by Jennie Marts
“I never would have thought of that. It is a good thing I brought you along. You’ve already saved me twice.”
She had already moved on to another display. “But who is going to save you from this?” She turned, wielding a Nerf gun in her hand. Pulling the trigger, a styrofoam dart shot out and narrowly missed his ear.
“Oh, I see how it is.” Laughing, he grabbed another gun and loaded it with styrofoam ammunition as she raced down the aisle and out of his range.
He hurried to the other end of the aisle, trying to cut her off, but she must have anticipated his move and shot out of the aisle with a pair of inflatable punching gloves on her hands.
She got in two swift punches to his upper arm before running for the next aisle. He fired off two rounds of darts at her butt, and she shrieked with laughter as they made a direct hit. He slowly rounded the end cap, anticipating another ambush, but the aisle was empty.
Well, not quite empty. It was full of Star Wars toys, and he grabbed a light saber and donned a Darth Vader helmet before trying the next aisle. She was standing in the center in a fighter stance, her hands behind her back.
“Gabby, it’s futile for you to resist. I AM your father,” he spoke in the low, slow tones of Darth Vader. He held the light saber out in front of him.
As if anticipating his next move, she pulled her own light saber from behind her back and brandished it toward his. A grin covered her face as she spoke in a Yoda imitation. “The Force is strong in this one.”
“Don’t you mean—” he lowered his voice to mimic hers, “—strong in this one, the Force is.”
She laughed and took a whack at his light saber with hers. A swash-buckling duel ensued as he drove her further down the aisle. Going in for a hit, he dodged her saber and ducked low, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her off her feet in a bear hug.
Damn, she felt good. He’d been wanting to get his arms around her all day. She laughed as she squirmed against him, and other parts started to feel good, too.
Turning in his arms, she glared up in him in mock-anger. “No fair. Leave it to the dark side to go in for a sneak and grab.”
He grinned down at her, his voice going low and sultry. “Oh honey, I haven’t even begun to start grabbing.”
Her eyes widened at his obvious flirting tone. Then she brushed it off with humor. “I can’t tell if that’s a threat or an invitation.”
Leaning closer, his lips mere inches from hers, he whispered, “Consider yourself invited.” He tipped his face, moving in to kiss her—aching to kiss her, as his hand slid up her back and pulled her closer to him.
The scent of her perfume surrounded him, and a low burn filled his chest. He wanted this woman. And he wanted her now. Right here in the aisle of the Toy Emporium.
Her eyes were closed and her lips were barely parted as she awaited the kiss and all he wanted to do was taste her. To feast on that delicious mouth and fill his hands with her round curves.
His lips touched hers. Softly, barely a whisper—
“Hey Dad, isn’t that Owen Bannister, from the Colorado Summit?” The voice of a child came from behind them.
Owen straightened. He’d forgotten for a moment that he was in a public place, a toy store for frick’s sake. He’d been lost in the moment, lost in her.
Gabby took a step back and blinked, as if she were walking into the sunshine from a dark room.
The exact opposite of how he was feeling. He often felt like he was trapped in a dark room, a place of his own making, and being with Gabby was like opening the curtains to that room and letting the sun shine in.
But he had no choice. The moment was lost.
He shrugged and turned to the kid, who was standing in the aisle with his father. The dad was wearing a Colorado Summit cap. Obviously a fan. Owen smiled at him and his son.
Whatever else was going on, he still had loyal fans, and he owed it to them to honor their allegiance to the team. “Hi, there.”
The kid grinned and pulled on his dad’s sleeve. “See, Dad. I told you it was him. Can I get your autograph?”
He nodded. “Sure. You got a pen?”
The dad felt his pockets, starting to panic as he must have realized he didn’t have a pen or paper.
“Here.” Gabby smiled and handed them a Luke Skywalker notebook and pen set from off the shelf. “You’ll have to buy it, but it’s only a dollar. And I’m sure Owen’s autograph is worth more than that.”
That girl was something. She always seemed to be thinking of other people and had a calm head on her shoulders. Not like him. If he got upset or angry, he lit off like a firecracker before he could rein in his temper. Bane was always the brother that could keep his cool, who would stop to think before he spoke. Not him.
The dad took the notebook, an appreciative smile on his face. “Thanks. Great idea.” He looked up at Owen in obvious admiration. “We’re huge fans. Watch all the games. And we love you and your brother. That was a raw deal that he got after that last game. There’s rumors flying around that the coach might trade him. I hope he comes to his senses before he makes any rash decisions that will affect the team.”
Owen was used to having fans fish for information about the team. And he knew enough to keep his mouth shut. “I don’t think anything’s been decided yet. But the coach will do what’s best for the team. And Bane and I sure appreciate your support.”
“Any chance we could get a picture?”
“Sure.” He put his arm around the boy’s shoulder as the dad raised his cell phone to grab a shot.
“Here, I’ll take it,” Gabby said, reaching for the man’s phone. “Then you can be in the picture, too.”
The guy grinned like he’d won the lottery and scooted around to stand next to Owen.
Gabby snapped a couple of pictures and handed the phone back to the man.
“Thanks a lot.” They waved and moved off down the aisle.
“You totally made their day,” she said. “And they seemed really nice.”
She seemed really nice. Too nice for a guy like him. A guy who’d been ready to smash her up against a display of Legos and have his way with her.
Now the moment was lost, replaced with the reminder of last week’s game, and the weight of what a colossal screw up he was settled on his shoulders. He sighed.
She touched his arm. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I know that guy bringing up the game and what happened to Bane had to bug you, but it wasn’t your fault.”
Geez—could this woman read his mind? How did she know exactly what he’d been thinking?
“And it was obvious they didn’t blame you. Even after that game, they’re still huge fans.”
“Yeah, I guess.” He shrugged and looked up and down the aisle. “I guess we should probably focus on finding the toys.”
She grinned and pointed behind him. “I already have. Check it out. A Star Wars Lego set. The perfect gift for a boy of that age, and Legos are expensive so he probably doesn’t have many, if any at all.” Pulling a box off the shelf, she handed it to him. “And it’s something he can play with on his own or share if he has siblings.”
He took the box from her. “Perfect.” Kind of like her. “Do you have an idea for the girl, too?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the aisle then to the arts and crafts section.
After perusing the pink and purple boxes, she chose a large one that held a kit for making your own jewelry. “This should work great. Girls love making stuff, and there’s enough supplies in here that she can have friends or siblings make stuff too.”
He would have never thought of that. This girl was smart. And thoughtful.
“Now we need something to wrap them in,” she said. “I think I saw some gift bags on an end cap.”
“No way. No gift bags.” He led her to the aisle filled with wrapping paper and bows. “My mom always wrapped our presents, even if it was just a package of socks. There’s something special abo
ut ripping open the paper and discovering a present.”
“You keep surprising me.” Looking up at him, her face held a goofy grin. “You’re not really the aloof bad-boy that the media makes you out to be.”
“You’re only saying that because you haven’t known me that long. Hang around me long enough, and I’m sure I’ll disappoint you too.” He said it with a sarcastic attempt at humor, but in his heart, he felt it was the truth.
And from the look on her face, he knew she was seeing through his poor crack at sarcasm.
He didn’t want or need her pity. He sure as hell didn’t need her trying to psychoanalyze him. He got enough of that from his family. She didn’t know him. And he didn’t plan on spending enough time with her to give her a chance to get to know him. This wasn’t a relationship. It was a brief diversion. What did she call it? A sneak and grab?
Yeah, that was it. A quick sneak in and a little grab, and he’d call it good.
So why didn’t it feel good? Why did thinking about calling it off with her make him feel so bad? He could feel the scowl descend on his face, and the familiar dark cloud settle in around him.
Turning, he snatched a roll of wrapping paper off the shelf. “You want to grab a couple of bows and cards, and let’s get out of here.”
They checked out, and Owen carried the bags then tossed them in the back of the 4Runner. He opened the door for her, and she slid into the seat.
The ride back to her apartment was quiet—a little small talk, but mostly just listening to music.
He pulled up to the bakery and got out to open her door. “Thanks for coming with me. You made it much more fun and kept me from making a fool of myself by waltzing into the party carrying a couple of bicycles.”
“It seems to me that you think you make a fool of yourself much more often than anyone else thinks you do.”
“Pick you up at six?” he asked, brushing off her comment. “If you still want to go.”
“Of course I still want to go.” Tipping up, she dropped a quick kiss on his cheek then turned to go up the stairs. “I don’t want to miss out on seeing the kids,” she called over her shoulder, getting in one last shot.
Nice. He shook his head and chuckled as he got back in the truck. He could tell she had a brother, because she sure wasn’t a pushover. She gave it as good as she got. Which was one more thing that he liked about her.
The list was growing.
He was supposed to be using her to help his image look better, and she’d certainly helped with that father and son in the toy store today. Especially if they posted that picture on social media. He’d even remembered to smile. That part hadn’t been hard.
Gabby had been holding the camera, and all he had to do was look at her and a smile broke out on his face. He rubbed his cheek where she’d left the brief kiss.
Geez. He was getting sappy.
Time to put this thing back into perspective. Gabby was a temporary distraction. Something to help his reputation.
So why couldn’t he get her, and her lips, out of his head?
Chapter Seven
Gabby smoothed on a swipe of lip gloss and took a last look at herself in the mirror. The pale pink dress fit perfectly—the silky fabric draping elegantly along her figure.
The design was classic, but the long slit up one side gave it a just a hint of sexy. The bodice dipped to a V in the front, tasteful but still showing a glimpse of her ample cleavage.
The magnificent dress made her feel like a princess in a fairy tale. A beautiful, sexy princess. Too bad she didn’t know if her night was going to end up with a prince or a toad.
A knock sounded at her door, and her mouth went dry. The prince had arrived.
She reached for her clutch and noticed her hand was trembling. When had she last been this nervous about a date?
She needed to get a grip. She didn’t even know if this was a date.
Striding through the living room, she took a deep breath before opening the door.
And then she couldn’t breathe at all.
Owen Bannister stood on her doorstep holding a pink corsage, wearing a tuxedo, and looking so ridiculously handsome that it took her breath away.
He was flawless in his black tux and white starched shirt. His hair was still damp and curled on the ends, and he smelled marvelous. He grinned, and something inside of her tumbled.
She was afraid it was her heart.
His gaze traveled the length of her body, and he let out his breath. “Wow. You look amazing.”
“You smell amazing.”
Really? She was such an idiot. Why didn’t she think about her words before she just let them run free all willy-nilly from her mouth?
He chuckled. “Thank you.”
“Come in.” She stepped back and inhaled as he walked past her. Oh. My. Gosh. Maybe she shouldn’t have said it, but the man did smell so good.
Maybe they should forget the fancy party. Forget the dress. Like literally lose the dress and just get naked and spend the night wrapped up in her bed.
Where did that come from? Her inner vixen was trying to come out and play. But the practical side of Gabby pushed her back. What about the kids? And he had paid for the dinner, so they shouldn’t waste it. And this dress. It was amazing. It would be a shame not to get to wear it out.
He held out the corsage, breaking into her inner struggle of deciding if they should go out or if she should just forget being rational and jump the guy. “This is for you.”
A corsage? Wow. She clutched her hand to her chest, as if trying to hold in her heart. It was pounding so hard, she was afraid it might beat through her chest. “I’ve never been given a corsage before.”
“What? Not even for prom? Or a school dance?”
She shook her head. She didn’t need to tell him that she hadn’t gone to school dances. That she had already been working by the time she was a junior in high school and didn’t have time for such frivolous things as dances. She’d been intent on saving every dime in an effort to get out of her house and live on her own as soon as she graduated.
Taking the pink rose corsage from the container, he slid the elastic band around her wrist. “There. It’s perfect.” He stood back and looked her up and down. “You’re perfect. You look beautiful.”
The compliment, and the way his eyes traveled over her body, heated her skin like a warm liquid moving through her. It sure felt like he was flirting, like he was giving off ‘I want you’ kind of signals. But his signals had been so inconsistent that she couldn’t tell for sure. One minute he was laughing and had her in his arms, ready to make out with her in the toy aisle, the next he was scowling and brooding.
She gave him a skeptical look.
“What?”
“I’m still not sure if I’m doing you a favor or if this is a date?”
He looked down at her dress then gave her a panty-melting grin. “Oh, this is a date. It’s definitely a date.”
Her inner vixen woke up and started doing a cheer. Give me an O. Give me a W. Give me an E.N. And give him to me. NOW.
“You ready?” He held out his hand.
Was she?
She took his hand, and he led her out of the apartment and down the stairs. She gasped as she saw the black Porsche sitting on the street. “What happened to the 4Runner?”
He chuckled as held the door open for her. “Nothing happened to it. I just thought you might like this one better for tonight.”
She slid onto the expensive leather seat and inhaled the new car smell. “How many cars do you have?” she asked, as he slipped into the driver’s seat next to her.
He shrugged, which was not an answer. “I like cars.”
“I like this car.” Looking around the interior, she spied two beautifully wrapped gifts sitting on the back seat. “Wow. Did you wrap those presents?”
He put the car into gear and sped forward. “I’d like to impress you and say yes. But no. I stopped by to see my folks after I dropped you off, and my mom
wrapped them for me. I told you she loves Christmas.”
“You just stopped by to see your parents today? Why?” She couldn’t think of a time when she voluntarily wanted to stop by her parents’ house. She only went over when she’d been summoned. And then she knew she didn’t have a choice.
“What do you mean why? Do I need a reason? I just felt like it. My brothers and I stop over there all the time.” He glanced over at her. “Don’t you ever just drop by your folks’ house? Just because you feel like seeing them?”
She laughed, but not a ‘funny ha-ha’ laugh. More like a ‘are you kidding me right now?’ kind of laugh. “Not hardly. I only go over there when I have to. I’m not really close to my parents. Especially my step-dad.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
She changed the subject, not wanting to talk about her family, or her step-dad. “Do you know what they’re serving for dinner tonight?”
He shook his head. “No idea. But at five hundred dollars a plate, it should be something good.”
“Five hundred dollars a plate? Holy cow. I mean it. Seriously—are they serving a holy cow? Dishing up a solid gold-encrusted fatted calf?” Just how much money did an NHL hockey player make?
He chuckled. “I hope so. That sounds delicious. But it will probably just be plain old steak. Most of the money goes to the charity.”
They pulled in to the valet line in front of the event center. The rich and famous of Denver spilled out of fancy cars and limousines and paraded up the long red carpet leading to the doors. Cameras flashed as reporters and paparazzi vied for the best shots.
Her palms started to sweat. What was she thinking? She was completely out of her element. “I didn’t know there’d be so many people here. Look at those beautiful women.”
Owen slipped her hand into his. “I only see one beautiful woman.”
There was no way she could walk up that carpet now. She’d just melted into a warm puddle in the seat. Owen’s eyes were on hers, and they only held sincerity. None of his normal flirty charm, just true honest feeling. She swallowed, unable to speak above more than a whisper. “Thank you.”