Page 6 of Possess

“I can wait. It’s Gabriel and me.” Gabriel was finishing up at the bookstore.

“Go.” She waved her hand in the direction of the table. “I know you and Gabriel will discuss business and need the room.”

“Thanks.” Zeke made his way to the table. He set his messenger bag and rolled-up plans on the empty chair and sat down on the chair next to it. He’d wait to order until Gabriel arrived and pulled out his phone to check his email. He lifted his head at the sound of feminine laughter—her laugh. Zeke turned.

Allyson stood by the door next to Dani with a wide smile on her face. Now why wouldn’t she smile at him like that? She was relaxed, her shoulders straight but not tight, and that made his gut clench. With him, she was all business. He wanted more than business, but so far, Allyson had pushed him away, except at the bookstore.

Gabriel walked in behind the two women. Both turned their heads; Allyson smiled, but Dani’s expression froze when she saw who it was. Interesting. As far as he knew, Gabriel and Dani hadn’t met. Gabriel smiled at both women. Allyson pointed to a table that had just emptied and moved away from the pair.

Gabriel leaned down and said something to Dani. Her eyes widened, then her features turned hard. She said something and then walked away. His friend shook his head but watched Dani as she marched over to the table where Allyson sat.

“What was that about?” Zeke asked as Gabriel sat down.

Gabriel shook his head. “Nothing.” But his gaze stayed on Dani.

Zeke decided not to probe, at least not right now. He’d get the story out of Gabriel later. “What happened at the bookstore?”

“Nothing big. It looks like a screw was missing. I fixed it right up.”

“Great.”

“So have you talked to Max about the plans?” Gabriel asked.

* * * *

“Why did you walk away and leave me with Gabriel?” Dani asked after she sat down.

“I saw an open table.” Allyson noted her friend’s flushed face. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Dani glanced out the window. “Gabriel and I dated in college.”

“Oh?” Surprise colored Allyson’s tone. “So he’s the one you’ve been avoiding?”

“Yes.” Dani waved her hand in the air. “Now tell me, what’s new with you? We haven’t had lunch in a week.”

“Sorry about that.” Usually, they had lunch together two or three times a week. “Last week was the week from hell.”

“Rudy still causing issues?”

“Yep. He decided that I’m getting all the prime jobs. The main jobs I work on are with Riggs Construction. There are two construction companies headquartered in Pleasant Valley. They both pull in sub-contractors and others. I don’t know what his problem is.”

“He’s a man.”

Allyson laughed. “An ass is more like it.” She glanced at the counter. It had thinned out a bit. “The usual?”

“Sure.”

“Be right back.” Allyson grabbed her wallet and got in line, trying to decide what she wanted today.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Zeke said from behind her.

She flashed a startled look over her shoulder at him. “Not really. The café is very popular.” He must have come in to have lunch with Gabriel.

“True.” He looked over to where Dani sat. “Is Dani okay?”

“Why wouldn’t she be?” Was he interested in Dani now? Her stomach clenched. She refused to care. It wasn’t like they had a relationship or anything.

“She didn’t look happy when Gabriel spoke to her.”

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