He chuckles, nodding in understanding. “Sit with me?”
Christ. That voice.
The deep timbre causes goosebumps to erupt across my skin. A shiver runs down my spine as I imagine his full lips whisperingverydirty things in my ear.
He’s a complete stranger for fucks sake!
Calm your tits.
I don’t trust myself to speak, so all I can do is nod like a damn idiot.
His hand rests on my lower back, guiding me to an empty table in the corner. Every nerve ending in my body comes to life at his touch, and I’m a walking ball of sensation. He pulls out my chair, his breath tickling my neck as he says, “My name isGabriel Layton. Call me Gabe.”
Even his name is sexy.
Clutching my cup, I silently will my body to calm the hell down. “N-nice to meet you. I’m Brooke Monroe.”
His smile is warm, but his blue eyes darken as they dart to my lips. “You’re beautiful,Brooke.”
Oh God.
The way he says my name is laced with nothing but dark and filthy promises.
I’ve read entirely too many smut books lately.
Opening my mouth to say something, I close it immediately. I’ve got nothing. A knowing smirk tugs at his lips before taking a sip of coffee. My gaze latches onto his throat, and I swallow slowly at the same time he does.
“What do you do for a living,Brooke Monroe?” Our eyes meet and I squirm beneath his gaze.
Ireallyneed him to stop saying my name like that. “I’m a book editor. What do you do?”
He runs a hand down his long goatee, a fire dancing in his blue eyes. “I own Layton Construction. We mostly build shopping centers and strip malls.”
Sexy and successful.
I smile. “You sound like a busy man,Gabriel Layton.”
Oh no.
Am I flirting?
His eyes darken. “Calling me Gabriel does things to me, Brooke. Tell me, are you married?”
Well, that escalated quickly.
“No. I’ve been divorced for two years, and I haven’t dated since.” My eyes widen at my vomiting words, and heat rushes to my face.
Why the fuck am I telling him my business?
His expression turns wicked, and I squeeze my thighs together, trying to suffocate the throbbing between my legs. “Why haven’t you dated since your divorce?”
Something about this guy has me feeling unbalanced and a little too vulnerable. But for the life of me, I just can’t stop the shit coming out of my mouth. “My marriage wasn’t a good one. I’ve spent the last two years finding myself again.”
His eyes soften. “He’s a fool.”
My face flames hotter. “I’m happy now, so that’s all that matters. What about you?”
The look he gives me has disappointment slamming into my chest like a brick. I should’ve known someone like him would be taken. As I’m about to excuse myself, he grips my hand across the table. That single touch sends a tremor through my body. I look at his hand, slowly following the ink trailing up his muscular forearms. The detail is beautiful, skulls with smoke covering every inch of skin.
