"No one." Nikki’s expression said she saw right through his act. "But you were anxious to find a girlfriend to take home to your mom, and Paige volunteered, so I assumed you took her home over the weekend." Nikki now gave Gabe a look that said duh. "So how did it go?"
"It went fine." The tone of Gabe's clipped words would have told most people he didn't want to discuss it, but Nikki wasn't great at reading social cues.
She turned her attention to Paige. "So is his mom like totally crazy?"
"No, she’s very nice." When the expectant look on Nikki's face didn't change, Paige added, "We had a nice visit over dinner."
"Did you have to hold hands and all that stuff?" Nikki's gaze darted between Paige and Gabe.
Paige had no idea what Nikki meant byall that stuff, but she didn't want to disclose any more than was necessary.
"Yes, I held Paige's hand." Gabe's tone was dull, sounding almost bored. "It was expected, since she's supposed to be my girlfriend."
A gleam filled Nikki's eyes as she grinned. "Did she make you guys kiss?"
Paige's heart rate spiked, and warmth swept over her as she recalled their kiss. Gentle at first, then more demanding and highly intoxicating.
Gabe's brows furrowed as he stared at Nikki. "Why would my mother make us kiss?"
"You know, to make sure your relationship is really legit." She giggled. "That's what always happens in romance novels."
"Oh brother." Gabe shook his head then scowled at Nikki. "My motherdid notmake us kiss." A tone of finality filled Gabe voice, and Paige hoped Nikki would let it go.
The younger woman would laugh her head off if she knew Paige and Gabe had stumbled over that particular hurdle before she even met Gabe’s mom. She'd relived that kiss many times, and every time, she concluded that it was one of the best kisses she’d ever had.
"Bummer." Nikki's face fell. "Your mom was supposed to make you kiss. And that's when you realize you’re soulmates who were meant to be together."
Gabe locked gazes with Paige. She couldn't decipher the message in his eyes because she was too busy wondering if their amazing kiss meant something, never mind that she didn't believe in that kind of stuff. He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head before he looked away.
"You’ve been reading too many romance books, Nikki." Gabe looked over his shoulder at the nosy girl as he strapped Sam's left hand to the handle of the stepper. "If you believe all the nonsense you read in those books, you'll be sorely disappointed in real life."
Nonsense?
A sharp twinge pricked Paige's chest. She'd read her share of romances, and yes, when it came to her experience with Phillip, she'd been bitterly disappointed. But to hear Gabe so easily dismiss what every woman longed for stung, especially after the breathtaking kiss they'd shared.
"You're probably right." Nikki shrugged, not at all offended. "Because real men can never live up to our book boyfriends." She grinned at Paige. "Am I right?"
The twinge expanded to a dull ache in Paige's chest. Until a moment ago, Gabe had totally exceeded any book boyfriend she'd ever had. Why did he have to go and crush her illusion?
Because this isn't real, remember. You're only hisfakegirlfriend.
Paige gave Nikki a tight smile. "They never do."
She'd prefer to believe Gabe only meant to distract Nikki and protect his image in front of Luke and his patients, than to think he was oblivious to what happened between them last weekend.
"That's because men are clueless to everything that's important to women," Luke said as he set up the weight machine for Paige's next series of exercises.
Paige tuned out Luke and Nikki as they argued about whether men should naturally know that women liked romantic gestures like flowers and chocolate.
She focused on a quote on the wall above Gabe and Sam.Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.She frowned as a sinking sensation hit her stomach.
She'd read all the quotes in this office multiple times, but today, she couldn't help wondering if she was in for another learning experience. A heart-breaking one. Because her heart had apparently missed the memo that she was taking a hiatus from men.
Forty minutes later, Gabe was in the process of rubbing out Nikki's hamstring on the table next to Paige when she propped up on her elbows. "So, Paige, tell me about Gabe's mom."
Gabe's expression instantly turned into a scowl. His posture stiffened as he gave Paige a look that was a mixture of warning and pleading.
"Did she totally give you the third degree?" Nikki pressed.
