Page 50 of Visions of You

Still seething, Gabe hadn't moved. “No. But you should have asked me first.”

I hissed an exhale. “We didn’t plan this. She lives at a tropical resort! Of course she’s curious, and what I showed her was completely safe. Why are you so upset?”

“Because diving is dangerous. Because she’smydaughter. Because I want to know what’s going on with her.”

We stared at each other, and my heart was about to leap out of my chest. His eyes were icy, sending a trickle down my spine. She was his daughter, not mine. Finally, I took a step back. “Then I apologize. I was only trying to be friendly. I happen to like Hailey very much.” Picking up a BCD and regulator in each hand, I stormed past him and toward the gear room.

“April, wait.”

I sped up, nearly trotting as I angled onto the path toward the canal. Opening the door of the gear room, I tossed the two BCDs inside before whirling around to get a second load. As I reached the main path toward the pool, Gabe strode toward me.

His forehead was lined, and his eyes now held concern instead of anger.

I looked past him, focusing on the remaining kit lying on the deck. As I brushed past him, he grasped my upper arm. “Would you stop? I’m sorry I came across as harsh. It was a gut reaction, okay?”

“If you say so.” I pulled my arm away, and he let go. “I have work to do. I’m the help, remember?”

I started to turn, but Gabe stepped forward, blocking me. “No, you’re not. You’re a lot more than that to me.”

I snorted. “Yeah. I could tell by the daggers your eyes shot into me.”

He breathed a deep sigh. “Damn. I really am sorry.”

I turned to face him squarely, lifting my chin as I stared him in the eye. “We’re not serious about each other, remember? You don't need to apologize. I’ll get over it—I’m used to men treating me like shit.”

“April. I don’t want you feeling like that!”

“I need to get back to work. And I imagine you want to get back to Hailey. See you later.”

After picking up my BCD and reg, I headed back to the gear room without another backward glance. I should be grateful for what just happened. It was a vivid reminder of why I didn’t want to get seriously involved with Gabe. Why I needed to keep him at arm’s length. He didn’t want another serious relationship. And I didn’t want to be anothergood enoughin someone’s life.

I could handle being irritated and pissed off. That would pass. But I couldn’t let him crush my heart. And I’d felt him starting to work his way into its beating crevices.

And that wouldn’t do at all.

Chapter Nineteen

Gabe

As I pushedthrough the dive shop door, it was just past 5:00 p.m. I glanced at Carissa, who was putting things away.

“Hailey’s in the back room.”

I nodded at her. “Thanks. You can take off now. I’ll lock up.” I headed down the hall. Suggesting donuts this late might not have been the best choice, but I’d just wanted to get Hailey away from that dive gear.

Though considering how badly I’d screwed up the situation, I might have been better off just leaving with her.

April had never been afraid to stand up to me, but I’d never seen her that angry. And it wasn’t without justification. I’d seen what Hailey was doing, opened my mouth, and the raging papa bear had roared out.

When I walked into the break room, Hailey was licking her fingers while holding the Sweet Dreams box open with the other hand.

“Do I even want to know how many you’vehad?”

Instantly, she dropped the lid and rushed her sticky hand behind her back, turning an absolutely angelic look toward me. Which let me know she was completely guilty. “I only had one.”

I smiled as I crossed the room, my frustration at the conversation with April slipping away. “Is that right?”

“Well, there were some pieces of others, so I might have had two.”

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