"Where the hell are you?" He whispered aloud.
Dallas was a huge city with dozens of smaller cities surrounding it, he could not even fathom where to look next. Sitting back up in his seat he put the truck back into drive when he spotted it. Across the street, he spotted the familiar mini U-Haul and blue Corolla. Finally, the tight feeling in his chest lessened a bit.
Breaking a couple of traffic laws, he made it across the street in seconds. Parking under the carport he jumped out of the truck and went inside. The crappy motel was even dirtier in the inside, knowing Salene was holed up in this shit house did not help his mood. Walking in he spotted the old man behind the desk watching TV on the oldest television Gabriel had ever seen. The unit still had rabbit ear antenna with foil at the tips.
"How many nights?" The old man did not even turn from the TV as he asked.
"I need the room number for the young woman that would have come in about an hour ago, a Salene Agnew."
Turning from the TV, the old geezer looked him up and down. "Why the hell would I do that?"
Gabriel's patience snapped.
Leaning on the counter with both hands he looked directly into the man's eyes. "Because if you don't, this will only go one way," lowering his voice, Gabriel continued. "I will yank you over this counter before you have a chance to grab whatever weapon you have beneath and beat the living shit out of you."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, Gabriel didn't fail to notice the man's shaking hands.
"Sh...she is in room two twenty-seven," he stuttered.
Not giving the man another look Gabriel stepped back outside and took the stairs two at a time. Getting to the door, he banged on the door with his fist.
"Salene! Open the damn door," he yelled.
***
Salene couldn't believe he was here, how did he find her? Nervously she edged closer to the door.
"Go away Gabriel," she didn't want to be anywhere near him.
There was a moment of silence on the other side. Maybe he had left.
"Salene," he was no longer yelling, it was as if he was speaking right through the door. His voice was deeper with anger. "If you don't open this goddamn door I'm going to break it down."
Every instinct told her to back away and just wait until he left, but it scared her to think what he would do if he didn't just go away on his own. Cautiously she opened the door just a crack. Still dressed in his slacks and green button-down Gabriel looked furious. Immediately she regretted opening the door, but he was already gripping the open door and pushing her back.
"No, stop," but he ignored her cries pushing her back until he was inside.
Slamming the door shut behind him Gabriel ran a hand roughly through his soaked hair, flicking the water onto the floor. Looking at her, his eyes narrowed as she kept her distance.
"Go away Breslin, I don't want to fight with you anymore,” her voice wavered a little as she tried to control her nerves.
Giving her an impatient look he stepped forward. "Look just listen, I haven't come here to…"
For some reason, his words were the last straw for Salene. Everything about this man infuriated her, how dare he force his way into her room and demand that she listen, when he wouldn't even let her speak when he was kicking her out earlier
"No!" She practically growled. "Get out right now or I'll call the police." Knowing her phone was dead she moved towards the phone on the nightstand by the bed
"Just wait a minute," his growling voice was right behind her as she reached for the plastic beige phone.
The grip on her hand caught her mid-reach roughly pulling her from the phone.
Panicking she screamed as he tried to pull away from his hold but he only became more persistent. Catching her other arm in a forceful grip Gabriel held her way from the phone.
"Dammit Salene stop fighting me," his face was inches from hers, she could smell the subtle hints of his cologne.
Furious she tried to kick at him but before she could land a good blow he swept her legs out from underneath her sending her falling backward. The stiff mattress broke her fall as she landed flat on her back. Not releasing the grips on her wrists Gabriel followed her to the bed, halfway straddling her as he pinned her down. Looking at him with wide eyes she opened her mouth to scream.
"Don't you fucking dare," he threatened, his voice lethally soft.
The scream immediately died in her throat as her fear climbed. In their position, the full weight of his body on top of hers pressed her deep into the mattress. It was terrifying to know she was powerless against his raw strength, Salene could not move her arms one inch in his iron hold. With his chest pressed against hers, he could surely feel her heart beating wildly against her breast.
"Fuck Salene, what the hell do you think I'm going to do to you?" The vibrations of his voice passed through their pressed bodies rumbling against her chest.
Shocked she tried to move her pinned wrist as emphasis. "How can you ask me that in this position?!"
For a moment he did not say anything, green eyes just stared at her searchingly. Shifting his weight, the bed creaked as he stood up using his hold on her arms to pull her back to a standing position. Sliding his rough hands from her wrists to her elbows he kept her in a light grasp in case she might try for the phone again.
"Please tell me you know me well enough to know I wouldn't hurt you?" They were standing so close Salene had to make herself focus on his low-pitched words.
Before tonight she would've had an answer for him but after the rage, she witnessed earlier Salene wasn't so sure.
Seeing the hesitation in her face, Gabriel let her go and stepped back, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Look," his voice sounded tired. "I came here to apologize and to bring you back."
Shaking her head, she moved past him to stand at the end of the bed. "No, I don't think that is a good idea."
"Salene, I'm trying to apologize here," walking towards her he closed the distance between them. "I know what happened earlier was… Was wrong, to say the least. I swear to God I've never gotten that angry before my life. I never meant to scare you. I obviously still have some unresolved anger towards Amber that I should have never taken out on you." His green eyes searched her face to see what she was thinking. "I would like to start over with you Salene. I can't let you stay in this murder den of a hotel especially considering how easy it was for me to get your room info from that piece of shit downstairs."
Salene could feel her resolve weaken. It would be nice to start over, but her pride staunchly refused.
Seeing her hesitating, he backed away from her a couple of steps putting his hands in his pockets. Lifting his chin, he stared down at her past the bridge of his nose with a hard look. The patience he was trying to give her had reached its end.
"Salene if you don't come back with me you will go broke here. Because I can assure you the rates will increase, the roaches will multiply, and that dumb trailer will get broken into."
The truth of his words stung. Lowering her head, she nodded in defeat.
Not giving her a chance to change her mind Gabriel grabbed her bag off the table and pulled her out of the room by the hand. After a quick check out by the oddly eager old man, Gabriel followed her back to his place in his truck. The rain had let up entirely leaving it cool and wet out. Backing the trailer back into the garage Gabriel unhitched the trailer from the car.
With her bag in hand, she slowly followed Gabriel into the quiet house as the garage door shut behind them. When she stepped inside Salene was greeted by an overly hyper Bishop. Rubbing the back of his ears she smiled at the sweet dog, he was probably terribly confused by all the drama.
Standing up straight Salene hoisted her overweight bag higher on her shoulder, she could feel Gabriel's eyes on her. Averting her gaze, Salene shifted nervously on her feet amidst the overbearing silence.
"Here are these back," holding out his hand, Gabriel held th
e key and garage remote she tossed inside earlier.
Taking the items, Salene shook her head. "I don't know, I don't think this is a good idea." Looking up to him she tried to make him see that this was a bad idea, that it would never work. "We just don't get along, it's only a matter time before we fight again. And… And I'm just not used to this…"
Tired and beyond demoralized Salene could feel her throat sting as it tightened up foreshadowing another wave of tears. Looking away she tried to blink away the unwanted moisture.
"Come on," Gabriel gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the barstool. Grabbing the overnight bag strap off her shoulder, he commanded her to sit. Setting two tumblers on the empty counter, he pulled out a bottle of whiskey. "Look, I can't force you to stay, if you want to leave you are free to do so. I just don't want you leaving because of that shit earlier." Gabriel took a hard swallow of his drink as if the very reminder of what happened needed to be suppressed in his mind. Taking a couple of sips of the hot spicy liquid, she looked at him as he continued. "I meant what I said, I'm sorry, and I would like for us to start over on a clean slate."
For some reason his words made her feel desperate and sad at the same time. Desperately she wanted to believe him, but her mind had too many reservations.
"But how, we fight all the time?" The warmth of the liquid was spreading throughout her body, her voice sounded much more breathless than she intended.
Turning in his barstool his knees brushed past hers as he turned her way.
"Oh we're going to argue on that I have no doubt. And I won't sit here lie to you and say I won't." For what seemed like the first time in a long time he gave her a smirk. "To be honest, I kind of enjoy arguing with you." She knew it, she thought to herself. "But I can promise I will never repeat tonight and when we do argue I won't… I won't…" He paused searching for the right words.
"Hit below the belt," she mumbled dryly as she gulped back the rest of the stinging whiskey.
"Exactly."
Tiredly she nodded, Salene could agree to that. The idea of starting over did sound refreshing. Feeling increasingly drowsy Salene stepped off the stool and onto the floor on unsteady feet.
"I think I'm going to go to bed Breslin," she murmured, bending down to pick up her bag.
That was a mistake, standing upright she immediately felt dizzy as if she did it too fast.
"Give me that," the bag was pulled from her grip as she felt the strong arm wrap around the back of her waist. "I suspected you were a lightweight."
Salene was too dizzy to argue as he led her down the hallway to her room. Clicking on the light, Gabriel sat her bag near the bed. Salene was about to step away from him when he turned her around by the shoulders to face him. Blinking in inebriated confusion Salene furrowed her brow as she focused on his face.
"I know I already said this, but I just want to make sure it's clear between us." Standing here like this made her realize how small the room was for two people, especially for a man of Gabriel's size. The confining feeling in his presence made her actually aware of the mattress pressing against the back of her knees. "Despite my anger earlier, I would've never hurt you."
The need for her to understand was etched into his face, though it wasn't a question he needed to hear her say the words. Separating her shock and resulting fear from that moment Salene thought about the man in front of her. Letting her eyes trail down the strong column of his neck she settled on the large rounds of his shoulders. Wide, strong shoulders that led to equally muscular arms, oh yes this man could easily hurt her but looking into his need filled eyes she knew that he would never do it.
Nodding she smiled softly, "I know Gabriel."
Chapter 14
The door to the garage opened just as she was grating the parmesan cheese on the potato and sausage soup.
"God that smells good," Gabriel groaned tiredly as he sat his briefcase on the counter
Murmuring a thank you she ladled the soup into two bowls. Setting his bowl and spoon on the bar counter she grabbed a beer and a bottle of water from the fridge. Perching herself up onto her own stool she handed him the beer. Taking the beer, he gave her a smirk.
"I am surprised to see you out of your room tonight." He gave her penetrating stare that she refused to meet directly, instead, she focused on her soup. "I would've thought you would've continued avoiding me by eating in your room like you have for the past few nights."
There was a sharpness to his tone, she looked up to see if he was angry but he was still giving her that award-winning half smile.
Feeling a little put on the spot, she sighed replying. "Honestly, I figured if I just stayed out of your way we wouldn't fight as much. And I would've eaten in my room tonight if I weren't positive Bishop would have knocked me over carrying hot soup down the hallway."
Putting his spoon down near the already empty bowl, he took a healthy swig of the beer. "Look, it's awkward as fuck to know that there is someone in your house purposely avoiding you." Before she could get up to refill their bowls he grabbed hers and his and got up. "How the hell are we supposed to get along if you keep hiding from me?"
"I know, I guess I just didn't want to risk another one of our bickering arguments."
Devouring his second bowl of soup he got up to get another beer as she still worked on her second bowl.
"Don't worry about it, I love arguing with you." He teased as he spooned a huge portion into his mouth.
Obviously, her soup was on the mark tonight. Not able to help herself she smiled at his blatant honesty.
"I knew you liked it, you insane sadist," she laughed.
"Well, you wouldn't be the first woman to call me that," he said proudly. "So I can agree to that."
For some reason that made her think about what Amber alluded to at the restaurant that Gabriel had some weird sex fetish. Turning away quickly she went to the sink to wash out her bowl, hoping he missed the surprise in her face.
"Also," he continued seemingly without notice. "Since my bosses are aware of my wanting to cause physical harm to Cipriani and my absences last month I am in need of some proverbial ass kissing." He grumbled as he filled his dishes into the dishwasher. "So, unfortunately, I volunteered my house for our annual corporate picnic. We always do one around this time of year for my department and a handful of others."
"Oh wow, that sounds like a lot of work."
Nodding his head, he cast her an evil smile. "Yes, we're going to have our work cut out for us." Emphasizing the "we" part.
Following him to the den she sat down on the sofa next to Bishop while Gabriel plopped lightly on the other side of the dog, yanking at his tie.
"Oh, well I am not sure how much help I am going to be contained in my room as per your orders." Salene feigned wide-eyed worry as she threw his own rules in his face.
Cutting her a sidelong look he frowned before slowly smiling. "No don't worry, with our new getting along policy all the old rules are null and void."
"How gracious of you sire," she grumbled as Bishop inched higher into her lap, practically sitting on her.
"I do my best," rolling up the sleeves to his shirt he laced his fingers behind his head and got comfortable on the sofa.
There were a few minutes of silence between them as the only noise came from the football game.
"You do know that means Cipriani is going to most likely show up." Though he wasn't looking at her, the serious tone in his voice and the agitated twitching muscles in his jaw told her he was waiting for a response.
"It's fine I'm over it," she lied.
***
Sitting comfortably in the passenger seat of Gabriel's truck Salene questioned herself on why she agreed to go shopping with the man. Expertly whipping the large truck into the parking lot they both quietly stared at the huge wholesale store.
"Okay I'm not sure if you have any Costco's in Florida, but I feel obligated to inform you on some vital information on how to survive this store."
Dramat
ically he took off his sunglasses while staring pensively at the throng of entering and exiting people.
Pursing her lips together to keep from laughing she answered just as seriously. "Oh yes, we have these dens of great deals and hordes of zombies in Florida. We have made it a rule in my family to never dwaddle, never accept food samples, and always to expect the grating noise of "oh Tom look at all your getting for this price". She mimicked in her best old lady voice.
Gabriel's deep rich laughter in response made her smile.
Desperate (A Contemporary Romance) Page 9