, but I can’t discuss an ongoing case with you,” Gabe replied. I could tell by the regret in his eyes that he spoke the truth.
“Fair enough,” I replied. I could tell he was relieved that I let it go so easily. Damn, I wasn’t difficult to deal withallthe time. “So, tell me about your family.” I thought it was a safe topic. I’d told him a little about my folks so I thought it fair he did the same.
“My dad is an auto mechanic and my mother owns a bakery,” he replied easily. “They’ve been married for forty-two years and act as in love now as they always have.”
“My parents are like that too,” I told him. “I learned to make a lot of noise before I entered a room to give them time to straighten up before I entered. I was happy that they were mad for each other, but I never wanted to see it for myself.” My remark made Gabe laugh and I liked it. “I’m an only child. Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“No sisters, but I had an older brother.” Had, as in past tense. Apparently, it wasn’t as safe a topic as I thought.
“I’m really sorry, Gabe.”
“Thank you,” he said softly. I saw the sadness in his eyes and wondered how long his brother had been gone and what happened to him, but I dared not give voice to my questions. “It was a long time ago. Dylan was a victim of a convenience store robbery gone bad. His case was never solved and his killer wasn’t brought to justice.”
“That’s why you became a cop.”
“I knew what it felt like to have someone taken away so suddenly and how much it hurts when their killer is never brought to justice. I try so hard to prevent other families from feeling that way.” His eyes were locked on a point somewhere over my right shoulder, as if he was lost in thought.
I reached over and placed my hand over his where it rested on the table. I wasn’t sure who was more surprised by the gesture – him or me. I simply wanted to give comfort to a man who deserved it, nothing more. I went to pull my hand back once I had his attention but he snatched my fingers and pulled me back.
I swallowed down the emotion that had gathered and formed a large lump in my throat. I didn’t want to like the things Gabe made me feel, but I did. I didn’t want to become dependent on those feelings, but I was worried that I would. I felt panic rising inside me and was about to make a fool of myself when Daniella returned to the table with our pie. I was so happy to see her that I could’ve jumped up and hugged her.
Gabe reluctantly released my hand and I could tell by the smile on his face that he sensed just how close I had come to freaking out. “I’m not so scary, you know.”
“Said the alligator to the little yappy dog that was standing along the side of the lake before he ate him.” I pointed at Gabe with my fork, indicating that he was the alligator in the scenario. Wait, that made me a little yappy dog.
“Why’d you have to go and kill the little yappy dog?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Things were going so well until you freaked out because I held your hand.”
“I didn’t freak out,” I replied defensively.
“You started to,” Gabe rebutted. “Try not to freak out next time I touch you in public. I promise to keep it clean.”
