by Dawn Tomasko
"I'll recheck my measurements and place the order this afternoon. Do you plan to bring the oyster shell color into the living room?”
After a glance around, she told him yes. "I think the rooms will look bigger."
"Definitely.” Gabe nodded in approval. "I'll order four gallons of wall paint since we'll also need to bring it into the laundry area and back entry. Even with high-quality color, the walls are dry, and will soak it right up. How about trim color?"
Sara tilted her head, now enjoying the process, and scanned the book a bit longer. "This green is a perfect shade,” she pointed to a muted sage, a perfect complement to the oyster shell for the walls.
"Neat combination,” he complimented her choice. "It's called Haven."
Sara smiled. "Well, it certainly fits. Sounds like a better name for the house, too. If it were mine, I'd change the name.” At his bemused look, she mentally kicked herself for revealing too much.
"The house is going to look sharp."
Her eyes swept across the open space. After she had pushed a fallen lock of hair out of her face, she asked, "Can you do me a favor? The harpoon over the fireplace is old and rusted. It’s so ugly and drives me crazy. I've tried to get it off the wall. Would you mind?"
After a quick glance, he agreed. "Not a problem. Depending on how it’s hung, I may have to spackle a bit, but no big deal.” He raked a hand through his hair. "Ah, look, Sara. I'm sorry for the way I acted, both yesterday and this morning.” His voice rumbled, low and gravelly and stirred sensations she barely tamped down minutes ago.
Sara backed away to break eye contact and gain distance and turned to stack dishes into the dishwasher. He reached over to rinse out his coffee cup, then placed it on the top rack.
"You've already apologized."
They stood on opposite sides of the open dishwasher. He watched her intently. "I don't know why you rile me up, but you do. I'll figure it out."
"Rile you?” her hand paused, hovered over the dishwasher with a plate in hand. Donovan thought he was riled? That idea was so funny she almost choked.
"Yeah, but not in a bad way.” His gaze trained on her then roved over her body in a slow glide.
Briefly, Sara closed her eyes.
"Do I bother you?” he asked, his voice threaded with certainty, edged with velvet.
The man had no idea. "We rub each other the wrong way. But I need to apologize, too. I should have stopped on Madaket Road. That was rude and uncalled for."
Humor glinted in his blue eyes. "Yeah, I have to admit it pissed me off. I lost focus when I used the loppers to trim the evergreens. Safety is number one in my book, and I let myself get distracted. Next time I might lose a limb."
Sara's gaze snapped to his, and he grinned crookedly. She shook her head at his teasing. Gabe pushed the top rack in and closed the dishwasher and propped his hip against the counter. His arms crossed over his chest, which made him appear even bigger. What would it be like to be wrapped up in that big, healthy body? Cradled, cherished.
David kept his body fit, but his whipcord leanness failed to bring on such feelings. Rather, his body instilled a particular brand of fear in her, doubtless because of what he did with it.
"Can you do me a favor? It's Friday, and it would be great to take in some local food, maybe get a tour of the island. I've been so busy working there hasn't been time for me to get a feel for Nantucket from a resident’s viewpoint. Are you busy tonight?"
At his invitation, her brows knitted in a frown. Gabriel wanted to go to dinner with her. She took a sponge and needlessly wiped the ugly countertop down. No effort would improve the look of it, but she wanted to keep busy. "The NRTA runs bus tours. You can visit any of the beaches, see the cranberry bogs, head into Town. The drivers have a lot of knowledge and are informative."
"Sounds like you're reading straight out of the brochure, which is too touristy for my taste.” He rubbed his jaw. "I'm really after more of the actual flavor of the island. The kind of sights and facts someone like you knows firsthand. Are you game?"
Would it be a date? Sweat broke out on her upper lip. "What about Charlotte and Gary? They haven't brought you around?"
"No,” he let the word drag out. "None of us could get our schedules together. I promise I don't have any contagious diseases. I do take showers and have clean clothes. You know the island. Charlotte says you've been coming here for years.” Sensing her hesitation, he pounced. "It's the least you could do,” he held his injured hand up, the bandage dirt smudged with loose tape flaps dangling.
Irritation and amusement wrestled within her. "Blackmail?"
The full flash of his grin coupled with a wicked gleam in his eye set off warning bells in her head. "Whatever works.”
The temperature in the room rose several degrees. Be careful, she warned herself. Determined to ignore her body's awakened response, she considered his request. Logic told her to go. Charlotte might not understand if she refused, and she didn't want to insult her friend. Neither should she deliberately create tension between her and Gabriel. Not a healthy work environment. Maybe they could find a common ground and get along better. Or maybe they could simply have sex!
“I can see the wheels turning in your head."
Sara's mouth opened, then closed.
"I've never seen you speechless.” He took a few steps closer. "Come on, you know you want to. We're both new residents in spite of your history here. We have a job to do, and spending a simple dinner together is a good idea. Let's not forget you nearly made me cut off my hand."
A strangled laugh escaped her. "Oh, for Pete's sake. That’s a bit dramatic, don't you think?"
"Maybe but the way I see it, you owe me one,” he said with a bit of a challenge. He'd advanced so far she found herself trapped against the counter. Straightening her spine, she came up to her full five foot seven inches, which meant her head came to his chin.
"Owe you? I don't think so. We hardly know each other and certainly don't seem to like each other.”
"Oh, I don't agree with that at all,” he replied, “and I don’t think you do either. He laid a hand on the counter close to her hip. He leaned in, and his warm breath fanned her cheeks. She moistened her lips. Gabriel's gaze followed.
"Take a walk on the wild side.” Did he know how the wild side starkly juxtaposed her very existence? That the invitation both terrified and thrilled her? Warmth radiated from his arm, which grazed her hip. She lifted her chin, exposing the long line of her neck. How would that full mouth feel if he ran it there, behind her ear, sank his teeth into the corded muscles of her neck?
Sara fought to suppress a shudder. "An evening out could be entertaining if we don't kill each other first."
Running a finger down her nose, he chuckled. "That's the spirit."
Perfect, she decided. If nothing else, it would make up for the multiple times she'd been rude to him and call it even. "Can you be here at five-thirty? I'll make reservations, and then we can explore the island if there's time. Dress casual."
"Five-thirty it is.” Gabriel's wide grin revealed even, white teeth. Leaning down, he brought his mouth close to her ear and sent a tingle down her spine. "See you then, Sara.” He turned to go, and she watched, the t-shirt stretched tight across broad shoulders, jeans stretched snugly across his butt.
"Snap out of it, stupid,” she muttered to herself, grateful for the breeze that blew through the window behind her, cooling her overheated flesh.
"Did you say something?” he turned back, hand on the screen door.
Her eyes snapped to his "What? Me? No."
"I could have sworn you said something.” His eyes danced. Busted. The door creaked open, and he walked out onto the porch. As he busied himself outside, he began to whistle.
Gabriel's ability to tune into her moods perplexed her. In comparison, David couldn’t buy a clue regarding her feelings and ideas. To be honest, she didn’t let him in, preferred it in fact. Rather than walk the path together, they led parallel liv
es. Why? There would be plenty of time to delve into that vat of misery later.
So, time for a distraction. After she changed into her bathing suit, put on a cover-up, and stocked a lunch cooler with snacks and drinks, she headed out the back door. Now with colors and countertops chosen, Sara had no need to head to Town. She opted for her favorite past time.
The beach.
Head bent to his work, Gabriel watched Sara cross the driveway in her flip-flops with bright silk flowers on top. In another time, he would have thought them silly, but now he found them ridiculously hot. A bright blue towel slung over one shoulder, and a soft cooler rested in her hand. At the driveway's edge, she settled the strap of a sand chair over her shoulder and headed down the sandy path to the water.
The white slip of fabric she wore over her suit flapped around the backs of her smooth thighs. Those long, lean legs ran on forever. Easy to picture the feel of them under his hands, wrapped around his waist, heels dug into his back.
The woman drove him crazy. The complexity of her personality fascinated him. Within the space of one minute, she could laugh, look sad, pensive, then like she wanted to bash his head in. Then she offered to change his bandage or make breakfast. She was smart, sweet, and a wise ass to boot.
He liked that about her.
A strong thread of attraction formed between them from the first, layered thicker each day. Nothing he could do would stop it, nor did he want to. When he stared at her mouth, her body, he wanted to taste, to touch. God help him, those stormy violet eyes? He wanted to know what lurked there in the depths of liquid purple mercury. What made her laugh, what made her mad and how to unlock and plumb the depths of her passion? Learn all her secrets.
Did she honestly think he couldn’t see she wanted him? Whatever kind of life she led before she landed on this island, Gabe knew everything for her had changed now.
Back in New York, in the years he'd spent running Donovan Enterprises, there'd been plenty of women. Word of mouth said he was a player, but to be honest, he wasn’t. There weren’t many women Gabe chose to be with more than socially, but a man in his position attracted a particular kind of attention. The women he dated never seemed to see past his job, family name and the fringe benefits. To avoid complications, when the mood struck, he indulged in sex with women who knew the score. None of them ever made him work for it.
One spunky, stubborn, proud, unbelievably hot woman sure as hell did, big time. Part of the charm, without a doubt, but he knew there was so much more to it. Sara's resistance presented a unique challenge he found irresistible, but more and more, it was the woman and not the challenge, which drove him.
Charlotte confided to him Sara wrestled with family problems. Gabe knew he affected her, upset the balance she struggled to maintain. Right now Sara was all about the fight. She fought against him, her ingrained habits from the past. From personal experience, he knew it never worked. For too many years, he wasted time in a similar pursuit.
Their banter awakened his mind and honed his wit. She stood toe to toe with him, and he found her sexy as hell. Under the façade she worked to maintain ran an undercurrent of emotion. Each time he found a chink in the armor, she erected another wall. The woman was under heavy guard, and held herself there, and he intended to storm the garrison. Gabriel didn't get where he had in life by sitting on his hands. If he saw something he wanted, he went after it. Sweet Jesus, he wanted her.
In addition to physical attraction, Gabriel knew enough about life to see deep pain in Sara. She thought she kept it hidden, but her expressions all but mirrored her emotions. Of all things about her, that stirred him most.
Chapter Seven
Right on time, Gabriel’s truck pulled into her driveway. Sara noted he'd taken the time to rinse away the dust and sand. The blue paint and chrome gleamed in the late day sun. With a sure grip, handed her up into the truck, a polite gesture she appreciated. In a matter of minutes, his truck hummed along Madaket Road on the way to Town.
Sans work clothes, he looked completely different in khakis, topsiders, and a sea green short-sleeved shirt. Still-damp hair curled at the ends and brushed his collar, vastly different from David’s severe military cut. Sara wanted to slide her fingers through the dark waves of Gabriel's hair to test its texture. He smelled of soap, clean and male. Without being obvious, she studied his profile. Straight nose, strong jaw, and a sensual mouth she ached to explore.
Sara’s black skirt above the knee, a white linen blouse, and black flats were a good match for what he’d chosen to wear. Since the evening promised to be cool, she kept her hair down in loose waves and brought a light sweater. Though she refused to think of tonight as a date, she took care with her makeup, creating a smoky look for her eyes and applied tinted moisture to her lips.
Gabriel glanced at her, returning the quick smile she flashed him. “Thanks for coming out tonight.”
“This way,” she said and directed him to make a turn. “I haven’t been out to dinner in a long time. I’m glad you convinced me.”
He chuckled. Once they reached Town, he began the search for a parking place. After they had driven by the same lot three times, he slapped a hand on the wheel. "How the heck does anyone park down here?"
Sara laughed. "You have to circle until someone pulls out. We’ll find a place and walk to the restaurant from there. Summer gets crazy here, and it hasn't even started."
Since his big truck wouldn't fit the tight spaces meant for economy cars, it took some time. Finally, Sara pointed out an area near the docks. Once parked, he killed the engine. “I have to say, that was a pain in the butt.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to her. "I hope there's time to see more of the island."
"If we run out of time, there'll be another day to see the rest. I'll be your tour guide."
"Good, I didn't want to take a tour bus.” Gabriel gave a mock shudder, then a genuine, natural smile. Her body reacted sharply, and she didn't know what to do about it. When they spent time together, unacknowledged sensations woke up inside, along with deep longings. She likened it to being a teenager, each experience new and intense.
Her marriage lacked the kind of vitality simmering between her and Gabriel even in their short acquaintance.
Unwelcome memories of David and their broken marriage flooded her mind. With David, the lack of richness and depth she craved didn't exist. Their differences had been too numerous. Over the years, Sara began to think something was wrong with her. She didn’t share an intense sex life with David, as her friends often confided they experienced. With Gabriel, she sensed possibilities.
"Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
Startled from her thoughts, Sara glanced at him, then down at her hands. A guilty flush of heat spread up her neck. "Yes, I'm all right."
"You seem preoccupied."
Sara turned away, trailing her finger trail down the rubber trim along the window. They'd parked in front of a little shop featuring island made candles. "Maybe a little.”
With a gentle touch, he slid the back of his fingers down her arm on the center console. "Want to talk about it?"
"No, let's go.” Abruptly, she unclipped her seatbelt and opened the truck door and slid out before he could get around to the passenger door. Gabriel silently accepted her decision not to talk. He closed his door and hit the lock. They met at the front of the truck on the brick island.
"I would have gotten the door for you." A quick glance at his face showed his confusion, and perhaps disappointment.
Sara tilted her head up and gave him a small smile. "Thanks. I, um, didn't mean to be abrupt.” So far, their not-a-date didn't get off to a good start. His expression confirmed it. Her problems shouldn’t get in the way of what could be a lovely evening. "Let's head this way,” she laid her hand on his forearm, wanting to make amends, and they started up Main Street.
As they walked, his paced measured to hers. "So where are we going?"
"We have reservations at the Lobster Trap. We're a bit early s
o let’s explore Main Street. I love Town. During high season, I only come down when I have to. A lot of tourists come for summer, and it gets congested."
To sidestep a tree, he edged a bit closer. Tall trees lined Main Street, planted smack in the middle of the brick sidewalks, which heaved over time from extremes of temperature. Winter could be as harsh as the summer could be beautiful. His shoulder brushed hers, and she marveled at the hardness. An unwanted urge rose up, and her hands craved the chance to touch his skin to test its feel. Stop it, she scolded herself.
"That'll be nice. I haven't explored Town much at all, but those cobblestones in the street look deadly."
"You have to be careful. I've twisted my ankle more than once.” They moved along, content to be quiet for a time. Sara watched Gabe window shop, greet people they met along the way. People responded to his open, friendly manner.
"There are a lot of stores on Main Street. Are the side streets lined with shops, too?” He walked with his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, along with restaurants and businesses.” Sara led him to the first store on the opposite side of Main Street. "This is one of my favorites. Murray's Toggery. They sell fisherman's sweaters, all types of clothing, shoes, belts, jackets, you name it. Plenty of Nantucket Reds."
He stepped close to her, hands in his pockets. "What are Nantucket Reds?"
"Anything made with a particular shade of red. See the jacket on the mannequin?” She pointed at the store's multi-paned window. "It's a soft shade, unique to the island."
He nodded. "I like it. Maybe I'll get myself a sweatshirt. Would you shop with me sometime so I can buy one?"
David avoided shopping with her at all costs, hated it in fact. Sara thought a day in Town with Gabriel sounded…fun. "You want me to shop with you."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Yeah, there are a lot of things I'd like to do with you.”
Like what? Sara wondered. The easy smile and brightness in his eyes pulled at her. Not knowing how to respond, she could only nod.