“I can’t see the TV,” she sasses.
“That’s because I need to do this first.” Just like in the kitchen, I cradle her face in my hands and fuse my lips to hers. This time I keep it short, but the result is still the same. I ache for her. Pulling out of the kiss, I tap her leg. “Stand.” She does as I ask, and I lie down on the couch. I pat the spot in front of me, but she doesn’t move. “Just let me hold you, Gabs.”
“Chase, this is a bad idea.” There is no conviction in her voice; in fact, it wavers, telling me all I need to know. She wants this. She just thinks that she shouldn’t.
“Come here.” I reach for her hand and give a slight tug. That’s all it takes for her to relent and lie down in front of me. Her body is stiff as I pull her back to my chest and wrap my arms around her. “Breathe,” I whisper next to her ear. She sucks in a deep breath and slowly exhales, but it does nothing to relax her. Reaching behind me, I feel for the remote on the table and hand it to her. “Watch whatever you want.”
“What do you want to watch?” she asks softly.
“I don’t care. Hell, you don’t even have to turn it on. I just want to hold you.” She hesitates and then hits the Power button. Some sitcom is playing and she makes no move to change it. Her body still lies rigid next to mine. That won’t do. Sliding my hand under her shirt, she gasps but doesn’t try to stop me. I rest my hand on her stomach and draw slow, lazy circles with my thumb. Gradually, her body begins to respond to my touch as she settles in next to me. Her shoulders fall, and the tension leaves her body.
My eyes fall closed as I relish the feel of her in my arms—the softness of her smooth skin and the way her hair tickles my nose. I’ve fought this for far too long. The rightness of this moment is more than enough validation for me to know I’m a dumbass. I should have made a move sooner. No matter how many times I imagined this moment, it doesn’t compare to real life.
I’m not sure how much time passes, but I can tell from how relaxed her breathing is that she’s asleep. In my arms. I’m half tempted to let us both stay here all night, but I have a king-size bed calling my name. Carefully, I climb out from behind her. She doesn’t move a muscle.
My girl is tired.
Making my way through the house, I check the doors ensuring they’re locked. In the kitchen, I toss our trash from dinner and turn off the lights. My feet carry me back to the couch, back to Gabby. Bending, I scoop her up in my arms and she mumbles something I can’t understand. “I got you,” I murmur, kissing her temple. I carry her upstairs and stop just outside her room. I hesitate before my feet carry me a few more steps to my door. To my room. Using my foot, I push open the door and carry her to my bed. I set her in the middle and take in the sight before me. The moonlight gives the room a soft glow, and I’m thankful tonight is a full moon. The light is enough for me to make out her soft features as she sleeps peacefully. In my bed. Working at a gym is nice considering I’m already in gym shorts and a T-shirt. I’d love to strip us both down and crawl under the covers with her, but she’s not ready for that. For now, I remain how I am and slide under the covers.
She stirs a little when I pull her into my arms. “Shh, I’ve got you,” I whisper soothingly. I can’t help but wonder how she’s going to react when she wakes up in my bed, wrapped in my arms. She’s more than likely going to be pissed, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’ve slept like shit since she moved in, knowing she was just down the hall. I need a good night’s rest, and this is how I can guarantee I’ll get it. Closing my eyes, I drift off to sleep with her snuggled close. Everything is right in my world.
I can feel her stare. Part of me wants to remain oblivious and pretend to be sleeping so I can keep her close just a little longer. The other part knows I need to man up and take what’s sure to be an angry stare for bringing her to my bed last night.
Peeling my eyes open, I find her lying on her side, hands tucked under her head, and those green eyes of hers watching me intently. “Morning, beautiful,” I say, giving her hip, where my hand is currently resting, a gentle squeeze.
“Morning,” she replies softly. “Why am I here?”
“You live here.” I can’t tell you the satisfaction I get from that statement alone.
“You know what I mean, Chase. Why am I in your bed?”
Because this is where you belong. “I wasn’t done holding you.” It’s my truth.
“So you brought me here.”
“Yes.” I shuffle a little closer to her, aligning my body with hers. “I liked falling asleep with you in my arms,” I say, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
“We agreed to be friends.” This time her words have very little heat behind them. I’m wearing her down.
“We are.”
“Friends don’t do… this.” She motions with her finger between the two of us.
“We’re more than friends.”
“Chase,” she says with a sigh.
“Gabrielle.” I mock her tone. “Tell me something,” I say, finding her eyes. “Do you feel this?”
“Feel what?” she asks, glancing away before locking her eyes on mine once again.
“Gabby,” I warn. “This.” My hand slides around her and I pull her even closer. “The way my body craves yours. The way my heart races when I hear your voice. You feel that?”
“It’s complicated. We’re too complicated.”
“We’re only complicated if you make it that way.”
“There’s so much at stake.”
“Like what?”
“Like my job and yours. The fact that my sister is married to your best friend. The fact that if we do this, whatever it is that you’re proposing, and it doesn’t work out, my heart will shatter,” she confesses softly.
“I hear you. Let me ask you this. What if it does work out? What if we ride off into the sunset like Harrison and Gwen? What if you’re my forever?”
“Relationships are hard, Chase.”
“I know that.”
“They take work. Harrison and Gwen have not had it easy.”
“I’m all in, Gabby. I want to give this, us, everything I have.” I can see in her eyes she’s starting to waver. I run every conversation we’ve ever had in my mind trying to find the words to tell her what she needs to hear to give me a chance. I think about yesterday at the gym, and the kiss, our first, and it hits me. “We go slow,” I tell her. “No sex.”
“Right.” She laughs. “I won’t be made a fool while you’re getting your rocks off with someone else.”
“Damn it, Gabby,” I say, frustrated. “It’s only you, woman. Can’t you see that? I changed my schedule to spend more time with you. I want you here in my home, in my bed. I want you. Only you. What’s it going to take for you to believe me?” I’m mad, not at her necessarily, but she’s the most frustrating woman I’ve ever met. How can she not see that I’m sincere? Hell, it’s been too damn long since I’ve even attempted to spend time with another woman. I’m at a loss for what to do to prove to her she’s all I see. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. When I open them, she’s watching me. I cradle her cheek in the palm of my hand. “Try,” I whisper the plea. “Just give us a shot, baby.”
“I need some time to think.”
Leaning in close, I press my lips to hers. “Okay,” I murmur against her lips before going back for more. Lazily, my tongue caresses hers, my hand roaming over her body. “You think. I’ll kiss,” I say, trailing my lips down her neck.
She doesn’t try to stop me.
“Chase,” she says breathily.
“Hmmm?”
“I can’t think with your lips on me.”
“Good. Don’t think. Just feel.” I suck on her neck just above her collarbone. Her hands grip my biceps, but she doesn’t try to stop me. I lick and suck and nip, working my way back up to her ear, pulling the lobe gently with my teeth.
She shivers in my arms.
Pulling back, I place one final soft kiss to her lips. “We need to
get moving. I’ll start breakfast while you shower.” Unable to resist, I smack her on the ass lightly before climbing out of bed. I stop at the bathroom to handle my business before making my way downstairs to the kitchen to make my girl some breakfast.
Twenty minutes later, she enters the room. My back is to her, but I can feel the energy shift. “Just in time,” I say, turning.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I feel you, Gabs. I always know where you are.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal, when we both know it’s a very big fucking deal.
“What are we having?” she asks, choosing to ignore my comment.
“Omelets.”
“Thank you.”
She takes a seat at the island beside me and begins to eat. I finish my food way before she does. “I’m going to grab a shower.” I kiss the top of her head as I stand to place my empty plate in the dishwasher. Dashing back up to my room, I rush through a shower, and dress in basketball shorts and a T-shirt. When I make it back downstairs, I don’t have to look for her or her car in my garage to know she’s already gone. I feel it. Grabbing my keys, wallet, and phone, I make sure the house is locked up and head to work. Glancing at the clock on the dash, I’m running late, which means she was too. Making a quick decision, I pull into the coffee shop she frequents and order her favorite latte, and get Harrison and me the largest they have—straight up black.
I make it to the gym without spilling coffee all over my truck, and grin when I park next to her car. Just like at home. I head straight for her desk as soon as I enter the building. Harrison is standing next to her as they talk about his schedule. I hand him a coffee; he takes a large gulp and keeps on talking. I set hers in front of her, leaning down to kiss her temple. Suddenly, all conversation stops.
“What?” I ask, taking a big sip of my own black morning nectar.
“What did I miss?” Harrison asks.
“You’re welcome for the coffee, fucker.” I grin at him.
“Thanks.” He takes another large swallow. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing yet,” I tell him.
“What was that?” He points at me then at Gabby.
“Nothing.” Gabby quickly discourages him.
“Oh, it was something. My girl here is in denial, but she’ll come around.” I don’t take my eyes off her.
“Chase.” She sighs.
“Hey, man.” My first client of the day waves as he calls out a hello as he passes the door and enters the locker room.
“I gotta get busy.” I trail my fingers over the side of her face before forcing myself to step away from her. Turning, I head toward the locker room. I don’t need to turn around to know Harrison is right behind me. My suspicion is confirmed when his hand lands on my shoulder.
“Come on, man, you can’t just leave me hanging like that. What’s going on?”
“It’s between me and Gabby.”
“She’s my sister-in-law.”
“Well, she’s my future, so I pull trump.”
“Wow,” he says, his eyes wide and his mouth falling open. “That’s some heavy shit.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
“She’s the reason you’ve not been dating.”
I nod. “I was hoping you were too wrapped up in Gwen and my goddaughter to notice.” I should have known better.
He grins. “I like it.”
“I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
“Nothing worth having ever comes easy. Take it from me. Put the work in. It’s worth it and so is she.”
“Plan on it.” My client comes out and I follow him over to the weights. We spend the next two hours training and working out. Not once in that two hours do I not think about her.
“Thanks, man,” John, my client, says. “You kicked my ass.”
“You’re welcome.” I laugh.
“No way would I be this far without your help.”
“That’s what I’m here for, man. Stop by the desk and Gabby will schedule you again if you’re interested.”
“Definitely. I need all the help I can get.” He walks away and I grab the cleaner, wiping down the machines and weights that we used. As I’m tossing the rag in the laundry bin, her laugh echoes throughout the gym. My eyes go to her desk and I see John leaning close, and from the look on his face, he’s making a play for my girl.
Time to squash this shit.
I have long-ass legs. At six foot four, I’m used to towering over everyone. Rarely have I used that as an edge of advantage; today is not one of those days. In a few long strides, I’m standing behind Gabby at her desk with my hands on her shoulders. Leaning in close to her ear, I whisper, “You’re mine.” Her green eyes stare up at me.
“My girl get you all set?” I ask John, massaging her shoulders gently.
“Yeah.” He takes a step back. I’m going for casual, but my stance is rigid. My feet are planted and my shoulders are stiff. I give him a look, one that tells him I know what he was trying to do, and I don’t appreciate it. “Thanks, Gabby. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you next week, Chase.” He turns on his heel and rushes out the door.
“What was that?” Gabby turns to face me.
She’s a tiny little thing, but she’s never afraid to go toe-to-toe with me. She’s feisty, and it’s just one of the many things I love about her.
Love.
“He was hitting on you.”
“And?”
“And you’re mine.”
“You are aware that what just happened, happens to me on a daily basis, right?”
“No,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Yes.” She grins. “He’s not the first and he won’t be the last.”
“I don’t fucking like it.”
“Hey, Chase, got time for me today?” Carrie, a regular here at the gym, asks, interrupting our conversation. She’s blonde, tall, and slender, and I admit she’s a looker, but she’s not my Gabby. “Not today,” I say at the same time Gabby says, “He does.”
Carrie looks from me to Gabby. “Not today, Carrie. Sorry. I think Corey has some time,” I say, referring her to another one of our trainers.
“Too bad,” she purrs, and it’s the most ridiculous fucking sound I’ve ever heard.
“In fact, I’m cutting back my training hours, so if that’s what you’re looking for, Corey is your best bet.”
She reaches out to run a long painted nail over my chest. Gabby makes a sound in the back of her throat as I intercept Carrie’s hand, keeping her from touching me. I drop her hand immediately. “My girlfriend wouldn’t approve, and frankly, neither do I.”
“Girlfriend?” she and Gabby ask at the same time.
“Girlfriend,” I repeat, my voice firm. “So, please don’t do that.” I nod toward her hand that’s now hanging at her side.
“She’s a lucky girl,” Carrie says, then saunters off. I’m sure she’s giving me a show, shaking her hips, but I don’t care to find out. Instead, I give all my attention to Gabby.
She turns in her chair to face me once again. I crouch down so that I’m peering up at her. I don’t want to intimidate her; that’s not how I want her to be mine.
“There are always going to be Johns and Carries,” she says sadly.
“I know, baby. But I don’t want her. I want you.”
“That’s new.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not. Me telling you, that’s new.”
“I don’t fucking like it.” She throws my words back at me. My cock twitches hearing her sweet mouth say fucking.
“Then make it stop.”
“Right.” She scoffs.
“Let me tell them you’re mine. Let me shout it from the fucking rooftops, and it will all stop.”
She bites down on her bottom lip. “I thought you were going to give me time to think?”
She’s right, I did agree to that, but I never promised I would stop pursuing her while she did this “thinking” she claims she needs. She knows what she wants; she’s just afraid to
admit it. “I am, but maybe this will help.” My hand slides around the back of her neck and I pull her into a kiss. “I have some work to do,” I say as I pull back. “What time are you taking your lunch?”
“Noon, like usual.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll be here to take you to lunch.” With another soft kiss to the corner of her mouth, I stand to my full height, then turn and walk down the hall to the office. I have some paperwork to get through, and I need to update Harrison on the client totals at the other locations.
“I’ll be home soon.” I hear him say into his phone when I walk into our shared office. “Love you, Winnie,” he says before ending the call. “How’s your day going?” he asks.
“Good.”
“Just good?” He eyes me suspiciously. He knows me too well.
“Fucker John, my first appointment of the day, was hitting on Gabby.” I should have punched him, but I knew better. One, this is my job, and two, Gabby would have been pissed. He didn’t touch her, but I knew from the look on his face, he wanted to.
“You set him straight?”
“Yeah, but then Carrie Sims showed up and started flirting.” Fucking Carrie. I’m so sick of women like her thinking their looks can get them any man they want. I want substance. I want a woman I can share my life with, one who can carry on a conversation, have mind-blowing sex with, and know that she’s going to be a fantastic mother to our future children. That’s beauty.
That’s Gabby.
Harrison nods. “I had to put her in her place. I’m married for fuck’s sake, and she damn well knows it.”
“Yeah, I shut that shit down in front of Gabby.”
“She pissed?”
“Nah, I don’t think so.” I plop down at my desk and fire up my laptop to go over the numbers with Harrison.
“Gwen told her to give you a chance,” Harrison speaks up.
“What?”
He nods. “She told me last night. She told Gabby that the two of you would be good together. I agree with her.”
“She’s fighting it.” That’s the thing about best friends; I didn’t even have to tell him that I wanted her. He just knows. I could have denied it, but what’s the use?
Fair Lakes Series Box Set Page 34