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They moved to the couch, sat so that their bodies touched from shoulder to hip, and kissed some more. It was as if the world collapsed in on itself until there was nothing else but this. She could drown in Silas’s arms, give in completely so that the kiss would never stop.

Gabi tried to give in to the overwhelming sensations, she tried not to think, but without warning unwanted images of her ex-husband intruded. Blake pushing himself at her, demanding. Saying he loved her, then proving he did not. The face she’d imagined at the café window tonight popped into her head, as Silas moved one of his warm hands to the back of her neck. She instinctively stiffened as she remembered Blake’s hands at her neck, her throat. Would she never be rid of him?

She jerked a bit and moved away, turning her torso so they were no longer pressed together. Silas eased his hold on her, he backed away but didn’t release her completely.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

There was no anger in his voice, none of the frustration she’d come to expect from a man when things didn’t go his way.

“I’m not ready for this,” she said, without revealing that she might never be ready.

“That’s understandable. It’s happening pretty fast.”

She nodded. “I’m not fast.”

He relaxed. She felt it, in the arms that were still loosely wrapped around her. She saw it, in the set of his jaw. “Neither am I, usually. You got under my skin in a way I didn’t expect. I guess I wanted to see if I got under yours.”

Gabi held her breath for a minute. “You did,” she confessed. “You are. I just…”

“It’s okay,” he kissed her again, gently this time, without demand. When he pulled his lips away he said, “I wish you’d tell me who scared you so much.”

Could he feel her heart pounding? Did he feel her entire body tense? How could he not?

“You don’t have to say a word,” he said. “I get it. You can tell me or you can keep all your secrets locked away, it’s up to you. I want you. Right now I feel like I have to have you. But I can wait. I’ll wait for you, Gabi.”

Did he know that was exactly what she needed to hear? Was he charming her, feeding her lines the same way Blake had? No, that couldn’t be it. At least, she didn’t want it to be.

“Dinner tomorrow night,” she said. “Here. I’m a pretty good cook.”

He kissed her again, deeper, longer, then pulled away sharply. “Okay. I guess I should go.”

Gabi nodded, resisting the urge to pull him back. She so loved the feel of him holding her, kissing, sheltering. Silas was kind, quiet, and strong, and he awakened something in her that she’d thought long dead. But tempted as she was, she wasn’t ready for more than this. Would she ever be? How long would he wait for her to get past the pain Blake had inflicted?

After Silas left, she locked the front door and checked every window in the house to make sure they were locked, too. There was a back door that opened onto a patio which wasn’t used nearly often enough. She felt too exposed there. Since Judge had moved in she’d used that door several times to let him in and out, as needed, so she checked it, too. Twice. It was a nightly ritual. Without that ritual she wouldn’t sleep at all.

That done, she went to bed, slept, and dreamed of the day when she wouldn’t feel the need to push Silas out her door.

* * *

Silas made the familiar drive home on automatic, his mind on everything but the road before him. More than anything, his mind was on that kiss, on the way Gabi felt in his arms… and on the fleeting expression of panic on her face. It had revealed so much, too much.

He was supposed to run her out of town, but right now he wanted nothing more than to protect her, to take away all her pain. Stupid idea, for a man who intended to remain unattached.

When Jenna had asked him to play her game, he should’ve said no. He shouldn’t have ignored that initial warning tingle at the back of his neck. Clint’s ex was bad news and always had been.

There was more to Gabi Lawson than met the eye. She was running from something. Someone, most likely. She was vulnerable, skittish. And safe here, as they all were. Why should she have to leave? One more Non-Springer in the mix wouldn’t make any difference. Would it?

He wasn’t second guessing himself because he wanted to sleep with her. The way she kissed didn’t cause this new and unexpected uncertainty. Yeah, right. He was being entirely rational.

He couldn’t even convince himself.

Silas sighed when he saw the familiar SUV in his driveway. He parked, hesitated for a split-second, and then left the truck. Jenna opened the driver’s door of the SUV and stepped out to greet him.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

“Fine. Leave me alone and I’ll get it done.” He didn’t know exactly what “getting it done” meant anymore, but she didn’t have to know that.

“I’m not sure how feeding the Non-Springer and strolling around town is supposed to get it done,” Jenna said sharply.