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“Then I guess I’m adopting Dexter. I didn’t even think I wanted a dog.”
“Funny how an animal can find you and then change you.”
“Do you have an animal at home?”
“I have the shelter,” I say, “and I foster the ones that really need extra help. I like to stay open to be able to do that.”
“But no forever animal? Sounds like commitment issues.”
I lower my voice. “Says the man who’s never been married.”
“Yes, well, I’m not afraid of commitment,” he says. “I just haven’t found a reason to make one.Until now.”
Maybe he’s talking about Dexter. Maybe he’s talking about me. I tell myself that I don’t want him to be talking about me. I just want to have a hot fling and enjoy him. That kind of freedom is nothing that I have ever allowed myself in life. I do not want to fall in love with this man. I won’t fall in love with him. I repeat these words for reinforcement on the drive to his house, which turns out to be a charming cottage on the ocean.
Joe pulls us into the drive, and Gabe helps me out of the SUV, setting me on the ground and molding me close, all those hard muscles I was fantasizing about earlier pressed close to me. “Welcome to my second home, Abbie,” he says, softly, and my God, he makes it one part seduction and one part Hallmark movie. I’m never going to be able to resist this man and right now, I don’t know why I’m trying. I honestly can’t remember why, at all.
He opens the SUV and retrieves Dexter and we head toward a sprawling wonderful porch that seems to stretch the entire front and all the way around the right side. Dexter is excited and Gabe opens the door and sets my bag inside the door while the happy dog charges inside. There’s a crash and Gabe curses. “Damn dog,” he murmurs, tugging me inside the house with him, and shutting the door.
Dexter is missing and Gabe takes off looking for him while I take in the giant living room with hardwood, a rock fireplace, and cozy brown couches. I’m about to help with the hunt when my cellphone rings. I dig it from my purse and grimace as I find my ex-husband’s number. I hit decline and set my purse on the floor to remove my coat. I hang it on the coat rack when a text sounds on my phone.
I inhale on the dread filling my chest because I know who this will be from. Sure enough, it’s my ex:I’m trying to play nice. I’m trying to be the guy you want me to be. But Gabe Maxwell changes everything. Gabe is a problem. Get rid of him or I will.
And there it is. The reason my life can’t be a lusty version of a Hallmark movie.
Chapter thirty
Abbie
I’m still standing in the entryway to Gabe’s Hamptons cottage, staring at that message when he steps in front of me. “What’s wrong?”
My gaze lifts to his, and my first thought is my God, this man is gorgeous. I didn’t even think I liked men with blond hair, but Gabe is devastatingly handsome but lots of men are good looking. Gabe has charm. He has a heart as proven by Dexter. He has commitment issues and yet he’s here with me, asking for more. “Before I tell you—what are we doing? You and me—this, this—what is this we’re doing? What is this?”
He steps closer and cups my face. “What do you want this to be?”
His touch is fire. His nearness is warmth and somehow, as new as we are, safety. And I have not felt safe in a very long time. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“Then I’ll give you my answer, my version of what this is. I’m addicted to you. I can’t get enough of you. I want to try. I really want to try but I know already, that won’t be possible. I know I won’t ever get enough.”
“How can you say that now, after just meeting me?”
“Because it’s always enough, too much even, before it ever starts. So, I repeat: I’m addicted to you. I can’t get enough of you. Right now, that’s what this is to me. No. What this is to me, is something I can’t walk away from and I don’t even want to try. How’s that for an answer?”
“Terrifyingly perfect,” I dare.
He strokes my cheek and tilts my gaze to his. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
I decide at this point that I’m not walking away. If I tell myself or him that I am, neither of us will believe it to be the truth. I hand him my phone and let him read the message from my hellish ex. He reads it out loud:I’m trying to play nice. I’m trying to be the guy you want me to be. But Gabe Maxwell changes everything. Gabe is a problem. Get rid of him or I will.
He hands me the phone back. “He’s scared. Good. Come help me get Dexter settled so we can grab a bite and get to the ranch.”
“That’s it?”
“He’s spinning out of control, Abbie, and shaking in his shoes. That’s why you’ve been served fake papers and received a love note by text from your ex.” He kisses me. “Come on, woman. I need food. Dexter needs your attention. And I need you naked.”
I laugh. “Gabe. You are so—you.”
“Yes, I am,” he says, “and I’ll help you define what that means, in all kinds of ways, I promise.” He laces his fingers with mine and leads me through the house, and it’s this action, this romantic gesture that has nothing to do with sex, and yet everything to do with us, that has my heart swelling for this man.
