“Good.” He appeared relieved. “I didn’t want you to think…not that I wouldn’t want…” His eyes closed, his brawny chest rising and falling with a deep, cleansing breath. “You know what? I’m just going to stop talking.”
Ellena’s shoulders shook with silent laughter as she pointed to the floor. “Those two piles there.” Sliding the strap of her purse over her good shoulder, she gave him a lazy smile. “And normally I’d argue and say we need to look those over more before I go to bed, but I’m too tired.”
“Good.” Gabe leaned down and picked up the folders. “You have to take care of yourself, Elle.”
What if I want you to take care of me?
She coughed away the unspoken question and headed for the door. Those kinds of thoughts weren’t helpful. Nice, but not helpful.
“Here. Let me carry that.”
Gabe started to grab her laptop, but Ellena shifted to the side so it was out of his reach. “I’ve got it.”
“Elle…”
“I’m fine, Gabe. It’s in my right hand, not my left. Besides that, it’s not even heavy.”
One corner of his mouth twitched. “You know, I don’t remember you being this stubborn.”
“Being stubborn is like having a penis. It can be good or bad, depending on how you use it.”
Gabe barked out a laugh, the sound vibrating to her soul. “God, I’ve missed you.” His eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t meant to say those words out loud.
Feeling a sudden urge to put him at ease, Ellena smiled up at him, admitting, “I’ve missed you, too.”
Dark, powerful eyes lingered on hers a second longer before he turned and opened the door. With his head on a constant swivel, Gabe escorted her from the hospital.
Sticking close to her side, they started across the parking lot toward his rental car. Resting her computer in the nook of her elbow, Ellena held it against her chest as they walked.
His car came into sight several spaces down, and she grinned.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.”
He raised a brow. “Then why are you smiling?”
“It’s just sort of comical.”
“What is?”
“You. Driving such a compact car.”
He grunted. “It was either this or an eight-passenger van.”
As they continued walking, Gabe’s hand slid protectively against her lower back. Heat from his palm seared her skin through her t-shirt’s thin cotton barrier.
Ellena wondered if he even realized he’d pulled her closer to him, and though it was probably a masochistic move, she let him.
“At least with a van, you’d have plenty of space for those long legs of yours,” she teased.
“No shit.” He shook his head. “I feel like a damn contortionist trying to climb into that tiny thing.”
“I’m sure it’s notthatbad. From what I recall, you used to be pretty flexible.” Her cheeks became instantly hot, and Ellena slid him an embarrassed glance. “Sorry.”
Smooth, Elle. Really freaking smooth.
Gabe pulled his keys from his pocket. “Anytime you want to test my flexibility, sweetheart, you just say the word.”
