Page 47 of Visions of You

Liv’s pretty face pulled down in a frown. “Good. I need something to drink to distract me from my disastrous date last night.”

“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound promising.”

She groaned, then broke into laughter. “I got up and left halfway through dinner. I’ve never done that! But the guy wouldnotstop talking about himself. I just couldn’t waste another second. How about you? I don’t see a ring, so I’m guessing you’re not married.”

“No, not married.”

A soft, fuzzy warmth rolled through me. Hailey had taken our relationship in stride, and we were careful around her. Which suited me fine—not spending nights with Gabe kept me from getting too close emotionally.

Because physically?

Wow.

I’d never experienced anything like this. That first night with the whisky had only been the beginning. From the start, I’d understood exactly how to give Gabe what he wanted, and God knew he couldpush my buttons expertly. And if a tiny part of me wanted to snuggle up all night instead of leaving?

That tiny part was what had gotten me in trouble in the past.

Hailey had become a regular visitor to the dive shop area and was intensely interested in diving. I’d taken her into the gear room to show her the individual pieces. I had a feeling Gabe was going to have a junior diver on his hands soon.

As we neared our destination, Liv’s laugh brought me back to the present. “Maybe not married, but judging from the look on your face, very happily involved!”

I grinned back at her. “Yes. I got together with a guy fairly recently. So far, we’re great together.”

After we entered the house, we sat on a couch. A dozen women clustered around a bright living room filled with tropical plants. A liberal selection of wine bottles sat on a coffee table in the middle of the room, and I poured myself a glass of white. An appreciative hum went around the room when Liv set her pink box down, and several women dove for the box.

Soon our conversation turned to this month’s book, an instalove romance. I absently thumbed through my paperback. “I’m just not sure I buy the whole instalove thing. It just doesn’t seem real that two people would just magically fall for each other at first sight.”

Pam, who hosted most of the meetings, nodded. She was tall and willowy, her soft waves of dark-blond hair pulled into a clip. “I’m more of a slow-burn fan, myself.”

Liv giggled. “Are you sure you’re not into instalove, April? From what you told me on the way here, you’re feeling pretty warm toward your new man.”

A round ofooohswent around at that, and Pam held out a hand. “Hold on a second, ladies. You two are new, so you might not know this rule. But when real life competes with fictional romance, we always break to discuss it.” She turned to me, her eyes sparkling. “You simply must tell us about this man, April.”

Laughter rang around the room. I joined it, giving in with grace. “We certainly weren’t love at first sight, but I thought he was beyond gorgeous the first time I saw him.”

“Excellent start!” Pam exclaimed, slapping her thigh. “I take it he’s a local and not a visitor?”

“Yes. In fact, some of you may even know him since he was born around here.”

That sent up a round of giggling, making me laugh more. I’d had a regular girls’ group when I lived in St. Croix and hadn’t realized how much I missed it.

Another club member, Janie, leaned forward and set her glass on the coffee table as she swept light-brown bangs from her forehead. “I’m dying here! Don’t keep us in suspense! Who is he?”

A chorus of agreement went around the room.

“I’m seeing Gabriel Markham.”

In an instant, the entire room fell silent. The ticking wall clock became deafening. My smile faded as I panned my gaze around the room of stunned faces.

Janie still leaned forward, but now her face was slack. “Did you say Gabe Markham?”

“Yes,” I said slowly, my happy, fizzy mood fading. “Why did everyone get so quiet? I admit he can be a little grouchy, but he’s a very nice guy once you get to know him.”

That made Pam sit back in her chair and laugh. She fanned herself with one hand. “Oh, honey. You have no idea. If the Lower Keys had a most eligible bachelor list, Gabe would be number one on it. Everyone knows he moved back, though hardly anyone has seen him. But apparentlyyouhave.”

A sense of protectiveness fell over me. “Well, we work together.”

Janie waved a hand at me. “Oh, don’t start feeling awkward because we’re a bunch of jealous crones. We’re all happy for you. Really. Even if we do want to claw your eyes out just a little.”

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