Her breath caught in her throat as he reached up to brush back a lock. Then his fingertips created a trail of fire from her temple to her jaw.
"But you’re pretty with a ponytail too." His gaze roamed over her face as his fingers drifted closer to her lips. "You're a beautiful woman, Paige."
The sincerity in his voice made her knees go weak. A warm flush enveloped her as moisture filled her mouth. Those few words from Gabe sounded more sincere than all the flattering words Phillip hadever spoken. It was a good thing he held her—otherwise, she might have melted to the floor.
"Thank you," she whispered. Paige couldn't resist anymore. She leaned into him.
His gaze settled on her lips as his arm tightened around her. Then suddenly, his whole body stiffened as though someone flipped a switch. The hand that had been caressing her face balled into a fist, and he let out a low growl of frustration.
"I'm sorry. I can't." Gabe released her and stepped away. One hand raked through his hair while the other gripped the doorknob.
Paige fell back a step at his sudden absence. A weight pressed against her chest, so tight it stole her breath and pricked her heart.
"I don't want to hurt you, Paige." The raspy tone of his voice matched the pained look in his eyes. "But I've worked too hard to get where I am. I can't?—"
"I know.” She held up her hand to stop him. “You can't risk losing your job."
It was easier to curtail his apology than to have to bear full-on rejection. Having him choose his job over her hurt, but they'd only known each other for barely a month. It was ridiculous—and selfish—of her to think he would.
"And with everything going on with my mom, I'm not…" He didn't meet her gaze this time. Instead, he stared at the wall behind her as his Adam’s apple bobbed. His fingers plowed through his hair again, agitated and jerky.
"I understand." She stepped in front of him, so he'd have to look her in the eye. "I'm truly sorry for everything you're going through with your mom. I recognize that, emotionally, you are unavailable."
He snorted and cracked a smile. "You make me sound like the tortured hero in some romance novel."
Grateful for the lightened mood, even though that hadn't been her intent. She laughed and shrugged. "I call 'em like I see 'em."
Now he scowled at her.
She chuckled again as she raised her hands in surrender. "All I'msaying is, you sure seem to know a lot about romance novels for someone who hates them so much."
His brows lowered, making his scowl more intense.
"I appreciate your honesty, Gabe. The last thing I want is to be strung along and used again in a relationship that doesn't have a future." She sucked in a deep breath and rushed on. "Don't worry, I don't have any expectations. Outside of convincing your mom we're together, we'll make it a point to avoid situations like this." She drew a circle in the air with her hand. "Acknowledging the chemistry between us will help us combat?—"
"Stop." Gabe was the one with his hand up now.
"I'm rambling, aren't I?" Warmth flooded her cheeks.
"Yes, and you're talking with your hands, which I find adorable." He shook his head. "I'm not sure there is any way to combat this…magnetic pull between us." He motioned back and forth between them.
"Now whose talking with their hands?" She quirked a brow at him.
He caught himself and grinned. "We managed to diffuse the…tension, but this feels too much like flirting, and it’s building again." He grabbed the doorknob.
Disappointment swamped Paige. "Wait. I feel like I should at least offer you some dinner after making you come to my rescue." She jerked a thumb over her shoulder toward the kitchen. "I've got some leftover spaghetti and meatballs."
"Sounds delicious, but…" His gaze roamed beyond the entryway, deeper into the house. "It's probably best I don't cross paths with your parents."
"They're not home. They're in Spokane at some gala that kicks off a medical conference."
"You're here alone?" His eyes jump back to her, a series of emotions racing through them. He cleared his throat. "In that case, I'd better leave, because my self-control is waning when it comes to that chemistry we just discussed." He opened the door and stepped out so fast, she didn't even have time to move from behind it. "Good night, Paige."
Then he was gone, and Paige slumped against the wall. If it wasn'tfor her bare feet sticking on the hardwood, she would have slid down to the floor. She had sworn off men, so how was she so effortlessly falling for her physical therapist?
Could Riley be right? Was her life meant to converge with Gabe’s for more than just PT? And if that was the case, how did she get Gabe to see that?
Gabe pulledhis car over to the side of the road before getting on the freeway. It wasn't safe for him to drive with his mind racing like it was.
