Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Yes. I’ll be there this weekend. With Gabe,” she adds with a hint of a smile in her voice.
Ah, I like the sound of that. There’s a shriek on the other end of the line.
“Yes, Mom. That Gabe.”
I straighten my shoulders, pride surging through me. Yeah, I’m that Gabe. I’m that guy who’s taking her to the party this weekend. No one else is taking her.
“Are we dating?” She arches a brow at me in question.
I growl, then give the only answer. I nod a clear and firm yes.
“We’ll be on a date at your party,” she says into the phone. “Love you too, Mom.” Then she hangs up.
She doesn’t say anything more to me about the dating comment. I’m not sure why, but I’m relieved. If she did, I might be tempted to tell her the truth—this sure as hell feels like real dating.
But real dating doesn’t have an expiration date.
We do. We agreed to about a week. One week, one party, then we’re done. Doesn’t matter if I like her more and more each time we hang out.
I have training camp out of town starting in a few more days, and my final football season to focus on. I need to stay healthy and injury-free. That means no distractions.
She has her new gig writing and producing her show.
Case closed.
I wipe away thoughts of more, and next week, and real dates.
Ellie gestures to Gigi, who’s trotting into the living room now. “You walked my dog.” She says it like I’ve fought off lions.
Maybe that’s what dog care is to her. The ultimate sign of devotion.
“And she really is a good girl,” I say. I want to ask what she and her mom were talking about, but I don’t know if we’re at a “pry in your personal business” place.
But Ellie saves me from wondering, and shares, “My mom wanted to know if I’m going to do the interview.” At my questioning look, she explains, “For the show Fabio’s List.” I’m still drawing a blank, but she goes on with the story of how she dated a guy who conned women and now LGO is doing a documentary about him.
Anger flares in my chest, hot and fast. “Did he hurt you?”
“Oh, no. Not like that. Not physically.”
“Good. But I meant in any way. Did he hurt you in any way?” I bite out. “Because I will fucking destroy him if he did.”
Adamantly, she shakes her head. “No. He didn’t hurt me emotionally too much either. And I got out early. I kind of spotted the signs that he was a con artist,” she says, a touch of shame in her voice. “But I hate that he conned a bunch of other women.” With a sigh, she lifts her caramel latte, and takes a sip. “So it just feels kind of raw. I think that’s why I haven’t said yes to the interview yet. I feel kind of foolish still.”
Compelled to comfort her, I close the distance between us, move behind her, and press a kiss to her neck. I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close. She sighs contentedly against me.
“Don’t beat yourself up, sweetheart. Maybe dating some unsavory guys in the past helped you to see the signs with him. You figured out what to look for,” I say, trying my damnedest to shore her up.
“Yeah, maybe. It’s just too bad the other women didn’t see that.”
I nod resolutely. “It is. I hate men who take advantage of women. Who lie and cheat and steal. There’s a special place in hell for them.”
After she puts down the latte, she turns her face to me, a smile tipping her lips. My heart speeds up. Damn, her smile is magic, and she’s casting a spell on me. “Thank you for the latte, Gabe. And for the dog walk. And just for saying that. I appreciate it.”
I run a hand gently down her cheek. “I don’t want anyone to hurt you ever.” Then I brush my lips to hers. The kiss is soft and tender, and I like it far too much. So I linger in it, indulging in the taste of her caramel lips.
Axel’s words echo in my head, taunting me. Someone has it bad.
But I bat them away. Of course I like her. Hell, I’ve liked her since that night under the mistletoe—the first night I could let myself like her.
That doesn’t mean I can let anything happen beyond this week. A deal’s a deal.
16
GOOD BEHAVIOR
A few hours later…
Gabe: That didn’t take long.
Ellie: What? You returned home a few minutes ago, and you’ve already taken matters into your own hands?
Ellie: And I thought what I did to you this morning in the shower was enough…as well as on the kitchen floor after I finished the latte. Also under the covers in the middle of the night.