“I know that” he says, his tone calm. “But I’d like to, Alessia.”
I hesitate, my thoughts tripping over each other. What am I supposed to say to that?
He knows I live with his cousin. It wouldn’t exactly take detective-level skills to track me down and set the place on fire. Not that he would. For one, his cousin would murder him. And for two… he doesn’t actually seem angry. If anything, he seems calm. Maybe even amused. He definitely doesn’t look disappointed about how the date went.
Yet all the scary thoughts I try to keep at bay rush to the forefront, the anger I’ve spent years directing at every man was aimed straight at him when I walked in—this guy who, honestly, has given me zero reason to think poorly of him. I want to pull it together, I really do, but for some reason I can’t.
The whole point of this date was to get the first quick fuck out of the way so that I could put myself back out there. Launch myself back into the treacherous waters of a dating pool I’m not sure even wants to include me anymore. I want to stopbeing so defensive all the time, but I can’t stop my spiraling thoughts and I’m not ready. So instead, I let myself be a bitch one last time because, I’m certain I won’t run into Gabriel again and I’m sure he’s already made up his mind about me.
“I’m sorry,” I say, a little too sharply. “I’m just not comfortable with you doing that.”
His brows pull together as he stares down at me. He’s so tall, towering over me now that we’re outside the restaurant standing in the chilly, evening air. It makes me feel small. But not in a bad way, just in a way that brings awareness to our size difference and how large and gentle his personality really is.
“Why the hell not?”
“Because” I huff, exhaling deeply as I try to push down the discomfort climbing up my throat. “I don’t know you.”
He doesn’t move. Just keeps looking at me like he’s trying to figure me out. Then, with a shake of his head and a low chuckle, he finally steps away from me, putting enough distance between us to solidify his point.
“Okay, I get it. I’ll leave you alone.”
And that’s it. He doesn’t press. Doesn’t argue with me anymore. Just turns and strides off like it’s no big deal and the entire night didn’t happen.
I watch as his big legs eat up the space toward a sleek, all-chrome motorcycle parked across the lot. Of course he drives a motorcycle. It’s like he’s ripped straight from the pages of a romance novel written by women. Probably part of an MC gang that gives back to the community, or, hell, maybe he’s the president. I’ll need to ask Natasha about that later.
He doesn’t glance back as he throttles the gas, throws a leg over the beast that somehow doesn’t make him look any smaller, then slips on a matching, chrome helmet. But before the visor comes down, I see it—a smile and a wink.
“See you around, Alessia,” he calls out, his voice carrying over the quiet of the tiny parking lot.
And just like that, he’s gone, speeding off into the night like a storm leaving no trace behind and making me feel even emptier than I felt before.
Chapter 10: Gabriel
“So, did you have fun on your date with Aly?” my cousin Natasha asks as she slides onto the bathroom countertop of her new home. The one she begged me to fix upaftershe’d already gotten a quote from a local contractor on how much it would cost for all the things that she needs done and then cried on the phone for thirty-minutes because she can’t afford it.
And let me just say, the issues are bad. The light in the primary bathroom is burnt out and the majority of the other switches are at a serious fire risk. If I didn’t live just three doors down, I wouldn’t be okay with her sleeping another night in here.
I knew there was a lot wrong with the place, I cautioned her about buying it, but Roman told her it would be a good investment, and he likes to volunteer me for manual labor that I haven’t signed up for. It’s not like I don’t have a hundred better things to do on a Sunday, but she luckily caught me on a lighter day. Most of my weekend work got knocked out yesterday, so here I am, checking out her electrical issues before the dinner and game night my sister Rhiannon planned for us later.
It’s a tradition we started years ago when we all feltdisconnected and going our separate ways. One that always ends up in at least half of us drunk and all of us having a good time.
“Not really,” I mutter. I move to check underneath the sink and look at the wiring that’s exposed. This home needs a complete reboot. She’s probably going to need this whole mess ripped out. I’m no electrician, but I’ve got an old friend that I’ve used before on a construction project back when I was working as a project manager and I’m pretty sure they can cut her a deal. It’ll still be expensive, though.
She snorts. “That’s what she said.”
I lift my head from underneath the counter. “I figured as much. She looked like she was scanning for exits the entire time she ate. You’re right about one thing, though, she’s pretty. But it seems like she’s got a lot of shit on her plate that she still needs to work out.”
She frowns. “She does, but she seemed like she wanted to get back into dating. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
I shrug one shoulder. “I don’t know what I was thinking either. I don’t have time to date. I’m drowning in work and your brother’s up my ass about getting the New York renovations finished by winter next year.”
She sighs. “He’s up everyone’s ass these days. He won’t shut up about me coming to work with you. I can’t count the number of times I’ve told him I actuallylikeworking in the service industry. Plus, I’m pretty sure the owners are going to sell me the bar within the next year.”
I wipe my hands on a rag. “That’d be good.”
“Aly’s going to be around more, ya know? Since she lives here and everything. It won’t be awkward for you?”
“Of course not.”
