He cleared his throat. “Come to dinner with me.”
She blinked. “Dinner?”
“Just us.” He angled his body toward her, expression vulnerable in a way she’d never seen before. “No family. No shop talk. Just you and me. Tonight.”
Her breath caught.
“Yes,” she said immediately.
His eyes darkened, leaving a puddle of warmth low in her belly. “And wear something nice.”
She lifted a teasing brow. “Planning to impress me?”
He leaned closer, voice dropping to a delicious rumble. “Planning to ruin you for any other man.”
A full-body shiver rippled through her. Then she was in his arms, her bottom landing in his lap and her lips on his. At first, she felt his surprise. Then he wrapped her tight in his arms and kissed her back with that white-hot current that never seemed to completely stop arcing between them.
When they pulled apart, she eased out of his lap and gained her feet. “You’d better give me time to get ready.”
She tried to step back, but he caught her wrist gently, letting his fingers slide away one by one—a slow drag that lit up every nerve she had.
He glided to his feet. “That look you’re giving me? It’s going to ruinmebefore seven.”
Her laugh came out a little shaky. A little breathless. God help her, she loved the way he said it.
Tonight wasn’t just dinner.
It felt like the start of a path she wasn’t sure she was ready to step onto.
But damn…she wanted the adventure.
Chapter Twelve
The drive to Felicity’s house didn’t take long, but Gabe wished it did. He wanted as much time with her as possible, even if it was spent glancing over at her and seeing the sun streaking warm gold through each strand of her hair like it wanted to light her from the inside out.
She was quiet, but not the anxious quiet he picked up from her other times. This was anticipation simmering under the surface, and it heated him too.
Her little house came into view, as charming as its owner. He walked her to the door, and she unlocked it. When they entered, the air smelled stale after being shut up for the past few days.
She stepped out of her shoes and turned to him. “Give me ten minutes. Maybe fifteen. Or twenty if I melt down trying to zip the dress.”
His lips quirked at one corner. “I can help with that.”
Pink roses bloomed in her cheeks at the insinuation.
“Let me check out your room first. Then I’ll have a look around the rest of the place while you get ready.”
He made a hasty rotation through the bedroom, checking the closet and the bathroom. When he returned, he nodded.
She disappeared down the hallway, leaving him alone in her living room. He went to the kitchen, checked the back door and window locks. Then he had a look at the garage. Finding all secure, he continued through the house, making sure nothing was out of order.
He inhaled once, slow.
Her scent was everywhere—shampoo and sunshine even on the grayest of spring days. It hung in the air and threaded into everything that belonged to her—the furniture and even the piles of books stacked on the coffee table.
She lived a simple, quiet life. Kinder than any world he lived in, but damn if he didn’t ache to step into hers on a more permanent basis.
Maybe forever.
