Page 32 of Justified Lies

Pulling her hair out of its scrunchie, she twirled it into a bun several times before making up her mind. Adrenaline was coursing through her body, making her so restless her skin felt like it was crawling. Lianna knew she couldn’t go home. Backing out of the driveway, she didn’t acknowledge where she was headed until she was parked again. Taking a deep breath, Lianna got out of her car and started up the driveway to finally have a chat with Gabe.

Chapter Eleven

Gabe awoke with a start. He looked around trying to get his bearings. The living room was dark except for the TV. Lester Holt was describing the mystery of the night, which reminded him he was home alone. Jacob was with Dolores and her grandson, having a sleepover in the carriage house.

A half-full Innis and Gunn sat on the coffee table. He treated himself to the beer upon getting home from work but passed out on the couch before he got to dinner. On cue, his stomach growled, begging for sustenance. Pushing his hands through his hair, he yawned just as a knock sounded at the door. Gabe jumped off the sofa and was striding to the front door before his body clued in on what he was doing. Stars flooded his vision and he had to pause while they cleared from his eyes.You’re getting old, dude.

Seconds later he pulled open the door to find Lianna’s back. She was walking towards her car at the top of the driveway.

“Hey,” he called out to her.

She stopped, turning slowly towards the house.

“I didn’t think you were here. Or maybe you were busy because you didn’t answer.” It could be that he was still groggy, but Gabe swore he sensed a little bitterness in the last part of her statement.

“Nah, I fell asleep.”

To drive the point home, he rubbed his eyes and stifled another yawn. Then it dawned on him, and he smiled.

“I was getting tired of waiting for you to finish this.” He gestured between them as he said the words.

She swallowed and stuttered, “I didn’t, uh, we’re not. You know what, I shouldn’t have come this late.”

She was nervous and for some reason that got a rise out of Gabe.

“Whydidyou come, Lianna?”

“I don’t know.” She gently shook her head, hugging her arms around her trim waist.

Something was wrong. This wasn’t her usual spunky personality. Stepping outside, he ignored the cold concrete shocking his bare feet.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” The endearment flowed from his mouth, feeling as natural as brushing his teeth.

“I had a rough night and didn’t want to be home alone.”

And she came to him for comfort. He would be dammed if he let this opportunity go to waste.

“Come here.”

He was already closing the distance between them as the words left his mouth. Surprisingly, she obeyed. Lianna walked tentatively towards him, staring down at her feet, her arms still wrapped snuggly around herself.

Taking her chin in his grasp, Gabe was slammed with the urge to kiss her. But she pulled away, taking a step back from him.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

When she didn’t reply fast enough, he stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “Look at me. Did you get another call? Did something scare you?”

Gabe tried to sound calm, but her timidness was starting to alarm him. She finally did look up long enough to shake her head no, and it was enough to take his breath away. Glistening eyes gazed back at him, and he wanted more than anything to make her happy again.

The wall Gabe built around his heart must have been made of paper, because the simple act of breathing was enough for Lianna to send the sheets flying away. She shivered, reminding Gabe they were still outside in the cold. If the barrier surrounding his heart hadn’t crumbled already, it wouldhave fallen apart when he put an arm around her, and she immediately snuggled closer.

Gabe guided her into the house, willing himself to stop inside the front door and not continue up the stairs where his king bed awaited them. Still pressed against his side, she toed her boots off and leaned back to look up at him with a shaky smile.

“Thanks for being so nice to me. I guess I’m a bit sensitive today.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

His words were so gentle he had trouble believing they had come from his mouth. She stepped from under his arm and Gabe struggled to let her go, fighting the desire to pull her back into his embrace.

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