My gut tightens when he discards the jacket, tossing it over a nearby chair.
“You can say it, Alex. Whatever it is.” He lifts a wrist and undoes the button there.
He might like to think he’s Mr. Casual, but he’s grown into a man who can wear the hell out of a suit.Is he seriously going to undress right here in the foyer? Obviously, the answer is yes. He wants to tease and tempt me and perhaps be ready for any plans he, Katherine, and King may have.
Which leaves me where? Not on the outside, because fuck that.
“Remember when you said you didn’t want to ruin everything?”
He nods.
“I don’t want that either.”
“Maybe we should start with a different question. What do you want?” He works at the button on his other wrist.
I cross my arms over my chest, and his gaze immediately drops to study my chest and the curl of my biceps. I’d be lying if I said I’d never noticed the way his gaze lingers. The truth is, his gaze has always lingered. And not just on me. On everything. On a fancy car, an expensive bottle of wine, a pretty building. Sure, his attention has always felt nice, but I never took it personally.
Not like that.
Not likethis.
He steps closer, his fancy leather shoes sounding on the hardwoods. “What do you want, Alex? Katherine? You’ve got her. More money than you could ever spend? That too.”
Soft footsteps sound behind me, and the hair at the back of my neck lifts. I turn around and find Destiny slinging a large market back over her shoulder as she heads our way. “Everything’s ready. Katherine said she’d serve it when you’re ready. Don’t worry about the dishes. I’ll clean up tomorrow if the housekeeper doesn’t beat me to it.”
“Thanks,” Gabe says, stepping out of the way so she can pass.
She flips the lock, pulls open the large, heavy wooden door, and heads out into the city. The afternoon light is bright across the flawless floor. Through the front window, I see her speak to one of my men and then start down the sidewalk.
Inside, Gabe’s question hangs heavy in the air. So tangible I could almost reach out and pluck it like a feather.
“You.”
The word is out before I can snatch it back. The buzzing in my brain quiets, and parts of me rearrange themselves to this new reality. To the truth.
I don’t want the words back. It’s too late to try to guard my heart. It’s way too late to hold myself aloof from him. I’ve never, not once, looked at a man and thought ‘there he is.’
Until now.
Hell, until Katherine, I’d never looked at anyoneand wondered what it’d be like to rearrange my life, my business and my schedule around them. To make room. To share space.
Probably because it’s always been Gabriel. He’s always been there, sharing my space, taking up room in my life.
His gasp is loud in the quiet entry, and his mouth drops open.
“You,” I say again, because dammit, it feels right. Because it is right.
9
GABE
I’m dreaming.
Have to be.
Reaching down, I pinch my forearm.Ouch.
No. Not dreaming.
