"Oh, relax," I say, walking around him. "It was barely a tap."
His jaw hangs open as I head for the exit. I can still hear him choking behind me. Small joy sparks in my chest. I haven't felt that awake in months.
When I reach the front of the restaurant, I stop so fast, my heels squeak on the tile.
Gabe is there.
He's leaning on the wall near the door, hands in his pockets, jacket open just enough to show the solid line of his chest. His hair is mussed like he's been raking his fingers through it. His eyes lock on mine the second I step forward.
Everything inside me jumps.
His gaze sweeps down my face, my dress, my chest, my hands. He notices the way my fists are still tight. He looks behind me next, and I can see the moment he realizes something happened.
Leo limps out from the hallway, jaw bright red, hand clutching his throat. Gabe's expression shifts a little, the way it always did when he checked the perimeter during missions he once told me about. He sees Leo's face. He sees my face. He puts it together in less than a second.
A slow grin stretches across his mouth.
"Good evening," he says.
Leo freezes when he sees Gabe. Panic flickers in his face. He looks at me, then at Gabe, then at me again.
"You didn't tell me you were with him," Leo snaps.
"I'm not with anyone," I say.
Gabe lifts a brow at me. He doesn't comment.
Leo points at him. "He's old enough to be your uncle."
"Leave," Gabe says quietly.
Leo squares his shoulders. "She hit me!"
Gabe turns slightly, just enough to let Leo see the size difference. "Leave."
Leo mutters something and backs away so fast, he almost trips on a chair.
When he's gone, I face Gabe.
"You followed me," I say.
"Yes," he says.
I wait for him to explain. He doesn't. He just watches me like he's trying to figure out if I'm going to yell or kiss him.
"I should be mad," I say.
"You should," he says softly.
"I'm not."
He nods once. "Good."
My stomach tightens.
"I didn't follow you to control anything," he adds. "I just wanted to be nearby in case you needed backup." He glances towardthe bathroom hallway. "And you handled that better than any backup could."
Heat crawls up my neck. "He tried to touch me."
