by Katee Robert
There was something like wonder in his brother’s voice. Gabe stopped short. “Are you sure you’re not into her? Because you sure as hell sound like you are.” “It’s not like that. I enjoy her company and we can spend hours talking about art but…” Nathan looked away for a second and when he turned back, he was his usual easygoing self. “Enough about me. Let’s get this paid for and help you get the girl.”
Gabe let it go because he had his suspicions about where that shadow had come from. Some things you couldn’t talk about, even with family. Especially with family. Nathan had proved that time and again when it came to that mystery girl he dated ages ago. “Let’s do it.”
It was only when they were in the checkout line that reality set in. It was Friday night—even someone as uptight as Elle wasn’t likely to be home by herself. What if she had a date? Oh, he didn’t like the thought of that at all. “This is a shitty idea.”
Nathan flipped through one of the trashy celebrity magazines. “What’s wrong now? I swear you’re PMS- ing or something.”
“Not funny.”
“Yes, well, I’m not a comedian. Speak, so we can pay for the damn flowers.”
“It’s Friday night. I have no idea where she is.” Even if she was home alone, it would be seriously creepy if he showed up uninvited.
“Oh, that.” Nathan tossed the magazine onto the grocery line. “She’s with her friend Roxanne at Twigs—the north one, if I’m not mistaken.”
“I thought you didn’t know a goddamn thing about her.” Gabe swiped his credit card.
“We don’t have deep, heartfelt conversations, but she’s a woman. Women talk.”
Thank God they did, or he’d be sitting at home by himself, staring at a bouquet of flowers that only served to remind him Elle wasn’t interested. He gathered them up and headed for the parking lot.
Nathan laughed and climbed into his truck. “You’re just going to walk in there and hand her the flowers, aren’t you?”
Well, yeah, that had been the plan. Gabe paused. “Do you have a better idea?”
“Nope. Just kind of wish I was there to watch it all go down.” His diesel engine roared to life. “Good luck.”
As Gabe watched his little brother drive away, he was pretty damn sure he was going to need all the luck he could get.
9
Elle swirled a straw through her martini and wondered if she should just take it as a shot. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Yes, you really do.” Roxanne whipped out a compact and checked her lipstick. It was perfect, just like always, but that didn’t stop her from being OCD about it. Considering the brilliant red she preferred, Elle didn’t blame her paranoia.
Desperate to talk about anything other than her failed seduction and crappy date, she nodded at the bartender. He grinned and waltzed over to them, the very picture of tall, dark, and handsome. “Ladies. How’re the drinks coming?”
“I think we’re ready for another. I’m Elle, by the way.This is my friend Roxanne.”Elle downed her drink in a single gulp as the two eyed each other. Though her friend claimed she was too busy with work to date, it didn’t stop Roxanne from surveying the possibilities. Even if she never took advantage of them.
Sure enough, when he went back to fill their order, the brunette leaned in. “If that man isn’t sex on a stick, I don’t know who is. If I had the time…”
“Why don’t you?”
Roxanne held up a finger. “I know what you’re trying to do and it won’t work. Stop stalling and spill the details. Remember”—she pointed at herself—“living vicariously through your deviant sexual exploits.”
“You make me sound like I’m slutting around town.”
“Some days I wish you were. Think of the stories. Oh, don’t look at me like that. You know I’m only joking.” When it became apparent Elle wasn’t going to respond, she sighed. “Let’s start with something easy. How’d the date go?”
This, at least, she could talk about without blushing and stammering. “Terrible. He took me to a freaking dive bar. Thank God I didn’t have to use the bathroom or I would have walked away with syphilis. As it is, I’m pretty sure I picked up hepatitis.”
“Did you make a doctor’s appointment to check it out?”
Elle started to admit that she had before she realized Roxanne was only poking fun. Maybe she was being a bit overdramatic, but she couldn’t be too careful—especially since she had an orgasm with a total stranger. A really intense, really mind-blowing orgasm. Pushing that away, she focused on the story. “Well, after I eat the questionable food, he decides we’re going to play pool. Then, my freaking mom called.”
Roxanne made a choking sound. “That harpy has terrifying timing.”
“She’s my mother.”
“That doesn’t make her any less a harpy.” She motioned. “What happened after that delightful conversation?”
Delightful was the last word she’d have used to describe it.“Not only are we playing pool in one of the grossest buildings I’ve ever been in, but there has to be a bet involved too.”
“A bet.” Roxanne’s green eyes practically lit up. “Oh, do tell.”
Okay, so maybe this story wasn’t all that much easier to tell than the sex one. Elle looked for a napkin to shred, but there were only the heavy-duty coasters. “He wanted a kiss.”
“Oh. My. God.”
Elle jumped, feeling guilty for no reason at all. “What?”
“You wanted him to kiss you.” “I did not!”
“Yes you did, you little hussy.” Roxanne grinned. “I don’t judge.”
She bit her lip, temporarily saved when the
bartender brought their drinks back. As soon as he was gone, however, there was no denying it. “Okay, yes. Maybe a little. You have to understand, he’s so wrong for me. Like the exact opposite of what I should want in a husband or boyfriend or whatever. But…”
Elle took a hasty drink and nearly choked.This was way stronger than the last one. Maybe it was alcohol loosening her tongue, or maybe she just needed to get it out in the air, but she didn’t stop there.“I don’t know, Rox. There’s something really, really attractive about him in a Neanderthal sort of way. Like you look at him and want to have him haul you back to his cave, and have his wicked way with you.”
Holy crap, she couldn’t believe she’d just admitted that out loud. But it felt kind of good to say it so Elle kept going, toying with her straw as she went on. “I mean, sure he’s rough around the edges, but his tattoos are amazing and that mouth is just sinful.”
“Yes…yes it is.”
She frowned at the weird look on her friend’s face. “Rox?” Then she realized Roxanne wasn’t looking at her.
She was focusing on some point over Elle’s shoulder.
The room swayed as all the blood rushed from her head and foreboding slammed through her system. This couldn’t be happening. There was seriously no way this was happening. “Please tell me he’s not standing right behind me.”
Roxanne put her elbows on the table and propped her chin in her hands as if getting ready to watch a show. “He’s totally right behind you.”
Elle turned, feeling as if she were swimming through molasses. Sure enough, Gabe stood not two feet from her, holding…flowers? From the grin on his face, he’d heard every single word. She waited for lightning to strike her dead, but apparently God wasn’t in an obliging mood tonight.
When he held out the flowers, she took them with numb hands. She lifted the flowers and inhaled on reflex, still unable to tear her gaze from Gabe. Tonight he wore a basic black T-shirt, but it clung to every single freaking muscle. The jeans did the same darn thing. It wasn’t fair—not by a long shot.
Elle definitely needed another drink. “So, you think my mouth is sinful?”
Good God, he really had been close enough to hear everything. “No.” Behind her, Roxanne sounded like she was choking on her drink. Good. She deserved it for not warning Elle he was here
and close enough to eavesdrop. “Your lips are way too thin, practically nonexistent.”
Gabe took a step forward and leaned on the back of her chair, nearly overwhelming her with his closeness. “Oh, really?”
“Yes.” Elle coughed, belatedly realizing her throat was kind of itchy.
“Because I’m pretty sure you just said my mouth is sinful.”
This was so not okay. She rubbed her nose. “You misheard.”
“I don’t think I did.” He leaned sideways around her. “You’re Roxanne, right? I’m Gabe.”
The traitor smiled sweetly at him and offered her hand. “Hello, Gabe. I’ve been hearing so much about you lately.”
“Rox.”
“What? I’m only speaking the truth.”
Gabe was having far too much fun with this. “You heard her call my mouth sinful, didn’t you?”
“Don’t you dare answer that, Roxanne.” Elle sneezed. What the heck? She tilted the bouquet and groaned. “You bought me sage.”
“I bought you what?”
“Sage.” It was as if, by noticing it, her symptoms suddenly became ten times worse. Elle’s eyes started watering and, if the itchiness of her arms were any indication, she was in the process of breaking out in hives. Awesome. Just freaking fantastic. She tossed the bouquet at Roxanne. “This isn’t funny.”
The brunette failed miserably in her attempt to stop laughing. “I’m sorry. It really isn’t. This is horrible. But, holy crap, it’s so terrible it’s hilarious.”
Elle rubbed her nose with the back of her hand, which, of course, only made the itching worse because the damned sage was all over her. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t. You love me.” Roxanne finished off her drink.
Gabe finally moved from around her chair to stand next to the table. From the way his eyes bugged out, the blotchiness had reached her face. “What’s happening?”
“Elle is allergic to sage.” Oh great, now Roxanne could be helpful.“She blows up like a blimp whenever it gets within six feet of her, and you just handed her a bouquet full of the stuff.”
“Holy shit. I’m so sorry. I just—”
“It’s not a big deal.” Elle scooted off the chair and grabbed her purse. “And to you, Roxanne, I only have one word: karma.”
Elle marched out of the restaurant, trying not to notice the stares and whispers as she passed. She failed, just like she failed not to notice the heavy footsteps following her out. “Leave me alone.”
“This is my fault.You gotta let me make this right.” He jogged up until they were even, but was forced to fall back when Elle wove through the cars, heading for her Prius. “Please, Elle. I’m really sorry.”
Considering her eyes were starting to swell, it probably wasn’t the best idea to drive. Being safety- conscious was the only reason she said, “Fine. Whatever. I need allergy medication. Fast.”
“Fast I can do, babe.” He hooked an arm around her waist and steered her toward his red monstrosity.
Elle slid into the passenger seat and closed her eyes, focusing on breathing. All she wanted right now was a tub of Benadryl, a shower, and a bag of frozen peas for her face. And sleep—a whole lot of sleep. It would be okay. A quick stop at the store and she’d be home free. She could do this.
The car swerved so violently, Elle was thrown back in her seat. “Hey, watch it!”
“You said fast.”
She had, but she didn’t want him to kill her in the process. “I’m not going to die—I just need some allergy meds.”
“Die? Is that even possible from flowers?”
“Yes.” She clutched the seat as he swerved again. “You keep driving like this and I’m going to vomit all over your leather seats.”
“Small price to pay if I can help you be less miserable faster. It’ll be okay. We’re almost there.”
Thank God, because she didn’t think she could deal with this much longer. His concern might have been endearing under different circumstances, but Elle was about ready to freak out and start scratching every part of her body she could reach. Compared with that kind of annoyance, Gabe just needed to shut the hell up and get her some Benadryl.
10
Gabe was a goddamn idiot. He’d never stopped to consider Elle might be allergic to something. Though, seriously, who could have guessed she was allergic to sage, or that the grocery store would even stock something like that in the flower section?
He cut through traffic, taking the opportunity to check on her. Holy shit. Angry red blotches covered her pale skin, clearly visible even in the fading evening light.Though he couldn’t be sure, he thought maybe the skin around her eyes was swelling too. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, determined to fix the mess he’d made.
An old yellow Volkswagen cut him off and slowed down, until they were crawling up to the blatantly green light. He muttered under his breath, riding their ass. They needed to get the hell out of the way before
Gabe made them get out of the way.
“You know, I’d feel a lot better about this if I was sure we weren’t going to end up in a fiery ball of death.” “Yeah, well, that won’t matter if your throat starts swelling and you die in my passenger seat.” That could happen with an allergic reaction. He’d seen it on the Discovery Channel.
Elle choked out a laugh. “I’m just miserable, not dying.”
She might be thinking that now, but it was possible that the full reaction hadn’t hit. Things would keep getting worse until they got the meds into her system. With another curse, he flipped on his turn signal and cut across two lanes, earning a startled curse from Elle. They veered into the lot and skidded to a stop in the parking spot closest to the doors.
“This is a handicapped parking spot.”
“So I’ll get a ticket.” Gabe threw open his door and ran around the front of the car to get hers. “Let me help you.”
“I’m fine.” Elle shoved past him and marched toward the store. “You’re acting insane.”
“And you didn’t look for cars. What if you got hit?” Christ, he sounded like a mother hen.
Apparently Elle thought the same thing. “Thanks, Mom, but I’m a grown-up. I have no intention of throwing myself in front of a car.” She hurried inside, but Gabe could have sworn he heard her mutter,“But I might if you don’t stop nagging me.”
Gabe searched for the medicine aisle, but apparently Elle knew her way around because she was already there by the time he figured out where it was. She grabbed the generic brand, but he snatched it out of her hand. “Get Benadryl.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“No, it’s not.” When she didn’t move fast enough, he reached around her and put the box back. The name brand was two bucks more, but it was a small price to pay when Elle’s health was on the line. “Take some now.”
Elle jerked away as if he’d waved a dead animal in her face.“I’m not opening this box and taking medicine right here in the aisle. That’s against the rules.”
Gabe glared. “You already know how this goes. Take the damn meds or I’m going to force it down your throat.”
“You really know how to show a woman a good time.” But instead of flipping him the bird, she watched him open the box and dole out a dose of the gross pink liquid. Elle took it as a shot. “We done yet?”
Not by a long shot. “No. We need…” He shoved the stuff back into the box, and considered. What else would she need? God, he didn’t know the first thing about this crap. That stupid show on the Discovery Channel had focused more on the dying part and less on the treating it.
“While you’re figuring that out, I’ll be walking this way.”
He followed her, eyeing the contents of each aisle they passed. Chocolates—chocolates would be good. Chicks dug that stuff when they weren’t feeling good. Gabe veered into that aisle and started to choose some random brands. Then he stopped. What if she was allergic to nuts or something?
Carefully examining the nutritional facts
on the back of each package, he decided on basic milk chocolate and dark chocolate. On second thought, maybe he should get some of the white stuff too. There was no telling what Elle would like, but she’d already proven she was particular about weird things.
He walked in the general direction she’d gone, but stopped in front of the soup section. Did an allergic reaction count as sick? Maybe he should pick up some chicken noodle soup too… Yeah, good idea. The Campbell’s kind was what he used to give Nathan when they were kids. Before he could second-guess himself, Gabe added two cans to the stuff in his arms.
On a whim, he stopped in the bath and body section and picked a few different bubble bath bottles. He wasn’t a fan of the whole bath thing, but Elle seemed like she’d be into it, and he remembered something about taking baths when you have chicken pox. Maybe it was the same for allergic reactions.
A cart would have been a good idea, but it was too late now. He shifted the stuff until nothing was in danger of falling and kept going, glancing down each aisle as he passed. Elle was nowhere to be seen.
She wouldn’t have left without him, right? Hell, of course she would.
Gabe spun around, ready to drop everything and go sprinting after her. Then he caught a glimpse of her on the other side of the store. She had something pressed against her face—he recognized it as frozen peas when he got closer.
“There you are.”
“Here I am.” She sighed and lifted the bag long enough to frown. “What’s all that?”
“Ah…” He felt stupid standing in front of her, his arms overflowing with random crap. Maybe he should have just left everything alone and gone with her to the freezer section. “I thought you might want some of this.”
Elle leaned in, nearly smacking him in the face with her frozen peas. “Chocolate, bubble bath, and chicken noodle soup.”
“I didn’t know what would help, so I got a bit of everything.”
“I…see.” Those blue eyes focused on him, and Gabe suddenly felt like he had when, at ten, he’d hung Joey Pandini’s dirty underwear from the flagpole, and had to sit two hours outside the principal’s office waiting to see if his mom would show up.