Kiss of a Stranger (Lost Coast Harbor #1) (7 page)

Over the years, Maddie learned that when a person tells you who they are, you better believe them. If someone says they’re broken, or selfish, or lazy, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, they aren’t lying. But when Gabe fixed those eyes on her, all she could think was that he was telling the truth—both about being broken, and about being worth her time.

She hurried to change the subject. “Do you need to stay here another night?”

He didn’t seem to hear the question, too busy looking over her shoulder, down the path Declan had just walked. “That’s your type?”

“Something wrong with dependable?”

“Not at all. If we’re talking about cars.” He slid his eyes toward her, and she almost saw him shake off the darkness that had coated him since she arrived. His small smile appeared, the one that turned her insides to mush.

But this time, her insides didn’t react. Gabe had said exactly the wrong thing. She pulled herself up until she was standing at her full height. She’d even worn heels on the date, so she only needed to tilt her head a little to meet his eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with dependable. I don’t know why everyone acts like that’s something dull.”

Maddie felt a righteous anger coming on. To maintain it, she ignored the fact that she’d found Declan nice and dependable—and boring.

“There’s nothing dull about a man who calls when he says he will, who comes home every night, who remembers your anniversary. There’s nothing
dull
about a man who doesn’t make you feel desperate and insecure, who doesn’t have the power to take everything from you. So yeah, maybe Declan is my type.”

She finished her speech with a glare that would cause one of her plants to shrivel.

The entire time, Gabe watched her through narrowed eyes, and when she finished, he moved toward her, so close she felt the heat of his body and learned what he smelled like. It was clean sweat and spice, and she breathed it in.

“What did some man do to you, Maddie?”

She swallowed. She’d never meant to give away so much. Her past wasn’t a secret—every damn person in town knew about it—but she didn’t want him to know. It would sting for Gabe to look at her like she was just another foolish girl. Just another victim. It was the way she thought Charlie must have looked at her.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.” She held his gaze with effort.

Gabe didn’t look convinced. “The past has teeth, Maddie. It doesn’t just bite. It will chew you up and spit you out, and you’ll never be the same again. If I’m not standing here and pretending my past doesn’t matter, then you can damn well do the same. What the hell happened to you?”

She tightened her lips, refusing to answer him.

“Come on, Maddie. Give me something.”

He didn’t move, and she thought he might stand there all night if she didn’t answer him.

“Something?” She rose up and pressed her lips softly against his.
That
should distract him.

Gabe froze, just for a second. That was the only chance he gave her. Her last chance to escape before his arms wrapped around her and he hauled her against his chest. One hand gripped her back. The other wrapped around the nape of her neck, holding her to him.

He groaned into her mouth, a desperate sound of pure need.

Maddie pressed her hands against his chest, but when she should have pushed him away she dug her fingers into the hard muscles, fighting the desire to claw his shirt from his body and feel his hot skin.

His tongue stroked hers, sliding deeper into her mouth, and she met him every step of the way. His touch was a flame against dry tinder. Under his hands, she ignited.

Gabe’s lips slid to her jaw. His touch slowed and his body tensed, as if even that much restraint pained him. “Tell me what you want.”

Her breath came out in pants as she tried to find words. Gabe moved his lips to her ear, holding the lobe gently between his teeth. “What do you want, Maddie?” he asked again.

She wanted him to drag her into the house and throw her on the couch. She wanted his body on her, inside her, moving fast until she forgot everything. Forgot who she was, and forgot what she needed to be.

Forget everything she’d worked so hard to become.

Maddie whimpered and stumbled backwards. Gabe let her go, though his eyes were full of questions.

She didn’t want to push him away, but she had to. Gabe might be the most dangerous man she knew, and not because of his past. Because of hers—and the way he could send her right back there.

“I want dependable,” she told him. “This was a mistake. I have a date with Declan on Saturday. He’s what I want.”

She ran into the house before he could protest, wanting to crawl into bed and lock the door before he could say something to make her change her mind. It would take so little.

It took a long time to fall asleep. Her hands kept straying between her legs, desperate to relieve the ache caused by Gabe’s kiss but afraid he’d hear every moan through the thin walls. After an hour, she finally she gave in to the need, biting her pillow as she came hard to thoughts of Gabe fucking her from behind, his hands gripping her hips while he took her fast, the same hunger that fueled his kisses being spent inside her.

It was only as she finally drifted off, relieved if not satisfied, that she remembered her last words to Gabe. She should probably let Declan know he was taking her to the Winter Blues Ball.

Chapter Seven

G
abe couldn’t remember the last time a day went by so slowly. Even in prison, the days hadn’t dragged like these did.

Jared finally deigned to turn up at the office. Gabe tried to avoid him, a plan that failed when Bree picked up both their keys and dropped his off at the dock.

For years, Gabe had longed for a place to call his own, and now that he finally had one, he didn’t want to go home. He knew he’d spend the night imagining how Maddie was celebrating her newfound solitude. Was she inviting that blond catalog model over? Would he help her break in the house, one room at a time? The image of Declan’s hands on her body gnawed at him.

It was Maddie’s last day, and she studiously avoided his gaze. She seemed determined to catch up on her work before moving to Oliver’s office on Monday, and the paperwork kept her so busy she barely looked up from her desk. When she took phone calls, she spun her chair to face the wall.

Whenever he glanced at her, all he could think of was their kiss. She’d responded so fast he’d practically felt heat fly through her, until she was nothing but fire in his arms. He’d lain awake a long time the night before, his body demanding a release he couldn’t provide. He kept replaying their kiss, and each time his dick snapped to attention. Her lips, her skin, the way she’d pressed herself against him—like she craved him. Like she longed to feel every inch of his body pressed against hers. It lit something inside him he thought was extinguished long ago. He’d forgotten what it was to be needed.

Maddie wanted him. He was supposed to use that against her. Every day that passed was one more day Oliver Hastings got away with his crimes. One more day he needed to remain in Lost Coast instead of traveling north to see Mateo.

One more day he didn’t need to face her look of betrayal if she ever learned why he was there.

The mechanic had stopped by and examined every inch of equipment on the docks. The guy swore there was nothing wrong with the machines, but he took them apart and put them back together, just to be sure.

Whatever happened two days ago, Gabe was starting to think it had actually been an accident. God knew it wouldn’t be the first one in his life. Besides, he only arrived in Lost Coast the night before. No one would know he was in town, let alone trying to get a job at Hastings Shipping.

And if it wasn’t an accident, it was more likely Oliver had been the target than Gabe. The thought cheered him up immeasurably.

He chucked Harold the keys to the forklift and checked his watch. “Almost there. You guys mind if I tag along tonight? I hear Fridays at Vista del Mar are standard for us lowly laborers.” He grabbed a huge crate and moved it with ease.

Harold watched him and snorted. “See kid, you might as well announce you’re an outsider. Everyone knows it’s called VD by the Sea.” He waited to make sure Gabe got the joke, then guffawed at his own wit. “Most days, we’d be happy to have the new guy buy us drinks, but we’re skipping tonight. Wanna be fresh for the Hastings party.”

Gabe’s head snapped up so fast he might need a chiropractor. “Party?”

“No one told you? Hastings has this big to-do every year. Usually it’s for his clients and the more respectable people in town, but this year he decided to invite us reprobates. You got a suit?”

Gabe’s laugh was incredulous. “Do I look like someone who owns a suit?”

Harold scanned him, noting the stubble, scar, and tattoo peeking out of his right sleeve. The old-timer snorted. “About as much as I do, but I’ve got one from my wedding. Still kind of fit in it.”

“Let’s try again. Do I look like someone who’s had a fancy wedding?”

“You can borrow one of mine. We’re about the same size.”

Gabe schooled his features, trying to hide his shock as he turned to face Oliver.

The man was relaxed, smiling even. “It’s a party for you guys. You shouldn’t miss it because you don’t have something to wear. I’ll have someone bring it around your place. It won’t be a perfect fit, but it’ll do.”

Gabe could only nod his thanks. He squinted at Oliver as he walked away, trying to figure out the man’s game. “Why would he do that?”

“Oliver? He’s just like that. Never found a stray he didn’t try to help.” Harold gestured, impatient for Gabe to get back to the cargo.

He’d been a stray. Barely getting by after juvie, working one job after another and never getting ahead. When he was finally ready to head north, he took whatever he could get to make it a few more miles in the right direction. Someone had seemed to take pity on Gabe and gave him a one-time trucking job that would pay enough to cover the rest of his trip, with enough remaining to start over.

That man was no good. Gabe knew that firsthand. He just hadn’t expected Oliver to also seem so nice.

The party was in full swing. He’d purposely delayed his arrival, because it was easier to go unnoticed in a crowd. Gabe still attracted plenty of curious glances, but no hostile ones. With his tattoos hidden by the suit and his hair growing out, he almost looked respectable. Maybe they were just trying to figure out how the new guy could afford Armani.

He’d say this for Hastings. The man didn’t scrimp when it came to entertainment. The place glowed. Lights were strung across every surface, making the cold winter night glow. He’d flown in a jazz band from San Francisco and a caterer from the Napa Valley. This might be a party for the locals, but that didn’t mean a local was up to his standards.

The townsfolk were transformed, all dolled up for the fanciest night of the year. Gabe caught a glimpse of a clean-shaven Harold and made a mental note to give him hell on Monday. Everyone wore shades of blue, from the deepest navy to the palest sea foam, in keeping with the Winter Blues theme. Oliver had even included a royal blue tie when he sent over the suit.

“Hey, that fits great!” The man himself appeared next to him, his smile as open and guileless as ever. He examined the way the suit stretched across Gabe’s shoulders. “Except it makes me think I should work out more.”

Gabe forced a smile. Oliver was already in annoyingly good shape. Otherwise, Gabe might have given into the impulse to punch him by now. “You throw a hell of a party.”

Oliver’s brows shot up. “Me? Gods no. This is all my parents’ doing. My mom plans it and my dad makes sure the checks get signed. All I need to do is show up and pretend I’m not talking business all night.”

“This is your parents’ house?” People on the docks talked about the Hastings mansion. Gabe had assumed it belonged to their boss, aka the Hastings CEO.

“You think I have my own ballroom?” Oliver shook his head, laughing, and signaled to a passing server for two glasses of wine. Gabe waved his away.

“We grew up here. Me, Jared, and Clare. I know it’s a bit much, but it’s home. My great-granddad built this house and the company. He passed them both to my granddad, who gave them to my father. One day, I expect they’ll be mine.”

“Don’t you already have the company? That’s what it says on your business card.”

The other man’s smile didn’t slip. “You haven’t met my father. My mother demanded he hand the company to me when he had a stroke eight years ago. He agreed, but I’m not sure he’s accepted it yet, no matter whose name is on the letterhead.”

“Oh.” Gabe struggled to find words. If Hastings Sr. still clung to power, he might have been responsible for the guns.

Or maybe Oliver was trying to point him in a different direction while the lying bastard figured out what to do with Gabe.

His thoughts were interrupted when another man joined them. Though his hair was a lighter shade and his eyes were brown instead of green, it was obvious this was Jared Hastings. The brothers were the same height and they shared the same classic bone structure.

“Another wonderful party,” he slurred, looking around the room with scorn. He barely acknowledged Gabe’s presence.

Oliver eyed the man’s glass. “I hear it’s even more enjoyable if you drink champagne instead of double scotches all night long.”

Jared grimaced. “It’s the only way to bear these sanctimonious old assholes, all telling me what an institution my father is and what a great job you’ve been doing.”

“You could join me, you know. There’s room for another office in town. Let them talk about you next year.”

His brother laughed. The sound grated. “That’s what it always comes back to, isn’t it? An office. A suit. Nothing else is good enough for a Hastings.” Jared threw back the last of his drink. “Let me know if you ever have a job that won’t turn me numb with boredom.”

The man spotted another server and broke away without saying good-bye.

“My brother,” Oliver said, gesturing at Jared’s retreating back. “We’re all so proud of him.”