Page 40 of Bait and Switch
Twenty minutes later, they were back in the lobby and Gabe was peeling off several hundred dollars in cash for vaccinations, a microchip, the exam, and everything else the cat needed—he was marking it down as go-bag expenses. Keith was unhappily loaded into a carrier and made her displeasure known with hearty yowls.
Picking up the box and the rest of the supplies—which put him back another couple hundred—Gabe headed to the parking lot. Once they were all tucked inside the Wagoneer, Gabe said, “Okay, spill. What did you learn this morning? And how? The fire was less than twelve hours ago, did you not sleep?”
“I promised Elton, and I don’t want to have to repeat myself.”
“Oh my god,” Gabe huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Fine, Step on it.”
“There is literally no traffic on the island this time of year,” Casey told him.
“Which means you can step on it.”
Casey ignored him. “What was that with Pedro?” he asked instead.
Was Ranger Man jealous? The man was a puzzle—Gabe loved unraveling puzzles.
“What was what that?” asked Gabe, blinking at Casey. He knew perfectly well whatthathad been. And he’d do it again just to get a reaction out of Casey.
“The smiling and”—he lifted a hand off the steering wheel and waved it around—“glinting shit.”
Gabe snorted. “Glinting shit? What, it’s illegal to smile now? Pedro is a nice guy, why wouldn’t I smile?”
Casey growled. “It is not illegal to smile. It’s thewayyou smile, and you know it.”
Because he couldn’t help himself, Gabe smiled again. But he directed it away from Casey.
“I bet you have a great smile, not that I’ve seen it. Hold it, maybe I have, but it was so fleeting that it didn’t make an impression.”
He was gifted with another deep-chested growl. The raspy sound had Gabe’s fucking heart doing a weird flip-flop. Worse than the flip-flop, it made him want to poke the bear even more. If flirting with the cute veterinarian made Ranger Man cranky… it meant there was something here. Gabe wasn’t imagining it.
Of course, it could also mean that he hadn’t gotten enough sleep or enough coffee in the past two days, but Gabe was choosing to believe this particular brand of Casey Lundin grumpiness originated from a different source. One that had nothing to do with sleep or trespassing and everything to do with one Gabriel Luke Karne.Note to self.
Gabe allowed himself a smirk and enjoyed the rest of the short, un-trafficky drive to Elton’s, checking out the houses and small businesses they passed by. Maybe right now wasn’t thetime to testwhatever thiswasbetween them, but it would be soon enough. If there was one thing Gabe was good at, it was being patient. There were few impatient con men, it tended to cut their careers short.
And if there was another thing Gabe was certain of right this minute, it was that his radar was not broken, and it was telling him that Ranger Man’s antennae—vibe, whatever—was angling toward Gabe. Oh, he was fighting the draw, but with every growl, grump, arms crossed over that broad chest, Gabe knew he was closer to something.
You’d better figure out what you want before you jump, Chance.
He blew out a sigh and snuck a glance at Ranger Man out of the corner of his eye. Solid. Stalwart. Smart. Damaged.
Want.
Gabe had a private theory that everyone—even the poor little rich kid—was damaged one way or another. They just all wore their scars differently. When he’d floated the idea past Peter during the course of a rare conversation that hadn’t been centered around money, his ex had scoffed and told him to stop already with his wanna-be psychology bullshit. Which had told Gabe he was onto something.
Casey Lundin was unlike anyone else that Gabe had been even remotely attracted to over his lifetime, but Heidi’s voice was right—Ranger Man wasn’t fuck-around-and-find-out material. Luckily, before he said or did anything outlandishly stupid, they arrived at Elton’s.
“Keith?”Elton’s eyebrows rose close to his hairline. “Whatever floats your boat, I suppose.”
Keith had been released from her box and was currently stalking the perimeter of Elton’s living room.
“I had the vet put your address on the microchip, just until I get myself sorted out.”
“About that. Not that I’m not happy to have you here.” Elton sat forward in his chair. “I know it’s not the Ritz, or whatever else you’re used to, but Bill has an opening at Smitty’s, and I can put in a good word for you.”
“Beggars and choosers. I’d appreciate that,” Gabe said lightly, knowing he would accept. He wasn’t too proud to accept help or live in a mobile home park; it wouldn’t be the first time. “I need coffee.”
“There’s a fresh pot, help yourself. But also, you know you’re more than welcome to stay here with me, of course, for as long as you need.”
Gabe dismissed Elton’s offer. With Peter dead—murdered—and theTicketreduced to floating rubble, not to mention Gabe and Keith barely escaping with their lives, he wasn’t about to place Elton in more danger than he already had, even if it hadn’t been on purpose.
