Chapter Four
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Gabby couldn’t helpbut feel a little sad as Logan drove her home. When she was sixteen, this night would have been the best of her life, especially if he kissed her on her doorstep at the end of the date.
Now, as a twenty-nine year old woman, Gabby knew a good night kiss wasn’t likely. Though Logan was attentive and well mannered the entire evening, he didn’t flirt or give any indication that this was more than a nice meal between two old acquaintances. If he wasn’t so damn good looking, she would be thrilled to have him as a friend.
However, Gabby was all too aware that her attraction to him would make it impossible for her to consider him simply a friend and that was a road she didn’t intend to travel. Unrequited love was for teenagers and gothic heroines.
Grown women focused on the realities of their situation, pulled up their big girl britches, and dealt with it.
She smiled at Logan as he helped her out of the truck in her driveway. Ever the gentleman, he also walked her to the front door.
Brushing a stray piece of hair away from her eyes, Gabby looked up at him. “Thanks for dinner. I had a lot of fun.”
Logan tucked his hands into his pockets. “I did too. More than I have in a long time.”
“I’m glad you asked me. It was fun to catch up,” she replied, bending her head over her purse in search of her house key.
When Logan’s fingers brushed her cheek, Gabby looked up and realized that he was leaning toward her. She pulled back slightly, confused. “What are you doing?”
“Uh, kissing you?” he asked, smiling a little.
Her voice was tight when she queried, “Kissing me?”
Cupping her cheek, Logan tilted her face up so their eyes met. “You see, in America, most dates end with this thing called a good night kiss. The man or woman presses their lips against the other person’s. It’s usually expected, sometimes even desired.”
Gabby made a face at him. “Don’t be a jerk.” He laughed and leaned in again, but she retreated, her lower back coming up against the railing on her small porch.
The smile faded from Logan’s face. “Gabby?”
“Hang on, I’m thinking.”
The amusement returned to his eyes. “About?”
“I just didn’t realize that this was a date. I mean, you talked about catching up, but you weren’t really flirting with me or anything so I just assumed-” Gabby stopped when she realized she was basically trying to talk Logan out of kissing her. At fifteen, she always wondered how good his kisses could be. Now, she had a chance to find out. “Oh, screw it,” she muttered, dropping her purse on the porch, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pulling his head down towards hers.
Logan’s eyes were bright and dancing as his face lowered. When their lips met, it was tentative and searching, almost innocent.
But the gentleness didn’t last long. The breath caught in Gabby’s chest as his hands moved up her back and trailed over the bare skin between her shoulder blades. Though the summer evening was warm, goose bumps broke out on her arms.
Eagerly, her lips parted beneath his. He tasted dark and spicy, like Mexican chocolate. Their bodies collided, and Gabby dug her fingers into his shoulders, desperate to keep her equilibrium even though she knew it was a battle she would lose. As their tongues tangled, Logan pressed her against the railing of the porch. The kiss was suddenly beyond either of their control.
Gabby gasped when his teeth closed over her bottom lip. Logan sucked gently at the sting before burying his face against her throat. Her head fell back as his mouth moved down the side of her neck.
As he arched her backwards, his lips traveling over her collarbone, the porch railing suddenly bit into her lower back, making her cry out.
His head jerked up. “Are you okay?”
“Can you back up a little?” she asked.
He stepped back and Gabby clung to him, giving him her weight.
“Thank you,” she sighed. “That railing doesn’t have a lot of give to it.” She laughed softly. “I guess I’m getting too old to make out on my front porch.”
Logan chuckled. “Wanna go back out to the truck?” he suggested with a fake leer.
Giggling, Gabby shook her head. “I’m definitely too old for that.”
