Paige patted his knee, sparking the desire he'd felt when he kissed her. "It's nice to know you learned some social skills as you grew up."
He was both relieved and disappointed when she moved her hand away. Now that he'd given in to temptation and kissed her, he had a feeling any physical contact between them would always make him crave more.
They continued to share stories about one another for some time before Mom brought the conversation back to Paige. "Tell us about your family, Paige."
Even though Gabe knew most of what Paige shared about her parents and her older brother and his family, he enjoyed listening to her talk. He loved the fondness that filled her voice as she talked about her nieces and nephew. His eyes grew wide when she told them about her brother, Ben, losing his first wife in a car accident.
The man must have been beside himself with grief to have his daughter kidnapped from the car the same night his wife died. Gabe recalled Gladys mentioning something about Ben's wife and daughter to Paige on her first day of PT, but he had no idea it was such a tragic story.
"That poor, poor man." Mom pressed her hand to her chest. "Did they ever find his daughter?"
"Yes, but not for a whole year."
Thankfully, Mom continued to ask questions that had Paige sharing a story that Gabe—as her boyfriend—should already know but was dying to hear. He loved learning more about Paige's family and wished he could get to know them better.
But for that to happen, this thing between him and Paige would have to be real. Openly dating Paige could cost him his job though. It’d be difficult, but after that kiss, waiting until she was done with PT would be worth it.
But if she doesn’t find a teaching job in Providence, she’ll return to Seattle. Would she be willing to give a long-distance relationship a try?
Washe?
CHAPTER 15
Deciding to save dessert until later, they all helped clean up the kitchen, then Marisol dragged them outside to see her vegetable garden.
Paige took great delight in the flush that covered Gabe's cheeks as his mom sang his praises. Marisol repeatedly mentioned what a dutiful son he was as she pointed out all the things he helped her with. Gabe became the man of the house after his father left, which couldn't have been easy, considering he was still a teenager.
She recalled the way Toa talked about what an easy life Gabe must have had to be able to excel at his studies the way he did. However, Gabe's life had been anything but easy. He'd succeeded because he worked hard and took his job seriously. So why was he jeopardizing it by trying to pass a patient off as his fake girlfriend?
And that kiss!
They’d definitely crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed, but Paige didn’t regret it. She’d never felt such a strong pull toward a man. Kissing Phillip had been enjoyable and pleasant with plenty of warm, fuzzy feelings, but when Gabe kissed her, Paige's whole body came alive. She'd read about women having that kind of toe-curling, knee-buckling reaction in romance novels, but she'd never experienced theall-consuming chemistry that assaulted all her senses in the very best way.
"…don't you think Paige?"
With a start, Paige pulled herself from her thoughts. Her cheeks flamed as she took in the three faces staring at her. Marisol's was expectant, waiting for an answer. Grace's brow remained furrowed, her disapproval palpable. Gabe's right eyebrow arched. He wore a knowing grin as if he knew exactly where her thoughts had been.
"I uh… I'm sorry," Paige stammered. "I'm afraid I let my mind wander and didn't hear your question, Mrs. Rivera."
"Oh please, call me Marisol." Gabe's mom waved a hand. "I mean we're practically family after all. You'll be calling me Mom soon."
Paige froze. How did she respond to that?
Gabe started coughing as though choking on something that had the ability to do him in.
Even Grace's eyes widened as panic filled her face.
Paige was torn between bolting out the side gate of the backyard and pounding Gabe on the back. And not just because he was choking. Her recent injuries prevented her from running, so she chuckled awkwardly.
"It's only a matter of time, right?" Marisol gave her an innocent look. "Isn't that why you came home for the summer?"
Drat!
Had she oversold their relationship during dinner? She was only trying to act like a devoted girlfriend, but maybe she'd taken it too far.
"It is." Paige stifled her laughter before it became hysterical and turned to Gabe. "Are you okay, honey?"
He pounded his chest and coughed one final time. "Uh…yeah, I'm fine." He took her hand in his, and like each time he touched her during dinner, the tension in her body drained away.
