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Authors: Debby Conrad

See Jane Love (6 page)

BOOK: See Jane Love
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“Since you’ll probably want your car, I can give you a ride over to your sister’s. I promised Travis and Livvy I’d take them to the beach today, so I’ll need to leave pretty soon. Not that this hasn’t been great fun.”

“Thanks. You didn’t have to come back here this morning and . . . well, I just want you to know that I appreciate it. Really. And I’m not mad at you for cleaning my apartment.”

He held a hand to his heart. “Gee, that’s a relief.”

She smiled, even though it still hurt a little to smile. “So, you’re taking
my
niece and nephew to the beach?”

“Yes.”

“That’s nice,” she said without any kind of enthusiasm.

“You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

She feigned surprise. “No. Why should I?” What do I care that Travis and Livvy will talk non-stop about Uncle Gabe taking them to the beach for at least the rest of the summer? She’d just have to think of something more exciting to do with them. Maybe she’d take them to the amusement park and the water park. Surely, they’d have more fun at both of those places than at the beach. Or at least, she hoped so.

“Last night I sort of got the impression you were jealous of the fact that I spend a week with them each summer.”

“Don’t be silly,” she told him, waving a hand for effect. “And besides, I don’t really remember anything about last night. Although I’m sure I must have said or done some pretty crazy things.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re trying to say you don’t remember
anything
about last night?”

“Not a thing,” she lied between her teeth, while she prayed her forced smile didn’t falter.

“Interesting,” he said, and she refused to break eye contact.

Only cowardly liars couldn’t look someone in the eye. Better to keep her gaze locked on his, so he wouldn’t see through her.

“So you don’t remember asking me to kiss you?”

“No.”

“And you don’t remember asking me to have an affair with you?”

She laughed. “In your dreams. You must have had more to drink than I did.”

“Uh, huh. So, you probably don’t remember asking me to tie you up and spank you either.”

Janie stumbled out of her chair, ignoring the dizziness, and jabbed a finger at his hard chest. “I did no such thing, Montero. I asked you to have an affair. I never said anything about bondage.” The sound of her own voice throbbed in her head.

“So, you
do
remember what happened last night?”

“No!” Quickly, she dropped her hand and took a few steps backward. This time she couldn’t look at his smug expression.

“You’re not a very good liar, Jane. I think I liked you better last night when you were baring your soul to me.”

Slowly, she lifted her head. “Don’t go getting so full of yourself. Last night, I was feeling desperate, but now that I’ve had a chance to think things through more clearly, I realize I made a terrible error in
judgment. I should never have trusted you with . . .”

“Your little problem?” he asked, finishing her sentence for her. He was staring at her, his mouth twisted into a crooked smile, as if he might erupt into a fit of laughter.

“Look, you might be a great kisser, but I don’t think you’re the man for the rest of the job, if you know what I mean.”

“No, I’m not sure I do,” he said, moving toward her. “Why don’t you explain?”

He was much too close, she thought, backing away from him until her butt hit the kitchen table. Just as she was about to go around him, Gabe closed the distance between them, coming to stand directly in front of her. Now, she had no choice but to tilt her head back to see his face more clearly.

He brought a hand to her hair, toying with the ends. “You know what I think? I think that you’re afraid I’ll be too much man for you.”

Janie swatted his hand away, then grabbed hold of the front of his white T-shirt to keep her balance. “Stop it.”

“Stop what? Stop with the truth? Last night, you were all but begging me to take you. Why the sudden change of heart?”

She tried to move around him, but he stopped her, placing both hands on the table on either side of her hips and pinning her in. Her heart raced, her palms tingled, and she’d never been so confused in all her life. As much as she wanted to slap his face, she wanted to kiss him even more. “You had your chance, and you blew it.”

“You’re such a cruel woman,” he teased, then a serious expression crossed his face. “Last night, you’d had too much to drink. I didn’t want to take advantage. But now that you’ve nearly fully recovered, I wouldn’t mind another taste of you.”

His dark, penetrating eyes were sharp and assessing and glowed with a savage inner fire. And no matter how hard she tried to look away, she couldn’t. She wondered what kind of a hangover remedy his lusty kiss would be.

“Tell me no,” he said, his mouth a fraction from hers. “Tell me this is crazy, that I have no right to kiss you.” His last words were smothered on her lips, his mouth covering hers hungrily. Their tongues met and swirled together in reckless abandon while she swayed against him for support. He tasted like coffee and sweet cream.

Lifting a hand to her breast, he molded it to his palm. Her nipple firmed instantly under his touch as tiny shock waves zinged through her entire body.

Raising her arms, she played with the silky strands of hair at his nape, while his free hand roamed intimately over her back and finally settled on her hip. He urged her body closer to his, finding a fit that suited them both. Against his mouth, Janie gasped with pleasure, feeling his erection grow thick and hard against her belly.

Memories of the previous night entered her mind and brought with them longings. She needed to touch him, needed him to touch her, and she didn’t care if it was crazy. “Gabe,” she whispered, tearing her mouth from his. “You were right. I lied. You’re the right man. I know it. I want to make love with you. I--”

He backed up, breaking all contact. “Whoa. Slow down a minute,” he said in a raspy breath. Running a hand through his hair, he glanced at her. “Look, I--” But before he could say anything more, a knock sounded at the back door.

“Saved by the bell,” Janie said, and went to open it.

* * * * * * * * * *

A white-haired, elderly woman, as round as she was tall, stood on Janie’s back porch, holding a foil-covered plate.

“Gertie!” Janie threw her arms around the woman’s shoulders and hugged her. “Is that for me?”

The woman winked. “Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. I figured you could use some help in the energy department. Just thinking about all that mind-blowing sex you’re going to be having soon has to have you tired out. I know my heart’s been racing ever since we had that little conversation. In fact, you look a little flushed yourself.”

“Uh, Gertie . . .” Janie slowly tilted her head in Gabe’s direction, as if the simple movement had caused her pain.

“Oh, my!” The woman’s cheeks turned a bright shade of pink as she pushed the plate at Janie. “I didn’t realize you’d already found someone. And here I set up a date for you tonight.” Smoothing her white ringlets away from her cheek, she smiled politely at Gabe, then leaned toward Janie and whispered loud enough for him to hear, “Nice buns. Wherever did you find him?”

Gabe felt his face and neck grow warm. A first for him.

Setting the plate on the counter, Janie pulled the woman inside the house. “Gertie, this is Gabe Montero. Gabe, this is my friend and neighbor, Gertrude Leopold.”

Gabe walked forward, stuck out his hand. “Mrs. Leopold, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Batting her eyelashes like a bashful schoolgirl, she said, “Please, call me Gertie. Everyone does. Gertrude sounds so . . . old-ladyish.” She waved a hand and straightened to her full height of five feet. The poppy-colored dress she wore made her look like a giant beet.

Gabe nodded and dropped her hand. “Gertie, then.”

“So, where did you say you met Janie?”

Glancing at Jane, he said, “We’ve known each other awhile now. We’re sort of related.”

“We’re not related,” Jane butt in. “Gabe is my sister’s husband’s brother.”

“Oh! You’re the ex-con! How exciting!”

“Gertie!”

Gabe caught the look Jane gave her, but the woman either didn’t understand, or chose to ignore her.

“So, how did it go?” Gertie asked, her gray eyes filled with amusement.

Jane squeezed her eyes tightly shut, and Gabe took over. “How did
what
go?” he asked tentatively.

“Last night. I assume you two did the dirty deed.”

Gabe winced.
“The dirty deed?”
he mumbled under his breath. The woman had to be eighty, possibly ninety, and here she was talking about sex like it was no different than discussing her varicose veins.

Jane gave him an apologetic look, then turned to her friend. “Uh, Gertie, Gabe and I . . . nothing happened.”

“Why not? What in heaven are you waiting for? The sooner you launch that rocket, the sooner you can write a--”

“Gertie,” Jane said, cutting her off. “Would you like some coffee? Gabe makes terrific coffee.”

“I’ll bet. What else does he do?” the woman asked, running her gaze down the front of him, like he was a piece of meat.

Gabe
suddenly thought of the Chippendale dancers. He used to think those guys were the luckiest bastards in the world, but now he wasn’t so sure. Raising his brows at Jane, he waited for her to answer.

“I’m not sure, Gertie. Although I have to admit Gabe’s a great kisser, but that’s as far as it went. He isn’t interested in helping me.”

“Why not?” The woman scowled at him with narrowed eyes. “You’re not gay, are you?”

“No,” Gabe said, punctuating each word, “I’m not gay.”

She sized him up and down as if she were trying to decide whether or not to believe him. “Well, if he’s not interested, he’s not interested,” she said, turning toward Jane and brushing her hands together. “That means you’re free to go out with my gynecologist tonight. Dr. Hubert Epstein. I told him all about your problem and he’s eager to help.”

“I’ll bet,” Gabe mumbled, clenching his fists.

Jane shot him a look. “See, there
are
decent men left in this world.”

Decent?
Gabe rolled his eyes. He had no idea why, but thinking about Jane with Gertie’s gynecologist had him seething inside.

“He’s picking you up at seven,” Gertie said. “Wear something sexy.” And then she headed for the door.

As soon as the woman left, Gabe started in on her. “You can’t be serious! Please tell me you’re not planning on going out with that pervert!”


Pervert?
You don’t know that he’s a pervert. You don’t know anything about him. And please don’t shout,” she said, touching her forehead.

“And neither do you.”

“Well, I trust Gertie,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, he’s a doctor.”

“He’s not a doctor, he’s a gynecologist!”

“So, that makes him a pervert?”

“Yes! And if that’s not enough to convince you, remember his name is Hubert.”

Placing her hands on her hips, she stared at him wide-eyed. “You should hear yourself. You’re making absolutely no sense. The man probably has women beating down his door for dates, and yet he’s willing to put his life on hold to help me.”

He snorted. “You can’t be that naive, Jane.”

She slapped her hands to her sides. “I’m not naive! And why do you care who I go out with anyway?”

“I don’t,” he said, leaning his hip against the kitchen counter. “It’s just that . . . you’re Sara’s little sister. And I don’t want to see you get hurt. There are a lot of guys out there who would love to take advantage of someone like you.”

“Trust me, I know what I’m doing. And if anyone is going to be taken advantage of, it’s not going to be me.”

“Uh, huh.”

“Besides, if you really cared, you’d help me.”

“Don’t try to make me out to be the bad guy here.”

“Fine. It’s not like I can’t find somebody else. You’re not the only man on the face of the earth, you know.”

“Yeah, there’s always Hubert.”

“You’re just jealous because the man’s done something with his life and you--” She stopped suddenly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that--”

“Yes, you did. Look, Jane, if it’s any consolation, I want you as badly as you want me. But it’s not going to happen. Not in this lifetime. Christ, you’re Sara’s little sister. I don’t
know what the hell got into me, kissing you the way I did. But I want you to know I’m sorry.”

“I’m a grown woman who makes her own choices. I stopped asking Sara’s permission a long time ago.”

“You know what I mean. I can’t get involved with you. Okay?”

“Fine,” she said, lifting her chin a notch. “So, are you going to take me to get my car?”

“Sure.” He stood staring at her for a moment before speaking again. “Look, Jane--”

BOOK: See Jane Love
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