Page 10 of Gabe's Obsession
Mason shook his head. "This is definitely getting out of hand."
Gabe didn't disagree. There were so many players involved in this little drama that he couldn't keep their stories straight. He'd known all along that they hadn’t told him everything. A fact he hadn't fought because he wanted to learn the truth with Nina.
She deserved someone on her side not completely colored by her brother’s opinions.
He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered back. "I couldn't help it. You were being so sweet. Maybe I should start calling you 'Tiger' instead."
A half snort/half laugh bubbled out of her so unexpectedly she slapped her hand across her mouth to stop it. Goddamn, her reactions to him were often priceless. How she couldn't see how good they'd be together made no sense to him. This arm's length thing was getting old.
He meant that metaphorically of course, because she'd been in his arms almost day and night since he'd found her drunk on nearly an entire bottle of tequila in her cafe storeroom. After babbling something about murder and blood and betrayal, she'd clung to him like a lifeline, barely letting go until this morning.
That realization jerked his thoughts. What had happened this morning to change things? God, why did he agree to this stupid breakfast intervention? He needed to get these people out of his house so he could have a serious talk with Nina.
"Call me ‘Tiger’ and I'll show you a wild cat by clawing your eyes out first."
His hands tightened on her waist. The fire in her words made his body stand up and sing. Especially his cock. He'd become almost monk-like these last few weeks and right then, in the most inappropriate moment, his body told him that shit had to end.
"Is that a threat or a promise?" he asked. "Because I'm about to take you up on that offer."
"Why are you two not taking this seriously?" Tucker asked, pulling him back into the fact her entire family sat around a table not two feet away from him. And he didn’t have to turn and look to know Mason glared at him. He could easily imagine his face turning red with anger over the blatant flirting going on between him and Nina.
"Trust me, I am very serious. But this was a mistake." Whatever had woken her this morning had clicked something inside her. He had a hunch she was finally ready to move on to something more productive. "Yep," he nodded. "A mistake, but a worthy one since we've learned it wasn't necessary. We can all move on."
"Move on to what?" Levi asked, clear skepticism evident in his voice. "We don't have a lot of time. The grand jury is set to convene soon to determine whether or not Savannah should stand trial for murder."
He couldn't think about that. While he wasn't going to admit it out loud, his priorities had nothing to do with whether Mrs. Lewis was guilty or not.
He squeezed Nina's waist in a show of reassurance. He didn't want her to falter now.
"Then I suggest you work on getting your mother to open up. Her memory appears to be intact and she's simply refusing to cooperate. Someone needs to find out why. In the meantime, Nina and I will start working together to see what we can uncover."
"We will?" Nina looked up at him with a mix of fear and defiance. God, it was good to see this side of her again. He'd harbored real concerns that she'd been broken one too many times.
Tori snorted before she stood with her plate and walked in the direction of the buffet. "I can't take this anymore. This is like a tragic game of 'who's on first' that is getting painful to watch. I'm hungry and need food to keep up."
"Oh, hell yes. I second that." Maggie jumped to her feet, rubbing her little belly. "This baby needs sustenance."
After that, the room exploded as everyone moved and talked at once. With Nina watching him closely, everyone else around them faded to a dull roar. He absently heard the dishes clang as well as movement all around him, but none of it held his focus.
That honor remained with her.
"Do you trust me?" he asked.
"I thought I did, until this." Her eyelids lowered and her mouth turned down in a slight frown.
"I didn't betray you. I knew this little stunt would have little effect on your memory."
"Then why do it? I feel sick standing here trying not to think about what each of them thinks when they look at me."
"Oh, Angel." He pulled her closer and wrapped his hand around the back of her head. "Don't do that. They love you. I mean, we all know this family is as unconventional as it gets, but that doesn't seem to have any effect on the bond you all share. Even Mason means well.”
She started to protest and he placed a finger at her lips. "Trust me. They would not go to this much trouble if they didn't care. Trust me and trust them. Ultimately, we all just want to protect you."
"They go too far." She frowned.
He smiled and pressed his finger against the downturn of her mouth. "Of course they do. That's what family does. There's probably a law written somewhere that requires families to be giant pains in the asses."
This time she laughed and he soaked the delicate sound in. He'd missed that from her more than he'd realized. That thought made him want to kiss her. That and the fact she was practically pressed against his body with her lips only inches away from his.
