He chuckles once before shaking his head. “I should’ve expected you to say something like that. As easy as that, huh?”
I nod. I’m not sure if it’s the anticipation, but one second, we’re grinning at each other like idiots, and the next, we’re in each other’s arms. I’m still not sure if I jumped on his lap, or if he pulled me onto it—not that it matters in the end.
His hands are on the nape of my neck, gently pressing into my skin. The feeling is exquisite and only heightens when our lips finally meet. We explore each other like this is our first kiss, and in a way, it feels like it.
Two days ago, I was on some sort of high from my dancing. Not that I wasn’t present for our kiss, but my brain was definitely otherwise occupied too.
Today, my whole being is focused on Gabe with a clarity that’s slightly overwhelming.
In this moment, he’s everything. Everywhere.
His lips are warm and soft, pushing on mine, performing their own kind of dance while our tongues go beyond that, dueling for domination and attention.
I love it. Absolutely love it.
The excitement and thrill of this kiss sends a wave of pleasure through my body that has me scooting even closer to him until our bodies are pressed together in as many places as this position allows—yet it still doesn’t feel close enough.
“Please, don’t stop.” His mouth has left mine, and his name falls from my lips in a whisper as he slowly kisses his way along my jaw, stopping at my ear.
He gently sucks on my earlobe, driving me absolutely crazy. “What are you doing to me?”
A shiver runs through me at his question, and I press closer into him, feeling exhilarated at the knowledge I’m not the only one affected by this situation when my pelvis meets his. “I hope I’m doing the same to you as you are to me.”
Either he just really likes my answer or he agrees because his lips are back on mine, the kiss surrounding my whole being so much I can barely concentrate on anything else. Gabe has leaned back against the wall with me halfway lying on top of him—at least, as much as I can while still keeping my head above water.
A sudden lick on my shoulder startles me and I flinch.
Unfortunately for Gabe, I accidentally bite him in the process, making him curse under his breath. I pull back and let out a shriek, almost sinking completely underwater when I step back into the deepest part of the hot tub, my hand clutching my chest.
“Fiffy. Where are you?” A voice comes from the other side of the yard.
My hand is still on my fast-beating heart as I try to control my breath.
Gabe chuckles across from me, petting the little brown Yorkshire Terrier that seems to be cuddling up to him at the edge of the water. “Hey, Fiffy. Did you take off again?”
He pulls his attention back from the little dog and gives me an amused look, unable to hide the underlying heat that’s still in his gaze.
“I’m so sorry, you guys.” Hannah is making her way across the lawn, a pink leash dangling in one of her hands. “This dog is too smart for her own good. Mrs. Brown warned me that she likes to visit the neighbors, but I didn’t expect her to take off like this.”
She catches her breath before straightening back up, letting her eyes roam over us.
Gabe gives her a big smile. “No problem, Grandma. Are you dog-sitting?”
“Yes. Mrs. Brown will be back in a couple days though.”
Her gaze flickers back and forth between us, and I can’t keep the heat from rushing into my cheeks. She must put two and two together since she doesn’t even pretend to keep her smirk at bay. I’m one hundred percent sure she knows exactly what she and her little dog just interrupted.
She claps her hands together and lets out a long sigh. “Well, sorry again, guys. We don’t want to keep you any longer from whatever you were doing. Plus, we better be on our way anyway before those clouds open up.” She points toward the sky, and for the first time, I notice the dark clouds right above us. “See you soon. Monica, text me. Have fun, kids.”
The way she says kids makes me laugh. She’s not someone to hold back in the slightest and is a joy to be around—especially when you disregard the meddling and being nosy part.
Also, despite her age, I know she can make me blush in an instant, and I’m anything but a prude.
Gabe and I wave our goodbyes and watch the two of them head back toward the side gate of the yard.
“We should probably head back inside too.” He’s watching me intently, as if to assess my reaction, before pointing toward the sky. “Don’t want to get wet.”
A snicker escapes my lips and Gabe chuckles too.
He gives me a wink and steps out of the water, leaving me to ogle his firm butt.
My heart skips a beat as he wraps one of the towels low around his hips—not hiding his erection one bit—before holding out the other one wide open for me.
Well, who am I to say no to that?
After slowly getting out of the hot tub, I step right into his arms.
Sixteen
Monica
“Do you want a hot chocolate?” Gabe drops his dry clothes on one of the barstools and walks over to the fridge, still in only his boxer briefs and a towel haphazardly slung around his trim hips.
My eyes are trained on his lower half, specifically on the way his butt fills out that towel, when he clears his throat and chuckles.
My eyes snap up to his. “Huh?”
“Hot chocolate?”
My brain feels slightly buzzed, and it takes me a moment to catch up with his question. “Really?”
“Yup.” He’s turned away from me again, rummaging through the fridge—not that I’ll get tired of the excellent view of his naked back and his fine ass. “I thought we could have some.”
“I can’t say that’s what I had in mind when we came inside, but I guess.” A little huff comes out of my mouth, and I’m pretty sure that was my girly parts protesting.
“Don’t give me that look.” He moves to the other side of the kitchen island, one hand on his hip, a carton of cream in his other one.
My eyebrows pinch together automatically. “What look, exactly?”
“Like I just dumped a bucket of ice water on you or something equally outrageous.”
I can tell he’s teasing, but I’m so worked up, I’m not sure I can forgive that easily.
If I wasn’t glowering at him before, I definitely am now. “Well, you obviously didn’t, but you might as well have, I suppose.”
The corners of his lips twitch slightly. “Ahh. There’s my drama queen.”
I suddenly feel like the big, bad wolf, all ready to huff and puff. Apparently, that amuses him even more, if his growing grin is anything to go by. Seems like he’s serious and our make-out session really is done with this hot chocolate offer. “Actually, maybe I will take a shower, thank you very much.”
“Enjoy it, I hope you’ll feel better after.” He lines up the cream carton, milk jug, box of cocoa powder, and some sugar on the counter before walking over to me. “But first, come here. Can’t have you take off like this.”
His hands cradle my face as he bends down to give me a soft kiss on my mouth.
Somehow, this kiss is even more of a tease, and my frustration rises to a new level. I can’t deny the simultaneous satisfaction though that came with the contact.
He moves back far enough to look into my eyes. The smile has vanished from his face, leaving him with a dead serious look. “Trust me, there is nothing I’d rather do right now than follow you upstairs to finish what we started outside.”
“Then why don’t you?” I can’t help but ask.
Letting out a big breath, he lowers his head until our foreheads touch. “Because I have a phone call scheduled with my editor in less than half an hour. And believe me, I definitely want to take my sweet time with you.”
“Oh gosh, please just kill me now.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
/> His chuckle is deep and rich. “Well, I didn’t exactly plan to have a hot make-out session in the hot tub with you when I went outside.”
I’m close to whimpering now. “Okay, okay. Stop talking about it already.”
“Plus, we have to go over to my mom’s to talk to Dahlia, remember?”
That totally slipped my mind with everything going on. Dang it.
“I assure you though, I’ll make it up to you.” The next kiss he gives me makes my breath hitch in my throat, and I’m ready to melt into a puddle.
It tastes like Gabe, hot and sweet, and a whole lot of promise.
This man sure knows how to kiss.
When we part a few long and very pleasure-filled minutes later, I have to collect myself for a moment before opening my eyes.
With his hands on my shoulders, he turns me around and away from him, slowly pushing me out of the kitchen and toward the hallway that leads to the staircase. “Now go already, before I change my mind and regret it later on.” I jump slightly when his hand lands on my butt with a soft slap.
“All right, all right, I’m leaving.” I’m barely able to restrain myself from stomping my way up the stairs, fully aware of Gabe watching my every move.
Dang you, sexual frustration. No one invited you to the party today.
“Hurry up. I’ll even put some whipped cream and chocolate chips in your hot chocolate—just the way you like it,” he has the decency to yell after me, and I want to curse him for knowing me so well.
“Whatever,” I yell back as I turn the corner on the upper level, unable to contain the smile from creeping up on my face.
Traitorous body.
For the second time this week, the shower did nothing to calm me. My nerve endings are still on fire, and I’m incapable of thinking of much else but Gabe’s hands and mouth on me.
Begrudgingly, I make my way back downstairs, telling myself over and over I’m a grown-up. Shouldn’t I have some more control over my body instead of acting like a hormonal teenager? It seems to be one of those disconnected moments between my body and my brain though—one part is logical and the other part is throwing all caution to the wind.
To my utter dismay, Gabe is dressed. I’m not sure if he took a quick shower too or just put his clothes back on, but he’s waiting for me with a big smile on his face when I walk in, holding out an extra-large mug in my direction.
Wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic, I take it from him, my fingers briefly brushing his. “Thanks.”
He chuckles at my grumbling. “I can tell the shower helped a lot.”
Sarcastic smart-ass.
Very sexy and handsome sarcastic smart-ass.
Just looking at him and the small smile directed at me makes my sour mood slowly fade away. I’m not sure if I’m happy about that or not. He’s always had that effect on me, oftentimes able to cheer me up with a smile alone. The last year would have been exceedingly worse without him.
I take a sip, sighing as the sweetness hits my tongue. “It’s delicious, as always. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” He reaches out, and I’m not sure what to expect when his thumb slowly brushes across my upper lip.
It’s the simplest of touches and doesn’t last longer than a couple seconds, but my body seems to think otherwise, an energetic buzz coursing through it.
Following the movement of his thumb with my eyes, I’m mesmerized as he pulls it back from my face to casually slip it into his own mouth. “You had some whipped cream there.”
My eyes roll into the back of my head, and I let out a groan loud enough for the neighbors to hear. “Gabe, you’ve got to stop. Now you’re just plain mean.”
He grins and closes the distance between us. A moment later, he’s next to me, gently bringing me into his side. His lips touch my forehead briefly before he pulls back. “Sorry, I’ll be good now.”
“Yeah. I’ll believe it when I see it. I never thought you’d be such a tease.”
His laughter shakes both of us, and after putting my mug down on the counter, I hit him gently on his arm. I don’t take my hand away though. Instead, I trail my fingertips up his biceps and over to his chest.
He catches my hand in his before I can go any farther. When I look up at him, his eyes are on fire. “Who’s the meanie now?”
Before I can say anything, his phone rings.
He exhales loudly and gets it out of his back pocket, putting it up to his ear after pushing the screen. “Hey, George. Let me head into my office, and I’ll call you back in a minute, okay?”
Nodding at something the man on the other end of the line said, he puts his phone back down and points at me. “You and me tonight, once we’re done with my sister? We can watch a movie.”
I eye him cautiously. Not exactly what I had in mind, yet again, but okay. “Depends. Will you make popcorn?”
No one can say I don’t drive a hard bargain.
His eyebrows shoot up and he gives me a look that screams, “Well, you obviously won’t be making any. Like, ever again.”
Ignoring it, I keep going. “With Oreos?”
“Sure.” His smirk is big, probably because he knows he’s got me exactly where he wants me.
Hook, line, and sinker.
“Alright, Charming. But you better not be skimpy with the cookies.”
“It’s a date.” His chin tips down as his face comes closer. “I. Can’t. Wait.” He pronounces each word slowly before giving me one more quick kiss on my cheek.
Slightly dizzy, I watch him walk out of the room. My brain completely dismisses the mention of a date since it’s just a casual thing people say, right? He knows I don’t date; he asked me once after Charlie made a comment about it.
Plus, movie nights have become our thing during the last year. After I moved in with him, we quickly discovered we’re both homebodies, especially with everything the online streaming devices have to offer.
Not worried one bit about tonight, all I’m left with is a burning sense of anticipation that rushes through my veins, my imagination going crazy thinking of what will happen after the movie. I bathe in the incredible sensation for a few moments before snapping out of it. We’re going to see Gabe’s mom and sister soon, and the last thing I need is either of them noticing how hot I am for him.
Seventeen
Monica
The smell of baked goods drifts into my nose the second we walk into Rebecca’s house. Gabe’s mom got sucked into Charlie’s baking, just like everyone else did in town. No matter who you visit, chances are pretty good something from Charlie’s bakery is lying around, just waiting to be devoured.
“Hi, sweetie.” Rebecca pulls me into her arms, and I inhale deeply. She smells like roses and something else floral I can’t identify. It’s almost as fragrant as the garden she likes to spend her time in. I’ve never had a green thumb, so other than pointing out what looks pretty to me, I don’t have a clue about flowers.
Gabe’s mom, on the other hand, seems to have about twenty green thumbs, which is apparent the second you peek into her large, well-kept backyard. It’s beautiful and, without a doubt, should be displayed in one of those garden magazines she always has lying around the house.
Since I love spending time with the whole Mitchell family, her scent has become familiar to me. Not to mention she was around a ton last year when I still had my cast, trying to mother me as much as humanly possible.
“It’s so good to have you guys back. We didn’t get a chance to talk to you a lot at the hospital the other day. Did you enjoy your time in Lake Tahoe?”
Her gaze is fixated on me, holding me at arm’s length so she can slowly look me over from head to toe. “You look like you’ve lost some weight though. Is everything okay? Are you hungry? Charlie brought over some fresh pastries earlier. That woman is a blessing, but I swear all of my clothes have been getting tighter. I don’t know how she still looks the way she does with her job.”
“Mom, take a breath.” Gabe comes
over and kisses her on the cheek while at the same time slinging an arm around her waist to pull her away from me.
Rebecca laughs and looks at me over her shoulder, mouthing, “Sorry,” before looking back up at her son, squeezing his arm once before dropping her hands to her sides. “It’s not my fault though, you know? Your father left for his business trip, and Dahlia won’t let me spoil her either, so I only have you two right now. Plus, I missed you while you were gone.”
“It’s okay, Mom.” Gabe gives her a quick side hug, which seems to calm her nerves. She really is a sweetheart, loves to dote on her family, and welcomes their friends like me just as much. “Now, where are those goodies Charlie brought?”
We walk into the big, open kitchen I’ve loved from the very first time I saw it. I remember Charlie dragging me here last year, even when I didn’t want to be around a bunch of strangers at that point. After all, I’d come to Brooksville to lick my wounds after the accident and to get better, not to socialize. But she and Hudson had just started getting closer, so she was nervous and wanted me around.
Apparently, I’m an exceptional deflection, whatever that means. Her words, not mine.
How could I say no to that?
Plus, it was fun seeing those two dance around each other.
Just like with Charlie, the Mitchell family has welcomed me with open arms from the very beginning, making me feel like I truly belong, not only in this town but also in their lives. If it wasn’t for them, I might be withering away in a quiet hotel room all by myself.
Someone nudges my arm, and I look up to see Gabe, his familiar face centering me. Layering me with warmth.
He points toward the kitchen counter and chuckles. “Did you see this? Charlie brought over a few pastries.” He makes air quotes around “a few,” and I immediately know why. Charlie has no rational eye when it comes to her beloved baked goods. Without a doubt, the amount she brought over could feed the whole neighborhood.
I shake my head but have to laugh. “You know Charlie. Sometimes I wonder if her goal is to fatten up the whole town. She always makes so much extra stuff. And no one seems to be able to say no to her either.”
The Mitchell Brothers Collection: A Feel-Good Romance Box Set Page 45