Page 20 of Justified Lies

Gabe had been right, if she didn’t want people to think of her as a burden, she had to stop believing she was one. She had to value herself as highly as she wanted other people to, including Gabe. Why her boobs had to be displayed just below her chin to accomplish that was anyone’s guess.

Lianna pasted on a smile and summoned her courage. “Hey, do you guys have any plans this weekend?”

She had chickened out of asking him on a date, but a family outing still gave her time with him and the distraction she needed. Gabe continued to gaze at her with that lifted brow like he was going to say, ‘do you smell what the Rock is cooking’,at any moment. And speaking of, holy smokes, he looked hot. He wore a baseball hat turned backwards and a gray fitted t-shirt that made his expansive chest look like it was a mile wide. His dark beard was trimmed down so you could almost make out the hard angles of his face. Oh, and those lips! Even when drawn in a firm line waiting for her to explain herself, they looked so dang juicy she wanted to bite into them.

She giggled.Damn it! Surely her Feminist Legal Theory professor would dig her own grave watching Lianna right now. She was transforming into a breathing blob of J-e-l-l-o, just because Gabe turned on his silent, brooding persona.

“I’m taking the kids to the pumpkin patch on Saturday afternoon and Harris thought Jacob might want to come.” She twisted her hands as she spoke. “And I thought you might want to come? With me,” she quickly finished.

Why? Why do I always resort to sexual innuendo around him?She hoped his mind wasn’t as immature as hers. She could sense her cheeks heating and felt her armpits dampening. Thank God she wore a white sweater today.

“I’d like to come. With you,” he said deadpan.

Lianna stood there speechless. Thankfully, he changed the subject.

“No more dead animals or prank calls, right?”

Composing herself, she cleared her throat. “Nope, I promised I would tell you otherwise.”

“And no more uninvited appearances,” he said, glancing in the direction of the neighbors.

“Haven’t seen him since your friendly little chat.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

He grunted, then diverted his attention to the boys in the back. “Everyone buckled in?”

“Yes,” the boys said at the same time, followed quickly by “Jinx!”

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you on Saturday then?” Gabe said, admiring her cleavage before redirecting his attention to her face.

“Oh, yes. Awesome, this is going to besofun. The kids and I can pick you guys up in the minivan. Or you can drive. What time do you want to go? You know what, I’ll just text you about coming, about what time. Okay, bye.”Jesus.

Lianna didn’t wait for a response to the verbal vomit she just spewed. Instead, she turned, doing her best not to speed walk to the front door. The whole time reciting a silent prayer that her jeans did their job and distracted him from what just came out of her mouth.

****

Gabe watched Lianna hustle back into the house, not bothering to hide his smirk. He would have to find a way to reelin the urge to flirt. If this friendship was going to work, and he was going to regain her trust, then he couldn’t lead her on with mixed signals. If he couldn’t give her a relationship, then she deserved to know up front so she could find someone who could.

The thought of her with someone else had the chicken fajitas he’d made for dinner threaten to come back up. Gabe reached for the pack of gum he kept in the center console to settle his stomach, while he backed out of the driveway.

As he neared the end of the street, he paused to let a truck turn. Glancing at the vehicle, Gabe did a double take when he realized it was Lianna’s neighbors. They didn’t see Gabe, too caught up in an argument they were having. The wife threw her hands up dramatically and the man, Tim, grabbed her violently by the wrist. The woman’s eyes went wide and then they were past his car. Gabe stayed at the stop sign watching the truck in his rear-view until it turned into their driveway and out of sight.

“Dad, what are you doing?” Jacob piped up from the back.

“I was just looking at something. Hang tight, here we go.”

Gabe drove to the practice field with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. This man Lianna thought was harmless, who played the innocent and mild-mannered neighbor, seemed to have a dark side after all.

****

Gabe shifted on the hay bale, hoping to find a spot that didn’t send a strand poking into his butt cheeks. Despite the uncomfortable tractor ride, Gabe felt the happiest he had in a long time. Maybe it was the brisk, bright fall day. More likely it was the company he kept. Stealing a glance across to the opposite bench, he smiled.

Lianna sat hand-in-hand with Annie, cheerfully pointing out the spooky decorations that had been set up around the farm. They looked adorable, seated there in matching flannel shirts, blue jeans, and mud boots. The boys sat on Gabe’s rightside, shoving mini donuts into their mouths at a record setting pace. They were trying to one-up each other’s tales of schoolyard glory around each bite.

The next time he chanced a glance across the wagon, his heart raced when he found Lianna looking back at him. Pretty dark eyes twinkled as she gifted him an award-winning smile. The sunshine highlighted her freckles, making them so pronounced he would swear they were painted on her face. Gabe swallowed loudly, sure the driver of the tractor could hear it over the motor.

Annie distracted her mom with a joyful yelp as they approached the corn maze. Sitting to their immediate left, the sprawling pumpkin patch lay just beyond the maze. Gabe’s nerves matched his joy. He had to do this right, make friendly with the woman of his dreams so she would trust him enough to keep her safe.But… and this was a very big but … not get friendly enough that he would act on his feelings.

As the tractor sputtered to a stop, the boys were down the steps before Lianna could yell after them. She gave Gabe a “helpme” look and he immediately followed them. Gabe jogged to keep up with the boys’ speedy pace through the maze.

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