by Milan Watson
CHAPTER SEVEN
Call him old fashioned, but there was no way Ali was going to put him in the same box as an ex who preferred men. He took in her floral scent as he crowded her in against the counter. Her eyes widened even as her mouth opened to protest.
Gabe didn’t give her any time.
He moved in, taking her mouth with subtle demand, his fingers moving through her hair angling her head for better access. He felt her stiffen against him - he might’ve overplayed his hand, he thought for a moment - before she relaxed.
Her small hands moved up against the firm ridges of his spine before slowly moving down again to his rear.
She tasted of red wine and mystery, a heady combination after trying his best to ignore her for the past week.
There was no ignoring now.
Ali gave as he demanded. The pretty white blue dress gave him access to her sun-kissed shoulders. Gabe’s mouth traveled over them at a leisurely pace, leaving a trail of soft damp kisses on her neck and collarbone.
When she softly sighed, he reached around her cupping her rear. It was so firm, so inviting, Gabe thought as he moved back to her mouth.
How could a man not want her? Well, when he wanted another man, Gabe supposed that made sense.
There was so much about Ali he wanted.
Although they had kept their distance, the small things he had learned about her intrigued him even more. The way she sang off key while straightening her hair, or the way she drank her tea with the spoon still in the cup, even the way she always drove her V-bug with the top down, even on windy days. These were all things Gabe wanted to get to the bottom of.
His thoughts trailed off as Ali’s hand searched and explored.
A knock at the door had them jumping apart like two high school kids making out behind the bleachers.
“Gabe! You here?”
Gabe irritably watched as his friend Peter sauntered into the kitchen, his eyes first meeting Gabe’s before moving to Ali and lingering there. A possessive twinge ran through Gabe. I saw her first, he thought as Peter moved toward Ali.
“Well, hello there; this guy I know, but I haven’t met you. You must be the horrible stepsister that’s come to make Gabe’s life hell!” Peter laughed at his own joke as Gabe gave him a cold stare.
“Ali, this is Peter. Peter, Ali.”
Ali narrowed her eyes at Gabe before stepping forward with her hand outstretched. “Hi, Peter, pleased to meet you. I’m the horrible stepsister.”
“I never called you horrible,” Gabe defended as he moved towards the fridge.
Ali looked from Gabe to Peter, who just held up his hands.
“Well, now I’d say this is where I just nod and smile.” Peter continued to do just that.
Gabe waited for the bomb to drop, but instead Ali shocked him by laughing.
Not knowing what do to he took a large gulp of beer. “Peter, beer?”
“Yeah, sure,” Peter said still smiling at Ali. “So how do you like the town?” He moved around the counter and sat on a stool.
Ali smiled and picked up her glass. “Actually I love it. I’m probably biased. I got a job today.” She held up her glass in salute.
“You did what?” Gabe nearly spat out his beer.
“Congratulations,” Peter grinned.
Ali turned to Gabe; her lips were still swollen from their make-out session, her eyes narrowed. “I got a job, Gabe. You know that thing you do every day that pays you money?” Swiveling to Peter, she said easily, “I just can’t sit around doing nothing. I’m a party planner by trade, so I’m used to running around all day, not sitting around.”
“Where did you get a job?” Peter asked, solely focused on Ali.
Gabe was unfamiliar with the brief flicker of jealousy that sprouted its ugly head.
“At the country club. They’re in need of an all round event planner for the club, and my New York portfolio apparently sold them.”
“The club’s known for awesome parties, and I’m sure they’re going to be even better now that you’re arranging them.”
Ali clinked her glass against Peter’s. “Cheers to that.”
“Cheers,” he said, completely oblivious to the stare Gabe was giving him.
Gabe lifted his beer to his mouth to find it already empty. He grabbed another from the fridge and joined Ali and Peter as they chatted amicably.
“So Gabe mentioned you’re from New York? Not bored with the small town yet?”
“No, actually we used to live in Portland; I like the city ... but let’s just say I’ve had enough of the Big Apple for a while.”
“Especially since the old man made Gabe share his estate.”
Ali’s brows raised and she cast Gabe a questioning glance. Gabe shrugged and mentally kicked himself for telling Peter about the situation.
“Actually it was nice of him, although I would’ve preferred meeting him. At least I would know someone in town besides Gabe.”
“Well,” Peter drawled, scooting closer, “now you know me.”
Ali laughed easily and shook her head. “So I do. So what is it you do when you’re not listening to Gabe gossip about me?”
Gabe’s heart nearly jumped into his throat as Ali smiled at him sexily.
Peter laughed. “Well, actually I’m a carpenter by trade. I’m currently working with Gabe on the beach house we’re renovating.”
Ali nodded. “Oh, that is interesting, although I would like to know more about the beach house. Gabe rarely talks to me.” She smiled at Gabe again.
He didn’t know if she was taunting him or trying to drive him mad, but she was succeeding with both.
“Well now, why don’t I take you out to dinner tomorrow night and we can talk a bit?” Peter said smoothly as he took Ali’s hand in his own.
Ali looked at Gabe with a wicked twinkle in her eye.
“We’re going out tomorrow night,” Gabe blurted, shocked by his own words.
Ali beamed at Gabe, slightly cocking her head before turning to Peter. “Sorry, Peter, maybe next time.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Peter said as he drained his beer and stood. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gabe. Ali.” He nodded in her direction before disappearing as swiftly as he appeared.
“And I call him a friend ...” Gabe muttered under his breath.
“Excuse me?” Ali countered. “At least he can hold a conversation without scowling or jumping me!”
“You’re not going out with him,” Gabe said, hating the possessive tone.
“And who are you to say who I’m allowed to see? Besides I’m nothing more than your horrible stepsister that’s come to claim half your inheritance.”
“That was the first day, things have changed since then.”
“How exactly?” Ali said with her hands on her hips. “You ignore me eighty percent of the time and the other twenty you’re groping me. You need to decide what you want, Gabe. Either you want me or you don’t, but you sure as hell don’t have a claim on me.” With that Ali downed her glass of wine and headed to bed without another word or glance in Gabe’s direction.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ali was furious. Frustrated and furious. Every time Gabe touched her it was like her nerve endings exploded, and every time he would draw away, cursing her in the process. She couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if Peter hadn’t arrived.
She slammed her bedroom door behind her and sat down on the bed, head in her hands.
Wilmington wasn’t turning out how she had planned. Well, truthfully she didn’t plan at all. She had come on a whim, found out she had a father, a step-brother. Now she had gotten a job on a whim as well.
Ali sighed; maybe she was doing this backward. Maybe instead of fighting against Gabe, she should try and win him over, or she should set boundaries.
Boundaries. That was an idea, she thought, as winning him over could lead to other things. At least until she decided whether or not she wanted to sleep with him; at this stage she wasn
’t sure what she wanted.
She pulled out a notepad from the bedside drawer along with a pen and held the blank sheet in front of her.
PLAN
1. Boundaries – Gabe
2. Job – priority
3. House – decide
Ali nodded to herself happy with her short list. It wasn’t extensive or bullet proof, but at least she had one. She stood up and went in search of Gabe and found the house empty.
He’d left! Again! What was it with this man and running?
Even more irritated with him, she headed for her room, finished her nightly routine and got into bed.
The heat was stifling. Ali kicked off the covers and still got no relief from its smothering clutches. She got up and undressed down to her panties and a worn through vest. She opened the window above her head and soon she dozed off with the fresh air breezing over her.
Ali had just slumbered in, when she heard a noise in the house. She called Gabe’s name but got no answer.
When she heard the sound again she knew it needed investigating, so even as the trickle of fear worked its way down her spine, she kicked off the covers and grabbed a brush from the dresser before she went in search of the noise.
She grappled through the dark until she slammed into a solid figure. A cry escaped before she could stop herself and strong arms went around her.
“Hush Ali, it’s just me.” Gabe’s voice was apologetically soft.
“You could’ve answered when I called your name,” Ali scolded, trying to get out of his embrace.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“Where were you? I take that back, it’s none of my business.”
His voice was husky and dangerous in the dark. “I’d like it to be your business.”
“Gabe, what ...”
His mouth brushed lightly over hers. “I’d like to stop trying to keep my hands off you, to stop telling my friends to leave you alone; I’d like to be able to explore this thing between us.”
Ali thought back to the list on her bedside table. “Gabe, I ...”
“I know this is confusing, Ali. Why the hell do you think I’ve pulled away every time? But it’s there and we’ve both been trying to ignore it ever since that first night. Why don’t we try and find out where it’s going to lead?”
Ali wanted to say no, she wanted to tell him to leave her alone, to set the boundaries she had written down. But right now, standing in his arms, feeling his hand brush over her rear, a fire was lit inside her, a fire she didn’t want to put out.
She reached up and tangled her fingers in his hair before pulling him closer. “Fine, but just one night.”
“One night and then we’ll decide more in the morning.” Those were Gabe’s last words before he swept into her mouth.
Ali loved the taste and texture of his mouth, the way their tongues mated in perfect synchrony. Gabe pulled her against him, her curves molding against his hard frame, his want for her digging into her belly. She gasped, knowing there was no turning back now. She took his hand and led him to her room, where she closed the door behind them.
Gabe picked her up, bracing her legs around his hips.
Hesitation hung in the air as evident as the cool breeze drifting from the open window.
Ali watched Gabe. Though need was burning through her, she knew if they moved forward now, there would be no turning back.
To hell with it, she thought. She smiled in the soft light coming from the bedside light, a subtle invitation.
CHAPTER NINE
Gabe felt a smile twitch at the corners of his mouth as he moved with her towards the bed.
He felt something for her, something he had never felt before. Something he thought he had with Peggy Mae. Now looking back, what he had with Peggy Mae was the watered down version.
Gabe set her gently down on the bed, moving in between her legs. With a swift move he pulled his shirt over his head. Ali’s small warm hands instantly reached for him ... and something clattered to the floor.
“What the hell?” Gabe asked, peering to the side of the bed.
Ali giggled. “A brush, I took it along for self defense.”
“What, you were going to brush the intruder’s hair until he promised to go away?”
He watched her wrap her mind around that, her expression swiftly changing between irritation and amusement.
She laughed, again reaching up to meet his mouth.
All thoughts of the hairbrush were soon forgotten as hands explored while they fuelled the fire with more kisses.
By the time he moved over Ali, naked and ready, Gabe knew he was in over his head. He could only hope that he wouldn’t regret it in the morning.
They rocked each other until the fire exploded, leaving them quivering and sated.
Gabe got out of his truck and looked forward to spending the evening relaxing with Ali. Over the past month Gabe had fallen deeper and deeper, although he wasn’t ready yet to call it love. He had made that mistake before and wasn’t looking to repeat it again.
That first night had been magical, and the conversation they promised to have the following morning still hadn’t occurred. All the things he had wondered about he had managed to get to the bottom of.
When she was preparing for a date one evening and singing an off key rendition of Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain, Gabe finally asked, “Why do you only sing when you straighten your hair?”
She had laughed, her eyes the color of roasted hazelnut. “I feel horrible for subjecting my hair to the torture, so I sing and force myself not think about it.”
“Why don’t you just leave it curly?” Gabe had asked with male naivety.
“Curly? It looks ... untamed.”
“I like it untamed,” Gabe had said, moving towards her.
They never went out that night.
When he’d asked her about the spoon in her tea she merely shrugged. Apparently she was in the dark on that one as well.
Gabe had allowed her to drive one Sunday on their way to lunch and even with the wind slapping at them she had refused to put the V-bug’s top up.
“Ali, please put up the top?” Gabe had implored.
“No.” Her answer held no room for argument.
“Why?”
A tear slipped down her cheek as she kept her eyes on the road and answered him. “When my mother got her first chemo session she made me drive with the top down. She didn’t know how long she would still have the wind in her hair. The day I drove away from her funeral I put the top down, and since then it’s only up when it’s raining.”
Small things had made Gabe realize he couldn’t give her up, not easily at least.
They hadn’t spoken further about the house or the inheritance, and Gabe guessed it was because both knew it wouldn’t be an easy discussion.
Gabe had answered all the questions she had about Abe, and talking about the man he knew as his father helped him process his grief.
He knew he had to approach her sooner rather than later to decide what was going to happen, especially since he had put in an offer for that prime piece of land.
He moved around the back of the house as Ali came rushing towards him, anger reddening her cheeks as her eyes flashed daggers.
“Ali?” Gabe asked, knowing something was off.
“You ... you ... urghh, I’m so mad I don’t even know what to call you! How could you?”
“What? How could I what?” Gabe asked.
“The house? You used it as security for a loan, without discussing it with me. I thought we had something, or at least we were seeing if we have something. But I can tell you this, obviously it’s nothing if you’re trying to steal my inheritance from me!”
“Shit!” Gabe said on a sigh. When he had put the house up for security he should’ve realized they would come by to see if it covered the loan. “Ali, I can explain.”
She rushed back inside.
He found her in her bedroom, packing. “What, now you’re moving? I ca
n explain if you’d just listen for a damn minute!”
“Listen to what? How you betrayed me? How you went behind my back? I phoned Jeremiah; even he said you can’t do this without my permission!”
“Damn, Ali, you had to phone Jeremiah? He’s a lawyer not a domestic dispute representative.”
Ali’s eyes darkened with anger as she slammed her suitcase shut. “Screw you, Gabe, screw you and this damn house! Sell it, lose it, I don’t care. I’ll sort out the rest of my inheritance with Jeremiah. I’ve got nothing left to say to you.”
“Ali!” Gabe called desperately after her.
She didn’t even look back as she got into her car and drove away.
His chest squeezed with emotion. The emotion was as foreign to him as the house that suddenly seemed lonely.
CHAPTER TEN
Ali ignored the tears that streamed down her face as she drove towards the motel on the highway. She would stay there until she figured out her next move.
Her next move did not include Gabe.
Only last night he had made slow seductive love to her, making her realize she loved him. Her realization frightened her as much as it excited her.
She had spent the whole day cooking, wanting to spoil him with dinner and romance before she told him how she felt.
And then the bank’s assessor had paid her a visit. Gabe had just put in an offer on a prime spot of land by the ocean using the house as security. The deal was just about signed and sealed.
Without telling her.
She brushed furiously at the tears, but they kept coming in endless supply. Driving away from Gabe was the hardest thing she had ever done. Not only had she just driven away from the only memories she had of the father she never knew, but she had left the man she loved behind as well.
Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest as her phone starting ringing on the passenger’s seat. She recognized Gabe’s number, grabbed the phone and chucked it in the back seat.
She would not let him hurt her anymore. Anything he told her now would be lies. Lies to protect himself. Ali wouldn’t allow it, she’d been hurt enough. She had just started thinking that she could make a home in Wilmington, a home with Gabe.