Gabe (Steele Brothers #6) (7 page)

***

Kendra

Liz and I were sitting on a park bench the following day, watching our kids play, when she finally asked, “How was your date with Mike? He’s great, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, he is.” I curled my hand around the to-go cup we’d picked up at the café on the corner, agreeing we needed the caffeine to see us through the rest of the day.

“So, you’re going to see him again?” she asked, obviously trying to play it cool. That’s when I knew.

“What if I were?” I watched her carefully, trying to read her reaction. “Would that bother you?”

She snickered, shaking her head. “Why would it bother me? I was the one who set you up, remember?”

“Yeah, why’d you do that when it’s obvious he’s more your type than mine?”

She slipped her oversized sunglasses up on her head. “What are you talking about? What makes you think that?”

“Just answer the question. Why did you set me up with him?”

She sighed before setting her coffee down on the bench beside her. “The truth? Because he’s a great guy and totally off-limits to me.” She shrugged. “You’re my friend. You deserve somebody incredible in your life. If it can’t be Gabe, why not Mike?”

I hadn’t told Lizzie about the kiss Gabe and I had shared last night, though I had to tell someone before I burst with excitement. But first thing’s first. “Why is Mike off-limits to you, because he’s your boss?”

“Yeah. He has this strict policy against dating his employees. I think he’s been burned before.”

“He has,” I confirmed. “I heard all about it. But I happen to know he’d be willing to make an exception for you.”

Her jaw dropped before she curled her hand around my knee. “Oh my God! Did he tell you that?”

I giggled, thinking it had been a long time since I’d seen my friend so excited. “He did. In fact, I think he intends to ask you out. Please tell me you’ll say yes. He’s so perfect for you, Liz.”

“Eeeee!” She stomped her little flip-flops against the grassy patch at her feet, squeezing my hand in excitement. “I can’t believe this! I’ve had a thing for that man ever since I started working there.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” I said, withdrawing my hand from hers before she squashed it. “I thought we told each other everything.”

“Oh yeah? Then why haven’t you told me about your date with Gabe yet?”

“It wasn’t a date,” I said, rolling my eyes. “My daughter was with us.”

“Does that mean nothing happened between you two?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “’Cause I’m having trouble believing that. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the perma-smile on your face ever since I picked you up.”

“Okay, fine. Something did happen.” I looked around to make sure none of the mothers we often chatted with were within earshot before I whispered, “He kissed me.”

“Shut. Up.” Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Lizzie shifted to face me fully. “Okay, tell me everything. How did it happen? Where was Char?”

“Gabe and I were having a drink in his backyard and Char was playing with the dog. I guess they were both so worn out from the busy day they had, they fell asleep on the grass.”

“And?” she asked, rolling her hand in an impatient gesture. “What happened next? Did he just kiss you? What were you talking about? Did he ask first? Please tell me he didn’t apologize—”

“No. I don’t think he regretted it any more than I did.” In fact, I know he didn’t because he followed that kiss up with another after he carried Char home and helped me tuck her in.

“So does this mean you guys are a couple now?” she asked, looking thrilled.

“I wouldn’t go that far.” I was trying to be cautiously optimistic, but it wasn’t easy to rein in my excitement when I thought about the possibility of more of those decadent kisses that made my head spin. “I think we’re just going to take it slow. I’m sure Gabe hasn’t forgotten that I’m still technically married.”

“Maybe he could talk to Jason, make him see reason,” Liz suggested.

“I don’t think Gabe would want Jason to know about us, at least not yet.” Not that there was much to tell, aside from a couple of stolen kisses and the admission that we were attracted to each other.

“But Gabe’s not the type to sneak around,” Lizzie argued. “I think he’d want Jason to know where you two stand.”

“You might be right.” Gabe was nothing if not forthright. “I guess that’s a conversation for another day.”

Lizzie’s cell phone buzzed and she reached into her back pocket, lighting up when she identified the caller. “It’s Mike.”

“You answer it,” I said. “I’ll go and push the girls on the swings for a bit.”

After a few minutes of listening to the girls bicker about who was going higher on the swings, I encouraged them to play nice and made my way back to my friend, who was beaming while tucking her phone into her pocket.

“Let me guess. He asked you out?”

“Yes!” she said, blushing. “Can you believe it? He’s taking me to dinner tonight.”

“Of course I can believe it. What I can’t believe is how long it took him to ask you or that you tried to set me up with him when you had a thing for him.” Standing in front of her, I tossed my empty cup into the receptacle next to her.

“I already explained that,” she said, waving me off. “But what am I going to wear? I haven’t dressed for a date in ages.”

“We’ll raid your closet when we go home,” I said, smiling. “I’ll help you pick something out.”

She groaned. “I wish I had time to go shopping first.” She extended her hands, looking at her short, unpolished nails. “And get a manicure. Look at these. They’re a mess.”

“Mike will not being looking at your nails, trust me. And if you don’t have something amazing in your closet, we’ll scour mine. I’m sure I have something that’ll work.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” she said, jumping up to hug me. “What would I do without you?”

“If you need a babysitter tonight—”

“I just called my sister,” she said, looping her arm through mine as we walked over to collect our kids. “I thought you might have a date of your own tonight.”

“Not likely,” I said, wondering how long it would be before Gabe and I had a real date without a little chaperone.

“Don’t be so sure,” Lizzie said, looking smug. “I have a feeling last night was just the beginning for you two.”

Gabe

I was enjoying a cold one on my back patio, throwing a stick to the dog so he could burn off some energy before I took him inside when I heard a motorcycle out front. Knowing it had to be either Ryker or Nex, I passed through the gate to find my youngest brother stowing his helmet before making his way up the drive.

“Hey, man,” Nex said, greeting me with a grin. He gestured to the beer in my hand. “You got another one of those?”

“Sure, come on back.”

While Nex was busy rough-housing with the pup, I slipped inside to grab another beer. “Here you go,” I said, handing it to him. “What brings you by? I thought weekends were reserved for that beautiful wife and daughter of yours?”

I still couldn’t believe my wild and crazy little brother was a family man now. It didn’t seem possible.

“Jaci and her mom took Maddie on a little shopping trip.” He rolled his eyes. “According to my wife, it’s never too early to start training her to sniff out a good sale.”

I chucked before sitting down and kicking my feet up on one of the stools I’d made to match the Adirondack chairs. “Who are we to argue, right?”

“How are things going with you?” Nex asked. “You like being the man in charge or what?”

“I moved out of the city because opportunity for advancement was better in a place like Gulfport, so I can’t complain that it all happened sooner than I thought it would. I’m grateful. The people I work with are great. They’re like family. Nobody’s jealous or petty that I got the nod and they didn’t.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Nex said. “So if things on the work front are good…” His eyes strayed to Kendra’s tidy backyard. “That leaves the home front.”

I knew what he was getting at but I wasn’t going to make it that easy for him. “You know how it is with old houses,” I said, shrugging. “There’s always a project to keep me busy. That’s why I didn’t buy a new build. I would have gone out of my mind with nothing to do during my down time.”

“And it doesn’t hurt to have such a sweet next-door neighbor, does it?” he asked, with a sly grin as he brought the cold bottle to his lips.

“Yeah, Char’s a great kid.” I gestured to the dog who was flaked out at my feet. “She helps me wear this guy out most days, which believe me, isn’t easy to do.”

“I was talking about Char’s mom and you know it.”

“Come on now. You know Kendra’s still a married woman,” I said, choosing to make him suffer a little longer before I filled him in on what happened last night. Normally, I wasn’t one to kiss and tell, but I needed to confide in one of my brothers to get their take on my situation.

“We both know she’s done with that loser,” Nex said, looking disgusted. “And just as soon as he mans up and gives her that divorce, she’ll be ready to move on. Question is, will you have lost your chance by then?”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that.” If last night’s kiss was any indication, Kendra wouldn’t be done with me any time soon.

“Are you holding out on me?” Nex asked, trying to read my expression. “You are. You son of a bitch. What happened?”

I shrugged, trying to downplay my feelings. It was just a kiss. I didn’t want to make it sound like more than it was. Okay, it was actually a couple of the best kisses of my life, but still… “We took Char to the zoo yesterday and I invited them over for dinner after.”

“And…?”

I felt like an awkward teen whose parents were grilling him about his first girlfriend. “And we kissed. It was no big deal.”

“Huh.” Nex seemed to mull that over before he asked, “You think she kissed Mike on their date too?”

I glared at him. “It wasn’t like that. She liked the guy, but not like that.”

“Look at you getting all territorial,” Nex said, laughing. “So when are you going to tell Jason you’re going to beat the hell out of him if he doesn’t sign the papers?”

“I can’t do that,” I said, trying to gauge whether he was serious. “We work together. Besides, he’s been a part of Kendra’s life a lot longer than I have and they have a daughter together.” That was the one thing about this situation that still bothered me. Char’s desire to have her family back together again.

I was crazy about that kid, would do almost anything for her. But could I really step aside knowing I was the man Kendra wanted, not Jason?

“You know you don’t have a choice, right? You keep letting this guy think he’s got a shot at putting his marriage back together you’re only prolonging the inevitable. I know it sucks for Char that her parents aren’t together anymore, but I’ve seen you with that little girl. She’s crazy about you.”

“I’m not her father,” I said, trying to draw the line. “And I’d never try to take his place.”

“That’s not what I’m suggesting,” Nex said, looking affronted. “Of course he’ll always be a part of Char’s life, but Kendra has made it clear she’s done with him. And from what I’ve heard, she’s ready to move on. With you.”

“When did you hear her say that?” I asked, wondering if I could believe him. Nex had never lied to me. I knew I could trust him, but I found it hard to believe Kendra would have shared that with him.

“At the barbeque Kane and Macy had at their place last weekend. Kendra and I got to talking and she told me she was done with Jason. I caught her watching you and asked if you were the reason she was ready to end her marriage.”

I held my breath after asking, “What did she say?”

“She said even if you weren’t in the picture she wouldn’t want to be married to him anymore.”

Good. That was the same story she’d told me. “Then what makes you think—?”

“She said you were the kind of man she should have married the first time around. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that girl’s in love with you.”

“In love with me?” I laughed, assuming he was joking. He had to be. We’d never even been out on a real date or slept together for that matter. How could she be in love with me? “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” Nex said, setting his beer aside. “Think about it. You’ve dated girls for a couple of months and thought you were in love.”

“Not lately.” It had been a long time since I’d said those words to a woman, even longer since I’d felt the urge to be the one to say them first.

As though he hadn’t heard me, Nex said, “You’ve known Kendra a long time. You guys seem to spend a lot of your free time together.”

“With Char,” I reminded him. “It’s not like we’ve been dating all that time.”

“No, but you’ve been getting to know each other. You told me not long ago she knows you better than some of your best friends.”

“That’s true.”

“So, why is it so crazy to think she might have fallen in love with you during that time?” When I couldn’t respond, Nex said, “And maybe you’ve fallen in love with her too?”

I took my backward ball cap off, wiping the sweat off my forehead. “Man, you’re getting way ahead of yourself here.”

“Maybe I’m just trying to help you catch up,” he suggested. “You’ve been dragging your heels for years, claiming you weren’t ready to settle down. First you said you needed a good job. You got that. Then you needed to buy a house and save a little money. After that, you were so focused on earning promotion after promotion. When are you going to stop running, Gabe?”

His tone was gentle, but his words were harsh. He was right. When it came to relationships, I was a coward. “I’m not running,” I argued, knowing we both heard the ring of denial circling my words. “I just want to be sure before I get in too deep.”

“When I met Jaci, I never thought we’d end up where we are,” he said, reaching down to pet Poncho, who was lying on the ground between us. “I was still living it up, having a great time. I thought I could go on like that another five years or more. But sometimes you meet the right woman and you just know it’s time to stop waiting for something better to come along ’cause it never will.”