Page 29 of The Photograph

Her grin widens and she loops her arms around my waist. “Why don’t you come over at 8:00? I’ll cook.”

Tucking her hair behind her ear, I peck her nose. “Get inside, baby. I’ll see you tonight.”

In the car, I voice dial my cell. The investigator picks up on the first ring.

“Drummond. I need you to look into someone for me.”

After giving the P.I. instructions, I disconnect the call.

I’ll have her once. Just once.

Chapter Seven

Aelin

I pace my living before running to the kitchen to make sure dinner is all set up.

Leaning my back against the fridge, I let the cool metal door soothe my nerves.

7:57 PM.What if Gabe changed his mind?He’s gorgeous and sexy, so I bet he’s snowed under attention from experienced women he…

The doorbell chimes, and the butterflies in my belly take flight. I exhale sharply before I open the door on a swoon-worthy looking Gabe, dressed in black light cashmere V-neck sweater and dark blue jeans.

“Gabe, hi… Come in.”

The latch of the door clicks, locking us in, and all I can hear is my heartbeat. I delve into his eyes and hold my breath when he cups my cheek and brushes his thumb on the indent under my bottom lip.

“Hi, beautiful.”

Gabe’s eyes drop to my mouth, and I nearly melt at the heat in there.It’s a date, so we’ll eat first then we’ll…My heart kicks up a notch higher.

Eat first.I clear my throat. “I hope you’re hungry. Are you hungry?”

“I’m starving,” he rumbles, and I get a full body shiver.

He follows me to the kitchen where he settles on one of the four wooden and beige leather stools while I check the roast and vegetable in the oven. At my request, Gabe pours me a glass of Cava and helps himself to a scotch. After we cheer, unable to utter a word over the storm inside my chest, I turn my back to him to wash the salad over the sink.Aelin, say something…

“Smells good. What are we having?”

I smile over my shoulder. “Mushroom and chicken dumplings, roast beef, salad, and grilled vegetables—”

His lips twitch. “Roast beef?”

Oh, shoot. Shifting to fully face him while my heart drops to the bottom of my stomach. “I know you eat fish… Are you pescatarian? I should have asked. If you don’t eat meat, I can—”

“Beef’s fine, baby.”

Seated in my kitchen, relaxed with both his feet planted on the white tiles, and his eyes on me, Gabe shrinks the room. My throat clogs while my heartbeat slams against my chest, and I return to the salad.

“Do you want to eat here or in the dining room?”God. I sound like I’m high on helium.

The soft thump of the glass on the counter is not warning enough so, I gasp when Gabe sweeps my hair to the side, and tremble at the heat of his body. He brushes his mouth just behind my ear, and I hold my breath while I tilt my head to the side.

A heated shiver takes over my whole body and I close my eyes while his mouth trails down to the crook of my shoulder. Swallowing hard, I grip the edge of the sink. His fingers slide up slowly from my belly to stop under my breasts while his mouth opens on the side of my neck. He flattens his palm on my stomach pulling me into his body.

God, he’s so hard. Everywhere.

“Arms up, baby,” he whispers against the shell of my ear. My shivers turn into a full tremor.

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