Page 10 of Kissing in the Rain
“So, you’ve sacrificed your sex life for your niece. That’s kind ofsweet.”
“I know you dislike me, but calling me sweet is taking things a little toofar.”
“You’ve progressed from dislike to kind-oflike.”
He grinned. “You more than kind of liked me when you were kissing me justthen.”
She shook her head. “Lorelai says you’re a wonderful uncle. Just like a dad toKimberly.”
Hestiffened.
She must have felt him, because her brows furrowed. “What’swrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Not nothing. I said something that struck a nerve. What isit?”
He sighed and blew out a breath. “Kimberly’s dad has been contacting me. He wants to know how Kimberly isdoing.”
“Lorelai didn’t tell methat.”
He grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. He wasn’t sure why he was spilling all his secrets tonight, but Jillian was right. It did feel good to talk through things. “Because she doesn’t know yet. And I’m not sure I’m going to tellher.”
“What? You have to tell her,”Jilliansaid.
“She has enough to deal with without that jackass interfering in her life. He left them. He doesn’t deserve to ask how they’re doingnow.”
Jillian could kind of see Gabe’s point. “But it’s not your decision to make. And why did he contact you and not Lorelaidirectly?”
“Because he still wants nothing to do with them. He just wants to alleviate his guilty conscience and know they’re okay. It’sdespicable.”
Jillian placed a hand on Gabe’s forearm. Just that simple touch made her want to jump his bones again. “Yeah. It’s rotten. What are you going todo?”
“Not sure yet. I just keep thinking that maybe if Todd saw Kimberly, he’d realize how amazing she is. I couldn’t care less about him, but Kimberly might want to know her dad one day. Then again, maybe it’s best she neverdoes.”
“That’s a tough choice.” As if the storm was agreeing with her, thunder rumbled loudlyoverhead.
“You see why I have no time for dating? Being a world-class uncle is a job initself.”
And, in Jillian’s eyes, it was also a world-class turn-on.
Hot guy—check.
Smart—check.
Employed—check.
Great kisser—doublecheck!
A guy who treats his niece like a princess? Check, check,check.
He’d been such a gentleman with her tonight too. So sweet and nice and funny. As she went through her mental checklist, something slithered against hercalf.
She froze with her hand still resting on hisforearm.
“You’re digging your nails into my skin,” hesaid.
“I just felt something move across my leg. What was that?” It was too dark to see, but she’d swear whatever it was, it was alive and it wasn’tGabe.
