Page 13 of Chasing the Dream

His eyebrows raised to the ceiling.

“Just kidding.”

“Oh. And one more thing. I wasn’t flirting with the bagel lady. I was just being polite.”

She tilted her head and eyed him suspiciously. “I know polite, and I know flirting, and that was flirting. But hey, it’s none of my business. You’re a good-looking, single guy. I get it.”

She turned to exit the car, but he put his hand on her arm to stop her. His hand on her bare arm. She glanced down at it, feeling the heat from his touch travel through her veins. She raised her eyes to his and waited.

“You think I’m good looking?”

That was twice she’d tipped her hand. Any more slip-ups and he’d discover how she really felt about him. She couldn’t afford that happening.

“Did I say that?”

“Yes, you did.”

“Hmm. Well, I was just being polite. Now, c’mon. Let’s go to work.”

Laughing, he let go of her arm, and they got out. He carried their coffees, she held the bagel bag, and they walked into the office together like they’d done so a hundred times before.

The lobby was empty, and they rode the elevator together in peaceful silence. He might not be a morning person, but she was. She’d often arrived early at her previous job, preferring the quiet time before the rest of the employees trickled in.

They stepped out on the second floor, and she heard the clicking of keys from one of the cubicles.

“Would you like to eat breakfast in my office?” he asked.

“No thanks.”

He looked at her with surprise. “Why not?”

“I’d like to get some work done before everyone gets here.” She held her hand out for her coffee cup, and he carefully gave it to her, looking somewhat rejected. Then he reached inside the bag and pulled out his “everything” bagel.

“Have a good day, Gabe.”

“Yeah. You too.”

Then she turned on her heels and walked away. She might have put a little extra sway in her hips and tossed her hair back should anyone be watching. When she got to Dana’s office, she stopped and glanced back. There he was, standing in the hall right where she’d left him.

Looking bewildered, he shook his head and turned away.

She sat down at her desk, fired up the laptop, and then took her first sip of coffee. “Mmmm.” There was nothing like it…except for Gabe’s smile. As she bit into the cheese bagel, she pondered the strange morning they’d had.

When Gabe had first picked her up, he’d seemed sullen, almost angry. When he’d eyed her outfit, she couldn’t tell if he loved it or hated it. She’d chosen it purposely, liking how feminine and, yes, sexy, she felt wearing it. His reaction hadn’t been what she’d expected, but he’d noticed, and that was saying something. Was he afraid the other men in the office would notice too?

She took another bite of bagel and shook her head. She needed to keep her imagination in check. There was no use thinking about what-ifs with Gabe. Nothing could happen between them. A little harmless sparring/flirting was fine if she kept it at that.

Then she recalled the expression on his face when she’d called him good looking and complimented his cologne. He’d seemed so flattered, like she was the only one to ever compliment him, or had she imagined that too?

She finished her coffee and bagel and then stood up to throw her trash away. With her back to the door, she hadn’t seen anyone approach, and then she heard a long, appreciative whistle. She twisted her head around to see Stefan standing in the doorway, but it was the man standing behind him who caught her eye.

It was Gabe, and he must have heard the whistle because he scowled at the back of Stefan’s head and then stalked off.

Chapter 6

Gabe noticed she wore slacks the rest of the week, and he was both relieved and disappointed. He’d driven her to and from work without incident. Their interactions had been both friendly and polite, though a bit stiff.

On Friday morning, he’d stopped at a different bagel shop and let her pay. He wasn’t familiar with the staff there, so she couldn’t accuse him of flirting. Now he was driving her home on Friday evening and looking forward to a relaxing weekend alone.