I’d purposefully not mentioned Jake and had even put his high chair in the pantry when I got home from breakfast. It’d been tucked in the corner and the second I noticed it as we were leaving, I’d ushered him out the door. Not because I was ashamed of my son, but I didn’t see the point of bringing him up when I knew my fling with Gabe had an expiration date of tomorrow morning. What would be the point of putting a damper on things tonight?
He casually put his arm along the back of his chair.
“So, tell me more about you. Did you grow up in Lancastle?”
****
Gabe
We finished the pizza and beer, then even shared a slice of cheesecake, laughing and talking the entire time, then opted for a pitcher of soda as we continued getting to know each other better.
Which may have been a mistake because I found I liked her even more than I had last night. She was witty, insightful, and just a tad nerdy.
And hot as fuck without even trying to be.
The next thing I knew, the staff were putting the chairs on the tables, and I looked around to realize we were the only customers left in the place.
Gretchen seemed equally surprised because she looked at her watch and gasped, “Oh my gosh! How did it get so late?”
With a wink, I replied, “We were having so much fun, we lost track of time.” I lowered my voice as I glanced around again. “We should probably go before they throw us out.”
She let out a small giggle. “Good idea.”
I stood and offered her my hand to help her out of the booth and didn’t let go once she was on her feet.
It just feltrightto hold her hand as we walked to my truck.
I knew one thing for certain. I didn’t give a damn what my brother had said about not spending another night with her. The only thing that could keep me out of her bed tonight was if she told me I wasn’t welcome.
But the way she wrapped her other hand around my arm and leaned her head on my shoulder, I wasn’t worried.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Gabe
“Tonight was a lot of fun.”
I glanced over at Gretchen in the passenger seat and nodded my head.
“I can’t remember when I had a better time.”
I was just about to suggest we do it again, when she murmured, “It’s probably because there wasn’t any pressure, since we know this isn’t going anywhere after tomorrow.”
Self-preservation told me to agree and drop it, but I didn’t mind feeling vulnerable with this woman.
“What if it did go somewhere after tomorrow?”
She pulled her neck back like my question took her off guard.
“What do you mean?”
Her suspicious tone was not what I expected, but I pushed forward, albeit a little more cautiously than I would have had her reaction been more welcoming.
I shrugged like I wasn’t vested in her reply.
“I don’t know. Maybe we could do this again, on a regular basis.”
“Like, date?Each other?”