Phoenix Flying

by Kaitlin Maitland

  For the first time in forever, Anne didn’t feel at all intimidated by the tiny-waisted pixie with the long blonde hair and spray tan. Instead, Anne enjoyed a private chuckle as she tried to imagine a man like Gabriel with someone this scrawny. He’d probably break her in two. Not to mention the fact that her miniature breasts would get lost in his big, masculine hands.

  She couldn’t handle my man.

  Except Gabriel really wasn’t Anne’s. The negative thought sobered her right up. The hostess stood on her tiptoes. “I think there’s a guy waiting in the back corner outside. Would you like to take a look and see if that’s your party?”

  “Sure, thanks.” Anne was surprised by the hostess’s genuine smile, reminded of something Jessa had once told her after her divorce from Paul.

  Strangers aren’t half as hard on you as you are on yourself.

  As usual, her friend had been dead-on. Apparently it just took a night of fantastically amazing marathon sex to get Anne to loosen up.

  She spotted Stewart almost immediately. He’d picked a secluded table in a corner of the outdoor patio beneath the shade of a tree. It was intimate and romantic, as long as you tried to ignore the stack of high chairs stashed nearby.

  He stood up when she approached. “Anne, hello.” He leaned down to press a light kiss against her cheek.

  “Stewart, thank you so much for asking me to lunch. It’s a beautiful day, don’t you think?” Anne forced herself to be bright even though he might as well have been her father for all the zing his kiss gave her.

  The waitress came and they ordered drinks. Anne was debating what sort of salad to order when Stewart suddenly stood up. He looked oddly nervous. “Excuse me for just a moment, I’ll be right back.”

  Anne stared after his hastily retreating form, trying to decide if she’d said something wrong. Honestly though, she hadn’t said anything after her inane comment about the weather.

  She set the menu aside and leaned back in her chair. She was glad she’d opted for the navy capris and ivory blouse. The snug ensemble was a big deviation from her usual draped skirts and tops, but she’d been feeling rebellious. Plus it was rather warm, and the wispy fabric of the top felt cool against her skin.

  The leaves above her head rustled in a light breeze, and Anne indulged in a bit of people watching while she waited for Stewart to return from his bizarre errand. The patio was oblong shaped with two tiers of tables set amid flowering shrubs and leafy trees. It really was a nice place. The low hum of chatter was punctuated now and again by the sound of lunch-hour traffic on the street out front.

  A table of young mothers with toddlers and strollers in tow were chatting over their iced teas while their children either napped or scribbled with crayons. Several groups looked like they’d come to enjoy a quick bite during a lunch meeting, and their intense expressions didn’t suggest they were soaking up the relaxing atmosphere. Behind a herd of banker types dressed in power suits Anne could see two men and a tiny woman lounging at an out-of-the-way table. One of the men in particular caught her eye. He was tall and broad with dark hair and a familiar profile.

  Oh my God, that’s Gabriel!

  Anne’s pulse sped up until she felt almost faint. She was hot and cold at the same time, frozen in place while trying to decide how to react. Should she say hi? Should she just leave and hope he hadn’t seen her?

  He laughed at something one of his companions said, and Anne realized he was sitting with Alex and Emory. A little green monster reared its ugly head, and she agonized over the possibility that they were having what amounted to a “date” before returning to the bar so Gabriel could join Alex and Emory for some sexy fun time.

  He’s not mine. He’s not mine. I shouldn’t care. I’m with Stewart.

  But Stewart didn’t have blue eyes that made her insides melt like butter. Even from across the patio, Anne’s mouth was watering at the sight of Gabriel relaxed in his seat. His black T-shirt was stretched to the max over his broad shoulders, and his legs were casually crossed at the ankles.

  She shifted in her seat, trying to get a view of his hands. The man had magic hands. And a magic mouth too. Anne forgot any sense of decorum and made a frustrated noise.

  Stewart suddenly appeared beside the table. “Anne? Are you all right?”

  “Of course!” She quit fidgeting and sat primly in her seat. “I just thought I saw someone I knew.”

  “Hmm.” Stewart sat down, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

  With effort, Anne focused away from Gabriel and back to her date’s strange behavior. “I’m sorry, you left so abruptly a moment ago. Is everything all right? Because we could do this another time if you have a conflict.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to seem distracted. I want to spend more time with you, Anne. I just”—he looked chagrined—“I saw my ex-wife with the man she recently married, and it threw me for a loop.”

  Gabriel was momentarily forgotten as Anne realized she and Stewart appeared to have more in common than she ever could have imagined. “I’m so sorry. I know from experience that’s a hard situation to handle gracefully. Would you like to go somewhere else?”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m here with you. It doesn’t matter who she’s with. She was unfaithful to me while we were married and I cannot imagine that will change, so it’s him I pity.”

  Maybe Jessa was right. Anne needed to find a man who knew firsthand how badly it hurt to have an unfaithful partner. It couldn’t be coincidence that Stewart had a past track record with relationships that was similar to hers, and a desire to find a faithful partner for a new long-term attachment. Gabriel didn’t want forever, but Stewart did.

  Gabriel ground his teeth together until his jaw began to ache. The knobhead in the tatty business clothes had Anne’s hand clutched in his as though he was afraid she would get up and run off. Gabriel knew this was Stewart, Anne’s date. And it was Anne’s life, and Anne’s choice, but he didn’t like the bloke. Not that he was in a position to be objective.

  Alex’s gaze followed Gabriel’s, settling on Anne and her companion. “So that’s why we just had to come to Millstadt.”

  “Why?” Emory hadn’t eyes for anything but Alex and had no idea what it was they weren’t talking about.

  Ten seconds more, and Gabriel was going to wipe Alex’s face on the patio just to remove the smug smirk from his lips. The Phoenix’s bartender had an uncanny knack for sizing people up in seconds and noticing things others often didn’t. Now his attention was riveted on Stewart. “Who’s the ponce?”

  The delicate skin between Emory’s elegant dark brows scrunched up. “Would you speak American for once? What on earth is a ponce?”

  Alex gave her an ornery grin. “You know, a ponce—wannabe, poser?”

  “So why don’t you just say that?” She drowned a French fry in ketchup before eating it without getting a single smear of red on her fingers or her mouth.

  “Because he’s a ponce. That’s why.” Alex glanced at Gabriel. “What I don’t get is why you’re not over there to get rid of him.”

  Emory seemed to have figured out what was going on. “Oh! Isn’t that Jessa’s friend Anne?” Emory tugged on Alex’s elbow. “She’s the one who made Gabriel-the-monk act like a hormonal teenager.”

  Gabriel shot Emory a quelling look. “I’m neither a monk nor a hormonal teen, thanks.”

  “No, but you so need to get laid.” Emory craned her neck to gaze across the patio. “She’s pretty. I wish I had boobs like that.”

  “I like your boobs,” Alex argued.

  “Okay can we not talk about Emory’s strawberry creams?” Gabriel snarled.

  Emory grinned like a loon. “Ooo, I like that one!”

  “So we can use British slang as long as you think it’s cute?” Alex teased.

  Gabriel downed half his beer in one pull. As long as they were preoccupied with each other he could watch Anne without their naggi
ng. He wished he could get a better sense of her facial expression. She honestly didn’t look all that comfortable with this guy. When she relaxed, her eyes got sparkly and she didn’t look stiff as a board in her seat.

  Alex nudged him beneath the table. “You never answered me. Why don’t you go over there?”

  “And say what exactly?” Gabriel growled. “She’s looking for something long-term and I’m not. Not again. Never again.”

  “So you’re all right with her settling down with some other bloke for a long-term relationship?” Alex leaned back and crossed his arms. “I haven’t seen you this wonky since Franny the Fanny tied your dick in a knot.”

  For once, the mention of Franny didn’t bother him. It was where Alex was headed with this conversation that set Gabriel off. “Piss off, Dalesio.”

  But Alex wasn’t through. “I bloody well won’t, Hawkins. You’re stalking this chit. You’re only here because you knew she’d be here with the ponce. That’s serious shit, mate. You either need to grow a pair and go stake your claim or get some sodding therapy!”

  Gabriel set his jaw, feeling belligerent. “She’s already made it clear that she doesn’t think I’m good enough for her anyway. I just don’t want to see her hurt again.”

  “Not good enough for her?” Alex’s tone suggested he was now convinced Gabriel had gone mental. “Doesn’t she know who you are?”

  Emory frowned. “What are you talking about? Are you referring to the fact that he has a smoking-hot body, a yummy British accent, and a job?”

  Alex ignored Gabriel’s warning look, giving Emory a cheeky grin. “No, that could be either of us. I’m referring to the fact that Sir Gabriel Hawkins is the ninth Baronet of Falcon Hall.”

  Emory squealed. “Oh my God, you’re nobility?”

  “Nope, baronets are just commoners,” Gabriel retorted. “And may I remind you that I’ve not claimed that title, nor am I on the Official Roll.”

  “But you have a big-ass estate in Cambridgeshire.” Alex wasn’t going to let this go.

  “The land is all leased.”

  Alex laughed. “And don’t forget about the English manor house.”

  “That crumbling pile of stones? I’d hardly call it a house, much less a manor house.” Gabriel heaved a long-suffering sigh. “I fell into that trap once before, Alex.”

  Emory tilted her head, a long curly lock of hair falling over her narrow shoulder. “What trap?”

  “I don’t live up to all the things that title promises. They fall in love with the idea, and in the end I wind up disappointing them.” Gabriel gazed at Anne, now fully engaged in conversation with Stewart. “She deserves more than me.”

  It took every ounce of Anne’s self-control to keep from looking back at Gabriel while he stared. She’d given up on being embarrassed or worrying what he thought about her having lunch with Stewart. She just wished she could somehow discover what he was thinking that kept his face set in that stony expression.

  “So I even put my sailboat on the market to make her happy, but it just didn’t matter. Our relationship was too far gone by that time.” Stewart paused for a breath.

  Anne wondered if she would have been less obsessed with what was going on with Gabriel if her conversation with Stewart could get beyond his ranting about his ex-wife. He’d already paid the check, but showed no sign of switching topics. Anne made an appropriately sympathetic noise. “That’s really too bad.”

  “You’re just so easy to talk to, Anne.” He beamed. “I really enjoy spending time with you.”

  It was now or never. “I enjoy spending time with you too,” Anne said brightly. “In fact, I was wondering if you’d like to attend a little get-together with me this Friday evening?”

  He appeared to be at a loss for words. His mouth opened and closed once before finally answering. “That sounds like fun.”

  “Great! I’ll meet you in front of my building about six thirty.” Anne was so relieved she didn’t even care that she might spend her entire Friday night listening to tales of Stewart’s evil ex. At least she wouldn’t be alone. “It’s a retirement party for my father. We’re holding it at the Lake Forest Country Club. It should be quite nice.” She hoped she wouldn’t burn in hell for that lie, but hopefully Stewart would never know the difference.

  Stewart looked pleased. “I’m meeting your family already? I’m flattered you’re that comfortable with me.”

  Buddy, if that’s what you believe, so be it.

  Across the patio, Gabriel stood up. For a brief moment Anne entertained the notion of him closing the distance between them and sweeping her off her feet. Then he’d kiss her in front of God and everyone and declare he couldn’t stand to see her with another man. He’d tell Stewart to get lost, and then Gabriel and Anne would live happily ever after.

  Then Alex and Emory rose, and Anne realized they were just leaving. No impassioned speeches or knight-errant claiming his ladylove today. Not for Anne.

  Stewart glanced down at his watch. “I’m going to have to get moving or risk missing my afternoon showing. I’m so glad we did this.”

  Stewart stood and took her hand, tugging her to her feet. Anne’s smile froze as she realized what he intended to do. She’d wanted so badly for him to kiss her the night before. Now she wasn’t so certain.

  He bent down toward her face, his lips puckered up and ready to go. She couldn’t close her eyes or even prepare herself. She was too aware of Gabriel’s gaze glued to the spectacle of her first kiss with Stewart.

  Anne couldn’t have imagined it possible, but as Stewart’s papery lips pressed chastely against her mouth, she could actually feel the volcano of Gabriel’s temper erupting almost twenty feet away. The heat of his anger scorched her on the inside, leaving satisfaction in its wake. No matter what he said, Gabriel wasn’t indifferent. Not completely.

  Stewart stiffened against her. “I’m sorry, can I help you?”

  “Hello, Anne.”

  She turned her head to the right and found herself face to chest with a very irritable-looking Gabriel Hawkins. “Hello, Gabriel.” Anne couldn’t resist. “I had no idea you planned to have lunch here today.”

  He speared her with his gaze, and she was instantly lost in the blue eyes that saw everything she wanted to hide. “Would it have mattered?”

  It was so tempting to blow him off and be flippant, but Anne was reminded of the man who had suffered so much at the hands of a woman named Franny. He didn’t whine and bitch about it, but it had affected him deeply. So instead of saying something trite, she met his gaze and silently acknowledged the fact that they were having a real conversation beneath the chatter. “Yes, it would have mattered.”

  Stewart took her elbow and glared up at Gabriel. “I don’t know who you think you are, but…”

  “A friend.” Gabriel layered enough innuendo over the word to make Anne blush.

  Alex appeared, his arm slung around Emory. “Hey, Anne, it’s good to see you. I don’t know that you and Emory have officially met.” The woman at his side beamed her pixie smile at Anne before Alex continued. “You’ll have to stop by the bar later this week. Thursdays are a little slow, so Jessa and Emory get to hang out and have girl talk.”

  It was absolutely impossible not to return Emory’s infectious smile or be charmed by Alex’s friendly tone. The man was hardwired to make people feel comfortable and welcome. She didn’t even stop to wonder what Stewart might think. “You know, I might just do that. I could use some girl talk.”

  Gabriel’s expression began to smolder. “Then I’ll see you later.”

  “Yep, Thursday,” Anne squeaked. Her insides were tight and fluttery, responding to the promise beneath his words.

  Alex and Emory sauntered off, Emory wiggling her fingers in a friendly wave. Gabriel wasn’t far behind, letting his stare linger over Anne far longer than mere politeness would have allowed. Stewart watched them go.

  Once they were out of earshot, he gazed at Anne almost speculatively. “Is that
the friend you wanted to visit at the Phoenix Rising last night?”

  “Actually, the owner’s wife and I are friends. Jessa and I go way back.”

  His brows drew together, and Anne was disconcerted to realize she didn’t know him well enough to decipher his expression at all. They had talked on the phone and exchanged e-mails, but two dates wasn’t enough to really know someone.

  She hadn’t even gone on one date with Gabriel. Yet Gabriel had done everything possible to make her comfortable. He’d invited her into the Phoenix off the street and he’d made her feel like a sexy, desirable woman. Then even after the massive awkwardness following the mind-blowing sex in his apartment he’d walked her home and nearly gotten stabbed in the process.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Stewart murmured as he steered her toward the exit. “Perhaps those people aren’t such good friends if they make you frown.”

  Maybe it was the paranoia left over from being the daughter and wife of men in the psychiatric field, but Anne didn’t like the subtext of Stewart’s comment. It struck her as a subtle dig at her choice of friends cloaked in concern with a whiff of the controlling thrown in. Not something she cared to deal with.

  Anne waited until they left Millstadt to respond. “Actually, I was just thinking that I owe Gabriel a huge thank-you. He walked me home last night. I hadn’t realized it was so late, and some thugs actually tried to rob us.”

  Stewart’s eyes grew round with shock. He gently took her hand, bringing her knuckles to his lips. “That’s terrible! I’m so glad he had sense enough not to let you walk home alone. I wish I could have been there. I’m sure the fright was awful.”

  “Actually, Gabriel handled it”—how could she describe his almost nonchalant encounter with the three men—“quickly. I felt very safe, and we made it back to my loft without anything else happening.”

  Stewart tugged Anne into a narrow footpath sandwiched between two buildings and folded his arms around her. The sudden contact was shocking. Stranger still, she felt completely neutral about it. There was no warmth of regard or arousal, but she didn’t necessarily feel repelled by it either.